THE HISTORY OF LEWIS THE ELEVENTH. WITH THE MOST MEMORABLE accidents which happened in Europe during the two and twenty years of his Reign. Enriched with many Observations which serve as Commentaries. Divided into eleven Books. Written in French by P. MATHIEV Historiographer to the French King. And Translated into English by EDW: GRIMESTON Sergeant at Arms ❀ LEWIS ✚ THE ✚ XI ✚ FRENCH ✚ KING ✚ portrait At London printed by GEORGE ELD. 1614 SEMPER · EADEM TO THE MOST NOBLE AND WORTHY OF ALL HONOURS THOMAS Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain to his Majesty. WHO gins (my most Noble Lord) and not ends the Race, receives no Crown. I have begun to submit to your Patronage, my former endeavours: And therefore thus continue their grace, with prescription of your honourable name. Your most Noble disposition never giving over free and honest services; 'Twere inconstancy, respectless, and rude to relinquish, or not ever to celebrate you: Or to an increasing Nobility and merit, to decrease in observance and Tribute. I have chosen now to present your Lordship with the Life of one of those Kings, which my former French disfranchisements, and make free in our English, have in other sort touched at: Now selected, augmented, and more particularly illustrated, by the nearer, and more laboured insight of one of their learned'st, and most profit-making Observers. All objections to his labours, he hath answered himself in Sequel; my pains being only to render him truly, and with as much grace of our English representation as I might. Nought rests but your Lordship's leasurable perusal, and examination of both: Together with my zealous desire of your honourable conceit; that all Offices, performed on my part, in this or any other worthy subject, shall ever be particularly confined to your chosen service, and noble acceptance. So ever remaining in all things Your LL. most devoted, EDW: GRIMESTON. AN ADVERTISEMENT. ALthough that all Books which are presented unto the King, proceed not from those excellent pens which have taken life under his reign, to advance the French eloquence to the height of glory, no more than all Statues which were dedicated to Apollo, in Crect, Rhodes and Cypress, were not made by the hands of Zeuxis or of Phidias, nor the wine which was offered to jupiter, in his sacrifice, did not always come out of the cup, nor grew in those Vines which he desired: yet this History, being but in her Infancy, hath merited the favour of his judgement, and of the greatest of his Court, who have taken delight to see, as in an Astro●ab, the rising and fall of those which are on earth as the Sun is in Heaven. This is the rampire wherein she fortifies herself against so many affronts wherewith she hath been threatened, for curious spirits are not pleased with all kinds of writing, no more than the Planets feed upon all sorts of vapours. The most difficult to please will object against her, and me thinks I understand these words proceeding out of their mouths, or from their thoughts: why the History of Lewis the eleventh more then of any other? can they give us a better than that of Philip de Commines? to all these exceptions she hath but one answer. What though I give not all humours content? A work that's great cannot please every taster: But of so many tastes, so different, Let it suffice me that it likes my Master. I have not affected in this work the glory of mine own wit, I have contented myself with that of obedience. I have made it such as you see it, his commandment carries his reasons, and stays the curiosity of such as desires others. This great Prince, who entertained himself and slept sometimes upon the actions of this King, as Alexander did upon those of Achilles, and who made no less esteem of Phil. de Com. then the Emperor Charles the fift had done, would have his History beautified and illustrated in the same manner that I present it unto you, to the end that being compared with his, judgement might make the difference, and that of two they might frame a lively Image of that which might serve for the conduct of a Prince. The brightness of truth appears by the opposition of her contrary, and shadows give grace to lively colours, examples are of more force than precepts. Cowards instruct the Courageous, and liars make Men speak the truth. He that turns from vice encounters virtue. Ismenias mingled both good and bad Flute-players together, to the end that the diversity of their music might be a lesson to imitate the one and leave the other, and that comparison might make the difference. There is nothing so difficult as to parallel Princes; if there be any conformity in their fortunes, it is found in their virtues, if they have attained to one end, it hath not been by the same course, and therefore they say there are a hundredth years required to breed a great Prince or a great Captain. Lewis hath carried, and Henry doth yet carry the glorious Title of the most renowned and magnanimous Princes of their ages: but they have not purchased it by the self same means, the difference hath been great in their humours, and in their kind of government: Both had one kind of beginning, the one of the house of Valois, the other of that of Bourbon, two branches of S. Lewis. There was some conformity in their first fortunes; being both retired from Court, and both instructed in patience in the school of necessity: The beginning of their reigns had some resemblance, for both had seen a great and mighty faction raised against them, under two goodly pretexts, the one of the Commonweal, the other of Religion: both have been in pain to expel foreign enemies, to pacify domestic, and to divide their humours; but what the one hath done by policy and force, the other hath effected by the justness of his arms, and the mildness of his clemency. Both were troubled to moderate those spirits, which had yet a feeling of civil divisions: they have tried the infidelity of their servants, and have made themselves to be feared and redoubted; but the one hath maintained the respect of his Majesty by fear and severity, and the other by wisdom and love. The reign of the one was a Sea of sto●mes and tempest, the other a calm, mild, and clear haven. Lewis of much did little, Henry of nothing did wonders; Lewis thrust himself into apparent dangers to reap doubtful fruits, Henry was never seen in any place but fortunate and victorious Lewis meddled with all things and would see and know all; Henry is a Prince of all hours and for all affairs: Lewis feared the fat of his people, Henry believes that the felicity of the subject is the glory of the Prince. Lewis the eleventh had royal virtues, but they were not all pure; his wisdom had a touch of ounding, his justice of severity, his valour of rashness, his clemency of fear, his liberality of profusion, and his piety of dissimulation: Henry takes delight to be what he appears, and to appear what he is, wise and foreseeing without deceit, just without rigour, courageous without fear or indiscretion, courteous, mild, magnanimous without pusillanimity, liber all with judgement, and religious without hypocrisy. Lewis the eleventh contemned the Sciences, and learning, Henry favours them, makes choice of the best wits to restore the exercises, peoples the Colleges, and labours to make the famous Academies of France to flourish, and the University of Paris, the eldest daughter of Kings, the Queen of the Academies of Christendom. Lewis was blamed for the little care he had in the breeding, and institution of his son: Henry considering how much it doth imp●rt that the generous inclinations of my Lord the Dauphin, should be seconded with good instruction, hath committed the care to a Nobleman, which abounds in wisdom, generosity, experience and fidelity for the greatness of that charge. He doth always hold the mind of this Prince ellevated to things worthy of his birth and courage. France is bound unto the King, who could make so good a choice; the election proves the dignity of the person chosen, makes the excellency of the choosers judgement to be seen, and shows that heaven hath conspired with him to make so happy an accord of two such different ages. Lewis would not suffer his son to understand above two words of Latin: Henry wils that his dear son should have as much knowledge as a Prince ought to have; he causeth his younger years to be instructed in learning, by the diligence of a great and excellent wit, who carefully and indiciously doth show him what he should know, and what he should be ignorant of: he gives him the whole world for a lesson; for companions, the study of Emperors and Kings; for a table, the image of glory; for Philosophy, the knowledge of humours and manners, and entertaining him sweetly in the variety of History, which is only the Book of Kings, frames his mind to a knowledge which should show itself more by actions then by discourse: for as he himself says, For one that's not wedded to Arts, nor of them is unknowing, 'tis skill enough to render them such honour as is owing. Lewis had more care than his predecessors to fortify his frontiers, and forts. Henry hath made great works for the beautifying of his royal houses, and for the commodity of his people he makes his forts unexpugnable, and hath freed his affairs from the outrages and violence of necessity. Lewis was inconstant in his resolutions, and did sometime impair them by change. Henry in his greatest affairs says nothing but what he does, and doth nothing without premeditation, calling upon God in his thoughts. That which is framed in his mind remains firm. He hath so much foresight as he prevents all impediments, and hath so great power as nothing is impossible unto him. Lewis loved a country ruined rather then lost, Henry, given from heaven for the general good of the earth, hath saved, enriched and preserved the towns, which by the justice of his arms he might have spoiled and ruined. Lewis never left offences unpunished, Henry hath lost no part of his memory but injuries. Lewis took a delight to cut off the heads of poppy and ears of corn which do overtop the rest, the torrent of his justice hath often carried away the innocent with the guilty. Henry hath so used his clemency towards his greatest enemies, as if the justice of God should demand of him the number, he would easily give him an account. Lewis left France so weak, so ruinous and so dejected, as it had nothing remaining but the tongue to complain: Henry hath chased nedde, idleness and poverty out of France, and from the necessity of his affairs: and to conclude the parallel, there is not any nation which doth not reverence the name, admire the fortune, extol the virtues, envy the triumphs, sing or weep for the victories, love the government, and fear and redoubt the power of this great and incomparable Prince. This History doth truly show the diversity of the two portraits, and gives the King an incredible content, to see that the reign of a great, mighty, redoubted; and wise King, may not enter into comparion with his, by the difference which he hath set in the order of his treasure, in the number of his forces, in the force of his arms, in the fortification of his frontiers, in the structures of his great buildings, and in the restablishment of the public safety and felicity. As for the other objection which I have made as done, it is true that Philip de Commines hath related the life of this Prince so exactly and judiciously, as if Statius, who hath written the life of Achilles after Homer, did not maintain my design by his example, I should yield myself vanquished of indiscretion and presumption. Quamquam acta Viri multum inclita cantu Moeonio, sed plura vacant, nos ire per omnem Sic amor est, heroa velis, Sciroque latentem, Dulichia proffer tuba, nec in Hectore tracto Sistere, sed tota iwenem deducere Troia. Though his great deeds by Homer's lofty vain Be highly sung, yet much is left unsaied: we'll trace him all, and in Dulichian strain, Sound how this peer was close in Scyros laid; Nor in his dragging Hector stop our verse; But his young Acts in all Troy's siege rehearse. judgement must be the powder of separation to reduce every thing to his element, and will show that he hath not so reaped his field, but he hath left some ears to gather: In like manner I do not think that I have spoken all things so fully, and clearly, after him, but there will yet remain something to exercise others after me. The huntsman is commended that hunts and takes, but he is not blamed if he hath not taken all: We must yield something to the curiosity and diligence of others. He teacheth not well that teacheth all. Another spirit will happily find somethings wherewith to please himself in this goodly ample field of the life of this Prince. I confess I ha●e drawn the principal pieces of this building from Philip de Commines, but the order of the work, the Architecture, and the Ornaments are mine own. He could not speak, of his own knowledge, of the affairs of Lewis the eleventh but from the year, 1472. when as he left the D. of Bourgundy to serve him; but this History speaketh of the infancy of this Prince, of his retreat into Flanders, and of all that had happened memorable throughout the world, during the three and twenty years of his reign, and, besides many manuscripts, I have seen the foreign Histories of those times. The ten books are extended upon that which concerns his life, and the eleventh upon the observation of that which was done in those times, and of that which is done now, to show that Lewis hath been as much inferior to Henry, as he was held superior to other Kings. If all things have not been exactly and curiously digested, if in many places there be found defects, it sufficeth to say that the work hath been made following the Court, and printed in my absence: To conclude, men's minds should not be more difficult to please then the Gods of the ancients; He that had no milk gave them water, and he that found no wine offered milk, salt for incense, leaves and flowers for fruits, and fruits for beasts. He that gives what he hath, and doth what he can, is bound to no more. They that content not themselves with that which seems good, trouble themselves to seek for better. Whatsoever happen, all these disgraces shall never tyre nor daunt me: We do not leave to till and sow the ground, although the seasons be bad and the harvest unfruitful. He that cannot content all the world must endeavour to content himself. AN ELEGY OF LEWIS THE eleventh French King. LEWIS of Valois only like unto himself and unlike to all other Kings, was borne at Bourges, and presented at the font by john Duke of Alancon; he passed his infancy in the ruins & miseries of France, and the most sensible afflictions of his father, to whom there was a part of the Crown remaining. At eleven years the greatest of the Realm, abusing the innocency of his first age, to cover their discontentment and ambition, made him the head of a faction, which was so unjust, unnatural & odious unto the French, as it was presently abandoned even by them that were the Authors, and lasted but nine months. At fourteen years he was married to the Princess of Scotland, at fifteen General of a royal Army into Normandy and Languedoc: At twenty one he put all Germany in alarm, took Mombeliart, besieged Basill, defeated six thousand Swisses & overrun Alsa●ia. The bays of this triumph were all covered with blood, and soon after with tears, by the death of the Princess of Scotland his wife. The difficuly which he felt to submit his young and boiling humours to the temper of reason, and his will to that of his father, drew him from the Court, and entertained him some years in Dauphine, whereas he married Charlotte of Savoy, and made war against the Duke of Savoy his father in law, drawing unto his service some by promises, others by favour and presents, but most of all by rigour & severity, oppressing his subjects of Dauphine with unknown charges, so as the cement of his designs was tempered with blood, sweat & tears. The King, who was not insensible of Complaints, and wept by his subjects tears, made it known that he did love his estate better than his son. He came into Dauphine, and at the first glance of his eyes he dispersed the designs of such as would trouble the order of nature and the Laws of the Realm. Lewis, desiring rather to trust the enemies of his house then his father's bounty, retires to Bruxelles to Duke Philip, whereas he lived six years with Charlotte of Savoy his wife, and there received the first blessing of his marriage, by the birth of his son joachim of Valois, who died presently. All this time taught him a lesson of patience, being forced to make a virtue of necessity, learning to be wise in prosperity and constant in adversity. In the end Charles gave him place and left him the Realm united under the obedience of one, the English being expelled, and having nothing remaining unto them but Calis. All the forces of this powerful house of Bourgondy did accompany him until he had the Crown set upon his head, which he took at Rheims. Paris received him as it were in triumph, and all France seemed to revive again at the rising of this Star. The contempt of Princes of the blood, & the change of officers, the severity in searching out things past, with the oppression of the people, were the cause of a league which was made against him betwixt the Duke of Berry his brother, and the dukes of Burgundy, Britain, Calabria, and Bourbon, with the greatest of the realm. A powerful and famous faction, which abused the simple, made the wicked mad, and thrust good men into despair. The bad success of the Battle of Montlehery was not able to shake the constancy and fidelity of the subject. Paris, whose motions had always caused the rest of France to waver, held firm, and this great storm fell, and was dispersed before her walls. The greatest Cities of the realm, and the chief Provinces continued constant in their duties, & the interest of private men being contented, the pursuit of the public good was stayed. These arrows being unbound, Lewis had good means to break them. The D. of Normandy is forced to quit Rouen, & the D. of Britain avoids the storm by his submission. The duke of Burgundy is troubled with the mutinies of his subjects, who desirous of innovations & change did more affect the Earl of Charolois then the Duke of Bourgundy. Lewis to be revenged kindles a fire in his estate, and stirs up them of Liege, yet making show that he desired nothing more than the observation of the treaty of Conflans: relying too much upon his wit and forces, he engaged himself indiscreetly in Peronne, where the Castle was in show his lodging, and in effect his prison; he saw himself forced to arm against his friends, & to receive a law from him to whom he thought to give it. The assembly of the estates at Tours judge of the injury of his promises, and cannot yield that Normandy (one of the goodliest flowers of the crown of France) should be dismembered: they declare war against the D. of Bourgundy. The King takes the town of S. Quintin, than Amiens, and seeing that the Duke of Burgundy, in the desolation of his affairs, was priest to give his daughter in marriage to the Duke of Guienne, he doth not in this prosperity embrace the opportunity, but is content to have amazed his enemy, and grants him a truce, during the which he sees, as from the shore, that cruel tempest of England which overthrew the house of Lancaster, whom he favoured, & assured the Sceptre in that of York, succoured and supported by the D. of Burgundy. The Duke of Guiennes death broke the truce and hopes of peace, and brought all them to the brink of death and despair which had followed his fortune, who were reduced to such misery, as then the most miserable, hearing the discourse, found therein consolation and amazement. Many families were overthrown, and that rich and famous house of Armagnac was full of strange tragedies and revolutions. The war, furiously inhuman, began again, and the Duke of Bourgundy armed to revenge his death upon innocents. The town of Nesle saw heaps of dead carcases in her streets, and streams of blood in her Churches: Beawais stayed the torrent of his fury, and diverted it upon Normandy. The D. of Britain, although he were governed by another head, considering the danger wherein he was, submitted himself to the stronger, and seeing the K. at Angiers with an army of 50000. men came unto him to demand a peace. The King of Sicily was dispossessed of his country of Anjou, being forced to retire into Provence with grief to survive his Son john D. of Calabria & Lorraine, & Nicholas Marquis of Ponte his grandchild. He doth represent the estate of his age & house in the device which he carried of an old stock which had no green sprout to make it live, it was Rene D. of Lorraine, Son to Yoland of Anjou his daughter. The Constable, who would divide his heart in two to nourish & entertain the war, thrust the duke of Burgundy into fury & the King into distrust of him, & having left the path of moderation & wisdom, he came unto the king by that of pride & distrust, refusing to represent himself unto his majesty but armed, nor to speak unto him but by a bar, & upon a causey well guarded with soldiers. The D. of Burgundy not able to live idly during this Truce seeks for work in Germany, passeth to Treves, propounds to change his duke's Crown for a Kings, & is offended with the Emperor for refusing it: He besiegeth Nuze, and seeing that the crosses, which he had in his affairs proceeded only from the King, he persuades the K. of England to pass the seas, to renew the pretensions of his predecessors, and to make a fatal combustion of all France. But Lewis diverts this storm, and makes a bridge of gold for this King to repass the sea, sending him home as well content with peace as he was come resolute to war. The King reaped both honour & profit, and by his foresight disappointed the great designs which were laid under favour of this army, and although it had divers pretexts, as divers branches of the same stock of sedition and ambition, they were all dangerous; all the kinds of this poison were mortal. The Duke of Bourgundy was forced to accept a peace of the king, against whom he had proclaimed war: The coal, which entertained the fire of discord was quenched, and this head that made the winds to blow; which caused the quiet of France to tremble, was cut off at the grieve. The Duke of Bourgundy, to revenge a light injury done unto the Earl of Romond, undertakes a great war against the Sui●les, which by the unfortunate event of three battles, made him to lose his baggage at Granson; his reputation, his forces and his hopes at Morat; and at Nancy his life, with a part of his estate. The King reaped the fruit of this war, having favoured and supported the Duke of Lorraine against the great designs of this Conqueror. He seized upon both Burgundy's, and upon a part of Artois, and had forced the Archduke Maximilian to leave the low countries, and to lead the Princess his wife into Germany, with repentance of his marriage, if the battle of Guinegaste had not troubled the face of his affairs, and changed the designs of war into resolutions of peace, which was confirmed by the marriage of Charles Dauphin of France with Margaret of Austria. Age, which never comes alone, suffers not the King to undertake any long and difficult conque●s, and binds him to think upon the means to leave his crown peaceably unto his Son, as it was rich, mighty, and more assured than he had received it from his father, having beautified it with many goodly flowers, as Burgundy, Anjou, Bar, Provence, and the recovery of the Towns in Picardy, and of some in Artois. Being priest with troubles of mind as much as with the languishing of the body, and reduced to an estate more lamentable then lamented, in the which he could not live, & would not die: he strove four whole years against the force of an incurable disease, and repulsed by strange means the approaches of death, to retain life, which was but too long for his miseries, and infirmities, as it had been too short for his designs and hopes. He was forced to yield himself to discretion the 30th. day of August 1483. the 22th. year of his reign, and of his age the sixtith. He carried nothing from the place which he left, but the proud title to have freed the Kings of France from subjection or wardship, capable to command, not a Realm only, but the whole world. He was interred at our Lady of Clery, having obtained from Pope Sixtus the fourth an excommunication against all such as would lay his body in any other tomb then in that which he had built for himself, and Charlotte of Savoy his wife. He did often visit this last abode, and did lie in it sommetimes, that by the meditation of death, he might descend living into the grave. The triumphant Chariot of the prosperities of his life was drawn by Wisdom, justice, Liberality and Reputation; wisdom made him victorious over his enemies, judge of the controversy betwixt the Crowns of Castille, and Navarre: Protector of the liberty of the Commonweals of Italy: Arbitrator of the peace betwixt Rome and Florence, and then betwixt Rome and Venice, He added the county of Provence to the Crown: He undertook strange impossible designs. justice, always in heat by his extreme severity, did more often put the sword of execution into his hand, than the balance of due consideration: he caused many great men to feel his rigour whose process he began by the execution. Liberality, opened him the hearts and gates of towns, which he battered with his money; caused many which were distracted from him to come like Bees at the sound of a basin: he used it to bind the English to his friendship, the Swisses to his succours, and the Britons to his service: Reputation hath held all the powers of Europe in admiration of him, and hath made him to be redoubted of strangers, and feared of his Subjects. Yet the differences betwixt the private and public fortunes of this Prince were great; his fortunes were of long Time in favour amidst his prosperities: In his reign, he was a wise, happy King, a good and a bountiful master, a distrustful friend, a cruel enemy, and a terrible neighbour; in his house a bad son, a bad father, & a bad husband: he had no children by Margaret Steward his first wife, and by Charlotte of Savoy, his second, he had joachim, Charles, Francis, Anne and joane. The Contents of the first Book of the History of Lewis the XI. 1 Charles the 7. disinherited by King Charles the sixth his father, by the persuasion of Isabel of Bavaria his wife. A Table of the miseries of France by the divisions of the houses or Orleans and Bourgondy. 2. The birth of Lewis Dauphin of France son to Charles the seventh. His breeding and marriage with the Princess of Scotland. 3 Treaty of Arras, betwixt King Charles the 7. and Philip of Bourgondy. 4 Reduction of the City of Paris. 5 First Arms of Lewis the xi. 6. He is carried from Loches: Trouble of the Praguerie. 7. The Duke of Bourgondy approves not this mutiny. 8 King Charles the seventh arms against his son the Dauphin, and taketh S. Maixaint and Niort. 9 Estates assembled at Clermont: every man seeks to recover the king's favour. 10 Repentance of the Dauphin and the Princes of his party. 11. King Charles the seventh pardons his son, and refuseth to pardon them thut had corrupted him. 12 A new order in the Dauphin's house. 13. Instructions which King Charles gives him. 14. Siege of Pontoise, the Academies of military exercises. The taking of Tartas. 15. The taking of deep. The King's army in Languedoc. 16. Montbeliard taken. Basil besieged. 17. Swisses defeated at the Hospital of St. james of Basil. 18. Truce betwixt France and England. 19 Death of Margaret Steward, wife to Lewis the eleventh. 20. Life of King Charles the seventh. The idleness of peace. 21, Lewis the eleventh retires into Dauphiné. Refuseth to return at the King's command. 22 He passeth into Flanders to Duke Philip, who lodgeth him at Gueneppe. 23. Practices of Lewis the eleventh. 24. Hatred and contrariety of humours betwixt Lewis and the Earl of Charolois. 25. Birth of joachim of Valois first son to Lewis the eleventh. 26. Army of Charles the seventh. The Duke of Bourgondy in alarm. 27. Distrustful and suspicious nature of Charles the seventh. 28. His death; with a collection of his principal actions. THE FIRST BOOK: OF THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI ISabel of Bavaria, Disinheriting of Charles the Dauphin. an ambitious Princess, and a cunning woman, but a cruel mother, a human wisdom 〈◊〉 deceived in matters which it thinks i● hath foreseen, Charles the 5. had desired to seek an alliance in Germany for his son to fortify h●m against the English H● married Isabella daughter to St●phen D●●e or Bavaria, 〈…〉 nature ●anded against Charles her son to transport he Clown to strangers. had so great power over the will and weakness of Charles the sixth, her husband, as he disinherited the Dauphin his son, and gave the Crown of France to Henry the fift, king of England his son in law, by a treaty made at troy the xxi. of May 1420. This declaration, published at the Marble table, was followed by another of the King's Council, which promised to use all the severities of justice against the Dauphin, to punish him for the murder of Duke john, slain at Monstereau. A murder, which making an altar unto Mars of all France, gave him for offerings, not prodigious shows of vices, but an infinite number of brave men, worthy of a more happy age, and a better end. He that knows not the History cannot understand that of the wars, which it hath caused betwixt the kings of France and the house of Burgundy; nor of those tragical effects of malice and hatred, which continued all the reign of Lewis the xi. But behold a true Table. Charles the vi. b Charles the 6. going from Man's in july in the extrea●most heat of the day his head being covered with a great hood of scarlet he me● with a man 〈◊〉 ●eaded and barelegged, 〈◊〉 in white rug at the entry of the forest who staying his horse by the reyac● said unto him. King ride no farther for thou art betrayed. These words to a spirit weakened with care, watching, distemperature and distrust turned his brain and made him mad. O what misery did this poor head bring to the whole body of France. , for the infirmity and weakness of his spirit, Distraction of Charles ●he 6. suffered himself to be governed by Lewis Duke of Orleans, his brother, whom he loved dearly. Philip Duke of Burgundy, Uncle to the king by the father, grew first jealous, than an enemy to this great authority, and his hatred took such deep root, as it died not with him, for john his son was his heir, and swore the ruin of the house of Orleans. The two factions are framed, Faction of Orleanois and Burgonians. and the heads discover their hearts by their devices, the motto of that of the Duke of Orleans, was je l'enuie, having a knotted staff: that of the duke of Burgundy was a joiners plan with this motto; je le tiens: th'one showing how he would maintain his authority, and the other how he would overthrow it. The Duke of Burgundy's designs succeeded, both to the ruin of himself and his house: He grounded himself upon the practice of the Towns, and especially of Paris, supplanting the Duke of Orleans of all c The credit and confidence which they have in a man of commandment is the chief support of his authority, for from thence proceeds the love of the people which is a buckler unto the 〈◊〉, and a strong ram●i●e against 〈…〉 and wicked. credit and love, and seeking to make him hateful in the speeches, but worse in the affections of the people, who were otherwise incensed against him, for some new subsidies which he had raised. The first effect of this cruel hatred was, that after many combustions, both within and without Paris, Death of Charles D. of Orleans. and even then when as they thought their minds were least inflamed; the Duke of Orleans returning from the Queen's Palace, where she than lay in, and having past most part of the night by her, on the 20. of November 1407. fell into the hands of xviij. murderers, which slew him. It was a spectacle full of pity, the next day, to see about this poor sick King, the widow d Valentine of Milan widow to the Duke of Orleans, Charles, Philip, and john her sons. Isab●l of F●ance the King's daughter, married to Charles, elder son to the Duke of Orleans, the Kings of Sicily and Navarre, with the Dukes of Berry & Bourbon demand justice of the murder. and her three sons, assisted by the three Princes of the blood, imploring justice. They seek out the crime, but they find not the offenders: The Duke of Burgundy's hatred is a great presumption, that these were the fruits of his revenge; The Duke of Burgundy flies into Flanders. all men's eyes were cast upon his, which his conscience made him to hold down: He draws the King of Sicily, and the Duke of Berry apart, and advowes the fact, he leaves Paris with five more in his company, and recovers his country of Flanders, in great haste, so as the suspicion was changed into apparent proof. Sun after he e The Duke of Bourgondy returning into France with a great army carried in a table two lances in saltire, the one having a sharp head for the war the other a burrhead for the tourney, giving the choice of war or peace. returns with a mighty army; they that would have condemned him, He returns to Paris. are now forced to seek his friendship: Paris receives him as the Daemon Guardian of her walls; he maintains puqlikely that he had caused the Duke of Orleans to be slain, to free the estate from oppressions. A Doctor of the Sorbonne undertook to justify him before the King's Counsel, with so great impudence and flattery, as it seemed he would canonize him before his f Flattery gives honours to mortal men which belong not unto them Tertullian reproacheth the Pagans of lying and flattery which made them declare men Gods, and Tacitus saith Deum honour Principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierit. Tac. An. lib. 15. The honour of the Gods is not to be given unto the Prince, until he hath left to live among men. death, after this followed an accord; by the which the Duke of Burgundy should for a reparation ask pardon of the King upon his knee. The Queen, the Dauphin, the Kings of Sicily and Navarre, & the Duke of Berry making the like request for him, in the presence of the Children of the Duke of Orleans, melting with tears, and weeping with sobs, to see the blood of their Father put to compromise, and themselves forced to forget so sensible an Injury. France was presently divided into two factions of Orleanois and Burgundians. A league of Armagnacs Th'one taking his favour and authority from the ruins & disgrace of the other. The Duke of Burgundy hath the sovereign government of affairs, and forceth them of the house of Orleans to make an offensive and defensive league against that of Burgundy. g League of Orleanois at G●en the tenth of March 1410. the heads were Charles Duke of Orleans and his brethren john Duke of Berry, Lewis Duke of Bourbon, john Earl of Alencon, Francis Earl of Clermont, Bernard Lord of Armagnac, and Charles of Albert Constable of France The heads of the Bourgundy faction were john Duke of Bourgundy & his brethren. Charles King of Navarre son to Charles the bad, the Dukes of Lorraine, Brabant, Britain, the Marquis of Pont, the Earls of Nevers, Vaudemont, St. Paul & Ponthure. The name was of Armanacks, the mark a white scarf: the cause, the kings liberty who was in captivity under the law and will of the Duke of Burgundy: Challenge sent to the Du. of Burgundy. and to the end the quarrel might be ended with less danger, loss of men, and time, Charles Duke of Orleans sent a challenge to the Duke of Burgundy, to fight a combat with him, and to be revenged of his father's death. The Duke of Burgundy, who had drawn the Queen unto his party, had no great difficulty to persuade the King, that the design of the house of Orleans was nothing but ambition and rebellion; in denying him to demand succours from Henry the fourth king of England. The Dolphin being of years able to judge of the intentions of the one and the other, The son in law against the father in law. found that the interest of the house of Orleans was that of the Crown, and that the ambition of the Duke of Bourgondy his father in law h Queen Isabel being banded against her nephews of Orleans, adhered to the Duke of Burgundy & made the marriage of his daughter Catherin● with the Dauphin Lewis. was the chief motive of those troubles, wherefore he undertook to cross his designs and to make a peace: this soul was seasoned with good thoughts at the siege of Burges, for when they told him that in a sally, which the besieged had made, some of his servants were slain, and that the soldiers died of poisoned waters, he said unto the King his Father, and the Duke of Burgundy. That this war lasted too long, and that he would make an end of it. john of France Duke of Berry, and i Enguerand of Monstrelet notes, in what manner the Duke of Berry came to this treaty, in his arms, notwithstanding that he was 70. years old: (for he llued above 80) having upon them a Cassock of purple with a band powdered with marigolds, and so he is painted in the gallery of the ●o●ure. Philebert of Lignac, great master of Rhodes, employed themselves virtuously to reconcile the nephews and the uncle. The conditions of this peace were concluded at Burges, Peace of Burges. & sworn in a great assembly at Auxerre, the names of that fatal faction of Armagnac, and Burgundian were comprehended in the forgetfulness of things past, and Philip Earl of Vertus was married to the Duke of Burgundy's daughter. But all the parts of France recover not their former health: The war renews again, and the Dauphin is no more for the Burgundian, whose principal force consists in the sedition of Paris and the succours of the English, who making their profit of civil divisions, win the battle of Azingcourt, which was called the unfortunate day of the 25. of October, 1415. The battle of Azingcourt. The Duke of Orleans, armed to revenge his father's death and the liberty of his country, was led prisoner into England, and if religion had not comforted him, he had no less reason than Pompey, k The Mitcleniens came to salute Pompey after the battle entreating him to land, which he refused and advised them to obey the victor, and not to fear any thing, for that Caesar was a just man, and of a mild nature: and then turning to the Philosopher Cratippus who was also come to see him, he complained and disputed a little with him touching the divine providence, wherein Cratippus yielded mildly unto him, putting him still in better hope. to be amazed at the providence of God, which seemeth to favour the most unjust party, tyranny against liberty, and covetousness against freedom: Death of the Dolphin and Duke of Turraine. This loss was followed by the death of Lewis the Dauphin, and of john Duke of Touraine, the King's second son. By the death of these two, Charles Earl of Ponthieu saw himself in the first degree of the Princes of the blood, and presently made show that he had been bred up to apprehend the injury which the Duke of Burgundy had done unto his uncle. All the Princes and Noble men which had followed the house of Orleans came unto him, and among others, the Constable of Armagnac: but his greatest affliction was, for the unnatural hatred which the Queen his mother bore him, who declared herself against him Regent of the Realm, & was maintained in that quarrel by the Duke of Burgundy: under her was that cruel massacre committed the 12. of june 1418: whereas the l Amassacre at Paris upon the Armagnacks from 4 of the clock in the morning the 12 of june until the next day 10. of the clock. To note the Constable by the scarce which he carried they flayed a bend of his skin and tied it cross his body, his office was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine, and the Chancellors to Eustace de Lastre. Constable of Armagnac and the Chancellor de Marle were slain, and the Dauphin ran a dangerous fortune, if Tanneguy du Chastel; Provost of Paris, and his faithful servant had not saved him in the Bastille. Paris saw itself reduced to that miserable estate, as it seemed a retreat for Bears and Tigers. During this fatal division, the English prevailed in Normandy and Guyenne, Peace treated at Povilly. and then a peace was treated between the Dauphin, and the Duke of Burgundy; under the assurance whereof the Duke came unto the Dauphin, being at Montereau Faut Yonne m The Dauphin sent Charles of Poitiers, Bishop of Valence, to the Duke of Burgundy, to draw him to Monste●cau in Gasteacis, for that he had refused to come by Tanneguy du Chastel: saying, that it were better for the Dauphin to come to Troy. The 10. of November, 1419. he came & was slain upon the bridge, which was fortified with 3. bars. The Duke having past the first entered into some apprehension of his fortune, and meeting Tanreguy du Chastel, he laid his hand upon his shoulder, saying: Behold h●m in whom I trust. , and presenting himself upon his knee, Robert de Loire, taking him by the arm, said unto him: rise, you are but too honourable; who rising, laid his hand upon his sword to draw it forward, for that it hung too much back, then said the Loire unto him; Do you lay your hand upon your sword before my Lord the Dauphin? whereupon Tanneguy du castle struck him so forcibly upon the face with a battell-axe, as he made him to fall upon his knee and cut off his chin, another thrust his sword into his belly: The body being stripped was drawn into a mill, and buried the next day. This death revenged the house of Orleans, but it gave so great a share of the Realm to strangers, as there remained very little for Charles, who presently after the death of the Duke of Burgundy was declared by the king his father (at the persuasion of his mother) unworthy to succeed unto the crown of France. He might justly have appealed from these declarations to the King's good sense; but seeing him decay daily, and that he was still under the government of this Medea, he chose rather to appeal to God, n Private persons have many judges, kings have none but God, says M. Anthony, Dion Nice●s. the judge of Kings, and to his sword, lamenting with tears, drawn from the bottom of his heart, his own misery and that of France. This disorder, Death of K. Henry the fifth & Charles the sixth, contrary to the reason of nature, & the laws of the realm, was followed with strange changes. Henry the fifth dies, and 50. days after Charles the sixth king of France. Henry the sixth king of England is crowned at Paris, Charles the seventh at Poitiers, there were two kings in one Realm, two parties, two armies, but the English hold Paris, and the first o In all factions the authority of the Senate is of great force. Otho, to show the difference of his party, & that of Vitellius, said: Nationes aliquas occupavit Vitellius, imaginem quandam exercitus habet, Senatus nobis cum est. Sic fit ut h●c Resp. inde hosts Reip. constiterint. Tacitus Hist. lib. 1. Senate, who thought that all authority and sovereign command was in effect on their side; that the king had but the image, some calling him, for pity sake, Dauphin of Viennois, and others, in mocking, King of Bourges, or Earl of Ponthieu, there remaining nothing to make him known to be the fourth son of Charles p Charles the 6. had 5. sons, Charles, who died of a ●●●sumption, at 9 years, Lewis D. of Guyenne, who died at 19 john Duke of Touraine, married to jacquet of Bavaria in the yea●e 1404. Charles the seventh borne in the year. 1402. the fi●th was he of whom the Queen was brought to bed, when the Duke of Orleans was slain. the sixth but a piece of the crown. He goes to field weak of all things, of arms, friends, men and money, but strong in right and courage to maintain the quality of his birth, which the envy of fortune, and the conspiracy of his enemies could not take from him; for his mother had brought him into the world under purple q The Emperors of Constantinople ordained that their wives should be brought in bed under purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicetas lib. 5. and the flower deluce. There is nothing so powerful as a good cause maintained with a good sword, nothing doth so much comfort the soul in adversity, nor moderate it in prosperity, as the judgement of conscience, when as she fears not to have her intentions known to God and men. But seeing himself forced to vanquish before he reign, that victories depend of the force of Arms, and that the triumphant Chariot of Mars is not moved but by the force of gold and iron, r Four things do perpetually follow war, men, iron, silver and bread, but of these 4. the two first are the most necessary, for that m●n and iron cannot furnish silver & bread but bread and silver may find men and Iron● that the springs of his treasure are drawn dry, and the royal revenues held by his enemies, he procures his subjects to assist him with taxes. Taxes ordained. The French, who have always excelled other nations in fidelity and devotion towards their Kings, not knowing what it is to have good when they want, did contribute freely & cheerfully to the necessities of Charles, who like a good Shepherd was content to fleece his 〈◊〉 and not to slay them. France which had been besieged 70. years, Miseries of France last 70. years. with the misery and calamity of war, might well have been without this cruel division, which was no other thing then a conspiracy of the Children s Civil war is a mortal sever in an estate. This ardent desire in the Grecians to make war in Greece, is called by Plutarch, a conspiracy against themselves, by the which they stayed with their own arms the fortune which led them to the height of felicity, and turned their weapons against their own bowels. , to turn the points of their swords against their own bowels; to invite their Ancient enemies to the funerals of her liberty and to bring back those cruel and bloody days for the which England hath given to the two Edward's the proud titles of Lightning, Edward the third, and the Prince of Wales. and Eagle. There was nothing in general but miseries, confusions, amasements, and desolation: The peasant being stripped both of flesh and fat had nothing left but bones, and they were bruised. The History admires that even the cattle hearing the bell, (a sign of the enemies approach) fled of themselves to recover their retreats. She had so lost her first excellence, as she seemed a building, of whose beauty no man could judge, but by the pieces that remained of her ruins. Virtue and Fortune t For the greatness and continuance of an Empire, fortune, or to speak better, providence and destiny must agree with virtue, Roma ut ageretur sublimibus incrementis faedere pacis aeternae virtus convenit atque for●una, quarum si altera defuisset, ad perfectam non venerat summitatem. Ammianus. which in the beginning, had agreed to settle and maitaine her Empire, held no more account of her, and conspired with her enemies to ruin her. And as too much grief makes men to lose all feeling, the excess of her miseries, which had no ease but custom, u Custom is the only case of inevitable miseries, and those calamities which are grown into a custom give some contents unto miserable men. made the French so accustomed to the darkness of servitude, as they grew ignorant of the light of liberty, and they which were borne under the yoke, did lay a foundation of this foreign domination by the length of their sufferance. In this terrible ebbing and flowing of calamities, capable to make the strongest men faint and effeminate, x Great courages grow resolwe against misfortunes, & take adversities for exercises of their virtue, others are presently dejected. Tacit. Ann. l. 4 Charles continued still constant in his resolution, and God did comfort him by the birth of the Dauphin, at Bourges the sixth of july, 1423. the twentieth year of his age, the first of his reign, the nineteenth of his marriage with Mary Daughter to Lewis Duke of Anjou, and King of Sicily. The joy was great: the History says, they generally cried Christmas, an ordinary cry at public joys, in those days. It is a great proof of the people's love, when as they rejoice at their Prince's issue, and hold the want of it a misfortune y It is a great testimony of the bounty of a Prince, w●en as they rejoice at the birth of his children, or when as the want of them is accounted amongst the miseries of the common wealth. . They went not to seek godfathers in the sovereign houses of Europe, john of Alancon godfather to Lewis the eleventh. the joy passed with less brute. john Duke of Alencon, first Prince of the blood, carried the new Prince to be baptized, and gave him the name of Lewis. If they made some scruple to give him his fathers or his godfathers name, as it was an old pagan error, that there was some fatality in names z The ancients had great respect to names. They had certain dares for the impesition and profession of names & feasts which they called Nominales, holding for a good sign the encounter and choice of a goodly name: as Valerius, Saluius, Statorius, and in the levy of men of war, the Consul had a care, ut primus miles esset bono nomine. That the for most soldier should have a good name. , and was then in credit, it may be they remembered the captivity of King john in England, and the storms wherewith his descendants called Charles had been shaken. Ignorance was so bold and general in those days, as all they that have dealt in the history, being neither curious nor diligent, have not left any mention of the education of the Princes of France, whereon notwithstanding is grounded the hopes of the rest of their lives. For such as they have showed themselves in their first inclinations, such are they known to be afterwards. Seldom do they hate that in the end of their days which they have loved in the beginning. The care of such dear and Important persons hath always been very great in the house of France, they suffer nothing that is pestilent or infectious to approach a The Egyptians did not suffer any about the King's children but such as were well bred, and of a generous disposition, they were always served and followed by their Priests Children, attired in habits fit for their profession, of great modesty and above twenty years old, to the end that being always guiled by the Ministers of their gods they might be retained within the bounds of majesty and virtue. HERODOT. . This spring must water the whole State, and it is hard for them to err and fail among so many examples of virtue, valour, and courage, which are like whetstones to give an edge to generous natures. He gave such timely proofs, as he made it known, that judgement & reason appeared sooner in King's children b Great natures discover themselves soon. So Plutarch said that Pompey did in the flower of his youth show a venerable greatness of real majesty in his actions and manners. then in others, that lilies put forth sooner than common flowers: at the break of his morning they saw that which they should expect of him all the rest of the day. Marriage of Lewis the eleventh. His Father married him at thirteen years to the Lady Margaret Steward, daughter to james the first, King of Scotland, as King Charles the sixth had married him at eleven years. The Ambassadors being sent into Scotland to bring this Princess, were crossed by the English, being jealous and offended at this alliance, which renewed and confirmed those which since Charlemagne c Charles the great, Emperor and King of France, having been assisted by Achaius king of Scotland in Spain against the S●ras●ns, and in Germany against the Saxons, made an offensive & defensive league with him, and gave him his daughter to wife in the year 777. had been betwixt these two Crowns, and put them into a great apprehension, that whilst they should be busy in France, (whereas their affairs began to decline) the Scots might trouble them in England. They offered to yield him Barwick and Rosbourg, with all other places which were in question, if he would dissolve the promise of this marriage. The estates of Scotland assembled upon this proposition. Parliament in Scotland. The Clergy was divided, most part saying, that it was just and profitable, that the refusal would be pernicious, and that to attain unto a good peace with their neighbours, they must not so much regard things past as the future and the incertainty of events. The Nobility did courageously resist the design of the English, crying out that their enemy's counsel was poison presented in a cup of gold, a goodly pretext to ruin them, a practice to divide Scotland from their ancient friends, and then subject them more easily to their enemies. d We must not only consider matter which are past, but those which are also to come. And in truth they to whom fortune hath never turned her backed●e not without cause fear the doubtfulness of variable evens, so as a certain peace were always to be preferred before a doubtful victory), for that the first is in our will and disposition, and the last in the hand & power of the immortal god. The words of Hannibal to Scipio. Tit. Li●. The English being refused of their request they fall to threats, and declare that they had ships at sea to stop the Princess passage. Marry Steward sent into France This made the King resolve to send her sooner than he had intended, the estates beseeching him not to defer to trust his Daughter to his Son, who trusted them with the guard e St. Lewis being at the holy land escaped a conspiracy made against his person by the King of the Arsacides, it was discovered and prevented by the Scotchmen of whom afterward he made his guard. of his royal person. She passed notwithstanding the ambushes of the English, more by the providence of God, than the foresight of men, for whiles the English, were busy in fight with a ship which was lad with wine for Flaunders, the Scots vessel past freely and landed the Princess at Rochel. f Revenge runs always against the enemy that hath most offended, and in the contention of three Nations there is always one that saves himself, and does his business. She was conducted to Tours, whereas the marriage was solemnised the 24. of june. Murder of james King of Scotland But this joy lasted not long in her fullness, news coming of the death of the king of Scotland, being miserably murdered with six and twenty wounds by his Uncle and Cousin, in the sight of the Queen his wife, who presenting herself unto the murderers, and making a buckler of her body to defend her husbands, received two wounds. The thoughts of Lewis were in those days more inclined to Arms then to Ladies. Nature did dispense them from their servitude, and his breeding had diverted him from all intemperance which makes men inferior to beasts, and bound him to the exercise of virtue, which makes Princes superior to Men. He had learned by the infancy of King Charles the 6. g Charles the fift, meaning to try the generous disposition of his son, did set a crown of gold & a sceptre upon a velvet cushion, and on another an helmet and a sword, Charles made choice of the sword and the helmet. his Grandfather, to lay hold of a sword as soon as of a Crown. They did gird him with it sooner for necessity then to grace him, more to defend himself then to adorn him. So it is fit that a Prince should carry an honourable mark h In places whereas arms are in a degree of excellency and necessity, the Prince and they of his blood should make great esteem of them which make profession. of the most excellent and necessary profession of his estate. He could no more draw it but against the English, the French and the Burgundians were in the way of an accord. The Duchess of Burgundy, Duchess of Bourgundy draws her husband to the treaty of Arras. Infanta of Portugal, a good Frenchwoman, was the chief instrument. She told the Duke that he should be generally blamed, if he refused a peace offered with honour and profit, that indiscretion would not excuse the repentance of so prejudicial a refusal. She drew the heart of this Prince to her intention, making it known that burning iron is not sooner quenched in water, than the heat of collar and revenge is lost by the persuasion of a mild and moderate spirit, and that nothing is unpossible to Princesses of courage, when as their understanding hath power over their husbands. i The effects are 〈…〉 they 〈◊〉 good to good and bad to bad. Tamerl●nes wife flaid him long f●●m making war against Buazet, but being incensed by an injurious wish which he had made, she did animate her husband by an extreme fury against him. Chalcondylas. By her persuasions the Duke yielded unto the King's youth the blow which he had caused to be given being Dauphin, and the excess of his offence to the greatness and majesty of the King, considering that forgetfulness is an Antidote against the deadly poison of Injuries, which may ruin the soul when it doth too eagerly seek revenge, and that it is a great folly to continue immortal hatred amongst mortal men. k Revenge continues injuries & makes them hereditary. A strange distemperature of men. Quid juuat tanquam in aeternam genitos, it is indicere brevisfimam aetatem dissipare? Sen. libr. 3. De ira. What doth it avail to make hatred eternal, and to lead a short life. The Counsel of Basil employed itself, seeing that while France was not in peace, Christendom should be still in trouble; They sent two Cardinals to mediate this peace, & to exhort the Kings of France and England and the Duke of Burgundy to cause their discords to cease & to accord their wills for the defence of the Church; To strain their courages and tackle against the force of the winds that did shake that vessel; that they should have pity of themselves and of their subjects. The English growing obstinate not to leave any thing had no part of this peace. There is nothing so difficult in a Prince as restitution; they left the duchies of Guienne and Normandy l King Charles the seventh offered to the K. of England the duchies of Normandy and Guienne, to hold them by homage of the Kings of France as sovereigns, and upon such conditions as the Kings of England his Aneectors had enjoyed them in the beginning. to the King of England to quite the rest; but the prosperity of his affairs doth prejudice him of the possession, and the desire to continue a revenge trouble the souls of so many persons, as reason had no more command, Wilfulness of the English. opinion held the sceptre. A Royalty endures no equal. The great God of peace, who is all spirit, all light, all eye, all seeing, all hearing, all m Treaties of peace are concluded when as men hold them broken and impossible: they be the effects of the eternal providence of that great God whom Clement Alexandrious calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, totus mens, totus lu● totus oculus, all mind, all light, all eye. knowing, inspired the hearts of these two Princes with the holy resolution of Concord, and a full forgetfulness of injuries, so as the Duke seeing the King of England too difficult made his treaty apart. They contented in every degree the interests both of dead and living. The King transported to the Duke of Burgundy the Towns upon the river of Somme, whereof mention shall be often made, st. Quintin, Corbie, Amiens, Abbeville, and others, upon condition to redeem them for the sum of four hundredth thousand old Crowns of gold. The marriage of the Earl of Charolois and of Catharin the King's Daughter, was the seal of this treaty. n The marriage of the Earl of Charolois with the King's Daughter was the seal of this treaty, he was then but two years old, and when he come to age he married isabel of Bourbon. The Lady Catherine who was promised died at eighteen years of age, the 28. of july and was interred at Brusseis in S. Gould. Charles Duke of Bourbon, and Arthur Duke of Britain with the Earl of Richmond Constable of France craved pardon of the Duke of Burgundy for the death of his father, in the name of King Charles the seven. It is a cruel thing when he must take a Law from his inferior, but the good of a peace, and the necessity of the King's affairs forced him from all these formalities: without this satisfaction a peace had not been made, and it was reason that he which had done the harm should show some repentance, and serve as a table in the history of France, that a Prince which wants piety towards God and justice towards men, falls always into o He that hath piety, & justice for the guide of his actions frees himself happily from confusion in all sorts of affairs. These be the glorious titles which Demetrius purchased 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, religious to the gods, and Just to men. confusion. The Duke said that he pardoned him for the love of God, promising him to be his friend, enemy to his enemies, and to renounce the alliance of England, and the deputies of the Council dispensed him of the oath which he had made, not to treat without the King of England. This happy and memorable peace, Peace of Arras. sworn the 24. of November 1435. was followed with great blessings for the French, and great ruins for the English. This was the Comet which threatened their ruin in France, and which brought the Duke of Bedford unto his grave. Death of the Duke of Bedford Regent in France for the English. With the like grief six days after the treaty p Isabel of Bavaria contemned of the English and Bourgundian, for whom she had ●anded herself against her son died at S. Paul house the last of September 1435. she was carried by the River of Seine to S. Dennis, and buried without pomp. Her tomb was built in the same place where her husbands was, and her portrait is yet to be s●ene in the window of that Chapel. died that old malicious woman the Queen mother, stepmother to the king and Realm. She wanted means to live before her death, for being no more assisted by the Duke of Bourgundy, the Duke of Bedford caused her to fast upon days which were not commanded to be fasted, lying in Saint Paul house. She had always lived full of honours and affairs, and now she dies plunged in miseries and contempts. The reduction of Paris was the fruit of the peace, she opened her gates unto the King, Reduction of Paris. which she had shut against him, for the love of the Duke of Bourgundy, for she hath dealt with friendships as with flowers, the new have always been most pleasing unto her. The King was at Montpelier when Paris was reduced. The q The English were chased out of Paris the 27. of February 1436. where they had entered in the year 1420. English depart, the Lilies flourish, and the Kings will, with the laws of the Realm are honoured there. The King made his entry, and was received as victorious of his enemies by his valour, and of himself by his clemency, forgetting so many injuries whereby the people had incensed him. Here I seek the Dauphin and the History doth not show me him, 1437. although it be credible that the father did not forget to have him seen in this great occasion in his capital City, no more then at the assembly of the estates which he called at Orleans. But I find him on horseback at the age of fourteen years, and commanding the King's army before Monstreau Faut-Yonne. He took the town by assault, and the Castle by composition, and made so good war with the English that were within it, as they gave him thanks in the King's presence, confessing that he had given them cause, in admiring his valour, to commend his bounty, to the which they were bound for their lives r A Prince which saves his life whom he may kill, cannot do any thing that brings him sooner to the height of glory and reputation, nec ulla re propius homines ad deum accedunt quam salute hominibus danda. Cic. Neither is there any thing which makes men liker unto Gods, then by giving life unto men. . This first beginning applauded by some old Knights, flattering this young Alexander, who began to be discontented for that his father left him no work to do, made him to conceive better of himself than he ought. For such flattering opinions s Flattery doth so transport young Princes with a good opinion of what they are, or should be, as it is easily converted into presumption, and admits no counsel nor conduct. are fruitless sprouts, and unprofitable leaves which grow too fast in these young plants and in the end kills them. The Father who had made him Captain so soon, repent as suddenly, for he began to make show that he was not borne to follow but to go before. Martin Gouge Bishop of Clerimont, Christopher of Harcourt, and the Lord of Chaumont make him believe that his valour and courage would not suffer him to stay there, that the more he should elevate his trumpet of fame, the farther it should be heard: that he could not begin any exercise of glory and reputation to t Alexander at 16. years of age defeated the Megariens, and was at the battle of Cheronea; wherefore Demosthenes called him child. Hannibal was but eleven years old when he made open profession of arms. We must observe saith Phil. de Commines That all men which have done great matters have begun very young. War is a science which is not learned by discourse. It is a troublesome practice for him that hath not accustomed it from his youth. Paul: Emil. soon: and that he should not attend until that fortune took him by the hand to lead him to the Empire of men, but he should go and meet her. These counsellors were spirits that were not capable to command, nor to be commanded, and which could not live under that great rigour of the King's authority, Bad counsel given to Lewis. who knowing his humours allowed him not what he desired, and made him give ear to such as found no other course for their greatness; and who assured him that there was no other way for his rising then to absent himself from the presence of his father. An advise which could not be commended, but by such to whom all wickedness is commendable. For of bad counsels, such as was never given by men that were u Integrity, or fidelity, sufficiency or wisdom, are the two principal qualities of good counsellors: they add a third which depends of the precedent, to have his heart free from passion and private interest. wise, discreet, and without any private interest (three rare qualities, but necessary for him that takes upon him to counsel another) the worst and most pernicious is that which divides the Son from the Father, and withdraws him from the duty wherewith he is bound by the laws of nature and religion x The commandment of the children's duty was half written in the first table, which regards Gods right, and half in the second table, wherein are commandments which concern our Neighbours, as being partly divine and partly human. , nothing being able to extinguish this bond, free this servitude, nor dispense him from the obedience due to the father's commandments, how severe and difficult so ever. The Duke of Bourbon, 1411. who would make his profit of this division betwixt the father and the son, Charles Duke of Bourbon. and who was discontented to see the King contemn and reject the Princes, to favour private men, practised this division. The Dauphin, who was bred up in the Castle of Loches, under the charge of john Earl of March y The Earl of March was governor to the Dauphin. He wrought means to get out of his hands and to be at liberty. They said then that King Charles should not have married him so soon to entreat him like a child. , saw him carried away by the bastard of Bourbon, and was content to go and to be rid of his governor, who suffered him to enjoy convenient liberty, thinking it unfit to treat the first son of France severely, being now great and married. He was led to Moulins, whereas the Duke of Bourbon attended him. Thither came the Duke of Alencon and Chabannes Earl of Damartin, being incensed for that the King had called him Captain of Bandilieres. These were men who after the peace of Arras, like unto some after the treaty of Bretigny z When as treaties of peace are concluded, they must provide for the retreat of foreign troops, el●e they will overrun the Provinces. After the treaty of Br●tigny in the year 1360. the English trooopes did ouerr●n and spoil France, and defeated them that sought to stop their violences at ●regnay near to Lyon. , did overcome and spoil all the whole country, leaving the peasant nothing but his shirt. There embarked in the same ship the Earl of Vandome, the Earl of Dunois, Bastard of Orleans, and the Lord of Chaumont, Tremoville, Boucicaut and Prye. There resolution was not to yield him until that an order were settled in France, the Princes in Authority, and the malcontents in favour. If their intention had appeared in her true and natural form, her deformity had displeased all the world, for it was nothing but a mere conspiracy of great men, who abusing the youth of this Prince, engaged him in an unnatural ingratitude, and thought to make him greater than either nature or God himself had yet ordained, that under his shadow a He that will enjoy the shadow of his Prince must rejoice at his greatness, so as it be not raised upon a foundation of Injustice and ingratitude. , they might live at their ease, and make their profit of the public ruins. To give some form to this illusion, they devise supposed members, and give it for a face the b All deformities and imperfections are so foul being seen bare, as like unto them that have both their arms and ●egs cut off make other of Iron● or wood, even so they that have had deseignes do cover them with some goodly pretext. mask of reformation of disorders, protesting that they had no other intention but to settle the Dauphin, to the end that all things might be done by his authority, with the advise of the Princes of blood. They had sought to embark the Duke of Bourgundy with them, Duke of Burgundy refuse to enter into the league. but he who would not revive a quarrel, if not altogether quenched, yet at the least smothered: And knowing the folly of this design, sent them word that he would live in peace, and that at the end of the course whereinto they were entered, there was an inevitable downfall c of rash designs we may easily foretell the● unfortunate events▪ and hopes which have unjust foundations cannot long continue. : That they should do wisely to return into the way which they had left, for that they more they went into this, the more they should wander: that of all the miseries that would fall abundantly upon them, they should not be d He that is the cause of his own misery hath small reason to complain and few men pity him. lamented of any, for that they were known to be the causers: That although there were some disorder in the state, yet could it not be so great as that which should grow by this division, and France should be little beholding for her help to those which had made her so sick to cure her e It is a desperatee cure when as health must be beholding to siicknes and peace to Civil war. ; for that neither the disordered government of affairs, nor the vaiust commandment of the Prince would not cause so many ruins and inconveniences as disobedience and rebellion f Ruins and miseries grow not by them that command but by such as obey. Obedience hath made Estates to prosper and flourish under unjust and tyrannous comm●n ●ement●. The common weal of Spa●ta was happy, not for that their Kings commanded well, but for that this subjects obeyed well. Theopompus. : That for his part he could not separate himself from the King his Lord, without forsaking himself: That his arms and forces were always at the Dauphin's commandment, so as his designs were not disavowed, and that he would more willingly employ himself to bring him to his father's presence then to withdraw him. The Princes of this league were very sorry for this declaration: For they considered that if they could have kindled a hatred betwixt these two houses, they would have been more violent, and yet they made this young Prince believe, by reasons, fuller of oftentations than truth, Letters of Lewis to the good Towns. that all would do well. They dissembled the g In enterprises of 〈…〉 consider the ground and justice of the cause, rather 〈◊〉 the issue and success. The Romans had this glory never to enter into it wrongfully. They did not so muc● glory saith Titus Livius in the prosperous success as to hau● begu● it upon a reasonable and lawful occasion. Injustice of this war, and flatter him with sweet hopes of the event: They writ letters in his name to the towns of Awergne, and other provinces whereas they thought these designs would be well liked of, and this Innovation pleasing. But they were reeeived of the wise with more amazement for this defection, than desired to adhere unto them, and although there be no cause so bad but it finds some refuge, and some one to favour it, and that which is held a crime h All the actions of men are taken by two ends, some commend them others blame them, Caesar is commended for that he attempted against the liberty of Rome. Brutus' i● blamed who opposed himself to his deseignes to revenge his countries libert●es. Some blame Catiline for that he would have done, and others commend Caesar for that he did. in some is commended by others, as a public service, yet all the towns did abhor this rebellion. They held it impossible that such a division could prosper, and that France would be made a Theatre of a new Tragedy: that the reasons, whereof they did ground it, were like unto false stones which have some transparent shining like unto fire, but they have neither the virtue nor the hardness. They found not any spirit well settled that would follow them, but every man stopped his ears at the first brute, as if they had been enchantments. All were amazed i An unjust & rash enterprise strikes horror into good men, who foresee the miserable events at the ignorant vulgar holds them favourable they must stop their cares to their first propositions, for if they enter into the soul 〈…〉 it with confusion▪ Claudendae sunt aures malis voelbus et quidem p. imis. Nam cum initium fecerunt admissaeque sunt p●us audent. Sen. at their boldness, and every man said that fury would draw these wild Boars into the toil, & that the Fox's craft would not free them from the snare. The Nobility of Awergne give them to understand, that if the King came into the Country, The declaration of the nobility of Auuerg●e. they could do no less then to open their gates. This name of King, and such a King against wh● they could not arm but the relics of his victories who had made so great proofs of his valour and courage, made the most mutinous to tremble: k A Prince whose great actions purchased the name of valiant and wise is always feared and respected. This authority disperseth all kind of factions and conspiracies when as carelessness and contempt gives them life, It was an Anvil which would wear all hammers. Every man said unto the Dauphin I am yours without exception, reserving my duty to the King's service. The King could not yet dispatch his affairs with the English. The King of England had failed of the assignation made on the first day of May at S. Omer, The King arms against the Dauphin. to consider of a peace and made himself be sought unto. This trouble could not be but to the profit of the enemies of France. He resolved to go himself against this conspiracy, before that time and the Innovation, the ancient Idol m Caesar blamed the Gauls for a curious de●i●e of Inovations. They are said he, very inconstant in their opinions & most commonly desire change. of the French, had given it more force. Having fortified the frontiers against the English he advertised his son of his duty, but good words serve but as oil to feed the lamp of this young Prince's desires. He must use sharper terms to force obedience, n Good words are of no force, to have a difficult commandment observed. He that will be obeyed in rigorous things must use severity and authority. So says Mach●auel in the third of his Discourses. an unpleasing command requires not mild speeches. He came to Poietiers, he sent to the Duke of Bourbon to deliver him his son, and to the Duke of Alencon to yield him his Towns of Niort and St. Maixant, and to both of them to yield an account of those combustions, to come unto him, and to call their fidelity unto them. They were far of, this storm could not hurt them. They were no Children to be afraid of this thunder. The Duke of Bourbon would not obey at the first summons without caution for his obedience. He had rather have his absence o To fly judgement is to confess the fault, but oftentimes the innocent teach no defence against the persecution of one more mighty, but absence. a witness against him, then repent him for his presence. He had a good pawn in his possession, he had Towns and Subjects which had sworn to follow his fortune, thinking that the war being betwixt the Father and the Son, all that were actors in it should gain by it, at the least they should be free from danger; for the Father's bounty would refuse nothing to his Son's humility, and that oftentimes fidelity was worse rewarded than p There have been ages seen so full of confusion, as they must have done ill to reap good. If virtue ●ere not of itself a great recompense to good men, they might have some reason to repent themselves of doing well, when as their condition is inferior to that of the wicked. rebellion. The Duke of Alencon thought he should always have Niort and St. Maixant to make his peace. He had sent la Roche to defend the Castle of St. Maixant, S. Maixan taken by the King. but the Town entrenched itself and put itself in arms against him. It was presently assisted with the kings forces, who sent the Admiral Coitivi and la Varenne Seneschal of Poictou thither. The Castle being forced, lafoy Roche escaped making a show to go for succours, and the Captains which he left within it were hanged. The kings forces attempted not any Town, but they took it. q A Prince that hath to deal with his subjects, performs great matters in time, how difficult soever. Some endured the Cannon and were spoiled, Rion and Aigues perces opened their gates at the first summons. Clermont and Mont-Ferrand, who had never given ear to the persuasion of the Princes of the league, received the King. The Estates of the Country assemble at Clermont to order this division, Estates assembled at Clermont. which separating the son from the father, divided one heart into two. The King thinking it fit that a business of that importance, which concerned the safety of them all, should be consulted of by many, r Although that a sovereign Prince may resolve of any thing of his own motion, yet it is fit he should communicate it. So Augustus made a pleasing sweet medl●y, as Dion sait●, of a Monarchy and a popular state. he appointed this assembly. There they represented freely the ruins which threatened the Realm, and that the English had occasion to mock at the boldness of the Princes of the blood, which had attempted against the head of their house, and banded the Son against the Father. That it was fit every man should return to his duty, the King by the way of his bounty, and clemency, to them that had offended him; by that of justice to his estate, to serve s To reign: is to serve. Tiberius' comprhend●d the duty of a Prince in three words, and three kinds of subjects. A good Prince who is ordained for the safety of his subjects, must serve the Senate, serve his subjects in general, and serve every private man. To serve the Senate is to follow their Council: to serve all, is to procure the public good: and to serve every man, is to do him justice that demands it. the which he was ordained of God, as well as to command: and the Princes by that of obedience and repentance, with amendment for their faults, that, although the justest cause to arm against the Prince were unjust, yet the King should consider that a great Prince should apprehend nothing more than to see his subjects ill satisfied t A private man is pleased in satisfying himself, but the condition of a Prince is bound to content his subjects, and to satisfy such as are malcontent. of his actions. These reasons pierced the hearts of the most distracted. The Princes fearing to be abandoned, Every one desires grace of the King. their party growing weak and decreasing daily, they sued for grace unto the King: He offered it them by the Earl of Yew, who did negotiate their accord, and did persuade them to go to Clermont to receive his commandment: whereunto they yielded, so as they might be assured. The King was so good as he gloried to be undeservedly offended, by men who reduced to their duties very profitable; he gave a passport for the Duke of Bourbon and Alencon, but not for Tremoville, Chaumont, nor Pry, whom he held to be the Authors of this trouble, and of the assembly at Noion. u An assembly at Noion of the Duke of Alencon, Anthony of Chaban●s Earl of Dampmartin, Peter of Am●oise Lord of Chaumont, john de la Roche, Seneschal of Poictou, and of the Lord of Trem●uille. They complain that they are abandoned, and inflame the blood of this young Prince, in such sort as seeing the Dukes of Bourbon and Alencon, return to conduct him to Clermont, he swore that he would not go, x A Prince must have care of them that have followed him. Monstrelet upon this occasion writes those words. When the Dauphin understood it, he said unto the Duke of Bourbon, My fair Gossip, you have no thanks to tell how the matter was concluded, & that the King had not pardoned them of my household. but would seek to do worse. When the King saw that he came not, that the prefixed day was past, and that the English, who besieged Harfleu, called him into Normandy, he would temporise no longer, but suffered his Army to spoil the Duke of Bourbons Country. His forward did besiege and take Vichy. Cusset and Varennes yielded. The whole country of Rovanna obeyed: Clermont and Mont-Ferrant persisted in their fidelity, from the which no Town may in any sort separate y He cannot be held faithful, that for any respect w●atsosoeue● hath ceased to be so. Senec. itself, but it presently looseth the glorious title of faithful. The wilfulness of this Prince ruined the country, every man found his design unjust, and the affection he bore unto his servants unjust, the consideration of whom should be of more force than that of the public good, for the which they might sometimes strain justice itself. z To observe justice in great ma●te●s, they must sometimes leave it in lesser. Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon and Alençcon persuaded him to submit this affection to the Kings will, and the interest of his servants to his discretion, entreating the Earl of Yew to be a means that the king would be pleased that might be done at Cusset, which was not performed at Clermont. The King grants it: The Dauphin restored to favour. They come, and present themselves unto him, bending their knees thrice unto the ground before they approach, beseeching him to pardon them. This humility a Humility only pleads for great person's. Monstrelet speaks in this sort of this pardon. Being come into the chamber where the King was, they kneeled thrice before they came unto him, and at the third they entreated him with great humility to pardon them his indignation. did wipe out of the king's heart the feeling of such sensible offences. He embraced them, and said unto the Dauphin, Lewis you are welcome, you have stayed long: go and rest you, we will talk to morrow with you. But he protracted no time to reprehend the Duke of Bourbon, Reprehension of the D. of Bourbon. drawing him a part b Great men will be praised in public and reprehended in secret. he put him in mind of his faults, he notes him the place and the number, being five, he reproacheth unto him the injustice and indiscretion of a design which sought to put the father under the sons government; adding that if that love and respect of some did not withhold him, he would make him feel his displeasure. What could he answer? The very feeling of his fault did press him. The offender must yield to the justice, and the Innocent to the force of the stronger. He renews all the vows of his obedience, and affection, and submits his will unto the kings, he commends his bounty, so apparent by the number of his offences, and so necessary for them that had offended, whose preservation did serve as an increase to his glory, and a trophy to his clemency c They to whom the Prince gives life, live not but to the glory of his clemency. . The next day the Dauphin presents himself unto the king, who did not entreat him as nurses do children which flatter them when they fall. He did let him understand that his fall had carried him to the inevitable ruin of his honour and fortune, if the bounty of a father had not as much will to retire him, as the justice of a king had reason to punish him: In a word, he said he would cease to be a good father unto him, if he did not begin to be a better son d He that is good must strive to be bette●, for when he doth not begin to g●ow bet●er, the● he ends to be good. : and that he desired not to be held good, for not punishing the bad. The Dauphin assuring himself of his father's bounty and clemency speaks no more but for his servants, The Dauphin will not leave his servants to whom safe conducts had been refused. The king declared that they had made themselves unworthy of his grace; that they had deserved to be made an example to others, as the authors of this rebellion, which had made the wicked impudent, and brought good men to despair: Yet there must be a distinction e A Citizen of Sparta 〈◊〉 Ch●rilaus highly commended for 〈◊〉 bounty. And how, s●id he, can he be good, seeing he is not severe unto the wicked. It is as great cruelty to pardon all the world, as not to pardon any. Senec. made betwixt the effects of clemency and bounty, that for their punishment he was contented not to see them, and that they should retire themselves unto their houses. The Dauphin held firm against these torrents of his father's choler, & lets him know that if there be no grace for his servants, he desires not any for himself. From this opinion f Opinion is the falling sickness of the mind: that is the Cave which contains the wind● f●om whence the tempests of the mind come, that is to say, disordinate passions. which is they Cave from whence the winds issue which torment his soul: or rather from the impression which his servants had given him, that in being resolute he should have whatsoever he desired, Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soul. he drew this young and rash speech: I must then my Lord return, for so I have promised. To whom the King answered coldly. Lewis go if you will, the gates are open for you, and if they were not wide enough I would cause sixteen or twenty fathom of the wall to be beaten down, to make you a greater passage: I am your father, your will depends upon mine. g The father's will i● sovereign over that of the Son. The power of the Father was in old time absosolute among the Romans, Persians, and Gauls over the lives, deaths, goods, liberty, actions, and honour of their children. I find it very strange, that you have engaged your word without knowing mine, But it imports not: The house of France by the grace of God is not so unfurnished of Princes, as it hath not some that will show more affection than you have done to maintain her greatness and honour. This young Prince desired rather to be held a bad Son then a bad master. Wilfulness of the Dauphin. We must believe that these clouds did not break without some rain, and that this fire of choler, and love, was not quenched without tears. The Duke of Bourbon, who knew how to distinguish h King's are offended when the subjects will have their children march equally with them. The high Priests in the beginning of the year made public prayers for the health and prosperity of the Emperor. Tiberius' blamed them sharply, for that they had added the names of Nero and Drusus his successors, hearing it impatiently to see youth march equal with his age. Aequam adolescentes Senectae suae impatienter indoluit. Tacit. betwixt the authority of the one, and the age of the other, and would not that there should remain any conceit in the King's mind, that this wilfulness was supported by his Council, at the same time took the oath of Allegiance, promising to leave the Dauphin, and all intelligences and leagues contrary to his majesties service. The Dauphin could do no less then apply himself to the obedience and humility which God and Nature had ordained him. He humbles himself. The King kept him near him, changed all his officers, except his Confessor and his Cook, set good guards about him, that no bad thing might enter into his ears, i Hearing is the entry unto the Soul, good or bad Counsels have no other passage. When the guards of these gates are won they triumph over the sort. Ad summam sapiens eris fi clauseris ●ures, quibus ceram parum oft obdere, Firmiori spissamento opus est, quam usum in sociis Vlissem ferunt. Senec. and he caused them to be observed that came near him, to the end he might call them to an account for the bad Impressions they gave him. He gave him men, The King reforms the Dauphin's house better known and recommended for their wisdom and Integrity, then for their cunning and subtlety, k Good men are always necessary about Princes, they must chase away factious spirits, who are more fit to disorder then to settle affairs. It is also good to have them that are cunning and politic, to employ them against deceivers. commanding them to have a care of this young Prince, who was of a good disposition, but very tractable, and might easily be diverted. Many vicious inclinations creep into men's minds, whereof we must no more blame Nature, than the Vine, when as the Wine grows sour, or Iron when it rusts. How good soever the disposition be, it corrupts and is spoiled if it be not entertained, and education doth always frame men after her own fashion, notwithstanding any lets of Nature. They that are about this Prince, He is watched lest he fall. by the King's commandment, keep him so short, as notwithstanding that Will be a prerogative of human liberty, l The will which is in her liberty, and depends only on the power of reason, a●mes at things which are desirable and to be affected. The name of virtue among the Grecians came from that of desire, for that it is properly and chief to be desired. he durst not will any thing contrary to his duty; And for that the Dukes of Alencon and Bourbon had promised by the treaty to yield up unto the King the places which they held, they having no other security but the King's word, and clemency, the Army was not dismissed before that all was executed: Which being done a Peace was proclaimed, and this revolt (which they called the Praguerie) suppressed in less than nine months. The Dauphin remained still near the King, he served him, and followed him in divers occasions. It was an incomparable happiness m It is a great contentment for a King to come to that age to fashion his successor, and to make him partaker of his experience and authority. for him, to see his way made unto the Crown, and to learn how to live under so good a father. Parts which frame a Prince. The practice of war under the conduct and instruction of so valiant a Captain, and so wise a King, the essential parts which frame a Prince, counsel, force, reputation, n The same things which support the frame of an Estate, as Council, force, and reputation, are the essential parts which fashion a Prince. Council teacheth him the true forms how to reign well; force consists in the 〈◊〉 of six conditions which make him mighty, the which are, to to have his estate loving great, armed, rich and settled. Reputation is the glorious brute & of that efficacy as opinion gives it credit and respect among other Potentates. and the instruments to reign, which be, first knowledge, to look into the nature of subjects; secondly, wisdom to give them fit laws; thirdly order of arms; four the art to make war; fifthly, industry to maintain peace; sixthly, diligence to foresee accidents; seventhly, means to amplisie his Empire; eighthly, judgement to know the jealousies and interests of States; ninthly, dexterity to temporise inconuenients; tenthly, quickness to resolve; eleventhly, celerity to execute; twelfthly, constancy in matters resolved; thirteenthly, force in adversity; foureenthly, moderation in prosperity; fifteenthly, and so firm a knowledge of divine things, that superstition make him not fearful, nor liberty rash. He led him to the siege of Pontoise, the Accademie of the most memorable exploits which had been seen in those times. Siege of Pontoise. The English having indiscreetly o Every man commits errors, the French have, and the English also in the deciding of their affairs. King john refused the offer which the Prince of Wales made him, to yield up all which he had conquered, and the spoil. He would beside all this have the Prince and four of the chief Noblemen of his Army yield at his discretion. This refusal was followed with the loss of a battle, and the taking of the King. King Charles offered the English in the conference at Calais, to leave them all that they held, in doing him homage, they refused it, and had neither the one nor the other. refused the king's offers, who left them the quiet possession of that which they held in France, reserving only the sovereignty; were declared enemies to all parts. Paris being freed from their command, desired to see them out of Pontoise, and therefore they supplied the king with money to expel them. Behold an army of twelve thousand men before Pontoise, good soldiers, and enured to dangers, who could both encounter, and pass them without fear, and knew better how to die, then to kill, the best and only part of valour. The approaches to Pontoise were not so well guarded, but Talbot enters and relieves Talbot relieves Pontoise. it both with men and victuals. The Duke of York, Lieutenant General to the King of England, presents himself at Cenery and Hotonuille with 8000. men. He sent a Herald unto the King to signify unto him, that either he should accept of a Battle, or raise his siege. In this first fury of the French, there was not any one but said that it were better to eat roots p Perseverance forceth places, Caesar's soldiers being before Duras, they had no bread but a root called 〈◊〉, they within the town● laughed at the 〈◊〉 of the be 〈◊〉, being so ill furnished. But they told them, that as long as they found such roots about Duras (whereof t●ere were 〈◊〉) they would not dislodge. and die, then to raise the siege. But the King would not hazard any thing. The river was betwixt both Armies, the King caused the bridge at Beaumond to be guarded, the only convenient passage for the enemy's Army. The Duke of York had small boats to pass over his soldiers beneath the bridge towards the Abbey, yet with such difficulty as ten men had been able to hinder a hundred. But the order was so great, and the night so favourable, as the Army was in a manner all past before the Sentinels had given the alarm. A happy passage, and which struck such an amazement into the King's Army, as the Captains were more busied to wonder how the English had passed, then to keep the rest from passing q A 〈◊〉 and admiration are weak Arms to stay as enemy. Tit. Lin. observes how the Romans pass a river whilst that the Spa●iards wonder and consult what they should do. Qui tumultum iniicere 〈◊〉 in ipso 〈…〉. Tit. Li●. who might have caused a disorder in the very passage of the river. . from constreining him, The King raiseth the siege. seeing there was a river betwixt both. He wanted not-courage, but judgement to embrace the occasion and opportunity. r Agisilaus' being demanded what parls made the commander of an Army excellent and brauc: he answered, courage against his enemies, and counsel▪ with judgement in occasions that a●e offered. He dislodged from Maubuisson, leaving Charles of An●on and the Admiral of Cottivy with 2000 men in the fort of St. Martin, and so retires to Poisy. The Duke of York follows him, thinking to engage him to fight, but the King will not change his resolution, which was not to give a battle but to take Pontoise. s When as the Duke of York sent to offer battle unto the King, he made no other answer but that seeing he had such a desire to fight, he should have 〈◊〉 belly full and sooner than he looked for. The Duke of York passeth at Mante to victual and refresh the besieged. The King remained, scorned by the English, and contemned by the Parisians, who repent themselves for the money they had given him, unprofitably, for the charges of this enterprise. The greatest of his Court murmured, for that he had retired so unseasonably. He sees his reputation so blemished as he resolves to take the place, or to die there: he returns thither within ten days after, causeth the Town to be battered in three places, and a breach being made goes himself to the assault, hazarding all for all. He was forced to play the soldier to be a King: unless he would of a King become a soldier, and try how insupportable repentance is, not to have done, in an opportunity, that which can no more be done when it is past, and how she scorns at those overweening wits, which think in all places to join authority to wisdom, imparting nothing to necessity. The kings t Necessity binds a Prince to cast himself into dangers. In the wa●re which the Emperor Albert of Austria had against the 〈◊〉, they demanded of him to whom he would give the charge of his army: he answered. If any other than myself were your Captain you would no more call me Archduke of Austria AEneas Silu. ●ib. 3. de 〈…〉. affairs were not in such terms as he should be ashamed to be whereas the Cannon might glance by his crown, u Charles bragged of the wounds that he had●receiued in the war and showed them, Timoth●us an Athenian Captain said, I was ashamed before S●mon that an arrow came from the walls and fell near unto me, for that I had advanced farther than was fit for a commander of an Army Plut: nor to trouble his thoughts to consider how he should escape out of danger, nor how much it did import that he should escape. The besieged cannot withstand the fury of the assault, Pontosse tak●n by assault. they enter, they kill the enemies and save the Citizen, they hear not those cruel words, let the friend perish with the enemy. Those whom the fury of arms could distinguish and know for French were saved, and the English slain: But it is hard in these encounters, 〈◊〉 with fury, and foaming with revenge, to observe any Image of justice in sparing his friend or his host. x 〈◊〉 that great Capta●ne who never slew any one vanquished, held him a wicked men, how good a Citizen soever that did not spare his friend or his host. . They speak of God when they go to a charge or an assault, they recommend themselves unto him, they pray unto him, & they make vows. At their return they speak no more of him then if he had not been present. But the first thing and the first action which the King did at his entry, was to give God thanks, acknowledging him the sole author of this victory, y The glory of 〈◊〉 belongs to the God of Batte●●s▪ The King of france have always been careful of this duty. Philip Angust●●: after the Battle of Bovines caused the Church of our ●ady of victory to be built 〈◊〉 unto Senl●s. K. Lewis the twelfth built a Chapel whereas he won the Battle of Ghiaradadda, under the name of St. Marry of victory. King Francis the 1. did the like upon the place of battle whereas he defeated the Swisses at s. Dona●. without whom he had been as much troubled with his own Subjects, as with the enemy: For the Duke of Bourgundy was not so well reconciled as he desired not to raise the greatness of his house upon the ruins of the King's affairs and the greatest of the Realm had already made secret assemblies to reform the disorders whereof every one had complained. He assembled all the Princes, The King rewards his servant's. Noblemen and Captains, he commended them that had done well, z After a victory a Prince must take knowledge of such as have done him good service, honour & recompense valour & blame cowardice. Luce orta (saith Livi. in his 6. Book) vocatis clafico ad concilium, mili tibus, Manlius primam ob virtutem Jaudatus donatusque. and thanked them for the fidelity and proofs which they had shown, he made many knights, and gave to the Lord of I●longe the place of marshal of France, and a pension to him that entered first into Pontoise by the breach. If the History knew his name she would give him a mural Crown, and would do him the like honour as the Parthians did to him that mounted first upon the walls of Seleucia. a The names of such as go to apparent dangers for the public safety, should not be forgotten in a history, and yet they remain unknown, 〈◊〉 they be not noted by some other quality than a simple soldier. Plutarch remembers the name of Surena, who first sealed the wall of the great City Seleucia, the reason is for that he was the second among the Parthians next the King. . The King led the Dauphin to Tartas, being assieged by the English, and then to Lymoges, teaching him still that wisdom and temporizing surmount all difficulties, The Dauphin besiegeth Tartas. and that it is a more excellent thing to settle his estate in peace then to spoil and waste his enemy's country. With the instructions and maxims of his father, who had given him in his infancy good governors, and in his youth good councillors. b Great Princes having had good masters being little, & wise Counsellors being great have effected great matters. . he made him capable of the actions of a Prince, to command well, and to carry the commandments of the King his father into Languedoc, to frustrate the practice of the Earl of Armagnac. Bastard of Armagnac favoured by Lewis the eleventh. The Bastard c This Bastard was made Admiral of France by Lewis the eleventh who gave him the Earldom of Coming and the government of Guienne: whereof be disposest john Duke of Bourbon his Brother in law. of this house advertised him, that the Earl of Armagnack treated of some alliance with the English. jealousy upon such advertisements are always excusable, and there is nothing that doth so much bind the wisdom of Princes, as to foresee that great houses do not alley themselves against their liking, and transport unto strangers the goods which should remain in their estates, which cannot be carried away without prejudice unto them. Such practices are more easily prevented then broken when they are made. The house of Armaignac is ancient, rich, and mighty, in Guienne, and her beginning is found in that of the Crown of d D. Sancho, surnamed the great King of Naturre, having conquered some land in Gascogne on this side the Pyrenees gave it unto Garsias his son, Earl of Armagn●c in the year 1013. he made his second son Arnold Garcias ●arfe of Estarac, whose dissent is entered into the house of Foix and a branch of Candalle. Navarre. john 4. Earl of Amagnac Constable of France had bought of john Duke of Bourbon the Earldom of Lisle jourdain in the year. 1421. for 38000. crowns of gold, of 64. to the mark. He had married Isabella of Navarre: The greatness of his house, and that of his alliance, made him presume, during the troubles of France, (when as every man cast his eyes upon the pieces of her shipwreck) to qualify himself, Prince by the grace of God, and to seek the alliance of the English by the marriage of his daughter. The King, who made no difference betwixt treason and such alliances, sent Commissioners to make the Earl's process as guilty of high treason; having offended against the Laws of France e Marriages treated with strangers without the King's permission, have been dangerous for them that treats it. Valeran of Luxembourg Constable of France was disgraced by King Charles the fifth, and King Charles the sixth dislike the treaty of the Duke of Berry's daughter with the Duke of Lancaster Philistus for this reason was banished out of the estates of Denis King of Sicily which forbids any Nobleman to make any marriage with strangers without the Prince's consent. The King sent the Dauphin thither, who besieged Lisle jordain and took the Earl of Armagnac. Earl of Armagnac a prisoner at Lisle jourdain. His son fled into Spain, john de Meaux, second Precedent of the Parliament of Toulouse, had heard the Earl of Armagnac upon his practice, and had drawn from his own mouth the truth of the principal points. He thought that he should be quit for this confession, f Nature's well bred are ●asily bound by favours, they would have corrupted Lewis. King Charles his father gives him part of the government of the estate and of his affairs, by which means he was drawn from thoughts contrary to his duty and the peace of the estate. and that the Precedent (having no other force than that of justice) could do him no great harm, but when he saw himself a prisoner in the Dauphin's power, he said that whatsoever he had confessed was against his own conscience and the truth, having only spoken it with a desire to recover his goods which the King had seized on. After he had expiated this offence in prison, the King restored him his liberty giving the Earldom of Foix for a caution. The Dauphin at his return from this voyage was sent into Normandy with the title of Lieutenant General. But we must observe that he was twenty years old before he had any government, and that the King gave it him only to disappoint the deseignes of such as would have drawn him elce-where, and did busy themselves more than he himself did in the estate wherein he was. He chased the English from Deep, The Dauphin take● Deep. and this victory did presently carry the generosity of his courage and the happiness of his conduct throughout all the Provinces of France, whereas nothing did diminish the greatness of this growing reputation, but this reason, that being son to so brave a father it was not strange to see him so valiant. The French said that the father had need of such a son and the son had need of such a father. The King glories to have made him with his own hand and to see his instructions so well followed, he augments his authority, and praiseth his command, and sends him into Languedoc The Dauphin goes into Languedoc, with a thousand Lances whereas his sword made his way. He stayed not his courage at small g A Prince must fly vanity and seek the effect ●f a solid and true glory, nam ut ●●uitatis est in man aucupart rumorem omnes umbras etiam falsae gloriae consectari, sic ieiuni est animi lucem splendoremque sugientis, iustam gloriam qui est fructus verae virtutis honestissimus repudiare. Cic. 〈◊〉 Pis. For as it is a lightness to hunt after vain f●me & all the shadows of false glory, so it is a weakness to refuse just glory, which is the honeslest fruit of true virtue. matters, his fall could not be but very high. As he disdained glory of small price, and reputation which cost little, so he did earnestly seek that which grew from great and goodly actions, and which were the just fruits of true virtue. The English, 1443. grown weak, make a truce, during the which Lewis goes to seek excercise without the Realm, and becomes head of the French and English to be revenged on those who during the worst estate of his father's affairs had troubled him, and to favour the war of Sigismond Duke of Austria against the Swisses. h The Duke of Austria had married Radigonde of France, eldest daughter to King Charles the seventh: in favour of this alliance be entreats him to succours him against the swiss. He remembered that the Earl of Montbelliard had entered the Frontiers of France toward Langres. He cries quittance with him, taketh and spoils Montbelliard and gives the government to john Thibergea● captain of his Archers: He overuns, the Bishop of Bassils country, for that he had maintained the party of Amid Duke of Savoy i Amidee Duke of Savoy in the year 1437. retired to Repaille into a monastery of Monk; of S. 〈◊〉; and took their 〈◊〉, A grey gown, a long Cloak, a grey hood, a short corne●, & a red cap upon his hood, but upon his gown he car●ed a great girdle of gold, and upon his cloak a Cross of gold, being accompanied by tw●ty of his fauourits attired like the Monks. He reserved unto himself the title of the Duke of Savoy and the sovereign authority over his Estates. He was c●osen Pope at the Council. The election was signified unto him the 11. of December 1439. He came to Basill the 24. of june. was crowned the 24. of july, said his first Mass and made Cardinal the 27. of November. He went to hold his sea at Lausa●a 1442. who by the suffrages of the Bishop's prelate's and Doctor's of the Council had been made Pope and named Foelix the fift, against Pope Engenius, and who before his retreat into his Monastery of Ripaille, had done all he could to favour the English. The Swisses seeing so mighty an enemy at their gates, attend not until he did advance, but look which way he would turn the head of his forces. The Lord of Ramstein receives him at Altkilch, a Town which he held by engagement of the Bishop of Basill for 12000. florins. The Nobility of the Country comes unto him, and to be revenged of the people, and to preserve their houses, they offer him the service of their swords. The Armies used incredible inhumanities' upon this poor people, who gave the name of Flears unto the men of War k The soldiers who spoilt the frontiers, and the Countries of Basill and Ferrette at divers times were always called by one name Schindern, Flears, and by mockery Armeniacken. . The Town of Bassil knew well that the council would draw this storm upon them, Good order of them of Basill. and that King Charles the seventh would revenge the degradation of Eugenius the Pope: and therefore they omitted nothing that might serve for their defence & safety: they made a bulwark at the Port of Spalen, and razed all that was about the Town which might help the besiegers: they appointed two Bells, one for war, and the other for fire, by the first every one knew whither he should go, by the second Churchmen and Monks only were bound to run to the fire. They caused a proclamation to be made in the country, that whosoever would bring his goods and provision into the Town, the Bourguemasters would be bound to restore it again, or to pay the just price, if necessity forced them to use it l Whereas there is concord betwixt the towns and country, not only of 〈◊〉 in certain things, but in all that 〈◊〉 the common prfit, a foreign enemy shall find great difficulty to work any great effects, for all conspire 〈◊〉 him. . The house of Austria had cast the Apple of discord among the Swisses. Zurich Swisses besiege was allied to Sygismond Archduke of Austria, the Cantons of Berne, Lucerne, Vry, Switz, Vnderual, and Glaris, came to besiege Zurick, to force them to renounce this alliance. Being at this siege they are advertised that john of Rechberg in the beginning of August had surprised the Town of Bruck, in the Country of Ergueu, belonging to the Canton of Berne, that he had committed great cruelties there, and had sent the spoil by water to Laustemberg: and the chief prisoners to Farnsberg. The common feeling they had of the private offences of their Allies, suffers them not to dissemble this injury. He that attempts against the least Hamlet of this commonweal, gives an Alarm to all the Cantons: they ran thither as if the fire had been in their own houses. m The Law of alliance, which is that of friendship, requires that friends and allies should apprehend 〈◊〉 embrace one another's good or alarm. Their duties and interests shoul● be common, as 〈◊〉 in the ship of one-common-weale, the which suffers not any one to save himself apart, nor that they which are at the poop should not be moved with the water which enters i● at the prow. They sent four thousand men to besiege Farnsberg, Reekberg, who was within it, let them know upon their first approaches that he was no man to yield. He knew well that the Army of France was not far off, and that the Swisseses had work enough elsewhere. Burkard Monchen whom the French called Burgo the Monk, Lord by engagement of Landsec, was as it were the guide and Marshal of the Army. He priest the Dauphin to come before Basil, thinking that at the sight of so many men they would rather seek to capitulate then resist: 1441 Basill besieged by the Dauphin. for the Army consisted of 20000. horse: the Histories of Germany make mention of 30000. Basil n Basill made the first alliance with Bern and Soleure, in the year 144● The house of Austria was offended, saying that they did infringe the Articles of the golden Bull. sends speedily to demand succours of the Suissees which were before Farnsberg. They sent them one thousand and six hundred men, whom the Siegneur of Halwil calls peasants: o Thuring de Hallwil in a letter which he did write vn●o the Marqu●s William, and to the Town of Zurick the day after the Battle, call● the Swisses Bauten Peasants. The which were twice encountered and charged by the Earl of Dammartin, first in the plain of Brattelen, when as they thought to pass at the break of the day, and the second time near unto the Village of Mutents half a league from Basill, Swisses repulse the Earl of Dammartin. but they marched so close, and in such good order, as it seemed to the Cavalero which offered to charge them, that they went against a rock, or an armed wall p A Battalion of foot well ordered is called a wall. Antiqui●murum di●erunt pedestrem exercitum Veget. Dion spe●king of the fourth Legion called, Pytique, gives it the title of a warlike wall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. . They of Basill gave them notice that they should be careful how they did advance, that it would be a great rashness for them to seek to force through so mighty an Army, which held all the passages. But the Suissees believe that the Lion is not so furious as he is painted: Being encouraged, and glorious of that which had so happily succeeded, in the morning they will not hear speak of staying, and much less of retiring. The bravest courages show themselves in dangers: q Not to yield, but to resist the sharpest and most dangerous accidents, is a sign of a great courage. Romanum est agere et pati fortia. It belongs only unto them to do and endure difficult things. They are more inquisitive of the place where the enemies are, then of their numbers, and holding all manner of stay for a kind of cowardice, they march directly towards the Town, and finding the passage at the bridge stopped, they swim over the river of Bisrein r The Townsmen of Basill were in counsel how to draw in their succours without danger. Munster saith that the Swisses being upon a little ●ill, seeing their enemies come upon them, they repulsed them unto the Hospital of S james. . The Romans would not have commended this fury; they held it unfitting for the greatness and Majesty of the Empire, and Emperor of their armies, to pass rivers otherwise then upon bridges, having guards set at either end s Germanicus said that to wade through rivers did wrong the reputation of a general of an Army. Cesar nisi pontibus pre●idiisque impositis dare in discrimen Legiones ha●d Imperatorium ratus. . For this only reason, and without any other necessity Cesar made a bridge upon the Rhin, and was nothing amazed at the breadth, swiftness, nor depth of this river· The Swisses were much troubled with the water and the enemy, before they could recover the banks, Battle of S. jeams Hospital. and then by the favour of a little Hill they slip into S. james Hospital. They of the Town, for that they would not fail to releieve them who came so freely and generously to their succours, sent forth two troops to meet them: but there was an Ambush of eight thousand horses laid for them, able to have broken the Battalions of Suissees, if they had been as equal in number t The number of soldiers in a Legion, have been divers. In the time of Romulus it was of six thousand foot and 600. horse, of 4000 during the Commonweal. That which Scipio led into Africa was of 6000. And two Legions in Caesar's Army made not 7000. men. as they did imitate in order the Roman Legions. They that were in guard in the Towers of the Town advertised them of the danger, and made them return. The Swisses had barticadoed themselves in the Church and Hospital of S. james; Swisses defeated. But the French forced them out by fire. They fought long at the hedges and walls of the gardens, they endured three assaults, and repulsed the two first valiantly, but they were charged with great resolution, and at the third they were forced and all cut in pieces: yet the most miserable sold his skin dearly. Aeneas silvius u Committitur atrox et miserable praelium, exdunturque ex utraque parto quamplurimi. Horrendum auditu est. Euellebant sanguinolentas ex corporibus suis sagittas Suitenses, ac truncatis manibus in hosts irruebant nec prius amm●m exhalabant, quam occiso●em ipsi occidistent. Erat retro Suitenses murus quidam het●● sancti Ia●bi, quo illi se tutos ab una p●te rebantur solumque in front pugnabant. Sed Teutonic● qui cum Armeniacis erant intrantes hortum, murum perfodiunt, Suitenseque a tergo feriunt, que res magna causa ruinae Suitensium fuit: pugnatur tum ante tum retro, iam viro vir imminet nee iam eminus sed cominus ferrum stringitur. who was then Secretary to the Council, and afterwards Pope, saith they could not without horror and amazement behold that cruel butchery of men, in the which the Swisses drew the arrows all bloody out of their bodies, and stabbed them furiously into their enemy's bowels and so died together. No man was slain but he slew. No man breathed forth his last gasp without the content of being revenged, comforting his death in that of his enemy. The Dauphin said that he had never seen men more furious, more strong, nor more resolute: there were but sixteen saved, who coming into the Country were taken for runaways which had forsaken the Camp. And notwithstanding any thing they could allege yet every man said unto them, they should have died with the rest. They could not be held honest men who had brought back their heads from the danger where their companions, had been slain, as Philopemen could not think well of him who had fallen alive into the enemy's hand. x Those that fled from a battle were always odious to all nations. These 〈◊〉 Swisses although they saved themselves with fight were contemned as Cowards. The name of 〈…〉 tiger a forsaker of the camp is a great reproach among the Swisses. The Combat continued ten hours. Burkard Munch of Landscron Conductor of the Army riding over the place of battle and over the heaps of deadmen, Insolence in the victory punished. the Beaver of his helmet being up, full of insolence and pride, he said: Here we hath in Roses, y The Annals of the Bishopric of Basil report the wo●aes of Burka●d 〈◊〉 badden wix in ●osen, or High ●●che ich in dcu Ros●a●ten, velchon 〈◊〉 bor●erten greeet. or as some writ, beholding the Castle of Landscorn and Munchenstien. I set the Rose bushes which my Predecessors have planted. A Suisse, lying among the dead Carcases, and half dead, hearing these words of cruel disdain, strives to get up on his knees, and with the remainder of his courage and life casts a stone, with such violence at his face, as he overthrew him. He was carried to Landscron and there he died. Another seeing one of his Companions ill entreated by four soldiers ran thither; freed him from the danger, and carrred him away dying upon his shoulders z Erant qua●●or Armeniaci qui Suitensem unum insequebantu. jamque illum telo 〈…〉 et supra corpus graffa●entor, 〈◊〉 evis comes ar●ep●a bipenn● in quatuor illos fertur ex quibs duos obtruncavit, alios vero in fugam dedit, ac deinde ●emianime corpus super humeros recipit et 〈◊〉 hostibus 〈◊〉 ad suos AEneas Sil. Munsterus. It is not certain how many were in the Swisses Army: Halwil the Suisse, saith that they were 4000, the Chronicles of France speak of 5000. But whatsoever it were, neither France nor England had any great cause to triumph for this Battle: For they lost as many men as they must kill of the enemies to merit a triumph. a A Triumph was not given for any victory except they had slain 5000. enemies, Val●●ius saith. Neither did they give it unto the Victors when as the victory had and cost much blood, & therefore Titus' Liver jam his 16. saith, that it was refused to Artillius. The Army that was before Farnsperg, hearing of this defeat, raised the 〈◊〉 and retired. The Dauphin continued three days upon the place of Battle, and to cover the number of men which they had lost, caused them to be buried in divers places, as at Arlesheim, Reinach, and Esch: Two Earls were interred at Montbelliard, two at Isenheim, The grand Prior of France was slain at this Battle, with many other Noblemen. They of Basill demand leave to take a view of the dead men and to bury b Among the Grecians he that demanded a dead body to bury it, lost the fruit of the victory, end renowned the triumph. Plut. de Niceas & Age●l●us. them, he would not refuse peace unto the dead, seeing he was willing to grant it unto the living c Aeneas said unto the La●ius, who came to entreat him to have their dead bodies to bury them, Pacem me exa●●mis & Martis sort perempti oratis, equidem & 〈◊〉 concedere velim. you pray to men slain in the wars I peace should give, yea willingly I would grant it them that live. , and that there was no likelihood that he would grow obstinate at the siege of Basil nor against the Swisses. The begging Friars were appointed for this act of piety. They made three pits to bury them in. There were some that did breath three days after the battle. They found some half burnt in the ruins of the Hospital, many in the hedges, and a great number in the River of Birs. The Dauphin went to refresh himself in Alsacea. His Court was at Ensisheim, and the Army lodged so at large in the country, as it held from Montbelliard to Haguenaud. Coun●●l of Basil seeks an accord with the Dauphin. The Emperor assembled the Princes of the Empire at Ments to consult of the means to expel the strangers out of Germany. The Council of Basill sent d The Council of Basill sent the Cardinal of Arles and Bishop of Basill unto the Dauphin, who did mediate a truce for twenty dai●s. Embassassours unto him to persuade him not to trouble the assembly, to the which France was bound for the peace it had with the house of Bourgundy. His Deputies were at Basil to understand the will of the Fathers upon this accord. They of Berne and Soleure came thither, yet there was nothing concluded but a truce of some few days. The Emperor Frederick, gave the Dauphin to understand that if he did not retire himself, the Empire would proclaim war against him. The Nobility of Germany, who had drawn the French and English into the country, began to be weary of their guests, who drank their wine without paying, and made vergys' of their Vines. Mulhouse e Mulhouse was sometimes an imperial ●own, the Bishop of Strausburge was governor, and it was called 〈◊〉. It allied itself with the Swisses in the year 1464. and then in the year 1506. it was made fellowburgiss with all the Cantons. Stump. lib. ●. of the Swisses commonweal. freed itself from this storm, refusing to receive the Dauphin's troops. When as he saw that all the Empire began to rise against him, The Dauphin retires into Lorraine. and that the Swisses were like to have their revenge for the battle of S. james of Basill, he went into Lorraine, to see King Charles his Father who was before Mets, being resolved to revenge the King of Sicily, who was much incensed against this Town, for that they had favoured the Earl of Vaudemont against him. The English who had refused a peace, 1445 Truce betwixt France and England prolonged. took such taste in a truce f A truce is the bait● and charm of peace. It is in the liberty of Princes to make it, but when as the people 〈…〉 thereof it is hard to 〈…〉. as it was prolonged for five years. Such as took delight in the public miseries, for that they were profitable unto them, were not content, they would have the tempest cease, but they still desired some wind to raise the storm. We do not always find spirits of that integrity, but they prefer their private profit before the public good. Men of this excellency have been ever engaged in great tempests, the number of them which have come to a safe port to make others have been very small. They grow like the Phoenix at the end of five hundred years g A wise man such as the Stoics describe him, never was nor never will be. Quis sapipiens sit aut fuerit, nec ipsi Stoici solent dicere. Cic. And as great things happen rarely, Seneca saith, that fortasse tanquam Phaenix semel 500 annis nascitur. Sen. . Whiles that Rome was well governed, the profession of Arms was in time of peace for an exercise, and in the time of war for necessity and glory, every man returned to his affairs having yielded an account of his Arms, witnessing still, that he carried them not for his own private good, but for the service of his country. The civil wars troubled this order, and therefore they said that Caesar and Pompey were held better Captains then good Citizens, and greater in valour then in integrity. France was never fruitful of such spirits as have willingly made war to have peace, and have not troubled the peace to make war h Marshal discipline should be well observed if it did always consist of men who after the war made no difficulty to return to their trades and labour, but the liberty and disorder in war is so great as it is hard to draw them to the rules of Duty, and therefore war makes thieves, and peace hangs them. . During this Truce a marriage was made betwixt Henry the sixth King of England, Marriage of Henry the sixth and Margaret of Anjou. and Margaret of Anjou Daughter to Rene King of Sicily. The Earl of Suffolk came to fetch her at Nancy, the King was there present, and the joy was great: but as any great joy hath still some great sorrow attending it, and pleasures strangle when as they embrace most straightly. i joy is commonly the beginning of sorrow, at rivers of fresh water die in the salt sea; the sweetness of life ends with sorrows that are bitter. King Charles received so great an affliction for the death of the Dauphin's wife, Death of Margaret Stuard. and his heaviness was so apparent, as the whole Court did participate thereof. But there was more than tears to witness that he loved this Princess, and that the remembrance of her should not end with weeping k Affection is not tried by tears only. To cease to weep is not to forget. the remembrance is too short, which lasteth no longer them tears. , for he received the Princesses of Scotland her Sisters with all kinds of honour, whom she had greatly desired to see. They came at the time of her Funerals, and finding themselves, as it were unknown, in a country whereas that which should make them to be known and respected was wanting, they died for grief. All consolations made their griefs comfortless, l We must give time and air to sorrow to evaporate it. In those which are extrem●, it is a part of the grief to hear of consolations. and made them desire that the Queen their sister, being in the bosom of the earth, had them upon hers. But the King to witness that the affection which he bore unto their Sister was not dead, made them to feel the effects. He married the one to Francis Duke of Britain, and the other to Sigismond Archduke of Austria. m john Duke of Brittany sent Ambassadors into Scotland to treat the marriage of his Son with Isabel daughter to the King of Scotland, at whose return he inquired what the Princess was? Who made report, That she had beauty sufficient, a body well disposed to bear children, but she had no ready speech. To whom he answered, That she was as he demanded, and that he held a woman learned enough, if she could make a difference betwixt her husband's doublet and shirt. Annal. of Aquitaine. It is impossible to find truth in an enemy's tongue. The judgement of two Historians of England. honey how sweet soever it be, is sharp and offensive to a mouth ulcered with passion and slander. Edward Hall, and Grafton, two writers of England, seeing that their imposture would take no hold upon the manners and actions of this Princess, have indiscreetly written, that she was unpleasing to her husband. n Buchanan in the tenth book of the History of Scotland, saith that two Historians of England, having as little sufficiency as modesty, have been so Impudent as not finding any thing wherewith to slander this Princes have said: Ob oris graveolentiam marito fuisse ingratam. But there are records yet to be seen both in France and Scotland of the grief which Charles the seventh, and the Dauphin his Son had for her death, and Monstrelet speaks as of a Princess who excelled in beauty both of mind and body. She favoured the good wits of her age, Alain Charretier was held at that time one of the first of the Court, and this Princes did esteem him so rare, as she honoured him with a singular favour, for passing by a Chamber whereas he slept upon a form she kissed him, and to satisfy the amazement of the Ladies of her train she added, I kiss not the man, I kiss the mouth from whence have come so many goodly Discourses. Yet it was one of those mouths which have learned to talk and not to be silent o There is no such itching of the spirit as a desire to write. It is not cured but by silence. Eusenius demanded of Apolonius Thianeus, why he did not settle himself to write, for that said he I have not yet learned to hold my peace. . This warlike and Marshal season was debarred both of learning and learned men: For whereas war speaks, learning is silent. The Provinces, troubled by arms, neither teach nor are taught, and the money which should serve for the stipend of public Readers is employed for the musters of soldiers p The Emperor Leon, made an answer to one that counseled him to employ his treasure in the entertainment of soldiers, utinam meis temporibus eveniat stipendia militum in doctores artium absumi. I would it might happen in my time that the stipends of soldiers might be employed upon Doctors of Arts. . The years of Truce being expired, The war renews. the war was renewed with all violence against the English. The History speaks nothing of the actions of Lewis until his retreat into Dauphine, neither are the causes thereof well expressed. She hath well observed his discontents. His Father held him somewhat short, and his actions were not so temperate, The wretched life of a great King. but they gave him some cause of suspicion, that he had a desire to be master q The opinions of children should be limited in that sort, as it is not lawful for them once to think to advance the time, they must suffer heaven & the order of nature to work. . The King being come to an end of his affairs, would recompense the troublesome nights which he had passed r A troubled youth requires a quiet age, he that hath lived in the waves, desires to die in the Port. , when as melancholy had dried up his bones; that all his demeans were engaged; the chief forts of the Realm in the power of the English, that his table often failed, and that he lived in such frugality, as he had no need of excellent Cooks, such as those of the Romans were, 1446 for they found him not with three or four Dishes like unto Charlemagne, but with a mess of Pottage made with a rump of Mutton, and a couple of Chickens roasted for his whole service s The sobriety of Charlemagne hath been commended, he had but four dishes, he drank but thrice and never betwixt meals, he did eat some fruits after dinner. Eghinard. . The great toils which he had passed deserved some good days, but he sought them not in his family, nor in his children t Rest after their travels is just and lawful, but it is most sweet in his own house. And therefore Hercules was represented playing with a little Child. The family hath cons●iations. Bella planè accinctis obeunda, sed revertentibus post laborem, quid honestius quam uxorium levamentum? TAC. . His spirit plunged itself in delights, He gives himself to delights. and to Ladies. for the which like unto another jupiter, he transformed himself into divers shapes, unworthy of his Majesty, and although he was impatient of servitude, as all Kings be, yet he vowed himself to the service of Ladies which followed the queen: Above all their appeared the fair Agnes, beautiful in the flower of her age, and as lovely as worthily to be beloved u The Object of Love is Beauty, and Beauty is the mark of many desires. It is for blind men to demand why Kings love fair things. . She stole the King's heart, who made her Mistress of the Castle of beauty, as she was Queen of all the beauties, but beauty was in her a bad Hosts in a goodly lodging. The History which should not be curious to lay open matters which are distasteful, Modesty of the History 〈◊〉 the King's lo●es. hath been so careful of the King's respect, and of the honour of this Lady, as it hath spoken very lightly of that which in those days was known to all, and published by few, It only saith, that for that she appeared always richly attired, was one of the Queen's maids, and that the King saw her oft, they thought she was wholly the Kings x The fair are easily suspected of incontivency for that chastity and beauty do not always agree. . That her eyes were the Altars whereon he made his vows under the vales of Night and secret. The Author of the History of S. Dennis saith, that by the duty of his charge (The History of France in those days was written by Monks, as it was at Rome by the High Priests) y By the policy of Rome, the charge of the History, and the Anualls did belong unto the High Priests. Res omnes singulorum aunorum man▪ dabat literis Pont. Max. Cic. 3. de Orat. Penes Pontifices scribendae Historiae potestas suit. Fla. Vopis. . He informed himself most curiously of his most inward servants, making some of them swear whether the common brute were true, from whom he had learned what he had written. That Charles loved her only for her gallant humour, She was excellent in many pleasant conceits, but especially in her speech and encounters, which is one of the gestures of love. Strangers, whose testimony in these Occasions is as free from flattery as it is subject to Hatred, have spoken no more plainly. Oliver de la March saith, that in the year 1444. the Duchess of Bourgundy passing into Flanders saw the French Queen at Chalons. Where they had great and private conference together. z There is some kind of case in the conference of troubles and afflictions. For they had one grief and one disease, and there were reasons for their i●alonsies, for that the King had given unto Agnes de Soret, a train comparable to that of great Princesses, and the Duke was very loving, and had many base children both sons and daughters But who sees not that flattery hath falsified the Annals of those times? And that the little which they report is sufficient to assure that Charles and Agnes knew where to meet and to have news one of another; they were not troubled to write upon the marbles of Churches and on the Mercuries of the high ways. Pithius is on the right hand, and Pythias on the left: Princes who think they may say, if it please it is lawful, have sometime greater want of enterprises then of fortune. The King, which held a peace miserable which gave not some rest, stole some hours in his affairs to employ them in his loves & gardeus. He went no farther to seek for palms and bays, he would not have any but from the hands of this Lady. She had a daughter: Mont strellet saith that she was not avowed, a Charlote Base Daughter to Charles the seventh, and Agnes Sorter, was married to the Earl of Mauleurier, son to Peter, or john de Brese, Seneschal of Normandy. and the Author of Lewis the elevenths' Chronicle, writes that she was married to the Seneschal of Normandies' son. Young Princes have always discoursers, which speak of every thing, not to dispute thereof but to tax it, who carrying their thoughts to the future, never speak of the present, but with distaste and disdain b Pleasures are enemies to liberty: We should be our own if they were not ours. . These drones buzz continually about the Dauphin's ears, and raise up in his soul unlawful murmurings against the King's delights. They made him believe that Charles could neither love himself, nor any other, so long as he loved fair Agnes. The Dauphin could not dissemble his discontent, The Dauphin enemy to fair Agnes. c A malicious spirit looscth no occasions to do ill, they seek them. and this cunning woman, for the safety of her fortune, did all she could to seize upon the father's love: And that he should not receive any grace but at her discretion, lest that her disgrace should grow by their accord. The King by the bad offices of this Lady, who incensed the Father's wrath against the Son, and sought occasions to content his dislike, who by the jealousy which he had conceived, that a son of thirty years of Age did tread upon his heels, saw him no more, but with an eye troubled with way wardness and despite, Princes, who have children grown to age should not use towards them the austere gravity of fatherly authority, whereby denying them the honour of their familiarity they deprive themselves of the sweetest conversation of d Prince's should breed up their children in a lively and not a falned and constrainted affection towards them, they may always cause themselves to be feared, but they were better to purchase love. There are saith Michael de Montagne so many defects in age, so great weakness and it is so subject to contempt as the best purchase item make is the affection and love of his own: command & fear are no more his arms. life: For whom do they keep this love and proof of affection? Fear they that it will shorten their power? and that God and Nature and the Laws have not well provided to maintain it? If they have loved them in their infancy, when as they could not distinguish of the force and respect thereof, why do they take from them the knowledge when as age gives them the feeling, and commands them to yield unto this love the tributes of the same love, fear and obedience? Many young Princes, dying, have left unto their Fathers this troublesome grief, nay rather this reproach, that they have never let them know that they loved them amidst these austere courses. The Dauphin, by reason of his age and his disposition, being tractable and quick, was carried to sudden alterations, during the which he only considered the quality of the first Son of France, and not the authority of the King, e Although the father stray in many things from that which he ought, yet the sons ought rather to think of that which he is bound to do rather than of that the father hath not done. nor the reverence of the Father. R. Gaguin, He strikes her. writes, that during these impatiencies, he struck fair Agnes at Chinon. They add to these discontents an other occasion which made him leave the Court. Anthony de Chabanes Earl of Dammartin, a man valiant, but not able to endure, was in the greatest favour in Court, and these favours had taken such deep roots f The favour of Courtiers must take deep rooting before it be settled. This seed of a Prince's favour lies long before it springs. It seems often to flourish when it hath no roof, so as the first paffe of choler or disgrace over throws it. as they were able to resist the most violent storms of Envy: Virtue and good fortune had always held the helm and sails of his navigation. The troops which he led had been well beaten upon the fronter of Bourgundy. The Dauphin said unto him by way of jest, yet without bitterness, (for he knew that this spirit would be easily moved) g Every jest that contains truth in it offends, although it he spoken by a superior. The more mens cour ages are raised up, the less they endure, and the longer they remember it. 〈…〉 facenis irridete follius quarum apud praepotentes in long●●● memoria est. Tac. An lib. 5. 〈…〉 wont to scoff at Tiberius, 〈…〉 neither did he dwell upon it, (for jests should end when as they begin to move laughter) How now Earl of Dammartin, by the faith of my body the Marshal of Bourgundy hath unshod you, he doth contrary to other Smiths who shoe horses; and he unshooes them. You say well answered the Earl, but I have gotten ten thousand crowns to make new shoes for my horses. He was very inward with him, and of that credit, as meaning to be revenged of any one that had offended him, Revenge against the Seneschal of Normandy. he imparted his deseine unto him and gave him money to execute it. h The Chronicle Martinienne speaks plainly of this proceeding. A rack which every Prince should shun if he will not make shipwreck of his reputation. To cause an enemy to be slain is an act of fear and not of bravery. It is a proud abstinency to refuse his prince, but a great misery when it is for the recompense of a service which subjects the conscience under the tyranny of repentance and remorse. james of Chabannes' Lord Steward of France blamed his brother for this match making, by the which he gave his friend's cause to repent themselves for the esteem they had made of him. i He that doth an act to ruin his reputation, forceth many to repent themselves of the admiration & esteem they have had of him. The King was advertised, and not able to dissemble an Act so unworthy the generosity of the blood of France, Excuse of the Dauphin to accuse Chabannes. which knoweth not how to shed blood neither for delight nor revenge, but only for necessity, k Tyrant's saith Seneca shed blood for pleasure, and Kings for necessity. reprehended him bitterly. The Dauphin to excuse himself accused the Earl of Dammartin saying, that it was by his counsel. The Earl, desuring rather to wrong his fortune then his honour, did not accord with the Dauphin, but told the King that therein he had but given ear and obeyed. The Dauphin seeing himself discovered and contradicted, said unto the Earl, reserving my duty to the King my Lord, you have lied. The reproach of a lie is the most sensible offence that may be done by words, but it is neither weakness nor baseness to endure it of his prince, it were indiscretion to be moved therewith. Yet the Earl of Dammartin sought to revenge those words with this speech. Reserving the respect I own unto the King, if you were not the King's son, I would make answer with my person against yours, The Dauphin leaves the Court. but if there be any gentleman of your house that will charge me with this matter, I will make him say the contrary. The King judging by their countenances the truth of their intentions, commanded the Dauphin to absent himself for four Months l A Prince which hath many Children, great & capable to command, should not keep them about him: he must give them some object to consume their ambition: The idleness of Court gives them vicious inclinations & had deseignes. Wherefore Tiberius absented himself Vrbano ●uxu laseivientem, His spirit began to grow disordered by the excess of the City and idleness which make men humorous. from Court and to go into Dauphine. The Dauphin going out of the King's Chamber bore headed, and his heart full of revenge and colour, spoke these words. By this head which hath no hood I will be revenged on those that have cast me out of my house. And he kept his word, for he was too true in his threats and promises of revenge. He did never love that which he had hated, and his disposition was far from that generous precept, that we must hate to love more ardently. m We must not 〈◊〉 hate, but we w●st so dispose of hatred, as it may be converted into more ardent friendship. Whether the kings jealousy, or the dislike of fair Agnes, the words of the Earl of Dammartin, or spies, or flatterers, had caused the absence of Lewis, the father bore it with much grief and repent himself that he had no more regarded his own age then the age of his son, and that he had never showed him his face but fraught with waywardness, not opened his heart but full of wrath and disdain. n The youth of Primers hath their laws and privileges. The father's severity should not seek to break them quite, but to bend them gently. He that had nothing refused to his own youth, should not deny all things to his sons. Time which should have cured this wound, The King's grief for the Dauphin's absence. did but augment the grief. He is victorious over foreign enemies, but he hath in his heart civil war, which is more cruel. He hath given peace unto France and his soul is in trouble. It was a great grief not to see himself assisted and served by a son, so great and so valiant, in those goodly occasions which he ended so happily, to make all France French, Battle of Firmigny. The siege of Rone, and the reduction of all Normandy in one year and six days, having remained English the space of 30. years; the battle of Firmigny o The Battle of Firmigni the 15. of April 1450. whereas there were slain in the place and put into 14. pits 4574. english except 12. or 13. that were prisoners Our Histories report this battle diversly, we must give credit to that geadly old piece of tapestry which is at Fountainble au whereas the whole is represented. A thousand fight defeated 6000. English. which for the death of 8. or 10. Frenchmen gave the victory against the English, of whom there were 4574. slain upon the place: The Conquest of all Guienne: The siege of chastilion, whereas Talbot p The English called john Talbot their Achilles. He is interred at Whitechurch to whom they have given this Epitaph. Orate pro anima praenobilis Domini D. johannis Talbot quondam Comitis Saloprae. D. Talbot. D. Furnival, D. verden, D. Strange, de Blaemere, at Marescalli Franciae qui ●biit in bello apud Bourdeaur. the 7. of july. 1453. the Achilles of the English was slain: whose name doth yet terrify the little children in Guienne: The taking of Bourdeaux, with other great and goodly occasions, which should have been as so many fields of Marathon to Lewis. The king seeing that he made no haste to return, Complaints against the Dauphin. grew easily into a conceit that he had some desseine: he is glad they should flatter his judgements and allow of his apprehensions. Princes have always about their ears men-pleasers which have words for all encounters, and know how to make masks for all faces, and buskins for all feet. They make complaints unto him of the rigorous commands of his son, oppressing his people with all sorts of charges to have wherewith to maintain himself. They told him that he sent advertisements to the Dukes of Bourgundy, q The Counrty of Dauphiny did long feel of the discommodities of the Dauphin's abode there, for the King held him short and would not hear of the complaints he made of his necessities, so as for his entertainment he drew rigorous subsideiss out of Dauphine. Alencon and Bourbon, and that he received from them; that the clouds were gathered together for some great storm. The poor father believes all, and fears all, making proof that there is nothing more insupportable than the infidelity of his own blood: and as the Lion is never moved more furiously then at the sight of his own blood, so when this young Prince sees his blood r Conspiracies which pass beyond the respects of nature are cruel. Of man's blood may be made a most violent poison against man. diverted from the veins and spirits which nourish the hart, he enters into extreme passions of grief, the which he doth hold cruel, for that they do not cause him to die soon enough. He is advertised that the Dauphin hath sent into Savoy for men and money. The Earl of Dammartin sent into Savoy. He sent the Earl of Damartin to the Duke, to let him understand that he would hold the succours which he should give him for an injury. The Duke answered s The Annulles of Bourgandy report that King Charles being at Feurs in Forest, Lewis Duke of Savoy came to see him, where there were two marriages concluded, the one of the Dauphin and the Lady 〈◊〉 of Savoy, & the other of the Lady 〈◊〉 of France the King's daughter with Am Prince of Piedmont. , That he did not carry his affections against his duty, and knew how to order his desires to his power, and that he had no other, but to his majesties contentment. The Dauphin had married his daughter, and yet the King's respect was greater with the Duke then the consideration of this alliance. The King sends to the Dauphin to have him come, and the Dauphin promiseth at a certain time, but the term being come, the effects of his promise are excuses and delays. The King sends the Earl of Damartin to seize on his person, and the Lord Chastillon to command in the Province. The diligence in the execution of this commandment put the Dauphin in danger to be taken at Oranges, but having made show to go a hunting he deceived the ambush which the Earl had laid for him, t The Dauphin did rely in two noble men who did counsel & conduct him. Lewis of Chalons; and john de Lestore a bastard of the house of Armagnac. He was at Oranges when he was advertised of the Earl of Dammatius coming. and escaping their snares he took another way, and with six or seven gentlemen recovered St. Claud. If he had fallen into his father's colour, he would have used him with more rigour than he thought. But he went nor without making it known that he would one day make the Earl of Dammartin repent it. u The offence which Princes receive are deeply engraven in their memories in brass, gratia onori ultio in quaestu habetur. The Dauphin had a feeling of that which the Earl of Dammartia did him, in executing his father's commandments and was revenged so soon as he came to the Crown. And that it was not the respect of his father made him fly from his father's wrath, but the very weakness of the Earl of Dammartin, saying, that if he had had half his forces he would have met him. Being at S. claud he 〈◊〉 unto the King that he desired, with his permission, The Dauphin retires into Flanders. and the means that he should give him to make a voyage against the Turk. It was at such time as all Christendom did mourn for the loss of that City which had been sometimes the Metropolitan of the world x After the example of Rome, Constantinople was called the head of the world, and new Rome and was honoured with the like dignities and prerogatives lib. 1. de priuil. Vrb. Sid. App. Salue sceptrerum columen, Regins orientis, orbis Romatui, The Emperor Constans nephew to Heraclius, resolving to restore the seat of the Empire to old Rome, said that they must honour the mother more them the daughter. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Zonarasin the life of Constans. and the common star of the universe: The Queen of all Realms, the fair daughter of that fair mother Rome, the new Rome, Constantinople, which at the the time of her desolation was nothing but a great mass of stone made subject to the Tyrant of the East, who having filled it with all impieties and cruelties hath made it the unexpugnable dungeon of his tyranny and cruelty. Charles sends word unto his son that if the desire of glory & reputation carried him to this enterprise, he had lost great and goodly occasions against the enemies of France, the duchies of Guienne and Normandy having been reduced during his absence: as for the voyage of Turkey he might not undertake it unless he were assisted by his Nobility, the which he had cause to employ elsewhere. And to speak the truth Lewis lost much time which he should have employed to serve the King and the Realm, or to make new Empire's tributary to France. He should not have been in any place but in armies, and the father should no more meddle but with the Counsel of affairs, and to command bonfires to be made for his sons victories: Nature gave unto the one wisdom and experience for his part, and to the other force and execution. y Age should resolve & youth execute. The one hath source, the other wisdom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Arist. Polit. 6. Lewis avoiding one danger fell into another, and as Caesar found himself among Pirates thinking to fly from Scylla, He trusts his enemy. so he saw himself at the discretion of the Marshal of Bourgondy, after that he had escapedthe ambush of the Earl of Dammartin, who loved him not, and had charged his troops when as they advanced upon the marches of Bourgundy, whereof the Duke was so jealous as he could not endure that the French should approach them, knowing well that a Prince looseth much of his reputation within, which doth not stir when he is set upon without z A Prince which suffers himself to be molested upon his frontier may also prepare himself to endure the contempt of his reputation among strangers, and of his commandments & designs amongst his own subjects. And Caesar commends the Germans, for that they would not suffer any one to approach near their frontiers. . A power which is not feared by strangers is not well obeyed by subjects. But he was in that estate as he thought it safer to trust his enemies then his Father's servants: Who conducts him into Fladers He is found to plant his foot upon the precepts which fortune presents unto him, and to get out of this Libya, he trusts himself unto Ravens a Alexander's army being in Egypt had Ravens for their guide. Plutarch saith, that they followed the wandering soldiers, and never ceased crying and flying about them until they had brought them into the right way. , he was beaten and pursued by the Puttock, the protection was sacred, and it is inhumanity to deliver a suppliant. Wherefore they assured him, and then they conduct him with safety unto Brussels. Duke Philip being advertised of his coming, He is honoured as the son of France. he dislodged from Deventer, he sent the Earl of Estampes unto Lowaine to meet him, and soon after the Earl of Charalois to accompany him. The Duchess of Bourgundy, the Countess of Charolois and the Lady of Ravestain received him at Bruxelles. A day or two after the Duke arrives, and the Dauphin gets down the stairs b The Princes of the blood of France go equal with others how great and mighty so ever they be. Oliver de la March saith, that the Duke of Bourgundy went to meet the Emperor Frederick when as became to Bezancon & that seeing the Emperor come a far of, be vnc●uered his bead, and approaching near he bend himself down upon his saddle powell with all the reverence that might be. Adding a reason for that he did not light, that he was the third Son of King john of France to salute him, for the which the Duke was very sorry, and held this honour greater than he should receive of a Son of France, the presumptive heir of the first crown of the world. And he knew well that they that were issued from thence did not conceive any thing greater than themselves, and did not humble themselves to other Princes but by eurtesie. This Arrival was in the beginning of the year 1456. He is lodged in Gueneppe. The Duke lodged him at Gueneppe, near to Brussels, and sent his Ambassador to the King to advertise him thereof, and to beseech him to pardon Lewis, The King made no other answer, but that the Duke should have a care not to feed the Fox which would devour his hens. Many thought that the Father and Son had intelligence one with another, and that Charles was glad that Lewis should discover the designs, and observe the actions of the Duke of Bourgundy and his sons. Whatsoever it were, they kept him carefully, as an hostage of the quiet and prosperity of their affairs c A Prince assureth the treaties & affairs which he hath with one that is more mighty, when he can draw into his power some one of his children or his nearest kinsmen. They be gauges and hostages which they always respect, and fear to lose. . Time now teaching them that it was more profitable, and more safe to maintain themselves in the estate wherein peace had settled them, then to seek the increase thereof, which is not done without pain, nor preserved without danger. The King believing that if he were priest by necessity in a foreign country, He is disposest of his revenues in Dauphiny? he would return the sooner to his father's house, went into Dauphiny to seize upon the Towns and means wherewith he might be relieved. All men came unto him, such as had promised to hold good, said, that they would not offend the Father, to content the Son d The people consider but the present, whereunto they accommodate their thoughts and affections, at the sight of their first master they forget the new. . But fearing that the same necessity would bring him back in fury, as he had gone away in choler, and that he would fortify himself in some place: He assured himself upon all the passages and frontiers: he did prohibit the governors to receive him with any strength, and did punish james Caeur, very severely, who had subjecteth his heart, purse, and fortune to his wills, and had made himself too passionate a minister of his youthful affections e john de Seres saith that the Signiors of Loudun and S. Pon● Gentlemen of Vivarez dying very old, said that they had beard, the one of his Uncle, the other of his Grandfather, both household servants to the Dauphin, that the true cause for the which james Coeur was so entreated, was, for that he had been too familiar with Lewis, as one of the Ministers of his youthful delights. Others have told me that fair Agnes ●ad ruined him. . Charles Earl of Charolois, He agrees not well with the Earl of Charolois. the Duke's Son, bred up also as Lewis in the French liberty more than in a laconical discipline f The laconical discipline saith Plut. was hard and painful, but it taught children to obey, and therefore Sparta is called the Tamer of men. , had not always his affections conformable to those of his Father, neither did he accord well with Lewis: He had been much governed by them of the house of Croüi, the which was one of the most apparent in the country, as drawing their extraction from the crown of Hungary. Lewis a great Prince to insinuate, did not cease till he had won, and drawn them to his affections. The Earl of Charrolois found it, and advertised the Duke his Father, who would not believe it, and if he did, yet he dissembled the belief, applying himself to the humours of this Prince, for we must not feed a Lion, or we must please him g It is indiscretion to bandy against a power which we have supported and raised: Aristophanes brings in Pericles' ghost advising the Athenians not to feed the Lion or to please him. . The Earl of Charrolois from that time frowned at them of Croüi, and there grew so great an Antipathy of wills in the minds of these two Princes, as all the remainder of their lives they were but feigned friends. They of Croüi made an altar of refuge of the Dauphin's favour, against the Earl of Charalois, and thought that, notwithstanding that they were great, both in Alliances and means, yet they had need of some greater support, as the heavens how excellent soever they be, have need of the motion of the first mover, Disposition of the Earl of Charolois. besides the Nature and assistance of their own intelligences. Lewis could counterfeit and dissemble his passions so cunningly, as the Duke (who had an excellent judgement) could not discover any thing. But the Earl of Charrolois, being of a harsh disposition, suspicious h Suspicion and facillistie is to believe all things, Suspitionum & credendi temeritas. Ta●. ruins friendships and the most firmest affections. and boiling, made them of Croüi to feel the indignation which he durst not evaporate against Lewis who favoured them. It burst forth at such time as they settled the estate of the Earl of Charrolois house. The Duke would have Philip de Crovi, Son to john de Crovi, set down for the third Chamberlain, in the absence of the Lord of Auchy the first, and of the Lord of Formelles the second Chamberlain. The Earl of Charrolois entered Anthony Raulyn, Lord of Eimeries. The house was divided, some followed the Father's will, and others the Sons i A controversy between two private Noblemen, is able to diujde the opinion of a whole Court. That which was betwixt Chimay of Emeries, who should have the first place in the absence of the L. of Auchy, first Chamberlain to the Duke, was so affected as the father was for the one & the son for the other. . The Duke seeing the danger which might grow by this adoration of the sun rising, made it known that he was both master and father, commanding his Son to bring him the Roll, and in his presence cast it into the fire, and then willed him to go forth. Monstrelet saith, that the Duke commanded the Earl of Charolois to cause Crovi to march in his rank. I will not, answered the Earl, they of Crovi shall never govern as they have done, and that the Father (being offended at an answer so bold and of so little respect) he would have fallen upon his Son, but not able to get him he commanded him to avoid the country. The Son departs full of murmuring and despite, the Father coming to himself and seeing that his Son returned not, Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy to his Son. goes to horseback all alone, sad and pensive in a rainy night, rides through the country, to let the Dauphin know the grief he had, and his Son the choler wherein disobedience had drawn him. k Whatsoever the Son doth yet must the Father always show himself a Father, & matters are very foul & strange when as he is forced to forget the duty of a Father. . He lost himself in a wood and lay all night in a Collyars' cabin, with hunger in his belly, and choler in his head. He came the next day to Sevenbergh, a little town of Brabant, whereas he found one of his huntsmen, who conducted him to Guinneppe, where as the Dauphin (the cause of all this trouble) besought him to pardon the Earl of Charrolois. The Duke would have held the refusal of so just a request cruel, being made, by, and for a person so near unto him, l As it is unpleasing to entreat a stranger, so is it a very sensible discipleasure to be refused of his own. , for he could not but love his only Son, in despite of his youthful & wayward affections. He required no other satisfaction, but that he should dismiss two servants William Bithe and Guiot of Vsie, who retired themselves into France. Soon after the Earl of Charrolois bred another subject of choler in his father's hart, wandering of the Dauphin being a hunting. he was come from hunting without the Dauphin, and had suffered him to wander in a wood, thinking that he had been before. When the Duke saw him return alone, he blamed him sharply, and commanded him to go presently to horseback to seek the Dauphin. They sought him long by torchlight, and found him on the way to Bruzells conducted by a Peasant. m The Dauphins wandering was in the night abeve eight leagues from Brussels. The Duke caused him to be sought for with torches: the next day he gave a crown to the Peasant which had conducted him. . The Duke was exceeding glad to see him return, for he knew that he should be always bound to yield an account of so precious agage, and that he might be assured whilst he held him he might have what he desired from the King. Birth of Mary of Bourgundy the 13. of Feb. 1457 God sent the Earl of Charolois a Daughter, for the first fruits of his marriage; the Duke entreated the Dauphin to christian her Mary. This birth did moderare the grief which the Lady Isabel of Bourbon her Mother had conceived six months before, for the death of her Father Charles Duke of Bourbon. n Charles the first Duke of Bourbon died in the end of the year 1455. he was Son to john the first Duke of Bourbon and of Bo●na of Bourgundy, daughter to Philip the hardy. He married Agnes of Bourgundy Daughter to john Duke of Bourgundy, and had five sons, and five daughter. His sons were. john the second Duke of Bourbon. Lewis, who died young, Peter Lord of Beavien, Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Archbishop of Lion, and Lewis Bishop of Liege. The Daughters were 〈◊〉 Princess of Orange; Catherine Duchess of Gueldres, Margaret, Countess of Bresse and Duchess of Savoy. Isabel wife to Charles Duke of Bourgondy and Mary married first to the Duke of Calabria, and afterwards to Gaston de Foix. . The King was offended for that he did not yield him his Son, and desired some occasion to let him know his discontent, the which he did not dissemble, when as the Duke sought to punish the Gantois for a rebellion, commanding him to suffer them to live in peace, as being under his protection. The Dauphin thought the time of his return into France long, and had sworn that he would not make that voyage until his Father were passed unto another world. 1459. The first year of his abode there, Charlotte of Savoy, Daughter to the Duke of Savoy was brought to Namur to consummate the marriage which had been concluded five years before. o One of the goodliest parts of civil society is marriage, the first gate to enter into it is love, there is none to go out of it but that of death. And for that in the marriages of Princes they regard more the interest of subject & estates, than their own content, It happens that their loves are not so pure and free. A marriage which being made unwillingly, was continued without love. When the Duke of Bourgundy gave the Dauphin his pension of 12000. Birth of the Dauphin's son at Gnenneppe in june 1459. Crowns, Oliver de la March writes that it was upon condition that he should marry her which shows that he had no great desire. She was delivered of a son who was named joachim, the Duke of Bourgondy was so glad of this news as he gave a thousand Lions of gold to joselin du Bois which brought it. He was the Godfather and the Countess of Charrolois the Godmother. The Insant died presently after, and left the father very sorrowful, who being not then in those distrusts which age brings, desired to see him great, knowing well that the Children which were borne late are soon Orphlins. The loss of this infant, which first had given him the name of Father, was so sensible unto him, as Philip de Comines saith, that he made a vow never to love any other woman but his own wife, and yet in many parts of his Chronicle we see him among women, we find some lost, some married, and their husbands from base fortunes raised to great dignities, with many other actions which argue not a continency equal to that of Alexander p Alexander being persuaded to see Darius' daughters who were fair and young, made answer, I will have a care not to be vanquished by women seeing that I have vanquished men. , who being a victor would not see those beauties which might vanquish him: nor to that of Cyrus q They entreated Cyrna to see Panthea, which he refused to do, and being told that she was very fair, it is, for that reason (said he) I may not see her for if I do visit her now that I have leisure, she will bind me another time when I shall be full of affairs. who would by no means see her, who he thought might bind him to see her more than once. The King bore the absence of his son very impatiently, it was a thorn in his heart which time could not pull out. Death of Ladislaus King of Hungary. He grew sick, and his sickness was seconded by a great affliction, for the death of Ladislaus r Sorrow creeps suddenly amidst joy, whiles they treat of a marriage at tour betwixt the L. Magdalen of France, and King Ladislans, his Ambassadors receive news of his death, on Christmas 〈◊〉. 1457. King of Hungary, to whom he had promised the lady Magdalen his daughter. After his recovery he thought that all the cause of his ill grew from the Duke, whom he accused to have drawn away his son, and corrupted his good nature, resolving to seek a remedy rather with deeds than words. He levied a great army, and no man knew how he would employ it, the duke fearing that it was to make some enterprise upon the towns of the river of Somme, which had been given him by the treaty of Arras, stayed not to demand the reason t In occasions which press, we must not lose time with words; men of courage should not have their hands on their tongues but their tongues in their hands. , he arms and goes into Picardy to provide for the safety of his towns, and to hinder the kings entry with forces. The King sends word to the Duke of Bourgondy, that he was in arms to take into his protection the goods of the Lord of Rodemart, u Princes have always pretext● to make war, and he that will break with his friend never fails to find occasions. The Duke answered that he was no subject of France, that his lands lay in the Duchy of Luxembourg, that the King should speak more plainly, and that he desired to know whether the king had a will to keep the treaty of Arras or not. The King had a desire to have his son otherwise then by the hazard of Arms, or breach of a truce, which cost so much blood and drawn so many Princes into danger. x In the assembly of Arras for a peace between King Charles the seventh, and Philip Duke of Bourgundy were present the Embossadors of the Pope, of the Council of Basill, of the Emperor, and of all Christian Princes. They numbered about four thousand horses He feared to engage himself in new miseries and to bring France to the hazard of shipwreck which she had escaped. He went to the west of his life, and knew that the greatest of the Realm had their eyes turned to the East: Age had cooled his military heat, the vigour of his nature was without edge, the blood of his courage was nothing but slegme: y Princes are men, and borne men, wherefore their best qualities and dispostions are mutable and in the and discover their inconstancy. And although that this first force of his spirits was not altogether dejected, yet was it much altered, France did still produce some fantastic humours unknown to other Provinces, as Egypt doth bring forth Beasts, and Nile Fishes, which are not found in other countries nor in other Rivers. The house of Bourgundy had been so beaten with the like storm as it desired to continue in this calm, Declaration of the house of Bourgundy. the covetousness of great men was glutted with the calamities of innocents, z The people are for the most part innocent of the causes of war, & they suffer all the calamities. The covetousness of Soldiers is never satisfied, but with the miseries of innocents. Calamitatibus insontium expletur auari●a. Tac. lib. 2. the most greedy of troubles were forced to commend rest. It would have seemed hard unto the subjects to see themselves overwhelmed so suddenly with waves. a It is always dangerous to take from the people the ease and commodities wherein they live. The judgement of Tiberius was long in suspense before he could resolve to draw the people from the sweetness of peace to the discommodities of war. Tac. saith, Populum per tot annos moliter habitum non audebit ad durio●avertere. . The Duke would not leave a doubtful peace with his subjects, he desired to be satisfied of the King's intention, saying, that if they forced him to raise an army, they should bury him in his arms, that he had no will unto it unless he were forced, that the Trumpet should make no noise, if violence were not offered, and that this Echo should remain quiet in the ease of solitariness, but if they moved him he would not be silent until that they who had caused him to speak did first hold their peace. These practices passed away, and the King was glad that they raised no storms, not holding it reasonable to resolve to war more by the occasion which he had, then by the inconveniences which he did foresee b All occasion to make war should not be rashly nor ambitiously sought for, what show of profit soever they had. It is better to have a care to keep subjects in peace, is people towns, and to increase the commerce, so discipline soldiers and together tre●s●re together lest he be surprised in necessity. : besides being now oppressed, not with years, but with cares, which seems to be inseparable accidents of the life of great men, and the excess of those pleasures which Nature had made short, for that they are pernicious, he suffered himself to be carried away with melancholy and waywardness, two rocks against which the vessel suffered shipwreck, He grew wayward after the condemnation of john Duke of Alencon to lose his head the tenth of October 1458. After which, melancholy and heaviness had seized on him, he changed the troubles of his life into a perpetual prison at Loches, and gave his goods to his wife and children c john D. of Alencon was condemned for that he would have brought the English into France. The clear sighted said, that his misfortune grew rather from jealausie, or from the love which he ●are unto the Dauphin who governed him by his counsels. . The Dauphin being well advertised of all that passed at Court, grieved at the misfortunes of his godfather whom he loved. The desire to see a change did much disquiet him. claud of Seyssel Bishop of Marceilles under the reign of Lewis the twelfth saith, that the Dauphin and they that followed him, desired nothing more than his Father's death: some inquired by Astrology, some by negromancy. He had many politic inventions to augment his Father's cares and caused his suspicion to turn into fears d Great courage should not easily receive suspicions, and Seneca saith that it is the act of a timorous soul to turn suspicion into fear. . He knew that the Earl of Dammartin was as it were the King's King, and he found means to bring him into jealousy with the King, whose brain being weak and very moist, did easily receive such impressions e In matters of state Princes enter easily into icalousies of their most trusty servants, and suspicion is a bone which age of itself doth willingly gnaw upon. , He wrote a letter unto a Lady whom the King loved and sent it unto her by a Franciscane Friar which he wittingly delivered to the Earl of maine, enemy to Dammartin, who showed it to the King f The chief points of this letter reported by the Chronicle Marti●ienna are, I have received letters from the Earl of Dammartin, whom I make show to hate. I pray you tell him that he serve me still well, as he hath always done, I will think of those matters whereof he did write unto me, and he shall very shortly receive news from me. : It was full of terms of so great trust in the Earl of Dammartin, as the King not considering from whom it came, nor by whom it was presented, commanded the Earl of Dammartin to retire himself, then being informed by the Dauphin's secretaries that this Prince had no greater enemy, & that he had not written unto him, he did easily believe that it was an act of his bad Son who had so much troubled him, as it was the ordinary argument of his complaints. Some few days before his death he recalled him: apprehension bred no less amazement in him, than his life gave him affliction. The advise which a Captain gave him that he could not live long, K. Charles resolves to die of hunger. and that there was a conspiracy plotted against his life, did so distemper and torment him, as he could not live without fear and trembling g There is no torment so much to be feared as fear, & what avails it to fear that which is inevitable? to fear death is to call it, for the fear of death is a perpetual death. . And imagining that they meant to poison him, he deprived himself of eating, and brought himself to so great a weakness, as when they would have caused him to take any thing to restore him, the passages were so shrunk, as that which he would have done willingly happened unto him by force and against his will, and it may be said that he died of hunger h The Earl of Dammartin who was retired to his house at St. Forgeau came to see the King the day before his death, persuading him to take something, who told him that he would take a Cullis from his hand, if he saw it made, the which he presented unto him, but he could not swallow any thing, the conduits were so stopped. , the 21. of july. 1461. Dying he recommended to the Earl of Dammartin his younger Son, whom he called the little Lord, to whom he desired to leave the Crown, knowing the spirit of Lewis to be terrible & an implacable enemy to his best servants. God would not suffer him to trouble the Order of Nature, to revenge his private affections, nor to run the fortune of Alphonso i Alphonso believing by the rules of his Astrology that the youger of his sons would be the more capable to reign, named him his successor, whercat the elder was soineensed as be caused the Father to die in prison, and slew his Brother. King of Castill, who having preferred the younger before the elder, forced him to be a parricide and a fratricide. Charles the seventh was the restorer of France, France hath given him the title of Victorious. of a Town of Bourges he made a whole Realm, he expelled the English, who of the whole piece, which they held, kept nothing but Calais. He had the honour to have pacified that great and deadly schism, against the which were held the Counsels of Constance and Basill. A time of such strange and terrible confusion as no man could say that Rome was where the Pope remained, as they were wont to say that whereas the Emperor was, there was Rome, k During the Schism of three Antipopes they might say Imperiumque suis a sedibus errat. Claud. But they could not say that the authority of the church was whereas the Pope remained, for there was a Schism: as they were wont to say that where the Emperor was there was Rome, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Herod. lib. 1. for there was a Pope in Spain, one in France, and two in Italy. He ordained, by the advise of the Prelates of France, and caused to be confirmed and passed at the council of Basill, the pragmatic sanction l The orders which the council of Basill made for the government & discipline of the Church were not generally received, Germany and Italy would none of them. King Charles caused as assembly to be made at Burges, by the advise whereof they were observed and published in Parliament the seventh of july 1438 under the name of the Pragmatic Sanction. . With the like zeal as he laboured for the peace of the Church, he desired to revenge the injury which it had received in Asia and Europe by the arms of Amurath & Mahomet. Pope Nicholas, and Pius the second, exhorted this Prince, as Elezeus did joas, to shoot his arrows against the East, but he was so troubled for his just defence against his neighbours, as he had no means to think thereon. m Among the observations which they give for the levies of Soldiers, they have respect to the air and the place; hot countries produce men of more understanding than courage, and could do the contrary. A good rule for them that have divers provinces to choose, but to make it general they must take them where they find them. They also give unto this Prince the honour to have set an order for his troops, for seeing that the number of his soldiers were so diminished, as his could not equal those of his enemies, he made levies throughout all his villages, taking one labouring man out of threescore, who were bound to arm and pay him, and he was freed from taxes. Necessity, in whose school he had learned great experience, dispensed with him for the observations which are made in the choice of soldiers. These were called Frank Archers, who being well led did great services, being able to endure all pain, as being bred up in discommodities and wants, without cunning or malice. They began their profession at the siege of Vernon. The defects which are observed in the life of this Prince, as the griefs of Kings n The reigns of Princes do not continue and end always as they have begdnne, The first five years of Nero's reign were just, Constant was good ten years, cruel twelve, and prodigal ten. , do not always encounter ends like unto their beginnings. His loves and his diversions could not hinder it, but that France hath given him the well deserved title of Victorious. The end of the first Book. THE CONTENTS OF the Second BOOK. 1 KIng Lewis his going into France, His entry and Coronation at Rheims. 2 The Duke of Bourgundy doth him homage, and follows him at his entry into Paris: magnificence of the Parisians upon this occasion. 3 Estate of the King's affairs with Pope Pius the second. Revocation of the Pragmatique Sanction. 4 Discontent of the Noblemen of the Realm upon the King's first actions. An observation of his Humours. 5 His voyage and designs in Brittanny. 6 Oppression of the people, by new inventions of Subsedies. 7 Strange and furious revolutions in England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and York. 8 Edward the fourth expels Henry the sixth King of England. 9 He seeks to marry the Queen of France her Sister, and takes a widow in England. 10 The King goes to Bourdeaux and there treats a marriage betwixt his Sister, and the Earl of Foix. 11 Troubles between the Crowns of Castill and Arragon. The Earldom of Rousilion engaged to the King. 12 The Kings of Castille and Arragon refer their differences to the King. 13 Interview of the Kings of France and Castille upon the River of Vidaazo. 14 The King returns to Paris, redeems the Towns upon the River of Somme and visits the Frontiers. 15 The Duke of Bourgundy comes to the King at Lisle, to demand his advise touching a voyage which he pretended to make against the Turk. 16 Arrival of Lewis Duke of Savoy at Paris. 17 The King declareth his pretensions upon the sovereign rights of Britain. 18 The Earl of Charrolois stays the Bastard of Rupembr● at the Haage. 19 Ambassadors from the King to the Duke of Bourgundy upon divers complaints. 20 The Duke of Bourbon first author of the league of the common weal. Death of Charles Duke of Orleans. 21 Charles Duke of Berry, the King's brother, retires into Britain. 22 His Letters to the Duke of Bourgundy, and his declaration upon the taking of Arms. 23 Death of Pope Pius the second, to whom succeeded Paul the second, a Venetian. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE SECOND BOOK. A Death which brings Sceptres & Crowns, 1461 doth not always meet with sorrow and tears. When there is a question of the succession of the Realm, An heirs tears are soon dried up. a desire to reign doth presently dry up the tears which the law of Nature draws from the eyes a There is no water whose spring is sooner dried up, then that which flows from a profitable mourning. . Lewis longed too much to be at home, to be grieved when as they brought him news that Charles the seventh had quit him the lodging. He had already spent two third parts of his age in obeying, he held the rest very short to command and to end at; in great enterprises worthy of his quality b Life is very short for great entrriprises; and inconstancy makes it much shorter. . He entertained the ivy of his hopes in the ruins of this old building: he did not hope for any light but by the eclipse of this Sun, and his vows were no let, that his Father was not already among the God c The Romans held their Father's dead in the number of the Gods, and their Images were reverenced as persons deysied. Wherefore among the predictions which Antonin had of his adoption and successim to the Empire, they note that, In somrio saepe monitus suit penatibus suis Adriani simulacrum inserere. Capitol. He was often admonished in his sleep that he should place Adrians' Image among his boushould Gods. . And what can a King's eldest Son desire but to reign? every object less than a crown is unworthy of his birth, Lewis comes into France. but the wishes are unnatural & monstrous upon unjust effects. To desire for a crowns cause the death of him of whom he holds his life, is ingratitude & impiety. The same day that Charles died, Lewis was advertised of his death d They that have written that these news were sent by Charles Duke of Anjou, Father in law to Charles the seventh, are mistaken, both in the name and matter, for Lewis Duke of Anion lived since the year 1417. . He went presently to horse to go into France, fearing lest Charles his brother should make his profit of his absence. The Duke of Bourgundy and the Earl of Chartolis accompany him with four thousand horse, chosen out of the flower of all the forces of their Estates and the Princes their friends. He makes his entry into Rheims. He entered into Rheims the fourteeene of August, e The King arrived at Rheims the 14. August, and caused himself to be anointed the next day. A remarkable diligence. They cannot go too speedily to so great a Feast. The Duke of Bourgundy being followed by the Earl of Charolois, the Earl of Nevers, the Earl of Estampes, the Duke of Cleves, the Earl of St. Pol, and many other Noblemen, went out of Rheimes to the Abbcy of Saint Thierry to meet the King. being attired in white and crimson damask, upon a white courser caparonessed with the arms of France. The next day he was anointed and crowned. The peers of the Church were there in person. The Duke of Burgundy Deane of the peers. The Duke of Bourbon held the place of the Duke of Normandy. The Earl of Angolesme for the Duke of Guienne. The Earl of Yew for the Earl of Tholousa. The Earl of Nevers for the Earl of Flaunders, and the Earl of Vandosme for the Earl of Champagne. The King is anointed and Crowned. The ceremony of his coronation was beautified with an other which they found very new and strange. The King is anointed and Crowned. The King drawing his sword presented it to the Duke of Bourgundy and entreats him to make him Knight. He gave this honour of Knighthood to an hundred and seventeen Gentlemen, the first were the Lord of Beavieu, james of Bourbon, the Earl of Geneva, the Earl of Pontieu, the Earl of Witembergh, john of Luxembergh, and to the Marquis of Saluces' Son. From the Coronation they went to the Royal feast, whereas the twelve peers were set on either side the King. At the end the Duke of Bourgundy kneeled down, entreating the King to forget the injuries of such as had offended him during his Father's reign. f This request is reported by Monstrelet in these terms. When the tables were taken away, the noble duke of Burgundy, using his accustomed gentleness, in the nobility of his courage, kneeled down before the King, and entreated him for the honour, passion and death of our Saviour, that he would pardon all those which he held suspect to have set discord betwixt his father and him, which request he granted reserving seven persons He answered there are seven which I cannot pardon. Revenge had mounted with him to the Royal throne, he had not trod it under foot, he carried it in his head, it was in his mind, like unto those stars that were fixed about the pole. He finds it not so sweet to recompense the good as to revenge the bad. The King cannot forget the injuries which they had done unto the Dauphin. g A royalty should make men forget forepast injuries. The Emperor Adrian being come to the Empire said unto his enemy which was before him. Euasisti, thou hast escaped. Quos in vita privata ●n●micos habuit, Imperator neglexit A Sparta. And Lewis the twelfth said generously, it is not fit that a King of France should revenge the injuries done to a duke of Orleans . Two days after the ceremony of the Coronation the Duke did him homage for his countries which held of the crown of France, and offered him others which he held in Sovereignty. h The Duke of Burgundy was received to fealty and homage by King Lewis the eleventh and to be Peer and Dean of the Peers of France, by reason of the D●●●ie of Burgundy the 17. of August. 1461. From Rheims the King went to Meaux, then to Saint Dennys, and made his entry into Paris, where they did number twelve thousand horse which followed him. All the pomp and magnifficence which was made at this entry did represent aswell the simplicity and ignorance of those times, as the greatness and State of Paris. Good wits in such occasions do not represent all things so plainly to the eye, as there doth not remain some thing wherewith to content curiosity, by the pain it hath to seek, and the pleasure to find and to divine at the intelligence of their inventions. Brokers were then more necessary than painters, for they did only set persons of divers ages and sexes for all kinds of histories. A Virgin was sufficient to represent the City of Paris, as we find not any more in books, nor in ancient medals for Rome, nor Athens; and there were five to signify Paris, every one carrying a letter of it name. They were conducted on horseback by a Herald, towards Saint Ladros' Church, and there presented unto the King. The Chronicle saith, that they had all personages fitted to the signification of five letters making Paris, and that all spoke unto the King as they were appointed. The Frontispiece of S. Denis gate was beautified with a great ship in the which were the three Estates in three Persons which made the Prosopopeia, Ridiculous representations. and justce sat in the prow who spoke unto the King. On the top of the Mast there was a Lily, out of the which came a King conducted by two Angels. At the fountain du Ponceau, they gave wine and Ippocras to them that past. i The Chronicle useth thee words in this place. A little within the Town at Fo●taine du Ponceau were wild men and women which did fight & made many countenances; and there were also three fair● maidens representing mermaids naked: where they might see the fair white pap separated round and hard, which was a pleasant sight▪ and they had pretty speech●● and near unto them were certain f●ll Instruments, which made great melody. And to refresh such as entered into the said Town there were divers pipes in the said Fountain casting mike, wine and lippocras, whereof every man drank that would: And beneath the said Fountain right against the Trinity there was a passion by men without speech, Christ being hanged on the Cross and the two thieves on the right and left hand. There were also three Virgins like Mermaids all naked, and at the Trinity was the passion of jesus Christ represented by a living man, being tied unto a Cross betwixt two thieves. At S. Innocents' Fountain there was a Hind put forth, being followed by a great cry of Hounds and Huntsmen. At the Burchery was the Bastille of deep, as the most glorious trophy of this Prince's youth. Passing over the Changers Bridge, which was covered over head, they let fly two hundred dozen of small Birds. The King went to pray in our Lady's Church, he supped and lodged in the Palace, and the next day he went to the Tournelles in St. Anthony's street, where he made a new world, changing his chief Officers, The Duke of Bourgondy and the Earl of Charolois made a great part of the pomp, they and their trains being so richly appointed, as there were not any more stately. The King made show of great love both to the father and son, but there was so great a diversity of manners and humours betwixt Lewis and Charles, as this harmony lasted not long. k En●y and jealousy which trouble great men will not suffer the one to rejoice at another's good. Themi●tocles not able to endure Cymons prosperity died through Impatiency. Into their most sincerest affections, jealousy, which is the poison of friendship, did always creep: There was nothing pure nor perfect, the prosperity of the one was a troublesome cross unto the other. The King came unto the Crown like a new heir to his father's possessions, Lewis seeks for the rights of the Crown. who doth not so much affect his kinsmen and tutors, as he desires to see his Registers, examine his accounts, and know if he doth enjoy all the rights of his successions: from these first words they judge what his designs and actions would be. l Not only by the first actions, but by the first words of a Prince coming to the Clown they judge of the future: so the word which Seuer●s spa●e, L●boremas, and that of Pertinax, militem●s, were taken for signs of war or peace in the Empire. AElms Sparta. The Pomp and magnificence of this public joy being ended the Duke of Bourgondy and the Earl of Charolois took their leaves of the king to return. The Duke went into Flanders and the Earl of Charolois to Diion, Death of Mary of Anjou Queen of France. and then to St. claud, the King to Ambois to see the Queen his mother, whose dowry he assigned upon the County to Xaintonge and the Town of Rochel: she did not long enjoy this assignation, passing from this life unto a better. Her death afflicted them, who knowing that this King did all of his own head, and that he had no other Law then his will, desired her a longer life, for her presence had been a causey to stop these torrents. m The great name of mother well bred and of understanding is a great restraint unto a Prince: Tacitus saith that after that Nero had lost his mother he fell to all dissolutions and excess. Qua● mal● co●rcit as qualiscunque matris reverentia tardaverat. Se●anus did also keep Tiberius in awe and the same author saith, that he gave himself to wicked and unseemly things, postquam remoto pudore, et metu suo tantum ingenio utebatur, when as having banished shame and fear, he followed his own wit. It falls out ill with a Prince who sees nothing betwixt God and himself whereof the respect should restrain him, and be a bridle unto him. She had endured much before her death. The Chronicle of Lewis the eleventh commends her patience under her husband's reign and humours, but she could not dissemble the discontent which she received at the pleasure of her Augustus n They demanded of Livia, Augustus' wife, how she had done to win and enjoy Augustus. To whom she answered, in doing willingly whatsoever pleased him, & dissembling the pleasures which he took in secret Dion. As a good constitution of the body doth easily endure both heat and cold, so the force and vigour of the mind doth without any great pain resist these crosses and discontents, which are thorns amidst the roses of marriage. This passion seizing upon a weak spirit and without defence, transports it to dislikes and extreme hatred. About the end of the year he went to Tours, the Earl of Charolois after his return from pilgrimage came thither to him; where after they had spent some days in the pleasure of hunting, he had the Commission of Lieutenant General in Normandy with 36000. Crowns for his entertainment. This gift was without ask. The benefits of Princes are sweeter offered then granted. He had but one third part paid, which defect made him to fail in his affection, and transported him to other thoughts. o Men are more discontented to see themselves frustrated of things promised then of those which are but hoped for. In the one there is but mishap, and they complain only of fortune: In the other contempt and they challenge him that hath broken his promise. He went to Roven to take possession of his government, It was at Tours that he began to frame his intelligences with the Duke of Brittanny. These two Princes were young, both discontented, and they which know one another, salute a far off. The Earl of Charolois did confer secretly with Romille Vicechancellor and Ambassador of Britain, to whom he gave the seal of alliance wherewith he shall be soon reproached. Lewis entered into France a friend to all his neighbours. There was not any but Pope Pius 2 p Pius 2. called a Councile at Manto●a in the year 1459. to consult of the means to resist Mohomet 2. who had made great ruins in Hungary, Albania, & Constantinople. who let him know that he could not be so, Pius 2. presseth the abolition of the Pragmatike Sanction. if the pragmatike Sanction were observed. To understand how France hath lost that which she had preserved so dearly, we must take the discourse somewhat higher. The Pope had called an q Eugenius the 4. in the year 1443. gave the Inuestitiure of the Realm of Naples to Alphonso King of Arragon, with the two Sicities Bartho, Flaccius in the life of Alphonse the 5. Pins. 2. gave the investiture of the Crown of Naples to Ferdinand bastard to Alphonso King of Arragon, Alexander 6. confirmed it to Alphonso 2. who left it to Ferdinand of Arragon, and he held it when as Charles the eight conquered the Realm. an assembly of Princes at Mantova, to consult of the means to make war against the Turk, land to prevent the great deseignes which he had against Christendom. King Charles the seventh sent his Ambassadors thither, Prelates, Knights, and Doctors, to let them understand his intentions for the general good of the Church. They made a private request unto the Pope, that if he would be pleased to give the investiture of the Realms of Naples and Sicily to King Rene, who had been wrongfully dispossessed against the hereditary rights of the house of Anjou, the which the King desired the more earnestly, for that besides the affection of blood which bond him to love his kinsman and brother in Law, he saw that the general cause of Christendom would be much fortified against the common enemy, for the Duke of Calabria (the son of Renne) entering into the inheritance of his predecessors propounded to advance his arms, and to expel the Ottomans out of the Empire of Constantinople, when as they thought that the Christian Religion was at her period, and could go no farther. r Albunasat said that the Christian Religion should last unto the year, 1460. Abraham the jew said that in the year, 1464. the jewish religion should be in her glory & liberity, when as it was most afflicted. An enterprise whereof they had great hope, as well for the generosity of this Prince's courage, as for that he was in an age fit and capable of such actions whereby the holy Sea might reap great profit, the possessions depending of his patrimony being by this meanesrestored unto him. The Pope upon this proposition s This Act was imparted unto me by Gaspar Dauvet Siegneur of Marets' Stuard of the king's house. The chief clauses are reported here in the margin Post quam plurimade laudibus Francorum. S. D. N. praeclare dixerat, adiecit etiam loqui in fanorem partis adversae antedicti. D. Regis Rentai, de grandi exaltatione ille gitime natorum aliqua in ijs interserendo quae potius tacenda fuisse videntur. having made a long discourse in commendation of the French, The Pope's affection to the house of Arragon he added many things touching bastards, favouring covertly those which usurped the rights of the house of Anjou, and then falling upon the decrees of the council of Basill and of the Pragimatike sanction, he said, that it was a spot which did blemish the beauty of the face of France, and under pretext whereof the Authority of the Apostolic Sea was disgraced, the forces of Christian Religion were weakened, the unity and liberty of the Church violated and trodden down, and therefore he was forced to speak, Pope's threat against France. lest his silence should be reputed a connivence or carelessness, and that the wound which might be cured grew not incurable, and he should be forced to abstain from all intelligence and communication with the French, alleging this passage of Scripture. t Alleging, that it is written in the old law: Surper omnem animam quae mortua est non ingredietur Pontifex. The high Priest shall not see a dead soul, and shall not be whereas there is sin, or a perseverance or obstinacy in sin. At the same time the Pope made a Bull by the which he declared all appellations to the Councile an execrable abuse, and never before heard of, His Bull against appellations to a council. u This constitution gins thus Execrabilis & pristinis temporibus 〈◊〉 tempes●ate nostra inolevit abusus, ut a Romano Pontifice jesu Christi Vicario, cui dictum est in persona B. Petri. Pasee ones ●eas, etc. & quodcunque nonnulli spiritu● rebellioni● imbuti non sanioris c●piditate iudic●i sed commissi enatione pece●t● ad futurum Concilium provocare presum●●●. invented by spirits of rebellion, not for any desire of abetter judgement, but to escape for sins committed, being a ridiculous thing x Quis il jud ridiculum indicaverit quod●d concilium apell●tur quod 〈◊〉 est neque seiture quae futurum fit? Pius II. Const. execrabilis. to frame an appellation to a Concile which was not yet assembled, neither knew they when it would be, and that by this abuse the excess remained unpunished, rebellion against the first Sea was supported and all Ecclesiastical discipline in confusion, wherefore by the advice of the Cardinals and Prelates, which were then at Mantova, he did forbid such appellations, as erroneous, detestable and pestilent, and charged them with censures which received the Acts, or did favour them. The King's Ambassadors took these words for cracks of thunder and infallible threats of excommunication, and having reported them unto King Charles the seventh, his council did believe that he had resolved to curse both the King and his realm, and all those that should cause the decrees of the Councile of Basill to be observed, wherefore it was concluded that john Dauvet his Attorney general in the Court of Parliament, should protest against his threats, to avoid the scandals which the Church and Christendom might receive, reserving in all things a respect unto the holy Sea, and the obedience which is due unto the Pope, conformable to the holy decrees. That the Pope should be entreated y Summis desiderus op●at regia Maiestas ut idem, S. D. N. cum ●acris generalibus concil●●● pacem foneat & suis temporibus Ecclesiam Dei salubri●er regere & dirigere curet, sicuti sancti sui pre decestores facere studuerunt, & pacem et vniratē●nimo dan servare querat. and exhorted to consider duly of the importance of this resolution, before he did proceed to cut off such a member from the body of Christendom, and how much it did import him to keep peace with the Councils, and not to suffer the unity of the Church to be violated at such a time when as all the forces of the infidels were banded and united against her concord. Turks make their profit of the divisions of Christendom. That as the King z Ipse enim D. N. Re● qui semper pa●is universae Ecclesiae desideratissmus est. sicut magnis laboribus et sumptibus pa●●m et unitatem inter sacra Concilia & ●el. rec. D. Papam Eugenium ac consequen●er D. Nicolaun successorem eius prosecutus est ut illi in sede Apostolica pacifici manner ent sic nunc vehemeter cupit ut sacti simus. D. N. modernus succedens praefatis Pontificibus pacem manu te●ere & conseru●re labourer. had laboured, more than all Christian Princes, with much pain and great expense, to maintain a peace, and unity betwixt the councils and Popes, Eugenius and Nicholas, to the end they might remain quiet in their seats. In like manner he desired that the Pope should confirm this peace and good union, causing those lets to cease which were against the Cannons of the Pragmatike Sanction, made by a general consent, and to consider that such lets came only from those that affected more their own private commodities, than the health of souls, and could not endure that the Popes should march with the Councils in the unity of Spirit, as they had in former times done, when as their temporal care was not so great as it is now, and that they did zealously seek the Kingdom of God before all things. a To●lat differentias quae adversus Cāones universali consensu editos per non nullorum affectus quae r●●tiu● plus privata commoda quam salutem animarum suscitantur, impediuntque ne summi Pontifices cum generalibus conciliis in unitate spiritus ambulent, eorumque decreta servant, sequantur ac predicent sicut olim profit hantur ac promptissime facere solebant, dum non erat tanta commodorum temporal 'em sollici●●do & ante omnia 〈◊〉 Dei ●ttentius quae rebatur. That the King desired the Pope would call a Council in a place of safety and liberty, whereas the Prelates of the Church, and learned men fearing God, Money levied under the pretere of war & ill employed. having charge to be there, might speak their opinions brotherly and charitably in tranquillity of mind, upon the occasions which should be presented, such assemblies being necessary to provide for means to resist the desseins of the enemies and persecutors of Christian Religion. For although that under this pretext they had levied great sums of money after divers manners; b Diversae pecuniarum summae modis varus huins rei pretexta hacternus petitae et collatae suat yet Christendom had received no ease. Besides the ten years in the which the Council of Constans had or dained that they should hold a council were expired. That the King propounded to submit himself to all that should be determined and or dayned by the council, to the end that so good an order might be settled in the Church, as God might be better served and christian people more edified; And to the end the council might be in all liberty, it was necessary to choose a place of easy access for all that would come. That it was not credible (as many have pretended) that the Pope was resolved to have it held in the church of St. john Lateran c Vt aut em prefatum concilium rite celebrari possit necessarium est ipsum in tali loco constitui ut omibus pateat plena libertas. Nec creden●um est in veritate subsistere quod no●nulli ferunt S. D. N. velle in Laterano universal concilium celebrare, cum locus ille fere omnibus nationibus Christianorum accessu difficilis sit & frequenter pestibus subditus, Stante que contradictione quam summus Pontifex adversus canones conciliorum agere videtur, non il●ie esset plena deliberandi libertas, attenta etiam certa Liga quae adversus Illustrissimum D. Re●atum Regnum Siciliae & suos hear des & successor es facta 〈◊〉 quam & ipse S. D. N. ut dici●ur apart sooner & suttine● & Ligaeinsdem caput & principalis hetorie asseritur. seeing that the city of Rome was of hard access, in a manner, for all the nations of christendom, The Pope a party. and many times subject to great plagues, besides that, the chief question being touching the contradiction which was made to the Cannons of councils, their opinions could not be free; and the King was well advertised of the league which was made against Rene King of Siciie and his children, whreof they made the Pope the head. That when as a place of liberty and safety should be chosen in some other Province, the Pope, if he thought good, might transport himself thither, with less pain than he should receive if he continued his design to go in person into the East for the good of Christendom, or else he might send his Legates as his predecessors had formerly done. That the last Counsels having been held in the towns of Italy and Germany, d Many general Counsels have been held in France and we find in the History of the Church the Council of Lion 2. Orleans 4. & 5. Tours, Paris, Awergne. reason would that now it should be held in France, as Pope Nicholas the fift had promised, and therefore the King offered to provide amply for all that should be necessary. That his Majesty could not imagine that the Pope by his new Bull against appellations to the Council had any thought to interdict the use in such sort, as in no case, no not when there was question to maintain the Orthodoxal faith, or for the extirpation of Schism, or the reformation of the universal Church, in the head and members, for the wrongs which Popes might do unto Princes and there estates, it might not be lawful to fly unto this remedy e Neque etiam existimandum est ●undem S N D. per littera● quas Mantuae publicasse fertur que incipiunt Execrabilis et Inauditus etc. voluisse prohibete ut in nullo casu five tang at conseruationem Orthodoxae fidei five extirpationem Scismatis, five universalem reformationem Ecclesiae in capite et in membris super gravaminibus quae per aliquem summorum Pontificum inferri contingeret Principibus liciat quovismodo habere recursum ad judicium plenarii concilii; cum sub generali prohibitione non veneant ea quae speciali expressione indigerent. , seeing that under general prohibitions they could not comprehend matters which required a more special and particular expression, and principally those which did regard the offences of Religion and the unity of the Church, and which favoured Schisms and troubled the universal estate of the Church. Wherefore if the Pope attempted any thing against the observation of the holy decrees of the pragmatic Sanction, the King meant to fly to a Council, Protestation of the King to fly unto a Council. f ubi vero idem D.N.S. cui potestas data est in aedificationem non in destructionem eam convertere vellet contra ipsum D.N. Regem aut viros ecclesiasticos vel etiam seculares ipsius dominii constitutos & sibi subditos & adhaerentes propter obseruationem Cannonum gravare et molestare. Protestor ego johannes Dawet Procurator Regius generalis & in part specialis nomine antedicto & per notarios subscriptis de talium sententiarum ac censurarum nullitate juxta canonicas Sanctiones. etc. and until it had determined thereof, he protested of the nulity of all censures, according to the form of the Canonical Sanctions, the which in many cases declared the sentences and censures of judges and Pastors void, yet submitting themselves to the judgement of the universal Church. That if the Pope should refuse, and would defer the calling of the Council, the King declared that he would exhort all Christian Princes, to labour jointly for this Convocation, yet hoping that the Pope having duly considered of this just and necessary instance, would not put him to that pain. To make this protestation more solemn, and to show that the King did affect it, France the Sanctuary of Popes and that the Pope should have a care not to incense a realm which had always been the sanctuary and refuge of Popes, g Gregory 3. demanded succours of Charles Martel against Luytprand King of Lombard's who was forced to yield the lands which he had usurped of the Church Carol. Sigonius lib. 3. de Regno Italy An. 739. Plat. Pepin his son forced Astolpho King of Lombard's to restore the six goverments of Ravenna to Pope Stephen ●. and he made war against Guai●ier Duke of Aquitanie who usurped the goods of the Church. Regin. Sigebertus. Charlemagne defended Adrian against Didier King of the Lombard's, and restored Pope Leon. C. Volumus 2. Q. i Adrianus dist. 63. Lewis the gentle and Charles the bald ga●e great succours to Pope john 8. Paul Emilius. Pope Gela●ius 2. went into France to demand succours of Lewis 8. against Henry the Emperor, Platina in Gelatio 2. Innocent 2. and Eugenius the third, being driven out of Rome came into France, and the Kings of France have the honour to have restored seven Popes to their seals. And France hath lodged the 70. years in avignon▪ Paloti de rubros Navarra. who had never found more speedy and better succours against their enemies then the sword of France, and who have with reason called this Realm the admirable quiver bound to God's side, out of the which he draws his chosen arrows to shoot them with the Bow of his mighty arm against Infidels: His majesty would that Andrew de Laval, Lord of Loheac Mareschall of France, should be present with many other men of quality, Stephen Che●alier Treasurer general of France, and john Barbin Advocate general in Parliament. It was made in the presence of john, Abbot of the Monastery of St. E●oy de brave, of the order of Premontre, and of Peter Quesnot, prior of the priory of St. Saviour, near unto Bray upon Seyne. Soon after the new reign of Lewis the eleventh made it known that things maintained so religiously by King Charles h Charles the seventh was made Lord of the observation of the Pragmatic Sanction, & if death had not prevented him, ●ew●s resolved to call an Nationall Council to have it better observed. , Pope Pius the second, exhorts K. Lewis to abolish the pragmatic Sanction. were not religiously respected by him. The Pope having well observed it, caused him to be exhorted to respect the holy Sea, & to apprehend the danger of excommunication. He sent his Nuncio unto him to persuade him, and to put him in mind of the name of most Christian, which his predecessors had carried, and which the Council of Mantua had newly confirmed to King Charles his Father. They found the pursuit of this revocation more unfit for Pope Pius the second, Pius the second disavows his own writings. then for his predecessors, for he himself had been the instrument of these Decrees, he had been present at the resolutions, he had written them, and undertaken the defence of the Council of Basill, against that of Eugenius. They did always object unto his Nuncios that it was a shame to gainsay himself, to overthrow the work of his own hands, and that Dignities had changed the Maxims of conscience. Wherefore in the end of April 1463. he made a declaration containing a great repentance of that which he had done in the Council of Basill against the Pope i This Bull was directed to the university of Collen, to the which he wrote many things against Engenius, ending with these words, Haec est nostra sententia filii: haec credimus, & profite●ur: haec iam senes, et in Apostolatus aeque constituti, pro veritate asserimus si qua vel nobis, vel aliis conscripsimus aliquando, quae huic doctrinae repugnent, illa tanquam erronea, & ●uueneli animo parum pensata judicia revocamus, atque omnino respu●mus. , and directed it to the University of Collen. He excused himself by his youth, coming but newly from the Schools, the force of the persuasions of so many great prelate's whom he saw banded against Eugenius, the example which had seduced him, and ignorance which should excuse him, thinking not to err after so many great Doctors, and especially of the School of Paris, whose reputation was then very famous, and of the universities of Germany k Nos homines, & ut homines erravimus, neque imus inficias, multa quae diximus, scripsimus, egimus damnari posse, verum non ut Arrius, ●●thyces, Macedonius, aut Nestorins, & alia blasphemorum turba, ex animo damnatum viam eligim●s, seducti peccavimus, ut Paulus, & ignoranter persecuti fuimus Ecclesiam Dei, & Romanam primamque sedem, propter quod prostrati ante oculos divinae pietatis, supplices oran●us, Delicta inventutis me●, ignorantias ne memineris, & pudet erroris, paeniteut fecisse ut male dictorum scriptorumque vehe menter poenitet, plus scripto quam facto nocuim us. Who declared Eugenius unworthy of Peter's chair, for that he had broken and hindered the course of the counsel which he himself had called, and refused to approve and effect their decrees. But that now knowing this Error, he conjured all the world to note the distinction betwixt Aeneas Stluius, and Pius the second, betwixt a private man and the great Vicar of jesus Christ, betwixt the errors of a youth without experience and the thoughts of an age touched with the Spirit of God: Then having made a great repentance of his opinions, he published his belief of the Popes, Authority, Words of S. Bernard. and said of the person of Eugenius the fourth, that which S. Bernard had said of Eugenius l Tu es sacer dos magnus, summus pontifex, tu princeps Episcorun, tu haeres Apostolorum, tu primatu Abel, gilbernatu Noah, Patriarchatu Abraham, erdine Melchisedech▪ dignitate Aaron, auctoritate Moy●es, iudicata Samuel, potetestate P●t●us, unctione Christus. Tu es cui claves traditae, cui oves creditae sunt. Sunt & alijquiden coeli ianitores, & gregum pastors, sed tu tanto dignius quanto & differentius utrumque prae illis nomen haereditasti▪ Habentilli signatos sibi greges singuli singulos, tibi universi crediti uni sumus. Nec modo ●uium sed et pastorum, tu unus omnium pastor. Haec Bernardus ad Eugenium 3. scribit, cui supremam & omnimodam in ecclesia potestatem concedit, quod ille in tertio testatur Eugenio, hoc nos de quarto, & omnibus aliis Romanis Pontificibus profitemur. the third, Thou art the great Priest, the Sovereign pastor, the prince of Bishops, the Heir of the Apostles, thou art Abel in primacy, Noah in government, Abraham in the Patriarchat, Melchisedech in Order, Aaron in Dignity, Moses in Authority, Samuel in justice, Peter in Power, and Christ in unction. Notwithstanding all these goodly words and the great reasons wherewith the Nucios were armed to let the King know the great wrongs he did unto himself, The italians called the Council of Basill a conventicle to break with the Pope, in favouring the Decrees of a Council, which Rome held to be but a Conventicle, a monopole, and Schism: They found not any one in his Council, which thought it fit to break such wholesome Decrees, and the King, who had been with King Charles his Father at the assembly at Bourges, remembered how carefully they had been examined, solemnly published, and profitably observed five and twenty whole years. The Pragmatic Sanction was a law also for all the accidents of the policy of the Church, a sovereign balm for all the ulcers, The sum of the Pragmatic Sanction. which avarice, dissolution and ignorance might cause in her members. m Frustra i●hiberetur inferioribus, 'clipse qui aluns debet esse omnium bonerum & virtutum exemplar, non abstineret. Vt enim ille sanctissimus & doctissimus Leo Papa, inquit▪ totius familia domini status & or, do nutabit, si quod inquiritur in corpore non invenitur in capite. Integritas enim praesidentium, salus dignoscitur esse inferiorum. Pragm. Sanct. tit. de collatib. ¶ frustr. And for that they labour in vain to keep the body in health if the head be sick, it did somewhat restrain the Pope's authority, binding him to hold a Council every ten years, and to observe the Decrees which should be made, yea that which the council of Basill had made touching the Elections, Reservations, and Collations of benefices. It did forbid expectative graces, and citations to the Court of Rome, but in certain great causes, and as for Appellations they did no more pass the mountains, the Pope did appoint judges upon the places for Appellants which depended immediately upon the sea of Rome, and as for others they might appeal to the next superior. It took from the Pope a great part of the profits of his Chancery; forbidding the payments of vacances and Anuates, and reserving only the just fees for expedition of Bulls. Pope Eugenius considering the consequence of this Decree, sent his Nuncios to the Council of Basill, to have it suspended; but the fathers entreated him not to suffer such an abuse any longer, then declaring such as should pay them Simoniacal: it added, that if the Pope did scandalise the Church, in contemning the observation, it should be referred to a Council n Etsi quod absit Romanus Pontifex, qui prae caeteris universalium conciliorum exequi & custodire debet canon's, advertus hanc sanctionem aliquid facien. do ecclesiam scandalizet, ut generali concilio deferatur. Caeteri vero pro modo culpa juxta canonicas sancti. ●nes per suas superiores digna ultione puniantur: Prag. Sanct. tit. de Annat. ¶ Non fiant. . It would not allow the Pope to make Cardinals after his own fantasy, but with advise of the other Cardinals, that there should not be above four and twenty chosen out of all the churches of Christendom, to the end the number should not abase the esteem of so great a dignity, which made them which were advanced companions to the Pope; and the hinges whereon the gates of the church were set o Statult sancta synodus ut deinceps Cardinalium numerus adeo sit moderatus, ut ne sit gravis ecclesia nec superflua numerositate vilescat, qui de omnibus Christianitatis partibus, quantum fieri commodè poterit, astumantur, ut notitia rerum in ecclesia emergentium facilius haberi & super his maturius deliberari possit, sic tamen quod numerum 24. inter eos qui nunc sunt, & ad assumendos, non excedat. Ita quod de vn● natione ultra tertiam partem respectu Cardinalium pro tempore existentium, ac de una civitate et dioe cesi ultra unum inde oriundum & de ea natione quae nunc ultra tertiam partem habet usque ad ipsius tertiae pattis reductionem else ne●queant. . The quality of Cardinals. It would have them also thirty years of age, lawful and not deformed in body nor defamed in manners, Doctors, or Licentiates, in the one or the other law, with a rigorous examination, and that the third, or at the least a fourth part should be Divines; not suffering them to receive the Nephews of Popes, or of Cardinals that were living. The congregation of the French Church being assembled at Bourges found this Article too rigorous. It did also ordain due recompenses for learning and merit. And that there should be Prebends in Cathedral and Metropolitan churches for Divines to read and preach, and that graduates should be preferred to provisions of benefices. It did not allow that commonalties or provinces should be interdicted for the offences of private men, or of Magistrates, nor that excommunications should be of force, before the sentence had been pronounced and published. It disposed of that which was necessary for the ornament, policy, and direction of Divine service, it did punish (but gently) public concubinaries, having been first advertised to reform themselves p Publici concubinarii, saith the Council of Basill, intelligendi sunt non solum hi quorum concubinatus per sententiam aut confessionem in iure factam seu per rei evidentiam quae nulla possit tergiversatione celari notorious est, sed qui mulierem de incontinentia suspectam tenet & per super●orem admonitus eam non a dmittit. Prag. Sanct. ¶ Publici. tit. de concubinariis. . They were freed for the privation of the fruits of their benefices during three months. Pope Pius the second was not to be blamed if he did so earnestly press this revocation, and his Ministers did often solicit the King, filling his conscience with fear of excommunication, and telling him continually that there was neither justice, necessity, nor profit, that could give the title of a law to that which was ordained without authority, and that it was a sin to subject his subjects thereunto. The Cardinal of Albie managed this pursuit: Lafoy Balue q Hierom Garimbert Bishop of Galicia hath written these words of Balue, essendosi infignorito dell animo deal Re, simulament loteneus in conti●●o disparer con la sede Apestolica per uligar p●i il Papa a riconoscer la Reconciliatione dall opera, & dall autorita sua, per consequent a gratificar lo del capel rosso, come fece. who had great credit with the King, interposed great difficulties, to make the Pope know that the effect of his intentions depended of him. But as soon as he had promised to make him a Cardinal, he did fit his head to that hat. La Balue being of a turbulent Spirit, The Bishop of Eureux undertakes to satisfy the Pope. being desirous to trouble the affairs, and to excel rather in Authority then merit, went to the parliament to have this revocation pass, S. Roman the King's Attorney General opposed himself, whom they threatened with the loss of his estate, and to make him repent it. He who desired that all things should fail him rather than to fail of his duty and the dignity of his charge, said unto Balue, I had rather lose my estate, my goods and my life, then to do a thing contrary to my duty and the good of the Realm. What Pris●us helvidius r Priscus helvidius was advised not to come unto the senate, he answered, It is in the Emperor's power not to make me of the Senate, but whiles I am a Senator he shall not let me from going to the Palace, You shall be suffered, said the other, to go, so as you speak not. Helu. I will not speak a word if they demand nothing of me. But they will ask you. Helu. And I will answer what I shall think fit. If you speak, they will put you to death. Heluid. And when did I brag that I was immortal? You shall do your duty & I mine. It is in you to kill me, and in me to die without fear, it is in you to banish me and in me to go unto it cheerfully. could have answered more generously? The University of Paris made her Remonstrances unto the king not to suffer the decrees, conformable to the purest constitutions of the Church for discipline, policy, and liberty, to be broken. In this great agitation of mind, the Pope's Ministers promised the king that the revocation of the Pragmatic Sanction should be made without prejudice of the ancient liberties of the French Church, and that the Pope would send a Legate into France, to confer the provisions of Benefices, so as the French should not be bound to send money to Rome. The king upon this assurance consented to the abbrogation. Pragmatic Sanction abolished & dragged through the streets of Rome. The Cardinal of Alby was sent to Rome with charge to tell the Pope, that the King submitted all the business of the Church, and the goods thereof to the Holy Father, to use in this Realm, prout vellet, as he pleased, without any regard of the liberties of the French Church. But being satisfied, he had no care to give the king that contentment which he promised and suffered the patents to be shamefully drawn through the streets of Rome: Behold how choler spares not even insensible things. They shadowed this choler with a reason that the Pragmatic Sanction was bred in a time of Schism and Sedition. The courts of Parliament of France, which have the rights of the church as it were in protection, did not allow of this revocation, so as it was never observed, and the Clergy did not observe the Pope's command upon this subject s In the beginning of Pope Leo his Bull, we read this. Licet Pius. 2. Nunci●s ad clarae memoriae Ludovicum 11. Franciae Regem Christianissimum destinatis, t●ntis eisdem persua serit rationibus rationibus, ut Rex ipse Pragmaticam Sanctionem tanquam in seditione & Scismatis tempore natam suis patentibus literis abroga●erit, tamen hui●smodi abrogatio nec etiam literae expeditae per Praelatos & personas Ecclesiasticas dictiregni receptae non fuerunt, nec ipsi Praelati & personae Ecclesiast●cae illis parere, nec monitis Sixti, Innocentii & julii aures praebere, sed eidem Pragmaticae constitutioni inhaerere volverint. . The Bulls of Sixtus, the third: Innocent, the eight: Alexander, the sixth: and julio the second were fruitless. The Decree of the Council of Lateran served to no purpose, and this Pragmatic Sanction ended not before the Concordants were passed at Bolonia, betwixt Pope Leo the tenth, and king Francis the first. They did judge by the kings first actions, 1461. what the manner of his government would be, The King discontents the Nobility. and that he would beautify the divinations of his reign with other trophies then of clemency t Clemency is the Ornament of the reign of Kings, they should begin with it. Nouu● imperium occupantibus utilis clementiae ●ama. Tacit. lib. 4. Hist. . He disappointed in a manner all the officers and servants of king Charles his Father, taking a great delight to undo that which he had raised, and to raise that which he had pulled down. He gave Berry only to his brother for his portion, upon condition that it should return unto the Crown if he died without issue male. u There was a time when as the Kings of France left unto the Princes of their blood the proprieties of their portions, Philip of Valoi● left the County of Valois to Charles his younger brother. Philip the Fair was the first that ordained by his C●dicill that the County of Poictou, given by him with other lands to his younger son Philip of France, who afterwards was K. Philip the Long should return to the crown for want of Heirs male, upon condition the King which should then reign should marry his Daughter. He took the Seals from Iwenall of Vrsins, and gave them to Peter of Moruilliers. The Duke of Alencon was a prisoner in the Castle of Loches, whom he set at liberty. He caused the Earl of Dammartins' process to be made, and after that the Court of Parliament had condemned him to die, he gave him his life, upon condition that he should employ the remainder in the I'll of Rhodes for the service of Christendom, and should put in caution: but not able to find any, he had the Bastil for his prison, from whence he escaped in the night by a hole which he had made in the wall, at the same time when as the Duke of Berry passed into Brittanny. Taneguy of castle x Taneguy of Coastel Nephew te him that ●l●w the Duke of Bourgunay was master of the horse to K. Charles the seventh, he retired into Britain where the Duke made him his high steward & Chamberlain. being discontented for that he was not satisfied the money which he had advanced for the funerals of Charles the seventh retired himself to Francis Duke of Britain. This Prince had succeeded to Arthur of Britain Earl of Richmond his Uncle, Francis the second Du: of Britain. and was well informed of the humour and designs of Lewis, and therefore in the beginning he sent his servants throughout the Realm disguised in the habits of jacobins and Franciscans, to move the people to look unto the beginning of this Reign, and to conjure them to defend their liberty with tooth and nail y The Ambassadors of Sparta, being sent to Xerxes, said unto Gidarne who commended the felicity of such as served the King. If thou didst know Gidarne what liberty were thou wouldst counsel us to defend it, not with the lance and target only, but with our teeth and nails. , advising them that this King entered into the Realm, as into a country of Conquest: that he held all that pleased him to be lawful: That he forced great men not to obey but to serve: The people not to be governed but tiranized, and to prepare themselves to live in such sort as they might say they had not any thing. Being advertised of the Duke of Britain's practices, The King's voyage into Britain. he went to see him, under colour to visit the Church of S. Saviour of Redon. Devotion was the pretext, and a desire to know the Duke's country and forces the cause of this Pilgrimage z It is a great advantage to know the forces of an estate which one means to assail, and to measure them with his. It was the advise of Xenophon. Chabrias said that thereon consists a part of the General's duty. . He was not resolved to leave him in peace. He knew well that, three or four years before, he had sought to make himself a companion to King Charles the seventh, having refused to do him homage upon his knee, and without his sword for the Duchy of Brittany a In the homage which Francis the second Duke of Britain did unto King Charles the seventh at Mo●bason in February 1458. john of Estoteville said unto him. My Lord of Brittany you should put off your girdle, And Chauu●n Chancellor of Britain answered, He ought not, It were an innovation, he is as he should be. : he had also discovered that he and the Earl of Charolois had given their faith, to run the self same fortune, although that the remembrance of the Death of the Duke of Orleans his grandfather by the mother's side, had been able to dissuade him from the house of Bourgundy, and that it had been better for him to join with his Cousins, the Dukes of Orleans, and Angolesme, and to continue his design upon the Duchy of Milan, to recover his grandmother's inheritance, whereof Francis Sforce had ceased b Francis Duke of Brittany, son to Richard of Brittany, and Margaret of Orleans, Daughter to Lewis D. of Orleans, and Valantyn of Milan had undertaken to make war against Francis Sforce. An●al of Brittany. . The Venetians and Borso of Este Duke of Ferrara gave ear to the propositions which they made, giving hope to assist the rights of the house of Orleans. These first years of the Reign of Lewis were very sharp, and those which followed altogether insupportable. Great men were deprived of their Dignities, Rigour in the beginning of Lewis reign. and the meaner oppressed with great charges. There was covetousness for men of merit, and prodigality for the rest. c It is good a●ter a prodigal Prince to have one that is covetous, who may restrain those excessive profusion, he that finds not any thing to give cannot be liberal. He said he would gather money together to redeem the towns upon the River of Some. He had known what a crown was worth, and how many pieces would make one: They that have passed by the indiscretions of necessity, proceed very discreetly in their expenses. If all the time that he had been banished from the Court, he had no want of necessary things, so had he no great abundance superfluous. His sparing was the lights which swollen by the leanness of all the other members. The complaints of the Rigour d When as the people are oppressed they dare not accuse the Prince's rigour but cast their complaints upon that of the time of the time, became murmurings against the severity of the Prince. Every one lamented the Reign of Charles, and desired rather the end then the continuance of that of Lewis: Great men began to make it known that they could not live long in that servitude, & showing themselves more sensible of the contempt e The nature of man is more sensible of contempt then of loss. The Senators of Rome were more discontented for that Caesar entered into the Senate without saluting them, then for the enterprise which he made upon their liberty. which was done them, then of the miseries which the meaner sort suffered, yet they found no better pretext of their private interest, then that of the public. The King did not attend the consent of the Realm to have money, he took it without ask. They were not tributes of Love, f Princes find pleasing names for things which are bitt●r and hard. Edward the fourth in posed upon the Realm of England a tribute which he called a B●●euolen●●. Every one did contribute as he pleased, and according to his gifts they did judge of his Love to the King. He that gave much loved much. Edward made use of this tribute against the French & found great succours, Polid. lib. 24. & 26. but of Rigour and constraint, thinking that France was a meadow which he might mow at all seasons. A great sedition troubled the city of Rheimes, against those which had raised customs. The Commissaries were slain and their Commissions cast into the fire. The King sent Soldiers, disguised like Merchants and labourers, who entering by divers ports, joined with the Lord of Movy their commander, who caused a hundredth of the most seditious to be hanged, suppressed the sedition g The most frequent and known causes of sedition and mutiny gr●w from new charges and excessive impositions. , revenged the King's service, and settled his authority there, the which had not been impugned but for the natural impatiency of the people, to endure that whereunto they were not accustomed. All France was quiet, Combustions in England. and beheld as from the shore the tempests which were in England and Arragon. The King was glad to entertain the war far from him, and to assist the house of Lancaster in England, and the house of Arragon in Spain, whiles that the clouds and winds prepared to draw the storm upon his own head. England for the division of the houses of York & Lancaster, saw at that time such terrible changes and accidents, as it is a wonder the Realm did not pass under some foreign command, and that they did not cry quittance with him, seeing there is no surer means to ruin an estate then civil discord h Civil Divisions transport and change estates. Spain under the reign of fourscore and twelve Kings hath been torn in as many pieces as it hath had Realms. France hath changed thrice. England hath been commanded by the English, Danes, Saxons, and in the end by the Normans. The Empire hath been past from the East unto the West▪ Naples hath been under the power of the French, Germans, Arrag●nois, and since of Castitians. . But France had yet so many bad humours in her body as her disposition was more dying than living. When as the English ceased to afflict her, they began to quarrel and to ruin one another. The end of foreign wars was the spring and renewing of civil, Henry of Lancaster, son to Henry the fift, found himself without a crown, notwithstanding that in his infancy he had been crowned with that of France and England. Richard Duke of York, an Ambitious Prince, and who had both credit, courage, i Good things and which are commendable of themselves applied to ill are per●itions Sepius industria acvigilancia noxiae quoties parando Regno fingatur. Tac. lib. An. lib. ●. industry and vigilancy, qualities to be suspected in an Ambitious spirit, became head of a great faction, the intentions whereof he coloured with the only zeal of the public good, to change the bad government of the Realm, & to deliver England from the insolency of the Duke of Somerset, who alone governed the helm of the affairs, whilst that the King suffered his spirits to be transported, not to delights and voluptuousness but to carelessness k An idle Prince is a ways contemned. Three things saith Ze●ophon make him excel over his subjects. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. . His careless life incensed his subjects hearts, and his idleness distasted all men of his reign. The estate was like unto a sick body which is so priest with his infirmity, as he is forced to trust him that comes to let him blood, and cannot attend the Physicians which are far off, l In violent diseases we may not attend far fetched remedies. although they answer him that they will come and cure him. Such as were discontented with the present, Conspiracy against King Henry the sixth. and desired to see some change applied themselves to the Duke of Yorks desseigns and intentions, and among others Richard Nevell Earl of Salisbury, and Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick his brother, who had wisdom and courage, rare parties for a great design, and therewith such great credit among the people, as it was thought that not any one in England durst do that which these would undertake. The Duke of York having cast his bell made the sound thereof to be generally heard, he strake such a terror into the Court, and made the wicked so audacious, as the King (who had never tasted of Domestic troubles; his spirit being like unto a ship m Courages tried in dangers are to be commended. A ship is never esteemed which hath never felt of a storm. which had never sailed but in a calm) was amazed and confounded, and not holding himself safe in the City of London, by reason of the inconstancy of the people, and the great credit which this faction had gotten, resolved to leave it. The Duke of York besieged St. Albon n The battle of St. Albon began early in the morning and continued until 9 of the clock, in the year 1556 Edmund D. of Somerset, and Henry Earl of Northumberland were slain. , the two armies meet, Henry the sixth defeated and the Kings is put to rout with the loss of their chief commanders. He lamented greatly for the Death of the Duke of Somerset. After this victory the Duke of York, who had made declaration th●t he had no other intention than the public good of the Realm, and that his arms were not to offend the Prince, accompanies King Henry to London as a Conqueror, and freed from the Rule of the Duke of Somerset, which shows that he had not taken arms but to free the King and the Realm, who was ready to submit himself to the mildest yoke, seeing that he could not remain free. o The miseries of civil division reduced Rome to that estate as having no hope ever to recover her liberty, she sought for nothing but for the mildest servitude. . He left unto Henry the name of King only, for all the authority was in his hands, he gave to the Earl of Salisbury the Office of Lord Chancellor of England, and to Richard Nevell his Son the government of Calais. He disposed of public charges as he pleased, still giving them unto those of his faction. In the end the king discovers the Duke of York's design. Queen Margaret his wife, who had been advertised thereof, let's him understand that he did temporise but until the party were made to cease both of the king and Realm, and among his partisans the king was held but for a Tyrant: As if his Reign had been by usurpation or constraint p Among many differences betwixt a King and a Tyrant they put this, that a King reigns with the love an● consent of the people, and a Tyrant rules by constraint. . The king imparted this to his principal servants, D. of York retires from the Court of England. who were of advise to restrain this great authority which the Duke of York had within the Realm; The Duke being suddenly advertised thereof retired secretly to Wigmore in Wales, Richard Nevell to his Castle of Midleham in the North County, and Richard Earl of Warwick to Calais, so as the cruel seditions in England grew more violent than before, during the which the French spoiled the coasts of Kent, and james king of Scotland, invited by the same occasion, entered by Roxborge. The same cause which made this war ended it q The sharpest Civil wars are pacified when as strangers meddle to gain by them. The two parties agree against the third, and although the Prince be offended, yet it is better to remit the punishment. . The king of England let the Duke of York understand that the civil discord and the bad intelligence which was betwixt them, had opened a gate to the enemies to invade England; that the common danger did bind them to unite their forces to defend it, and that he was contented to forget all matters past, upon hope of a better conduct hereafter, English cease their civil discords to war against the French. excusing himself that matters had not always gone directly, being impossible for a Prince to observe all the kinds of justice and equity r Many things unjust of themselves are made just when they are countenanced by necessity or profit, wherefore Plutark observes, That if there were question to accomplish all the kinds of justice, jupiter himself might not in that case be a Prince. . The King's intention was allowed by all men; the Duke of York being loath to be the author of the ruins of the Realm, declared that all his affections tended to his greatness and quiet, and to take away all occasions of doubt, He came unto the King to London with the chief of his faction. The fear of a foreign war quenched the civil s There is no such indiscretion as to hazard ones own to get another man's, and to draw forth the blood which is needful for the life of the body. It is more glory for a Prince to maintain himself them to grow great. Preservation & safety is the essence of an estate, profit it but an accessary . men's minds, altered with things past, grew milder, and all their wills were united in one accord for the defence of the Realm, detesting the discord which had drawn them into a war which was not necessary, nor could be happy, and made them a prey and triumph to their ancient enemy. But as the fire of sedition is never so well quenched, but there remains some sparks in the ashes, Troubles renewed in England. which kindle again if they be a little blown, & that there be always some which delights in troubles (for that it is their rest, t Seditions commonly are fed & supported by three sorts of men; First, the heads of factions; Secondly, they that cannot live in safety in the time of peace; Thirdly, they which are out of the press & find themselves free from dangers. ) and in danger for that they come not near them, being like unto those rivers which enter into the sea and do not mingle their streams, the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury being retired to their houses after this accord, were presently forced to leave them, to revenge an affront done to the Earl of Warwick at Westminster, where he had been set upon by the king's guard, and forced to save himself by the River of Thames with the hazard of his life. They said that Queen Margaret was the author thereof, being very desirous to ruin the Nobility of England, and to overthrow the chief houses u A King should maintain great families, neither can he suffer them to be wronged, but he shall weaken the greatness of his majesty, whereof the Nobility is the cheese pillar. In all estates the Nobles have been respected and distinguished from others even amongst the Thracians; the genl●emen went only upon horseback and at Rome noblemen's wives went in Littors. who were the pillars of the Realm. The war began as soon as it was declared. The three Richards are in field, King Henry having levied great forces comes to York. Andrew Trollop; who was come from Calleiss with the Earl of Warwick, thinking to serve the King, when as he saw their arms turned against him, left the Earl of Warwick to follow the King, who in moment scattered his enemies and forced the Duke of York to pass into Holland, there to attend until his Partisans had raised the ruins of that party. Battle before London whereas K. Henry was defeated. Presently after the three heads of the faction return into England, with an intent to vanquish or to die, they present themselves at the gates of London, they give and win a great Battle whereas the Victors saw ten thousand men slain, and as many prisoners. King Henry, who seemed to have been raised up to show the inconstancy of Fortune and the misery and vanity of man, remained at the Victor's discretion. The English remembering that his grandfather had caused King Richard to die in prison, began to acknowledge the judgements of God's justice, who punisheth the Children for the offences of their fathers x Henry Earl of Harford and Duke of Lancastre took arms against Richard the 2. seized on him, puts him into the Tower of London and caused himself to be crowned King▪ and after that he had forced him to resign the Crown he sent him to Langle●, where he was murdered. . In this great prosperity the make falls from the Duke's face. He speaks plainly, Duke of York declared Regent. that whatsoever he had done was grounded upon the rights of the house of York, the which belonged unto him: The Parliament did then consider the justice not the fortune, and respected the Majesty of the King though he were a prisoner, entreating the King to rest satisfied with the Regency of the Realm and to assure the succession to his house after the death of Henry. He accepted the declaration of the Parliament, but considering that Queen Margaret had a great Army on foot, to set her husband at liberty, Battle at Wakefield. he resolved to fight with her. He gave her battle at Wakefield, against the advise of his Council, who entreated him to stay until the troops, which his son Edward, Earl of March, brought him were arrived. Presumption troubleth his spirits, with a motion contrary to that of Reason, which should have dissuaded him from fight y The violence of courage is dangerous upon the point of a battle, for it darkens the clearness of judgement, & doth easily change it to the trouble of reason and to that perturbation which the Philosoph▪ call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ● Some have written that the Queen caused the head of the Duke of York to be cut off carrying a Crown of paper: others say it was the Lord Clifford's deed. : for their forces were not equal although in the courage of the Commanders there was no other difference but that of sex. No, no; it shall not be said that the Duke of York, who had so often fought in France without any other trench or defence than his own arms, is shut up, that he attends a woman and doth not go forth to fight with her. He spoke this and went forth with 5000. men, and met her. The Combat in the beginning was terrible and furious. The Queen cuts off the Earl of Salisburies' head. The Queen showed herself among the troops, exhorting the Soldiers to honour & glory. Richard Duke of York was slain, & Richard Earl of Salisbury, whose head soon after the Commons, who hated him, cut off, the which with many others of the same faction was set upon the walls of York, to be a terror and an example to other Rebels. After this victory, the Queen, whose courage was elevated upon the apprehension of all sorts of dangers, 2. Battle at St. Albon. and who held them less than the captivity of her husband, resolves to lose her life or to restore him to liberty. She goes directly to London, and coming to S. Albon she encounters the Earl of Warwick, who advanced to secure his general, with the same courage that she had defeated the Duke of York, she chargeth the Earl of Warwick, puts him to rout, and frees the King. a The excellency of courage shows itself when as the soul is carried beyond all shows and apprehensions of dangers, fortitudo contemptrix est timendorum. Senec. Epi. 89. Edward Earl of March being advertised of the death of the Duke of York his father, refused not to tread in his steps, and to embrace the toil, Edward Earl of March succeeds the Duke of York his father in his authority. from whence he expected his greatness and glory. He stayed in the Province of Wales and expelled jasper Earl of Pembroke. The Earl of Warwick joined with him, and with all their forces he came to London, where he was received with incredible joy and acclamations. He was one of the goodliest Princes of his time, and in great reputation, his bounty, courage and liberality, were powerful charms to win men's hearts, the English thinking that having him they had all, and that their felicity was tied to the long continuance of his Reign. b A Prince can desire no greater proofs of the affection of his people, then when he believes that nothing can sail him, so as he fail not them. From thence are come these goodly acclamations, Augusto Constantine D●te nobis servant, vestra salus nostra salus, ●od. Theod lib. 7. tit. 20. In te omnia, per te omnia Antonine habemus A El. Lamprid Dion. reports an excellent one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, we have all in having you. He is proclaimed King, and for that he would have no companion in his royalty, he resolves to fight with King Henry, and marched directly to York, lodging in a little village called Touton. Henry being prepared to receive him would not show himself for that it was Palm sunday, desiring to spend that day in the service of God, but the soldiers seeing themselves so near would not refer the party until the next day. They come to hands, the combat continued ten hours, and the victory, having been long doubtful and in balance betwixt both Armies, suddenly inclined to Edward, The King and Queen seeing all their troops put to flight they saved themselves in Scotland with their servants c The Regent of Scotland led K. james the third. to meet with King. Henry the 6. and Q. Margaret. The good reception with the succour which he received, caused him to restore Barwick to the Realm of Scotland. and from thence Margaret passed into France to her father to demand succours. Henry the 6. flies into Scotland. Edward returned triumphing to London, and caused himself to be crowned King at Westminster the 28. of june 1461. he called a Parliament, where all that had been decreed by King Henry the sixth was revoked. After that Henry had gathered together some forces in Scotland, he returns into England, being followed by a great number of his old servants. The justice of his cause gave him good hope d He that hath reason on his side is always accompanied with good hope, he pursues his quarrel with more courage and assurance, be exposeth himself to all dangers, and his subjects serve and secure him more willingly, and in all accidents the justice of his cause doth comfort him. but he was repulsed with great dishonour by john Marquis of Montague. King Edward being advertised of the practices of Margaret, both in France, Scotland and England, to restore her husband to his crown, he sets guards upon the Ports and passages of Scotland to stop her entry, but as there is no misery more insupportable than the remembrance of what we have been, King Henry bore this change of condition so impatiently, as not apprehending the danger neither of his life nor of his first captivity, and not considering that fortune had never done him so much good but might do him more harm e Miseries do but begin when as they seem to end. There is not any man but may have more harm than he hath had good. Neminem eo Fortuna pronexit ut non tantum illi minaretur quantum permiserat. Sen. Epi. 4. , he returned into England in a disguised habit, where he was discovered, taken, and presented to Edward, Hen. the sixth put into the Tower of London. who lodged him in the Tower of London. If he had thought that he had gone forth as he did to get the crown, he would have given him one of copper made fast to his head with four nails f The Emperor Henry the sixth being in Sicily discovered some conspiracy against him and his estate. He caused the chief of them to be apprehended & to punish his ambition, he set a crown of copper upon his head, & caused it to be fastened with four nails. Nic. li. 2. . Queen Margaret, to effect her design, had drawn some succours from Rene King of Cicile her Father. The King lent her son two thousand pound sterling at Chinon, upon condition that as soon as King Henry should recover Calais, he should deliver the government thereof to jasper Earl of Pembroke, or to john of Foys Earl of Candalles, paying him moreover forty thousand crowns. But all this prevailed nothing, the King remained a prisoner, and the Queen had much ado to save herself with the Prince of Wales her Son g Monstrellet saith, that Queen Margaret, her Son, & La Varenne were met by thieves, that she said unto a thief that met her, bold my friend save the son of thy King, that she went to Scluce and from thence to Bourges, and that the Duke of Bourgundy caused her to be conducted to her Father. The Princes of the house of Lancaster retired themselves whether their feet and despair carried them. Some were seen in the Duke of Burgundy's Court in misery, Misery of the house of Lancaster. begging their bread. Fortune how cruel soever can do no worse unto a Prince, then to reduce him to the apprehensions of hunger, h Ph. de Commines saith, he had seen a Prince of this house of Lancaster follow the D. of Bourgundyes' train and without hose, begging his bread from house to house, and that being known they gave him a small pension to live on. The beasts are freed from it, The fishes pay no tribute to pass from Rivers into the sea. Swallows flying through so many regions died not of Hunger. It is a pitiful thing that men, and the chief among men, have difficulty to live, and to find what to eat and drink, and wherewith to clothe themselves i Nature comprehends all the necessities of the world in these three words: Non esurire, Non sitire, Non algere, not to be hungry, thirsty, and cold, all the rest is superfluous. . Edward in this great prosperity of affairs troubles not his judgement, but considers that the house of Lancaster was ruined without hope of recovery, and the Red Rose withered: That it was impossible ever to rise again, if it were not assisted with the forces of France. Wherefore he desired to make his alliance with the king, and sent the Earl of Warwick to demand Bonna of Savoye the Queen's sister in marriage. Edward falls in love with a Widow. But during this negotiation, Love, which may be held a kind of fury, k Love is put in the rank of Melancholy diseases and kinds of fury, it perverts the judgement, and confounds the good with the evil. for that it troubles the judgement, carried the affections of this Prince to the service of a Lady who would have held herself much honoured to have served the Queen of England, and yet she had the ambition to be so. Fortune agreed with her beauty. Being widow to Sir john Grey, her age bound her to follow rather the life of the Dove then of the Turtle, l The Empress Barba, wife to Sigismond the Emperor being told after the death of her husband, that she should imitate the Turtle If I must said she initate beasts why rather the Turtle than the Dove or the sparrow. Aeneas Sil. the dict. Sigismondi et Frederici Imper. for her first marriage had scarce touched the flowers of her beauty, nor of her youth. Edward did not live but for her, his heart received no law but from her eyes, to whom he did submit the full disposition of his fortunes. She being powerful in the charms of love let him presently understand that she did not accept of the sacrifice of the hearts of Kings, but of the Altar of honour, that he might not hope to have her for a Mistress, if he would not assure her to make her his Queen. They that love ardently are easy and tractable, m He that loves refuseth not any thing. In love there is force and pleasure, force constrains the will, and pleasure deceives the judgement. they spare neither words nor oaths. Edward transported with this fury, forgets the suit which he made in France, and changeth all his wills into the obedience of this Lady, who seeing herself to command over the kings heart, assures herself to reign soon in his Realm. He is not capable to refuse her any thing. The wind of her disdains, and the coldness of so fair a mistress may well quence the fire in the beginning, but being once kindled it gives it nourishment and increase. In the end Edward promised to make her Queen, and his promise was presently followed with the consummation of the marriage, to the great amazement of the Nobility of England, who thought the King was bewitched, n Beauty and grace are the mighty charms of love said Olimpias the mother of Alexander. Love which grows from amorous drinckes continues not. Plutarch gueth these Epithets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. short, toublesome, & changeable. And he saith it doth easily change into hatred and disdain. and wished him a more honourable alliance. Lewis took it ill, and the Earl of Warwick was so grieved, as from that time he was wholly the French Kings, who by his counsel plotted a revenge which shall show itself in the year one thousand four hundred seventy one. Marriages and alliances, unworthy of the greatness of Princes, cause murmurings and discontentments in the people. o The people which love their Princes rejoice at their victories and prosperities, They are afflicted at their losses especially if they do any thing which may impair their honour, as when they treat of alliances unworthy the greatness of their houses. Tot luctibus funesta civitate p●rs maero●is fu●t: quod julia Drusi filia quondam Neronis uxor, dempsit in domum Rubelli● Blandi, cuius Auum Tiburtem equitem Romanum plerique meminerant. Rome did mourn generally when as julia, daughter to Drusus the son of Tiberius, and widow to Nero son of Germanicus, married with Rubellius Blandus whose Grandfather had carried no other title then of a Knight. The great Calm which was in France, King Lewis goes into Guienne. did notwithstanding presage a great storm, and gave the King means to visit some of the provinces of his realm; he went to Bordeaux, whereas he treated of a marriage between the Lady Margaret his sister and Gaston of Foix, who was son to Elinor of Arragon, daughter to john King of Arragon and Blanch Queen of Navarre. He accepted this Alliance for that this young Prince was valiant and courageous, and that the successions of the Crown of Navarre, Foyx, Berne, Bygorre, and other Lands lying in France did belong unto him. The Earl of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bourdeaux to conclude the treaty. p The chief condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of mal● or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre. He passed to Bayonne to end a controversy between the 2. Kings of Navarre and Arragon, 1462. and Henry King of Castille his Nephew. A controversy begun with great spleen, and was continued with the like, and had not ended without excess if he had not dealt in it, for the parties flattered themselves in their pretensions, were blind in their interests, and found that the obscureness proceeded rather from the thing than their own blindness. But behold the causes and the effects. After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Navarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and four year of his age, and the thirty nine of his reign, he was buried at Pampeluna. King of Navarre, the Crown passed from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castille and Arragon, not without trouble and discord. john, second son to Ferdinand of Arragon, married Blanch, Infanta of Navarre, presumptive heir of the Realm of Navarre, and widow to Martin King of Sicily, and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage, that in case she should die before her husband, he should reign the rest of his life in Navarre after king Charles the third his father in law. Of this marriage was borne at Pegna, Charles Prince of Viana born. Charles Prince of Vianna, a title belonging to the eldest Son of the King of Navarre r Charles the the third King of Navarre ereected Viana into a principality, and did affect it to the eldest son of Navarre in the year 1421. , as Dauphin to that of France, The Asturiez in Castille, and Wales in England. Charles the third, his grandfather, made him to be sworn heir of the Realm by the Estates after the death of john his Father. Charles being dead, john was declared King of Navarre by some, and Blanche his wife was acknowledged Queen by others, yet both were crowned at Pampeluna. john had great wars with his brother the King of Castille, Marriage betwixt the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Navarre. who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille, john Earl of Foyx reconciled them, by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies, son to john King of Castille, and Blanch Daughter to john king of Navarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princess which was of 42112. Florins of gold, we may judge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realm of Navarre. : The marriage was celebrated with great pomp and solemnity, but the Prince was unable to consummate it; The which the Princess did long dissemble. She had great cause to complain of this want, and to wish herself to be a widow or her husband unmarried t The dissembling of couiu●all imperfections is very seemly & especially in a woman, Tullia a great Roman Lady is blamed for her ordinary complaints & murmùring at her husband's disability De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad virum, se rectius viduam & illum caelibem futurum. Tit. Liu. , but like an other Eusebia she did long suffer for the disability of Constans, desiring rather to wrong her youth and beauty, than her modesty. A while after Blanch Queen of Navarre died, and king john married again with jone Henriques. Charles Prince of Viana, fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of reigning, and from the inheritance of the Queen his Mother, did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to reign makes the father jealous of the son, Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius, that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexander's successors did glory that he feared not his son, but suffered him to approach near his person holding a javelin in his band. , pretending that by the laws of the Realm his Father by marrying again had lost the fruit of the Crown. Behold all natural affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Son. The desire of rule makes them enemies, the Father grows jealous, and would not suffer his Son to come near him armed. On the other side, this second wife, seeing herself mother to Ferdinand, did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother do and undo for her children. D. joane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Canker which did consume her, remembering what she had done to assure the Realm unto her Son, spoke often these words with sighs, which are reported in the 21. book of the history of Spain. O my Son thou hast cost me dear. For him she had caused Don Charles to be poisoned. , and never ceased until this young plant were qu●●●ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions, seeking to have a share in the regency of the Realm in the absence of the king who had revived the war in Castille. Hence sprung those two great factions, Factions of Beaumond and Grandmont. that of Beaumond which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King, and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the son, so as presently the Realm was divided into two kings, & two constables, Lewis of Beaumond Earl of Lerin was Constable to the Prince, and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king. The king's cause, as the better and more just, remained victorious, the Prince being twice overthrown is forced to fly to Alfonso king of Arragon, Valencia, Sardinia, Maiorca, Minorca, and Sicily, he had recourse unto his clemency, and besought him to pardon him. The king, who could not forget the love of a Father unto him who showed the duty of a Son, receives him, but he had new advertisements that he made secret practices to trouble him, wherefore he sent him prisoner unto the Alferie of Saragossa, from whence he was drawn by the Cattallans who took arms for his liberty, Charles of N●uarre poisoned by his mother in law. but he went out of the prison to enter into a grave. y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty years old, a valiant Prince, a great Historian, a subtle Philosopher, and a good Poet, he translated Aristotle's Ethics into the Castilain tongue, and he wrote the History of Navarre unto the time of King Charles his Grandfather. For the very day of his delivery he was poisoned and died with much repentance for that he had rebelled against the king his father. The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heir of the crown of Arragon. They of Cattellonia took arms to revenge the death of Prince Charles. The seditious, who blow the coal of this desection, said that his soul walked in the night through the streets of Barcelona complaining that the Queen his mother in law had separated it from his body, by the violence of poison. The Queen who was come to Girona saw herself besieged with Prince Ferdinand her Son, and the Tower wherein she was retired furiously battered. The king seeing this great revolt of his subjects, entreats Lewis the eleventh to secure him with men and money, he engageth the Counties of Rousillion and Sardaigne unto him for three hundred thousand crowns. King of Navarre demands succours from the French King. The king sent unto him Gaston Earl of Foix, Prince of Berne z Gaston Earl of Fo●x married the second Daughter of john King of Navarre and of Queen Blanch his first wife. , and son in law to the king of Navarre, who freed the Queen and raised the siege of Gironna. The Cattellanes, nothing tractable to endure the humours of their Prince, made a proclamation against the king, declaring him fallen from all the authority which he might have over them, and a murderer of his own son, and violating the laws of the country,, a They of Cattellonia▪ declared the K. an enemy unto the country by divers informations & proceed against his actions, and the murder of his son, the which they sent to Pope Pius the second. They sent to Henry King of Castille to embrace their defence and protection, submitting themselves under his obedience, and offering him the crown of Arragon, beseeching him to add unto the just title, which their election gave him unto the Realm, the right of Arms, they alone do purchase Empires, b There are five kinds of Titles to Realms: the first by Arms so Cyrus, Alexander an● Caesar, made themselves monarchs: secondly, by the grace of God, and in this manner reigned Moses & David: thirdly, by succession: four, by election: and the fist by the nomination of the Prince. Marc. Anthony named Lucius Verus for his successor: Dioclesian Maximinian: and Gratian Theodosius. and being gotten defend and preserve them. He gave them for succours two thousand and five hundred horse under the command of john of Beaumond Prior of St. john of Navarre, The K. of Castill aids the Cattellans. when the French and the castilians met near unto Ixar, they would not fight c No man can dispose as he pleaseth of Auxiliary troops, they have respects contrary to the design of such as employ them. , and the French entreated the king of Navarre to take it in good part if they sought rather to end then entertain their quarrels. The Earl of Foix, who was brother in law to the king of Castill, and son in law to the king of Navarre, disposed the two Princes to refer themselves to the judgement of the French king. They yielded, sending their ambassadors to Baiona, where the French, king was, an honour pleasing to the humour of Lewis who would be interessed in all things and very dear to the reputation of France, which was in possession, not only to judge of the controversies of foreign crowns, but also to give kings unto those which had not any d The realms of Christendom have taken Princes out of the house of France to reign over them. Alphonso son to the Earl of Tollousaraigned in Spain, the house of Eureux in Navarre, the Dukes of Normandy in England, they of Anjou at Naples and Sicily. The Empire of Constantinople was held three years by the French. They have reigned a hundred years in Sora Cypress & Palestina. Charlemagne & Lewis the gentle have added unto the Empire of the Gauls all Italy, Bohemia, Hungary and Germany. In a word the seat of Popes have been in France. . The king of Navarre went not from Saragossa, Lewis the French K. made arbitrator betwixt the Kings of Castill and Arragon. nor king Henry from St. Sebastian's in the province of Guipuscoa; relying upon that which their Ambassadors treated. The king having conferred of the controversy betwixt them, and of the causes which had moved the Cattellans to revolt, did judge in such sort as to reconcile the parties, it was necessary they should meet and speak together upon the frontier. The interview was at Endaia, whereas the sentence given at Bayona was read by Alvaro Gomes. The Cattellans were not content with this judgement, saying, that as the king of Castille had abandoned them, so his Ambassadors had betrayed them. The king of Navarre being offended for that he was condemned to yield the town of Estella to the king of Castille, Interview of the Kings of France and Castill. to the prejudice of the revenues of the crown of Navarre, made the estates of Navarre protest of nullity. King Lewis reaped the greatest profit of this action: for he practised and drew unto his service some Ministers of these two kings, and made them his pensioners e The King of Castille suffered himself to be governed by the great master of Castille and the Archbishop of Toledo. King Lewis made much of them to be informed of the state of Castille, or at the least to drew them to his devotion: It is the least a Prince can attend of one that comes to see him. . This assembly did not confirm the affections which the crowns of France & Castill had had together. f The friendship and alliance betwixt the French and the Cast●llans have continued long. Upon which assurance K. Charles the sixth sent his Ambassadors to john King of Castill, in the year 1418. to 〈◊〉 succours against the English. The castilians, who could not lodge at Bayona with the French without quarreling, did not forbe are to scoff at them at this interview upon the River of Vidasa. g The river of Vid●so divides the two realms, the Spaniards hold it is all theirs. The King of Castill past the River and came unto the king. The castilians seeing him attired in cloth, and very short, with a hat differing from the rest and for a jewel an image of lead, imputed it to miserableness. h Apparel doth often minister cause of laughter. The sicilians did not esteem of Gilippus their general seeing him simply appareled in a poor cloak, wearing long bayre, yet Sy●●●●s saith, that the ancient Kings were known and distinguished rather by the mind then the pomp and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin Orat 〈◊〉 regno There are Nations whereas they contemn the Prince, if he be not so gorgeously attired as if he should show himself upon a theatre. It is impossible to abstain from laughter looking upon the portraites of the Emperors of Greece, which are so covered with Pearl and precious stones, as they can not be known but by their beards. The French finding also the habits of the castilians unpleasing, their king very hard favoured, and their manners insolent and full of African pride. Of all this there could grow no great Alliance, for such enteruiewes are always noted more by the alienation of minds, then by alliances of estates. The two Princes are observed by two Nations, that which pleaseth the one disliketh the other. i 〈…〉 King, said that he deserved to be Emperor, and called the Emperor a little man & a 〈…〉 Prince. Sa●. lib. 15. They are contemned sometimes even by them that follow them, when as they observe in the other something that is more gallant. Thus France fortified and enlarged her frontier with the County of Roussillion, notwithstanding that it was sufficiently assured on that side both by the great rampiors which serve for bounds, and by the weakness and barrenness of those provinces, k An army cannot come out of Spain. on this side the Pyr●ne mountain's out it will be half defa●ed, the Provinces where it shall be 〈◊〉 and by w●tch it shall pass are so ●arren as 〈◊〉 can hardly feed t●e inhabitants. But she lay open towards the Low-countries, The duke of Burgundy holding in Picardy, by engagement, five important towns, Amiens, Abbeville, St. Quentin, Corbie, and Pontheau, for the sum of 400000. old crowns of gold and of 64. to the mark. Although the King found not that in his coffers which provident and wise Princes should leave unto there successors to maintain and assure their estate, Redemption of the Towns upon the River of Some. l As a body cannot move without sinews, so a Realm cann●t maintain itself without treasure. Wise Princes have always had care to leave unto their successor. Cyrus' left fifty millions of gold. Tiberius' 67. Occhus King of Persia 80. millions, and David 120. yet he disposeth himself to redeem them. There was some difficulty on either side. For the king had no money, and the Duke had no will to leave these goodly places. The Earl of Charolois thinking that his father had been persuaded thereunto by them of the house of Croii, held them for his enemies, and made an assembly against them at Cambrey. The father supports and countenanceth them, he murmurs, and storms, and quits them both court and credit, and so retires to Gaunt. The estates of the country depute men capable to restore him to his father's favour, for that this division could bring nothing but ruin to the state, and content to the enemy. m A division which grows among persons whom Nature hath united, gives subject to 〈◊〉 enemies to make their profit. ●●●●ratus being in had terms with his children▪ known that his 〈…〉 he assembled his council and 〈◊〉 after this manner. I have desired to reduce my children to reason and to their duties, but now seeing that they are wilful and obstinate. I pardon & will do what they will have me. Plut. The Earl of Charolois being accompanied by many Noblemen of the country came unto the Duke being at Bruges & craved pardon. His repentance and humility would not suffer him to be refused. They of Croi● felt the smart, which falls upon those that sow division betwixt persons so near allied. When the king had drawn out of many purses the money necessary for this redemption, Redeeming of the towns engaged. he sent it to Hedin, whereas the Duke was, and came thither presently after himself. The Duke entreated him to continue and confirm the officers which had been preferred during the engagement. The King promised it, but his intention was not to keep promise, but so far forth as the good of his affairs did permit, nor to assure himself in the affection of those which depended of him of whom he could not assure himself n Monst●let saith that the King gathered together a greatness of treasure 〈…〉 for there was 〈…〉 Chancery, nor famous Merchant in France, but he did 〈…〉 that commanded for the D● in the towns redeemed, were put from their places, the Captainship of 〈…〉 which 〈◊〉 held, and that of Mortague which Hault 〈…〉. . Many things past which the Duke of Bourgundy, being impatient, could not dissemble. He sent Chimay to complain and to let the King understand that he was neither of age nor humour to be exercised by the continuance of injuries in the school of Patience. Chimay let the King know that the Duke his master was not insencible of his actions, and spoke of his virtues and courage, as of a Prince that was invincible and incomparable, borne of another fashion then other men, like unto the Lunary women of Herodotus. p Herodotus speaks of certain Lunary and extraordinary women who laid eggs which brought forth men fifteen times bigger than those of the ordinary ●●ature. The which made the King to ask him if he were of harder steel than other men? Yea Sir, answered Chimay, for if he were not harder, he never durst have attempted to have nourished you five whole years against the threats of a great King such as your father was. The Earl of Charolois did not bear this restitution so patiently as his Father, he cannot divert his thoughts. Amiens is the object of his eyes; in his Feasts and Banquets his heart is still upon Peleponesus. q Cleomenes King of Lacedemonia being at a feast where there were two Orators, one demanded of him which of the two had discoursed best▪ for my part said be my mind was upon Peloponesus. After the King had redeemed the Towns▪ engaged, and changed the officers and Governors, which the Duke had placed there, not being able to trust them, who had been made by one, who had given so many crosses to France, r There is no treaty of accord or alliance that can free the hearts of Princes from the distrust they have one of another. he would see Arras, and lighted at the town gate, going on foot to our Lady's Church: He remained eight days in the City, and had some cause of discontentment, for that they had refused lodging to his Harbingers, saying that they were not bound by their privileges before that all the Inns were full. Entering, there were many banished men presented themselves to have Pardon, but he told them, that it depended upon the will of the Duke his Uncle, wherein he would not attempt any thing. He visited the Church and Abbey of St. vast: in those times Kings went to see religious men, for religious men went not out of their Cloisters to see Kings, The King goes to Arras. s Charles the 6. besieged Arras in july 1414. Lewis Dauphin of Vienna his first son was there with the Earls of Orleans, Bourbon, Bar, Baùaria and Charles of Albert Constable of France. The Town was yielded by a treaty of peace published on twesday the fourth. of Sept. following. without the Town he also saw the place whereas king Charles the fixth his Grandfather had encamped and lodged when as he besieged Arras in the year 1414. 1463. They observe that he would not lodge in the Bishop's Palace, but in the officials house, taking more delight in small lodgings then in great. From Arras he went to Tournay where he was met by 3000. men every one carrying a Flowerdeluce embroidered, He is received with great pomp into Tournay. as a sign that their hearts were all French: This Town bragging that they had never known any other command then French. There the Lord of Crovy came unto the King, who made him Lord Steward of his house and gave him the County of Guisnes. In the beginning of Lent, and at the end of the year, whose beginning was then accounted from the resurrection, the King went to Lisle, whether the Duke of Bourgondy came to confer with him of his voyage to the holy land. Cr●ysado published against the Turk. Pope Pius the second, continuing the designs of Calixtus the third, had published a Croysado to relieve the Christians of the East t Calixtus the 3. persuaded all Christian Princes to make war against the Turk, he sent Lewis of 〈◊〉 a ●rier to Vs●m Cas●an King of Persia and Armenia, and to the great Tartar● he exhorteth them with such vehemency as they were resolved Platin. He invited all the Princes who embraced his design with such resolution as Mahomet was terrified with the great preparation. u The devise of this C●oysado carried these words Dieu la veut, God will have it, Mahomet was so amazed as writing to Pius the second he said. I am not guilty of the death of jesus Christ, & do abhor the jews who crucified him. The Pope declared that he would go thither in person. Croysado published against the Turk. But great Cosmo de Medicis said that it was the design of a young man in a great age. The Kings of Naples and Hungary were resolved to accompany him. The Duke of Bourgondy promised also to be of that party, and demanded advise and leave of the King, who represented unto him the discommodities both of his age and voyage, finding him much broken to begin such a building. x The age must be considered in great and l●ng enterprises. Marcus Cras●us found King Deiotarus in the Realm of Galacia, who being very old built a new City, who said unto him in mockage, O King me thinks you build very late, beginning at the last hour of the day. To whom the K. answered suddenly. And you O Captain came not forth very early to make war against the Parthians. Fo● Crassus was above 60. yeare● old. But the Duke carried his courage beyond all these difficulties. The king propounded so many unto him as he dissuaded him for a year, assuring him that after that year he would give him 10000 men entertained for four months, to accompany him. The Duke of Bourgondy, for that he would not give the Pope any subject of discontent, sent Anthony his Bastard thither with 2000 men. The king left the Duke of Bourgondy at Lisle and returned to Paris. Duke of Savoy comes into France. He found Lewis Duke of Savoy the Queen's father at St. Clou, who was come to see him, and to complain of Philip his younger son, who for that he had a more generous and active spirit then the elder had won the hearts of the chief of the Noblemen of Savoy and of his Subjects: y The Duke of Savoy was a simple and a mild Prince. Amy Prince of Piedmont his eldest son, was of the same humour and had great inclinations to solitariness. Philip his younger Brother giving greater impressions of his generosity, and courage was followed, by all the great men of the Country. upon this complaint the king commands Pr●●ce Philip to repair unto him, z Lewis Duke of Savoy died at Lion the 24. of january 1466: his heart and bowels were interred in the Celestins Church which he had caused to be built. His body was carried to Geneva and laid by Am of Lusignan his wife. and he comes with speed, being arrived he was sent prisoner to Loches. The Duke being well satisfied to see his son lodged (whereas he repent him of his ambitious and extravagant humours) returned into Savoy and two years after died at Lion, whereas he attended the king who was at Molyns. Amy his son succeeded him. The king being at Paris made it presently known that he was not to endure that which the necessity of time had caused his forefathers to suffer to the prejudice of the rights of the Crown, and having prepared his designs, he made choice of the occasion to execute them: a To have a will to do, and disposition to know how to do, and yet to attend the occasion of well doing it the act of a Prince of great patience and wisdom. he sent Moruillierre, his Chancellor, to the Duke of Britain, to let him understand that if he called himself any more Duke of Britain, by the grace of God, if he continued to coin any gold, b The Duke of Britain as a sou●raigne Prince had right to coin ●●●uer, but that of gold was reserved by treaty to the Crown of France, the great whereof should be express. Charles the fift gave it to the Duke of Berry who did coin pieces of gold stamp● with a sheep, which Bodin affirms to be the finest gold that ever was since within this Realm. or if he hindered him from levying of taxes and from the collation of Benefices in his country, he proclaimed war against him. The Duke being amazed at this demand, answered that it was so great and of such importance, as he could make no answer without the advise of his estates, entreating the King to give him three months respite to assemble them. But this was to plead law to men that were armed. c Pompey being in Sicily pressing the Mammartines to acknowledge his authority they sought to avoid it, pretending that they had privileges and ancient Decrees from the people of Rome, to whom Pompey answered in Choler, will you plead law unto us who have our swords by our sides. Plut. The King had an Army upon the frontier, The Duke was priest and surprised, yet resolute rather to lose himself then to quit that which his fathers had purchased for him: wherefore he thought to make answer unto the King's intentions by arms rather than by words. He advertised the Duke of Bourgondy of the estate of his affairs, and conjured him to think of their common safety, seeing that the kings design was to entreat them alike and to ruin them. Romille Vice Chancellor of Brittanny made many voyages into Flanders upon that subject. The King, who had eyes and ears in every place, being advertised thereof, commanded the Bastard of Rubenpre d The King sent a sea Captain and the bastard Rubempre with him into Holland, he landed at the Hage with three others in his company. He was examined what he was and whence he came, but he made some difficulty to discover his name and the cause of his coming. The Earl of Charolois being their caused him to be apprehended as a Pirate. to pass with a ship along the Coast of Holland to surprise Rommille, and to bring him unto him or to kill him. The Earl of Charolois being at the Hage in Holland, Rubempre stayed at the Hage. Rubenpre lands with three other disguised like a Merchant. The Earl caused him to be stayed, and gave it out that he had attempted by the kings commandment to take him or to kill him. At such time as the Duke was at Hedin with the King, it was generally bruited, and the king was blamed for this design in open pulpit by the Preachers of the multitude, who intermixed their discourses with matters wherewith they should not meddle. e It is an insupportable abuse to make the word of God an instrument of sedition, to move men's minds to follow the passions and interests of the world, being only ordained to guide them in the ways of salvation: Of such Doctors or rather busy bodies, we may say with La●●tantius. lib. 3. cap. 30. Facessant omnes isti qui vitam humanam n●n instruunt sed turban. Let all these be silent which rather trouble than instruct man's life. Oliver de la March the Duke's chief steward, having made many voyages upon this occasion, could not hold his peace, but spoke what he thought to the prejudice of the King's honour. The Duke upon this advertisement, fearing to be stayed, parted secretly from Hedin without the king's leave or privity. The King was offended at this injury done unto Rubenpre, and at the reports which were divulged upon his voyage into Holland. Complaints and discontents of the King. It had been a timidity both dishonourable & dangerous to dissemble. f In fearful and enduring humours contempt is infallible. They fear not to wrong him who hath no care to revenge it. He sent Moruillier his chancellor, the Archbishop of Narbonne and the Earl of Yew to the Duke of Bourgundy, to complain of the detention of the Bastard of Rubenpre, and for that he had suffered his majesties name and respect to be wronged publicly and taxed: That Oliver de la March and a religious man had spoken ill of him, and that the Earl of Charolois had allied himself unto the Duke of Britain. These were the complaints whereon their embassy was grounded. Moruillier represented the King's intentions with much bitterness and passion, qualifying this intelligence of the Duke of Brittany and the Earl of Charrolois with no milder name than crime and conspiracy, adding that he could not conceive why it had been made, but for that the Earl of Charolois was discontented for that his pension was not paid him g The Earl of Charolois was much moved at that word which imputed his discontent to a matter due, which the greatness of his courage made him to contemn, thinking that Moruillier would infer thereby that he could not live without his pension. . The Earl of Charrolois thinking that his silence would prejudice himself and wrong his friend's defence, Impatience of the Earl of Charolois. did still interrupt Moruilliers discourse. The father, who had bred him up more to hear then to speak ʰ, stayed his impatiency to give Moruillier leisure to discourse of the King's complaints with the like heat as he had begun them. The Duke having heard him with patience, answered, coldly and wisely, that the bastard of Rubempre being charged with crimes, had given his son cause to doubt of his stay in Holland where he had been taken, a country which did not acknowledge any other Sovereign than himself i laqueline Countess of Henalt & Holland was wife to two ●usbands the Du ●o● Gloucester brother to the D. of Bedford, and the D. of B●abant. Being defamed for her adulteries she declared Philip Du: ●f Burgundy heir to her countries, Henalt, Holland, and Zealand in the year 1426. The first cause of the bad intelligence which was betwixt the Burgundians and English and reconciled Philip and Charles the seventh. : That Oliver de la March was borne in the Franche County k Oliver de la March was son to Philip de la March, who served the house of Bourgundy fifty years, and is author of the observations which are published in his name. and was not answerable before any judges of France: That if he had erred against the King's respect he would cause him to be punished. And as for the preacher of Bruges he knew not what was become of him, and that he was a man of that condition as his conscience would not suffer him to lay hold of him. The Earl of Charolois did still interrupt Moruillier in his discourse, who told him that he was come to speak to the Duke his Father and not to him. Whereupon the Earl entreated his father to suffer him to speak, I have answered said the Duke for thee, as in mine opinion a father should answer for his son, yet if thou hast so great a desire, think of it to day, and to morrow speak what thou wilt. He would not have his son carried away with those blind guide's Choler and l ja affairs of consequence, & especially when one that is more mighty is to be satisfied, nothing is to be answered suddenly nor with choler. They suffer troubled water to settle that it may be clear. Choler & precipitation are enemies to Counsel. Precipation. Moruillier persisted in the bitterness of his discourse, forgetting nothing that might be said to blemish and disgrace a Prince. He showed that the Bastard of Rubempre had been sent by the King to stay the Vicechancellor of Brittany returning out of England: That having landed at the Hage in Holland, the Earl of Charralois had been too suspicious. The Duke answered that the Bastard of Rubempree had been found faulty. As for his Son, the Earl of Charolois, if he were suspicious, he had it not from him but from his mother, who was a very suspicious and distrustful woman, and yet notwithstanding if he had been at the Hage at the passage of Rubempre, he had done no less than his son m D. Isabel, Infanta of Portugal, daughter to the King Don john was married to Philip Duke of Bourgundy in the year 1429. and was mother to Charles. . Moruillier complained also, that the D. went from Hedin without taking leave of the King, and against that which he had promised. Ha, said the Duke, with some little perturbation and heat, finding himself touched with the breath of his word. n Nothing can be reproached more sensible to a Prince than the breach of his word, who should rather fail himself then his promises, wherein he should be 〈◊〉 less i●dicious than constant. I never promised any thing but what I have kept. And fearing that in speaking this they should find that he was moved, he added smiling, that he had never failed of his word but to Ladies, that having promised the King not to go from Hedin, he had added this condition if there came no other news. That the discovery of the Bastard of Rubempre and other important matters had caused him to go to horse. Hereunto Moruillier, The D▪ complains of the King's breach of his word. seeing you have always showed such affection and goodwill unto the King, let him not now believe the contrary, in refusing so small a thing as he demands. It is true said the Duke I have never failed in my affection and love unto the King, but I may well say that he hath never granted me any thing that I have demanded, and hath kept nothing of that which he hath promised me, o When a Prince hath an opinion not to hold any thing that he promiseth he may say that ●e hath put himself out of the commerce and negotiation of all sor●s of affairs, for no man can treat with him that hath nothing valuable but words. There is nothing but distrust and jealousy of his actions, detracta opinione probitatis witness the towns engaged which he should have suffered me to enjoy during my life. And for that Moruillier did still infist to have Rubempre, the which was a matter of consequence against the Duke's sovereign command. Peter of Goux a knight and master of the laws, said, that although the Duke was vassal unto the King for some lands, yet he had others that did not acknowledge any other Sovereign but himself, holding of the simple grace of God who had honoured him as well as the King with the Image of his eternal government p A royalty is the figure of eternal g●uernment and the Image of the Divine monarchy, And therefore Kings have been held as the fathers of the people. Aristotle in the third book of his Politics saith, that a realm is the power of one that doth govern the commonweals, not seeking his own private profit, but that of his subjects. That the Duchies of Brabant, Luxemburgh, and Lotrech: the Earldoms of Bourgundy, Henalt, Holland, Zealand and Namure were sovereign countries. Yet he is no King said the King's Ambassadors, to whom the Duke answered, I would have the world know that it was mine own fault if I be not, yet will I not tell how or by what means. The next day the Earl of Charolois presented himself unto his Father in the presence of the French Ambassadors, kneeling upon a Cushion of Velvet, an exemplary act of Reverence and Humility of a Prince of thirty years old unto his Father, and which assures this truth: That who so will be honoured of those which be under him, should not fail to respect and honour those that be above him. The scope of his discourse was to justify himself for the taking of the Bastard of Rubempre, and the confederacy betwixt the Duke of Britain and him, wherein he protested he had no other design then the King's service, and showing that his condition had wherewith to content himself with his own, & contempt of an other man's; there being no less glory in the contempt then in the possession, q It is for great courages to contemn Riches. The shortest way to riches is to contemn Riches. It is easier to disdain then to possess all. he added that it was not for any discontent he had for the taking of his pension from him, for that, with the favour of his father, he could live without the King's bounty. Whereupon, Departure of the French Ambassadors. the Duke entreated the Ambassadors to tell the king that he besought him not to believe any thing lightly against him and his son, and to hold them always in his favour. r An Ambassador must never suppress words of bravery nor threats which be hears spok● by the Prince unto whom he is sent. They presented a banquet unto the Ambassadors, the History saith, wine and spices. When they took their leaves, the Earl of Charolois spoke these words unto the Archbishop of Narbonna, Phil. de Com. lib. 1. one of the three Ambassadors, recommend me most humbly unto the King's good grace, and tell him that he hath sought to disgrace me by his Chancellor, but before the year be past he will repent it. From these little sparkles grew that great fire of the war of the commonweal. The Duke of Burbonne s The visits of great persons are suspicious. john Duke of Bourbon making show to go see the Lady Agnes his mother at Brussels treated the league of the public weal with the Duke Periculosae sunt secretae coitiones. who was the intellectual agent, The D. of Bourgundy comes to see his mother at Brussels. feigning to go see his Mother at Brussels, conferred with the Duke, but did not discover the secret, saying only, that the Princes had no other intent but to present a petition un-the king to reform the disorders of the state and to have forces ready, to the end he might know how many were interressed in this reformation. Such as entered into this league knew one another by a silken point which they carried at their girdles. Although the king had spies in all places yet knew he nothing of these conjunctions and assemblies. Princes are within and not above the world to see all that was done. They must be above the heavens to know the eclipses by themselves and not descend low to see the effects t The effects of great designs do often break forth before the causes are discovered. A vigilant Prince doth always use pervensions and diversions. . The league was borne before he knew the conception, he did not apprehend that it should show itself on the Burgundians side, for he considered, that although the son were violent and ill affected towards him, yet the father wanted no judgement to restrain him, and judging that the air could not be troubled but towards Brittany, he assembled both the Princes of his blood, and the chief of his Noblemen at Tours about Christmas 1464. and propounded unto them the great occasions he had to prevent the designs of the Duke of Britain u The King as Montstrelet saith, made this assembly to complain that the D. of Britain had said, that he had a design to make war against the Princes and to dispossess them of their lands. . It was at this assembly that Charles Duke of Orleans could not forbear to speak for the Princes of the blood, See Claud. Saysell in the life of Lewis the twelfth. beseeching the king not to doubt of their loyalties and affections. The king was offended at this remonstrance, and rejected it with words full of spleen, bitterness, and contempt. The Duke of Orleans being thus roughly handled, and grieved that in an age of threescore and ten years, he was not heard by him whose grandfather had vouchsafed to hear him in his youth, could not endure them, not considering that they came from the mouth of his king, who was not bound to fit them to his humour, and that he must swallow them sweetly without murmuring, for the demonstration of the offence doth but augment it. He died for sorrow two days after, the fourth of january 1465. He was interred at Bloys, his bones were carried to the tomb of his Father at the Celestins at Paris, the 21. of February, 1504 by the commandment of king Lewis the twelfth his son: After the battle of Azincourt he remained five and twenty years prisoner in England. The English would not deliver this Flower-deluce without ransom, and to redeem him the D. of Bourgundy paid three hundred thouthousand crowns. What a change▪ john Duke of Bourgundy deprives Lewis of Orleans of his life, Philip Duke of Bourgundy his son gives liberty to Charles of Orleans, and to make the bond perfect, he gives him the golden fleece, and marries him to his Niece Mary of Cleves, she was the third wife, having before his imprisonment married Is●bel of France, widow to Richard King of England, and Bonna of Armagnac x The afronts which are received from great persons must not only be digested patiently, but also after a constant manner, murmuring avails nothing. Many have made of scratchings incurable▪ wounds, & oftentimes the injury is doubled, and renews when as they make it known that it is received according to the design of him that doth it. x By Mary of Cleves he had Lewis the twelfth, his only son, and two Daughters. Marry was promised to Peter of Bourbon, and afterwards married to john of Foix Viscount of Narbonne, father to that Achilles of France Gaston of Foix Duke of Nemours, & of German, Queen of Arragon. Anne of Orleans was Abbess of Fonteue●aud. The Duke of Bourbon having opened the passage to this design of the war of the commonweal, The Duke of Berry retires into Britain. they attended no more but to see the head. Charles of France the King's brother being at Poitiers, and making show to go a hunting whiles the king was in his devotions, steals away and goes unto the Ambassadors of Britain. john of Rommille, vice chancellor of Britain, and Tanequy of castle, who were come to have a Prolongation for other three months to make answer to the king's demands, carried him away speedily by the means of the Lord of Lescon a Gascoine, and led him into Brittany. y The King being gone in devotion to our Lady of Pont in Limosin, the Duke of Berry retires into Britain. He was but eighteen years old, he held life so short, and that of Princes, which live in subjection so troublesome, as if he did not speedily know what it was to be a master the knowledge would ever come to late. He was welcome, for this was the firebrand which they must cast to set France on fire. The Duke of Brittany promised him the service of his person, and all the succours of his forces. He declared the cause of his departure by letters which he wrote to the Duke of Bourgundy, and to the other Princes of their intelligence. The most apparent was drawn from the bad government of the affairs, whereof the Princes of the blood z It concerns the Princes of the blood to look into the disorders of the estate and to assist the King faithfully to rearesse them: whiles there is heat in t●is blood we may hope for the life and continuance of the body. , which have the chief interest and care of the whole body, should apprehend the dangerous events, and had subject to complain to see unworthy men, without honour, or merit, to deal in that which should pass by their hands, and to leap over their heads to great offices: That his arms and his desires had no other object but to restore order unto the Realm, and there withal to ease the people of their oppressions, the which he could not otherwise hope for, but in making the King know in the beginning of his reign a At the C●mming of new Places they make demands and pursuits for that which they desire the rest of the Reign, for when they are well settled they will no more bear speak. That 〈◊〉 Petcennius having prepared his companions to mutiny he said Quando ausuros exposcere remedia, nisi no●●m et nutantem adhuc Principem vel armis adirent. Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. the extreme necessity whereinto it was brought. His will was manifested more amply by his letters to the Duke of Bourgundy which Monstrellet sets down in these terms. Most dear and well-beloved Uncle I recommend me unto you. I let you understand that of late I have often heard the clamours of the Princes of the blood my kinsmen and other Noblemen of this Realm in all estates; of the disorder and pitiful government which now doth reign by the council of men, being about my Lord, full of all lewdness and iniquity; who for their own profit and private disordered affections have drawn my Lord into jealousy and hatred against you, me, and all the Noblemen of the said Realm, yea against the Kings of Castille and Scotland, so long allied unto the Crown b The most ancient alliances of the French have been with the Scots and then with the Castilians. The Crown of France hath had pretensions upon Castille at the inheritance of the Lady Blanch of Castille mother to St. Lewis. as every man knows. In regard how the authority of the Church hath been kept, justice done and administered, the Noblemen maintained in their rights and privileges, and the poor people supported and freed from oppression, I writ no more unto you, for I know you are sufficiently informed, and I am grieved at the said things, as I ought to be, as he whom it doth so near concern as every man doth know, c The Children of one family are interessed in the 〈…〉 and the Princes of the blood in the government of the estate. and desire to provide for it by the Counsel of you, of the said Princes and kinsmen and other Noblemen, who have all promised to aid and serve me not sparing body or goods for the quiet of the Realm, and the public weal thereof, and also to save my person which I found to be in danger. For incessantly and openly my said Lord and they about him spoke such words of me, d The words of such as are nearest unto a Prince make men judge of his intentions. The Duke of Berry hearing that the servants of the K. his brother spoke freely against him, thought that their discourses were framed upon his. Good words entertain friendship and bad dissolves them. as I might with Reason have cause to doubt: I therefore left my said Lord, and am come unto my good Cousin of Britain, who hath given me so good and commendable reception as I cannot sufficiently commend it, and is resolved to serve me with body, goods and all his power to the good of the said Realm and public weal. And therefore my most dear and well-beloved uncle, my intention and desire is to employ myself with you and the said noblemen my kinsmen, whose counsel I will use, and not otherwise, to restore and redress the said desolate Realm, knowing that you are one of the greatest of the Realm, whom the good or ill do easily concern, and Deane of the Peers of France, e The Duke of Bourgondy is first Peer of France, in this quality he made a protestation to King Charles the sixth saying that he might not assist at the judgement of the K. of Navarre, which did only belong unto the Peers. a Prince renowned for honour and justice, as it appeareth by your great deeds, conduct and government of your great signories, knowing that the disorders of the said Realm, have and do displease you as reason is: I would desire with all my heart to have an assembly with you and other noblemen my kinsmen, that by your counsel we might provide for all matters, which for want of order, justice and policy are at this day in all the estates of the said Realm, His design of arming to reform disorders. and for the ease of the poor people, f The oppression of the people was not great being only for matters which were not accustomed. who can bear no more, and to set such an order in all places as it may be pleasing unto God, to the honour, felicity and good to the said Realm, and to the retribution of honour and perpetual commendation of all those that shall employ themselves. I do entreat you, most dear and loving uncle, that in this matter, which is great for so good an end, it would please you to aid and assist me, and to cause my brother in law of Charolois your son to employ himself in my aid, as I have always assured myself he will do: And to the end that you and I may meet (which is the thing I most desire) for that my intention is shortly to enter into the Country, and to keep the fields with the other Princes and noblemen, g The Princes and Noblemen of this party were Charles the King's brother, Philip Duke of Bourgondy. Francis Duke of Britain. Charles Earl of Charolois. john Duke of Bourbon. john Duke of Calabria. Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beavieu. Charles Cardinal of Bourbon. The Earl of 〈◊〉, the Duke of Nemours, The Earl of Armagnac. The Earl of Albret●. The Earl of Dammartin. The Earl of St. Paul. The Prince of Orange. The Earl of Newchastell. The Bastard of Bourgondy. which have promised to accompany and aid me. I entreat you that you will be pleased to levy and draw forces out of your Country towards France, and in case you cannot do it, that you would cause my said brother in law of Charolois to come with a good power of men, and withal to send unto me one of your Counsel which is faithful to assist for you in all matters which other Princes of the blood shall think fit to be done for the good of the said Realms And by whom you may be still informed of my good and just intentions, the which I will govern by you and other Princes of the blood and no otherwise: And that which my said brother in law in your absence shall do or say for the public good of the Realm h Under the Consideration of the public wea●e many which had been put from their places made use of their interests. N●w Princes do commonly f●ile in these changes. If the Prince succeeds a good Prince, whose reign hath been just and happy, then needs no change, if he were not so, he must not employ such as we his Ministers, and therefore Galba was blamed to have employed the chief councillors of Nero's cruelties & wickedness. and ease of the poor people, I will maintain unto the death, and thereof you may be assured. Most dear & loving uncle let me always understand if there be any thing wherein I may pleasure you and I will do it willingly, praying God to give you a good life and that which you desire. Written at Nants in Britain the 15. day of March, the subscription was. Your Nephew Charles: and on the top. To mine Uncle the Duke of Bourgondy. Such was the language which they that were about this young Prince made him to hold, Death of Pope Piu● the second. who knew well how to commend the good, and to excuse and flatter the evil which he did, and who indiscreetly drew him to designs, whereas the danger was certain and the profit doubtful. The Pope had made his profit of this division, if death i Pius the second died at Ancona, Platina saith that Bee spoke unto the last gasp, and disputed long with Laurence Roverella Bishop of Fe●ara a learned Divine, Licerit ne extremam unctionem iterare qua semel inunctus fuerat. Dum Basileae pestilentia gravissime egrotaret. Whether he might reiterate the extreme unction, wherewith he had being anointed, being sore sick of the Plague at Basill. had not disappointed a desseine which he had to reduce Franc● wholly under the obedience of the Sea of Rome, and to deprive it of the rights and privileges which doth free it in temporal things, for in those which concern the spiritual and orthodoxal Faith, she hath always been a dutiful and obedient daughter. This Pope was lamented of all Christendom, for he had great conceptions for her glory and liberty in those places where she was oppressed under the tyranny of the Ottomans. Being at Ancona to embark himself for the voyage of the Croisado, after that he had given audience to the Ambassadors of France and of the Duke of Bourgundy, who excused themselves that they could not serve in person in this voyage, a slow continual Fever, which had long held him, deprived him of life. He had no cause to grieve that he had lived, for that his life had been honoured with so great and worthy actions as he might rightly say he had not been borne in vain. They only blame him for that being Pope he had contradicted that which he had written being a private person, His birth and fortune with so great Passion, as he described Pope Eugenius to be the wickedest man in the world k AEneas silvius in the beginning of the second book of his Commentaries of the Council of Basill saith that Mentita est iniquitas Gabriel (Eugenius was called Gabriel Condelmar) et perdidit cum Dominus in malitia sua quosynodali sententia ex Apostolica s●de precipitato factus est Dominus in refugium Ecclesiae suae. And in the end of the first, Necessarium fuit illud decretum ad reprimendam Romanorum Pontificum ambitionem & ut de●●ceps animam a temporalium rerum sollicitudi●e retraherent : and his deposing a profitable and fit action for the church. He was issued from the Picolhomini, of Sienna, and seeing that his father had been expelled the City with many others of certain families revolted by the mutiny of the people, he resolved to seek his fortune at Rome, where she hath always done great miracles. He was first of all Secretary to Dominike Grap, and followed him to Basill, when as he came to complain that Pope Eugenius refused him a Cardinal's hat, which Martin the fift had given him. The master's poverty forced him to take another: He placed himself with the Bishop of Noara, but seeing that he was in like manner persecuted by Pope Eugenius, he left him and did serve Nicholas Cardinal of St. Croix: and followed him to Arras, when as he was sent by Pope Eugenius to reconcile the French King to the King of England, and the Duke of Bourgundy. At his return finding that he was in no grace with Pope Eugenius, His dignities & commissions. he came to Basill, where he was employed in the goodliest actions of the Council, he had the charge of Abreviator, Secretary, Precedent in the chamber of the faith, l In the Council of Basill there were four chambers or four assemblies which they called four deputations, that of the faith, of Peace, of reformation, and of common affairs. Every chamber had a precedent, which was changed every three months. and Orator in divers sessions. When there was Question of an embassage to any Prince or commonweal there was not any one but He fit for it. He was sent to Amedeus Duke of Savoy, then to the Emperor Frederick, to Pope Eugenius, to Philip Vicecount Duke of Milan, and to Alfonso King of Arragon. It was he which persuaded the Emperor Frederick to go to Rome to be crowned there. Frederick sent him to Sienna to receive Ellenor of Portugal his wife, and afterwards into Bohemia to pacify a controversy which was grown, for that the Emperor Frederick did not restore them their King Ladislaus m The Emperor Frederick seeing the troubles & schisms in the realm of Hungary seized upon the young King Ladislaus, & gave him in charge to Aeneas silvius. . He was sent to the diet of Ratisbona, whereas Philip Duke of Bourgundy assisted, His oration to arm against the Turk. he laid open the necessities of a war against the Turk with such efficacy and eloquence, as many Princes resolved to employ both their lives and goods: But these sudden resolutions went presently into smoke: n Platina saith that all which heard him were wonderful resolute to this war, Verun ho natura comper. tum est, eorum animos cito residere quorum affectus facile moventur. But it is found true by nature that their minds are soon changed, whose affections are easily moved. He also pacified a great complaint which Germany made against the Pope, and the which hath been since continued, the Princes and commonalties of the Empire being resolved not to acknowledge him in the policy and direction of spiritual things, if he did not first grant them the same rights which Italy and France had by the Pragmatic Sanctions. The Emperor found their first suit just, and was soon drawn to yield unto it. Aeneas silvius changed his opinion, representing unto him that there was more honour and safety for him to have good correspondence with the Pope, then to favour those who would diminish his authority whereof the Emperors were protectors. o These complaints were pacified, & revived in the beginning of the Emperor Charles the fifth's reign, when as they presented unto the Pope's Legate being at Nuremborg A. Remonstrance under this title. Sacri Romani imperii Principum ac procerum gravamina adversus sedem Romanam. He was Archbishop of Sienna, His bad affection to Lewis the eleventh. and after the death of Calixtus was advanced to the Popedom in a manner without thinking of it. He began with the assembly at Mantua, whither all the Princes of the Empire sent their Ambassadors. He made open show that he loved not France, as hath been said, and this affection continued after the death of Charles the seventh: for p Ludovieo Gallorum regi adversatus est, quod libertatem Ecclesiae minuere conaretur cum ab eo antea Pragmaticam Sanctionem Ecclesiae Romanae pernitiosissimam pestem extorsisset. Platina saith, that although he had wrested the Pragmatic Sanction out of the hands of Lewis the eleventh, yet he did not forbear to cross him, for that he thought to diminish the liberty of the Church. Paul the second, called Peter Barbo, a Venetian, succeeded him. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF the third BOOK. 1 THe Wisdom of Lewis the eleventh upon the troubles of the League of the common weal. 2 He sounds and discovers the intentions of the King of England. 3 He labours to divide the heads of the League and begins with his Brother. 4 The order which he set to preserve Paris. He passeth into Bourbonois, besiegeth Ryon, and treats with the Dukes of Bourbon and Nemours, 5 Entry of the Duke of Bourgondies' army into Picardy, that of Britain musters at Chasteaubriant. 6 Battle of Montleherry. The victory is uncertain and in a manner equal. The Earl of Charolois is hurt. The place of Battle remains to him, with a great disorder of either side. 7 Observations of that which happened both before and after the battle. 8 The King passeth the night at Corbeil, and goeth the next day to Paris. 9 The army of the league lodged at Estampes, whereas the Dukes of Berry and Brittanny arrive. 10 It passeth the River of Seine and besiegeth Paris. 11 The Princes let the Parisians understand the causes of their arms and demand a conference. Paris sends her Deputies to St. Maur. 12 The kings army breaks the Conference, and assures Paris, yet he resolves to grant all they should demand, and to desperce this Army. 13 Interview of the King and the Earl of Charolois for a peace, and the needles fear of the Duke's army. 14 Supplies of men and money sent by the Duke of Bourgundy to the Earl of Charrolois. 15 The Kings second meeting with the Earl of Charrolois. 16 Peace concluded and sworn at Bois de Vincennes. 17 The Duke of Berrij is received into Roan with the Duke of Brittany, and the Earl of Charrolois returns into Flanders. 18 The King returns to Paris, and makes the Earl of S. Paul Constable of France. 19 The Earl of S. Paul cannot live in peace, and takes for a maxim of his conduct to entertain the two Princes in war. 20 Discords betwixt the Dukes of Normandy and Brittany. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE THIRD BOOK. WHO so succeeds a good Prince hath a great advantage over the affections of his own subjects, The love the children for the father's sake. how rough and difficult soever his reign be. They hold themselves so much bound to the father's bounty, a The bounty of a Prince doth so bind the hearts, as even after his death they yield prootes of their affection to their children, although wicked Cambyses was beloved for the love of Cyrus his father & Con modus for the respect of Marcus Aurelius. as they do patiently endure the sons rigour. France did owe her liberty to King Charles the seventh, he had freed her from the miseries of war, she did acknowledge no other restorer then him: This respect retained many in their obedience and duty, who suffering themselves to be carried away with this torrent of the league, Sedition must be be smothered in the beginning. had become fools for company and by infection: For the people is a sea which moves with the wind, yet never follows if some one goes not before, b This beast the people have so many beads, that although it hath great & terrible forces yet it is base & cowardly if it be not stirred up and led, vultus sine rectore praeceps, pavidum socors, Tacit. but the number seemed but too great, and it had multiplied speedily if the King's wisdom had not foreseen it. Conspiracy in the beginning is like unto rain which enters into a small cranny on the top of the house, and being neglected in the end expels the master thereof. The King did consider hereof, for being advertised of his brother's retreat, he knew well that the party was made against him if he did not oppose himself: That what appeared not, might be greater then what was in show, and that besides the Princes of his blood, many Catylines' had drunk in the same cup the wine and blood of this conspiracy. c Every conspiracy hath cruelty, and blood hath been taken for the seal & oath that bind the conspirators. Sallust saith that Catyl●n mingled wine with blood in a cup and presented it to his associates, I●de 〈◊〉 post execrationem omnes degustavissent, sieuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consuevit aperuit consiliu●●●● His first resolution was to divide that which he could not break. He sent to the Duke of Bourbon to come unto him; Who for that he would use no dissembling (a great and powerful virtue in these corrupted ages) would not disguise his intentions, nor represent them otherwise in words than they were in his heart. He was the first mover of all these spheres, he had first given his voice and vows to this general revolt of France, he had offered to hang a bell at the Cat's neck, d In great resolutions there is danger to give the first voice, and hazard to execute that w●ich is resolved. It is more safe to follow then to lead, Insiita mortalibus natura propere sequi, quae piget inchoare. Tacit. And if they be reduced to the conduct of an other it must be w●th the restraint of his own wisdom. Ne consil●is alterius regi recuses, Est illius atque esto tuus, tuumque serva. In post tuo velle, modum in velle alieno. when as every man expected who should dare to do it, and had more desire to end then to begin. If he had made any show of repentance or fear in this beginning, the rest which had marched in his steps would soon have turned their backs. He answered that he had the same design with the other Princes for the good and profit of the public weal, entreating the King to excuse him if he came not to Court, and for a greater declaration of his will he ceased upon the revenues of Bourbonois, and stayed Iwenall des Vrsines Lord of Traynill, Peter of Oriola, and the Lord of Crussoll prisoners, making it known that Ambition hath no other Law then the fancy of the Ambitious, and takes away the mask from all respect. When the King saw that there was no means to reclaim these Princes, and that the Duke of Bourgundy was in arms, he advertised all the chief noble men of his Realm, and wrote unto the Clergy, to the governors of Provinces, Letters from the K. to the governors of the Provinces and towns. to the Magistrates and towns, who faint and lose their courage for a little, e As a little fear makes the people to faint, so a weak hope makes them return, by nature they are fearful and do not think what they shall do to endure but to fly the danger. that they should not suffer themselves to be carried away with the false shows of the enemies of the estate, who had suborned his brother to engage France in those desolations from the which it was but newly freed: That if they which had suffered themselves to be abused in this revolt, did not bethink themselves, there wilfulness would make them unworthy the clemency which he offered them: That with the grace of God and the fidelity of his good subjects, he assured himself to abate and disperse these bad designs. Then considering that this league did consist of those who had sometimes called the English into France f He that hath two enemies must agree with the one, the better to prevail over the other. The Romamns did never fight against two; Hercules could not do it. After the Parthian war they began that of the Marcomanians. They would not break with Antlochus, who had wronged them before they had ended ●ith Philip. to have a share of the shipwreck, The King seeks to the King of England. that the old enemies favouring the new, he might fall betwixt the anvil and the hammer, he sent to the King of England dissembling cunningly the wrong which he had done him, when as in demanding Bonn● of Savoy k Richard Earl of Warwick was sent into France in the year 1464. to demand Bonna of Savoy in marriage of King Lewis the eleventh, for K. Edward. The King granted it, but during this negotiation the King of England fell in love with a mean gentlewoman, widow to one Grey a Knight, Daughter to Richard Rivers, and jaqueline eldest Daughter to Peter of Luxemburgh, Earl of St. Paul. the Queen's sister for his wife he had married an other: He entreats and conjures him not to assist this new rebellion, the which like to a puff of smoke would vanish as soon as it should begin to rise. Edward being already engaged to the Duke of Bourgundy let the King understand that he was a sharer with him. Edward the fourth declares himself for the Burgundian He sent the same letters which the King had written unto him to the Duke of Bourgundy, promising to assist him as constantly as his forefathers l Edward the third King of England, w●nne the battle of Cressy the 26. of August, 1346. France lost 1500. Gentlemen, all were not slain, but all were defeated. The Prince of Wales his Son won the battle at P●icters ten years after, the 9 of September 1356. had done. This young Prince felt a boiling desire in his heart to perform that in France which other Kings of his name had done. He was glad to find without the Island an exercise for turbulent spirits to entertain and quench that furious heat of fight. m He that commands a warlike Nation must find exercise for his soldiers abroad, if he will not suffer them to take it at home. There is not saith Tit. Liu. in ●is thirteenth book an● great and mighty Potentate that ca● le●g continue in peace, for if ●ee hath not s●me enemy abroad he shall find at home. He knew well that the Duke of Berry his brother should be the King of this Tragedy, that they would bring him still upon the stage, and make him play all parts according to the humour and invention of the Duke of Brittany, of the Earl of Charolois and of the Duke of Bourbon: Wherefore he sought to flatter him, and to draw him out of the Britain's hands, and to that end he went to Angers: there wanted no letters, promises nor good words: n Youth & inconstancy are si●●ers of one m●tber, this young Prince had nothing constant in him. fair speeches hurt not the tongue. If the Duke of Berry had not been well guarded and watched, he had left his friend as suddenly as he had done his brother. At Angers he was advertised that the Earl of Charolois levied men, that the Duke of Britain armed his subjects, and that the Duke of Bourbon had declared war against him in seizing upon his servants, his Towns and treasure. He gave order for all three, and proceeded therein without precipitation, he did march o In affairs of Importance they must go and not run, descend leisurely▪ and not cast themselves down headlong. Precipitation is a shelf covered with the slupwracks which she hath caused in great occasions. but not run, and did remedy all without disorder: He commanded the Earl of Nevers, and the Marshal joachin to lie in Picardy: he left Rene King of Sicily, and the Earl of main upon the fronters of Brittany, and went himself directly to Bourges, where they would not suffer him to enter, and from thence unto Bourbonois, with an intent to set upon the Duke of Bourbon, who had first revolted and was the weakest. In such revolts the first blows p To disperse a fa●●●on speedily, they must first set upon t●ose that fortify it. Sejanus said that there was not. Aliud gliscentis discordiae remedium quam si unus alterne maxim prompti subvertirentur. Tacit. l. 4. which are given upon the principal Actors, amaze and humble the rest. Paris was still in his mind, The King's care for the preservation of Paris and that great City which gave a Law and motion to all the rest was perpetually before his eyes. He repent him that he had gone so far off q To prevent small inconueen●es they must not neglect greater affairs. Tiberius' said, that an Emperor must not for the Rebellion of one town or two, abandon Rome the chief of the Empire, and running here and there where the mischief reigns, seem amazed. hearing that the Army of the league did march. He knew that it consisted of humours, that in former times she had raised strange, mutinies, and that his brother had friends there, the Bourgundian Pensioners, and the Briton Intelligences: That it was a body so full of bad humours, as a small matter might alter it. r As diseased bodies cannot endure to be touched, so ulcered minds are troubled upon light occasions. Sen. He requests, exhorts, and commands every man to have a care of her preservation. And for a greater declaration of his love to that City, he causeth the Chancellor to tell them that he is resolved to send the Queen his wife thither to be brought in bed, as the place which he loved above all others in his Realm. If the whole world were a ring, Paris should be the Diamond. He went to St Porein to prepare himself for the siege of Ryon whether the Duke of Bourbon was retired. His voyage into Bourbonois. The Princes & Noblemen of the league did secure him with all their forces. s If the Duke of Bourbon had been able to engage the King in Bourbonois, he had given the Earl of Charolois means to join with the Duke of Brittany, and to effect what they intended. The Duke of Bourgundy gave leave to the Duke of Beavieu, and to the Cardinal of Bourbon to levy men in the French county. He was also assisted with the Duke of Nemours forces, & by the Earls of Armagnac and Albret. The King being at S. Porcin, the Duchess of Bourbon, his Sister, came unto him, beseeching him not to make trial upon her husband what a great King may do, and to give him means to show as great proofs of his resolution to his service, as he made show to be come to make him feel the effects of his displeasure. She was so powerful in her persuasions as the King (who desired rather to commit his affairs to wisdom then to fortune) t A Prince what advantage so ever he hath must ●olow that advise which represents the least danger. It is a great error to shut one's eyes to wisdom, & to submit himself to the Indiscretion and inconstancy of fortune. was content not to pres●e the yielding of the Town of Ryon to eagerly, Dutchesie of Bourbon obtains a peace from the King. and did not seem very difficult to yield to some kind of treaty, the which was well sworn but ill performed by the Duke of Nemours, who having the truth of the oath in his mouth retained the impiety of treachery in his soul. A defection which the King will never forget, neither shall it be expiated without the loss of his head. The King made this accord to go speedily to Paris, and to stand surely upon the midst of the hide, u A Prince must not remain upon the fronter of his Estate & abandon the centre. Calanus the Gymnosophist, seeking to persuade Alexander to this maxim, caused a dried Ox Hid to be laid abroad, setting his feet upon any side he removed him with the other: but being in the midst he stood firm. Inferring that when as Alexander was upon one of the fronters of his Empire, the other mutined. Plut, being advertised that the Earl of Charolois came on, he sent Charles of Harley to assure the Parisiens' of his coming, and of the accord which he had made with the Duke of Bourbon and Nemours, the Earls of Armagnac and Albret. He began by them the execution of the Council which he had taken to disunite and disperse those heads, and to give way to those torrents. Without doubt if he had been patiented to attend their first furies, all had disbanded more suddenly than they assembled x Many which assail are more mighty than one that is assailed. But if he hath means to tempo●ise & to endure their first fury, he shall prevail, and the other will be scattered and ruined. . The forces which were soon ready came from them which held themselves most wronged. The Earl of Charolois had a thousand and four hundred men at Arms, Army of the Earl of Charolois. every one of the which had five or six great horses, with eight or nine thousand Archers chosen out of a greater number; for every man would march, but the best were entertained. In this choice should appear the love they have to the honour of Arms, and to the good of the State, for many Captains have soldiers to serve the King in his Armies, whom they would not employ in their houses y If there be not choice judgement and distinction in the levies of souldi●rs, the Prince's service cannot prosper. Vegetius imputes the ruin of the Empire to this carelessness, Huic (saith he) 〈◊〉 ubique ab hostibus illatae sunt clades dum longa pax militem incuriosus legit, dum possefloribus indicti tyr●nes, per gratiam aut dissimulationem probantur, talesque sociant Armi●, quales Domini habere facti dicunt. Veget. Lib. 1. cap. 8. . The Duke of Bourgundy caused the Earl of Charolois his son to march, and at his departure he said unto him. Go my Son in a happy hour, Words of the Duke of Bourgundy. and resolve to die rather than to fly, if you fall into any danger, you shall not be abandoned for the want of a hundred thousand men. Words of power to give courage to one that had been borne without it. Words of infallible assurance spoken from a father, whose love admits no comparison, all other friendships are but wind. He did wisely look unto the future, which Princes do not always, they do seldom look unto that which shall befall them, and do not think that great assents have great downefals. The E. of Charlois entered into France with an army of fifteen thousand men, he besieged Nesle in Vermandois, and took it, and past by Noion and Mondidier. The Earl of Nevers his Cousin found himself to weak to stop his entry into Picardy, whereas all the people seemed ready to set up Statues z The people follow a victory: They of Samos erected a statue to Alcibiades in junos' Temple, but when he was defeated they gave another to Lysander his enemy. for the Victors, and to acknowledge him that should be most fortunate or most strong. The Earl of Saint Pol having taken Pont Saint Maxence by composition, or rather by the treachery of the Captains which were within it, the Army past the river of Oyse, and entered into the Isle of France. The Earl of Charolois carried the title of Lieutenant general to the Duke of Berry. These first bruits a In new occurrents reputation hath great effects. In novis ceptis validissima est fama Tacit. lib 13. gave great reputation to his desseins; he made a general proclamation of liberty, and exemption from taxes. He caused the Rolls to be burnt at Laigny, and made a declaration that all should be free, causing the salt to be distributed at the merchants price: b He that will draw the people to his devotion, and build a foundation upon their loves, must free them from oppressions, for they hold every one that hurts them for an enemy, and never judge of the equity of the war, but by the good which they receive. upon these proclamations the people thought they should have an end of their miseries, but they were but cries a far of, and vanished coming near, like unto those noises which upon certain coasts of the strait of Saint George terrify those that are a far of, and when they come near they hear not any thing. The Princes of the League entering into France cried liberty for the Commonweal, and exemption for the people, but coming near to treat they spoke no more of it. c The pretexts of civil war are always goodly and plausible, but when they are considered, they vanish and have no substance. joachin Rouvant Marshal of France, Marshal joachin enters into Paris. did always coast the army, but a far of, and having no means to attempt any thing nearer, he cast himself into Paris with a hundred and ten lances. The Earl lodged at Saint Denis, whereas the other Princes had promised to meet him, to consult of their affairs, his army was lodged thereabouts. He presented himself in battle before Paris, the amazement was great, and the skirmish terrible even unto the gates. Hauthourdin thought that the town was to be taken in this amazement for they began to shut up their shops. A giddy headed fellow ran through the streets crying the enemy was entered, and with d One word of amazement or bad pr●sage is punishable, this man was whipped through the streets of Paris, the Chronicle says that the King cried out to the hangman whip him sound for he hath well deserved it. fear many fell into fevers. The King was well served in this occasion by the Marshal joachin and Charles of Melun. Prrisiens' amazed. Many, as it happens always in civil divisions, played the temporizers, saw the storm coming, and fitted themselves for every Element. It was thought good not to attempt any thing until the King's brother and the Duke of Britain were come. They march slowly, and the Earl complained of their stay, Stay of the army of Britain. saying, that they had broke their word, for they had promised to be together in arms before Paris at the feast of St. john. Romille Vice Chancellor of Britain excused his Master, and filled up blanks signed to keep the Earl in breath, and to give the Duke time to assemble forces at Chasteaubriant, where he mustered his army, observing strictly the severity of discipline e It is impossible in civil war exactly to observe military discipline, if excess be punished in one party, the soldier who ●●ues nothing but disorder flies unto the other. Ci●ilibus bellis plus militibus quam docibus licer. T●cit. lib. 2. Histo. although it be in a manner impossible in civil wars, whereas the soldiers can do more than the Captains. A resolution being taken to join with the troops of Britain, the Earl of Charolois seized upon the bridge of Saint Clou to pass to Estampes, where a Lady advertised him that the king had past Orleans, Battle of Montlehery and came withal speed to enter into Paris: He resolved to attend him, and lodged at Longiumeau, sending the Earl of Saint Pol to Montlehery where he made choice of a place of Battle betwixt both. On twesday the 16. of july, the King arrived at Chastres, he desired to enter into Paris, or to go out of the realm, f King Lewis the eleventh said that if he had not entered into Paris he had gone 〈◊〉 seek succours in Italy of the D. of Milan has great friend. It m●y be he w●ld not have taken so desperate a resolution, but would have considered that he had to do with men which would not live long together without some dispute. if he might not do it: And for that he would not hazard any thing amidest so many discontentments and infidelities, he had commanded Breze great Seneschal of Normandy not to fight, who notwithstanding this prohibition, told one of his friends that he would bring the two Princes so near together, as he should be a very able man that could part them. He was slain with the first, and he is produced for an example that seldom doth that succeed well which is done against the order & commandment of the Prince. On the seventeenth of july the Seneschal presented himself earlely in the morning upon the way to Montlehery. The Earl of Saint Pol, who led the Earl of Charolois forward, found himself engaged, and could not turn head to come to the place of Battle, as the Earl had commanded him; it was so priest, as if he had made show to refuse to join; all had been in disorder. He put his troops in battle in a plain, which is on the side of Chastres, he caused the heads of wine vessels to be beaten out g Wine is a dangerous munition, for a day of Battle: The Commonweal of Sparta forbade the use of it in war where they must have a good foot & a good eye, and wine troubles the one & weakens the other. Aristotle saith, either none at all or very little. to make his soldiers drink, he planted stakes in the front of his battalions, and put his carriages behind, having the forest of the one side. His Archers left their horses, and so did their bravest Cavaliers, holding this manner of fight of the English, for the worthiest proofs of courage & valour. h The English did always fight on foot. Be●rtrard of Gu●s●lin & the men at arms of his time did the like. The old French Cavalary, which hath been so much esteemed, have been in a manner always beaten when they have encountered footmen, unless they left there horses, example at Courtraie against the Flemings, at Crecy and Poi●tiers against the English. If he had charged resolutely, the kings forward had been put to rout, for when it appeared first, there were not above four hundred coming down scatteringly by the vallee of Tourson. Opportunity of fight neglected. They might have been charged and defeated without all hope of succours, the way being too narrow for the body of the army which followed, But the small skill of the men at arms to mount and descend (the which horsemen should chiefly practise) made them to lose much time, for they that had left their horses took them again, when they considered that they should need them either to poursue or to fly, and that their courages might be fortified by that of their horses. i Courage should come from the man and not otherwise; The horse helps something. The Sarmatians fight on foot could not find room enough to fly, but on horse back there were none more valiant. In the mean time the King's army grew great, and the Earl of St. Pol was sorry that he had so long forborn the charge, and neglected the advantage k He that can take the advantage which the situation of the place gives him fights happily. Alexander at the Battle of piles in Caramania having viewed the situation of the place, said that the victory was infallibly his, and it was true Curt. lib. 3. which the place and time gave him. The Earl of Charolois being advertised that the King's army appeared, took the Alarm more hotly than the signor of Contay, a wise and temperate Gentleman, had given it him, bringing him this advertisement. Order of the Battle changed. He forgot the order and changed it, and gave not himself time to make fast his cask, coming in all haste to the Earl of Saint Pol about seven of the clock in the morning, where he found his troops at work, being sorry it should be said his enemies should come sooner to him, than he to them. l Some came & told Philopaemen, the enemies are with us, to whom he answered. And why say you not that we are with them. Pl● The skirmish continued above four hours, and gave means to them that were far off to come time enough to the feast. Earl of Charolois chargeth the Kings forward. The Earl of Charolois fearing that the Marshal joachin, who was at Paris, would come and charge him behind m A wise Captain must look as well behind him as forward The words of Sertorius. They say also that a Captain should have eyes at his back. resolved to free himself of that which was before him, and to repulse the forward which appeared beyond Montlehery. He charged and beat them into the village, and caused some houses to be fired, the flame and smoke whereof being carried by the wind against the French, forced them to turn their backs, and to recover a dich, whereas the hedge gave them means to cover themselves and to breath. The Earl of Charolois charged both flanks resolutely, and the French withstood him and repulsed him. The men at arms of Bourgundy were newly raised, His horsemen ill trained. capable to see their sheelds a long time white and without charge, n Among the Romans they knew the old men at arms by their shields which were figured, the young carried them plain, we find in the old fables of France and Spain that new Knights did, in like manner, carry white shields, until that some exploit of valour and courage gave them means to put in some charge. of a thousand and two hundred there were not fifty that could charge their lances. They put themselves in disorder, and falling upon their Archers broke their ranks, o This error of the Ca●alerie hath been after noted. Plutarch saith that Brutus men at arms which were Geules in the Battle against Pompey disordered their own footmen. The carriages, where they were entangled among the baggage, and the stakes which the Earl of St. Pol had planted, p Archelaus having planted stakes in his camp did so encumber the horses, chariots and Elephants of Sylla, as he defeated them easily. and compassed in by a troop of Bourgundians, who beat them down with battle axes. The Earl of Charolois had charged with such fury, as his men were out of breath when they came to join, forgetting the appointed order to pause thrice. q This order hath been observed among the ancients to march slowly, making some stays, & not hastily when they go to a Battle. Marcus Crassus in blamed by Plutarch, for that he did otherwise. All that were on the right hand towards the Castle were put to rout by him, French put to rout on the one side and Bourgondians on the other and on the left hand all that were under the command of Ravestein, brother to the Duke of Cleves, were broken by the French. The Nobility of Dauphine and Savoy did the King good service, and the King's presence and good words r The words of a King on a day of battle are burning firebrands; cast into the most frozen hearts, There is not faith On●sander, neither trumpet nor drum which doth more encourage them to fight. But they must not use any great discourses which do rather cool than comfort. wrought wonders, else all had gone to rout. The first piece of victory was so pleasing to the Earls taste, as to have more he ran a mile beyond Montlehery after them that fled, s A General of an army should not abandon his camp to follow them that fly. Alexander had like to have miscarried in the last defeat of Darius for having followed the chase of his enemies too rashly, he was in great danger. Cyrus had always men appointed to follow them that fled. contemning the advice of an old Gentleman of Luxembourg called Anthony the Britton, who held him lost if he passed any farther. The French rallied themselves again together, to renew the fight, and to vanquish or lose all. He priest still forward, desiring rather to repent him of his Fortune, then to have shame for his victory. t Q. Curtius gives unto Alexander 〈◊〉 se bran and hardy wo●ds. I had rather repent me of my fortune, then be ashamed of my victory. The Lord of Contay spoke more boldly unto him, and caused him to return. Repassing through the village he went to charge a troop of footmen; who seeing him come fled. A soldier let him know that he would not give his life for nothing, striking him on the breast with his Pert●●isan, whereof he showed the mark at night. Then passing towards the Castle he saw the archers of the King's guard, where at he was much amazed, thinking that the victory had been absolutely his, and that there was not any more resistance. He turned on the one side to come unto the place of Battle, but there fell suddenly upon him u Every man runs where the general is, even ashippe wanting a Pilot and hel●e dot● soon yield to the violence of the waves so he that can by policy and good advice find means, to beat the chief of his enemies, the rest will soon faint. Polib. lib. 3. twelve or fifteen men at arms, Earl of Charolois hurt and in danger to be slain or taken. who at the first slew Philip of Org his Guidon, and hurt him in the throat. Yield my Lord, cried Captain. la Hire and Gilbert Grassar we know you well enough. The beaver of his helmet being not made fast in the morning descovered all his face. He made no answer but with his sword, and this summons to yield inflamed his courage to defend and free himself. john Cade● son to a Physician of Paris, big, heavy and strong (three goodly parts which the History gives him) being mounted upon a puissant horse, passeth through them, Oliver de la Ma●ch calls him Robert Cot●rea● ●●nne to the Earl's Physician. divides them, and saves his master. This Act of valour and fidelity was presently rewarded, for the E. of Charolois made him a Knight. He came to his camp x There is no● retreat in a day of Battle but to the camp, for ●ee that leaves it hath lost the field. How many armies saith the Consul Paulus ●emilius, have there bee●●, which having had no good success in the battle, but been driven into their sorts by their enemies, yet ● sallying forth afterwards ● they have put them to rout who held themselves victors Tit. Liu. lib. 44. all bloody, and his men repaired unto him in small bands and tired, the footmen complaining that the men at arms had in the morning disordered them, and trodden them under their horses feet, y A wound gotten in a good place is glorious. bay, chains no● grownes are not always carried, but such marks are never left at home. Such as beheld Serto●ius who had lost his eye, few with his loss a testimony of his valour. and the Earl seemed much pleased to have received a hurt on the face for a perpetual mark of his prowess. The French recovered the dich where they had so valiantly contended and as it were divided the fortune of the combat. But they were amazed to see themselves without a head, Brut of the King's death and the bruit was that the King was dead: This brute was grounded, for that the Seneshal of Normandy, who ware his apparel and arms to confirm his loyalty, z The King grew into some jealousy that the Seneshale of Normandy was of the league, and spoke of it, to whom he answered, Si● to show what I am, give me your coat of arms to save your life, for your enemies seek but after your person. had been slain in the beginning of the encounter, when as the Bourgondians knowing well that if the king were overthrown the rest could not stand, had charged furiously whereas he showed himself. This fear augmented the number of the runne-awaies; and made them to fly who should rather want life then courage. The Earl of main, who was suspected to have intelligence with the enemies, and Montauban a Britton led away the rearward. Their courages fell to their feet: not any one had the heart to strike stroke in saving his life to save his honour. a To make a feightlesse dishonourable, it must be done like unto the Parthians or Scythians, who shoot in flying, and saving themselves speedily they always fight, and so take away the infamy of their flight. Plut. in the life of Crass. The flight was of eight hundred men, which deprived the King of the honour of an absolute victory, and of the means wholly to ruin his enemies. The rest wavered betwixt fear and duty. The King appeared in this amazement, b The Prince's presence cheers the soldiers hearts. It is the Planet of Mars from whence great courages▪ borrow the constancy & assurance of warlike Virtue. and by his presence gave courage unto his men, who from that time cared more how to vanquish then to live, how to fight then to save themselves. The enemies had more annoyed them that fled then the rest: as Fortune doth sooner suppress them that yield unto her than them that resist. The Earl of St. Pol leaves the forest whether he was retired, and comes to the place of Battle, with an order befitting men, and not with violence which is proper to fools and beasts, c To go unto military actions rashly and without judgement is no valour; ●easts & fools go 〈◊〉. That which nature makes proper to valour, turns to rashaes, i● reason doth not govern. both parties were so tired as they stood at the gaze. They made some shot with their great Ordnance. Disorders common in both armies. The Earl had more men in his Army then the King, but he alone was worth 10000 his presence assuring that which was much shaken, d No good can be expected of an army that is scattered but the Prince's presence. In this battle of Mont●berry without the King who animated his men with good words all had fled. Phil. de Com. the amazement was great on either side, a desire to save themselves from danger did press the French as well as the Burgundians, and many did their e One told Pompey that to come unto him and to leave Caesar he had abandoned horse to whom Cicero said. You have done more ho●or to your horse then to yourself to make him know the reproach of flying & desertion. horses the honour to remain in the fight, when as they stolen away. The Earl had none but horsemen, he wanted footmen, slings f For the inhabitants of the Islands Balea●res called now Maiorca and Minorca had been held most cunning with slings He sola genti●rm● sunt, et unum ab Infantia studium: cibum puer am tree non accipit, nisi quem ipsa monstrante percussit. Flo. lib. 3. cap. 8. or bowmen to dislodge the French from the hedge and ditch: The King retires to C●rbeil. A hundred men had been able to force them. He had whole troops remaining, neither were the Kings all broken. If he had Eagles remaining, so had he not to do with pies, g We must always consider in comparing of forces with whom we have to deal, and not regard the number. Nonius after the Battle of Pharsalia, said unto Pompey. We have yet seven Eagles, that were good said Pompey, If we were to fight with Parrots or Popingays. but the night made them take another resolution. The King was conducted by the Scottish men to Montlehery, there to refresh himself, for he had past the day without meat or drink, as he had done some nights before without rest. He went to Corbeil to his bed, the Earl thought that he would remain upon the field, and this belief was confirmed by the light of fires which he saw there long after, for the fire falling into a barrel of powder had burnt some Cartes along the hedge. The disorder was great of either side, as it happens always in these encounters, Inequality of Recompenses after the Battle. sooner seen then foreseen. What victories were gotten and what battles won in those days without disorder? h None but the Romans could brag that they never committed error is war. Absit in●●dia verbo. et Civilia Bell a sileant, nunquam ab equity host numquam a pedite, nunquam aperta Acie nunquam equis urique locis labora●imus. Tit. Li●. lib. 9 The king Lost of his horsemen, and the Earl footmen, and the number of the dead were 3000. Goodmen were honoured, cowards blamed, and runaways punished. But as Princes are men as well in the distribution of Cowards as in the distinction of punishments, i In the recompense of merits as well as in punishing of faults Princes do not always observe such justice and equality, but they make it known that they are men and no Angels. some lost their offices for flying, who saw others rewarded which fled twenty miles farther. There was a man of quality noted in the king's Army, who fled to Lusignan and never rested, and a Bourgundian as far as Quesnon. The field was covered with 3600. men slain. Repast of the Earl of Charolois among the dead bodies. They were feign to remove four or five bodies to set the Earl down upon two bottells of straw, and to give him meat. It was a Princely table, and a military feast, which he should desire, that will justly and gloriously carry the title of General of an Army. k Sobriety is one of the parts necessary to the perfection of a great Captain. The frugality of julian the Emperor is much commended in the History. Mamertinus in his Panegyric saith that be took delight to eat of the provisions of the Army, to be s●ruca by the fi●st that came, and to drink of any cup Gaudebat Castrensi cibo ministro obuio et poculo fortuito. Amian. Marcelinus saith, that he did sometimes eat such things as would have dist. fled a Pioneer. Et ●mperatori non e● pediae ciborsi ex ●egio more sed sub columellis tabernacu●is cenaturo pultis pottio p●rabat ex●go● etiam munifici fastidienda Gregatio He that is called victorious hath nothing about him but bodies dead or dying, among which there are some that call for drink. What good cheer could he make in a place all covered with horror, in an unseasonable time, and in so general an amazement? To them that said he had the field, and that he held it all night. He had reason (answered the King) to lie upon the field seeing he had neither Town nor Castle for retreat. A word spoken wittily and to purpose did show wisdom necessary in the General of an Army, to disguise the advantages which the enemy may have over him, to make them less, and to turn them to another sense than they are commonly taken. l It is an Argument of a settled judgement to have w●rds able to disguise accidents which hap, in such sort as the amazement which may grow may be turned into resolution. The earth trembles, an army is amazed. See you not said Sempronius Gracchus how our enemies are amazed the earth sharps under their feet. At the battle of Cerignoles, fire fell among the munition. The great Captain taking it for a good presage, said. Noi habbiam● vinto; Id●io e● annuncia manifestament la victoria dandoci segno che non ci bisogna piu doperare la●tilleria Guic. lib. 5. Many things observed in this Encounter show that executions are not answerable to councils, Observations of this Battle. and that there is a great difference to fight by discourse and to command in field. The order of the battle was changed. m The Conduct of war how discreet and indicion soever it be cannot command accidents. But they must have a care never to change the order of the Army. Philippe of Valois lost the battle of Cr●cy for that he changed the order; the Earl of Alencon took it ill that the footmen of Genova were put in the foremost ranks. It was said they should take breath on the way, and the Earl made them to march speedly through the Corn, which was high and strong, so as his men were so wearied as they had more need to lie down then to stand. And although the Princes had disputed the victory unto the last point of valour, yet knew they not to whom the trophy did belong, and they might say that the Earl of Charolois had lost the Battle, but the King had not won it. Night increased the Bourgondians amazement, seeing themselves to have no defences nor trenches, Counsels in perplexity. but dead carcases. They were in a great perplexity what they should do, every man found difficulties, and o Fear is a Crystal glass which represents all things to be greater, more doubtful, and difficult, and wholesome counsels are not well executed by men that are troubled and fearful. Add this reason of Guicc●ard. Nelle co●e auer●e diventa ogni di maiore ill timore, et le di●ficulta di chi estato vn●o, In adverse fortune the fear grows always greater & the difficulties of him that is vanquished. fear made them greater than they were. They held a Council along the hedge upon a piece of timber. The Lords of Crequy and Hautbourdin, spoke of Duke Phillips, the Earl's father, first carrying arms at St. require, who recovered the next day that which he had lost the day of Battle, It was to prepare this Prince to the glorious emulation of his father's valour and to bind him not to dislodge. The Earl of St. Pol said that they must take the way to Bourgondy, and leave some part of their carriages to retire more speedily. His reason was grounded upon the apparent danger they were in to remain without victuals betwixt Paris and the King's forces: Many were of the same opinion, and yet they that were sent to take view of the King's army were not yet returned, and that their opinions should begin whereas their reports ended. It was dangerous to give advice in a matter where the issue might bring reproach to the sincerity of the Council, for the wisest advice doth not always succeed happily, p A fatal accident makes a good Counsel to be blamed and they that judge by the events will mock at wisdom which hath bee●e unfortunate, and will commend rashness which hath succeeded well. Cauta potius concilia cum ratione quam prospera ex casu placeant. Tac. Lib. 2. Wary Counsels with Reason do more p●ease then prosperous by chance. and many times rash councils fall out well. But it were better to stumble with reason, then to go firmly with hazard, their opinions were all doubtful, and their minds much perplexed. Counsell● of the Lord of Contay. The Lord of Contay said that this retreat could not be made without disorder, that as soon as it should be bruited through the Army, every one would grow amazed and fly; that the most diligent should not go twenty leagues before he were stayed, or slain. That the safest course was to pass the night with a good guard, and at the break of day march directly to the place where the King should be, that they must vanquish or die, and that to leave the field were to quit and lose all. q The victory belongs to him that keeps the field, although he had b●ene beaten & broken. Paulus Aemilius speaking to ●is soldiers says. Castris erutus etiams● pugnando aci●m vicisset pro victo habebatur. Tit. Liu. lib. 9 This Council, seeming more generous, and hardy, was commended and followed by the Earl of Charolois, who commanded every man to rest two hours and to be ready at the sound of the trumpet: Oliver de la March saith that when Contay had given his opinion, day began to break. Such as had been sent to discover, bring word that the King was not far off, and that they had seen the fires in his army, they send others, and every man seems resolute to fight, but the greatest part had more desire to fly, and who so had left to their choice to fight or to fly, or had suffered them that fainted r Chabrias not willing to rely upon his soldiers whom he new to be n●w caused a proclamation to b●e made through the Army, that whosoever was ill at ease should lay aside his arms, all the cowards were sick; he used them to make a number, but the faction ended he cassiered them. Poliaenus lib. 4. to lay aside their arms, the Battalions had grown very thin. In the morning they were advertised that there was not any one in the village of Montlhery, Montleherry abandoned. and that all were gone. s Agis seeing that they of Argos whom he had vanquished did rally themselves to come again to the fight, and that his soldiers were amazed. Courage my friends (said he) seeing the Victors are amazed, think how the vanquished tremble. Pluarch. They that an hour before said that they must not press the enemy, and seemed much amazed, were the first that cried, go let us run after them. They grew assured and hardy for company; boldness returned unto them after the danger. The day discovered the fears and heaviness which night had concealed. The Earl of Charolois encouraged every man. He thought that seeing there was amazement in his army which he held to be victorious, there was despair in the Kings which he held to be scattered and lost. But such as had lost would not hazard any more, they murmured against the heat of this Prince, who was obstinate to fight, and could not retire upon his loss, but made himself miserable upon hope of good hap in the recovery of that which he had lost. Ambition t Ambition is never so high● but she thinks still to mount: That which seems to be the top is but a step to her. Cui assecut● satis fuit quod optanti ●●i●ium videbatur. Sen. sees nothing too high, neither doth it find any thing too difficult, that which seems great in desiring, seems little when it is in her power. That which confirmed the courages of the most resolute, Duke of Britain expected. was the assurance of succours from Britain, but many thought that this ill fortune would stay it. The Earl of Charolois entertained them with the assurances he had of the armies marching u When an army or Town is in expectation of succours they must always assure that it comes, and although they should have news to the contrary, yet the commander in his wisdom must give it out otherwise. Syphax sent word to Scipio that he could not succour him and & that he was for Carthage. Scipio entertained his Ambassadors courteously & gave them presents to make his men believe that Syphax came, & that his Ambassadors did return to hasten him. and when he had not any, nor other news, yet matters were reduced to those terms as he must tell them it was near. He caused a Friar to make show to come out of Britain, who said that he had left the army so near as they should see it the same day. But the fear and amazement was so great as they could not believe it. This policy x A lie how little soever it be believed doth profit much. And news brought by a person least suspected of lying are soon received, at the least they do for a while suspend their judgements. if it did not augment the courage, yet did it the patience of them that were most daunted, and the lie did profit for the small time it was believed, the great desire they had to see the troops of Britain made it be received without consideration, as money which is received by esteem and common approbation, although it be not of weight. The King went from Corbeil to Paris as soon as he saw what course the Earl of Charolois took, He arrived there on thursday at night, The King comes to Paris and is feasted. and supped in the house of Charles of Melun his Lieutenant general in the Isle of France, this was his triumphing feast y They used to prepare a triumphant feast for the victors, whereas the first place did belong unto him for whom it was made, and the Counsulls were entreated not to be present, for that in their presence this honour could not be given to any other. Plut. where they drank to his health, as to jupiter the Deliverer. The Assembly of Noblemen and Ladies was great, he related his great dangers, his diligence and toil. He drew tears of joy and pity from the hearers, every man said all is well, z The King reported his adventures, and in so doing spoke and declared many goodly words and pitiful, where at all wept abundantly. Chro Martin. seeing the King is well. a The health of a good Prince is the health of his Estate, the people said of Alexander Severus. Salu● Roma quia saluns est Alexander. Lamprid. He assured all his servants that he would never cease until he had chased all his enemies out of his realm. Yet his design was to do what he could to end it otherwise then by Arms. He sent the Bishop of Paris to the Earl of Charolois, Bishop of Paris sent to the Earl of Charolois. to let him understand that he desired to know to what end he was entered into his Realm with so great a troop, for that he could remember that when as he went into Flanders, in the time of King Charles the seventh, his Father, he was not followed with so great a train. He commanded him to let him know the injustice of his desseine: That he undertook a war under colour of the publik-weale, to undermine the whole estate, and to set fire of the house to drive them out that cleansed it: That there was no such Frenzy as to make one's self sick to use remedies, b Peace is sweet after war, but much more profitable before. It is better never to have been an enemy, then to be reconciled. being natural for a sick man to desire health. But for him that was found to make himself sick upon hope of cure, was folly and madness. The Bishop of Paris went, and having represented unto the Earl of Charolois the King's intentions and complaints. Say unto the King, answered the Earl (fretting the bitterness of his ambition with humanity and mildness) c Prince's desirous to reign, have made servitude sweet with courtesy and mildness. By this poisoned mildness Caesar over threw the commonwealth of Rome. that I am not come to do any ill, but to procure the good of his Realm, having lived in such sort with mine army, as no man hath occasion to complain: that being as I am, able to serve and succour my friends, and to annoy mine enemies, I am not bound to yield any other reason of my designs. But not to conceal them from him, I am here for two reasons, the one not to fail of my word to the Princes, which have taken arms for the public good, the other to have two men which the King hath favoured and supported against me: d Private interest▪ are always mingled with the sublike causes of war. The E. of Charolois was an implacable enemy to the Earl of Nevers and the Lord of Croy; be added this hatred to the causes of war. If I be come well accompanied it is to defend myself in France from that harm which the king would have done me in Flanders: That when he came he was received honourably, richly and quietly, and then was not that done unto him, which he had a will to do unto me: That in a word France had more need of a warlike and armed liberty, then of a quiet and miserable servitude. After the Battle the Earl of Charolois caused the whole army to be lodged at Estampes and there about. Arms of the League lodged at Estampes. The commodity of this lodging saved that which one more discomodious had lost, e ●f time and occasion give leave to choose a lodging to stay there, they must consider two things, which the ancient Romans have always observed in their lodgings. The helthfulnesse of the place for one, and water with commodity of victuals for the other. They knew what places were not healthful, observing their situation & the complexion of the inhabitants. In this place as the Earl of Charolois spoke unto Mounsieur at a window, with great attention and affection, a Britton cast a squib which struck against the bar where they leaned, and being amazed at this accident, they thought it done of purpose to hurt them. The lodging was presently environed with soldiers to guard them. There was a diligent search made for him that had done it, who being only covered with his inocency, descovered himself and said that it was but a squib which he had cast to show them pastime, whereupon this great amazement was turned to a jest. All their forces being united they took council how they should employ them. Their opinions were always applied to their passions and desseines. Charles the King's brother weary of the war. An ordinary mischief in enterprises where there are many commanders. f The plurality of heads is always rumours and unprofitable, every one seeks to prefer his own reasons and counsels. They do and undo indespight on of another. T●ndendo ad sua quisque consilia cum aliud alii videtur. ad invasionem lo●um hosti apperiunt. Tit. L●u. lib. 4. That of the duke of Britain was not answerable to that of the Earl of Charolois. Monsieur seemed already weary of the war, he lamented those that were slain, hurt or maimed in the army, which showed that matters were represented to his imagination of another colour, in the undertaking then in the executing. g Matters when they are conceived and projected have an other f●ce then when they are executed. He wished that they were to begin, grieving that they made him the cause of so many miseries, h A generous spirit is not sensible of the ruins and desolations which grow by war and civil broils. The Duke of Berry was heavy seeing so great a number slain and hurt in the Battle of M●ntlehery. The first slaughters of war stick terror into them that have not seen them. as of human miseries the most lamentable is that which proceeds from his fault that complains. He had kindled the fire, yet could not endure the flame, he had begun the tragedy, nay rather a cruel game, whereas men made but a sport to force, spoil, burn and kill. He is not esteemed a soldier that cannot do all this in civil wars, the most wicked of all others, whereas by a fatal disorder they saw the fathers bury their children. i When Croesus was prisoner to Cyrus, by this reason that in the time of peace the children buried the frather, and ●n war the fathers bury their children, be preferred peace before war. And of all wars civil is the most unjust, inhuman & furious. Summum Brute naefas civilia bella fatemur. Luc. These words were well observed by the Earl of Charolois, King of England sends the garter to the Earl of Charolois. who from that time persuaded himself, that there would be no great difficulty to reconcile the Duke of Berry to the King his brother, wherefore he sent unto the King of England, although he were his enemy, for that he had favoured the house of Lancaster, he accepted the Order of the Garter, which he ware all his life, and sought his sister in marriage, although he had no will to marry her, but being engaged in this proposition he was taken at his word, that which in the beginning was but a mere will, became necessity. William of Clunie a protonotary was employed in this treaty, as in many other great occasions, to recompense the which the Duke of Bourgundy demanded a cardinals hat for him, and sent Philibert Huguenot Bishop of Mascon to Pope Sixtus the fourth, who seeing the great oppositions which Cardinal Latin of Vrsins made, he fell into some hope to attain unto that dignity, the which he demanded and obtained. A resolution was taken to go directly to Paris, k He that will do any great effect in an enemy's estate, must go directly to the hart, and not busy himself upon the fronter. the Army leaves Estampes, passeth by Saint Mathurin of Larchant, and Moret in Gastionis. These two small towns were appointed for the Dukes of Berry and Britain. The Earl of Charolois was lodged at Piguet in a large meadow, fast upon the river of Seine. The Marshal joachin and Sale●art could not stop their l If there be any thing that doth import in the conduct of an army and binds a general to be careful, it is the passage of rivers which may not be waded through, in the which there are a thousand inconveniences. Among many means which Veg●tius sets down, he adviseth to carry small boats of one piece, and planks to ●ay upon them. Vege. lib. 3. cap. 7. passage, for they had much Ordinance to make their way, and there were none but some few horses on the other side to hinder them. In all this he was assisted by the wise council and experience of the Earl of Dunois, who was an Ulysses in policy, and an Achilles in valour. He caused small boats and wine pipes to be carried in carts. In the midst of the river of Seine there was an Island in the which he lodged through the favour of his Canon, remaining there all night with fifty men at arms, Passage of the army into the Isle of France. and the next day he finished his bridge unto the other bank. The building of this bridge brought reputation to the army, for that Prince seems either very weak or very fearful, which gives an army leisure to make a bridge. As there is shame not to hinder it, so there is glory to finish it. The Romans who were rightly borne for the conquest of the world, were so jealous of their honour at the passage of rivers, as they never passed over their Legions but upon bridges, m To pass rivers without a bridge was held unworthy the greatness and Majesty of the Roman people. Caesar; Nisi pontibus presidiisque impofitis dare in discrimen legiones haud Imperatorium ratus● and after that they had planted guards upon the approaches. At this passage the army was fortified by nine hundred horses, led by john Duke of Calabria, Son to Rene King of Sicily, four hundred Crosbowmen Germane, and five hundred Swisseses. n The first Swisseses which carried arms came to serve the league of the commonweal. Phil. de Commines saith that they won credit for them that came after, for they behaved themselves most valiantly in all places where they came. They hold that their were an hundred thousand horse in this army. They took Pont Charanton, whereas the quarters were given unto the troops to besiege Paris. The Earl of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria held all the bank of Seine from Charanton to Conflans. Disposition of the leagues Army. The Camp was enclosed with a number of carts. The Dukes of Berry and Britain were lodged at S. Maur, and all the rest towards S. Denis. The Princes did presently let the Parisiens' understand why they were in Arms, for the which they gave such plausible pretexts, and offered so many offices o Offers made to a multitude must be of 〈◊〉 things as please them. They offer offices to the inhabitants of Paris: Phil de Comines gives the reaso●. That offices are more desired in that City then in any other in the world, for such as have them, make of them what they can, and not what they ought, and there are offices without wages which are sold for eight hundred crowns, and others which have final wages are sold for more than their wages can amount unto in fifteen years. and preferments to them that favoured their designs, as having let them know that they desired to confer together to consult of the means to reform the disorders of the Realm, the City sent her Deputies, whereof William Chartier, Bishop of Paris, was the chief. There was some Ceremony used in it. The Princes assembled at St. Maur. Assembly of the league and Deputies of Paris. The Duke of Berry was set in a chair, the Duke of Brittany and Calabria on the one side, and the Earl of Charolois on the other, with his Cuirasse and a rich mantle over it, and these three stood. p. If this conversation had been suffered, saith Phil. de Com. the Princes might have said the Town had been won, for the people would soon have turned to their party, for many reasons, & by consequence the whole realm. john, Bastard of Orleans, & Earl of Dunois, propounded in the behalf of the Princes that the design of their league tended only to the public good, and that it was necessary to understand one an other, and to have free entry into Paris to treat and confer together: that the fittest means depended of that Convocation of the Estates, entreating them not to be amazed if they presented themselves before their City in Arms, having no other intent but to cause the King to give ear q Marc Anthony, saith, that although all seditious, be dangerous, yet that is just and necessary, when the people being oppressed demanss reliese from the whole congregation of citizens lawfully assembled. to the good and wise counsel which they would give him for the public good of the Realm, the which they said was ill governed, laying many imputations upon the King. If the King, Conference broken by the King's presence. who was gone into Normandy to raise his troops, had not come as a Prince should come to fortify a people amazed and wavering, this first conference had given the Princes of the league a great advantage, for the City yielded to receive them and their men, paying and living without excess, but being arrived, no man durst once speak of a conference or an accord, and such as dealt in it repent themselves, being forced to departed the Realm. The Bishop of Paris lived in disgrace with the King, It was not a cloud r When Athanasius was banished by the Emperor julian, he said unto his friends that came to sorrow with him in this disgrace Courage my children this is but a little cloud which will vanish presently. Nic. lib. 10. c. 19 to pass with the first Sunshine, for his darkness continued his whole life, and the King showed some feeling thereof after his death, having caused his Epitaph to be altered. He was content to have kept Paris from failing, and would not search out too curiously neither the names nor the number of those that had managed this design. s Never saith the Sigr of Hail lan did the Parrisiens' hold the better party, neither did they ever any thing well but this time; for they were for the King whom they supported and relieved. He considered that in so great a City there must needs be some bad spirits, t There is not any City saith Tit. Linius which hath not bad Citizens, but the multitude is always ignorant and gross. and that in public offences the number takes away the punishment. He let the most capable understand that he was King, and that he had no need to have the Princes come in Arms to reform his Estate, that none of them could love his subjects so much as himself, that by the grace of God he was the father, and to let them know what they might hope for of the mildness of his reign, the Parisiens' privileges did abolish the impositions raised since the reign of king Charles his father. Normans will live at discretion within Paris. True it is the Parisiens' could not well agree with the soldiers that were within the City, u Towns besieged have many times suffered more by them within it then by the enemy. Such was the estate of the Lutherans de●●●ded by the Epirotes. Tit. Liu. lib. 8. the chief garrison was of Normandy, who would live in Paris as in a country of conquest, threatening to do any thing, and they were not fearful to any but to their hosts. x There can be no great expla●s expected against an enemy from a soldier that is insolent and insupportible to his host, as were they of Vitellius, whom Tac. calls Hospitibus tantu● metuendos. The Bourgesses were moved and prepared for their defence, as well against them within, as their enemies abroad. The people hold all them for enemies that trouble them, and know not how to endure: they of Paris were not then so apt to suffer, as they have been a hundred and fifty years after, for the first day that the Prince's army appeared before the city y A people shut up is subject to lose patience, and to revolt againsth▪ s●prince when Bee sees the enemy to spoil● his possessi●ns abroad, & that ●e is tormented by them within that guard him. Wherefore he must be kept in awe by two means, vigour and mildness, by the scare of worse and hope of better. . The King telling certain Bourgesses that were in guard at St. Antony's gate, that the Bourgundians should not annoy them as they had done, a Proctor of the Chastelet having more feeling of the wine that was lost, then of the blood that was spilled, answered, Yea Sir, but they gather our z The vines about Paris were gathered the first daics of the siege, before September, although the gropes were not raps. The Chronicle saith that the wine was very small, and that they called it wi●e of the Bou●gondians year. Vines and eat our grapes, and we cannot help it. It were better replied the King, that they eat your grapes, then to come and take the silver which you have hidden in your sellers. Paris hath always loved her ease, and to take her gain from her a Great towns are not kept in obedience and awe but by the mea●es which the people have to gain. Cleon could do much in Athens, for that he flattered the common people, using them like an old man and giving them still some means to gain Plur. in the life of Niceas. were to draw her out of her Element. They are prompt upon the first terrors, and are sooner sick of opinion than effect, more things amaze them then hurt them. The Army showed itself every day as it were in Battle in that great plain towards St. Anthony's, and to make it seem greater the horse-boyes tarried not at home, but some seemed gallant, whom hunger tormented, and many had wind in their bellies as well as in their heads. It was observed then for a strange thing that the army which thought to famish Paris, Paris famisheth the Ar●●ie which would have famished it. had been famished without Paris: so commodious is the situation of this City and was so well chosen by her first founders. b The first care of them that build Cities, is for the Commodity of victuals: The Ingenor Democrates persuaded Alexander to build a town upon Mont Ath●s. Alexander commended this design, but how said he shall the Inhabitants live, wherewith Democrates was confounded, and Alexander mocking his Architector, built Alexandria near unto the sea, and the River of Nile. Phil. de Commin●s observing that the siege had caused no dearth of victuals in Paris and that the City did furnish them abundantly admires the situation. The King who in the guiding of this Ship hath his eyes always lift up to heaven and his hands at the helm, was more resolute to defend himself then to attempt any thing, yet he made a trench from Charanton beneath Constans with a little fort at the head of it, where he lodged four thousand Archers, with some Ordinance, which made the Princes to keep their chambers, for it played in their quarter. The Dukes of Berry & Brittany came in the morning to the Earl's lodging to hold a Council, where they dined and departed not but by the favour of the night. This was all that the King did, for he held it not fit to hazard any thing, he knew this great and gaping breach would exhale contagious vapours, that it would not be closed up with the death of one man alone, but would swallow a million, that he had rather save his subjects then vanquish his enemies. c A Prince should always have in his mind, even in the heat of Combats, that royal saying of Scipio which Anthony the Gentle did so much esteem. Se mall unum servare Civem quam mill hostes occidere. jul. Capitol. So great a conspiracy would that choler should strain the sinews of his soul, and that he should refuse peace to them who demanded nothing but war, but he represented unto himself the deadly bitings of incensed necessity; that the blood which should be spilled in this war flowed from his veins, that the blows would fall upon his members, and upon part of his bowels: That it is a goodly thing to suffer himself to be vanquished, when the victory is dangerous to the victor. He resolved to make their Camels drink the water which themselves had troubled. They propounded a peace with goodly conditions. The Princes make show that they desired not war but for the public quiet, and to live without wrong. They made many truces to treat that, they which lasting but little was not much distinguished from war, d A short truce favours more of war then peace. Ign●uum tempus, nec p●ce laetum, nec bellis exercitum; Cognatae induciis Insidie sunt. as the midst doth always lean more to one of the extremes then to the other. The treaty was begun by divers, but the King ended it, who one morning came by the river to Conflans. Before he went out of the boat he said unto the Earl who attended him on the bank. Interview of the King & Earl of Charolois. Brother do you assure me that? to whom the Earl of Charrolois answered, I as a brother. e The word of an enemy is a dangerous assurance, K Lewis the eleventh had no other to go into the Prince's Army which were just against him. If there confidence hath undone some, it hath been successful to others, and Scipio Africanus went upon this assurance to Syphax, who although he were abaroarian & a cruel enemy to the Roman name, yet the mildness and generosity of Scipio made him a friend. Ladislaus King of Bohemia went freely to Mathias King of Hungary his capital enemy, to end controversies which could not be determined at Olmutz, & they became great friends. Dubrau. lib. 2● He received the King with much respect, and the King spoke unto him with great mildness, which made his heart apt for any impression, so great is the force of words, and so well he could handle his tongue, the which he used as a pencil for all colours. He that will have effects according to his own heart, must not spare words to his liking that may give them. men's spirits are governed by words, as a ship is governed by the helm, and a horse by the bit, and we cannot say what power the sweetness of words have over the mind of man. f Words are the Instrument by the which the mind of man is animated, thrust forward and held back. A Prince that knows how to use them hath a great advantage in all that he treats, and when it is accompanied with such sweetness as gravity is not wronged, it works what it lists in the hearts of men. The King, framing his speech to this tune, said unto the Earl. Brother I know that you are a Gentleman, and of the house of France: why my Lord, answered the Earl. For that, said the King, When the fool Moruillier spoke so boldly unto you, you sent me word that I would repent the words he had spoken before the year were passed, you have not failed, and before the time. The King spoke these words with a countenance so free and full of affection, although his heart were full of indignation and spleen, as the Earl took delight in it. He disavowed Moruillier, and took the seals from him. Prince's play with their subjects, and disavow them when as their negotiations are not answerable to their hopes. He did walk long by the rivers side, betwixt the Earl of Charolois, and the Earl of St. Paul, and heard their Intentions. g The King who thought nothing well done if he were not an Actor, went to the Earl of Charolois, preferring the necessity of his affairs, before the consideration of his quali●●, for he held that the honour and glory of an action depended on profit. Yet they had deputed som● of either side to treat: For the King were employed Charles of Anjou Earl of main. The Signior of Pressigny Precedent of the Acounts & 10. Dawet Precedent of the Parliament of Toldst. For the Princes the D. of Calabria, the Earl of Dunois, and the E. of St. Paul. The Earl of Charolois demanded the Duchy of Normandy for the Duke of Berry, and the river of Somme for himself, little for the public, and much for private men. The King told him plainly that he would never consent to dismember the Duchy of Normandy, but he was content to restore him the Towns of Somme: and finding that the Earl of St. Paul was the Oracle of the Counsels and will of this Prince, he offered him the office of Constable. By these offers the strict bond of this league began to be dissolved, for there is nothing so fast bound but it is undone when as one string gins to slip. The King did and spoke all things so cunningly, mingly offers with threats, and courtesies with braveries, as the Earl applied himself to his intentions. The day after this first conference h This conference of the King and the Earl was the end of the war. It was not thought fit the King should seek unto the Barle, but to do his business he passed all formalities, & would not commit that to hope which he might do by discretion. What doth it import to ascend to any place, to use stairs of wood, or stone, or whether the key be of gold or iron, so as it open. , the Earl of Charolois mustered his Army, Muster of the leagues Army in view of the King. whether the King came with thirty or forty horse, commending those goodly forces. The Earl of Charolois speaking unto them used these words. My masters you and I are for the King our Sovereign Lord, to serve him when soever he shall have need of us. The Kings offers bred a jealousy betwixt the Princes of the league, every man cared for his own affairs. The Earl of Charolois saw one day upon his conferences and propositions three Counsels and three bands, whereat he was discontented, saying, that there should not be any thing secret in his presence: During these conferences and interview. Isabella of Bourbon Countess of Charolois died, the Earl mourned, and the King did comfort him. This death gave some more facility to the peace, for the marriage of the Earl with the Lady Anne of France, the King's eldest Daughter, was propounded, with the transport of the Counties of Bry and Champagne i In marriages of the daughters of France, Kings have sometimes given money, & sometimes lands of the Crown upon condition they should return. Charles the fift gave to his two eldest daughters a 100000. franks of gold, and to the rest 60000. Charles the sixth gave eight hundred thousand to Isabella married to Richard the second King of England. King john gave the Contie of Somiers in Languedoc to Isabel his daughter, married to the Duke of Milan. Lewis the young gave to Margaret his daughter married to Henry the third King of England the Contie of Vexin. for her dowry and preferment, which the King's Predecessors had never done in marrying their daughters. The Earl of Charrolois affected nothing more, but upon the doubt which was made unto him of the alienation of these two Provinces, he sent William Huguenot, and john Carandolet to Paris, to know if these two pieces might be separated from the Crown. The King gave them all the assurances they could desire, but he showed that his intent was not to lodge his daughter in a house which he could not love. The conditions of the accord being treated after this manner with the Earl Charolois, as he who had all the power in his hands, every man stood upon his guard. The Earl was advertised of the king's designs, and there was still some one which discovered the Earls unto the King. k In civil wars Counsels are not secret, and the most hidden are divulged, every one hath some friend on the contrary party. A page came at midnight to the river side crying, that they should be set upon by all the forces that were in Paris. Dukes of Berry and Brittany armed once during this war. This cry gave so hot an Alarm, as no man doubted it. Monsieur and the Duke of Brittany showed themselves armed, which else they had never done, and so passed through the army, to find the Earl of Charolois, and the Duke of Calabria, who had sent scouts to discover, These men troubled with the darkness of the night, and the general fear l Caesar sent Consydius at the break of day to discover the enemy, and going, fear surprised him, so as he returned, with all speed, and although he had not seen any thing yet he said that the enemy had already gotten the top of a mountain whereas Caesar meant to lo●ge, and that he knew that by their Arms & Ca●●s, & with knowldege of the Gaul●s. Caesar ●ib. 1. of the wars of Gaul. being near unto Paris took thistles for the pikes and lances of an Army put in Battle, and so returned sweeting, to tell them that all Paris came upon them. john Duke of Calabria came unto the Duke's standard, who like a courageous Prince, believing that which he desired, spoke after this manner. Now we are come to that which we have always desired, behold the King and all the people sallied out of the City, and marching, as our scouts report, and to the end every man may have courage, even as they sally out of Paris, we will measure after the City el, which is the greatest measure. The Duke of Bourgundy upon some advertisement that the Duke of Berry and Brittany might make their accord apart, as the King's design was only to divide them, he held it not fit to leave his Son in that Estate as he should be forced to do any thing upon necessity, m He that suffers himself to be surprised by necessity, d●th no more any thing freely, his counsels & actions savour of a troubled judgement. and that if he were fortified with men and Arms, he should keep his confederates in awe, Succours of men and money sent to the Earl of Charolois. and make his conditions more assured. n To make a peace honourable and with advantage, it must be done in arms and that he whom they will wrong may say boldly, I will not do it. He sent him a hundred and twenty men at Arms led by the Lord of Saveur, a thousand five hundred Archers, and sixscore thousand crowns, the which would have made him more difficult in the Treaty, if they had come before the conclusion. It had been concluded that Monsieur should resign Berry unto the King, Duchy of Normandy given to the King's brother. and have the Duchy of Normandy, & that john Duke of Bourbon should enter into the Castle of Roven o The Duke of Bourbon entr●d into Roven by the Castle, the widow to the signor of Brezay S●n●shal of Normandy favoured this entry, contrary to the ●ing● intention. The Bishop of Bayeux, and john Hebert General of the Finances of France advanced the same design. All offended the K. and repent the displeasure they had done him. during the treaty, but he entered also into the Town. When as the King saw that the Normans had allowed of this change without those difficulties and moderations which he expected, he sent word unto the Earl of Charolois that he desired to meet with him near unto Con●●ans. He came, and the King said unto him, that the Peace was made seeing his Brother was in Roven. This did so please the Earl of Charolois, Earl of Charolois in a danger not foreseen. as unwittingly hearing and speaking with affection of this accord, he found himself at the entry of the Bulwark, which was at the end of the trench which the King had caused to be made, by the which they might enter into the Town. The long black cloak which he carried for the loss of his wife, seemed in a manner to mourn for his liberty. He was much amazed, but he dissembled his fear and his amazement all he could, fearing that if the King perceived it, he would hold himself wronged, and it may be proceed farther. The chief men that were in the Army held their master lost, and represented unto themselves that which had happened to his Grandfather at Montrea● Faut Yonne. p Ani●iury must be dissembled when as he that receives it is not in case to revenge it, and that he is in danger to receive a greater if he make show of it. So Agrippina seemed not to perceive that Nero would have slain her. Choler forced the signor of Neufchastell, Martial of Bourgundy, to use these words. If this fool and mad man hath undone himself, we must not follow him, nor ruin his house nor his father's affairs, let every man think of his own safety and of an honourable retreat: No man can hinder us from recovering of the frontier. The joy was exceeding great when they saw him return. This Marshal seeing him, said unto him, that he was not at his service but by loan, so long as his father lived. q A young Prince must be reprehended by such persons whose age, experience, and authority give power to speak freely, but the acknowledgement of the error must cause the reprehension cease, the which must not be done publicly, lest it breed contempt, and that they which should be confirmed in an opinion that their commanmander hath nothing imperfect, grow doubtful of his conduct. So all hold speeches & free advertisements to a delicate Prince, that cannot endure to be grieved by hearing, are dangerous. Chide me not, answered the Earl. Heacknowledgeth his error and is ashamed. I confess my great error but I found it so late as I was near unto the Bulwark. The Marshal of Bourgundy added, you have done it without me. The Earl of Charolois held down his head and made no answer, for that which he had done exceeded the bounds of all judgement. The King was commended to have dealt so justly, and the Earl of Charolois to have committed himself so freely into a stronger's hands. The conditions of the peace being all concluded, the King gave to the Earl of Charrolois the Castle of Bois de Vincennes for his assurance, promising to come thither the next day. He came, where also were the Dukes of Berry and Brittany and the Earl of Charolois, the ports were well guarded, and the approaches fortified, and the King was in the like fear in the Castle, as the Earl of Charolois had been in the Bulwark. Every man thought that the Public weal, Treaty of peace concluded at Bois de Vincennes. which had been so much exalted in this league, should be preferred before all other conditions of the Treaty. But it is a folly to think that what is desired of many can succeed, when it depends of the affections of few men, r Matters done hardly succeed but according to the intent of the first movers. Private interests and designs band against public intentions, and seldom is it seen what all desire is executed by few. which have divers designs. They talked thereof when as all was done. The Earl of Charolois had the Towns of either side the river of Somme, Amiens, St. Quentin, Corbie, Abbeville, the county of Ponthieu, dourlan's, St. require, Crevecaeur, Arleux, Monstrevil, Croton, and Mortaigne, to be redeemed for two hundred thousand crowns, after the death of the Earl of Charolois. The King to retire these Towns had nine months before paid four hundred thousand crowns. Monsieur did homage unto the King for the Duchy of Normandy. s Election of thirty six Deputies to consult of the remedies of the commonweal, and the ease of the people, the King promising to confirm all that should be done by them. The Duke of Britain held some places in Normandy, which he kept still, for he said he had contributed more, for the charges of the war, than all the rest. The Convocation of the estates was resolved, and in the mean time it was held fit to choose 36. persons, Reformation of the disorders of the realm. of all the orders of France, to provide with the Earl of Dunois for the disorder of justice and the reformation of the estate. The King made no difficulty to grant all they demanded reserving unto himself the liberty to hinder it. His intent was to divide the forces of the league, and then to turn over his books of the sword and dagger, t The Emperor Caligula had two secret books, the one was called the sword and the other the dagger, wherein they were noted that should be put to death with those kind of Armes Suet. cap. 49. where were written in red letters, their names which had offended him during his retreat into Flanders, and his father's reign, which had followed his brother and the Princes of the league, and especially they that had received him so easily into Normandy: u King Lewis the eleventh held Normandy the most important Province of his Realm, he gave it to his Brother but to delay him, it was to fair a piece to give for a portion. Philip de Commines saith, he had seen raised in Normandy fourscore and fifteen thousand pound sterling. for he would not for any thing have consented to give him that Province, if he had not been assured of their constancy that held the chief places. But the Normans, who did always think that their Country did well deserve a Duke, consented to this change for the desire they had to have a Prince, which should remain within the Province. There were but three which desired rather to leave their houses then to change their master. justice had greater power in their souls then wisdom. The Seneschal of Normandy, the Balyfe of Roven, and one named Picard, who was afterwards General of Normandy. The History owes them this testimony of honour, x To do well among men of honour is easy and ordinary but not to suffer himself to be transported with the coruptions of the time nor to follow the violent passions of a multitude but to desire the good, to dare undertake it and to effect it in a bad season, in the which vice is honoured with the recompense of virtue, it is an infallible argument of a spirit wonderfully disposed by nature to all good and commendable things. the which is the more considerable, for that there is some difficulties to retire one's self out of a press that runs headlong, and that the imitation and example of ill, presents itself always with much heat. At their departure from Bois de Vincennes, Departure of the Earl of Charolois. every one to took his course, the Dukes of Normandy and Britain went to Roven, the King did accompany the Earl of Charolois to Villiers the fair. They lodged together for a proof of the confidence they had one of another. The King was the weaker having but a small troop, but there was order that 200. men at arms should come to accompany him to Paris. An act of wisdom, as commendable as those of precedent conferences, and trusts had been dangerous: for in such occasions there is nothing more safe than not to give any advantage to his adverse party to wrong him: y All assurances of friendship, faith and promises which may be drawn from an enemy are good and profitable, but by reason of the inconstancy of men and time there is none better, than so to fit himself as he may have no means to hurt him. The Earl of Charolois hearing thereof was troubled, and caused his men to arm and stand upon their guards, z Upon the suspicion which the Earl of Charolois had of this ' troop Phil. de Com. speaketh thus. It is almost impossible that ●. great Noblemen can agree together, for the reports and jealousies which they have continually: And two great Princes that will entertain friendship should never see one another, but send honest and discreet men, who shall entertain them, and repair their errors. Morning being come, the King bade the Earl farewell, and returning with them that came to fetch him, he freed him from all subject to distrust his intentions. He entered gloriously into Paris, The King's return to Paris. to have so happily calmed the storm which threatened him, and two days after his arrival he caused them to feast him at supper in the Townehouse. The greatest personages were invited with their wives, he thanked the Parisiens' for their fidelity and constancy in so important an occasion: he commended them that had done him good service, a It is a great content for good men to see how the Prince esteems their courage and fidelity. and among others Robert of Estouteville, to whom he restored the Provostship of Paris, which he had taken away, he having held it during the reign of King Charles his father. He displaced the first Precedent of Nanterre b When as Lewis II. came unto the Crown, he made Helias of Tourette first Precedent, who died soon after, and this place was given to the Precedent of Nanterre, at the suit of john of Bureau a Knight, Segneur of M●nglat. and gave that charge to john Dawet first Precedent of Tholousa: he took the seals from Moruillier, and restored them to Iwenall of Vrsins, from whom he had taken them. The treaty c Treaty of Conflans proclaimed at Paris the 28. of October 1465. signed and sworn was proclaimed, and thereby the war for the public weal was ended, Contentment of private men makes them forget the public. contenting the interests of private men. The King desired to quench the fire of this division rather with silver then with blood, and tears of his subjects. To the Duke of Bourbon was assigned the like pension that he received of Charles the seventh. Anthony of Chabannes' Earl of Dammartin, was restored to his lands and soon after made Lord Steward of France, in the place of the lord of Crovy. d There was never so great a marriage but some dined ill, some did what they listed, and others had nothing. Phil de Com. lib. 1. Cap. 14. Many others suffered themselves to be vanquished by the King, thinking themselves more happy to fall under his power, then to escape, e Those that were subdued by Alexa●der were more happy 〈◊〉 they that escaped his power, for these had not any one to free them from their misery, & the others were made happy by the Victor Plut. for they were freed from miseries, and such as remained with the Earl of Charolois could not hope for any great felicity, knowing his councils and designs to be unfortunate, and it seemed his head was not made but to afflict & ruin his body. Earl of St. Paul made Constable of France. And for that the Earl of St. Paul was as it were Arbitrator of all the Earls Counsels, the King won him, offering him the sword of France, which Valeran or Luxembourg f Valeran of Luxembourg Earl of St. Paul was made Constable of France. Anno, 1411. two years after be yielded up the sword to Charles Earl of Albret & Suylly, from whom King Charles the sixth had taken it. had sometimes carried. It is the first dignity of all the orders of France, First dignity of the State. he carries the sword not in a scabbard behind the King as they do before the Duke of Venice, to show that the use and authority depends of them that follow it, but naked before the King, who alone commands to draw it and to put it up, when he pleaseth, as having the only power of the sword over his subjects. That of his justice remains in the hands of his sovereign Courts, for the punishment of Crimes wherewith he meddles not: jupiter doth not strike, hurt, nor condemn any man. Not only the Prince's eyes but his pictures and his statues g A Prince should abhor all that is inhuman and cruel. The Emperor Claudius caused Augustus' Image to be taken from the place whereas slaves were punished, which had slandered their Masters under the Empire of Caius or Tiberius, to the end it should not be violated nor behold those punishments. Dion. should be far from executions. The Kings of France have held this course to reserve unto themselves pardons, benefits and rewards, leaving the distribution of punishments to their officers. Lewis of Luxembourg was declared Constable at the marble table, he took his oath, and his authority was verified by the Court of Parliament. As Arthur h Arthur of Britain was chosen Constable of France, by the suffrages of all the Princes and great Counsel, and although the King was then troubled in his judgement and the seals of France stamped with the Queen's picture, yet by letters of provision. But the keeping of the King's sword is given for the King's service, in fealty and homage and to be the chief in war above all next unto the King. of Brittany Earl of Richmont was the first whose letters of Constable were there published, so Lewis of Luxembourg was the first that took his oath there. We must not judge of a man's fortune by the glory of such dignities, they be pieces of Crystal, which as they glister so they will break. To hold a man happy that enters into great charges, is to give the name of the image to the mettle which is not yet melted. We must see him come, live and run to the end of the course, to know what the issue will be. With this charge Lewis of Luxembourg was wedded to his own ruin, and did himself add much unto it, for notwithstanding that he were bound unto the King both by reason and oath, Affection of the Constable St. Paul. yet (as it is hard but the tree will retain something of the soil where it first took root i Stranger's 〈◊〉 not at the first leave their affection to their party although they quit it. Solon would not allow a stranger to be a Bourgesse in Athens, if he were not banished from his Country. ) the affections of men being like unto a stream which overflows and waters a field and is nothing the clearer: He still kept a natural inclination to the service of his first Prince, grounding his affections upon one maxim, in the which he found his ruin in stead of greatness, whereunto he aspired. k Theramenes an Athenian the son of Aignon, for that he was not firm in his opinions, holding sometimes one party, sometimes another, was called Cothureve which is a kind of buskin used in Tragedies fit for either foot. Plu●. in the life of Niceas. He thought to play k Theramenes an Athenian the son of Aignon, for that he was not firm in his opinions, holding sometimes one party, sometimes another, was called Cothureve which is a kind of buskin used in Tragedies fit for either foot. Plut. in the life of Niceas. Theramenes in this Tragedy, to remain a neuter betwixt these two great Potentates, to make them quarrel when he pleased, to judge of the blows, and to keep himself from danger, thinking to be always supported by the one when the other should seek to ruin him, and to make both of them depend so upon his will, as as he should prescribe them a law of war and peace when he pleased, not considering that neutrality, which may be commended in a prince, when by reason of wisdom or weakness he cannot do otherwise, is mere treachery and treason in a subject, who can have but one master. It was a great misery for him to be betwixt two Princes which could not agree. He that is in this estate is not like unto the town of Syria, l Pliny saith that the town of Palmira in Syria remained without touch amidst the powers of the Roman and Parthian Empires. which was nothing annoyed being environed by the Armies of the Romans and Parthians. He finds his condition oftentimes like unto the miserable mariner of Tire, whom one wave cast out of the ship, and another brought him in again. His humour did favour his bad fortune, wavering always amidst the uncertainty of his resolutions, and a spirit of contradiction. When he was freed from one business he entangled himself with another, His bad conduct & unsortunate end. well in France, ill in Flanders, and as the clouds turn always either into wind, or to rain, his enterprises ended always in tears or sighs. In a word he made a trade of the profession of arms, and did not take them to have peace, but to make the war continue. m Whilst that Rome was well governed (which was until the time of the Gracchis) there was never Captain nor Soldier which made a trade of war, when it was ended every man returned to his first exercise. A●tilli●s Regulus being General of the Army in the last war against Carthage, demanded leave of the Senate to return unto his houses to manure his grounds which his farmers had left waist. When as he saw that councils are not esteemed by Princes but according to the events, He kindles the firebrands of war. he desired to make his to be allowed by some favourable occasion. He sees the Duke of Bourgondy busy in war against them of Liege, he knows how much the King is offended at the practices and Intelligences which the Dukes of Normandy and Britain had with his enemy, he therefore Counsels him to make war against them, to make work in their own estates, and to kindle a fire in their own houses, to the end they should not have leisure to cast it against their Neighbours. These two Princes in the beginning were great friends, n Of great friends are made the greatest enemies; hatred follows and accompanies friendship. Chilon could him that vaunted he had no enemies. That he should also have no friends. Plut. but as great hatred grows from great friendship, they did so jar in the division of the fruits of the peace, as they continued not long together. The Duke of Normandies' servants, who had served King Charles the seventh, could not endure the Britons for companions. The Duke of Britain would be respected as the instrument of their good fortune. Seeing these two Princes could not remain Neighbours, they would never have been associated in the Empire. o An admirable and sole example of trufriendship. Dioclesian and Maxim. Emperors entered the Empire together, commanded together, and lef●. it with one accord. The Duke of Normandy was advertised that the Duke of Brittany had a design not to leave him, and that the Earl of Dammartin undertook to lead him into Britain. He was then at Mont St. Catherines attending until the preparation which they made for his entry were finished, but when he had sent notice thereof to them of Roven, they would not defer his entry a minute. They set him on horseback without a foot-cloth, and led him to the Cathedral Church in a black velvet gown, where they swore obedience unto him, the Britons were out of countenance to see their designs made frustrate. The King made his profit of this bad intelligence. He came into Normandy, Normandy yielded to the King. and within few days forced his brother to departed. The Earl of Charrolois was much grieved that this division had lost Normandy, p Ruins caused by division are reparied by concord. The Dukes of Normandy and Brittany c●sidering that they had lost Normandy by their had intelligence, reconcile themselves. It is imp●ssible saith Phil. de Com. by this division that many Noblemen can long live together, if the●e be not one head above them. A Prince having command over 10000 men, and means to entertain th', is more to b●e feared then ten allies & confederates having every one six thousand, for that they have so many things to accord betwixt them, as half the time i● spent before they conclude any thing. for he believed that that Province being out of the King's hands he was weakened a third part. Monsieur had no other refuge than Britain, being poor naked and dispossessed, which moved them to pity, that were too weak to relieve him, and support him against a Brother who was so great and mighty. The Earl of Charrolois was not long in suspense whether the King would hold all that he had promised: for having sent Imbercourt and Carondolet unto him to put him in mind of the promise of marriage of his daughter, they found that she was promised to Peter of Bourbon Lord of Beaujeu. The King told them that he would marry her better cheap than the Earl of Charolois would take her, and that Champagne and Brie, were too good to be dismembered from the Crown. If men could judge as truly as suddenly of all things, What should remain for the providence of God to decide? Every man thought that France would never escape this Apoplexy, which if it did not bring death, would at the least end with a Palsy, but her destinies were otherwise set down in the eternal tables of the great God, the father of time, the true Saturn q The Romans held Sat-rne to b●e the God and father of truth and did sacrifice bareheaded unto him, to show that there is not any thing hidden from him. which must be worshipped bareheaded, and knows only the periods and ends of Estates. After the glory, which belongs wholly to his bounty, We must commend the King's wisdom and judgement, who remained so stayed in occasions, where as the coldest spirits would have been inflamed to run upon their enemies. He played Sertorius against Metellus. r Metellus sought only to fight. Sertorius refusing the Battle cut of his victuals, took his water from him, & kept him from forage. When he thought to march, he stayed him, when he was lodged, he annoyed him in such sort as he forced him to dislodge, if he laid siege to any place, he found himself besieged through want of victuals. France never saw so many men assembled to ruin her, but she showed that her foundations were good. The forces that were before Paris were so great and so many as they might well be admired both of friends and enemies: for it was an apparent demonstration what this Crown can do against the conspiracy of all others. Yet Paris did feel of this storm long after, and was so unpeopled by this war, and by a plague which happened in August 1467. as the king to repeople it drew strangers thither with great privileges, as such as had been condemned by justice, Unpeopling of Paris. by the assurance of impunity, and all, as the Chronicle saith, according to the privilege given to all banished men remaining in the Towns of St. Malo and Valenciennes. The fidelity of Paris saved the Estate, for if she had refused entry unto the king, he was resolved to retire into Suisserland, or to the Duke of Milan. It is true that as it happens always in Civil wars s In civil wars there are but to many occasions offered to be jealous of them of whose loyalty they sh●ld least doubt. Kinsmen grow faithless. Your servant may be of that party which you fear. M. de M. whereas distrusts and jealousies grow without sowing, the religion of secrecy was not observed, for the Princes were advertised of all the resolutions that were taken against them, yea of the time and of the sally which should be made upon their Army in three several places; the first and the greatest towards Paris, the second towards Pont Charanton, and the third by Bois de Vincennes. Wherefore all this siege the king was ever in jealousy t They watch in vain for the safety & defence of a Town besieged, if fidelity sleeps at the gates, the guard must be committed to them whose loyalty is well assured. for that one night he found the Bastille gate open towards the field. The Chronicle saith it was on Thursday the 29. of September. He was conceited it had been done by Charles of Melun, but he made no show of it. Wise Princes should not lightly call in doubt two such dear and precious things, as the reputation and loyalty of their servants. u It is hard to repair and recompense the injuries done to faith and reputation. Famae et fidei damna maiora sunt quam quae estimariqueant. Tit. Liu. Phil. de Commines saith notwithstanding that the king had not a better servant that year than this Charles de Melun, and the Chronicle attributes to his care the honour to have saved Paris. The best blows which were given at this siege were drawn from his head, and from the wise resolution which he took, not to have any thought but to divide the company, he had forces sufficient to fight with all the Princes together without pain or peril, they had not yet past their Apprenticeship in war. Only the Duke of Calabria knew something, having learned it unfortunately in the war of Naples. The Earl of Charolois had in his youth followed his Father in his Armies and Battles, but a long peace had made him forget more than he knew. As for the Duke of Berry and Brittany, the amazement wherein they were when as the Canon played upon their quarter, made it known that war was not their Element. The History hath observed that after the Army had passed the river of Seine, the Earl of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria troubled themselves much to have the soldiers march in order, and represents them so well armed as they seemed to have a great desire to fight. But when it describes the equipage of the Duke of Berry and Britain, it makes a right Prosopopeia, serving only for the number and pomp. They did ride, saith Phil. de Commin: upon little nags at their ease, carrying for the most part but little light Brigandins, yet some said they had nothing but little gilt nails upon Satin, that they might not weigh, yet I know not the truth. He that goes to the war without his Arms shows that he hath no desire to come near blows. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF the fourth BOOK. 1 Entry of Queen Charlot into Paris. She is accompanied by Amé duke of Savoy her Brother, and Bonna of Savoy her sister. 2 Rebellion of them of Liege and Dinand. Their Insolency against the Duke of Bourgondy: The severe punishment of their folly. 3 Death of Philip Duke of Bourgondy, greatness and felicity of his estate, his bounty and reputation in Europe, his chief Actions. 4 Entry of Charles Duke of Bourgondy into Gand, sedition for the abolishing of customs. 5 Wisdom of K. Lewis the eleventh to descover the desseines of the Dukes of Britain and Bourgondy. His Army in Britain. 6 New revolt of them of Liege. They consult whether they should put their hostages to death. An embassage from the King to the Duke of Bourgondy, touching that. The taking of the Town of Liege and the desolation thereof. 7 The Ganto is acknowledge their errors. The Duke makes his entry there armed; The King divides the Dukes of Normandy and Britain from all Intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy. 8. Interview betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne, his perplexity in the apparent danger wherein he was, he treats with the Duke of Bourgondy and accompanies him to Liege. 9 The Liegeois besieged by the King and the Duke of Bourgondy, their furious sally they are surprised, spoiled, and slain. 10 The King returns to Paris, his words leaving the Duke of Bourgondy, continuation of the war in the Country of Liege. 11 A brief recital of the chief actions, life, and death of Alexander Scanderbag King of Albania. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE FOURTH BOOK. PARISH was all in Feasts and joy for the happy success of the King's affairs, who had so wisely pacified the winds which threatened his ship with shipwreck, but much more for the discharge which he made of certain soldiers and impositions which the people found insupportable. a On Saturday the third of August 1465. the King remitted the fourth penny of the wine to the eight, & took away all impositions except of Merchandise of the six farms in gross These public joys were doubled by the Queen's entry into Paris. Queen's entry into Paris. She went by Boat to our Lady's church, passed to the Celistins, and so to the Tournelles. She was accompanied by the Duke Amé her Brother, and the Lady Bonna of Savoy her Sister, married to john Galeas Duke of Milan. The History of these times, as curious to represent the order of Feasts that were made, as that of Battles, b Paul Aemilius observed a wonderful order and disposition in feasts, saying, that there was the like sufficiency of judgement to know how to order a Battle fearful to the enemies, and a feast pleasing to friends, for the one and the other depend of good judgement, to know how to order things. Plut. as if the knowledge of the one gave as great proof of sufficiency as the other, reports the magnificence, and adds that in the house of john Dawet the first Precedent they had made four baths (they were always acknowledged among the delights) for the Queen and for the Ladies. Her indisposition and that of the time would not suffer her to bathe. One of the baths was for the Ladies of Bourbon and Savoy, the other for the Daughter of the Lord of Monglat, married to the son of Nicholas Balue, brother to the Bishop of Eureux, and Perrete of Chalon a Bourgesse of Paris. This woman is particularly named in divers places of the History, and here she hath her share in the delights and pleasures of the baths. The Duke of Savoy procured liberty for his Brother Philip, whom the King married unto Margarete the third Daughter of Charles Duke of Bourbon, and of Agnes of Bourgundie, but the content of his liberty was not of such force in his remembrance as the distaste of his imprisonment, the apprehension whereof made him to follow the humours of Charles Duke of Bourgundy against the King. Amé died three or four years after in the Town of Orleans of a flux. c Am the third died at Orleans about the end of june 1471. he left 2. sons Philebert and Charles under the government of the Lady Yoland of France, Sister to Lewis the eleventh. But whilst that France enjoyed this quiet, which the King had purchased in dispersing these terrible winds, her ancient friends felt the storm, and yet she had no means to relieve them, for that she would not open the wound which began now to close up, nor favour the examples of rebellion against a lawful Prince. They of Liege not thinking the war should last so little betwixt the King and the house of Bourgundy, Liege Revolts against the Duke of Bourgondy had done all acts of hostility against the Duke of Bourgundies' subjects, preferring always their own interest d He that knows well how much his own interests concerns him, will never have it march after another man's. before a strangers. The King had promised them two hundred men at Arms, every one having three horses at the least, to spoil the country of Henault, and not to treat any peace without comprehending them. Upon this assurance, and a presumption, that their town was impregnable e The people do always presume of their forces with an overweening and rashness. The juhabitants of Novogarde the chief City of Russia said braggingly, Men can do nothing against God nor us, but john Basileus K. of Muscovy made them to change that language. Crant lib. 13. Vand. cap. 15. and themselves invincible, they sent a Herald to Brussels, to proclaim war against the Earl of Charolois, and threaten him with fire and blood. In his absence the Duke received and read the letters, and then delivered them again unto the Herald, saying, that his Son was in France, and that he should carry them unto him if he list. He returned to Liege, from whence he was presently dispatched with the like letters against the Duke himself, and all his Allies. These threats were suddenly followed by the effects, they entered into the Duke's Country, with all kinds of outrages and inhumanities'. To commend this Prince or to speak well of the house of Bourgondy, Army of the Duke of Bourgondy against the Liegeois. were crimes which could not be expiated but by death. The poor peasants were slain like sheep, for no other reason but for that they are his friends and cannot like of the rage of these wolves. The Duke arms, and by his commandment the Dukes of Cleves and Gueldres, The Earls of Nassau and Horn, with the Marquis of Roselin. They press these snails in such sort as they dare not put forth their horns of Rebellion, and keep themselves within their walls with repentance that they had so soon gone to field upon hope that the King (who had then another task in hand) would assist them, and that they should not want means nor courage to defend their liberty. f Liberty doth animate men's minds, and fill their hearts with courage & valour, that defend it. In the famous Battles of Miltiades, Leonides, and The▪ mistocles for the liberty of Greece, the number hath yielded unto Courage. They of Dinan, subject unto Liege were no less mad against the Duke upon the news which ran, and which was as soon believed as received, that the Earl of Charolois had been defeated at Montleherry. They made an Image very like unto the Earl, and carry it with great shouts and cries near unto the walls of Bovinnes, Indignities and Insolences of people r●nolted. where they set up a Gibbet and hang it thereon, calling him whom it did represent, Traitor, Villain, and Bastard. The veriest rascal made the greatest noise. They made also another image for the Duke the which they did set upon a high piece of wood, cringe out See here the seat of that great tond your Duke. An act which cannot be too severely punished by justice, nor remitted by repentance upon hope of amendment. g In these commotions there is nothing b●t fury, no courage nor valour. Certatim ut quisque animi ignaws, procax est ore T●cit. Hist. lib. 2. This furious mockery against the Prince, was followed by all kinds of cruelty against his subjects of Bovines, who thinking to advise these madmen to return unto their duties, they first sent the Herald of their town to persuade them, and then a little boy with letters signed. They cut off the head of the first, and ●are the second in pieces. O inconstant people! what is there cruel and barbarous but thou committest in thy fury? h Men would not kill aspics nor vipers if they might be tamed & made harmless, when there is no hope of amendment Clemency is injurious, and justice always necessary, whereas the public is wronged crimes whose Impunity draw on others are irremissible. The Duke (although he were exceeding old) thought that he could not die honourably unless he were revenged of the ingratitude and rebellion of Dinan. The Duke bu●eegeth Dinae, takes it and ruins it. He caused himself to be carried thither in a litter, leading an army of 28000. horse and a great number of foot, he takes the town, ruins it and casts 800. of the Inhabitants into the river of Meuze i A Prince should never dissemble an open rebellion, for he that doth not punish a rebel in such sort as he may no more rebel, must be held to have little wit and less courage. and they which did not end their miseries now in dying remained to die daily, k The miserable man is beholding unto death, it frees him from miseries. Tamberlan slew as many lepers as he found, that they might have an end of their miseries, and infect no more by their contagion. Calcondile. For the same reason Dracula Prince of Valachia shut a great troop of Beggars into a ●arne, and set it on fire, having made them all drunk. Bonsin. Lib. 3. being nothing beholding to them that meeting them suffered them to live. The Liegeois apprehending the like usage yielded unto the Duke, having made show that they would give him battle, Liegeois give 50. Hostages. they gave him fifty hostages for assurance of the fealty which they promised, and six hundred thousand Florins of the Rhin, paiable in six years. This war ended, the Duke of Bourgondy ended that of his life, and changed it into an eternal peace, Death of Duke Philippe. in the 72. year of his age, the 48. of his reign, the 15. of july in the year 1497. l Phil. de Commines saith that the Liegeois gave 300. Hostages, the number was but 50. whereof 32. were of Liege, six of Sainctron, or St. Tried, six of ●ongres, and six of Hesselt. He left his house in the height of felicity, rich in alliances, honour, friends, and reputation, gold in his coffers, and iron to defend it. m It is nothing to have gold if they have not Arms to keep it. Croesus' showed his treasure to Solon, who seeing it to be of an infinite value, demanded where was the iron and steel to keep that gold. It was not an estate gotten by hazard, and increased by injustice: n There are some estates which have been begun by hazard, and augmented by injustice. It had the foundation of them in the Realm of France, the continuance seemed immortal. Greatness of his house. But Architectors die, and the buildings remain. This greatness did not pass the fourth Male, it was disinembred into many pieces, the chief fell to the house of Austria. He had three wives, Michelle of France, daughter to King Charles the sixth, Bonna of Arthois, daughter to Philip Earl of Yew, and Isabel of Portugal, mother to Prince Charles, in marrying of whom he settled his thoughts for marriage, and took for his motto, Autre N'auray, but he did not forbear the exercise of his loves, so as his injust intemperance begat eight sons and four daughters. This Prince was valiant and hardy, whereof he made good proof in that great and troublesome war, which he undertook against France, the which continued 82. years without respite or truce. A war which made mountains of dead Carcases, and rivers of blood in France, into the which he said he had entered against his mind, desiring rather to employ his arms against Infidels, as he did in the holy League, o julian Caesarin Cordinall of St. Ange and Legat to the Pope with Ladiflans being at Buda, made a new league among the Christians to ruin the Ottoman name, into the which he had drown Pope Eugemus the 4. The duke of Bourgundy, the Venetiant and the Gene●●ois. to secure Hungary against Amurath. He made it known by his device of many fufills or irons to strike fire, fastened to a flint which cast forth flames, whereby he would say that his humour was addicted to mildness and to peace, if they did not force him to war, as the fulfil retains his flame if he be not touched, But doth presently thrust it forth when it is struck. He lived in such credit and authority among the sovereign Powers of Europe, that although he carried not the title of a King, yet he marched equal with the greatest Kings, and if he had would might have had his estates erected to a Kingdom. When as Pope Eugenius the fourth saw that most Christian Princes were banded against him, he fled unto the Duke of Bourgundies' protection and presented unto him the miraculous Host which is in the holy chapel at Dijon. A good Prince beloved of his subjects, His bounty courage & moderation. whom he did not entreat according to the power which he had over them p The greater a Prince's power is, the more his liberty should be restrained. The more mighty a Prince is over his subjects the more mighty his subjects make themselves against him. respected of strangers with whom he could live, but blamed to have been the Instrument of the cruel Tragedies which had been acted upon the Theatre of France. He justified his Arms by the revenge of his father's death, slain by Charles the seventh, being Dauphin, upon the bridge of Monstreau Faut Yonne. But he did not revenge it upon the Lady Michelle q The injury of kinsfolks to the wife is sometimes revenged by the husband upon his wife. The D. of Bourgundy loved not his less, notwithstanding that the sight of the Sister did for three years together reuiu● the injury of the Brother. his wife, Sister to Charles, neither did he love her less, having no intent that innocency should be mingled with the memory of the offence. Charles succeeded him, if the children retain the complexions of them that have put them into the world, Humour and disposition of Charles his son. as the grain which is cast naked into the earth, doth notwithstanding bring forth the straw, stalk, and ear from whence it came. This Prince being borne of Philip and Isabella of Portugal must needs be of a fantastic temper. The Father was hardy, the Mother distrustful, they wondered how she could bear him nine months in her womb, seeing the humour of this Prince could not rest one hour in a place. Prince's desire to begin r Princes which enter newly into a realm must think that their reputation depends of the beginning. They must give themselves to such high and eminent Actions, as they may settle a belief in their neighbours that they are not only capable of the fortune which they have found, and which they hold, but they have wisdom and courage to augment it with anything that time and occasion shall offer. their reign by some famous action wherein their is both hardiness and good fortune, they will that all they do in the beginning may be a precedent, for they judge of the issue by the entry. His entry into Gand. He thought that of all the towns in Flanders there was not any one where he was so beloved as in Gand, and therefore he would begin the entry and visiting of his Towns there, assuring himself that he should be received there with so great proofs of affection and obedience, as it would be a lesson for all the rest to frame themselves to the like duty. For the people do wonderfully desire the first view of their Princes, s The people's hearts are filled with incredible joy at the sight of their Prince. The law●s have held it fit to moderate the expenses which the excess of joy doth breed in such occasions. Si Sacros vultus inhiantibus forte popuilis inferimus, hoc sine immodico pretio nunciari exipique sancimus. L. 1. C. Publicae Letitiae. Lib. 12. and the Prince should desire that his subjects fly not from him like a wild beast which comes out of his den, but that they fly before him, as before some goodly light. He knew not that to demand wisdom of a multitude, is to seek it of a mad man t To demand wisdom of a multitude, is to seek government in a mad man▪ In the common weal of Athens wise men propounded, and fools determined. : He had forgotten the proverb of the humour of them of Gand, that they love their Prince's Son well, but not their Prince. Whilst that Philip lived, Charles was their Sun rising, but the same day that the Son entered into the Father's place, he found the change of their affections. Their obedience was but at discretion u Inconstancy which is common to people, is more remarkable in them of Gand for the many mutinies & revolts they have made against their Princes. and they thought that he could not hurt them unless they would endure it. Being deceived in his conceit he entered the Town of Gand, Custom of the Guntois. he found the gates open, but their hearts shut to his commandments, neither did they stay long to let him know it. Duke Phil●p had made war against them two years, and in the end they were forced to receive conditions, which they held very hard, and withal an imposition upon the Corn for the charges. Sedition cloaked by Religion. The receipt was made in a little house called the Toll-house. The most seditious who would eat their bread with all liberty, x A multitude never remains long in an estate which seems unjust & intolerable unto them, W●ere there is no will there can be no bond. That which is done by force lasteth no longer than the present necessity Haud credi potest ullum populum in ea conditione cuius cum peniteat diutius quam necesse sit mansurum. Tit. Liu. go not to the Duke to demand abolition of this impost, but under colour of a procession which they made the day after his entry they take the case with the bones and relics of a Saint of their devotion, come to this house and strike the case against it, saying that the Saint y People have often covered the causes of their mutinies with some respect of religion. , to cut off a great circuit of the Procession would pass through the house, wherewith in an instant they ruined it to the ground. The rest of the mutines were in Arms in the market place to favour the passage of this Saint and to oppose against any one that would hinder it. The Duke advertised of this tumult comes to a house whose window did open unto the place, The Duke comes to hear of the sedition. where he spoke unto these mutyns, and commanded them to carry the relics of their Saint unto the Church. Some take it up to carry it away, and others hinder it. He desires to know what they would have, and not any one dares speak alone, a In the commotion of a people if there be not one head that leads them, there is not any one that days answer, when the people of Rome retired to the holy mountain, the Senate sent to know the cause of this retreat. Not any one had the courage to answer: and Tit. Liu. saith, That they wanted not matter of answer, but they wanted one to make the answers. but altogether. They were but confused complaints and insolent answers, demanding justice against some private men, as in these Commotions there is always some one charged to be the cause of the public miseries. He promised to do them justice, commanding them to disarm and to retire. But they grow obstinate, and continue their eight days, at the end whereof they present themselves unto the Duke demanding that all which the Duke his Father had taken from them might be restored, which was the threescore and twelve banners of their trades, and the renewing of their privileges. To refuse this was to hazard himself to their fury, and they let the Duke understand that whether he would or no, the Counsels were taken, being resolved to take that which they demanded, for he had no sooner spoken the word to grant them b They must sometimes grant unto the people that which ●hey desire as they do unto children 〈◊〉 cry, & to mad men which rage. But w●en a sedition is pacified they take away justly, which they had allowed unjustly. their banners, He is forced to grant them what he will take away. but at the same instant they saw them planted on the market place. Thus the Town of Gand, from whence the Duke would draw examples of fidelity and obedience, seemed to the rest for a mirror of revolt and sedition, for seeing that the Gantois had sped well with this boldness, many other Towns did the like, and slew some of the Duke's Officers, who was forced for the time to seem to be ignorant c It is a gracious kind of pardoning not to take knowledge of an offence. of that which these mutyns had done, who deserved to be entreated with such rigour, as they should have nothing remaining free, but the sights of their repentance. With the like wisdom and dexterity as the King had divided the forces of the Princes that were in league against him, The King separates the heads of the league. d It is an act of great providence in a Prince to break off the communication & intelligence which may be betwixt tow personages which are mighty, & of turbulent spirits. he labours now to break their intelligences. He sets such good guards upon the passages, as the Duke of Brittany is forced to cause such as he sends to the Duke of Bourgundy to pass first into England and then to Calais. In this great circuit, before their advertisements be given, the Counsels be united, the occasions lost, and the mischiefs without remedy. He hath his eyes open on every side, as he is sever e They must punish crimes when they are committed, and hinder conspiracies in the breeding. to punish crimes when they are committed, so is he vigilant to break conspiracies before they be made. He resolves to plague them one after an other, and to let them know that he reputes soon or late that attempts against one that is more mighty. The Duke of Normandy being retired into Brittany bare and naked, was sufficiently punished with the Counsels of his youth. The Duke of Brittany held himself too weak to support him against so mighty a brother, the Deputies which he had sent unto the King to entreat him & to move him to pity, had brought nothing back but that they saw much discontentment in the King for that his brother demanded a portion with his sword in his hand. The King who was then towards Mont St. Michael sent an Army of fifty thousand men into Brittany. The King sends an Army into Brittany. As the Duke of Alencon had given passage unto the Britain's so his Son the Earl of Perch yields the same town of Alen●con unto the French, whereat Monsieur was so offended, as he called him the right Son of his Father. f Infidelity is so odious, as it makes the Actions of the children which are borne of them which have been attained to be suspected, and suspicions in others are crimes in them. Brittany was overrun above thirty leagues compass. The Duke of Brittany conjured the Duke of Bourgundy to secure him, but he could not do it, being engaged with the Liegeois, who rather tired with war then vanquished, had made a new revolt, and spoiled Liny, upon the assurance the King had given them of his protection. He had sent them four hundred lances under the command of the Earl of Dammartin, of Salezard, of Conyhen, Leigeois supported by the king. and Vignoles, and six thousand Archers. The Constable of St. Paul came and joined with them with some troops. They played the mad men and did not consider the danger their hostages were in, whom they had given for the assurance of their obedience and fidelity. The Duke held a Council whether he should put them to death. Consultation to put the Hostages of Liege to death. The question require good deliberation, for if he had been constant in his first resolution they were undone. And therefore in such difficulties a Prince should never be present to make his opinion g When as a Prince will do● any thing by Council, he should not be here, for his presence hin●ders the liberty of their opinions, especially when the question is of the death of any one accused. Tiberius would not that Drusus his Son should give his opinion first in Lepidus cause accused of treason. So when Piso was commanded to speak his opinion touching Granius Marcellus, being accused to have set his Statue higher than the Emperors. He said (directing his speech unto the Emperor, And you Sir in what● rank will you give your opinion, for if you speak last I fear my opinion will be contrary to yours. Quo loco censebis Caesar, si primus habebo quod sequar si post omnes, vereor ne imprudens dissentiam. known, to the end it may not be followed as a Decree, and that such as will contradict it may do it freely. The Marshal of Bourgundy and the signor of Contay, concluded to have them put to death, grounding their opinion upon this reason, that so strange a revolt should be extraordinarily revenged, that these Mutyns were unworthy of the Prince's Clemency, and that the bonds whereby they contained such wild spirits in their duties, must be taken in the terror of punishments, h ●There are crimes as diseaeases which require violent and extraordinary cures. It is not good always to use to great mildness in the people's folly and madness. Dennis of Syracuse scorned at that sh●me, saying that the chains of demands wherewith Estates were bound, are the terror of punishments & Arms. and Arms. The innocency of the Hostages found favour in the opinions of the Earl of St Paul, and the Sigr of Imbercourt, who detested this cruelty against the poor Bourgesses which had willingly sacrificed themselves for the public, persuaded the Duke to take God of his side; this reason was sufficient, and words were superfluous to oppose against it. But in these occasions, whereas all is disputable, it is good that the Prince have more than one or two of his Council, to the end that wandering opinions may be set right by others, for men are no Angels i There sometimes escape from the wisest absurd and inconsiderate opinions, and therefore the Council of one ●lone is dangerous, the which must consist of divers heads. For the spirits of men have their seasons as well as their bodies, and the wisest man living is not always wise. without passion, they bring them with them in all their Actions, and sometimes hatred or envy, fear or hope; the waywardness and indisposition of the person are as it were the moulds and forms of Counsels. Besides there are many which do not speak but after others. The mildest and most just opinion was followed, and the Hostages sent back to Liege, being advised not to meddle in the contagion of the infidelity of others, and to tell them that if they abused their Prince's clemency, they should feel his rigour. One of the assistants k The Sigr of Co●tay was reputed a wise and discrect Knight, they had never noted cr●e●tie nor indiscretion in his 〈◊〉; and yet he was 〈◊〉 for this cruel Council, and his death they imputed to a just judgement of heaven, according to Phil. of Commines. at this Council foretold the death of the Sigr of Co●tay within a year, Death of the Sigr of Contay. for that he had concluded the death of the Hostage, and it was true. In the mean time the Duke of Brittany cried out for succours. The Duke of Bourgundy sent unto the King to entreat him to cease that war, and to consider that the Duke of Brittanies' cause was his. The King to pay him with the same reason, sent him word that if he would leave the protection of his brother and the Duke of Brittany, he would abandon the Liegeois. The Constable of St. Paul, and la Balue carried this message, to whom the Duke answered, that he could not abandon his friends. Nor we ours, replied the Constable, you choose not, but take all, you will neither have us secure our friends, nor make war against our enemies. Well, said the Duke going to horse, the Liegeois are in field, I have proclaimed war l The Heralds which proclaimed this war, carried in the right hand a naked sword, and in the other a flaming torch, a fearful threat of fire & blood against them with a naked sword and a flaming torch, I will fight with them before three days pass, if I lose the battle you may do as you please, but if I win it, you shall leave the Britons in peace. The Duke besieged Saintron, Siege of Saintron. the Leigois being 30000. came to secure the besieged, and lodge in a great Village environed with a marish a mile from the Duke's Army, there they are charged and repulsed even unto their trenches with the shot of Arrows and Canon, but when they that assailed had no more arrows, the Liegeois recovered courage, charged them with their pikes, and in an instant slew five hundred, and made the rest to waver betwixt flight and amazement. The Duke seeing his forward turn their backs, caused the Archers of the battle to advance, by whom the Leigeois were beaten and slain to the number of nine thousand. A number according to the truth, not to flattery and passion, which sometimes makes Giants of Dwarves m The true number of the dead in a battle is seldom set down, the victors make ●t greater, & the vanquished lesser, and many as Phil. de Commines saith, to flatter Princes, for one slain number a hundred. The number of the dead in the Battle of Marignan was never truly known. The Fr●ch said that they had cut half the Swisses Army in pieces which was of 25000. men. The Swisses say that being returned into their country they found but 5000. wanting and that the French had lost more. Gradenic saith, that in all there were 22000. justin numbers above 15000. Swisses, and Guichardin as many. A variety which proceeds either from error or passion. . The rest retired to Liege, and if there had not been a Moor betwixt them and the Duke's horsemen, Saintron yields to discretion. yielded to the Duke's discretion, delivering ten men to his justice. Whose heads saved the rest, and served for an example against their rebellion: He did the like to Tongres which yielded upon the same condition, and in this decimation n Decimation was invented to punish a multitude in such sort, as the fear might seem general to all the Offenders, and the punishment to a small number: all felt it not but every man feared it. some of those hostages were found which he had sent home. He presented himself before Liege, Liege yields & demands pardon. one of the mightiest and best peopled towns of the country. The Duke's presence made some resolve to trust unto his clemency, and others to fear his justice. Three hundred of the most apparent of the City are sent in their shirts, barefooted and bareheaded to crave pardon for the rest, submitting the Town unto his discretion, without any other reservation then from fire and spoil. The Duke who knew that a multitude is sooner vanquished by mildness then by cruelty, o Nothing is 〈◊〉 by force. 〈◊〉 makes ●em wild, P●●icles won the people by the eyes and ears, and the belly by Plays, Comedies, and Feasts. granted what they desired, but when as he sent Imbercourt to enter into it, he found refusal and iniutious words at the gates, for the inhabitants were not yet well resolved, and feared that the Duke, whom they had so offended, would not keep his word, and that the Town should be subject to the miseries of fire and spoil. He passed the night in great perplexities, and had much ado to have his life and the patience of this people continue until day. Still these mad men came like violent waves upon his lodging to cut all them in pieces that were within it, and did negotiate this accord. Imbercourt busied them with offers of new conditions, upon which they entered into new conferences, p In tumultuary Commotions of a multitude, you must rather seek to win time then to contradict and contest. Wise men have fit occasions to divert and break these furious waves. and then suddenly they run out of their townhouse to the walls, evaporating in injuries and villainies the heat of their frenzy against their Prince. Their rage being rather tired then past, about two of the clock after midnight they were content to yield, so as they might be assured from fire and spoil. Imbercourt assures them that the composition should be observed: upon this assurance they receive Imbercourt who seized upon the gates, Walls of Liege beaten down. and set guards there. The Duke enters in triumph, they beat down twenty fathoms of the wall to make a breach, the Towers beaten down, the walls opened in divers places, new laws, new Impositions and a new world. That q A speedy resolution to that which cannot be avoided mollifies the pain, and to obey voluntarily is to take away that which is rough & troublesome in servitude. goodly statue set up in the public place as a mark of liberty was transported to Bruges for a fatal memory of this desolation, which happened on S. Martin's day. 1467. upon which were graven these Verses. Desine sublimes vultus attollere in auras, Disce meo casu perpetuum esse nihil: Nobilitatis ego Leodis venerabile signum Gentis et in victae gloria nuper eram. Sum modo spectaculum ridentis turpe popelli Et testor Caroli me cecidisse manu. They of Gand became wise at the cost of them of Liege, Gantois profit by them of Liege. and passing from a forced obedience to a voluntary r The Earl of Flanders having besieged Gand, and refused to take them to mercy, if they came not all jointly together barefooted in their shirts to demand it, made them resolu to sally out upon him: five thousand being led by Philip of Artavelle defeated 40000. men, and entered pell-mell with them into Bruges. The Earl was hidden in a poor woman's garret and led out of the Town in a disguised habit. they found the yoke more easy. The Duke entered there with great pomp, and the Gantois acknowledging their fault, went as far as Bruxelles to meet him, presenting unto him the seventy two Banners of the trades for the which they had made that famous mutiny after the death of Duke Philip, and which had been formerly taken from them: they submitted their privileges to his discretion, paid 30000. Florins to the Duke, and 6000. to them that were about him, neither had they so good an issue of their revolt as in the time of Artevelle. s Yet their privileges were confirmed, except that which they call of the Law, by the which of six and twenty Aldermen they had the election of two and twenty, and the Duke of four only; which caused such ordinary mutinies and revolts in the Town, calling none to public charges but such as were of this furious and mutinous humour, who held the hearts of the Citizens so divided, as one should sooner have joined together the pieces of a broken Crystal, than the designs of their minds. He sent the Banners to Bullen upon the sea, to accompany those which his father had caused to be laid there in remembrance of the like rebellion. He made his entry into Gand armed and victorious. Entry of the D. of Bu●●gundy 〈◊〉 Gand. The King's Ambassadors came thither unto him, to entreat him not to meddle with the affairs of Brittany nor Normandy: winter was spend in these conferences, but the King not able to temporize any longer, nor to give time unto his enemies to join together, enters into Britain, and takes Chantoce, with Ancenis. The Duke of Bourgundy advanced to S. Quentin to secure his Allies. Treaty of the Duke of Berrie and Brittany. The King held them so short as he made them resolve to treat with him, and laying aside their interest, t It is certain there is not any one of whom we may not obtain what we desire, if he be not thereby interessed howsoever the public be interessed. he draws from them a renonciation of all Alliance with the Duke of Bourgundy. He would not have it said that he was armed to do nothing, for one enemy he makes three. He was wonderfully incensed against the King, who always prepared him such banquets, and was discontented with the Dukes of Normandy and Brittany, who had made an accord without him, terming them fainthearted and without judgement. The King made him cease his Arms for sixscore thousand crowns which he gave him, the which he did accept the more willingly, for that he desired to enjoy in quiet the first contents of his marriage with the Lady Margaret u Margaret Daughter to Rich: of York & Sister to the K. of England was married to Duke Charles in july 1468. She made her entry into Bruges being conducted by six Knights, Adolphe of Cleves, james of Luxemburg, Anthony Bastard of Bourgundy, Peter of Baufremont Earl of Charny, Philip Pot and Philip of Crevecoeur. of York Sister to King Edward, who was come to Bruges. The King sent Cardinal Balue and Taneguy of castle unto him, to have his consent unto an interview, thinking that if he might speak with him, he would wholly draw him from the Protection of the D. of Brittany, with whom he was discontented, and would not regard that of the Duke of Normandy which was more hurtful than profitable unto him. The Duke took no taste in this interview, being (as he said) well advertised that the King had sent his Ambassadors to them of Liege to solicit them to a new revolt, Balue and du castle let the Duke understand that the Liegeois had been so handled the last year, as it was incredible they would fall into the like miseries, and if they had any such desire, this interview of the two Princes would make them desist. Which reason made the Duke consent to receive the King at Peronne. As soon as Cardinal Balue and du castle had acquainted the King with the Duke's resolution, he set forward to meet him, and parted from Noion upon a letter which the Duke wrote unto him with his own hand, for the assurance of his coming, Error which the K. could not repair but with danger. stay and return. An error which was seconded with many errors, x In errors of importance the first step disorders all. It is more easy not to enter then to get forth. One error follows an other, and that of judgement brings that of the heart. and an error of an ill settled judgement, and one of the most remarkable of the life and conduct of this Prince. He went to see a Prince whom he had newly offended, what could he hope for but to see himself forced to repair this wrong? He had sent men to Liege to make it revolt, he should have given over this practice, and consider that if it did succeed, Peronne should be an infallible prison to him, from whence he should never be freed until he had done reason unto the Duke, to the blemish of his courage and honour. y It is a dishonour to be forced to disavow his own thoughts and intentions. The K. had sent men to trouble the D. at Liege, he had done it through indiscretion, now he is forced to pacify it, and to stay the business more than he thought to advance it. If this consideration were not able to stay his voyage, yet it should have bound him to seek for other assurances then in words and paper; Two errors the K. committed in the assurance of his person. and remember that he himself had not much regarded that which he had promised at Constans, that they might yield him the like measure, and that there is nothing so light as an oath, when as the breach thereof presents some private commodity. z The desire of profit, of revenge or pleasure, is the ram which overthrows an oath. Neither of the three doth moderate the pain. The divine is undoubted misery to perjures, and that of the world is shame. Moreover he had no child, and committed his life unto a Prince, whose Ambition would have confounded heaven and earth to reign, he gave it in guard to him who would ruin his estate, holding it more commendable to be rash than a coward. a The rashnet of a private man may be excused when it hath no train: The life of Sparta depends not upon that of Calicratidas, but that of a prince which is the spirit that gives life and motion to an estate, is always blamed It is the second error which he committed in the conduct of his own safety for he had trusted the Princes that were in league against him, He comes to Peronne to the Duke coming to parley with them at Bois de Vincennes, who desired to seize upon the royal authority, and to govern France at their own pleasures. He went thither without any guards, b It is dangerous to trust the faith of a prince who hath been an enemy, he being the weaker. Tosime blames Valerian of indiscretion, who went to Sapor with a small troup. being accompanied by the Duke of Bourbon, the Cardinal his Brother, the Cardinal of Balue, the Earl of S. Paul and the Governor of Roussillon. The Duke received him without the town, and conducted him to the lodging which he had caused to be prepared for him. Presently after arrived the Bishop of Geneva, the Earl of Bresse, the Earl of Romont, all three brethren to the Duke of Savoy, the Marshal of Bourgundy, the Seigr of Lau, Poncet of Riviere, and the Siegr of Vrfe, all carrying St Andrew's Cross, and in their hearts some apprehension of wrong. c The King had kept the Earl of Bresse & the signor of Lau in prison, and he had taken Pi●●ll from the Marshal of Bourgundy. The King being advertised hereof grew very distrustful, and had his thoughts troubled and confounded with repentance, d There is not any thing more unworthy wherinto a Prince may fall then repentance, especially in errors which may not be twice committed. for that he had not better considered of his voyage. He sent to entreat the Duke to lodge him in the Castle, for that all these Noble men that were come did not conceal it that they were his enemies. The Duke was glad that the King had made choice of the lodging which he durst not have given him, He is lodged in the Castle. and entreated him not to doubt any thing. The two Princes gave order to their Counsels e Princes which have any controversies, should refer them to their Counsels, to avoid the bitterness and ●eat wherein to contention may draw them. to consider of the means to end their quarrels. They renewed the Treaty of Conflans, whereunto some few things were added in regard of the Duke. But Monsieurs condition grew better, for in exchange of the Duchy of Normandy he had. Champagne and Bry with all the rights, and the Duke of Britain entered into the Treaty as an Ally. Matters standing upon these terms, news came unto the Duke that the King's Ambassadors had made them of Liege revolt, f The Leigeois in this revolt made more haste than the King expected, for his designs were not yet well digested, and he held them not so able. that they had seized upon the Town of Tongres, imprisosoned their Bishop, Cousin germane to the Duke, and slain fifteen or sixteen of his Canons and servants. The Duke caused the gates of the Town and Castle to be shut, feigning that some one had taken a Casket of jewels: he fortified his guards about the Castle, and told some of his trusty servants that the King was come thither to deceive and betray him. The K. in a manner a prisoner. He was so transported with Choler, as if the first to whom he reported these news would have cast oil into the fire, g The first motions of Princes in their choler, pass speedily to resolutions of revenge when they encounter men that comfort and encourage them. and had not rather quenched then kindled the wood, he had resolved to do what he had said against the King. But there were not any but Phil. de Com. and two grooms of his chamber, who did not aggravate any thing. If never King of France hath seen the image of fear but upon the front of his enemy, it now presents itself in the eyes of Lewis, who stood amazed in a sad mediation of his error, complaining his misfortune with that of Charles h Hubert E. of Vermandoi● caused Charles the simple to die in prison. King Lewis his son to revenge this injury called an assembly of the Princes and chief noblemen, and propounded this question which he seemed to receive from the K. of England, to have his advice: What punishment that farmer describe who having invited his master to come unto his house had put him to death. All concluded that the crime was punishable, and Hubert said that he ought to be hanged, You shall be (said the King) you have condemned yourself. And he had no sooner spoken the word but he was hanged. the simple being lodged at the foot of the Tower where he had been imprisoned. He made some offer to pacify the Duke, and to give hostage to procure such satisfaction from the Liegeois as was fit. He had friends in the Duke's Council, i The advice of that which was done in the D. counsel, came as it was said from Phil. de Commines. and casting twelve or fifteen thousand Crowns among them, And he himself writes after this manner. The King had some friend which advertised him that he should have no harm if he did yield unto those two points, but if he did otherwise, he thrust himself into very great danger. he was by that means advertised of the Resolutions which were taken: whereof the mildest and most moderate were not pleasing unto him. The first opinion was that they should keep promise with him, so as he would declare himself an enemy to them of Liege. The second that being offended as he was, it was dangerous to give him liberty, to revenge himself, The third that they should send for the Duke his brother, and the other Princes to consult what was to be done. In the end they passed by this strait, that he was constrained (and it is the greatest violence that may be done unto a King) to consent unto a a war against them of Liege, who had relied upon his protection. The Duke continued three days in great alterations, and past the third night in such disquietness as he did not unclothe himself, but lay down upon his bed, then rising suddenly he would walk and talk to Philip de Commines, his Chamberlain, whose integrity and moderation did serve to calm those violent storms that troubled his soul. He was wholly French, k Philip de Commines became a Partisan to the King, who drew him into France, gave him the signory of Argenton in Poictou, and the Seneshalship of the same Country. and from that time some thought he resolved to retire himself into France. But it is not credible that there was any treachery in him. The uptightnes and sincerity of his writings frees him from suspicion. If he had been blemished with infidelity & ingratitude, vices which dissolve all human society, l All the greatest reproaches are comprehended in these two words, Ingrate and treacherous. Nihil aeque Concordiam humani generis dissociat et distrahit quam hoc ingratitudinis vitium. Sen. the King had not trusted him with so many great and important affairs. The Duke went early in the morning unto the Castle to the King who was already advertised of what he would say unto him, and had time to think of his answer, and to fit it not so much unto reason as to necessity, m Amazement should never be seen on a Prince's forehead. He should be master of his words, but much more of his countenance, for his looks do often contradict them, and betray the secrets of the heart. and above all to carry so even a countenance, as the Duke should not discover that he had any ill game, or that he had any apprehension to lose, for if he had thought that he had made him afraid, he would have done him a mischief n Many times a bad design begun is not ended; when as he that doth it thinks that he is not discovered. And it is a maxim grounded more upon experience then Conscience in such occasions, not to do so much, or to do more. all together. The Duke was accompanied by the Lords of Crequy, Charny, and la Roche. He could not by the humility of his words, so well dissemble his proud and threatening gesture, The Duke conjures the King to go to Liege but the trembling of his voice discovered the motion and storm which choler caused in his heart: ● And then there is no great reason in humble words and respective countenances when as the effects are contrary, and that the inferior braves the superior, o To what end s●rues respect and humility of words, if the action be proud? The day when K. john w●● taken at the battle of Poict●ers, the prince of Wales served his majesty at supper bareheaded. The King entreated him to sit down. It belongs not to the subject answered the Prince and yet he held him prisoner. He demanded of him if he would hold the treaty and come to Liege, to help to revenge him and the Bishop of Liege his kinsman of the Liegeois who by reason of his coming were revolted. The King granted it, the Peace was sworn upon charlemagne cross, and the whole town was full of joy for this accord: the 12. of October 1468. 1468. Oliver de la March reports this otherwise then Philip de Commines. The King (saith he) was not well assured, but as soon as he saw the Duke enter into his Chamber, he could not conceal his fear, but said unto the Duke Brother, I am not safe in your house, and in your Country; and the Duke answered, yes sir, and so safe, as if I should set an arrow come towards you, I would put myself before you to preserve you. And the King said unto him, I thank you, for your good will, and will go where I have promised you, but I pray you let the peace be presently sworn, betwixt us. Then they brought the Arm of St. Leu, and the King of France swore the peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy and the Duke of Bourgondy swore the said peace, and promised to keep and entertain it with and against all men. The next day they parted and came to Cambray p Notwithstanding their speeches unto the Duke of Bourgondy that he should be blamed to break the assurance which he had promised the King, he still answered. He hath promised me, and he shall hold it, I will make no Conscience to force him. Peter of Goux his Chancellor, was one of those which counseled him not to offend the King. Oli. de la March. and entered into the Country of Liege in the beginning of winter. The King had no forces but his scottish guard, and 300. men at arms. The Duke held a Counsel in the sight of Liege, what he should do. Some were of opinion that he should send back part of his Army, for his forces were too great against a demantled town, which could not be relieved, seeing the King was with him. He gave no credit to this Counsel and it succeeded well, for he could not be too strong having a mighty King by him q It was never a w●se and advised resolution to hazard all his fortune and not all his forces. and being in danger to lose all if he had been too weak distrust was available. The Duke commanded the Marshal of Bourgondy who led the forward, Siege of Liege. to lodge with in the City, either with their wills or by force. The Pope had a Nuncio within the City, to end the Controversies which were in a manner perpetual betwixt the Bishop and the people, who changing his power and forgetting his duty, upon a design to have this Bishopric, exhorted the inhabitants to defend themselves, and caused them to make a sally with such fury, as they that were without had no hope to enter but victors. Clearchus made a sally & put all his 〈◊〉 in battle, than he commanded the gates to be shut and the keys to be cast over the wall, to take all hope of entry from the Soldiers, until they had lost or wen. This Sally was so unfortunate, as he repent him of his Council, and apprehending the danger, gets out of the town and flies away, but he was stayed by the Duke's men, who promised to them that had taken him to make their profit, using no speech to him. But whilst they contended for their shares in his ransom, they came unto the Duke being at Table, who blamed that in public which he had commended in secret, Pope's Non cio set at liberty. declaring the prize not good: and causing the Bishop to come unto him, ●he honoured him and caused all his goods to be restored, leaving repentance unto the rest, who had not done that without brute which they should have done s There are some things to be done before they ask if they shall do them. It is the answer which Pompey, supping with Anthony in a ship made unto an officer, who told him that he had a good opportunity to be revenged of them, and that if he would theridamas should not one remain. before they asked leave. The marshal of Bourgondy and I●bercourt win the suburbs and march directly to the Towne-gate, which stayed not until that necessity should force the Inhabitants to demand a peace in mourning gowns, t Although the Athenians had no reputation of great courage, yet they never demanded any accord but in mourning robes priest with extreme necessity. upon their first approach the Deputies present themselves to Parle, The besieged demand a Parle. but hope and desire of spoil would not give them hearing. Night surprised the assailants before they were lodged, and doth so disorder them as they know not whether to go, but calling one another in confusion, they gave courage to the besieged to make a Salley. u He that chargeth first by night hath the advantage for it is alwaies● presumed that he is the stronger's flight doth commonly follow amazement. The night hath no shame. They arm some for fear, others without fear, sally made by them of Liege. and issue out upon them by divers places, for their walls being razed the year before, gave them passage, where they slew seven or eight hundred. Four Cannon's discharged against the gate along the great street, cry quittance, and keep them from coming forth, who through favour of this first Sally had a great desire. Yet for all this they that were come forth would not retire into the Town, but barricadoed themselves, or as Philip de Commines saith, insconsed themselves with wagons which they had won, and remained there until day. john de vilette x In sallies the Commander should always stand firm to maintain the besieged in their duties by his presence, and to favour their retreat, having a care that being repulsed the enemy doth not enter pel mel with them. When as they of Liege had lost their head in the first sally, their defence was desperate. the sole Commander of the people was hurt and slain. The suburb was kept by the Marshal of Bourgondy, who had committed a gross error, having given no better order for his lodging y The first duty of a good Captain is to know how to lodge his men. For this only respect Hannibal in the judgement of Phirrhus, was the first Captain of Greece next to Alexander. a principal part of the duty of a good Captain. The Prince of Orange was hurt there, and in this action the History gives him the glorious surname of a man of virtue, as it commends the valour of the Lords of Lau and Vrfe, and reproacheth the contempt of honour to above two thousand men, who under favour of this night had sacrificed their safeties and honours to flight. This first defeat afflicted the Duke, and he would not that the King should have known it, if he could have concealed it amidst so many passions and divers Interests. The Duke's troops ill entreated in the suburbs. Believing that the brute was greater than the loss, he went himself to tell it him. The King was very glad, but this joy was more grounded upon discretion then justice, for if the Duke's designs had not prospered, the King had had cause to repent him, and therefore he did apply his spirit to the motions of the Dukes, approving that it is a hard servitude for a great man to force himself to the humours of his inferior. He was advised to go and refresh his forward, plunged in the mire, besieged with hunger and benumbed with cold. The Duke sent 300. horse with some victuals to refresh them that were ready to faint, z A famished soldier hath neither courage nor force to fight. It was a great negligence in the Duke's Captains to have engaged the soldiers so near the enemy, and not provide to make them eat. Asdrubal lost his men against Scipio by this defect. Vliffes' blames Achilles for that he would lead his men to the war before they had eaten. having not eaten of two days. He came also and lodlodged in the midst of the suburb, and the King in a farm half a mile off. This first night about midnight there was a hot alarm although it were in the heart of a very sharp winter. The King showed himself unto the Town as soon as the Duke, Alarm given and the King goes to horse. and they were amazed at his diligence, the name of King and his presence put the Duke out of countenance. a The Duke saith Phil. de Commines, held not so good a countenance, as many men wished, for that the King was present & took the word and authority of Command. The Adamant hath no virtue near unto the Diamond, the King would not seem other than a King, he takes the word and commands what should be done. b It is an act of a great Captain in accidents not forescene to reduce things speedily into order. No other but he in so sudden an accident could have assured the amazed, and that with such judgement, courage and majesty, as they saw he knew well that he was borne to that end, and that in such occasions the best blows are drawn from the head. c In war they do not fight only with the force of Soldiers, but with the Art and wisdom of the General. Some cried they are here, others said they come by such a port, the night made all doubtful, and augmented the amazement. The King commanded the Constable to go directly to such a place with such men as he had, for (said he) if they come, that is their way. But they saw not any one, the King retired to his quarter, and the Duke to his. The next day the King came and lodged in a house near to that of the Dukes, The King and Duke lodged together. who fell into such a distrust of this neighbourhood, as he lodged 300. d This change of lodging and these approaches do strangely disquiet the Duke. He feared that the King would cast himself into the town, which had relied upon his protection, and that he had some design against him, at the least that he should intend to retire before the Li●geois were subdued and punished. men at Arms, and the best of all his troops in a barn betwixt them, having passages made in divers places to issue forth. The Liegeois foreseeing that they could not avoid their ruin, resolve to encounter and meet with Death, to fell their lives as dear as they could, and to surprise the two Princes in their own lodgings whither they might go of an even ground, for although they were both great Captains, yet had they not cared to entrench themselves. e A remarkable fault in 2. great Captains to have no trenches at the siege of Liege, being doubtful long and difficult. The Liegeois had no head, they took hazard and despair for their guides, and therewith the masters of the two lodgings where the King and Duke were, their intent being to surprise them, and to kill them, or to lead them into the Town before their men should be able to relieve them. The night, which is always contrary to these encounters, f All Encounters and Combats by night, should be avoided. Caesar did not undertake any thing to execute it by night, and Anthony said that if the Ports of Cremona were open, yet would be not enter but by day. was favourable to them as assailants. The order was, that six hundred of their best Soldiers should go out by the walls, Sally of the Liegeois. and about midnight march directly to the lodgings of these two Princes, without any stay, and kill the Sentinels. And that at the same instant the people should sally forth by the Port, with the most fearful cries g Cries are profitable in fight, not in marching, by the cries they have often judged of the issue of Battles, as they were more or less 〈◊〉. An unequal and faint cry having pauses, hath often discovered fear, saith Tit Liu. they could make, to give courage to the execution of this design. The King and Duke of Bourgondy in danger to be taken or ●laine. They go forth by the breaches of the walls about ten of the clock, they take and kill most of the Sentinels, but in steed of going directly where they were commanded, as they might have done without any resistance, they stay at a pavilion whereas the Duke of Alencon was lodged, behind the Duke's lodging, and at the barn which was betwixt the Kings and the Dukes. h This error for the trenches put the two Princes in danger to be slain, they be necessary to hinder the sally of them within, and the succours that come from abroad. Without all doubt, saith Phil. de Commines, if they had not stayed in these two places, but had followed those two posts which were their guides, they had slain the King and the Duke of Bourgundy, and defeated the rest of the Army. The Duke who resolved to give a general assault the next day, had commanded all his men to disarm and refresh themselves, and he himself had put off his Cuirasse, which he had not done since his arrival, so sweet and easy great toils i The heads of an army should be more hardened and laborious than others. Alexander marched often on foot in the head of his Army, but as Cyrus' Father saith, travels must not be measured a like in the bodies of them that command, and of their soldiers, neither are they so grievous to the one as to the other, for that honour makes them more easy unto a commander, for that he knows well that what he does shall come to the knowledge of of all the world. Zenop. in Cyroped. are in great enterprises. The noise which they had made at the Duke of Alençons' pavilion made many to arm, k To execute a great design which requires diligence, they must never stay upon any occasion, unless it be an invincible necessity, by their turning to Alensons' Pavilion, they gave an Alarun & awake those whom they had surprised sleeping. yet notwithstanding the gate and windows of the Duke's lodging were assailed with great violence. In this attempt they use great Art, some crying, God save the King, others, God save the Duke, and many, God save the King and kill, to put the two Princes in distrust, their people into confusion and to kill one another. Cries which caused more fear in the Duke then the danger was great, and his servants knew not to what party the King stood affected. The two hosts which led them were slain at the first, Valour & fidelity of the Scotishmen. the King came not forth, the Scottishmen fought l This was a new recommendation of the Scottishmen fidelity. An Act which may be compared to that of the Romans which environed Crassus, saying, that never any Parthians Arrow should touch his person, until they had first slain them one after an other. Plut. valiantly at his feet, and made bucklers of their bodies, against this enraged multitude, and not knowing any one, slew as many Bourgonians as Leigeois. m Night will not suffer them to distinguish friends from enemies. The blows are for the most part vain & without encounter, & the most valiant slain by the most fearful. Tit. Liu. The people which should have issued forth by the gate, were kept in, and the rest were cut in pieces, the King and the Duke talked together being amazed at their rashness, and finding that if they had been led their design had proceeded farther, and that they had to deal with men that were more powerful by despair then by conduct. They retired, the Duke having an intent to give an assault, & the King to be present at it, The K will be at the assault. notwithstanding that the Duke persuaded him to retire to Namur until that the Town were taken. The King answered them that spoke unto him, that although he doubted of the event, for that the number of the people was great, being priest by two powerful and violent motions, despair, and boldness, and had already made known how dearly they would sell their lives, n When as a multitude gins to know that matters are reduced to these terms as nothing can happen but misery, they assure themselves in dangers, they change their boldness into fury, & their hopes into despair. yet he would be present with the rest, and had no reason to go to Namur. He might have safely retired, for he had a hundred Archers, a good number of Gentlemen, and three hundred men at Arms. Yet for more danger than he apprehended he would not have made one dishonourable step. The respect of his honour o There is not any great courage but starts at this word Honor. A Prince must go into all places where his reputation is engaged. The King saith Phil. de Com. where it concerned his honour would not be blamed of cow●dise. and that great desire of glory (the only Object of great spirits) was more dear unto him than his life. About eight of the clock on Sunday morning being the 30. of October 1468. the sign for the assault was given the inhabitants having no thought that they would trouble their rest on Sunday, p The Earl of Montfort, who was called john the valiant, D. of Britain, sent to entreat the Earl of Blois his enenmy, to refer the Battle which he meant to give him, until the next day, for that it was Sunday, & St. Michel's feast, and it was one of those days, on the which the Countess of Blois his wife had forbidden him to fight, but the Earl of Blois would not believe any of them, and was slain there. This happened in the year 1364. (a day by the scrupulous of that time held unfortunate to fight in) and moreover much tired, for that every day they had been in guard, and now they were gone to dinner. They were surprised without any resistance, every man saving himself either in the Forest of Ardennes, or in Churches, he that escaped the fury of the sword, fell into that of cold and hunger, and all tried that in vain q King Ferdinand going out of Naples with Don Frederic, the Queen his Grandmother, the Princess joan his daughter, and embarked in the Galleys to recover the Island of Ischia, which the Ancients called Enaria, thirty miles from Naples, had no other words in his mouth but this Verse of David saying, That Sentinels and guards avail not, if God keep not the City. men keep the City if God take not the care. The Duke being master of the City came and conducted the King unto the Palace. This prince fitting his words unto the time and to the Duke's humours, commended his victory, and spoke to all that past of the Duke's valour and good conduct, who took a wonderful delight to have a King for a Panegyrist. The Town was reduced to that estate as it might serve to posterity for an example not of conservation, Ruin and desolation of the Liegeois but of extreme misery. The gates and walls were overthrown, the ditches filled up, the privileges revoked, the laws changed, and all the Churches (except the Cathedral) spoilt. The Duke caused it to be kept by some of his household, against the soldiers, who sought to force the two doors. A strange thing to see churches r Seeing that God ought to be feared and worshipped in all places, that which belongs unto his service should also he religiously respected even in the Armies. Zenophon saith, that Agesylaus would not allow them to touch any Temples in the enemy's country. in danger among Christians, whose impieties are such as even the most Barbarous Nations do abhor them, for they have always respected holy places, but it was so perverse and corrupted an age, as there were men without souls, and souls without religion. The Duke not able to restrain this fury slew a soldier to make the rest dislodge, all was reduced to a vast and fearful wilderness. The Duke repent himself of the cruelties which had been committed in the fury of the Sack, and offered for an expiation the St. George wherewith St. Lambert's church in Liege is at this day adorned. The King, five days after the desolation of a country which relied upon the succours of his power, and which stumbled into servitude, for it could not go strait in liberty, s Liberty is to be desired, when as they that will not be subject to have means to live free, but as Plato saith Epist. 8. Many have fallen into servitude, for that they could not use their liberty well. took leave of the Duke, and told him, that if he had any more cause to use him that he should not spare him, but if all were done, he desired to go to Paris to have their Treaty verified, yet hoping to meet again the next Summer in Bourgundy. I will said he, The King desires to return to Paris. that we remain a month together to make good cheer. t Princes as all other men are by nature subject to passions and alterations, and not able to endure the toil of the body and mind long without tiring, and have need of some rest and recreation. It is that which K. Lewis the eleventh in this place calls good cheer. The form and manner of his words did much help the matter, for he delivered them with an open countenance, and a heart which seemed free, which did bind the Duke to please him. An Act of incomparable wisdom, to fit his words and actions for the necessity of the time and place wherein he was, and humility in these actions doth no wrong unto a great Prince, u Humility abates nothing of a prince's greatness, for either he that humbles himself is inferior, and then it becomes him well, or superior but brought to such a strait, as he is forced to bend & if he escapes, he grieves not at his humility, although that do him good who hath entreated him with pride and arrogancy. which knoweth there is no other means to continue with spirits that are insolent of their fortunes, but dissembling. The Duke also knowing the humour of this Prince, murmured still, Treaty made without liberty binds not. & made his distrust known, he did consider that bonds of promises made by men which cannot say they are in liberty are light, that force hath no power to prescribe a force sufficiently noted in the solemn words of the oath whereunto they desired the King should consent, that in case of contravention to the Treaty, all his subjects should retire from his obedience, and adhere to the Earl of Charolois. And therefore he would that before the king's departure, their Treaty should be read and read again, and all the points expounded x In Treaties of peace they must understand one an other well. All words must be made plain, and those that are comprehended or excluded expressed. and that upon all he declared his intention. Advise my Lord if there be any thing whereof you repent, y A breach in the observation of forced promises is not dishonourable, and he wants force that observes them. it is at your choice to do it or leave it. I desire to add one Article in favour of the Lords of Lau, Vrfet, and Poncet of Riviere, that they may be restostored to their lands and offices, I am content, replied the King, so as the Earl of Nevers and the Lord of Crovi may be also restored. The Duke, who bore a deadly hatred to these two, spoke no more of the rest, and the King declared that he would observe the Treaty. z In Treaties which are made by equals impertinent demands are choked with the like demands. He had so great a desire to be far off, as to make no stay of his departure, he made no show of discontent. He concealed his grief so cunningly as it was impossible to judge that he felt any. The Duke used some compliments to excuse himself for that he had drawn him to the war of Liege. Excuses of the Duke. He had need of very artificial powders a Words of excuse and compliments in actions which cannot be excused, are like spices and sauce of a delicate taste to meat which is tainted. to make this sauce pleasing, the gilding took not away the bitterness of these pills. He did accompany him a mile; at their farewell, and embracings, the King to show his affection and trust, Words of the K. at his departure. said unto him; Sir if my Brother which is in Brittany were not contented with the portion which I give him for your sake, what would you have me do: The Duke answered, if he will not accept it, I refer myself to you two, and care not so as he be satisfied. These words being spoken somewhat roughly were well considered by the King, who from that time resolved not to lodge his Brother in Normandy too near to England, nor in Champagne too near to Bourgundy. The Duke continued the rigour of war upon the country of Franchemont, War in Franchim●nt. leaving the Town of Liege on fire, b The Duke appointed three thousand foot to burn the Town of Liege, and to descend the Churches. It was fired thrice, in three several quarters. They reserved three hundred houses for the Priests, with whom many inhabitants lodged. Phil. de Com. not excepting any thing but Churches and the houses of such as attended the divine service. c Impiety respects sacred things after that liberty hath profaned them. Fab. Maximus having spoiled Tarentum and made it desolate, with all kinds of cruelties. When his Secretary came to ask him. What shall we do with our enemy's Gods, he answered, let us leave the angry Gods unto the Tarentins Plut. in Fabio. They respected the Temples after they had offended him who was worshipped there, by all sorts of impieties. Whilst that the soldiers warmed themselves at this fire, the rest endured incredible cold in the Mountains of Franchemont, whereas the wine being frozen in the hogsheads, Sharp Winter. it was cut in pieces with Axes, and carried away in hats and baskets without decrease. Oliver de la March writes that the Duke's tysan was frozen in silver flagons, and that the force was so great as they broke. At the same time the death of the King of Albania was spread over all Europe. Death of the King of Albania. Lewis was much grieved, for that he alone stayed the Turks fury, who were cruel scourges to punish the disorders of that depraved Age. He was the youngest Son of nine children to john Castriot d Voysane daughter to the King of the Tribolet a part of Macedon, & Bulgaria, having conceived George Castriote, dreamed that she was delivered of a serpent, of such greatness as he spread over all Epirus. , who commanded at Croy the chief Town of Albania: who gave him with his Brethren to Amurath to assure the faith of his promises, being forced to yield under the yoke of that command. Amurath, George Castriot circumcised & called Scanberbeg. the Nabuchodonosor e God hath used the power of infidels to punish his people, and by divers means he hath given them power to trouble them. He raised Nabuchodonosor to ruin the Israelits, & therefore leremie calls him his servants, although he were most cruel. of the Israelites, made them all be circumcised and change their names, George was called Scanderbag, that is to say Alexander Lord: and as Alexander he began betimes to make such proofs of his valour f Scanderbag was instructed in all the exercises of war before the force of his body could show what his courage was. He also learned the Turkish, Sclamonian, Arabian, Greek & Italian tongues. as every man thought that his military toils, would make him worthy of that name, that he would end more Battles in effect then the Princes of his time had seen painted, g When Cicero spoke of Pompey, he said that he had brought more battles to a happy end, than others had read in Histories, & conquered more Provinces than any one before him had conceived in his wishes, that he had triumphed almost as many times, as he had followed the war years. that he would win more victories than others had encountered dangers. He was Sangiac, the first dignity next unto a Bassa, than was he sent into divers expeditions, and known to be the sole author of all the good success which happened in Greece, Asia, and Hungary, there being nothing in the Art of war, but in the end came to his knowledge. But this great valour had almost undone him. Amurath apprehended it to have such a Prince near him; and the enemies of his courage, but more of his hopes, said that he nourished a domestic enemy, to weaken his intentions, and disappoint his intelligences. He put his Brethren to death, being resolved to make him run the like fortune, if he had not made it known by his carriage that he had no other thought nor passion but that of his service, and that his Father h After the death of john father to Scanderbag, Amurath seized upon the Realm of Epirus, and put a garrison into Croy. Scanderbag dissembled the grief of his father's death, the taking of his estate & the murder of his Brethren & so from that time he resolved to pull that Crown from Amurath. and his Brethren did revive in the affection which he bore unto him. Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death. And when as Amurath, to sound him, had offered him the crown of Albania, he said, that he preferred the honour of his service, before all the Sceptres and Empires of the world, and that he felt his hand fit for a sword, than his head for a Crown. This answer pleased Amurath, He grows fearful of his valour. but it freed him not from all his fears which the greatness of his spirit imprinted in his soul, as often as he returned from any exploits of war, which were more admirable than imitable. Wherefore having resolved to make war against George Lord of Misia i Misia is commonly called by the Turk Segoria, and comprehends Servia, Bosnia, Russia, and the Prince is called Despote of Servia. he made him General of his Army, as well for that he had not any one more capable, as also to be rid of him, thinking that being forward and fiery by nature, he would thrust himself into dangers, from which he should not free himself, for his brave and generous Captain, like an other Cato k Cato as Tit. Liu. saith would be every where and execute every thing in person, sparing himself no more than the least of his soldiers, having no other advantage over them but the honour of his commandments. would see all himself, and had no other advantage in military labours, then to have the honour to command them, and to be the first to execute them. But as often as he went, so often did Andrinopolis see him return laden with honour and victories. A remarkable work of God's providence, to preserve this brave courage for his service. At length Scanderbag, Scanderbag leaves the Turk. who had always the heart of a Christian and an Albanois, being weary to live in the continual disquietting of so many distrusts and conspiracies to kill him, resolves to quit Amurath, m Scanderbegs retreat was in the year 1444. he conferred with Huniades of his enterprise that under a colour of making war against him he might retire on his side. whereupon he joined with Huniades Prince of Transiluania, He joins with john Huniades. and with him defeats the Bassa of Romania, who had fourscore thousand men: he caused his Secretary to be taken, and setting a dagger to his throat, forced him to write letters to the Governor of Croy, carrying a commandment in Amurath's name to consign the place unto him. The Governor of Croy obeyed and received Scanderbag, Entry of Scanderbag into Croy. all the Infidels were put to the sword, and the Christians preserved, and such as would become Christians. He besieged the other places of Albania, and in few days with much pain and no money, he recovered his forefather's estate, and made the black Eagle n The house of Scanderbag carried an Eagle sables in a field gules. When as the people of Albania, saw them in his Exsignes, & Standards, they presently renewed the ancient affection they bore unto their Princes. with two heads to be seen in all places. Hitherto he had fought for himself, now he fights for Christendom. Ladislaus King of Hungary and Poland entreats him to assist him against Amurath, he was hindered by Huniades o john Despote of Transiluania, otherwise called Huniades, being discontented with the King of Hungary, for that certain places in Seruiae which had been granted him in reward of his virtue were detained from him, refused passage to Scanderbag to join with the Christian Army. Despote of Transiluania, neither did the cause of the war seem just, for it broke a peace solemnly sworn with Amurath. Battle of Varna. It was decided in the valley of Varna on the limits of Misia, or Segoria, upon the Euxin Sea within four days journey of Andrynopolis, to the dishonour of the Christians, who were put to flight, but the triumph cost Amurath so many men as his joy was turned to repentance. If he made some triumph, Scanderbag reaped the profit, for seeing that he had retired his forces, he went to field, p These say that Amurath having escaped this danger grew more sad than he had been accustomed and being blamed by his followers he answered, I would not win after this manner. Amurath caused a pillar to be set whereas the Battle was given, with an inscription of the victory, and at this day the heaps of dead men's bones are to be seen, which show that the slaughter had been wonderful. and made such sharp wars as the Turk wrote unto him, rather to stay his exploits, then to threaten him with revenge, and yet his Letters were full of reproaches and pride, Letters from Amurath to Scanderbag. the ordinary Passion of an incensed spirit. He swears that if he will return unto him he will forget all his offences past, for that he is more mindful of the services he hath done him, then of his ingratitude: he offers to leave him the Town of Croy, and the Lands which his Father held, upon condition that he should yield up all the other Towns of Albania and Misia. These letters were received with that contempt they deserved. q The letters begin after this manner, Amurath and Ottoman Sovereign of the Turks and Emperor of the East, sends no salutations to Scanderbag his ingrateful nurschild. He saith that he knows not what words to use to him for that he doth not merit any good for his ingratitude, and a rough & sharp speech would make his arrogant nature more insolent. Scanderbag thinking that Amurath's fear who grew old, and broken, had made him to write them, having a desire to leave his Empire in some safety, Scanderbegs answer. yet he made him an answer, and after that he had told him that he should remember the good which he had received from him, if the numbering did not renew the remembrance of a greater number of ills he concluded with these words. Such fortune as it shall please God to give us we will bear: In the mean time we ask no council of the enemy of that we intent to do, neither do we sue for peace of you, but hope with the help of God r A Christian Prince should not refer any thing to fortune, but to the providence of God, who is the only cause of all causes & guides all things after his will, the movable by their motions, the immovable by their firmness the voluntary by their liberty, and the reasonable by their will. to have victory over you. Within a while after he was victorious, overthrew great armies which Amurath sent into Epirus, the first led by the Bassa Ferise, and the other two by Mustapha. He won the Battle of Drinon against the Venetians, Battle of Drinon in Dalmatia and used this victory so well, as the Venetians to make him raise the siege from before Deign, s Deign is a little Town planted upon a high hill, as in a manner all those of Epirus be, yet the soil of it is fat and the air good and wholesome, they have store of Venison and bees, and all kinds of trees and fruits. which was in their protection, yielded that he should have a part of the Country of Scutarii which was very commodious for him. Amurath besieged Sfetigarde where as Scanderberg flew in single Combat, Siege of Sfetigarde. Ferise Bassa General of the Army, yet it was taken and presently besieged again by Scanderbag, but he was forced to raise the siege, t This dislodging was very dishonourable for Amurath, and very glorious for Scanderbag, who was honoured much for it by christian Princes, namely by Pope Nicholas the fift, and Ladislaus King of Hungary. being advertised that Amurath came into Epirus with Mahomet his son to besiege Croy. After that his Artillery was cast, the Town battered, many assaults given & maintained, and the ruins of the Assailants blown up and laid open, Amurath, tired with the tediousness of the siege, offers to retire and to leave Albania unto Scanderbag, with the title of a Realm, so as he would do him homage and pay tibute, Scanderbag, who held himself nothing inferior to the Emperor, as long as he was more powerful u Cato reduced to that extremity in Utica as his friends advised him to make an Accord with Caesar. It is for them, said he, to sue that are vanquished, as for me, I will hold myself invincible, as long as I am stronger in right then Caesar. than he in the justice of his arms, found these offers so contrary to the honour of his religion, as he rejected them courageously, saying that he would never endure that the name of an Albanois should be defamed with such a blemish, no not if Amurath would give him half his Empire. Death of Amurath before Croy. This answer with the little likelihood there was to vanquish the obstinacy of the besieged, did so afflict Amurath as he died, complaining of his hard fortune x Among the precepts, which be left to Mahomet his son, he did often reiterate these words with abundance of tears. That he should never contemn an enemy not knowing any thing in all his life whereof he did repent him, and should repent in the other world, but that he had contemned Scandebeg. that after he had given subject to all the world to speak of his triumphs against the Grecians and Hungarians, he saw himself now forced to yield up his soul before the walls, half ruined, of a petty Castle, y Croy the chief Town of Albania is situated upon the top of a mountain in a manner unaccessible of every side. in the view of an enemy which had been his slave. The memory of Amurath passed away with his tears. Mahomet succeeded him, and whilst he studies something worthy the beginning of his Empire, Scanderbag labours to fortify Croy y Croy the chief Town of Albania is situated upon the top of a mountain in a manner unaccessible of every side. and to repair her ruins, but Mahomet gave him no long liberty to do it, for he presently sent Acmat his Bassa to visit him with an Army of 12000 horse. If the number had been greater it had not served but to increase the number of the dead or prisoners, for Scanderbag having taken the General prisoner, z They say that Scanderbag had it in particular in all his encounters and military actions, always to begin his first stratagems of victory with the death of the head, saying, That the head should be first cut off, and the rest of the body will fall alone, and that he knew no kind of living creature, that could survive the head being taken off. a maxim which he held for the first of military stratagems, Mahomet's Army in Hungary the defeat of the rest was not difficult. He attempted the siege of Sfetigarde, and after that of Belgrade, the one and other expedition brought him no profit but repentance, and notwithstanding that he had the worst, yet he sold Mahomet his victory so dear as he was forced to say that his Army had nothing but the name of triumph. Constantinople taken He turned his forces towards Constantinople where he made the victory horrible, by all kinds of Brutish and barbarous inhumanities', which caused the most stayed and modest spirits to be amazed a If the Infidels prosper, if they raise themselves upon the ruins of Christians, yet may we not murmur against the eternal providence, Stay human rashness, it is not lawful to pierce into the secrets of God's judgements, nor to define when, how, nor how long it is fit the wicked should flourish. at so visible a testimony of the favour of heaven against those whom the eternal justice had chosen to repair the ruins. The long patience of the Almighty, and his sufferance of the wicked hath forced many to murmur against his providence, that he doth not cast those rods into the fire wherewith he hath scourged his children. b The stay of the wickeds punishment doth wrong unto Gods justice. Deus sua sibi patientia detrahit plures enim Dominum idcirco non credunt quia seeulo iratum tam diu nesciunt. Tertul. de pacientiae. The Conquest of Constantinople made him resolve to ruin Epirus, but Mahomet sped so ill, War renewed in Albania. & was so often beaten, as he sought a peace or truce of Scanderbag, during the which, past the troubles of Naples betwixt the French and the Arragonois. The Venetians wronged by this Accord, press them to break with Mahomet, the war is renewed, they fight to maintain the Christian liberty, c All war saith Polybius lib. 11. is made either to preserve liberty, or for fear of falling into servitude. and to avoid the Turkish servitude. Mahomet sent Baillaban, to whom he promised the Crown of Epirus, d A pitiful atteration of things, to see a Prince who had lately come into Europe with a mighty army, and had refused a short truce unto the Emperor of the Turks to be now forced in his old years to abandon his Country, and to go far to see●e for succours, being always accompanied by Langey Archbishop of Durras. so as he could make away Scanderbag. He made four voyages and was as often beaten, the number giving place to valour. Scanderbag demands succours of the Pope. But in the end Scanderbag seeing that Croy could not hold any longer against so mighty an enemy, and that Albania was all covered with troops of Infidels, he went away in a disguised habit to demand succours of the Pope. Paul the second had no great pity to see these sad and mournful relics of so many Princes, and of so many heads of Macedon and of all Greece, nor of the common necessity, and eminent peril of Christendom. The Venetians apprehended it more sensibly, and gave some succours to Scanderberg, with the which and that which he drew from his Allies of Epyrus, Macedon, Sclavonia, and Dalmatia, which might make about 13000. and four hundred good men, he returned into Albania and freed Croy, before which Baillaban was slain. Mahomet sent Allibey and Arabey thither with 20000. Turks, he had profited little there if death e Scanderbag being ready to take from the Turks the town of Valmes lately built by Mahomet, and being come to Lissa,, he fell into a violent fever. jealous of Scanderbegs glory had not surprised him by a sickness not daining to assail him in arms. In this indisposition he assembled his Captains and recommended his son unto them, Sickness & death of Scanderbag. whom he would have conducted into Povillia until he came to age, leaving him under the Venetians, government: And for his last words he said unto him. That if he were good he gave him a Realm most firm and stable, if otherwise very weak and feeble. yielding up his last groans the 17. of january, 1467. he gave an amazement to his enemies. This Prince with small forces defeated great Armies, who beside the good qualities of the mind, for judgement, Conduct, and Council, f The Turks came running about Croy, some horsemen went out of the town by Scanderbegs commandment the enemy thinking he had been there in person grew amazed and fled through the mountains although they were 15000. horse and left the booty they had taken from the Scutariens. had an admirable strength, of body, comparable only to that of the ancient Champions, Force and dexterity o● Scanderbag. Biton, g Biton carried a great Bull upon his shoulders. Pau●anias. Fusius Saluius went lustily up a ladder with 200. pounds' weight in his hands, 200. at his feet, and as much upon his shoulders. Pliny. Servilius did sight 23. times body to body, and was always Victor. Plut. Fusius Saluius, Servilius. Talking with jeams Picenin General of the Duke of Calabria's Army, he did lift him above his head, like a child of six years old. He had a Cimiterre with the which he had done miraculous deeds as cutting of the head of a Boar at a blow, and of a wild Bul, which was famous for the ruins it had done in the Country, having hurt and slain many that assailed it. This dexterity, force, and agility of body continued all his life, and exercise h Exercise doth continue the dexterity and disposition of the body long, Philopemen of whom Plutarch speaks, was nimble in his age by great exercise. made it in the beginning of his age in a manner equal to that it had been in the prime of his youth. After the siege of Croy they presented unto him in chains, jovyma and Hedert the Brother and Nephew of Baillaban, this representing unto him the cruelties which they had committed upon his subjects, put him into such choler, as having not the patience to attend any other hand, he cut them both asunder by the waist at one blow. He punished them with the like pain that their Prince did punish Christians. i Mahomet made one man die as it were of two deaths, he made them to be cut off by the waist at a blow, of ten times it happened that he died of two deaths, for Chalcondile saith, you might see either part live long after the blow. During the Truce he had with Mahomet, he sent him this Cymeterre for that he desired to see it, having heard say that with it he cut any arms asunder. The strongest arms of his Country would try if it were true, and finding not the virtue which was ascribed unto it, he sent it back again disdainfully, thanking him for a thing which he held to have been better. Scanderbag answered. The virtue of my sword depends of mine own arm, which I cannot send him, for that I reserve it against mine enemies. It was an increase of glory and reputation to the common weal of Venice to see Kings and Realms under their charge. But at that time they did an act of providence k Providence is one of the most apparent effect, of wisdom. Prudent's postumus dicere providentes. which shows that wisdom hath long held the helm of that Estate. They did adopt for daughter of the commonweal the heir of Marc Cornare, and married her to the King of Cypress, after whose death and of the afterbirth his son, she was acknowledged for Queen, and made present of her Crown unto the Venetians, her fathers by adoption. From this action followed two divers effects, the one of great joy to the Venetians, the other of extreme affliction to Charlotte of Savoy the French Queen, who by this act saw her Brother as it were exiled from Cypress, and separated from the Queen his wife. The History is long and tragical, but thus in brief. By the like accidents that other realms have been made desolate, the Crown of Cypress fell from the house of Lusignan, l james of Lusignam King of Cypress put Peter his brother to death, and being told him that the Genovois were entered into his Palace with arms, & had some design upon his person he put many innocent Merchants to death a cruelty which made the Signory of Genova to arm against him. Bolius writes the History at large. in the which it had long remained. A Fratricide was the cause, for james of Lusignan having put his brother to death to reign alone, added other violences to this cruelty, which made him odious to the people, and forced the Genovois to arm against him, Cruelty makes the Princes of Lusignan odious. to revenge an injury done unto certain Merchants of their Commonweal. He was dispossessed of the Crown, his brother's Children restored to the Realm, and he himself carried prisoner to Genova, where he had one son who was King of Cypress, m King james of Lusignan had one son named john or james who was K. of Cypress, and Anne married to Lewis Duke of Savoy, son to Amidee, john had one daughter named Charlotte, who was first married to john King of Portugal, and after his death to Lewis of Savoy. and this son one daughter, whom he left sole heir to the Crown. She was married to Lewis of Savoy, son to Lewis Duke of Savoy, and to Anne of Cypress Sister to King john. Lewis embarked at Venice to pass into Cypress, to take possession of his wife and Realm. james base son to King john, Bishop of Nicosia, passed into Egypt to have succours from the Sultan of Egypt who made him to be proclaimed King of Cypress, Letters of the soldan to the King of Cypress. prepared a great Fleet at Sea to go into Cypress, and wrote in these terms to King Lewis. Thou art come out of the Western parts, to possess another man's Realm in the East, and to spoil the heir of his just inheritance, wh●ch is in thee a foolish enterprise. The Island of Cypress is tributary unto me, and it belongs to me to dispose, assure thyself if thou dost not dislodge presently thou shalt die by the sword of Egypt. If thou hast a desire to carry away thy wife, I am content, upon condition that thou dost not attend a second Summons. This barbarous letter deserved no other answer but by the sword, n Persuasions are unprofitable when as justice is inferior to force. but justice being forced to yield unto tyranny, King Lewis by the means of the great master of Rhodes, let him understand that by the Christian laws the Realm did be long unto the lawful daughter, that the Bastard was excluded, and that they pretended not to change any thing of the rights which he had over the Crown of Cypress as Protector. o After that the Christians affairs were ruined in Soria and the East, the Kings of Cypress of the house of Lusignan put themselves under the protection of the Soldiers of Egypt. This reason had pacified him, being resolved to quit the Protection of the Bastard. But Mahomet sent him word, that it was a thing worthy of his greatness, and profitable to their common religion to restore this Prince to his Estates, exhorting him to remember the injuries which they of that Nation, and those of Lewis his house had done unto the Mahometans, protesting that if he had a desire to have peace with Christians, he should be sure to have war with him. The assistance which the soldan of Egypt gave unto the Bastard, was the cause that he was presently acknowledged by them who could not oppose against his power. He commanded over their bodies more than their hearts, which being full of fear, were also so of wishes and desires of his death who made them fear. p Fear is a bad guard for them that command. For they that fear study still how they may be rid of him that keeps them in fear, Quem metuunt oderunt, quem quisque odiit periisque expedit Lewis was forced to quit the field, and to retire himself into the Castle of Cerines, where he was besieged by the Bastard, who seeing it impossible to take this place, and that all the Princes of Christendom were offended at this usurpation, he sent his Ambassadors ●ope Pius the second to yield him obedience, and to beseech him to hold him in the rank of Catholic Kings. The Pope would not see them, but sent them away with bitter words. Hereupon Lewis saw himself forced to retire to the Duke his Father, King and Queen of Cypress driven out of their own Realm. and the Queen Charlotte to Rome to seek succours, but the divisions of Italy hindered that which they desired, and stayed her there during the time of Pius the second; of Paul the second, and of Sixtus the fourth, and Lewis remained at Ripaille. Pope Pius the second q It was thought that Lewis D. of Saucy had some secret spleen against Pope Pius the second, for that he had been Secretary to his father when he was but in base condition, and had abandoned him to follow Eugenius his enemy. said, that he had been chased out of Cypress, for that his father had failed of his promise at the assembly at Mantova for the holy war, and that the same Lewis his Son being then near unto Mantova, and having not vouchsafed to see him, and demand his blessing; he had said by prediction unto the Ambassadors of Savoy, that it would happen his Son would lose the Realm of Cypress, for a punishment of that the father did, and that one day he would demand those succours in vain from others, which his father had denied unto the Church. The Bastard seeing himself in quiet possession of the Crown of Cypress, remembered that Marc Cornaro, a Gentleman of Venice, had assisted him in his necessity, with ships, r Good deeds never die in great courages, others forget the good & remember the ill. Quid autem est eo miserius, cui beneficia excidunt, herent iniuriae. Sen. money, and Council, Catherine Carnaro, adopted by the Venetians. and had given him means to go unto the soldan of Egypt, he resolved to marry his Daughter named Catherine, whom the Senate of Venice after the death of Marc Cornaro her Father, had adopted as their Daughter. The marriage was treated with the consent of the Siegneurie, who gave her a great dowry: this marriage was made in the year 1466. james King of Cypress fell sick of a bloody Flix,, and seeing that his cure was desperate, he had not the trouble which great Princes as well as private men have when they die, to know to whom he should recommend his realm, having the Senate of Venice wholly at his devotion, but it troubled him what his successor should be, which was yet in the mother's womb. s Princes have no less need then mean persons of strong consolations, to help them to departed the world, & to leave their affairs in some safety. Mocenigo assured him that neither the Venetians forces nor his private service should never fail him. After his death Charlotte demanded succours of the Venetians, the Duke answered that the Siegneurie was bound to defend her who was her adopted Daughter, and that King james had instituted her heir with the fruit in her womb: That moreover he wondered that she understood not that rights of Realms were debated rather by Arms then by Laws, t In former times when they have demanded of conquerors of Provinces, the titles of their Conquests, some have showed them their Canons, and others their swords. and that the Realm of Cypress had not been solely to her, but also to the Genevois, who at that time held a great part. The widow of King james was presently troubled with new Combustions within the Realm. A Bishop of the house of the Gotholans, Tumults in Cypress. who had great authority and credit in the Island, being Ambassador to Ferdinand King of Naples; when as King james died, propounded to marry the Bastard of the deceased King of Cypress. Many were of his party, but the wiser sort were contented to pass these rocks with open eyes and deafeeares. u There are some things which are good to be seen, but dangerous to be hearkened unto. They saw the ruins whereinto they did run, and did not give ear to the promises & enchantments that were made them. The design of marriage took effect, x The Cipriòts seized upon the King's Palace, and made his base daughter, being but six years old, sure to King Ferdinand's base son; and gave him the title of Prince of Galilee. but that of the royalty was prevented by the Venetians, who sent Mocenigo thither. The courage of the conspirators quailed, their judgement failed them at his arrival, their last refuge was flight. The sovereign Authority remained peaceably in the Queen, who in acknowledgement of the succours she had received from Venice, Presents of the Queen of Cypress to Mocenigo. presented Mocenigo with a Target richly wrought, and a standard of the same. She was brought in bed of a Son who died at the end of the year. By this death she remained Queen alone under the Protection and defence of the Siegneurie of Venice. Ferdinand King of Naples seeing that his first design did not succeed for the marriage of the Bastard, he sought the Queen widow for his Son, employing in this Treaty Riccius Marineus a Neapolitaine, Ferdinand K. of Naples seek the alliance of the Queen of Cypress. a very dear friend to the deceased King, and Tristan Cybellet a Cypriot who had a Sister attending on the Queen. The General of the Venetians Army being advertised of their practices, and what they intended, caused them to be stayed, and sent them presently to Venice. y Tristan fearing some more shameful death poisoned himself with a Diamond which he swallowed drinking salt water after it. George Cornaro, Brother to the Queen was sent into Cypresi, to assist his Sister and to dispose her to free herself from troubles and the Realm from danger, in retiring herself to Venice, and leaving the Crown to the Government of the Siegneurie. She who had been bred up after a royal manner; Queen of Cypress exhorted by her brother to go to Venice. and who knew the great difference that was betwixt a Venetians life and that of a Sovereign Princess found this proposition very strange, and the Venetians ambition unjust to desire to have Kings and Realms under their protection z The highest degree of greatness and glory whereunto a popular or an Aristrocraticall Estate may come unto, is to have Kings under their Dominátion. The Romans did not dispossess Kings of the Realms they had conquered, & Tacitus gives the reason, v thaberent instrumenta servitutis & Reges. . But when her Brother let her understand that if the Siegneurie of Venice did abandon her protection, as it might do if she did not follow her Counsels, she was in danger to become a prey unto the Turk, and to serve as a triumph and spectacle to the people of Constantinople: That she should not rely upon Christian Princes, who would all love the Island and the Realm rather than herself, and she should believe that they, courting her Crown rather than her fair eyes, she were to blame if she did not prefer a quiet life and safe abode before an uncertain Royalty, an assured rest before honour, which was but wind, and a title which was but a vapour. To persuade her, the History saith, that to the reasons of fear and danger, he added those of vanity, adorned with stuffs of immortal glory. What greater honour, these are the words of G. Cornaro, and what a nobler commendation can you leave of yourself hereafter. then to have given so goodly a realm unto your a That spirit is weak which thinks there are any reasons forcible enough to persuade it to quit acrown. country? and that they writ in the History of Venice, that Catherine Cornaro hath honoured and augmented the Venetians Estate with the Realm of Cypress. Then he represented unto her the danger and infallible disgrace of her house, b Counsels how pure soever they be do still savour of the passions & private interest of them that give them. if she did not grant it unto the commonweal, for that every one would think she had been diverted by her Brother in whom she had great confidence. These words entered into the Queen's heart and framed a resolution to go to Venice and to make a present of her Crown unto the Siegneurie. Resolution of the Q. of Cypress. The Standard of St Marc was set up in the Market of Famagosto, and the Realm of Cypress became a Province to Venice. c Catherine Cornaro Q of Cypress received honourably into Venice by the Duke Augustin Barbarico. She entered into the Bucentaure, a honour which never had been done to any Venetian woman. The Queen made her entry into Venice in the Bucentaure, Entry of the Queen of Cypress into Venice. being honoured by the Senators and the great Dames of the City. The Council of ten presented unto her ten pounds' weight of gold, and appointed fifty for her entertainment in the Castle of Azolle upon the hills of Trevisan. Thus the Commonweal of Venice purchased a rich Crown without any pain, employing nothing but her wisdom, with the which she hath always preferred easy conquests, before the most glorious, if they were without hazard. It is a curious observation that the Estates do commonly retain the humour of their first founders. The City of Rome hath been always possessed with an ambitious desire to reign, for that her founder was full of it, who not content to have recovered the Realm of Numitor his Grandfather, cast his eyes presently upon Alba, and upon the small Estates which hindered the extension of this first command. d The Estate of Rome increased suddenly as Polybius observes. The Romans having once gotten the command of all Italy, in a short time they made all the world subject. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Polib. Lib. 7. So as the first profession was Arms, which hath not been discontinued by posterity being desirous of glory and command. It seemed that all other virtue except military had been defended. Contrariwise the founders of the Commonweal of Venice were men which had no such ambitious thoughts, but loved peace and quiet, who being afflicted with the long calamities of Italy and the inundation of the barbarians, had cast themselves into these Fens of the Adriatic sea, & seized upon many small islands which were called Venetie, they lived there a time, contenting them with an assured rest in a place which nature made inexpugnable, e The situation of Venice is by nature inexpugnable, she is guarded without walls or garrison, and hath alone for so many ages remained unviolated. & which hath always braved the attempts of the mightiest Princes of the world. This first inclination not to arm but for their own defence, hath made them contemn Arms, and hath made them more careful to maintain themselves in peace, then to enlarge their Empire. Who so will consider of their first enterprises shall find them limited with a desire only to maintain and defend themselves. f The Art of war saith Cardinal Contarin, hath been banished out of the Commonweal of Venice, but it hath been done insensibly within these two hundred years, for before they have been very war like especially against the Genovois. By this contempt of the Art of war, they are constrained to employ foreign forces, & they choose not a Captain among them. The which they do, lest that private men having forces under their command, should attempt something against the state. Their first wars against the French were only for the defence of their liberty, when as Pepin K. of France past the mountains to subdue the Lombard's, & when as the Huns came like a violent flood upon Italy, only the commonweal of Venice opposed itself like a rampar against these furious inundations, and it is no wonder if being forced to resist such furious attempts she had no means to think of other Conquests. jealousy for the command of the Sea, held it long in quarrel with the Genovois. And as in her first beginning she had no care but to fortify herself at Sea against the injuries of the firm land, so all her Conquests have been by Sea. An error and negligence which some that have come after have better considered g Francis Foscarin Duke of Venice, was wont to say Che non potea la Republica crescere molto di potenze, se non havesse nell imprese di Terra impiegate le sue forze: lafoy quale cosa perch non have a prima fats, pero era stata molto ritardata, et impedita quella grandezza, alla quale, se tale consiglio havesse preso piu per tempo, po teva caminare felicement. & have thought that this Commonweal had begun too late to enlarge itself upon the main land, & to make profit of her neighbour's ruins. The two principal intentions which she hath had for the greatness of her estate, to maintain herself free, and to become rich, have succeeded, for the one she hath always maintained herself strong at Sea, there being no other means to annoy her, and she hath continued her traffic, without the which she could not continue, & this goodly flower of liberty had been withered by the idleness of her subjects. The industry of merchandise should be no less honourable unto them then tillages to the old Senators of Rome, & both the one and the other in their labours and traffic have produced famous examples of public virtues. We must give unto Venice the glory of the best government of all the Estates of the world, the form and order of her politic gonernment is in all parts so well disposed, and observed, as this Common weal (amidst so many divers accidents of good fortune and bad) was never troubled with any discord or domestic division, which have afflicted Aristocratical Estates, and driven governors of Commonweals into such fears and distrusts, as the Palace where they have assembled to resolve of public affairs, hath been often dishonoured with the loss of their lives, or liberties. h After that they of Miletum had expelled their tyrants, they settled an Aristocratical Estate but the people did still muti●e against this kind of Government, and the great men did still live in such fear as they could not hold a Council in safety but in ships. The Lords of Samos were murdered by the people when they were in counsel. Inevitable storms in estates, which depend not of the power of one alone, whereas the lesser are always kept under by the greater, and the poor cannot long endure the felicity of the rich, who so will keep the poor people in such obedience must after the example of Rome allow them a share in the estate. i The government of Rome was divided betwixt the Consuls, Senate and people, with such a conformity of their duties and common Offices, as never common weal was better instituted. The power of the one was bridled and restrained by that of the other. Nulla efferre se pars supra caeteras valet, nequie impotenter superbire, omnia quip in 〈◊〉 statu manent, cum aliorum cehibiatur impetus, aliine in se quoque insurgatur perpevo metuunt. The Venetians have made them subject by means very pleasing unto them, they have in a manner the best part of the liberty, and their pleasures are not limited but by excess, they do their affairs quietly, and the Senate hath all the care to maintain them in liberty and rest. The greatest disdain not them that are meaner, they contract alliances together, and do not restrain them from certain public charges. There is a great temper betwixt Aristocratia and Democratia: For the Government retaining little of the one and much of the other, is freed from disorders and corruptions which have always troubled civil tranquillity. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF of the fifth BOOK. 1 THE King considers of the Prejudice which he receives by the observation of the Treaty of Peronne. 2 Assembly of the Estates of the Realm at Tours, by whose advice the Duchy of Guienne is given to the Duke of Normandy. The Duke of Bourgundy adjourned to the Parliament at Paris. 3 The Court of Parliament complains of the revocation of the Pragmatic Sanction. 4 Institution of the Order of S. Michael, the first Princes and Noblemen were honoured, and the Knight's bonds. 5 War resolved by the Estates, and begun against the Duke of Bourgundy. 6 A strange change in England. The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward, and the Earl of Warwick take Arms against the King. 7 Margaret wife to Henry the sixth, the Duke of Clarence, and the Earl of Warwick come into France for succours. 8 Henry the sixth at liberty, and Edward expelled the Realm. 9 Exploits in Picardy, and war proclaimed against the Duke of Bourgundie. 10 The Constable persuades him to give his Daughter to the Duke of Guienne. 11 Army of the Duke of Bourgundy before Amiens. 12 A marriage sought betwixt the heir of Castille and the Duke of Guienne. 13 Birth of Charles Dauphin of France. 14 Practices of the Constable to break the promises of marriage made in Castille. 15 Death of Pope Paul the second. 16 New designs to draw the Duke of Bourgundy into the Towns of Picardy. 17 Promise made by the King to restore Amiens, and S. Quentin. 18 Death of the Duke of Guienne, changeth the affairs. 19 Observation of the Duke of Guiennes life, and the severity of the King his Brother. Strange death of giles Son to john the sixth Duke of Britain. 20 Troubles in Navarre, the King sends forces thither. 21 Letters written by the King to the Earl of Lude. Siege of Parpignan: Peace betwixt the King, and the King of Arragon. 22 john Earl of Armagnac expelled his Country, and the pitiful discourse of his fortune and death. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE FIFTH BOOK. THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner advertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to give him the countries of champaign and Brie for his portion but he presently besought him to give him leave to go thither, and not to suffer him to languish any longer, for the enjoying of his rest and quiet, the chief part whereof consisted in not being troubled to seek it. a It is a part of rest not to be in pain to seek it. The King who had promised nothing freely, thought to discharge himself of his promises at a better rate. He won the Sigr. of Lescun, b He that will win a Prince's heart, let him first win the chief ministers which possess him, who are as it were the eyes by the which he seees, and the ears by the which he hears and undrstands. who was his Brother's whole Council, The King wins his Brother by the practice of Odet of Rye. to persuade him to be conformable to his intentions, and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired, but with what should be offered him. Yet this practice was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was advertised by the Cardinal Bal●e, a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion, who wrote unto him that the King treated with his Brother, that they made no mention of him, and that he should look to his business. This letter being surprised, lodged him in a Cage of Iron c Cardinal Balue was committed to prison in April, 1468. The Commission to examine him was given to Tanequy of Chastel, governor of Roussillon: William Cousinot, the master of Torsy, and Peter of Oriolo General of the finances. for a prison from the which he was not freed but by the Pope's intercession, and towards the end of this reign. These Cages were of his invention, d Wicked and bad inventions, fall upon the inventors, the forger is fettered is fettered in his own 〈◊〉, Arantius Paterculus is roasted in his brazen horse. part wood, part iron, and covered with plates of Iron, so Perillus was roasted in the bull which he had invented. The King being returned into France, whereas they talked of his indiscretion and great credulity in trusting his enemy, set a good countenance of it, and made show that what had been done at Peronne had been as beneficial unto him as if it had been resolved, in Paris, e To make show to do that willingly which was extorted by force is an act of wisdom, not to lose the credit and opinion which is bad of him, to be advised a●d always equal. but to put other fancies into the heads of the Parisiens' and other discourses into their mouths, he caused a proclamation to be made by the trumpet, that all birds which are kept in Cages, as Pies, jays and such like, should be brought unto him to Amboise. They that had the Charge of this commission, should inform themselves what every Bird could say, and where it had been taken and taught. f It is good to divert brews & the people's discourses, but oftentimes if they be not allowed to speak that which is true, they invent fables which are more prejudicial. Fractis apud Cremonam rebus prohibuit per civitatem sermons, eoque plutes ac si liceret vera narraturi quia vetabantur, atrociora vulgauera●●. Tac●t. Hist. l. 3. An act of judgement which did prevent many inconfiderate speeches, A ridiculous Edict 19 Novemb. which would have been used against this Prince, for that he had thrust himself so rashly into his enemy's power, and brought himself to that estate, as he was like unto the Elephant who pays his ransom with the ivory of his teeth. To repair this error and to prevent his Brother, and the Duke of Bourgundy of their pretensions, he labours to break the Treaty, but he will do all with solemnity, and if he must cast forth the Thunderbolts of war, it shall not be done without the Council of the Gods, h A Prince should not alone▪ reslove to make war. jupiter did not cast forth his lightning without the Council of twelve Gods. The Kings of France did not undertake any war but with the advice of the twelve Peers. imitating the wisdom of his Predecessors, who did not undertake any war without the advice of a Parliament. So Pepin past the Alps to secure the Pope, so he armed against the Saxons, so he expelled Gaifre out of Aquitaine, so Charlemagne went against the King of the Lombard's, and the Duke of Bavaria having first acquainted the Parliament with these designs. 1468 Convocation of the Estates at Tours. To this end he assembled the Estates of the Realm at Tours, i The Estates assemble for one of these three reasons, for the regency of the Realm, in the King's minority, for the reformation of the realm, and to provide means to secure the necessities of the Crown. It is a body of three Orders & hath been always observed among the Gauls. the pretext was to prevent the ruins of the Realm, but the essential cause was to resolve two things, a portion for Monsieur, and the restitution of the Towns upon the river of Some, both depending upon this Law which is one of the pillars of the Estate. That the Lands of the Crown are inalienable, and portions are not given but with condition to return again for want of heirs masle. k A Monarchy suffers no division, nor estimation, for the yongers portions of the house of France are not divided, but for want of Masles return to the Crown. The tongue hath done great services to this Prince in divers actions, Eloquence natural to K. Lewis the eleventh. in this (yet without any Art or affection) l It is necessary for the Prince to speak well but without affectation, his eloquence should more appear in the facility of his own nature, then in any curious Art, for there are more parts required to make a man eloquent, then to make a Cuptaine; to know and discourse of particular things we must understand the general. he strikes fire to inflame the coldest spirits, to what he will, and speaks to all the Deputies, and lets every man know the importance of the Duchy of Normandy, and the prejudice which other Provinces received when it was in the power of the English, with the incredible to isle which King Charles his Father had past to wrest it out of their hands. That although he did not hold his brother to be of so bad a disposition as to have intelligence with them, Importance of the Duchy of Normandy. yet he knew well that they of his intelligence bade great practices in England, that he might have children which should not be of his humour, being most certain that the Princes of the same blood extend their thoughts farther than they should, m Ambition never takes root but in hearts that are vigorous, hardy and desirous of innovations. When as it encounters with any pre-eminence of blood, or favour of the people, it is 〈◊〉 to retain it. or may go, aspire to great matters, and are not content with their condition. That for these reasons he could not leave the Duchy of Normandy. That his promises in that regard should be sound understood, and that affairs of State were not managed with such scrupulous considerations. That he offered notwithstanding to give him such a portion as the Estates should advise, making them judges and Arbitrators therein, but above all he commanded that the laws of the Realm should not be infringed. n The Realm of France is seated upon a triangular basis, the Salic 〈◊〉, the holding of the Estates, and the revenues inalienable. Having thus prepared their minds, he opens the Estates, & came thither with greater Majesty than he did ever show in any action during his reign. A Prince cannot add too much in such great occasions, for besides that this light doth please, it dazzles and transports men's minds, he must always hold himself in admiration, it is a toil which is never set but some one is taken. His throne was upon a stage three foot high, & railed in, containing all the breadth of the upper end of the hall, his chair was of blue velvet powdered with flowers-de-luce under a cloth of estate of the same, and upon three steps. He was attired in a long rob of white Damask embroidered thick with fine gold of Cypress, with buttons of gold, & furred with fables, a little black hat of his head, with a feather of gold. On either side of him were the Cardinal of St Susanne, Bishop of Angers, and Rene Duke of Anjou and King of Sicily. o At the foot of the King's scaffold were set. The Vicont of Narbonne, George of Pem 〈◊〉 the Lords of Tancaruille, Chasttillon, Buell, Longueville, Lavall, Aigle, C●aon, Cru●●ol, & la Forest The Prince of Piedmont a young Infant was upon one of the steps, Princes which wer● about the King. and of either side stood the Earl of Foix, Prince of Navarre and the King's brother in law, with the Earls of Nevers and Eu, The Earl of Dunois, high Chamberlain of France, was by reason of his gout set upon a little stool behind the King of Sicily, with many other Noblemen. There were two other places railed in, the one in the midst of the Hall near unto the Kings for the Princes of the blood, the Constable, the Chancellor, the Patriarch of jerusalem, the Archbishop of jerusalem, the Archbishop of Tours and other Bishops, p In the second place railed in, were the Marquis of Pont, the Earl of perch, the Earl of Guise, the Earl of Vendosme, the Earl Dauphin, and the Earl of Montfort. The other being great and spacious which did environ the first of either side, was for the Deputies of the three Estates. Betwixt the King's Theatre and that of the Princes, were two forms directly against the King, on the one were the Peers of France, and on the other were the Officers of the Crown. Every man being set q It is observed that the Earl of St Paul Constable of France was at the upper end, & next unto him Mon●●urde Tray●ell, Chancellor of France, in Crimson velvet co●es, and a little beneath them on the same form, the Archbishop of Tours, the Bishops of Paris, Char●res. Perigueux, Valences, Limogis, Senlis, Soissons, air, Anranches, Angoulesme, Lodeve, Nevers, Again, Cominges, Bayone and others. and all the greatest of the State humbled before the Prince, like unto the rods and Maces of the ancient Magistrates of Rome, r In the assemblies of the people of Rome, the Magistrates did hold down their rods and M●ces in sign of humility, and spoke standing the people being set, showing that they had no power to command, and all Magistrates dealt by Petition, using these words, velitis, jubeatis. the Chancellor rose from his place and presented himself upon his kneee on the right side of the King, who told him in his ear what his intention was. Oration made by the Chancellor. He made the Estates acquainted therewith in a long Oration the Deputies being prepared upon the King's instructions find that they neither could nor ought to grant unto Charles of France the Duchy of Normandy for his portion. It was said that it should remain unto the Crown, and the King was entreated to maintain the ancient laws of the Realm, concerning his Patrimony, holy, sacred and inalienable either by contracts, or by prescription of time, and against any whatsoever, and that the Princes of the blood should not therein have any more favour nor privilege then private men, s That which may make an alienation perfect and give ● title of just possession, doth not comprehend those demands which are inalienable & may be reunited, although the alienation were made for ever, & yet the purchaser shall not recover the price of the thing alienated the King himself being bound by oath at his Coronation not to alienate any thing, and in doing so, to give unto his Brother a portion with the title of a Duchy or an Earldom the which should be worth twelve hundred pounds starling a year, and a yearly pension of four thousand and eight hundred pounds starling, without drawing it to consequence, t This clause of consequence was superstitious & shows from what respect it came. For the portion was so small, as no man would make it a Precedent. There are houses in France, where the younger sons would not be so satisfied. for the younger brethren of the house of France. The King gave the Duchy of Guienne, besides the river of Charante, Guienne given to the King's Brother the country of Agenois, Perigort, Quercy, Xanictonge, the Government of Rochel and the Bailewike of Auins, he changed the Parliament of Guienne from Bourdeaux to Poitiers. This resolution was carried to Monsieur, and to the Dukes of Britain and Bourgundy his confederates, Monsieur was so ill and so desirous to change the air, as notwithstanding that he found small profit in the change of his condition, yet would he not refuse it. the Lord of Lescun persuaded him to reconcile himself unto the King, and to accept of what he should give him. The Estates did also resolve that the Duke of Bourgundy should be adjourned to appear in person before the Parliament at Paris, Adiournement of the Duke to the Parliament of Paris. to do right unto the Earl of Yew, u Charles of Artois Earl of Eu died without children in the year 147● He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Azincourt and remained three & twenty years in England. for St. Valery and other lands which he detained. The King was well pleased with this resolution, for that he knew well that when the Duke should see himself charged in this manner he would make an answer according to his humorfull of contempt, and that some grose-headed fellow executing his commission indiscreetly for profit, would move him, and provoke him to do something whereat the Court should be offended and urged to seek reparation. The same Court of Parliament sent john Loyselier, Complaints for the Pragmatike Sanction. x The Deputies of the Court of Parliament let the K. understand that the abolition of this Pragmatic was shameful and injurious, for the France had never had in like causes Ordinances which had taken their authority from the universal all Church. That as long as she had observed this Pragmatic, she was full of all prosperity, and feared of her enemies whom she had chased out of Normandy and Guienne, and had seen Prelates of such holiness, as they had done miracles. and john Henry Councillors of inquests, to represent unto the King, & to the Estates the great prejudice which France had received by the abolition of the Pragmatic Sanction, that it was deprived of a rule which comprehended all the liberties and freedoms of the French Church approved in the Conciles of Basill and Constance: That by the cessation of such decrees, France must needs look for some great confusion of the Ecclesiastical Order, and a general impoverishment by the transport of gold and silver beyond the Alps. But the King having obtained what he desired against his Brother and the Duke of Bourgundy, he carried his thoughts to other things then to that which the Estates expected for the good of the public, y In these Estates they did not think of the public good nor of the people's ease, who complained, for Lewis levied much more than King Charles. and dismissed them giving order for the intelligences which he had upon Amiens, Abbeville and St. Quentin. Then representing unto himself how much the discontentments of the great men of this Realm, had ruined his affairs he invented a means to unite their minds to his will and to keep them firm by new bonds of honour and fidelity, Institution of the order of St Michael. the which he found in the order of St Michael making it not only a recompense for virtue, like to the Consulship of Rome, but a mark of the Nobility of blood and extraction. z The dignity of Consul at Rome, was as Valerius said unto his soldiers. Premium virtutis non sanguinis, and went to seek out the virtuous in any house & at any age. Prince's should have things in their mere disposition which should be out of the commerce of their subjects, 1469 and whereunto they may not aspire but by the degrees of Virtue. Honours which may be recovered for money, are no more honours, for the sale may make them fall upon unworthy heads. a The sale of honours makes them to be less esteemed, virtue to be contemned, & sufficiency less necessary, every one thinking that he may attain unto it for money. It is a great disorder when as such as are advanced, cannot say that they are bound unto their virtue, although they have glorious shows, and that is not held rare which may be recovered for money. b Glory is the desire of great courages. Caesar would have scorned him that should have given him gold, but he died with desire to have a crown of bays. Fortune may impoverish the greatest houses of Christendom, but the honour which they hold from their Ancestors remains for ever, and a branch of Laurel which remains of their father's Crowns, is more dear unto them then any other thing. We see not any Prince reduced to that necessity, as he prefers silver before honour. And that King hath no great power in a Realm whereas they obtain all for coin. The King making himself General of this Order, The King great master of the order of St Michael. would also have them that were nearest unto him honoured. c By these orders the Prince becomes a companion to the whole College. Tiberius' made an order of Knights which were called Augustales, and made himself, great master, & to the end it might have more reputation, he would have Drusus his son, with T. Claudius and Germanicus his nephews to be of it. Tac. An. Lib. 7. He gave the first collar of the Order to Monsieur his Brother, the second to Charles Duke of Bourbon and Awergne. He thought to draw in the Dukes of Bourgundy and Britain, but they would not be bound to appear at the Chapter. With this Order were also honoured the chief Noblemen of the Realm. First knights of St Michael. d The ancient order of France was of the Knights of the star, institututed by King john surnamed the good in the year 1351. the 6. of january, the Knights wear a star of gold in their hats, and upon their cloaks, and the device was Monstrant regibus Astra viam. A hundred and eight years after Lewis the eleventh made the order of St Michael the 1. of August 1469. A hundred & ten years after that Henry the third instituted the Knights of the holy Ghost, and in the year 1579. After an Age all things grow old. Lewis of Luxenbourg Earl of St Paul and Constable of France, Andrew of Laval Lord of Loheac Martial of France, john Earl of Sancerre Lord of Bueil, Lewis of Beaumond Lord of Forest and Plessis, Lewis of Estouteville Lord of Torcy, Lewis of Laval Lord of Chastillon, Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earl of Roussillon, Admiral of France, Anthony of Chabannes' Earl of Dammartin, Lord Stuard of the King's house, john Bastard of Armagnac Earl of Comminges, Martial of France and Governor of Dauphiné George of Tremoville Lord of Craon, Gilbert of Chabannes' Lord of Curton Seneschal of Guienne, Charles Lord of Crussol Seneschal of Poitou, Taneguy of castle Governor of the Country of Roussillon and Sardinia. The King reserved to make up the number of six and thirty Knights to his Election at the first chapter. The Duke of Bourgundy at the same time received the Order of England; and the Duke of Brittany that of Bourgundie, the one instituted by Edward the third: f Edward the third instituted the Order of the garter of five and twenty Knights, in the year 1348. Philip that of the goldenfleece, in the year 1428. of one and thirty Knights, Amedee of Savoy called the green Earl, that of Anunciado, in the year 1409. of fourteen Knights. the other by Philip Duke of Bourgundy. As this Order had one head, so had it one certain and determinate place, one habit, one mark or Ensign, of Officers, one form of reception, one oath and one rule. The place was the Church of Mont St Michael, The place for the assembly of the Order transferred since to Bois de Vincennes. as well for that the place was then noted to have never yielded unto that yoke of the ancient enemies of the Crown of France, as also for the King Charles the seventh, said, that being upon the bridge of Orleans when he entered with the Virgin joan, he saw (not by any fantastical visions of Soothsayers like to Caesar g Caesar going to the war against Pópey, a Soothsayer came unto him transported & said. ● Caesar, thou shalt overecome. It was true, and Caesar soon after writing unto his friends sent them this word. Veni, vidi, vici. but truly) that Arke-angell fight on his right hand. He appointed seats for the chief of the Order and Knights in the Quire of the Church, with their Arms above their seats. The habit was a long cloak of white Damask down to the ground, The habit of the order with a border embroidered with cockle shells of gold interlaced and furred with Ermines, all of one length and one fashion, with hoods of Crimson vellet and long tippets, the hood of the chief of the order was of Murry Scarlet. h The Knights a●●ired in this habit, are bound on St Michel's Eve to come unto the Palace of the chief of the Order, to conduct him to the Evensong, and the next day to Mass, whereas every one offers a pe●ce of gold for his devotion. The mark or ensign was a collar of Gold, Mark of the order. i They are always bound to carry the collar, but when they travel, remain in their houses, or go a hunting, than they may wear the Image of the Order in a silk ribbon. in the midst of which upon a rock was the Image of Saint Michael in gold, which hung down upon his breast, all amounting to the value of two hundred Crowns in gold, without any enamel or enriching with stones, which collar should be carried daily about their necks uncovered, upon pain to cause a mass to be said and to give seven souz six deniers for God's sake. In armies, voyages and in their private houses it was sufficient to wear the image of Saint Michael at a little chain of gold or a silk ribbon. The officers were a chancellor k No man might be Chancellor of this Order if he were not an Ecclesiastical Prelate, as an Archbishop, Bishop, or some notable dignity in a Cathedral or Collegiall Church, or a Doctor of Divinity or Canon Law. to keep the seal of the order, Officers of the order. to carry messages, to make propositions in chapters and Assemblies, to inform of the Actions of Knights, to admonish and correct, to gather the voices in elections, and the proofs of Nobility. A register to write and inrowle the acts of the Order, all the commendable prowesses & worthy deeds of the head and knights their faults, justifications, corrections and punishments. A Treasurer l The Treasurer must keep a Register of the gifts and good deeds which the Knights shall do unto the Order. which shall have in his custody the titles, Relics, jewels, Ornaments, Tapestry, and library of the Order. A King at arms called Mont Saint Michael who shall have six score pound starling a year pension, to carry the letters and commandments of the Order, to inform of the prowesses of Knights and to make his report. The reception and the oath; After the decease of a Knight verified of his worthy deeds and merits. They proceed to the election of an other to supply his place, the voices are given and received by writing in open chapter, m The voices for the Election of a Knight are given in scrolls, and put into a basin of silver which the Chancellor holds. and the Chancellor declares who hath the greatest number, if the rigour of such informations had lasted always, time which blemisheth the goodliest actions, and weakens the strongest laws, had not altered any thing of the beauty and integrity of this Order. They had not called it in contempt a hood for all heads, for Nobility and virtue could not desire a quality which brought them more honour and greatness, when as he that merits to be chosen is advertised of his election, he presents himself unto the Chapter, and addressing himself unto the King, speaks these words. Sir, or my Lord, if he be of the blood. I have seen your letters that by your favour and of your most honoured brethren and Champions of the worthy and honourable order of my Lord Saint Michael, Bond of a Knight receiving the Order. I have been chosen n When the Knight chosen is absent, the King sends the Herald of the Order unto him with letters which carry the common consent of the order for his Election, with a Copy of the Statutes of the order, to advise if he will enter and bind himself by oath to the sovereign and members of that body. into the order and loving company, wherewith I think my, self much honoured, and do reverently and thankfully accept it, and do thank you as much as I may, offering myself ready to obey and to do all that I ought and may touching the said order. whereunto shallbe answered by the said Sovereign, being accompanied by the greatest number of Knights that may be. We and our brethren, Companions of the order, for the good renown we have heard of your worthy deeds, virtues and merits, hoping you will persevere and augment them to the honour of the order and commendation of yourself, To defend the rights of the Crown. have chosen you to be perpetually, (if it pleaseth God) a brother and companion of the said order and loving company, wherefore you must take the oath which followeth. That withal your loyal power you shall help to keep, sustain and defend o The Knight's owe● personal service unto the King, in all his enterprises, but where there is some urgent ●et. the dignity and rights of the crown and royal Majesty and the authority of the sovereign of the order and of his successors Sovereigns so long as you shall live and be of the order. You shall employ yourself with all your power to maintain the said order in state and honour and shall labour to augment it, The affairs of the Order. and not suffer it to decay, so long as you may prevent it. If it should happen which God forbidden, that any fault should be found in you, for the which according to the customs of the order p A Knight convicted of any reproachful act, is deprived of the order and the Choler taken from him. The causes for which be may be degraded are heresy, treason and flight on day of Battle. The Knight which is unjustly wronged by the King, & from whom he can obtain no justice, He must deliver up his collar, & leave the order not offending it in any sort, but taking his leave honourably. you were to be deprived, summoned and required to yield up the said collar, in that case you send it to the said Sovereign, or to the treasurer of the Order, Degradation in Case of offence. and shall never after the said Somation carry the said collar, and all other pains and corrections which may be enjoined you for other less offences, you shall bear and fulfil patiently, and not bear (by reason of the said things) any hatred against the Sovereign, Companions and Officers of the Order. You shall come and appear in all Chapters, q The day after St. Michaells ●east the Chapter of the order should be held, there the Knights are enjoined to keep the Councellls and corrections secret. All the Knights are commanded to go forth one after another, the last come going first, and the Sovereign last. An the Chancellor informs himself in taking the other of all the Knights, and of the Sovereign himself, of the words and actions of the Knight that is gone forth, to know if he hath done any thing, Against the honour, renown, estate and duty of Knighthood. conventions, and Assemblies of the Orders, Assistance at Chapters and observation of Orders. or shall send according to the Statutes and Ordinances of the said Order, and shall obey the Sovereign and his Deputies in all reasonable things concerning the duty and affairs of the same Order, and shall with your loyal power accomplish all the Statutes, Points, Articles, and Ordinances of the Order, which you have seen in writing, and heard read, and do promise and swear in general, as if you had taken an oath upon every point in particular. Which things the said Knight shall promise and swear in the hands of the said Sovereign upon his faith and honour, The collar habit & cloak of him, that is to be received shall be ma●e ready, and laid before the King's s●at, upon a Carpet of Crimson Taffeta or Sa●ten hanging d●wne at either ●nd, and the said collar & ●obes shall be perfumed with incense, after that the Priest hath perfumed the Altar. Art. 82. of the amplifying the Statutes of the Order in the yeaar 1476. having his hands upon the Cross and the holy Euangill, which done the said Knight newly chosen, shall come reverently before the Sovereign, The King's words in giving the collar. who taking the collar of the Order shall put it about his neck, saying or causing these words to be said. The Order receives you into this amiable company, & 〈◊〉 token thereof gives you this present collar God grant you may carry it long to his glory and service, advancement of the holy Church, and increase of the honour of the Order and of your merits and good ●ame: In the name of the Father, the Son and holy Ghost, whereunto the said Knight shall say Amen God give me the grace. After which the eldest Knight shall lead the said Knight newly received unto the Sovereign, who shall kiss him in sign of perpetual love, and in like manner all the Knights that are present shall do the same in order. Bonds of Knights reciprocal. Besides this the knights are bound to certain respects one towards another: They did promise at their entry into the Order to serve the King as their head in all occasions both within and without the Realm, and the King did promise to maintain them in their goods, Lewis the el●uenth bound himself not to undertake any war, nor any other matter of importance without making i● known to the Knights of the order. lands, and estates, as his brethren and companions, and not to attempt any war without their advise. He thought to hold those hearts (which had been distracted) fast bound unto him, but infidelity was so bold and so contagious, as all the respects of honour and conscience were too weak to restrain her from drawing them from their duties, who say the laws of their birth were most bound unto it. It was a difficult thing for good men to bridle themselves from running into ill, so licentious was the time, To doc well when as virtue reigns & good men are honoured, is ordinary and easy, but not to suffer himself to be infected with the corruptians of the time, but to have a good intent & to dare undertake it and effect it in a bad season▪ is the true sign of a generous spirit. and so hard a matter it is to do well, when as every man glories in doing ill, and that crimes become examples and customs. john Duke of Bourbon continued his intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy, and advertised him of what the King practised upon the Towns in Picardy. The Constable used all his practices betwixt the two Princes, Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgondy and Bour●on. fearing that if the King's Choler found not some subject to work upon abroad, it would fall upon the nearest that were about him: That a long peace would cut off the entertainment of his soldiers, making him unprofitable to the King and without reputation in the realm promising unto himself that whilst the war continued he should govern all. The perpetuity of his charge which could have no other end but with his life, held him not in those apprehensions, wherewith their minds are troubled which hold them as a Wolf by the ear, u Charges which are above others should be short lest they should grow insupportable and insolent. Those which are but temporary hold them that enjoy them in their duties, and the perpetual makes them forgetful. Peace alone makes a civil war in his soul, wherefore he assures the King, that when he pleased he would recover him St. Quentin, by the means of some places which he held about it▪ and would speedily execute the intelligences which he had in Flanders and Brabant. War being concluded by the Estates at Tours, Wars proclaimed. it was as soon begun as proclaimed. The Duke being at Gand received the Citation to appear in person at the Court of Parliament who caused the Usher of the Court to be imprisoned, having adjourned him as he was going to Mass, and being mad to see himself made equal to the meanest of the Realm, he resolved to appear with his sword in his hand, and to transport the war as near his judges as he could. The King's practices began then to break forth, many declared themselves French. Baldwine Bastard of Bourgundy retired himself unto the King's service. The Duke is surprised. The Duke of Brittany had made an accord with him. x Accord of the D. of Brittany with the King at Ance●is the 18. of September. 1468. The Duke of Guienne was satisfied, and if he could not have all that he desired, he was content with that which did suffice him. y The ease of great Princes must be considered by their content. They have but too much so as they think they have enough. One demanded of Zeleuchus what Revenues he had, to whom he answered. As much as I need. Plut. The Constable sent word to the Duke of Bourgundy that all was lost; that there was no relief for him in England, being fallen into the same convulsions which had in a manner smothered it in the year 1461. Edward being bound to the Earl of Warwick's virtue for his fortune made him a sharer, Troubles in England. and gave him goodly pieces depending of the Crown, and the continuation of the government of Calais, with fourscore thousand Crowns rend to increase his revenues. Yet the Earl of Warwick did not hold these recompenses proportionable to his great services, being moreover discontented for that the King having sent him into France to seek the King's Alliance by the marriage of Bonna of Savoy z The King of England sent the Earl of Warwick into France, to demand Bonna of Savoy daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy & the Queen's Sister in marriage. had mocked him in marrying with Gray's widow, the which Lewis made sensible to the Earl of Warwick to the end this complaint might be as a thorn of discontent in his heart. And as Princes take delight to pull them down whom they have raised and advanced, and do not willingly suffer such high heads of Poppy to grow in their gardens. Edward grew jealous and an enemy to this great authority which had cherished & made speed under the shadow of his. He broke quite with him, and some say that having attempted against the honour of a Kinswoman of his, a Of wrongs which make the greatest impression in the hart, those which regard ●he honour of Lady's are most sensible. Polidore Virgil w●ites thus of this attempt. Nec abhorret a veritate Eduardum tentasse, ut aiunt, nescio quid in domo Comitis, quod ab honestat● omnino abesset, cum homo esset qui facile puellas oculis adiiceret, easque deperiret. the Earl of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and tender a part began to distaste the service which he did him, and repenting him of that which he had formerly done, he retired from Court into his Earldom of Warwick, The Earl of Warwick revolts. whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends, b In the disgrace and crosses of fortune friends are known Namertes answered him that required a rule to know them by. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. and where he shows that a great courage had rather die revenged, then live with the reproach of a wrong or an affront. The Duke of Clarence the King's Brother, the Archbishop of York, and the Marquis of Montague came unto him. Every one brought his complaint with him, and the ulcer he had in his heart against Edward. The Earl of Warwick represented unto them the miserable estate they ran into, if they did not labour to restore King Henry to his Father's throne, and themselves to liberty. To bind the Duke of Clarence to this design, he gives him his Daughter. He makes a league with the Du● of Clarence. Proximity of blood did sufficiently bind the other two, being his Brethren, whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicity. c It is a part of the sweetness & felicity of life, to see Telemachus recounting his miseries, among which he reports that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. without a bro●●er. Plut. The party was made and the resolution taken upon the consideration of things present & to come, was that he should go to Calais, and in his absence they should make some stirs in the Province of York, to the end he might have a subject to come thither and to arm. The pretext of rising was for the denial of some Corn which they of the Earl of Warwick's faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St leonard's Hospital in York, and there were others which did murmur, giving it out that what should serve the poor was spent by great men. d Sedition can have no just causes, but the most apparent are whe● as private men make their profit of that which belongs to the public. In a word it is inequality and Injustice. This refusal did so incense the people, Commotion in Yorkshire. as in a short time there were fifteen thousand men in arms which marched directly to York, to have reason of them which refused to pay what they ought unto the Hospital. But when as they found themselves too weak, An Army at the ga●es of London. being a multitude of seditious and mutinous fellows, who are naturally cowards, and having no Canon to force an entry, they passed to London to demand justice of the King, with torch's of rebellion in their fists. e Sedition is always saint and cowardly, and cowards are ever most seditious. Quantū●abes ad ●ustinendum laborem miles, tanto ad discordias promptior Tac. Hist. Lib. 2. The Earl of Warwick was no sooner advertised of these broils, but he parted from Calais with the Duke of Clarence, and came and joined with this multitude, who wanted not any thing but a head. King Henry's presence and the Earls did countenance the faction, and increase it with a greater number, with the which he resolved to give Battle, to recompense the errors, ruins and occasion past. f He that knows how to give a Battle recovers ●is reputation, if it were blemished, it restores him if he be ruined, & excuseth all errors which he hath committed in war, for a Battle won defaceth all misfortunes & reproach of other precedent actions. The Earl of Pembroke, whom the King of England had sent, not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to rout and they had the victory. Richard Lord rivers father to Queen Elizabeth, and his son john Wooduille, with some other Gentlemen lost their heads. The King sought to make some accord with the Earl of Warwick, and upon the assurance which he gave him, neglected to keep good guard in his Camp, the which should not be omitted even among friends. Love goes naked by day and armed by night, g Crates said that love went all day naked but at night he carried a Cuirasse, & that a prince which trusts in the love of his subjects may by day go in safety and without fear, but by night he should have his guard. The Earl of Warwick having observed this careless guard by his spies he undertook to charge him by night, ●dward defeated and taken prisoner. with so great advantage, as killing all he found in the trenches he came without any resistance to the place where the King was, whom he took prisoner and led away. But for that they could not make good use of this fortune, they ruined themselves and undid King Henry, for whom they had taken Arms: God, who hath a special care of Kings, deprived them of judgement, for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realm during Edward's life, yet could they not keep him so well but he escaped, having corrupted his guards with hopes, and goodly promises, whereof great men are no nigards when they have need of their inferiors. Edward being at liberty, recovers York, where he was received with joy, which was as great as it was unexpected. From thence he went to London to confirm their wills whom his captivity had made to waver, and considering that victory doth always favour them which have the advantage both of Council and force, h A prince hath a great advantage over his enemy when he exceeds him in Arms, and that he hath the Counsels & executions sooner ready than he. he raised a might Army, and went to seek out the Earl of Warwick, Earl of Warwick defeated. whom he put to rout, and returned triumphantly, the victory was made famous by the death of ten thousand men. Queen Margaret, Prince Edward her Son, the Duke of Clarence and his wife, the Earl of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to fly. They came to Calais, but the Earl of Warwick's Lieutenant would not receive them, nor scarce suffer them to carry two bottles of Wine for the Duchess of Clarence, who was delivered of a Son whilst the ship road at an Anchor. This rudeness and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy, as the one sent him authority to command as Governor of Calais, and the other a good pension to increase his entertainment. The Earl of Warwick, who was much esteemed in France, and in great credit with the King, for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easy to be shaken, i Reputation is a Colosse which is hardly raised by reason of its weight buy when it is up it stands firm and supports itself by his own heaviness. It is hard to lay the foundation and to raise it, for it can●otlast upon light actions. That of the E. of Warwi●k must needs be great, having twice changed the estate of England, and as it were disposed of the Crown. sent unto the King to receive him. The King seemed to have a great desire to see him and secure him. He landed at deep, and was conducted with all his troop to Amboise. The people flocked upon the highways to see those mournful relics of Troy. Every man had heard speak of the desolation of the house of Lancaster, they did regard them as Prodigies of fortune whom she had chosen to be pitiful examples of her inconstancy. Within six months the King gave them means to return into England, The K. giue● succours to K. Henry. with such forces as Edward durst not affront them. He was forced to quit the party, and seeing how dangerous it was to stay until the Earl of Warwick came unto the gates of London, he retired into Holland to the Duke of Bourgundie, carrying nothing with him but a hope to return. k It is a poor equipage for a Prince which goes out of his estate with hope to return, but a retreat of this sort against a Prince that is stronger is honourable Valentinean the second left Aquilea to Maximin and fled into Thessalonica with justina his mother where he obtained succours of the Emperor. Theodosius, who restored him to the country. Sigon. Lib. 9 Imp. Occident. Behold Henry the sixth drawn out of prison and set in the royal throne, Henry the sixth 〈◊〉 it liberty and Edward expelled. but he continued but six months, for Edward being relieved with ships and men from the Duke of Bourgundy, returned into England, and presented himself before the gates of London, where he entered victorious. The Duke of Clarence left the Earl of Warwick l The Duke of Clarence being in France was solicited and won by a Gentlewoman which came out of England from the King his Brother and he 〈◊〉 that belong in England he would turn to his side side. King Henry was murdered in the Tower, his son was detained prisoner, Death of King Henry the sixth. and soon after slain. The Earl of Warwick was slain upon the place, and the Queen was a prisoner. Thus the Realm which Edward had lost in eleven days, was recovered in one, so true it is that Estates change in a moment, m The eversions and conversions of the estates are most comm●●ty 〈◊〉. Brevi bus momentis summa verti possunt. Tac. lib. 8. An. & that it is hard to make good use of things ill 〈◊〉. During these Tragedies, the King who wished they had continued longer, the more to weaken the Duke's designs, and to humble his thoughts, continued the war which he had begun in Picardy. The Constable who would needs be a necessary evil n Hibrea a wise Citizen of Messala a Town in Caria said smiling to Eutidianus a man very profitable but difficult and insupportable, in the government of public affairs, that he was a necessary evil to the Town for that no● man● could endure him for his roughness, nor ●liue without him for his good government. to these two Princes was glad to let the Duke understand what he could do. Amiens & St. Quentin taken. He took St Quentin, Amiens opened her gates unto him, Abbeville (the Citadel of Picardy) had entered into the same party, if Philip of Crevecaeur, Lord of cords, had not entered. The Duke not holding himself safe in the midst of the Constable's friends, retired to dourlan's, and from thence to Arras. Being there he received a letter from the Duke of Guienne containing these words. Labour to content your subjects and then care not for you shall find friends. The Duke seeing himself thus surprised and dispossessed of the Towns which he did so much esteem, entreated the Constable not to press this war so hotly, nor to do the worst he could, and to consider that the King without any precedent offence had taken arms, and broken the treaty of Peronne, before that he had disclaimed his friendship. o The Romans before they made war. Renunciabant amicitiam. Germanicus being wronged by Piso Governor of Soria, sent him word that he was no more his friend. The Constable being glad to see the pride of his first master humbled, Policy of the Constable of St. Paul. makes the danger greater than it was: he threatens him with an inevitable ruin, if he did not open his eyes to those expediments which he propounded unto him, letting him know that in the darkness of his infidelity he did always reserve a good day for his service. p I never knew (saith Phil. de Commines) that man have a good end that sought to terrify his Master, and keep him in jealousy. Yet will he not declare himself to be other than a good Frenchman, for to manage his business with honour, the leap was too dangerous from St. Quintin to Brussels. The passage from one contrary to another is never made without violence, q Man's thoughts pass not suddenly from one extreme unto an other, they go by degrees. there must be a mean betwixt both to unite the two extremes. He promiseth to serve the Duke in effect, in serving the King in show, and to make known the fruits of his service by the bad intelligence and division which he would still entertain and was already framed betwixt the two brethren the King and Mounsire, the only means for him to be in safety and his estate in peace. r The hatred and discord of brethren is the ruin of States all well as of private families. This mischief hath been long in the world, the examples are borne with it. And if two brethren could not agree together in their mother's womb, it is no wonder if two brethren being armed quarrel. But to end this war which was begun, and would continue with such cruel effects, He councils the Duke to give his daughter to the King's Brother. against him, there was no other help but to win Monsieur in giving him his daughter in marriage: that all his desires should aim at this mark as the true end of his contentment, from the which he might wander by many ways, s They say we may come to one end by divers means. But to hit one mark there is but one direction, the straightest lines are the shortest: we may miss by divers means, aiming too high, or too low, on the right hand or on the left. It is even so in the actions of men. and could not attain unto it but by this Alliance, that if he were so resolved he would follow his party, and bring his head to his service, with the Town of St Quentin and a good number of his servants, In a word that he would do any thing, yea set fire of the Temple of peace, t There are servants ●ound sit for all assays and without condition. C. Blosius said that he would do all that Tiberius Gracchus should command him, yea he would burn jupiters' Temple if ●e would Val. Max. lib. 45. 7. if he pleased. He should not have persuaded the Duke of Bourgondy to this marriage with reasons of fear and amazement. A great courage doth never any thing to show that he fears. This course was odious unto the Duke, but much more unto the King, being offended that the Constable would make such an alliance, and not acquaint them with it, for the same fault a Nobleman, of the same quality & dignity, lost his head in Spain. u Amongst the causes for the which the Constable of A●alos was beheaded at Vailled●lit in the year. 1453. They mark for that he presumed to make the marriage of the Son of D. Pedro of Portugal without the permission of the K. of Castille his master. The Duke had other thoughts then to marry his Daughter. Many believed that he would not do it whilst he lived, contenting himself to leave her pleased in this liberty, Desseins of the Duke upon his Daughter's marriage. to hold many hopes in servitude, for he entertained them that might assist him or annoy him with goodly discourses of this alliance. The Daughters of Sovereign houses are not married to all them they are made sure unto. x When as they wondered why Hercules of Este Duke of F●rrara had married Lucretia daughter to Pope Alexander the sixth, having been made sure to three husbands, & was then widow to Gismond Prince of Bisselli whom the Duke of Valentinois had ●●aine, the only consideration of the safety of his estate and of his affairs, took away the amazement Guichard. Lib. 5. Princes in marrying do not regard their pleasure, but the necessity and profit of their affairs. But seeing the Constable propound no other remedy but this marriage of Monsieur and his daughter, and that yielding unto it he should fill the world with a belief that he had consented for fear of his enemies, y A free spirit cannot endure ●o be forced. Vt in Principa●● beatis●imum est non cogi ita miserrimum non suaderi. he began then to hate him deadly and to swear his ruin. The King who judged of the future by the knowledge of things passed z Things past carry a light before judgement, which searcheth into the obscurity of future things. The world goes always after his manner▪. There is not anything spoken or done, but hath some ancient example. Things go and come under divers names, and other colours, ●●ut a wise man doth discerns them. trusted him no more, for he had discovered that in this war he regarded his own private interest more than the good of his service: that he had made himself the instrument of an alliance, which was so much the more unpleasing unto him, for that he meant to keep him in jealousy with his brother and to hold his greatness suspect. Although the Duke of Britain did still entertain the Duke with fears and amazements, sending him word, that the King had desseins upon Amiens, Bruges and brussels, that he was resolved to besiege him, a These advertisements were delivered unto the Duke of Bourgondy by mouth, by a footman of the Duke of Britons. To whom the Duke answered suddenly, that his master was ill advertised, and that the Towns whereof he spoke were too great to be besieged. where he should find himself deceived, even in Gand, The King discovers the Constable. yet he went to field with his Army, being resolute to pass the river of Somme upon a bridge which he had made at Piqueny, and to fight with the King if he sought to hinder him. He remained six weeks before Amiens saying that he attended until the King (who was then at Beawais) should come and force him to dislodge: But the King, by his temporising, let him know that he did not fight by the fortune of his enemies, but by his own. b A Prince should not suffer himself to be drivento that extremity as his enemy should prescribe him a Law, and bind him to fight. Biorix King of the Cimbrians seeing the Consul Marius to lie still offered him Battle: But Marius answered that the Romans were not accustomed to fight at their enemy's pleasures. Romanorum reos est suo non hostrium Arbirrio dimicare. The Town was fortified with the presence of the chief men of the realm, the Constable, the Lord Steward, the Admiral and Marshal were within it with one thousand and four hundred men at Arms, and four thousand frank Archers: They had resolved to sally forth upon the Duke, and to engage him betwixt the king and them, Se●ge of Amens. but the King would not: his mind was so resolute to end or to continue the war, as any wavering might cause his will tend to the one side or the other. c When themind is in suspense betwixt doing and not doing, a small matter turns the balance. A l●ght reasonor any precedent makes the weight, but there is a great difference betwixt the irresolution and suspension of the mind, which grows by the concurrence & equality of reasons. When as a mighty Prince doth not all he can unto his inferiors, it argues, that either he hath some great desseine to cirumvent him, or that war is unpleasing unto him: Wherefore the Duke (being advertised that the King had not allowed of this desseine) sent Simon of Quingey with a letter of six lines written with his own hand, in terms of great humility and exceeding grief to see that war begun under colour of his service to satisfy another man's passions, adding that he believed, if the King had been well informed of all things he would not have done it. The King who would not do all he could (for oftentimes he that would have all looseth all) d A Prince should not desire to have the extremity of all things. The wise men of Italy say. Volere ostinatament ill sommo di turte cose. Sometimes in thinking to draw more fruit from an occasion than it can in honesty yield, it ruins the affairs. took delight in this letter, having discovered the practices of his Brother, of the Duke of Britain and the Constable; wherefore he sent back Simon of Quingey with good words and granted a truce to the Duke of Bourgondy which sent every man home, A Truce granted dissolves the Armies. the King into Touraine, Monsieur into Guienne the Duke into Flanders, and the Constable to Saint Quentin, where he still continued his practices, and not only tormented himself with his own discommodities, but with that which succeeded happily to either of these two Princes. e A miserable folly and a foolish misery of those which are not content to torment themselves with their own miseries, which are but▪ too great, but they afflict themselves with the felicities of other men. The King who knew well that the Duke of Bourgondy made his Brother the packhorse of his passions, sought to put him out of hope to marry his daughter, Marriage sought in Castille. and persuaded him to seek the marriage of the King of Castile's daughter. f The K. desired the Marriage of Isabel Infanta of Castille with his brother but she was married to D. Fernando Prince of Arrag●n, King Henry treated for his Daughter D. joane Monsieur submitted his will to the Kings, and Deputies were sent into Castille to King Henry the fourth. The King had for his part the Cardinal of Alby and the Lord of Torcy: The Duke of Guienne gave his procuration to the Earl of Bolloigne, and to the Lord of Malicorne, to consent unto this marriage and had never beheld the Bride, Princes drink these waters without seeing them. This poursute was pleasing to the King of Castille, who was offended that his Sister D. Isabel had married to Ferdinand of Arragon without his consent, The King sends Ambassadors into Castille. and took it for a great honour that she whom the Grandes of Spain held, and who in effect was the supposed Daughter of Castille, should be wife unto the French Kings brother, having no means to lodge her in a better house. He commanded the Archbishop of Seville, the Bishop of Siguenç and the master of the order of S. james, to treat the marriage with the Ambassadors of France. All being concluded, the King would have the promises made in a great Plain, g The Princess D. joane was brought into the field by the Marquis of Santillana who had her in charge and to whom the King gave in recompense of his service three Towns of the Infantasgo, Al●ocer, Valdolinas and Salmeron. near unto the Monastery of Paular enual de Locoia in the view of an incredible multitude which came thither. The K. having renewed his declarations against his sister D. Isabel, and confirmed to his Daughter D. joane the title of Princess and heir of Castille, the Cardinal of Alby addressing himself to the Queen her mother, besought her to swear whether D. joane were the King's daughter or not. She swear that she was. He made the like adjuration unto the King, who affirmed the same. They had not any need to seek for the jews waters of probation h The jews to prove adultery had probation waters as they called them. The adulterous woman drinking thereof did burst The Ge●mans tried if their Children were lawful making them swim upon the river of Rhin. nor to make this Virgin swim upon the River to know the truth of her birth. And yet upon this affirmation all the Grandes at that time kissed her hands, and she was again sworn Princess of Castille. In this quality the Cardinal of Alby made her sure to the Duke of Guienne, the Earl of Boulongue promising and receiving the promises for him. Whilst the King laboured to provide a wife for his Brother, Birth of Charles the 8. God sent the King a Son, i Charles Dauphin of France was borne at Amboise the 14 of july, or as the Annals of Aquitaine▪ report the last of june. 1470. Charles of Bourbon Archbishop of Lion was Godfather, and gave him his name. This birth revived the King, who began to grow old, his Majesty was more respected, factions were weakened, Monsieurs hopes recoiled, and France wholly preserved by these two great and special favours of heaven, valour and prosperity, or virtue and fortune, which have made her reputation to pass through so many ages. k Valour without the which a great enterprise cannot be ended, laid the foundation of the Monarchy of France and prosperity without the which the best settled estates are not assured, preserves it. The Constable seeing that by Monsieurs marriage with the Daughter of Castille, Constable's new practices. all his designs vanished into smoke, labours with all the capacity of his judgement to dissuade him from this alliance, letting him know that it was dishonourable by reason of the unlawful birth of Bertraiamina, (for so they called her) and dangerous for the hatred which he should purchase of D. Ferdinand, and D. Isabel declared Kings of Castille, with the like Art he represented unto him the greatness he should expect by the marriage of the Princess of Bourgundy. Death of Pope Paul▪ the second. Pope Paul the second died l Paul the second died of an Apoplexy, the 28. of july 1471. having reigned 6. years & ten months during this poursuite, and after that he had yielded unto it, he was suddenly surprised by death having held a Consistory and eaten two melons at his dinner. His election was as unexpected as his death. Cardinal Scarampi who was his enemy, m Cardinal Lewis Scarampy Patriarch of Aquilea was enemy to P. Paul the second being yet a Cardinal. Lewis reproached to Peter the sumptuousness of his buildings, and Peter said that he had rather exceed in that then in dice, playing, wherein Lewis took great delight. did in the beginning of the Conclave break off the proposition which was made, and yet contrary to the ordinance of elections, the suffrages agreed upon the same subject which they had rejected, and the contention which had begun, the Conclave ended. This Pope showed a great generosite, for being chosen, and seeing that the gout, or rather shame and discontentment hindered this Cardinal from coming to the adoration, he went to meet him, embraced him, assured him of his love, and to forget all matters past. This Pope augmented the pomp of the Court of Rome, he gave Scarlet foot-cloths to the Cardinal's Mules. Platina saith that he loved not learned men, and called all them heretics that made profession; and therefore he suppressed the College of Abreviators which was full of great excellent spirits. The feeling which Platina seemed to have of this injury did wholly ruin his fortune, in the affliction whereof he wrote a letter unto the Pope, n ●latinas letter had th●se words. Si tibi l●cuit indicta causa spoliare nos ●mptione nostra justa e● legi●ima, debet & nobis licere conqueri illatam in●uriam in●●stamque ignomini●m eiecti a te ac tam insigni cō●umelia aff●cti, dilabemur pa●sim ad reges ac Principes eosque adhortabimur ut tibi consilium indican● in quo potissimum rationem reddere cogatis cur nos legitima possessione spoliaveris. full of bitterness and without respect. This Pope was also taxed to be very greedy of money, Paul the second a great builder. and not to have held the justest means to get it, and yet his magnificence in the sumptuous building of the Palace of St. Mark, and in the reparation of that of S. Peter freed him from blame with such as know that magnificence is the daughter of liberality. The promises being broken in the Castille the poursuite of the marriage with the Duke of Bourgundies' Daughter was followed by the Constable with great vehemency, who could not endure that any other should deal in it. He represented unto him the greatness and commodity of the Estates which this marriage would bring him after the death of his brother and father in law, & makes him to apprehend it in such sort, as this young Prince, who filled not his fantasy with small imaginations, continued his first poursuite of an alliance with duke Charles, assuring him that it would produce great effects for their common fortunes and profit. o An apparent and important profit is a great motion to divert the effect of a promise. The Duke of Brittany promised unto himself the honour of the mediation for a matter which did profit few men and offended many. The King had no desire his brother should be so great. p T●e Kings of France have in former times repent themselves for that they had made their brothers so great. Charles the ●ifu gave to Philip the hardy the Duchy of Bourgundy, which K. john had united unto the Crown, & majied ●im to the heir of ●lande●s. The house of Bourgundy grew so mighty as it would equal itself with that of France. The King of England sent often to the Duke of Bourgundy to dissuade him from this alliance, entreating him to consider that the Duke of Guienne, Design of the King of England. succeeding the King who had no children, and holding the countries belonging to the house of Bourgundy, England did foresee her ruin and destruction. The Duke of Bourgundy would have no such son in Law, he gave a desire and appetite to all men with one hand, and took all hope from them with the other, he promised her to all & gave her not to any; he made use of his daughter to entertain the love of Princes, and to pass over his affairs with more success, to repair by policy the defects he found in his own strength, thinking that his weakness did dispense him of his word, and that fraud was glorious against his enemies. q Deceit which makes an enemy receive an affront is as commendable as it is to be blamed when it deceiveth him that is not so declared, whereas they say that fraud is glorious in war, it is not to be understood in breaking words and promises, but of politic, feigned, and artificial stratagems. But he had no desire to marry her, propounding unto himself in this marriage more the advancement of his own design, than the contentment of his daughter, he promised her to Maximilian son to the Emperor Frederic, Prince's pretending to marry the Daughter of Bourgundy. and inclined much to that party, to do his business in Germany, where he desired to purchase some credit, for at the same time Sigismond ArchDuke of Austria had engaged unto him for fourscore thousand florins, the Country of Alsatia and Brisgaeu with the County of Ferette. r The Country of Alsatia, Brisg●●, the black Forest & the Contie of 〈◊〉 or Forest. Were engaged by Sygismond Archduke of Austria for 80000. flori●● upon condi●ion that the D. of Bourgundy should not alter any thing of the Laws and Customs of the Country in the year 1496 He promised her in like manner to Nicholas son to the Duke of Calabria, to draw him from the King's alliance, who had promised him his eldest daughter, To the Duke of Guienne to trouble the Kings of France, and England, and to Philip Duke of Savoy, for an other design: Yet the practice was so followed by the Duke of Britain and the Constable, who promised in regard of that marriage to draw him into Amiens, and S. Quintin as he gave his word to consent unto it, and at the same instant he assured the King of England that he would not do it, his words upon this subject were never of one tune, s It was a witty comparison of him that said that men's actions were like notes of music sometimes in spaces & sometimes in lines, sometimes above and sometimes beneath, and never or seldom strait for any long continuance. and did not accord with his heart. The Dukes of Guienne and Brittany, being well advertised that their hopes were crossed by the King of England, gave the Duke of Bourgundy to understand by their Ministers that without the assistance of the English, they were strong enough, and had sufficient intelligence to force the King to do him right, and that the principal end of their Arms, being for the public good of the realm, they could not have that success which they expected employing their ancient enemies, and that so long as they had forces and means in France, it was not needful to seek them in England. t Whilst that we may pass without succours we should not seek them. Plato in his Laws forbids to dig for water in a neighbours house before that he had sought it in his own. These words were delivered unto him by Vrfe in the behalf of Monsieur, Whereupon the Duke said, to Philip de Commines, Behold the Lord of Vrfe presseth me to make mine armies as great as I can, and tells me that we shall do great good unto the Realm, do you think if I enter with the company that I shall lead that I shall do any good? Philip de Commines answered smiling. In my opinion no: Then the Duke said, I love the good of France better than my Lord of Vrfe thinks, for whereas there is but one King I would there were six. He would gladly have had the whole piece, u Ambition strives to divide and tear in pieces that which she can not break nor carry wholly away. but knowing the impossibility, that the ascent was too steep, and the top too slippery he had no care but to break that which he could not wholly enjoy. x There is not any one of so great a courage, but thinking to make himself a King he trembles, the ascent unto a royalty is slippery, the top shaking, and the precipise & fall fearful. He prepared great forces, and the King sent his into Guienne, being incensed that his Brother had restored the Earl of Armagnac to his lands, which had been confiscate, and he spoils both the one and the other. He wins his chief servants the more easily to chase him out of Guienne. The Duke of Guienne priest the Duke of Bourgondy to succour him, the Duke sent unto the King to entreat him to suffer Monsieur to live in peace, The King answered that he had no intent to alter any thing of his brother's portion, but to keep him from attempting beyond his bounds. And behold a remarkable point of wisdom in this Prince, whilst the Duke prepared his army he sent Peter D'oriole Chancellor of France unto him, and the Lord of Craon to make an overture of an accord. A Peace treated and a promise made to restore Amiens. A peace was treated, and the King promised to restore Amiens and Saint Quentin, the duke was so much grieved for the loss of these two towns, and had so great a desire to recover them, as in regard thereof he granted whatsoever they would. The hearts of men lie on the left side, they are full of deceit▪ y Sincerity and freedom is ra●e in men's intentions. They have reason to say that their wills go not right. Their hearts lie on the left side. Aristotle in his first book of the history of beasts saith that man only hath his hart on the left side, and all beasts have it in the midst of their breasts. Truth, freedom and loyalty are rare, unknown and exiled qualities. It were baseness not to dare to be lie his promises, nor to accommodate his words to profit rather than to justice, These two Princes sought to deceive one another, z It is simplicity to speak all, but it is mere wickedness not to speak what we think. It is a baseness of the heart when a● the word belies the thought. the King had no will to restore any thing, promising unto himself that an infallible accident would preserve him that which a peace took from him. The duke of Bourgondy wrote underhand to the dukes of Guienne and Brittany, that the abandoning of their protection, and friendship, which he had promised was but feigned, that his affection was always pure and firm to maintain them. Neither of them held himself bound to keep his word but to effect his business, and in this bargain they spoke not all they thought. Simon of Quingey, who had commandment to go unto the Duke of Britain to renew the hopes and protestations as soon as the peace should be effected priest the king much to swear it. Temporizing of the King profitable. The king, who had made profit of the time, deferred it from day to day, he licked and fashioned this little bear at leisure. Quingey who knew his masters mind durst not importune him. The king went slowly, he took not half the wind he might have taken to arrive at a prefixed time at the port of his desseigns, thinking the winning of time very necessary for him that will effect his business, that it cannot be bought to dear nor too long attended. a When as the Barbarians demanded money of Sertorius going into Spline for his passage through their country, such as were with him grew into choler, saying that is was too great a shame and indignity that a Proconsul of the people of Rome sh●ld pay a tribute unto those wicked Barbarians, but Sertorius regarded not the shame which they pretended, but answered. That he bought time, which whosoever aspired to great matters, should hold most dear, & so contented the Barbarians with money, after which he made such speed as he seized upon Spain. Plu. He temporised so cunningly as he at tayned to what he desired. And behold a post which brings news that the Duke of Guienne is dead: a death which changed the face of affairs, and deprived the Duke of all that he promised unto himself. It happened the twelve of May 1471. and the manner so violent as his members turning contrary to their proper motion by strange convulsions, Death of the duke of Guienne. wholly disfigured his body, his teeth, hair and nails fell off before his death. It was thought to be by poison. Being on a summers day at Saint Severe with the Lady of Montsoreau, the Abbot of Saint john d' Angely (who was one of the Duke's favourites) at his afternoon's drinking presented a goodly peach unto his Lady, she took the one half and steeped it in wine, and gave the other to Monsieur. She died soon after, but the Duke continued longer, yet so sick, as his death was bruited the very day that he had taken this deadly morsel. If the King were pleased with this death we may gather by the words which he spoke a little before, when as news was brought him of the King of Castilles brother's death. He is but too happy to have lost his brother. It was Al●onso b D. Alfonso second, son to john second K. of Castille and brother to Henry died of the plague at Cardegnosa a Bourrough near to A●ila the fift of july 1468. he was sixteen years old, and had been declared King three years before, his death was not without suspicion of poison. who had been chosen King by the Castillans and by the League made against king Henry. This word of Brother was unto him as a goodly name to signify a bad thing, if he wept they were tears of joy, and if they were not feigned they were presently dried up. The little care he seemed to have to punish such as were accused to have poisoned him, confirmed an opinion that he was content, and made many believe that this death came by his commandment, to assure the quiet of many by the death of one alone. c It is a great misery for a Prince when he sees himself forced to be cruel unto his own blood, to assure the quiet of his estate. He commanded the Bishop of Angers Secretary to bring him the proceed taken before his Master and Lewis of Amboise upon this death, claud of Seysel in that which he hath written of the History of Lewis the twelfth says upon this occasion. Many there are which said, but yet I dare not affirm it, that he caused his said brother to die of poison, but it is most certain that he never had any confidence in him whilst he lived, and was not grieved at his death. The course of his life was so short as fortune had not time to poursue him long: Observations of the Duke of Guyennes life. she followed him betimes and never ceased until he was daunted and dejected finding that misery is the proper portion of a man's life, yea of the greatest. d There is nothing but misery in man he is borne unto it. They writ that the wives of M●xico when they are brought in bed assu●r their children of their misery in th●se three words. Infant thou art come into the world to endure, suffer, endure & hold thy peace They sing ●his to 〈…〉 a sleep. He had no constant spirit to defend himself from these affronts, he was as tractable to all persuasions, as the King his brother was cunning and stayed. The History of Britain saith that for a truth he had no courage, and that inconstancy did properly belong unto him. He did dictate suddenly what he had received and allowed. e Constancy is the s●ale of Actions: It is of spirits as of bodies, neither the one in rejecting council nor the other in casting up meat c●n be nourished and entertained. He was not like to his Father in fortune, nor to his Grandfather in courage, nor to his Brother in wisdom. It is a wonder to see how children degenerate, & how nature delights in these contrary productions, making cowards, ignorant men, & wicked proceed from the blood of Princes which are valiant, wise & good. So vinegar comes from wine. f A good tree brings not forth bad fr●t●, and ye● we see that from ●ood fathers come bad children. The jews proverb is Homets' been iin, vinegar is the son of wine. Natum crebro tanquam ex industria malis ebonis, agrestes ● doctioribus & ceteris. ●u vic. torin Caliguls. Impressions were very easy in this lightness. The rigour which King Lewis the eleventh showed unto him, made him give ear to such as sought to find their own contentments in his discontents. It is Injustice in a Sovereign brother not to provide for the entertainment of his younger, whom he should put in the number of his forces and felicities. They are of the same blood and grounded upon part and portion of the successive rights, but they have never prospered which have troubled the house for this, and conspired with the members against the head. Twenty years before this death France had seen a notable example in Britain. Tragical end of Giles of Britain There is no danger to lay the History a little aside. Giles g john the fift Duke of Britain left three Sons, Francis Peter and Giles. son to john the fifth Duke of Britain, and Brother to Francis the first, being not well pleased with his portion retired himself to Guildo a Castle near unto the sea by Matignon. The Duke his Brother makes King Charles the seventh believe that he was there to favour the English with advice and intelligence. h Upon the first suspicion of any one's fidelity, they presently add the communication of friends. They do exactly reuise actions past which deface or confirm the doubt of the present. A belief which might easily be settled in the soul of a jealous King, for that this Prince had been bred up in England, and the king had given him the Order of the Garter, and the office of Constable. Process made to the Prince of Britain. Upon this first impression the king sends to take him, and delivers him into the Duke's hands, who sends him prisoner to Chasteau Briant, commanding his Attorney General i The Duke demanded of the Attorney General what should be done in this process. The good man answered that he did not see what might be done & that by the custom the elder had no criminal justice over his younger brother, and that the Duke could not call him to his justice. An answer which was more simple than true. H●st. of Brit. lib. 11. to make his process for treason, but there was no crime nor any accuser. The hand which had hurt him sought to cure him. The king being informed of his innocency, laboured for his deliverance. The Duke durst not refuse him, but being ready to be set a liberty, his enemies suppose letters from the king of England, whereupon the king changeth his advice, and causeth him to be kept more straightly in the Castle of Touffort. There he is made to languish and endure greater extremities than those of the Quarries of Siracusa, k The usage of such as were shut up in the jail of the Quarries of Siracusa was very stra●ght, for they had but two dishfuls of barley, and one of water allowed them by day● lut. in the life 〈◊〉 for they refused him water, and if he had bread, they were the scraps of a poor woman who hearing him cry for hunger put them in at a window, which was upon the ditch side. His guards who had undertaken to starve him, seeing it continue to long, gills of Britain adjourns his Brother before God strangled him. They gave him leisure to think of his conscience, he charged a Friar to adjourn his Brother to heaven, seeing there was no justice on earth for his innocency. l gills of 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 speech charged a Friar to go unto D. Francis the first, and to tell him in what estate he had left him, & the miseries he endured by injustice, that he could have no right, but referred all to the judgement of God, before 〈◊〉 he called him. The Duke appeared. Death pulling this thorn out of the king's heart, gave him means of more rest, if his spirit had been capable of rest. It carried him into many places, m A spirit which is not restrained to certain designs, lives in continual disquietness. Phil. de Commines▪ speaking of this Prince says these words. The time that he rested his understanding labore●, for ●e had to do in many ●aces, and did as willingly busy himself with his neighbour's affairs as with his own. and thrust him into sundry designs, meddling with his neighbour's affairs as with his own. True it is he had great crosses by them that were nearest unto him. Imprisonment of the Duke of Alencon. john the second Duke of Alencon, the first Prince of the blood, was sent prisoner to the Lowre, for conspiring with the King's enemies, and at the same time they saw other Princes afflicted with the like Domestic diseases. Lewis was nothing sorry to disquiet them, he did what he could to fill up the measure of their cares, having no respect to make enemies, so as they came to his Mill. john the second King of Navarre and Arragon had prosperities and adversities, Troubles in Navarre. both public and private, so variable and divers, as it could not be said whether he had more of the one than the other, his youth was tossed, and his age was not quiet, but still his courage remained invincible in the greatest fury of the storm. n They that make profession of wisdom & faint in adversity are like unto Pilots which grow sick during a storm Charles the only Son and presumptive heir of the Crown of Navarre took Arms against him to be King. Charles Prince of Navarre makes war against his Father. Henry the fourth King of Castille who had married his eldest Daughter favoured his rebels of Barcelona, and Gaston Earl of Foix, husband to Elinor his second daughter, seeing him busied against the Castillans sought to dispossess him of the Crown of Navarre. D. Pedro of Portugal was chosen King & died at the siege of Tortosa. o After that the A●ragonis had declared K. john, unworthy the crown, as the murderer of his own son, they did choose D. Pedro the third Constable of Portugal son to D. Pedro D. of ●imbra. Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Earl of Provence, being desirous to recover the Title of a king which he had lost at Naples, accepted the same election by the advice of King Lewis the eleventh, and sent the Duke of Calabria his Son into Spain with French troops, which joining with them of the county of Roussillon besieged Girone. The French besiege Gi●onne. The Arragonois were beaten and defeated, and the Prince D. Ferdinand son to the King of Navarre in danger to be taken prisoner. p At the Battle of Denia the Prince D. Ferdinand was prisone●, Roderic of Reb●ledo caused himself to ●ee taken in his place, to give him means to escape, and the King redeeme● him for ten thousand florins. Winter came on, the Duke of Calabria retired his troops to Perpignan, he made a voyage into France to have new forces, and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king john to raise the siege from before Peralta, the which was wonderfully priest with their Ordinance, and having made a great breach, the assailants assured themselves to force it at the first assault. The night before it should be given, the Duke of Calabria entered with such fury into their quarters without discovery, the Sentinels being a sleep, q It is easy to make a surprise when as Sentinels be a sleep. The Romans considering that the safety of the Army or Camp depending of their vigilancy, had cries and trumpets to keep them waking. There were some also that went the round with bells to the same end. Of all which we find examples in Tacitus Hist. 5. Polibeus lib. 2. stratagem of Clearchus. Thucidid li. 4. as every man sought how to save themselves. In combats by night the amazement is so great as he that gins first wins. The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres. France made bonfires for this victory the which was seconded by the taking of Girona, Death of john D. of Calabia. but within few days after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria, who died at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Fever. When as the King of Arragon had ended a Civil war against his subjects, he found himself engaged in war against the French. King Lewis the eleventh being often importuned with the ordinary complaints which were made of the insolences of the French, r The inhabitants of Perpignan entreated john King of Arragon, either to give the K. other pawns for the assurance of his money which he had lent, or to suffer them to retire themselves. which were at Roussillon, and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being revolted against the garrison, had forced them to retire into the Castle, he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crowns & retire his country, or that he should make him an absolute sale, or give him caution for the payment. The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions very harsh, answered that he could not yet ungage the country, and that it would be no honour to him to alienate it, being a part of the Crown of Arragon, and that it was a matter never heard of to press a King to gave Caution, the pawn being sufficient. The King taking this answer for a refusal, prepared to war, and made his preparation slowly, to have a more speedy victory s He that will demand any thing of an enemy must not be disarmed, neither must he prepare hastily to war to vanquish more speedily. Diu apparandum est bellum ut vineas celerius, quia longa belli preparatio celerem facit victoriam. Senec. . With the like care as he armed for an offensive war against the King of Arragon, he gave order for a defensive, and to furnish the Town of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintain a siege, and gave the command thereof to the Lord of Lude. The Letter which he wrote unto him upon that subject deserves well to be considered of, being drawn from the original and full of passages which discover the humour of this Prince, the order and conduct of his affairs, and the manner of writing of those times. My Lord Governor, t The Lord of Lude as may be seen by the subscription of this Letter was Governor of Dauphiné & Chamberlain to K. Lewis 〈◊〉. the Earl of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arrived at Paris. King's Letter to the Lord of Lude. I have sent Monsieur Daire and the Siegr of Bouffille unto them, to know and understand of them if they came to make any good appointment, or whether they came to deceive me and to dissemble. The said Bouffille is returned unto me, and as far as they can find they bring not any good news, and their intention is only to entertain me with words, until they have gathered in their coin. And therefore I must play Mr Lewis, and you Mr john, and whereas they seek to deceive us let us show ourselves more politic than they. In regard of myself I will entertain them here until the first week of May, and in the mean time you shall part with all the speed you can, and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you, and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet, or by Povillalier, or by them both together, that is to say, fourscore Lances by S. Priet, and twenty by Povillalier, or all to him alone or to both together, as you shall think the matter may be best conducted for my profit, for I refer this Article to you. I send you a Letter which I writ unto them by Beawoisin, whom I charged to tell them and to do what you shall think fit. And for the payment of the said hundred Lances, A hundred pound starling. you must speedily find a thousand Livers to give them at their departure, for they shall make but a road to spoil and burn the corn and then return, which is ten francs a month for every Lance: And seeing they have no Archers, and continue but eight or ten days, it must suffice them, it is fit to find a means to recover the said thousand Francs either by confiscation of Corn or otherwise. And if it should come to the extremity that you could not find it before you want, take it upon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphin●, to whom I writ expressly: but use such diligence as the said men at Arms may part the 25. day of this month, and if you take any money up in Dauphin● I will repay it. My Lord Governor, the greatest service you can do me is to use such speed as you may burn all their Corn betimes, for thereby they shall be forced to speak plainly. I have spoken unto Captain Odet Daidre, who is well content to go thither, I send him unto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoil, in my opinion when you are all together you are enough. I send Yuon Diliers unto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc. I do also write unto de Charluz to gather together of his Franc Archers the nearest to those marches, to the number of three thousand, and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you, and that all be ready to part the 25. of this month of April. And for the payment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc, and of the said Franc Archers, I writ unto the General and Treasurer of Lanquedoc that they cause four thousand Francs to be delivered unto them, that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances; and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs. I do also send Destueille to Monsieur Dalby, who carries a commission directed to him, to Monsieur Charluz, and to the said Destueille, and to every of them, to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter, to the end the men at Arms may have no want: but you must have a care that under colour thereof none be carried to Perpignan. I have given charge to the said Beawoisien to be governed by you, and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dauphin●, the said Beawoisien shall bring unto me Hardovin de la jaille, whom I have written to S. Priet to send me. I have sent unto you Raoulet of Balparque, and Claux the Canonier to assist you, employ them well, and spare nothing. The Seigr of Bouffille shall part within two or three days, and in my opinion with those hundred Lances, with yours, those of Dauphinè, Lanquedoc, and of Captain Odet, with the three thousand Franc of Archers, you shall have forces sufficient to spoil and burn their whole Country, and to take and beat down their paltry places, or ruin and burn such as you cannot beat down. I do also write unto the General, Treasurer and Officers of Languedoc, that they do whatsoever Monsieur Dalby and you shall command them. Beawoisien shall tell you the rest. Farewell my Lord Governor, I pray you let me understand of your news. Written at Senlis the 9 of April V. Lewis, and underneath: N. Tilhart. The King's army besieged Parpignan Siege of Parpignan. D. john King of Arragon maintained the siege, the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succour him, and forced the French to retire; Lewis hearing of this shameful retreat, commanded his Captains to return speedily, and to take the place or to die there. The siege continued eight months, the besieged were wonderfully priest with famine, for when as they had eaten horses, dogs, Cats, and Rats, they devoured their flesh that were slain at assaults, choosing rather to die after this manner, then to return under the command of the French. Famine and yielding of Parpignan. Yet their obstinacy was no hindrance from letting the K. suffer them to feel the effects of his Clemency, receiving them upon composition, even when as they could no more. u The obstinacy and fury of a Town besieged, should not hinder the bounty and clemency of a Prince. Laurence Palatin of Hungary, being amazed that the Emperor Sygismond left them their lives & goods, and held them for good subjects whom he had vanquished, answered in this manner. I kill my enemies in pardoning, and in doing them good I bind them. Aeneas Sit. lib. 3. Com. So the Cont●e of Roussillon remained to France all the reign of King Lewis. King Charles his Son restored it to King Ferdinand. x Charles the eight yielded the County of Rossi●lon to Ferdinand King of Arragon, & did acquit him of the same for the which he was engaged, this was in the year. 1494. It had cost the King his Father many men and much money. His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times, that the country of Arragon was a Churchyard unto the French. Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men, for this war continued long▪ A Peace was mass made betwixt Lewis and D. john King of Arragon and Navarre, Ambassadors from the King of Arragon sent into France. whose Ambassadors being come into France, were well received and graciously used by the King, who gave them two cups of gold weighing forty marks, y As a weak Prince should not make any show of his forces, so he that is mighty glories to show what he can. The King out of one City of his realm musters a hundred thousand men in Arms, the 20. of April 1470. and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crowns of gold, and to the end they might judge of the whole piece by a pattern, he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Arms, they did muster a hundred & four thousand men, the Original saith they were all in one livery in red Casacks and white Crosses. The fortune of the house of Armagnac was entangled in that of Arragon. john Earl of Armagnac expelled his Country. john Earl of Armagnac had married joane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earl of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon. This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis the eleventh in the fury whereof he found first the loss of his liberty, then of his goods, and lastly of his life. The King could not forget with what vehemency he had followed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weal, after that he had promised to retire himself from all Leagues and associations, contrary to the King's intentions, nor with what affection he had followed the youthful follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother, who had restored him to his lands, contrary to his commandment. In the year 1469. one called john Bon of Wales in England brought letters unto the King, which King Edward had written to the Earl of Armagnac, Accused by a welshman. and the answer which the Earl made him. The King reading them with the passion wherewith he was possessed, and easily believing one man alone a To draw many heads in question upon the report of one tongue, is an act of extreme & odious justice. Grave militibus visum quod in causa falconis multos milites ad unius servi testimonium occidi preceperat Pertinax jul. Capitol. to ruin one who was worth many, and who would cost him much, thought that infidelity was no new thing in a spirit who had already showed the proofs, and without further inquisition sends the Earl of Dammarting with twelve or thirteen hundredth Lances, and with ten or twelve thousand Franc Archers to seize upon the Earl's person, lands and estate. Being come into the Town of Rhodets, he put the whole Country into the King's hands, His lands put into the King's hands. changed the officers, and caused a Proclamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet, that no man of what estate or condition whatsoever should advowe himself servant nor officer to the Earl of Armagnac, nor make any poursute for him, upon pain of confiscation of body and goods. b There is nothing so powerful nor fearful as a public declaration of the Prince's hatred against any one, especially among a people which esteem not their Governors but by the authority and credit they have with their Superior. In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly lose himself for another. Good men are loath to draw their friends into danger. As it is an office of friendship to run into danger for ones friends, and rashness to go into perils without occasion, so it is cruelty to bring others into danger. The Earl of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Siegneuries which did belong unto the Earl of Armagnac. If he took his part, as some taxed him he did contrary to the duty of a General, who should content himself with the glory of the command and execution c The glory & honour of well executing the commandments of his Prince, serves for a booty, in the distribution whereof he that commands must consider that there is not any thing for himself. Themistocles seeing a great number of Collars & chains in the enemy's Camp said unto him that did accompany him. Take off them for you are not Themistocles. and leave unto the soldier that which concerns profit. The Earl of Armagnac seeing that he must have time to clear these brutes, He retires to Fonteraby. and that oftentimes Innocency is forced to yield unto a sudden event, d We must give time to broils to make them vanish away when there is no means to resist. Innocency itself is troubled when she is surprised. Relinquenda rumoribus tempus, quo senescant innocentes recente invidiae impares. Tac. An. Lib. 2. was advised to go out of the Realm and to retire to Fonteraby with his wife, being loath that his person should be at the Earl of Dammartins' discretion, who being advertised of his flight, passed on, and seized upon the town of Lestoré. The Court Parliament of Paris upon the informations of the Intelligences which the Earl of Armaignac had with the enemies of the Realm decreed a personal adiournment against him. His process was made by reason of his contumacy, e The first default was obtained the 24. of November 1469. the second the 19 of February▪ 1469 the third the 6. of August 1470. and before that the E. of Dammartin had seized upon all the County of Armagnac. and by a sentence given the 7. of September 1470. he was condemned to lose his head. But he was in a place of safety, whereas the sentence could not be executed, having an intent to let them know, which had condemned him, that he was alive. After that he had for two years space endured the miseries and discommodities which they suffer which are expelled from their own houses and live in a strange country, having tried that the wandering stars were as unfortunate as the fixed, f There is no such sweet abode as one's own house. They which bold them happy that run from Province to Province, are like unto those (saith Plutarch) which judge the wandering fl●rres more fortunate than the fixed. and sought by all means to return into the King's favour: Returns into Guienne under the Duke's protection. when as he saw that by the resolution of the Estates, held at Tours, the King's brother left Normandy, and took Guyenne for his portion, and that he was arrived at Bourdeaux, he thought that he could not find a better refuge nor portion then with him, he acquaints him with the misery of his life, which was such, as living, his life was nothing but a living death, g It is not life to stand always in fear ● fall in to the hands of a mighty enemy, which hath long arms, Ita vivere ut non sit vivendum miserimum est. Cic. and the power which his enemies had against his innocency. The Duke of Guienne pitied his estate, and gave him provision to be restored to all his lands. This displeased the King, who saw that the Duke of Guienne joining with them whom he held enemies to the Crown, and continuing his poursute of marriage with the Duke of Bourgondies' daughter, Army of the King in Guienne. might revive the League which he had smothered. This fear h A Prince can make no greater show that he fears his vassal then when ●hee retires from him. Alexander by bis proclamation gave leave to all banished men to return into their countries except the Thebans, and therefore Eudamidas said that Alexander feared none but the Thebans. Plut. caused him to send 500 Lances with Footmen and Canon unto the fronter of Guienne, deferring a more private revenge against the Earl of Armagnac until another time. He felt it cruelly after the death of the Duke of Guienne, when as the King sent the Lord of Beaujeu, Brother to to the Duke of Bourbon, Siege of Lestore. the Cardinal of Alby, Bishop of Aras, the Seneshals of Tholousa and Beaucaire, the Lord of Lude, with many other Captains, and a great number of Soldiers with Artillery, who laid siege to Lestoré and continued it six or seven months. The Earl of Armagnac sent them his Chancellor being Abbot of Peasant i The Deputies for the Earl of Arma●gnac were the Abbot of St. Denis and Bishop of Lombes, with the Lords of Barbasan, Raulsac and Palmarieux. to tell them that it was not needful to employ such great forces against him, The Earl desires a safe Conduct to justify himself. that the King's commandments should find no resistance in his country, that all was under his obedience and disposition, yea his person, so as it would please the King to give him good security, that he might go unto him to justify his life and loyalty. The offers were not accepted, k It hath been always found strange that a subject whose will should be converted into obedience and his reasons to humility, should capitulate with his Prince. The Duke of Nemours, the Earl of St. Paul, the Duke of Britain, and the Earl of Armagnac repent it to late the Capitulations of an Inferior being then more odious than they have been since with Kings. All the Country was overrun, spoiled and ruined, and yet the Earl would not suffer his people to defend themselves, declaring always that he was the King's servant, desiring nothing more than to justify himself, offering to deliver up the Town of Lestoré, and for a greater declaration of his will, he caused the white Cross and the Arms of France, to be set upon the Towers and Walls. The Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinal of Alby seeing that without hazarding the kings forces they might enter the place, Accord made with the E. of armagnac. by an accord which the King was not bound to keep, l This Maxim That a Prince being forced to make a peace or treaty to his disadvantage may fall from it at his pleasure, had already taken footing in the councils of Princes. they entered into treaty with the Earl of Armagnac, and it was agreed: That the said Lord of Beaujeu, as Lieutenant to the King, having special power so to do, did pardon all crimes and delicts which he might have committed against the King, as well in adhering unto the Duke of Guienne m The Earl of Armagnac had followed the D. of Guienne in the war of the Common weal, and since had termed himself his Lieutenant General. as otherwise. That no trouble nor hindrance should be given to himnor his servants going nor coming. That he might go safely unto the King with a hundred or sixscore Horses, without Arms to justify himself of those crimes wherewith he was charged, according to the offers made by him. That the Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinal of Alby should obtain all Letters and expeditions necessary for his better assurance. That in the mean time he might remain in his Country of Gascoine in what place he should think good, except the Town of Lestoré, the which should be delivered into the hands of the Lord of Beaujeu. It was also agreed that in case they gave him not this assurance, n A man of quality should desire nothing more than to make his innocency known, and to see himself purged from all accusation. For the consideration of their honour many have desired to be arraigned. or that the things promised were not effected, the Town of Lestoré should be restored unto him. The Lord of Beaujeu having received the King's commandment upon this accord, & the assurance demanded, Lestore recovered by the E. of Armagnac. he sent it unto Barran, whereas he then was, by the which it was granted him to go unto the King with threescore horse. But in steed of going thither, he executed an enterprise, which he had upon Lestoré, by the means of john D. Aymier. The younger brother of Albert surprised it, o In the Earl of Armagnacs defence, it is said, that seeing that the Lord of Beavieu commanded him to void the Country, he required him to restore him the Town of L●store seeing that he had not any Town whether to retire himself, and that it was delivered. and took the Lord of Beaujeu with the Noblemen and Gentlemen that were with him prisoners. D' Aymier was quartered at Tours, and the younger brother of Albert, being Lord of St. Basile, lost his head at Poitiers. Hereupon new forces are sent to the Cardinal of Alby and to the Seneshals of Toulouza and Beaucaire to beesiege Lestoré. The siege continued three months, and the Cardinal seeing that force would not prevail, p To make men subject either force or fraud must be used, Sparta was forced by Alexander, Siracusa deceived by Denis. he added policy, for Towns and Commonweals lose their liberties and are made subject by the one or the other. They propounded again the precedent condition of the accord. A second accord made with the Earl of Armagnac The Abbot of Pessans, Bishop of Lombes & Chancellor to the Earl comes on his part to treat; they granted the assurance which he desired to go unto the King; a bolition of all things past, & of the services which he had done in the Duchy of Guienne against the King, pardon for the Noblemen & Gentlemen of his party, & of all that had been done in the surprise of the Town of Lestoré. q This treaty justified the E. of Armagnac if it had been represented, but it was not seen. They say that the Earl's Secretary, who had it in his custody, was threatened to be ●ast into a well, if he delivered it not to the Cardinal of Alby. In consideration of this he delivered up Lestoré unto the King. The articles were signed by the Cardinal Ranfort, Balsac, Gaston of Lion, & john Daillon Lord of Lude, on Thursday the fourth of March 1472. In execution of the treaty the Earl of Armagnac delivered unto the Cardinal the Castle of Lestoré, caused his men to disarm, and retired his Cannon, making all the ports to be set open to the King's men. r They that trust are easily deceived. The wise prepare themselves for dangers in assurances. In ipsa securitate animus ad difficilia se preparat. At this entry there was a great disorder, the treaty was broken, Earl of Armagnac slain under the assurance of a treaty. the Earl of Armagnac was slain in his house, and cast naked into the streets, the Townespoiled, the Countess of Armagnac carried prisoner into the Castle, and within few days after was delivered of a Son before her time, the Castle and walls of the Town were razed, and it was fired in every place, and in the end all were entreated with that liberty which the rigour of war permits against Towns and people that rebel. s Razing, burning, and sacking, are the ordinary punishments of rebellious Towns. Alba was razed, Carthage burned, the V●iens were r●oted out. So we find in the Roman History upon the punishment of revolts & seditions, Muri deiecti senatus abductus. Charles of Armagnac the Earl's Brother was carried prisoner to the Bastille. Charles of Armagnac a prisoner and mad. This Imprisonment which continued fourteen years bred him wonderful sorrows and grief, and as the passage is not great from melancholy to madness, his spirit grew weak, and made him incapable to rouse the enemies of his house. They gave him certain Noblemen of the Country to be his governors. Many have written the Taking of Lestoré, and the death of the Earl of Armagnac after an other manner, and such, as if they which had undertaken to justify his memory had held it true, it had not been forgotten in their Apology. t The Pagans did so much respect others as they held a Periur●d man to deceive the Gods. In sui ran●um perinde estimandum, quam si iovem fesellicet, Deorum Iniurias Diis curae. Tacit. The more promises are coloured with strange ●aths and mysteries, the more they are to be suspected. The Accord made betwixt the K. of Navarre, & Charles Regent of France, was sworn upon the Sacrament. They say therefore, that the Cardinal of Alby entered into some treaty with the Earl of Armagnac for the assurance whereof he used a damnable policy, Treachery most damnable. for seeing that the Earl feared to fall into the King's hands, he swore his promises by the most solemn mysteries of his Religion, giving half a consecrated Host unto the Earl and himself taking the other half. That in the mean time the soldiers slipped into the Town, and that the Earl, meaning to charge them, fearing a surprise, u Until the capitulation be made, all policies, all surprises are allowed. They laugh at them who suffering themselves to be surprised in those bargains, cry out of disloyalty. In courses of hostility there is nothing more excellent than deceit, nothing more safe than distrust. they cried out for succours, the King's Army entered by the breaches which the cannon had made, the Town was spoiled and ruined, all were put to the sword, and the Earl slain. The Lord of Beaujeu with the other Gentlemen prisoners were delivered. Such was the Tragical and fatal end of the Earl of Armagnac. Fortune, who desired to overthrow the greatness of his house, blinded his eyes that he could not apprehend the dangers which did threaten it. She had not a more powerful instrument then the hatred which the King bore him. A hatred conceived long before, nourished and augmented, by many free & hardy actions. He was therefore environed with so many perplexities and perturbations as he needed no more to let him know her constancy, and to ●make her not as straw which smokes x Affliction hurts some and profits others, as in the same fire. Auruin rutilat, et palea fumat, et sub eadem tribula stipulae ●o●min●untur, frumenta purgantur. We must not consider that which is endured, but he that endures, and after what manner Tantum interest non qualia sed qualis quisque patiatur. Nam pari modo exagitatum exhalat horibiliter C●num et s●a●iter Fragrat unguentum. Aug. but as a precious metal which shines and is purified in the fire. They were so extreme as if in the beginning they had let him see the least part, or the choice of a cruel death, with what a resolution would he have embraced this, to avoid the miseries of the other? The most violent torments which a body can suffer are but light scratchings in respect of the burning wounds of the heart's grief. His Conscience gave him deep ones, for they writ that he had offended not only the King's Majesty by this third revolt, but also that of the living God by a notable villainy, Incest of the Earl of Armagnac. marrying with his own Sister under a false dispensation. y They say that Ambrose of Cambray Feferendarie to Pope Calixtus the fourth gave this dispensation for money, for the which he was accused and imprisoned in the Monastery of Mont Olivet. A conjunction as abominable now by religion, as it was in former times to be desired by the reason of necessity. z We read in the 17. Book of the City of God an excellent passage upon these incestuous marriages. Commixtio▪ sororum et fratrem quanto sit antiquior compellente necessitate, tant● postea facta est damnabilior religione prohibente. Presently after the death of King Lewis the eleventh Charles of Armagnac his brother besought King Charles the eight to restore him to the lands and estates of the house of Armagnac, and to be admitted to answer the accusations laid against his brother showing that by the severity of King Lewis the eleventh and by the great credit which his enemi●s had, Memory of the Earl of Armagnac restored. he could never obtain a safe conduct to come and justify himself. King Charles by the advice of the Princes, Prelates and other Noblemen of the Realm granted it, the third of April 1483. and he was restored to the possessions of the house of Armagnac. After whose death many pretended the succession. a The Pretendants were Catherine of Alencon Countess of Laval. Charles D. of Alencon, Charlotte of Armagnac, wife to Charles of Rohan. Alain of Albret. The Cardinals of Luxembourg. Lovise of Lion wise to Charles bastard of Bour ●on Seneschal of Thoulouza. Francis Philebert of Seissell. Afterwards the Court of Parliament by a decree of the seventh of September 1510. b The Court of Parliament declared the goods of john of Armagnac forfeited to the King, and the seventh of Sept. 1470. Forty years after on the same day they receive his heirs to purge his crime, and to rasie his memory. received them to justify the Earl's memory. Charles Duke of Alencon, whose Grandfather had married the Earl of Armagnac's Sister, drew his justification from the same reasons by which he was accused. They said he had received Letters from the King of England, and that john Bon had brought them unto the King, with the answer. His innocency therein was very apparent, for if he had received his letters and would have made any answer he would not have given them back unto the bearer. They were cunning practices, said the Duke of Alencon, of such as have governed Lewis the eleventh to tempt the fidelity of the Earl of Armagnac and to have a share in his spoil. That if john Bon had been a true messenger to the King of England, as he made show to be, he had not carried the Letters unto the king. That the Earl of Armagnac was naturally an enemy to the English, Earl of Armagnac a great enemy to the English. and being at Font arabic, he carried himself in such sort towards them, as men wondered how he could be banished for favouring them. c He that will justify himself must live in such sort among them where he is exiled as his innocency may be apparent, and his return more easy. There have been banished men, who for the Integrity of their lives have been more happy among strangers then in their own houses. He would not suffer his servants to confer or converse with the English which did traffic in that country: and it happened one day as the young men of Bayonne were come to dance before the Countess of Armagnac, his wife, an English man having a red cross upon his breast slipped into the hall, with the people who are accustomed to follow dances. The Earl who held the meeting of an English man with a red Cross for as bad a presage, as the ancients did a Moor with a crown of Cypress, d The ancient Superstition held it a bad presage to meet with a M●ore, as Plutarque notes in Brutus. The Emperor Severus meeting a Moor carrying a Crown of Cypress on his head. Iratus ab occulis removeri precepit et coloris eius tactus emine, et Corona. commanded his Gentlemen, namely Carbon and petty Santignem to drive him out, and as they ran after him with their naked daggers, Mauleon his Stuard stepped betwixt them, saying that they were in a strange country, and that the Townsmen might rise against such an act, which the Earl of Armagnac seeing, he took his Stewards staff and chased the English man out of his lodging, making him to leap down the stairs. That being parted from Fontarabie, to go unto the Duke of Guienne, by chance he found an English man at the Sea side, whom he caused to be taken and carried him prisoner to Lestoré, only for that he was an Englishman. King Francis the first, King Francis quit his pretensions to the Contie of Armagnac. e Marguerite of Orleans or of valois the only sister to King Francis 1. was first married to Charles D. of Alencon, and next to Henry the second of that name, the 26. King of Navarre. the first year of his reign, by his letters patents given at Compeigne in February 1514. resigned unto the Duke of Alencon and to the Lady Margaret his wife and their children, all his interest, upon certain conditions, the which happening, it fell to the house of Albret. john Duke of Alencon was so wonderfully grieved at the miserable fortune of the Earl of Armagnac, as all his affections grew cold to the King's service, and carrying always from that time this ulcer in his breast he sought the Duke of Bourgondies' protection. All which did but hasten his misery and the loss of his liberty. We must end this discourse with these words, that the reputation of the services of the Lords of the house of Armagnac done to France against the English, freed him from all suspicion of intelligence with them, being most certain that they were never no good English men, they have always resisted them, they have spent their lives and goods to expel them out of the realm, and had detested them, having slain their Predecessors cruelly and inhumainly. f Bernard E. of Armagnac Constable of France for maintaining the quarrel of the Crown, was slain at Paris, and flayed. He served the King so courageously as all good Frenchmen were called Armagnacs. But such was the misery of the Age as they must advow that which was believed more by conjecture then by assistance. He that is held of all men to be wicked, is forced to do wickedly. All waters return into the sea from whence they flow. This goodly Province of Armagnac consisting in the lands which are called the Counties of Armagnac and Falensac, base Armagnac, Perdiac, Biran and Baran in the Viconties of Lomagne, Awillar, Fesensaguet and Brouliois. In the Siegneuries of Lectoure, Auzan, the base river whereas Castellnau stands, and Malbourquet, Aure, Magnoac, Barrouce & Nests is wholly come to the crown of Navarre, under the reign of Henry of Albret King of Navarre, Earl of Foix and Armagnac. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF of the sixth BOOK. 1 THe Duke of Bourgondies' discontent for the death of the Duke of Guienne. 2 Cruelties committed at Nesle in Vermandois. 3 Memorable Siege of Beawais. 4 Spoil done by the Duke of Bourgondies' Army in Normandy. 5 The King draws the Duke of Britain from all intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy. 6 Ambitious desseines of the Duke of Bourgondy, for the which he goes to the Emperor Frederic to Treves. 7 Assembly at Bowines, and the Resolution taken against the Constable. 8 The King and Constable parley upon a causey, having a bar betwixt them. 9 New designs of the Duke of Bourgondy in Germany. 10 The King stirs up the Arch Duke of Austria, the Swisses, and some Towns in Germany against the Duke. 11 Peter of Hagembach, the Duke of Bourgondies' Lieutenant, beheaded at Brissac. 12 Army of the Duke of Bourgondies in the County of Ferrette, and upon the fronter of the County of Bourgondy. 13 Places taken and burnt by the King's troops upon the fronter of Picardy and in Artois. 14 embassage sent by the King unto the Emperor Frederic, who makes answer by an Apology. 15 Continuation of the Siege of Nuze: the Constable's policy. 16 Edward King of England passeth into France, and sends Letters of defiance unto the King. 17 Wisdom of the King to avoid this storm 18 The Duke of Burgundy leaves the siege of Nuze. 19 The Constable fails of his promise made to the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy. 20 Overture of a peace betwixt the two Kings, and conferences of their deputies. 21 The King labours to make the Duke of Burgundy understand the Constabels double dealing. 22 Truce for nine years betwixt the two kings, wherewith the Duke of Burgundy is discontented, and the words he had upon that subject with the King of England. 23 Good cheer made to the English at Amiens. 24 Interview of the two Kings upon the Bridge of Pyquigny to swear the peace. 25 Words which escaped the King upon the treaty of the peace. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE SIXTH BOOK. IF the death of the Duke of Guienne had not put this exception into the King's mouth, Matters are changed, his word which was a The simple word of a Prince binds him as much as oaths do private persons. Alfonso Panormi in his life. as much as all the oaths of his religion, bound him to restore Amiens and St Quentin to the Duke of Bourgundy. The Duke, who was then in Ar●ues to recover them, seeing that the King had changed his mind, resolved to lose all, or to have all. He wrote unto the Towns to rise against him, and speaks more unworthily of him, Death of the Duke of Guien●e breaks the Treaty. than Artaban K▪ of Persia did of Tiberius, b Suetonius writes that Artaban railed of Tiberius by his letters reproaching him with his murders, Parricides cowardice & veluptuous●esse, Parricidia, caedes ignaviam & Luxuriam. he exclaims of him as a Tyrant over his subjects, a Murderer of his brother, and perjured of his promises, and in this fury he gins to make war by fire, which he had never done. A kind of hostility unknown to Christians, and to those generous Nations which carry not their sword to kill, but in fight, c To spoil the vanquished, to put th●m toransome▪ and to waste their countries is the justice of war, but this was never allowed ●fter a victory, w●en as an enemy yields. It is a wicked thing saith Plato in his commonweal, to burn, spoil and make one an others country wholly desolate, it sufficeth to carry away their annual fruits. and who hold that the fewer they kill the more there remain to honour their triumph. He besieged Nesle in Vermandois, Cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle. into the which the King had put a Captain called Petty Picard with three hundred Archers of the Isle of France, who defended the Bourgognons' assaults valiantly, but being priest by necessity, he accepted of a composition for himself and his men, to departed with their lives and Arms. But the treachery was strange being followed by an excess of brutish cruelty. As soon as the besieged were disarmed, the Bourgundians ●lue them. Every man thought that the Church should have been a Sanctuary unto him, every man ran thither, and the soldiers made such a slaughter, as the blood ran in all places. The Captain and his companions were hanged. The Duke was no less pleased with the blood than the sack of the Town. Entering into the Church he spoke these words more fitting for a Busiris, then for a Christian Prince, and of the blood of the most Christian Kings. d In the Chronicle of Lewis the eleventh these words are read upon the desolation of Nesle. On Friday the 12. of june 1472. the Duke of Bourgundy entered the church on horseback, the which was half a foot deep with the blood of poor Creatures which lay naked and dead there: And when as the said Bourguignon saw them in this manner, he began to smile and said that he saw a goodly sight, & that he had with him many good butchers. Behold this is goodly, I have good Butchers. Inhuman words of the D. of Bourgundy. The grief for the death of Monsieur, and for the loss of S. Quentin, transported him to these outrages, which then were noted by the Cassandra's of those times, to be the chief cause which provoked God's justice to cut off the course of his days in revenge of innocent blood. e A cruel prince continues not long. The Emperor Anastasius the fourth, was so, and had no religion. In the end an old man with a sour countenance appeared unto him in his dream, & said unto him, for thy impieties I cut off fourteen years of thy 〈◊〉, & he died instantly. Paul Diacre. Lib. 15 As this Prince's hart was inflamed with choler, so his cruelties continued, for having caused Nesle to be razed, he presented himself before Roy, which yielded without defence. Loviset of Balagny, Movy and Rubemprè, who had about two hundred Lances, went forth with the loss of all that was within it. The victors gained by this booty above an hundred thousand crowns. From thence he thought to surprise Beawais; the measure of the ladders were as ill taken as his designs. Choler carrying him to rashness, f when as the judgement is darkened with Ch●ller, Cruelty makes it to take strange resolutions. Valentinean was cruel because he was choleric, As soon as any word was spoken crossly unto him, Choler transported ●im beyond the bounds of reason & was the cause of his death, all his inward parts were found dried up & burnt. and that unto indiscretion having failed in his first design, he desired, saith Phil. de Commines, to take it by assault and burn it. He caused them to discharge two pieces of Ordinance, which made a great hole in the gate, whereas the besieged defended themselves courageously, and in the end set fire of it, Siege of Beaunais. which troubled the assailants, so as they could not stop the approaches towards Paris. An error which ruined their design. An error which a General of an army should foresee, and which had undone Caesar before Alexia, g Caesar won great reputation at the siege of Alexia, where he did besiege and was besieged. There were a hundred and seventy thousand men within the Town, and three hundred thousand without, yet he kept them from joining, and forced the Town to yield. Plut. if he had not prevented it. An error which was the preservation of Beawais, and did show the injustice of the enterprise, and that there is in heaven an allseeing eye, which blinds malice. innocency were in a hard case, if wickedness were always accompanied with wisdom, she hath more fury and rage, than conduct and resolution to hurt. These approaches remaining free, Succours sent by the K. to Beawais. the besieged were relieved with victuals & munition from Paris and Orleans, h Orleans released Bea●●ais with a hundred pipes of wine. Paris with pioneers, Canons, Powder, Bows and Arrows. and with good numbers of foot and horse. The chief honour of these succours is due unto the memory of the Earl of Dammartin, and to the Marshals joachim and Laheac, who being followed by many other Captains were no sooner entered, but hearing the assault, left their horses with women which kept them, and went directly to the walls to repulse the enemies and their assault, the which continued from seven of the clock until eleven before noon, on Thursday the 9 of july 1472. in the which the Duke of Bourgundy lost fifteen or sixteen hundred men. The next day i The History names them that were at this succours, the Earl of Dammartin, the Marshals joachim, and Loheac, William of Vallee, Crusol, Rubempre, Estout●uille, T●rey, Bueill, Salezard, Vignoles and Croy. Captain Salezard performed a generous Act: Occasion, Brave exploits of Captain Salezard. k We must always watch for occasions and embrace them, Vespasian did often use the words w●ich Pittacus had taught him, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Know the time, they said at Rome, I came in time. As we must not under take any thing before an occasion, so we may not let it pass. without the which it is folly to undertake, and also folly to let it slip gave him the means. The loss of so many men in this assault, the expectation and fear of worse had struck a great amazement into the assailants army. He made a sally at the break of day, surpriseth the enemy in his Camp, fires it, kills all he encounters, wins two Bombards wherewith the Town had been battered, two Serpentines, one great Canon of Brass, which they called one of the twelve Peers, which the King had lost at the Battle of Montlehery. Although that in these occasions many have no more share in the pain and peril, l An unprofitable presence ought to have no share in the glory of a painful action. than the fly hath in the labour of the Ox, or the running of the horse, yet all say we have pursued, we have vanquished, and every man ascribes unto himself the best part of the glory. The men which were at the siege of Beawais could not deny it unto women, Courage of the women at Beau●ais. for they presented themselves valiantly, and more than manlike upon the walls, casting wildfire stones and scalding oil and water upon the enemies. There was to be seen in the jacobins Church of Beawais an ensign which a woman called joane Foucquet wrested out of an Ensigne-bearers hands who had gotten to the top of the wall. This did show that virtue makes no distinction m In Plato's Commonweal, women are called to politic and military charges. Antisthenes did not distinguish masculine from seminine virtues of sex, and that there are women to be found, which may teach men to live and die. The Duke of Brittany had promised the Duke to come before Roven n If the Duke of Guienne had not died, saith Phil. de Com. I believe the K. would have been much troubled, for the Britons were ready, and had greater intelligence within the Realm then ever, all which failed by reason of this death. to help him to besiege it. Spoil done to the Duke of Burgundy's Army. The Duke of Bourgundy went, but he appeared not, for Monsieurs death had made all his desires subject to the yoke of fear and reason, so as he was contented to burn all that quarter of Normandy, even unto the gates of deep. The same furies of war which the Duke had caused to be seen in Normandy were heard upon the frontier of Champagne, whereas the Earl of Roussy, the Constable's son, led them. The Earl Dauphin of Awergne did the like in Bourgundy, and in all places the victory was not famous but by the lamentable estate wherein the vanquished were left. The King had affairs o That victory is famous which doth subdue an enemy, and not make him perpetually miserable. The Consul Popelius stripped the Ligurians of their goods, and sold them as slaves, having vanquished them. The 〈◊〉 found this Act to be cruel and revoked all that had been done, concluding Claram victoriam vincendo non saeviendo in afflictos fieri. Tit. Liu. in divers places: when as he turned head against the Duke of Bourgundy, he was sure to have the Duke of Brittany at his heels, and having separated them with a design to pacify the one and content the other, he sees them united again to make war against him. The Duke of Brittanies' Ambassadors came unto the King being at Pont de See, and brought words and offers of affection and service on the Duke's behalf, who feared that the King would make some sudden invasion, The D. of Britain demands a peace. having an army of fifty thousand men ready to fall upon his country. The King with all his forces p A Prince should never do all that be may against his enemies. would not do what he might do against these giantlike enterprises, reserving his thunderbolts to an other season. The more slowly Princes take Arms, the more difficult it is to draw them out of armies; he resolved to vanquish without fight, and considering that the Lord of Lescun was the first link of the chain of the Duke of Brittanies' Council, that all the judgement, conduct and experience in Brittany did lie in the person of this Nobleman, q Phil. de Com. speaking of the Lord of Lescun saith, that there was neither judgement nor virtue in Brittany, but what proceeded from him. who after the death of the Duke of Guienne his master had retired himself to the Duke of Brittany; a good and a loyal French man, who never would consent that the places of Normandy should be given unto the English, he thought that if he could draw him to his service, the accord which he should make with the Duke of Brittany would be more firm, and withdrawing him from the Duke of Bourgundies' alliance he should make him so weak as all his forces would not suffice for his defence. The King draws the D. of Brittany from the Duke of Bourgundies' alliance There r When as the Prince hath won him that is in most credit and authority with him with whom he treats he doth work his affairs safely and with advantage. is nothing so easy as to bring one whether necessity drives him. The Lord of Lescun being won gives the Duke his master to understand that there is no other safety for his affairs but the King's protection. The accord was made so as the Duke might have eight thousand pounds starling. The Lord of Lescun had a pension of six hundred pounds starling, four thousand crowns in ready money, the Order of S. Michael, the Earldom of Cominges, half the government of Guienne, the Seneshallships of Vennes and Bourdelois. The Captainship of one of the castles of Bourdeaux s K. Charles the seventh having taken Bourdeaux again, he caused two Castles to be built. Castle Trumpet towards the Sea, and that of Du Han towards the firm land. which King Charles the seventh had caused to be built, and those of Bayonne and St. Severt. Essars and Souppleinuille, instruments of this negotiation, were also rewarded, t Phil. des Essars a Gentleman of the house of Britain had 4000 Crowns given and six score pounds star●ing for yearly pension, with the Baillewike of Meaux, and was made Master of the Rivers & Forests of France. Souppleinuille who did belong to the Lord of Lescun, had six thousand crowns in gift, a pension, and offices fit for his quality. the King's bounty could not suffer any service to pass without recompense. Truce annual betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgundy. The affairs of Britain being compounded, the King went into Picardy. It was his and the Duke of Bourgundies' custom every year to make a truce for six months, in the beginning of Winter: during the which there were many voyages and conferences to quench the causes of war, which they held to be shut in the Constable's thoughts, who began to stand in fear of the Duke and to keep aloof from the King. Philip de Commines saith that the Chancellor of Bourgundy came to make it, but as it was the first year of his coming to Court, he was not very curious to understand the truth, the which is drawn out of the Articles that were published and signed by the Earl of S. Paul Constable of France, and by Philip of Croy deputed for the King, and Guy of Brunen Lord of Imbercourt, and Anthony Rollin Lord of Emery for the Duke of Bourgundy. The Deputies promised to cause this Truce to be ratified by the first of December, it ended the first of April following, betwixt which they should meet at Amiens u This assembly was appointed in Amiens the first of December 1472. to treat a peace and the restitution of St Valery which the D. of Bourgundy demanded. to treat a Peace. The Constable following the intention of the King his Master, and that which had been treated with the Lord of Lescun, would not have the Duke of Britain comprehended in the Truce among the Allies of Bourgundy. The Deputies showed that the Duke of Britain their Ally did rely upon them x To forget Allies in Treaties and Accords is an injury against the law of friendship. unde maiores cum qui socium fe●ellisles in virorum bonorum numero non puta●●erunt haberi oportere. Cic. our Elders did not hold him worthy to be put in the number of good men that deceived his companion. that they could not forget them in the number of their friends; that he had not disclaimed their friendship; that they held him yet for their Ally, and that he had often abandoned them by Letters and words, and yet had been firm to them in effect. That youth did inflame his blood, but reason did still reclaim him. That the Duke did then name him among his Allies, leaving it to his choice by the first of February whether he would be comprehended among the King's Allies or the Dukes. There was no remedy. The King would have fifteen days to name his Allies, and eight days after to add such as he should forget. The Duke of Bourgundy, Ambition's designs of the Duke of Bourgundy. who would spend the time of Truce in great imaginations, which filled his head with fumes, and his heart with perpetual flames, propounded to ally himself unto the Emperor. He desired to extend the bounds of his Empire from one Sea unto the other, his spirit went still on and never looked back. y It is an error in Princes that they seldom or never look behind them. They consult upon the passage, but never upon the return. Leopold Archduke of Austria talking how he should pass an Army of twenty thousand men into the Can●on of Su●its. Kune of Stock his i●ster said unto him: I will not follow thee thou talkest how thou shalt enter, but thou never dreamest how thou shalt come forth. Leopold was defeated a● Morgarten. Munster. The like was said unto K. Francis the first by Amarillis, upon his proposition to pass th● Alps. He held himself King already of one part of Gaul, he devoured all Germany in Imagination: God had given him great Provinces which he thought deserved a more stately Title then of Duke of Earl: for the obtaining whereof he made a voyage to Treves to the Emperor Frederi●, having made a very sumptuous preparation for the solemnity of that public declaration of King of Gaule-Belgicke. He came thither about St Michael in the year 1473. the Emperor went to meet him, D. of Bourgundy goes to the Emperor to 〈◊〉. conducted him into the Town, and offered him his lodging. The Duke was contented to return and lodge in a Monastery without the Town. To have that which he pretended he offered unto the Emperor the marriage of his Daughter with the Archduke Maximilian his son, who succeeded him in the Empire. It was an Act of wisdom in the Duke z A Prince should always provide that his successor be not uncertain Ne successor in●erto ●it. This certainty prevents, practices and partialities. , to provide for the succession of his Estates, seeing that he had but one daughter, but it was vanity to buy the Title of a King so dearly. The crown, the Sceptre and other royal ornaments were made, there was no let but in the Emperor why the Duke did not use them, but having demanded unpleasing conditions, their interview broke off, and neither Royalty nor marriage succeeded. The Emperor not to delay him and abuse him, refused him the Crown suddenly, a Although▪ they hold sudden refusals to be the best, and that he which denies speedily abuseth least, yet when he that is refused mighty and may be revenged, they must win time wherewith all things are accommodated. departed secretly from Treves, and embarked upon the Rhin without giving him any answer, The Emperor mocks at the duke's demand. not thinking himself bound to bid him farewell that was come without his privity. The Duke was left alone with his mouth open to the air of his hopes, swearing by S. George that Frederic should repent it, and that he would have by force that which he refused him upon his entreaty and merit. They continued a month together, the public discourses were of the means to make war against the Turk, the private past about this Royalty. Thus they parted both as much discontented, as they seemed pleased at their meeting. b Cranzius who writes this interview hath these words. Tandem minori alacritate digresti quam congressi sunt visi, In the end they parted with lesser joy than they came to gether. The Duke of Bourgondy visited the Lands that were engaged unto him, The Duke passeth by the County of Ferette. where his soldiers entreated the poor Peasants so cruelly, as from that time every man studied how to return to his first master: c The Duke was no sooner gone out of Brisac, but the soldiers spoiled the town, committing a thousand insolences and burned the Augustins Monastery. Colmar refused to open her gates. He passed his Christmas at Brisac and there ended the year 1473. In the beginning of the next he returned to Montbelliard, from thence to Besançon and then to Dijon. The ministers of both Princes foreseeing that whilst the Constable lived Peace would be uncertain, 1474. and that one and the self same Sun would see it spring up and die, they make religious remonstrances and full of Conscience unto their masters, and dispose them to a good reconciliation, for the which by their consents there was a conference appointed at Bowines, Assembly at Bovines. d This conference of Deputies for the K. and Duke of Bourgondy at Bovines, in the year 1474. was sought by Imbercourt to revenge the injury which the Constable had done him at Roy. near unto Namur. The King sent the Lord of Curton, Governor of Limosin, and john Heberge Bishop of Eureux. For the Duke of Bourgondy came William Huguenot his Chancellor and the Lord of Imbercourt. The first proposition was to make away the Constable who was much afflicted for the Duke of Guiennes death, it was the swarm which gave him both honey and wax. e A great authority cannot maintain itself in a season when it is not respected: that of the Constable could not continue but in war: war was his element, it entertained his Estates, & made him to be respected both of the King and the D. of Bourgondy. They held him to be a spirit of discord from whence came all Inventions to make peace of no continuance and war everlasting, Resolution taken to do justice of the Constable. and to maintain his authority in Confusion. They said that he was like unto the bay tree in the haven of Amicus which they called mad, for that one branch of it being put into a ship, all that were in it fell to jars and division. whereupon they resolved that who so could first seize on him, should put him to death within eight days after his taking, or deliver him to the other party, to dispose of him at his pleasure. The best resolutions vanish away as soon as they are discovered: The Constable had an inkling of this proposition, f Great affairs should be managed with secrecy & judgement. The resolution taken at 〈◊〉 against the Constable was not secret, he was advertised, and by this means anoided the storm which threatened him, but this was but to defer an inevitable mischief. and assembled all the tricks and devices of his brain to break off this assembly: he advertised the King how the Duke had sought him, The Conble creeps into the King's favour to draw him to his party, and of his great attempts to shake his loyalty, and with what constancy and generosity he had rejected his offers, having no desire to affect any greatness more assured nor any assurance more happy than the service of his King, without the which there is not any thing in the world, that deserved his love or remembrance; beseeching him. Not to believe the passions g It is necessary to have a sound and perfect judgement to discern with what intention advertisements are given, which concern the loyalty of a man of credit, for oftentimes they are the practices of Enemies to make them frustrate. When a Prince is jealous of his good servants, he remains at the discretion of others Zenon used this policy against Phalaris. of the Deputies of Bounines, who set his head to sale to make a cruel sacrifice thereof to the Duke of Bo●rgondies revenge, and to satisfy his discontent for that he could not draw him alive unto his service, nor persuade him to so base a treason against his Prince. The King believed him the more easily, for that he knew well that the Deputies of Bovines were the Constable's enemies in particular, and desired to find their revenge in his disgrace, with the two Princes. The private h A man that hath power & authority, and aspirces to more cannot endure to be ●rost or contradicted. Crastus' being in an assembly which was held ●or the dividing of the governments of Provinces, seeing himself gainsaid by another, be flrooke him on the face with his first, & sent him away all bloody. Plut. hatred grew for that the Constable in an assembly held at Roy had given the lie unto the Lord of Himbercourt. A lie given ● the Lord ● Himbercourt. A man of authority and great dignity will not be contradicted, all the reins of patience break, but truth is so precious an ornament unto thersoule, as when it is disrobed thereof it is no more known. A liar is like unto a counterfeit piece, no man will take it: and when as the tongue hath once learned to lie and to gainsay her Conscience, it is hard to reclaim her. Every lie, especially in a gentleman, deserves degradation of Arms for a Month, or banishment from Court and algood company for certain days. i Alfonso K. of Castille son to King Ferdinand being at Burgos in the year 1368. made an order of Knighthood which he called the order of the hand, where among other statutes there were three remarkable. That the knight should be always true, and that he that should tell a lie, should go a month without a sword. That a Knight should always have good arms in his● Chamber good horses in his stable, a good la●ce at his gate, and a good sword at his girdle, upon pain to lose th●e name of a Knight: That who so had eaten any stinking things, as Garlic and Onions should absent himself a month from the Court, and not sit at the Knight tables. Whereupon the King who considered what force this injury might have with Himbercourt, dispatched a Gentleman presently with commandment not to probeed in any resolutions which concerned the Constable, The Constable gets a sa●e conduct to come unto the King. whom he commanded to come unto him and gave him all assurances which he demanded, he so much defied to draw him from the Precipice whether his Ambition led him. The King came near unto St. Quentin, spending the time in hunting about Noion, Compeigne and la Fere, to busy himself during his expectation of the Constable, who knowing the humour of this Prince to be full of revenge and disdain, and that contrary to the nature of Caesar he never forgot injury, he did capitulate for his safety of going and returning with conditions too hardy for a subject. His health was in humility, and he sought it in pride, k It is a great error in a Prince to entreat a subject like unto a Sovereign Prince. By enteruiewes of such inequality, there cannot grow any thing but contempt of the greater and undoubted danger for the inferior which made his precedent faults to be more apparent, and the least to be reputed great. They were forced to make a bar upon a Causey three leagues from Noyon, He comes unto the K. upon a Cauley. toward la Fere upon a river where the Constable had caused the Foards to be raised. This bar did assure that which was on his side, for the King had twice as many men as he, not daring to limit the number of those that should follow his majesty. He came first unto the Causey, & the King sent Philip de Commi●es to make his excuse for that he made him attend. The King came presently after and found the Constable armed with his Cuirasse under a lose Cassock, and followed by 300. Gentlemen. An act of a distrustful spirit and a guilty Conscience. l Bodies which are easy to purge are also to cure, but when the humour resists the Physic, the cure is very difficult. The Constable was sick of a burning Fever of Ambition, the humour which entertained it was pride, instead of purging it, he nourished it withal that might augment it, presenting himself before his Prince, as before his companion. A vassal should never m In certain Nations barbarously wise, no man how great soever presents himself before the King but in a tattered robe which covers his good garments, to the end that all the pomp should remain in the King. show himself with too much pomp or too great a train before his Prince. They are well advised who do therein rather follow the way of the ancient simplicity, than the new policy & vain ostentation which the flattery of the late-come hath so much commended. But in the most perfect judgements we see great imperfections. To stand always firm and never trip, is an admirable and divine thing. The King observed the Constable's bravery, yet made no show of it, The King dissembles the Constable's pride & insolency. and for that he held dissimulation the chief of all royal virtues, he did not forbear to commend his wisdom and government, desiring that he should believe the contrary to that which his heart thought. n It is a means to reclaim a spirit which hath strayed from his loyalty & du●y, not to seem to doubt of either of them, a servant hath been oft-times made faithful in thinking him to be so. Five or six Noblemen & Gentlemen which were at this Parle, grew amazed at his arrogancy, which in the end would ruin him that did rely upon it, would overthrow this Colosse, and break it in as many pieces as it had designs. It was a very sensible discontent unto the King o It is a Corrosive to a great Prince to see a treacherous subject treat and capitulate with him, like unto enemies. Tiberius could not endure it in Tacfarinates although he had great advantages in Africa demanding certain Towns of safety and retreat: he held himself contemned and the Senate of Rome wronged (saith ●acitus) to see that a trencher and a thief treated with him like a just enemy. Quod deserto et Predo hostium more ageret. to see that a subject who had left him, treated with him like unto a just enemy. As he advanced on his side of the bar, the Constable did the like to meet him, and doing his duty to his majesty he began to make his excuse, for that the just apprehension of his enemies bad designs, The Constable excused himself for that he came armed. who were about his majesty, and not able to charge him with any crime, charged him with envy, had forced him to come in that equipage, and to seek a place of safety and an assured train, lest their bad intents should be more powerful than his majesties wisdom and bounty: That he knew many built their hopes upon his grave, and the succession of the office of Constable p Many times great men have no greater enemies than their great offices and dignities. Those that effect them handy to their ruin My house of Albe (said a condemned Citizen) is the cause of my miseries. A quality which he desired not to hold but for his majesties service, and to make it known that it could not be conferred upon an honester man: That in all things which did concern the service of so great a Prince, and of so good a King, his affections should be without bounds The King received him graciously, entreated him as his equal, and seemed not to come with the majesty of a King. The King received him graciously. He passed q Majesty must always accompany a Prince, and if he will abate any thing it must not be in public. The Emperor Adrian was grieved when they took from him the content to lay aside Majesty and be familiar with his servants. Dyon. the bar for a greater proof of his confidence, and said unto him: That he was welcome, that he would not have him return without all the assurances that he could desire of his love: That he would forget all that was past, and respect him as the man whom he did esteem most, and held most profitable for his Realm, that whatsoever he should do for him would be less than his merit and desire. These words which seemed to come from the heart and from the purest of the King's thoughts, bewitched the Constable's senses, so as he could not consider that Princes do cover their disdain with false and deceitful embracings. The Constable seeing that he had passed so many sands and shelves without shipwreck, was nothing the more humble, not caring to oppose his modesty r Courtesy appeaseth hatred, modesty Envy, Virtue Contempt, and wisdom teacheth to march strait betwixt ennie and contempt. to the envy of some, nor his discretion to the contempt of others. He passed the bar on the King's side, followed him to Noion, & renews the promises of fidelity which he had made to abandon all Intelligences and practices which he had with his enemies, and gave a promise in writing unto the King. They were the seals whereof they spoke in those times, and are so often seen in the History of Alliances and Treaties of Peace. This being done he returned to St. Quentin▪ being amazed in himself how the King had so cunningly dissembled s The dissembling of apparent faults and which cannot be disguised is dangerous for a Prince, for he whose fault be d●ssebles grows more distrustful and fears that it is to take revenge at a more convenient time which fear makes him resolve to prevent it, Valens having discovered some soldiers faults did not punish them, yet he accused them lest that dissembling should make them resolve to do worse. Et ne dissimulans suspect●or foret. so bold an affront. The King sad that with patience and letting him alone he would effect his will. When as resolution and custom encounter with power and authority, there is nothing impossible. Moreover a great courage masters all, things go from one extreme unto another, that which is raised up falls, the hard is mollified, the obseure, profound and secret is discovered, we must only win time which doth daily produce changes contrary to men's imaginations, yet the King's servants murmured that he had endured the contempt of a Vassal. That a subject, said they, should be so rash, as to demand assurance to come unto his Prince. The Swisses t Caesar would not rest satisfied with the Swisses promises without bestages. Divico one of their Commanders answered for them that they had learned of their elders always to receive hostages and not to give, and that the people of Rome would know what to say. Caes. lib. 1. were grieved (although ruined and in disorder) to give it unto Caesar, saying, that they had been accustomed to receive and not to give. What Insolency and presumption after that he had obtained assurance to choose out a place of advantage upon a Causey, guarded with soldiers, presented himself armed unto his master, and at need three hundred Gentlemen against him, who had no means but by the fees u In France the fees are notable signs of the Princes sovereign power: they were in former times but for life. Hugh Capet made them hereditary, upon condition that they should serve in the war. which they held, and are not entertained among his men at Arms, but with his money? That a King should endure a bar betwixt him and his Vassal to talk together, you will not believe it, you that shall live after us, and endure the pain of such an indiscretion. A great Prince, who dares not refuse his subject any thing, is faint hearted. x To give all that is demanded is the act of a man that is not of himself but depends of another. Mucho pied el loco, mas loco es elque lo da. A feal demands much, but he is more fool that gives it. It is an act of a free courage to refuse something of a great Prince, to know what should be demanded or denied, and above all not to grant that lightly which being once given cannot be recalled, nor taken away. O Constable, thou hast done, thou hast done so bold an act, as thou shouldst be careful it should not be known that thou hadst once presumed to think it. The King dissembled all, and although he would willingly have forgotten it, yet he tried how difficult a thing it is not to remember an offence. He could not lose that which he could not keep, and always his memory was full of the portraits of the Causey and Bar, The King still remembers the Causey and bar. but he would give the sinner time to repent. y As soon as a subject of quality stra●es from his love and duty, they must seek to reclaim him but first by mildness before rigour. It is good to take time to be advised. The second thoughts correct the first. They 〈◊〉 Cecinna for too great heat in the punishing of offences giving them no time to repent. Proximam quamque culpam antequam penteret ultum ibat. Tacit. Lib. 17. The first offence was punished before they could repent. The event doth judge of his Counsel, for by the mildness of his words, and his good usage of the Constable, he kept him from a leap which he was ready to make unto the Duke of Burgundy's discretion. Yet the King did study of this insolency. The Constable desiring rather to err in advancing himself too much, then too little, z We may faite equally in esteeming a thing too much or not enough. showed his contentment. a Modesty requires that the great contentments which are received by the 〈◊〉 good countenance, should not be showed by the excess of joy and insolency: the pleasure of the m●●d whic● is invisible, should participate of her nature and not be seen. The King kept his discontent secret, and bridled his choler, upon this consideration; that a revenge deferred may be executed: and being once executed it cannot be recalled. He kept his design to be revenged very secret under shows of great love; yet resolved not to die before he had trodden the Constable's pride under his feet, and that he had made him stoop, and eat the ground, and his fingers to remember himself of his duty, and that he must not play with his prince, no not with his picture. b Any thing that concerns the Prince, is sacred, it is a crime to touch it without respect. It was a Capital offence to sit near unto Augustus' statue, and to have carried his image into any place that was n●t honourable. 〈…〉 saith. Haec quoque Capitalia eran; circa Augusti simulachrum servum sedisse vestem mutasse, nummo vel anulo effigiem impressan latrinae a●●lupanari intulisse The Constable on the other side grew more insolent and glorious, his servants said that their master was safe, that in this action the King had showed that he feared him, that the storm from which side soever it came, would still pass over his head & never hurt him; that his merits would shield him from all the practices of his enemies that no man durst attempt against his person, & in a word, that they could not be without him. They did not consider that they never sped which strived to go before all men and would not follow any. c The torment of an ambiti●ious man is double, he fea●es to come after others and desires to go before all. Seneca speaks eloquently. Ambitus tumida res est vana, ventosa, nu●lum ha' bet termimum: Tam solicita est ne quem ante se videat, quam ne se post alium. Sen. Epist. 4. Ambition is a swelling thing, vain and windy, it hath no hounds. It is as careful not to see any o●e before it, as not to see itself after any. At that time there was a truce betwixt the King and the Duke of Burgundy, New designs of the Duke of Bourgondy the King had no thoughts but to unite the wills and affection of his subjects to his service, and to punish the obstinate. The Duke of Burgundy, who had set no other limits to his ambition, but the point of his sword, was in Guelderland, a Province which Arnold Duke of gelders, to punish the vanaturall ingratitue of Adolph his Son, a prisoner at Gand, with a just exheredation, had given to the Duke at his death. These designs did rise one upon another, like mountains of billows which break of themselves, they were infinite, and the execution of one was the beginning of another, his spirit d A spirit which is every where is no where. To end one design 〈◊〉 must not begin many. There is a difference betwixt doing many enterprises and many things. wandering every where, was never settled in any place, he desired that which he had not so vehemently, and did hope for it so impatiently, as he did not care for that which he had gotten, he played always and did not know the fortune of the game, yet could he not retire himself. He had a goodly Army at that time, of his own subjects and strangers English, and Italians: Presumption, which doth always corrupt the judgement, darken reason, blind the understanding, and stir up will against judgement, made him e When as Ambition hath placed the seat of his Empire in the fantasy of a Prince who hath youth, forces and courage, it makes him resolve upon all sort; of designs, and will not suffer him to have any bounds 〈◊〉 measured hopes. imagine that there was not any greatness in the world that could be comparable to his. He resolved not to see any thing betwixt Bourgundy and Holland but under his power, he promised all this unto himself in taking the Countries of Colleyn and Lorraine. He held the County of Ferrete by mortgage from Sigismond Arch Duke of Austria. The Princes of Germany, who had not said any thing, whilst that this Prince was busy with his forces along the River of Meuze, could not now be silent to see him in this design to pass the Rhin. When as the forces of a great Prince stir extraordinarily, then less estates unite themselves closely together. f The increase of a warlike Prince's estates makes other Prince's jealous. To exceed the bounds of his Empire is an alarm to his neighbours. Augustus' advised Tiberius to restrain the Roman Empire within certain limits: whilst that the Duke of Bourgondy made war in France the other Princes stood at a gaze, but when b●e discovered his design to extend farther, they sought to hinder him. The Duke besieged Nuz, and coloured his design with the pretensions of the Archbishop of Colleyn against the Landgrave of Hesses' Son, but there was no other title but that which ambition carried on the point of his sword, he had no other design but to block up Colleyn and to mount up the Rhin as far as Basill. Many advised the King to hinder the increase of this Prince's greatness: 1474. the Counsels ●auored of their humours that gave them, g Counsel's ●auour of the passions of Councillors. It is discerned in the disease's of an Estate as well as in th●se of the body. Tullius Marcellinus being sick of an ineu● able disease, called his friends together to determine of his death. unusquisque aut q●ia timidus erat id illi suadebat ut ●ibi suasisset, aut qui● adulator et blandus id confilium dabat, quod deliberanti gratius fore su●picabatur, Sen. Epi. 77. Every man either for that he feared persuaded him that which he himself would have embraced or being a flatterer be gave that Council which he thought would be most pleasing unto the party. the fearful told what they would have done in the like occasions, flatterers did fit their opinions to his taste. They which marched more sincerely; and whose wisdom and experience had refined their judgements, told the King that he should wish there were more ambition h An ambitious enemy must have more work made him then he can compass. ● Max me whereof Lewis the eleventh made good use, against Charles D. of Bourgundy. in the Duke than he had, having no better means to be revenged of him then to suffer him to proceed in the trial of his design against Germany, for it was a Rock on the which his designs would break; that he should find opposition there, that having taken one place he would attempt an other, and would never be satisfied with one enterprise, that the more he should be engaged the further he would engage himself. In a word he would see himself reduced to these tearmas. To embrace too much and to hold little. The King, who knowing well that the Duke's profoundest ears and cogitations were to draw the English into France, The Duke of Bourgon die draws 〈◊〉 english into France sought unto him for a prolongation of the Truce. Either of them sought to cirumvent his companion, i To deceive an enemy with hopes, and propositions of an accord and Truce is hold wisdom, but the Romans could not allow of any profit which it brought them. Veteres, saith Tit Li●. novam istam sapientiam improbaba●r, nec astu magis, quam vera virtute bella gessisse ma●●res etc. The ancient did not allow of this new wisdom, neither did our elders make war more by craft then by virtue. their talk was of Truce, but their thoughts tended to war. The Duke priest by the English to come into France to join his forces with theirs, said, that he could not yield unto it, excusing himself upon his word given unto the English. Upon this refusal the King provides him work of all sides; He puts Rhine Duke of Lorraine in mind of the injury the Duke haddone him in holding him prisoner. The King stirs up enemies against the Duke of Bourgondy Rene incensed with this remembrance, sent a Herald presently to defy him. In like manner the King persuaded the Archduke Sigismond to redeem Ferrete and the Towns of Basill, Strausborug, Colmar and others interessed in the Duke's designs, to furnish the money, to free the Country from so troublesome a Prince, k The King was well served 〈◊〉 this negotiation by one called julius of Silligny a Suisse borne, he was Bishop of Lion and afterwards of Grenoble. and themselves from so terrible a neighbour. By this means the Duke was stripped of the Provinces engaged, and disappointed of the conqest of Germany, whereof his people had already made a Map. l When as Princes make a design to conquer a Conquer a Country, they which desire the execution talk of it continually, and represent it in portrait. The Athenians did nothing but talk of the Conquest of Sicily, when as the voyage of Niceas being resolved he did draw out upon the ground the form of the Island, numbered the ports & the means it gave to attempt upon afrique. Plu. in the life of Niceas. At the same time that this remboursment was appointed and the money consigned, the Archduke Sigismond caused Peter Hagembach the Duke's Lieutenant General in all the Countries engaged to be taken prisoner. His Process was made by seven and twenty judges, two of each Town Strausbourg, Basill, Schletstart, Colmar, Kentzingem, Freibourg, Newembourg, Soleurre, Berne, eight of Brissac, and the Precedent of Ensisheim. Their proceed in justice was speedy, the fourth of May they committed him to prison, and put him to the rack, on the ninth, they brought him before his judges, and gave him an Advocate. Death of Peter of Hagembach Governor of Ferette. Thy accused him of many violences, insolences, and concussions, and having no means to justify himself, they condemned him to lose his head. There was no help, he must undergo it. He carried for his device three Dice, with this Motto jepasse. m Peter of Hagembach lost his head at Brisach the 9 of May 1474. by torchlight. His Laqueis & servants carried his device of three dice, with this motto jepasse. At that time this distique was published. Omnis spes fallax, sed fallacissima ludi Hagembach Ich pass, spes stulta fuit, He passed indeed the most cruel in excess and cruelty, His crimes & injustice. his cruelty to men, and his impiety to God, brought him to this scafold to be a mornfull precedent of the wretched end of an unrestrayned, unjust, and unsupportable power, and that to command people long and safely it is better to desire to be loved then feared, n After that Philip King of Macedon had vanquished the Cities of Greece, they counseled him to put in good Garrisons to assure his Conquest. I had rather, said he, be called gentle for a long time, then Lord for a short. to be good then mighty. Lewis made all the instruments of these counsels to work, he was the master-whele of these great motions, and thought so to distract the Duke of Bourgundies' mind into divers parts, as he would forget the designs which he had in France, and that he should be at rest whilst his enemy was in trouble. The death o The greatest policy of State is that which the most politic Roman Emperor did practise. Pacem in Vrbe, bellum pocull habere. to have peace in the City and war a far off. of Hagembach did much offend the Duke, he commanded his servants which were in Bourgundy to over run the Country of Ferrete. Upon this commandment the Marshal of Bourgundy of the house of Neufchastel, Army of the Duke of Bourgondy in the County of Ferette. one of the four Ancients of Bourgundy, p They have given the honour of antiquity, nobility, valour and greatness to four houses of Bourgundy, Vicune, Chal●n, Neufchastel and V●rgy. came about Montbeliard to have the place yielded unto him, and towld the Governor that if he did not yield it, he would bring the life of the Prince of Wirtemberg into danger, whom the Duke had caused to be taken near unto Luxembourg. q Henry of Wirtemberg taken prisoner in the war in his youth by Charles Duke of Bourgondy in the year 1474. Eberhard his uncle held his prisoner in the year 1499. Munster says it was for madness. He died in the year 1519. and was father to George Earl of Wirtemberg. He answered that this Prince was not justly taken prisoner in any good war, that he had Brethren interessed in the guard of the place, and to whom he was bound to keep it. A brave answer. He that commands a place should not leave it, but like an honest man. The blood of his children spilled before his face should not move him. r In the year 1292. Schane Castille brother to Sancho King of Castille, besieging Tariffe, sent word to Alfonso, father to G●● man, Governor of the place, that if he yielded i● not he would put his only son whom he held prisoner to death: Alfonso answered. I will not fail of my duty for a hundred Children, and if thouthen be'st so greedy of the blood of mine, here take my sword & use it. Soon after being at dinner with his wife he heard a great noise, and supposing it to be the enemy, he went directly to the wall: where they told him that they had seen his son slain: I had thought said he that the enemy had been entered the town, & so returned without any sign of trouble in amazement. An admirable constancy. They of Basill being advertised that the Duke of Bourgundy practised Montheliard to be assured of the passage, sent men thither. The Marshal of Bourgundie gave the Contie of Ferrete in prey to his army. Laague made against the the Duke of Bourgundy. The Swisses being assembled at Lucerne, could not suffer their neighbours to be so ill entreated. They declare war against the Duke of Bourgundy and send him the Patents which they call friends brief, Letters of enemies. The Marshal of Bourgundy made answer thereunto, and felt the blows as soon as the threats. The first of November the troops of the Cantons and other Towns their confederates against the Duke of Bourgundy, came to Basill which furnished them with Canon and Munition, Hericourt taken by the League. and then they marched directly to besiege Hericourt, a Town belonging to the Marshal of Bourgundy, who presented himself with 10000 men to raise the siege, but he was repulsed with the loss of above two thousand, Stephen of Hagembach, brother to him that was beheaded, yielded the place upon composition to have his life saved. Many were carried prisoners to Basill, and burned alive, by judgement of the Magistrate for crimes which cannot be too severely punished. s There is no wickedness that is new, but hath some precedent. In former times we have heard speak of all the the disorders & villainies which are now committed by soldiers. The Chronicle of Basill says, that these men were burnt for Sodomy, forcing of women, and for that they had profancd Churches, and trodden the holy Sacrament under foot burnt, murdered and sowed up women's privy parts. In those times they made no war in winter, the soldiers retired to their garrisons, It began again in April the next year very furiously, and the King was forced to enter into it. The Germans and Swisses complained that he stood gazing on them that fought: King's army in the Duke of Bourgundies' country. every one laboured to ruin the house of Bourgundy, whose greatness made all men envy, and whose dissipation promised profit to many. t A mighty Prince that is envied of many maintains himself hardly, & that state which is least envied is most durable. The Emperor Frederick put men and victuals into Nuz, and presents himself with all the forces of Germany to make the Duke dislodge. The King makes war against him in Picardy, Bourgoundy and Artois. The Duke of Lorraine sends him a defy. The Swisses besiege Pontarlier upon the river of Doux, they take Blammont, orb brings them the Keys, and in two months they become Masters of nine towns or castles. The Bourgoundians burnt, 40. villages about Pourrentru and Montbeliard and spoiled all the Mountain. All this amazed him not, the more enemies the more Triumph. The greatness of his designs made all difficulties small. They could not represent unto him so many inconveniences, but he did hope for more profit by this German war. Places taken by the king's troops in Picardy. The King took the Castle of Tronquoy by assault: Mondider and Roye yielded by composition. Corbie endured 3. days battery. Those two towns were burnt, contrary to that which Philip de Commines had propromised them in the King's name, making the capitulation. It was not his intent to have this war continue long, but to force the Duke of Bourgundy to prolong the truce, and to content himself with two or three enemies which he had without the Realm. It was not that which the King's friends desired, for they were discontented to see him a neuter, whilst that he encouraged them to fight, and this neutrality did not diminish the number of enemies, nor of friends. x Although that neutrality doth not bind friends nor ruin enemies, neque amicos parat, neque inimicos tollit, yet when a Prince hath means to be as he may be 〈◊〉 he exceeds either in greatness & dignity, ●r in force and power then that contend, he hath always the honour to be arbitrator & judge. But for petty Prince's neutrality is dangerous. They must either be the strongest or with the strongest. On the other side the Duke of Bourgondy feeling the secret blows which the King gave him, desired rather to have him an open enemy. He was also so full of revenge and indignation against the King, who had gathered together all the clouds, and winds to raise this storm against him, as he would rather have troubled Hell, than not to let him know the fury of his passion. His resolutions were so strange as they did not promise him other safety than danger. Danger in the continuance of the siege of Nuz: danger in a new war against the Swisseses, and danger to serve himself with the succours of England, which he attended impatiently. The King commanded the Bastard of Bourbon, Bastard of Bourbon makes w●● in Artois. Admiral of France, to carry a burning bosom into the countries of Artois and Ponthieu, upon the advice which a Lady gave him, y Philip de Comines saith that they gave credit to this woe man, for she was woman of state, but he commends not her deed, for that, saith he, she was not bound unto it. She received great losses in this war, which the King repaired, the which she repent: for she was singed in the flames of that fire which she herself had kindled. At the taking of Arras james of Luxembourg, the Counstables' brother, with the Lords of Contay and Caroucy were taken prisoners. The King sent john Tiercelin, embassage sent by the King to the Emperer Frederick. Lord of la Brosse unto the Emperor Frederick, to advise of the progress of his forces against the Duke, and to invite him to do the like for his part, that they might divide his spoils betwixt them; the Emperor taking for his part the Provinces which depended of the Empire, and the King those which did hold of his Crown. This Ambassador, more faithful to him that sent him, then pleasing to him to whom he was sent, reaped no great fruits of his Legation. An apology for an answer. The Emperor's answer was by this Apology. Three huntsmen going to take a Bear which did annoy the country, had drunk freely upon credit in a Tavern upon an opinion of profit which they should make in selling the skin, and their Host increased their reckoning, a Example is a very good means to persuade, & may be framed not only of things done, but of those that are sayned, as fables be which delight & instruct Stesiarus used them in discoursing to the Imeriens, Esope to the Samiens, & Menenius Agrippa to the Romans'. coming near the cave where they thought to surprise him, the Bear came out unto them, and so terrified them, as one got into a tree, another fled towards the town, and the third not so good a footman, fell flat on the ground as if he had been dead, for he had heard say that this beast pardons dead folks, as the Lion doth them that humble themselves. The Bear put his mussel to his nose and ear, to judge if he were dead, and thinking him to be so, for that he held his breath, he left him. He that was in the tree and had observed all, asked his companion what the Bear had said in his ear, he told me said he, that we must never make bargin for the bears skin until he be dead. Whereby he would let this Doctor understand that they must first take the Duke, and then talk of dividing his spoil, and that there is no wisdom which holds firm when they must resolve upon that which is to come. b It is folly to deliberate upon things not yet happened; he that aims so far off never hits the white, we may well foresee divers accidents, but the variety is so great, as two or three may happen so little foreseen, as they may change all other resolutions. The Duke continued the siege before Nuz, meditating furious revenges against them that had so ill entreated his subjects. That great exploit of Arras where he had lost his chief commanders, did much afflict him, and the mischief had been greater if the Constable had not moderated it with an apparent falling from his duty and loyalty to his King, who had commanded him that when as the Bastard of Bourbon should enter into Artois, he should besiege Auennes in Hainault. He spent two or three days in that siege very carelessly without watch or guard. If there were courage and resolution in his troops, c Caesar said that he desired modesty and obedience as much in a soldier, as prowess and courage. Caesar. lib. there was little order and obedience. He retired to Saint Quintin, Intelligence of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgondy. fearing to lose that retreat, he excused himself upon an enterprise which he said he had discovered, d I heard his man myself by the King's commandment, who told so many apparent signs as he was in a manner believed and that one of them was suspected to have said some thing unto the Constable which he should have concealed. Phil. de Com. lib. 4. cap. 4. of two soldiers who bragged that they had been commanded and seed to kill him. He remained at Saint Quentin continuing the traffic of his faith with the two Princes. He sent the Duke word that he was very sorry the King made his profit of his absence, and he did advertise the King that the Duke's affairs were in good estate, thinking he should find no other safety then in the fears and alarumes which he gave them. But when as he saw that this Lion e Adversity humbles great men and makes them mild, as a quarte● ague, breaks the fury of a Lion. notwithstanding any fever or shaking that he had, grew nothing more mild, he thought that there was no means for his safety, but to keep a lose, and that his last refuge was to rely upon his first master, to whom he had offered entry into S. Quintin, thinking that his Brother james of Luxembourg would go thither with some troops, and not carry Saint Andrew's cross. He made these bargains when as fear priest him, and that he knew not whom to trust to divert the King's designs, but when as the Danger was past he would no more hear speak of his promises, and kept both ware and silver. He abused the Duke of Bourgundy thrice with such fictions, his brother being taken prisoner at Arras descovered it so freely unto the King, as it was a means to moderate the rigorous usage f A gracious & kind usage makes the misery of a prison more easy and supportable. Plut. in the life of Niceas which a prisoner of that condition might have. He was willing to shroud himself under the Duke of Bourgondies' protection, but he did foresee the storm would be so great as the leaves of the tree would drown him that should creep under it. He did apprehend nothing so much as the King's quiet, and peace of the realm. He gave advise unto the Duke to draw in the English to his succour and to revenge his Injuries, and upon this advise the English were solicited very earnestly to pass the sea. Edward King of England who was in his soundest years, Edward K. of England passeth into France. 1475 active and vigorous for a great design, lays hold of this occasion, in the which he did hope to recover the rights which his Predecessors had purchased for him upon the crown of France. He was soon persuaded to pass the sea, thinking he should have no more pain to conquer a part of France, than he had to reduce all England under his obedience. The remembrance of the succours which King Lewis the eleventh had given unto his enemy, added to the old quarrels which have made deluges of blood in this Realm, would not suffer him to pause and consider of the justice or injustice g trajan said they should never enter into an unjust war. He alone of all the Roman Emperors never lost Battle. of his enterprise. False Assurances given by the Duke a Constable. The Duke of Bourgundy assured him to join with his forces, the Constable did represent unto him the King's weakness and wants, offering him. S. Quentin to refresh him. Behold a great Army at Dover ready to pass. It did consist of fiveteene hundred men at Arms, fifteen thousand Archers on horseback and a great number of foot, all good and resolute soldiers having once continued any time on this side the sea. English very ready to pass into France. It was in his own will to make it greater, h There are none more simple nor unhandsome than the English when they pass first, but in a short time they are very good soldiers, wise and hardy. Phil. de Com. l. 4. c. 5. for there is not any enterprise in England that is seconded with more vows and voices, then that which is made against France. All the world runs unto it, their purses are not tied but with leaves of Leeks, for the King cannot exact any thing of his subjects but with the common consent of his Parliament, unless it be when he makes war in France. True it is that having employed some part of the money, levied for this war, about the affairs of his house, and finding himself scanted, he invented a mild course to have money, calling together the richest of the Realm, and representing unto them the greatness of his design, with the glory and profit which the realm might hope for, conjuring them to assist him with their means, and that in this occasion he should know them that loved him, although that he should be but a dispenser or Stuard i A Prince is but a receiver & distributer of the public money, and they that give it regard more the public necessity than the Princes private commodities Aristotle calls, him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Custodem dispensatorem ut communium non ut propriorum Polit. lib. 1. cap. 11. A keeper or distributor of that which is common not proper. of that which they should give, and he called this Tribute a Benevolence: some for shame, others for vanity, and some through zeal filled his Coffers. The Duke of Bourgundy sent ships out of Holland and Zealand to pass the Army. It made a number of forty or fifty thousand men, and threatened to do double effects. The Constable gave the King to understand that this Army of strangers should land in Normandy, and his advertisement seemed the more credible, for that the King knew that the Duke of Brittany had conspired with the King of England's designs. Hereupon there arrived a Herald who brought Letters of defiance from the King of England, Letters of defiance from the King of England. Letters full of bravery and boldness, and puffed up with the Duke of Bourgundies' passion, and the style k He brought unto the King a Letter of defiance from the K. of England in a galat style which I think was not done by any English man. He required the King to restore him the realm of France which did belong unto him, to the end he might restore the Church, the Nobility & the people to their ancient liberty, and ease them of their troubles and charges, and in case of refusal he protested of the miseries which should follow after the manner and form accustomed is like cases. CHRONIC. of some bad Frenchman. He demanded the Realm of France as his ancient inheritance, he declared his Arms to be just to recover it, and to set the French at liberty, and to deliver them from the oppressions which they endured. The Letter being read the King drew the Messenger apart, and spoke unto him alone with words of such Emphesie as he left an opinion in him that the King of England's enterprise, having no support but the weakness of the Duke of Bourgundy, the dissembling Constable, and the passion of some English, would not find any great credit in France, and so he sent him back with a present of three hundred Crowns and thirty else of Crimson Velvet, so full of good will as he promised not to return but to offer him a peace. The Chronicle says that the King sent unto King Edward the goodliest Courser he had in his stable, And after that an Ass, a Wolf and a wild Bear, all signs of affection and of other thoughts than war and hatred, for it is as great a testimony of friendship to receive a present as to give. l He that gives, offers friendship, & he that receives it accepts and binds himself to love. Wherefore among all the pride of the Romans they have noted this; to disdain▪ the presents which came not from friends. Pharnax sent a Crown of gold to Caesar, who sent him word that he should first do that which he was commanded, & then send him presents which Roman Emperors after the happy success of their enterprises were accustomed to receive from their friends. This great Prince, desiring rather to save a Citizen then to kill an hundred enemies, was resolved not to hazard any thing but money, preferring the price of an assured Peace before a doubtful victory, and notwithstanding that his Army was great and mighty, being in number above an hundred thousand men, yet would he show himself a Hercules m The Priests of Hercules Temples in Sicily told the Syracusans that they should be victors if they did not affair first, but did only defend themselves, for that Hercules had prevailed in all his Enterprises defending himself when they c●me to assail him. Plut. rather in defending then assailing. He knew the body was not well purged from those vicious humours: Considerations of the K. to have a Peace. that there were yet great winds to raise tempests & Earthquakes, that France was not without it, like unto Egypt. This descent of the English had three great passions to move it: Ambition; Revenge and fear. The King of England commanded in his Army, and Ambition commanded the King of England's heart, who promised unto himself the conquest of the whole Realm. The Duke of Bourgundy rejoiced to see the English revenge his quarrel, as they had before a wrong done unto his Grandfather. The Constable thought that he could not otherwise appease the growing fear, which presented unto him an infallible loss both of life and fortune, but in kindling these troubles. The King found himself much troubled to avoid this storm, Wisdom of the King to avoid the storm. he must needs content these three passions. He had many servants of whose fidelity he did not doubt, n It is a great advantage for a Prince against the discontentment of great men, to have the hearts and affections of his subjects firm. He may well assure himself against few enemies, but against a general what safety. Quello che ha per nemici pochi facilment senza & ●olti scandali si as●icura: ma chi ha per nemico universal, non si assicura may. Guicciard. lib. 11. Cap. 16. He that hath few for enemies, may ea●sly and without any great scandal recover himself, but he that hath a generality for 〈◊〉 can never be secnred. there was no rebellion discovered within any towns, yet there were many great men which promised unto themselves that the English would take revenge of their discontents. He feared that S. Quentin would be a prey to his enemies. He was no less troubled to keep the Constable from failing, then to seek means to punish his fault. He sent to have him come unto him, The King sends for the Constable. to join their Counsels together; and to prepare for a just defence against his enemies, promising to give him the recompense which he demanded from the County of Guise. The Constable let the King understand that he desired nothing more than to be near his Majesty, to yield him the duty of his service, and to make new vows of fidelity and obedience unto him, so as it would please him to swear upon the cross of St Laud that he would not do, He will have the K. swear for his safety. not suffer any harm to be done unto him. o Constantine would not go to the Court of Michael Paphlagon Emperor of Constantinople before he had made him swear his safety upon the wood of the true Cross, upon the Image of our Saviour, and upon the letter which he had written. Angarus. Cedrens. Ann. Pa. 607. It is in the City of Angiers where the people hold this old belief, that whosoever swear upon this cross and forswear themselves, die miserably before the end of the year. The King sent the Constable word that he had sworn never to take that oath to any man living, and that there was not any other but he would willingly take, although he should rely upon his word. p Prince's will be trusted of their word. It is a great rashness in a subject to make his Prince swear, & every oath as Plutarch saith, is like a torture given to a free man. This refusal did sufficiently discover the King's intent, and the Constable, knowing that he had once made no difficulty to take the same oath for the Lord of Lescun, thought that there was no other safety for him than not to come near the King, and not to see him but by his picture. In the mean time the English army past the sea, and landed with so great difficulties as they spent three weeks there, and if it had encountered any let, with that speed and diligence that the affairs q Caesar being arrived in England, having cast another admonished his Lieutenants and Colonels to diligence, for sea causes, being very sudden & mutable, they must be executed in an instant and in the turning of an eye. of the sea, which is sudden and mutable, requires, it had been dispersed of itself. One ship alone of Eu took two or three English. But the King understood not sea-matters, and they that had charge of his armies less than himself. The French have never done any great exploits by sea, although that their coast be greater than that of their neighbours, and that it is hard for a Prince that is not strong at Sea, r To be strong at sea is much more available the ●t land for the getting and keeping of a great estate. The realm of Portugal is grown mighty by Navigation. The Commonweal of Genou● had extended her limits far, is civil dissensions had not stayed their designs by Sea. ever to ecrease or maintain his Empire. If France had took delight at sea she had made the Flower-de-Luce to flourish far off, The French have contemned Navigation. but this contempt of naval expeditions hath clipped her wings with the which she should have flown so high as all the world had been amazed. They did believe in those days that who so was valiant at Land could not be so at Sea. A very prejudicial error, for a Captain that hath been accustomed to fight with the winds, sea and men, will sooner become a Captain at Land, where they fight only with men, than a land soldier will become a good Seaman. When as the King of England was landed at Calais, The D. of Bourgundy is priest by the English. and found not the Duke of Bourgundy, he held it for a scorn, and even then he discovered his weakness, and sent him word that if he did not advance he would force him to think of that which he did not desire. Behold this Prince reduced betwixt two extremes, all the wisdom of man could not show him a mean. He found it dishonourable to dislodge from before Nuz, and he found it dangerous not to join with the English. God had strooken him with an amazement for the good of France, for if he had attended the English at their passage, and not undertaken the voyage of Germany, those two Armies joined together had been able to do that which divided was impossible. When as the King of England priest him to come with speed, the Emperor offered him battle to make him raise his siege from before Nuz. At the same time when as both Armies were in view, and that Albert Duke of Saxony, who carried the Standard of the Empire, and Albert Marquis of Brandebourg priest the Emperor to command a chargr, the Trumpets whom they attended to give the sign sounded the publication of a peace, He is forced to raise the siege of Nuz. the last day of May. The secret Article carried this condition, that the Duke should give his Daughter to Maximilian and declare her heir of all his Estates, if he died without any son. Munster saith that the Emperor for the desire he had of this marriage did not all the harm he could unto the Duke, and that he gave him ten thousand florins. The Duke said that he did not retire but to obey the admonition which the Pope gave him by his Legate, to whom the place was delivered, to colour his dislodging with some show, the which was the more troublesome unto the Duke, s It is a disgrace to dislodg after a long continuance, which alone should force Towns. But he gave the Duke this contentment that his enemies were not comprehended in this Treaty. A conditionibus Pacis exclusi sunt Lud. Franc. Rex, Sigismundus Exarch. Austriae. Out of the conditions of peace were excluded Lewis the French King. Sigismond Archduke of Austria, Rene Duke of Lorraine and the Swisses. for that he knew the town was reduced to extremities, having neither patience, not bread, for above ten days, having endured a whole year all the attempts of the assailant, and all necessities which do afflict and make desperate Towns which are sharply besieged. He came posting with a small train to Calais, He comes to Calais to the King of England being loath to let the King of England see into what estate his wilfulness at this siege had brought his Army. t The Duke of Burgundy's army had been weakened at the siege of Nuz with the loss of four thousand men, the remainders did overrun the countries of Lorraine and Bar whilst with a small train he went to K. Edward to Calais. The Constable, who had presented a plank to pass the English into France, now draws it back. He had promised that as soon as the Armies were joined he would open the gates of S. Quentin, and he shoots at them that approach by the Duke's commandment. And yet to give a goodly name to a deformed thing u It is a great pity said Cato (〈◊〉 his opinion against Catelyve) that we are come unto those times where they do attribute the name of wicked things to good. Sallust. in cattle. he seeks to make him believe by Lewis of Creville whom he sent unto him expressly, that he had showed reason and discretion in the failing of his word, that if he had received his men without some kind of resistance he should make himself unprofitable for his service, lose the credit which he had with the French, and the opinion & esteem which the King made of his fidelity: The Constable assures the Duke of his service. That nothing could change his affection, whereof he would give him such infallible proofs against all men, and without any exception, beseeching the Duke that the Letter which he sent him might serve for an assurance of the same intention to the King of England. These words vowed and sworn with vehemency, held the spirits of these two Princes in balance notwithstanding that they doubted the contrary. x There is nothing difficult to believe when it is affirmed constantly and boldly sworn by any one, although he were held a deceiver. The efficacy of an oath if it do not beget credit in the mind, at the least it breeds a suspension and doubt of the contrary. Guiceiardin says in his first book. ●o non credo pu● quasi ●ssere qu●llo che multo e●●icacimentes afferma non faccia 〈…〉 negli animi de terminati a credere ill contrary. I do scarce believe it can be, but that which is 〈◊〉 with great efficacy will breed some doubt and ambiguity even in those minds that were resolved to bele●ue the contrary. Charles assured Edward that if they did advance St. Quentin was theirs. They that presented themselves first with an opinion to enter, The Constable fails of his promise to the K. of England and Duke of Bourgundy were forced to return their backs with speed and retire to the Army which followed. The King of England cried out of treason, and even then resolved to be mindful of revenge. y A failing in 〈◊〉 and faith is 〈◊〉 forgotten, and the remembrance hath always for assessors Choler, and Revenge. Darius for that he would not forget the wrong which the 〈…〉 done him, had always a Page 〈◊〉 ●●uld him in his care when he sale down to meat. Sir remember the Athenians. The Duke of Bourgundy gave excuses and said, that the Constable had a good intent, and that the place deserved some ceremonies, that he would not purchase that reproach to have yielded at the first sight of the enemy, and that he knew his humour not to attempt any thing, but when he may do it safely, profitably, and honourably. He thought otherwise in his heart, and Edward knowing well that the Constable deceived them, The K of England reputes that he believed did not conceal it that the duke had done him wrong to embark him upon his assurances. The Duke take his leave, under a pretext to go fetch his forces, and retired into Brabant to pass at Mezieres into the Duchy of Bar. The King of England did not like of the reason of his sudden departure, knowing well that the Duke's affairs were in no good estate, and might impair. The English were amazed and discouraged, as they are commonly which ground their enterprises upon the promises and passions of strangers. z They that have needs of foreign succours promise wonders to engage them, and do not commonly perform half their promises. Their wills wavered betwixt hope and repentance. For all the Towns whereof they promised themselves the conquest, and which they had sometimes held, they had only Perronne, and that was but by way of passage to refresh them. The season was incommodious. The Duke of Brittany remained quiet to see the game, and who should win. He had incensed the King too much, who had new drawn, from a Secretary of England, two Letters written by Vrse, a The Duke of Brittany promised to loin his forces with those of England, and to receive 3000. English. This design was discovered by two letters written by Vrse, who then served the D. of Britain. the one unto the King of England, and the other to Hastings his Lord Chamberlain, which discover his practices, and the promise which he had made to join with the English. All these reasons make Edward incline to a peace, he hath some about him would gladly have repast the sea: His chief servants were not very eager of war, and remembering the entertainment at S. Quentin, they found that the English were too blame to trust in the French against the French, and to believe that Ravens will pick out one another's eyes. The Ceremony was, who should speak first, there was not any one betwixt these two Princes that would attempt this mediation, they thought that he which should first demand a Peace had confessed himself vanquished. There is a great disparity betwixt the affair of Princes and private men, their rules and Maxims are very different, like to the Kings of Thrace, whose Gods which they serve are not the Gods of the common people. b The dissemblance of the affairs of great men shows itself in many respects and ceremonies which are not considered among private persons. The King of Thrace is distinguished from his subjects by the difference of the service of his Gods, he hath his apart which his subjects are not suffered to worship. Haward and Stanley, Occasion which caused an overture of a Peace. who were nearest about the King of England, offered an occasion to break this Ice: They had taken a Groom of the King's Army, who was sent back without ransom, as the first prisoner of the English. Being at liberty and ready to departed, Haward and Stanley said unto him. Recommend us to the good grace of the King your Master, if you may speak unto him. He failed not, and the King remembering what Garter had said unto him, found that his velvet had wrought. These salutations drove him into a great perplexity. Whatsoever comes from an enemy is to be suspect. He caused the messenger to be put in Irons, fearing that he was a spy; he is sounded into, and curiously examined by his most confident servants: he himself speaks unto him, and finds him constant without varying. This perturbation of mind held him until the next day with the which he sat down pensive to his meat. Posture of Lewis the eleventh, when he was pensive. When as he was in his deepest cogitations, the mind did so neglect the actions of the body and left them in such disorder, as no man would have taken him for a wise man. c Phil. de Con. represents in these worlds the grace of K. Lewis, when he had any fantasy in his head, As soon as he was set at the table and had studied a little as you know he did in such sort as it was very strange to them that did not know him, for without knowledge of him they would have held him unwise, but his deeds witness the contrary. After that he had been a while pensive, he told Philip de Commines that he should take away the table, and went to dine in his chamber, causing the servant of the Siegneur of halls to come unto him, of whom he demanded if he would go into the King of England's Army in the habit of a Herald. He had bethought himself of this man to whom he had never spoke but once, and notwithstanding that Phil. de Commines told him that in his opinion he had neither stature nor grace, yet would he not any other. judgement of the King to distinguish spirit's He had made choice of him as of a man of good understanding, and who had, as the History saith, a sweet and pleasing voice. He considered that if the charge he gave him did not succeed, he should quit in disavowing him, and make it known that he was but in a disguised habit like unto Comedians. d They demanded of Polistratidas Ambassador of Sparta if he came in the behalf of the commonweal, or of himself, he answered eloquently. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. If you grant me that which I demand, said Polistratidas, I will cause myself to be advowed, if not, I let you understand, that I have no charge. He would not accept this charge for any thing that Philip de Comines could say or promise him, he fell upon his Knees as if he had been condemned to die. e When as the King thought this man was in a good humour, he sent the master of his horse for the banner of a trumpet, to make him a coat of Arms, for the K. was not curious, nor accompanied with Heralds and Trumpets as many princes be. Phil.: de Com. l. 4. c. 7. The King came and spoke with him, and won him at the first word, A Herald sent to the King of England. promising him money, and the office of an Esleu in the I'll of Rez. He must be attired, and there was some trouble to make him a coat of arms, and more to send him away secretly and not to seen, but most of all to instruct him in that which he should say. His coat of arms was in a bouget behind his saddle, having commandment not to put it on until he did enter into the English army. Philip de Comines observes in this place the little care and curiosity the King had of the marks of the greatness of the Majesty of Kings, when he saith that there was not a coat of arms to be found in all his camp, and that they were forced to make one of the banner of a trumpet to attyer this Herald. Soweraigne powers were never without them. f Princes have always had marks of greatness & majesty. The Senate ordained four & twenty Sargents to march before Augustus. Before that the Roman Emperors had fire and a diadem for marks of majesty, they had maces and rods environed with boys. Excubiae arms cetera Anlae, saith Tacit, watching Arms and the rest of the Court. Being come into the army, he was conducted to the king of England's tent: they demanded of him what he was, whence he came, and what he would. His coat of arms made answer to the first demand, and for the rest he said, that he had commandment to speak unto the King, and to address himself to Haward and Stanley. The King of England was then at dinner, in the mean time they made the Herald good cheer, and then presented him unto the King to deliver his charge. Instructed by the Signior of Argenton. We must stand to that which he hath written that did instruct him, and who hath reported it after this manner. That the K. had long desired to be in friendship with him; and that the two realms might live in peace: and that never since he was King of France, The Herald's speech to the King of England he had not made war, nor attempted any thing against the King nor the Realm of England, excusing himself g These Prepositions seem nothing generous, they argue fear and ere unworthy of a great Prince, who should let his enemies know that he did not demand nor accord any thing by force. But Phil. de Com. excuseth the K. and saith, that: If God had not disposed the King to choose so wise a party, the Realm had been in great danger. Then he adds. We had then many secret matters among us whence had sprung great inconveniences unto the Realm and that suddenly if the accord had not been soon made, as well from Britain as other places. And I verily believe by matters which I have seen in my time that God had and hath a special care of this Realm. for that he had formerly entertained the Earl of Warwick, and said that it was only against the Duke of Bourgundy and not against him. He also let him understand that the said Duke of Bourgundy had not called him, but to make a better accord with the King, upon the occasion of his coming, and if there were any other that had a hand in it, it was but to repair their errors, tending to their private ends: and touching the King of England's interest they cared not what became thereof, so as they might make their own good. He also laid before him the time and winter which approached, and that he knew well he was at great charge, and that there were many in England both of the Nobility and Merchants which desired to have war in France. And if the King of England should do his endeavour to hearken to a treaty, that the said king would do the like, so as he and his realm should remain content: And to the end he might be better informed of these things, He demands a passport for a Conference. if he would give a passport for an hundred horse, that the king would send Ambassadors unto him well informed of his will, or if the king of England desired it should rather be in some Village midway, betwixt both Armies, and that the Deputies of either side should meet there, he would be well content, and would send a safe conduct, Many thought that King Edward would have said unto the Herald. We will talk in Paris. h Arsaces' K. of the Parthians sent to tell Crassus that if he were sent by the Romans to make war against him, he would have no peace: but if he came of his own free will to possess his Country, that then he would suffer them to departed with their lives and goods, whereunto Crassus said bravely. I will make you an answer in the Town of Seleucia: the Parthian Ambassador began to smile, and showing him the palm of his hand, he said. Crassus thou shalt sooner see hair grow in this hollow of mine hand, than the City of Seleucia in thine. but this first overture was so pleasing, Overture of a peace betwixt the two Kings. as he granted passports for the Deputies of the conference. England had rather forced then persuaded him to the Chimaeras of this war. He had levied great sums of money for his passage, the war drew them out of his coffers, peace kept them there and added more. Civil war had so weakened and impoverished England, as at need they could neither hope for men nor money. He had caused some of the Deputies of the Commons of England to pass with him, Reasons which persuaded the English to peace. they were already weary of the war and to lodge after the manner of Soldiers. These men did allow of this proposition of Peace, and said that it was just and reasonable, i It is a weakness in a Prince to make it apparently known, that he desires a peace. It is indiscretion to refuse it when it is just. If a Peace be just and honest, saith Polybius 4. it is in truth good and goodly: yet must they not do any thing that is unjust and unreasonable, nor suffer any shameful thing to be done to enjoy it. that it were indiscretion to refuse it, and that they should be contented to have reduced the French King to seek a peace with the King of England, for that a great King cannot humble himself more, nor descend lower, then to seek his enemy for a peace. Passports were dispatched of either part, and the Deputies entered into conference in a Village near unto Amiens, in view of both armies, which were but four leagues asunder. The Bastard of Bourbon, Admiral St. Pierre: and Heberge Bishop of Ereux for Lewis; Haward, one Challenger, and Morton who was afterwards Chancellor of England for Edward. The Overture of the assembly was by a demand of the Realm of France, which the English said did belong unto them, grounding their pretensions upon those of Edward the third k Edward the third King of England son to Edward the second, and to Marguerite or Elizabeth of France, disputed the Regency and Royalty in the year 1328. who as son to Elizabeth daughter to Philip the fair, had first disputed the Regency, and then the succession of the Crown, against Philip of Valois, thinking to overthrow the ancient order of the Salic Law. l The Salic law excludes women from the succession of the Crown, it carries these words. Nulla portio hereditatis mulieri veniat, sed ad virilem sexu●● tota terrae hereditas perveniat. Let no portion of the inheritance come unto the woman, but let all the inheritance of the land descend unto the Male. The English from a General demand come unto a particular, and restrain it to the duchies of Normandy and Guienne. It was answered that as Edward had no interest to the whole, so his felony had deprived him of the parts. m Edward the third did homage to Philip of Valois for the duchies of Guienne and Normandy calling him his dear Lord and Cousin, in the Cathedral Church of Amiens the 6. of june 1333. As the King was resolved not to give them any land, so would he not refuse whatsoever they reasonably demanded in money, when there is no question but of money, a Prince should not be sparing nor difficult. The safety and felicity of an estate is not measured by a certain price. n A Prince should not respect money to send away an enemy; and rather than to give him any part of his estate with the which he may live in fear to lose all he should hazard any thing. He winked at all that, as well as at sundry other formalities which the majesty of the Crown of France would not have suffered to pass in another season, for in all this negotiation Edward gave him no other style but his Cousin Lewis of France. He offers them threescore and fifteen thousand Crowns for the charges of the Army, Articles of a peace betwixt France and England. the Crown being 33. solz a piece; the marriage of his Son the Dauphin with the Princess of England, and a Pension of fifty thousand Crowns yearly until the marriage be consummated. These offers were accepted, a Truce was concluded for nine years, and Hostages given by the King of England for the retreat of his army. There was also a Compromise upon a penalty of three millions of Crowns to determine and compound their Controversies within three years by the judgement of four Arbitrators. Charles the seventh had expelled the English out of France by the sword, and Lewis hath sent them away with his pen. o We come to one end by contrary means. Charles the seventh expelled the English by force, and Lewis with store of crowns. Hannibal by cruelty ruled Italy, and Scipio by mildness Spain. The Constable thought that these mists, The Constable sends unto the King. entertained by the vapours of his policies would have lasted longer, and he was much grieved that the Sunshine of peace had dispersed them. He sent Lewis Cre●ille a Gentleman of his train, and john Richer his Secretary unto the King, to let him understand that he never had any design but to serve him faithfully, that the proof or his service was the refusal he had made unto his enemies of the entry into St. Quentin, The King descovers the Constable's double dealing to the duke of Bourgondy but he was of opinion that they should find some means to send back this storm beyond the Seas. The King who desired to have the deceiver deceived, p Deceivers are always deceived. They whom they deceive watch to requite it, and their own deceit ruins them. Hannibal after the death of Marcellus wrote to the Salapiens under Macellus name (whose seal he had gotten) that he would come unto their Town. The next night Crispin Lieutenant to Marcellus, who knew the deceits of Hannibal, gave notice of his death. Hannibal came to the gates of Salapia, the first ranks who could speak the Roman tongue, demand entrance. The guard being advertised and making a good show, suffered six hundred to enter, then letting down the Portcullis, they cut them in pieces. Plut. and that the Duke of Bourgondy should understand how this man cozened him with his double dealing, he caused the Siegneur of Contay to be set behind a portal, The Kin discovers the Constable's double dealing to the Duke of Bourgondy he was an affectionate servant to the Duke, and then the King's prisoner. And with him stood Philip de Commines to hear Crevilles' charge which was nothing else but to yield him an account of the voyage which he had made unto the Duke to withdraw him from the amity of the English, and that he had so disposed him thereunto as he was in a manner ready to charge them. Creville supposing by the King's countenance and attention that he took delight in this discourse, counterfeited the speech and gesture and reported the Duke's oath, he stamped with his foot against the ground and swore by St. George, calling Edward one-eyed white-liver, and the Son of an Archer, who cairied that name. If Contay had not seen and heard Creville, he would not have believed, that a man of any sense would have spoke so unworthily of his master & the King feigning to be thick of hearing, took delight in the repetition of the chief words of this tale, and his heart seeming full of joy, gave courage to Creville to amplify this discourse, to the end that Contay might understand it better, Constable's opinion to buy a truce. and know that the Constable mocked his master. q Florence hath seen the like policy. Peter de Medicis to make it known that Lewis Sforza Duke of Milan in counseling King Charles to pass the Alps did not wish him any good success. He caused the Ambassador of France to stand behind a ha●ging, and saigning himself ill he sent for the Ambassador of Milan, who entering into discourse of the designs of Lewis Sforza his Master he told all ●e could to make it kn●w● that the intentions of the French did not concur with his masters. Guicciardin To conclude the Constable as Creville said, thought it fit they should purchase a truce of the English and that they should give them some town, as Yew and St. Valery. The King being content with that which he had heard, told Creville that the Constable should hear from him. He set Contay at liberty to go and report unto the Duke of Bourgondy what he had heard behind the portal of the Constable's dissimulations, who sent his Confessor unto the King of England to advise him not to trust unto the King's words, nor to attend until he did willingly give him Yew and St. Valery, The Constable persuades K. Edward not to trust K. Lewis. but to seize thereon by force, to winter his troops, in hope to lodge them better and more at large, and he offered fifty thousand Crowns to aid him to make war. Tell your Master, answered the King of England, that he is a deceiver, that I repent me not of a peace, seeing he hath repent him of that which he had promised me. The King notwithstanding to let the Constable understand that he did esteem his councils r There are some things wherein it is better to be deceived then to distrust. The King was well informed of the Constable's infidelities, & yet to entertain him in good humour, and not to give him occasion to do worse he commends his councils. gave Yew and Saint Valery to the King of England only to lodge in during the treaty, of Peace. But he had given such order as the English in these towns were rather in prison then in Garrison. The Constable by Edward's answer saw himself almost in despair with more subject to be amazed how he lived then to rejoice that he was living, apprehending on the one side servitude, and on the other punishment, and seeing no other port in this torment of mind but death. The Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittany were comprehended in this truce if they would. The Duke of Bourgundy being advertised of this Treaty, came from Luxembourg with sixteen horse to find King Edward, who discovered in his Cousin's face the s It is an extreme misery to stand betwixt 2. great powers & have no means to maintain himself. A little nag betwixt 2. great horses, is always subject to some stripe. spleen he carried in his heart, and seeming amazed at this sudden arrival he demanded of him what brought him. I came, said the Duke, to speak with you: will you, said Edward, that it be in private or public, whereupon the Duke, who could not contain his choler, and who came to speak what he would, not considering that he might he are what he would not, ᵗ demanded of the King of England if he had made a Peace. No said Edward, but a Truce for nine years, in the which you are comprehended with the Duke of Brittany, I pray you accommodate yourself unto it. The Duke replied in English, which he understood and spoke. That his Army should not have past the sea for that this Treaty ruined the reputation of the Kings of England, and that he had need of that lions heart interred at Roven. u Richard the first King of England was called Coeur de Lion he died at Osney●, and his heart was interred at Roven, a reasonable good Poet for these times made him this Epitaph. * Then he adds, I had procured you a good occasion to do your business, which you shall never recover, to get that which belongs unto you. It was not for mine own interest, for I could well pass without it, and to let you know how little I regard your Truce: Words betwixt the K. of England and the Duke of Bourgondy By St George I will not treat with the King before that you are returned into England and have stayed there three months. Edward taking no delight in these words, full of choler left him there: He went to horseback, and so returned as he came being well content to have said that which he would say to him, who had not done that which he would do, and carrying in his heart a wonderful discontent that this Treaty took from him the means to purchase glory x To lose the occasion of any great matter by the mean of Arms is a very sensible grief to a great courage. Epaminondas did show it in causing his sons head to be cut off who had won a Battle, complaining that he had deprived him of part of his glory. at the King's charge, and once again to give him a Battle. * Viscera Carceolum, corpus fons ser●●t Ebrardi, Et cor Rhotomagum magne Richarde tuum. In tria dividitur unus qui plus fuit uno, Nec superest una gloria tanta viro. And this other: Hic Richarde jaces sed mors si cederet Armis, Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis. The King fearing that the Duke of Bourgundies' choler and the Constable's practices would cause Edward repent, or make him distrust the expectation of that which had been promised, would make his proceed free from all suspicion. Confidence is the true cement of friendship. Good cheer made to the English at Amiens. The English entered continually in what troops they would into Amiens. There were long Tables at the gates furnished with good meat and delicate wines, and good companions attended to entertain all that came. All the Taverns and Inns were full. The Marshal of Gié having charge to observe how the English lived, came one morning into a Tavern where they told him they had already made a hundred and eleven reckonings, Gran favores comery no escotar. and it was not yet nine of the clock. Among other commodities the soldier found it sweet to dine well and not to pay any thing. It was in the King's power to cut the throats of nine or ten thousand, who could neither go on their legs, nor find the gates to return unto their quarters, they were so full. They were content to see them drunk with wine, who would have been drunk with blood. But when they came and told him that it was dangerous to suffer so many men to enter, he left his hours which he was saying, and the ceremony of Innocents'. y The Romans did observe good days to assail but all were good to defend. Macrobius. l. Satur. cap. 16. All days are good and fit to care for defence and safety. We must believe that which he says that saw it and hath written it. The King being up and saying his hours, one came and told him that there were at the least nine thousand English in the Town. I resolved to adventure to tell him, and entering into his retiring place I said unto him. Sir, although it be S. Innocents' day yet is it necessary that I tell you that which hath been delivered unto me, and so acquainted him at large with the numbers that were entered, and still came, all armed, and that no man durst refuse them the gates, lest they should be discontented. The King was not obstinate, but soon left his devotion, and told me that they must not keep the ceremony of Innocents': z The Christian religion holds the observation of days superstitious. Eas culpat, saith St Aug. qui dicunt non proficiscat hody quia praeposterus dies est. It blames them that say I will not go forth this day because it is ominious. whereby we may gather that the day whereon the Feast of Innocents' fell was for all the rest of the year following superstitiously ceremonious to this Prince, on which he would not have them speak unto him of any affairs, Phil. de Commines having been in danger of a disgrace upon that occasion. Yet he received this advice in such an humour as he believed that he might refer his devotion to another time and dispense with it, to the end that he might provide that this troop should retire quietly. The King dines at the gate of Amiens. He caused his dinner to be carried to the Porter's house, not to show his distrust, but to make much of the English which came in and out. He stayed some to eat at his table, and made others drink, and withal provided for the safety of the Town, having caused three hundred men to be armed in their captains houses, and appointed some upon the portal to observe the entry of the soldiers. The King of England being advertised of this disorder sent to entreat the King not to suffer them to enter. That shall not be, answered the King, but if it please him to send some Archers of his guard to the Port, they shall let in whom they will. This was done, the King having by his dissembling obtained that which some greater brute had made difficult. But Lewis had no money in his Coffers to pay the sums that were agreed upon. He found how difficult it is to draw money from a multitude in an urgent necessity. a Although they say that a Prince should have no other treasure then in subjects purses, yet there may fall out such urgent occasions as if behave it not in his own Coffers he is in dangerous estate. His Treasurers refused him, Paris furnished this sum upon assurance to be repaid within three months. There remained nothing but to choose a place for the interview of the two Kings. Piquigny noted by the Predictions of England. This was at Piquigny a town which the Sibyl's of England had long before noted for so great and happy an action. They made a bar upon the bridge of the river of Somme, in such sort as they might pass their Arms freely, yet without any wicket for their bodies, the King remembering that he had heard say, b That which is passed teacheth the present. In the like occasion Duke john was slain at Monter eaufaut Yonne, whether he was come unto the Dauphin, who since was Charles the seventh, to treat an accord. that the door which was left at the Bar at Montereau Faut-Yonne did serve to advance the execution which caused so many calamities in France. For Duke john being invited to pass with three more not two paces off received the mortal blow from Taneguy of castle. The 29. of August 1478. the King came first unto the Bar, for that he was in his own house, Interview of the two Kings at Piquigny. and received a strange Prince. c Many take this ceremony otherwise, and that it is for the greater Prince not to come first unto the place, but to be stayed for. He was accompanied by the Duke of Bourbon, and the Cardinal of Bourbon his Brother. In these actions of show he took delight to have some one attired like himself. Phil. de Commines was so that day. He had eight hundred men. Edward came thither after, being advertised by a Gentleman of the King's arrival. The Duke of Clarence his Brother did accompany him thither. The Duke of Gloucester would not be there, for this Truce discontented him, he had behind him all his Army in Battle, either of them had twelve Noblemen d Prince's should never meet at a Parle but with equal assurances of either side. Philip K. of Macedon would not go to land, but did parley from the prow of his galley with I. F. who was upon the shore, and being demanded by him of whom he stood in fear, I fear not any man answered Philip, but the immortal Gods, but I trust not them I see with you. Tit. Liu. lib. 32. to accompany him. There were four English Lords on Lewis side, and as many French of Edward's, to see if there were any practice to the prejudice of their master. Edward ware a Cap of black Velvet, Edward a goodly Prince. with a great jewel of stones made like a Flower-de-Luce, a goodly Prince and of a gallant stature, but began to grow gross. e Phil. de Con. saith, that Edward was one of the goodliest Princes of that age, but at this interview he began to grow gross. Beauty is a quality which doth adorn the rest which are necessary in a Prince. But this is vain without the rest, it is more fitting for a woman, and serves but to please. Maximin son to the Emperor Maximin was so fair as the women desired to be beloved of him and that he would make them mothers. jul. Cap. Coming within two or three paces of the Bar, he put off his Cap and made two or three low reverences before he came unto the King who attended him leaning upon the bar, after very kind embracings, to make the heart speak by these demonstrations of love and affection, the Peace was sworn upon the Mass-book and the Crosse. The King, who knew Edward's humour, fitted his Discourse to entertain him with a content which cost him nothing, entermixing still some merry speech among their most serious affairs. And for that Edward had youth, beauty and love in him, he entreated him not to return into England before he had seen the Ladies of Paris, and that the Cardinal of Bourbon who was their present should give him absolution. Edward showed by his eyes and his silence that this Sumons was pleasing unto him. The King priest him no farther, The King offers that which he would not have accepted. remembering that his Predecessors had been too familiar there. These two Princes were so cunning as it was hard for the one to have any advantage of the other: the policy of the one appeared outward and the other kept his close within. f Some show their Art at the first encounter, others hold it secret and there the deceit is not discovered, before one is deceived. Hereunto is applied the controversy which was betwixt the Fox and the Leopard for the variety of their skins. The Leopard bragged that his was fairest without, being marked with divers spots, that is nothing (said the Fox) my variety is within. They conferred long together to open their hearts one unto an other, or rather for Lewis to discover Edward's thoughts, who for that he was not like unto him in judgement and experience, was not so wary. The King found that he had an extreme desire to assist and defend the Duke of Britain, and that he held himself bound unto it, saying that he had never found a better friend at need. As for the Duke of Bourgundy he did not seem to be so careful of his fortune, for when as the King said unto him, What shall we do if my Brother of Bourgundy will not enter into the Truce. The King of England answered. Lewis sounds K. Edward's thoughts. I will summon him again, and if he will not hearken to it, I refer myself to you two. The Constable's fortune remained. In the first conference of the Treaty, the King of England being highly offended that he had failed of his word, had said that he could let the King know his bad servants, and how to convict them of treason towards his Majesty. The Deputies had not much regarded it, holding it to be a policy to terrify the King with such practices and Intelligences, and although there had been some thing, yet the estate of the King's affairs did not allow of too curious a search of the fidelity of his subjects, g There are seasons when as it is not good to discover all diseases to move humours not to purge the body. It was told Pompey that there were among Stertorius papers many Senators Letters, who exhorted him to come into Italy and to attempt against Rome, but Pompey did an Act not of a young man, but of a grave & settled judgement, causing all his Letters to be burnt, and not suffering one to be read. Plut. but the King, who contemned not any thing, thought that it was an Arrow shot against the Constable, & therefore he desired to be satisfied from Edward, who dissembling not his great discontentment against the Constable, related unto him the whole History of his prevatications, and for proof thereof delivered two Letters into his hands. After a long discourse, accompanied with infinite shows of love, honour, and respect, the two Kings parted. Edward past by the Sea, leaving Hostages in the delights and feasts of Paris, and the chief Noble men of his Court talked of nothing but the King's bounty. The Heralds and trumpets of England at their parting cried out. A largesse a largesse h Liberality is like the Sun among the other lights of a royalty. It is the myrrh which preserves the reputation of Kings incorruptible. for the most noble and mighty King of France. A largesse a largesse. The King went to lie at Amiens, by the way he entertained himself with that which he had observed in this Action, speaking these words to Phil. de Commines confidently. A wise observation of the king. I found the King of England so willing to come to Paris as it did not please me. He is a goodly King, and loves women much, he might find some Minion at Paris, who would tell him so many goodly tales as he might have a desire to return. His Predecessors have been too much in Paris and Normandy. His company avails me nothing on this side the Sea, but on the other side he is my good brother and friend. Being come to Amiens, and ready to set down to meat, Haward, one of the Hostages, thinking to do him a great pleasure, came and told him in his ear that if he pleased he would draw the King of England uno Amiens, and it might be to Patis to make good cheer there with his Majesty. The King (who having saved the Capitol i It is good to see an enemies back. The Gauls demanded boats to pass the River of Tiber, and the Senate commanded to give them some, being put to rout they assured them the way to save them. Poli●nus Lib. 2. had no care but to make a large way for the Gauls to pass) received this speech with a good countenance, although it did not please him; and as if he had thought of other matters, he began to wash and to speak of other things. Haward remembered him after supper, having not observed the King's intention by the first evasion. The King being priest by his importunity, said that he was then ready to go to horse, to see what the Duke of Bourgundy would do, and to make him run the hazard of Arms, seeing he had contemned the opportunity of an accord. They that past the Sea unwillingly would have been glad to have found some occasion to have stayed longer in France, they had some reason for the good of their estate, and that Paris might be to London, as Carthage had been to Rome. k Estates maintain themselves by the common fears and jealousies they have one of an other. And therefore Scip●o Nasi●a did advise them to preserve Carthage, notwithstanding that she had put the 〈◊〉 of Rome to compromise. Ne metu ablato aemula urbis, luxuriar● felicitas urbis inciper●t. Lest being freed from the fear of a City that was enemy, the City in her prosperity should fall to ●yot. Flor. Lib 2. de Bello Punice. They had such hot spirits among them, as if they had not some employment without the Island, they were capable to begin the Earl of Warwick's game. During the King's abode at Amiens, he was visited by the English, especially by those that would not return without some present. The King gives pre●●m●s to the English. The Duke of Gloucester who seemed much discontented with this Truce, found it good after that the King had given him plate and horses. This Prince did sow even in barren grounds, the fear of ingratitude did not stay his hands from giving unto them who being gone never gave him thanks. l They do not forbear to sow after an ●●n fertile harvest, he must not leave to bind one after ingratitude, although the benefit perish with the other, he must not suffer it to perish with himself. He was very well pleased with that day, but he was grieved that the King of England had showed so much passion for the Duke of Britain, for his desire was not to suffer him in peace. Edward declares the Duke of Brittan● to be his friend. He caused him to be sounded again by the Lords of Bouchage and St. Pierre, but they brought nothing back but rough words, sweeting that he would repass the sea again, if they quarrelled with the Britton. m Besides the bond which K. Edward had to the D. of Britain, for that he had assisted him in his greatest necessity, he feared to discontent him lest he should set Henry whom he held prisoner at liberty. The King seeing that he could not divide them, thought to make him a good friend whom he could not declare a just enemy, Peace betwixt the King and the Duke: of Britain. seeing that he was comprehended in the Truce. Wherefore there was a Treaty of peace betwixt them, signed and concluded in the Abbey of Senlis the 16. of October, 1475. published in the Parliament of Paris, and at the estates of Britain. The King of England was not more content to see his realm again, than the King seemed joyful to have sent him out of his Princes sometimes let slip free speeches in their Cabinets, which are observed and reported again. The King being some days after King Edward's departure with his servants, rejoiced at the happy success of his affairs, saying that there was nothing to be compared to vanquish without fight n The victory which costs least blood is m●st glorious said Alphonso K. of 〈◊〉. Panorm in his life. and that they which returned from the place whether they came to make war without doing any thing were vanquished. Words escaped the K. upon the Treaty of Peace. He jested that with wine and money he had sent away the English. This flowing of words with more truth than wisdom, came to the hearing of a Gascon Marchant remaining in England, who was come into the Cabinet to crave leave to transport a certain number of pipes of wine Impost free. Herd by a Gascon Marchant. The King would have been glad that this man having seen the Palace of his Counsels bare and uncovered, had been blind & deaf, but he made no show of it acknowledging notwithstanding that discretion had not been arbitrator betwixt his tongue and heart, that the Merchant had seen and heard too much, o There have been Princes which have put their servants to death having heard words the report whereof was dangerous. Alexander dealt therein more discreetly, for finding that Ephestion had seen in his letter an advice of importance, he only touched his lips with his seal without any word speaking, and Lewis dealt more royally, who bought them at a dear rate which might have carried words that had escaped him inconsiderately. and that Edward might cause this first flower of Peace, (which was but in the bud) to whither, Cause not foreseen of a good fortune. if these words were reported unto him. He therefore resolved to buy this Merchant upon some pretext of service. He employed Philip de Commines who won him, offering him an office in the town where he was borne, the transport of the wines which he demanded, and a hundred pounds' starling to send for his family, but upon condition that he should not go into England, the King condemning himself willingly in the penalty, for that he had spoken too freely. The most courageous, but especially the French which were retired into England blamed this peace. Many held it for a work of heaven, saying that it had accomplished the Prophecies which the holy Ghost had made, p Men draw great Predictions from small matters. In the Conclave held for the election of a Pope, after the death of Paul the fourth a Dove flying rested upon the Cell of Cardinal john Ange Mediguin who was named Pius the fourth, and it was taken for an assurance of his election. that a white Dove the day of the interview of the two Kings had sat upon King Edward's tent, and that all the noise of the Army could not drive her away. A Gentleman Gascon called Bretailles, who served the King of England, was discontented at the Peace, and mocked at his jest. He said that this Dove being beaten with the rain had fallen upon this tent as the highest to dry herself in the Sun. He talked with Philip de Commines, who knew him and said, You had reason to laugh at us. To whom Commines (but not touching that) said. How many Battles hath your King won? Wisdom of Phil. de Com. to avoid a needless discourse. Nine answered Bretailles, q K. Edward the fourth was in nine Battles fight on feet to assure the Crown of England on his head and to ruin the house of Lancaster. And how many hath he lost? one only, which is that which he might have won in France, so great a loss as it hath blemished the honour of nine which he hath won, for this tenth was the crowning of all the rest. They came and told the King that this Gascon was a free spoken man, and that in the liberty of his speech he might make his master's thoughts known, and alter the minds of many. The King sent for him, caused him to dine at his table, and by his purse stopped his mouth and made him say as the rest, that the holy Ghost had made the Peace. In one hour Bretailles settled an assured revenue for ever upon the timidity of this Prince. r We may say of King Lewis as Plutark did of Nicias, he gave not less to them that might do ill, then to those that deserved well, & who were worthy to taste of his bounty, so as his fear was a revenue & rent unto the wicked, as well as his bounty was unto good men. The Duke of Bourgundy seeing that the King of England was far off, began to bethink himself. He had seen the inconstancy of the English. Contay had represented unto him that of the Constable, and the discourse which he had heard behind the portal. All this would not suffer him to grow obstinate against reason, and moreover the King is armed against the frontier of Hainault, who demands it, and offers to do it, and he hath a lively impression of the great perplexity which an irresolute soul doth suffer that lives in suspense betwixt hope and fear. s Whilst our souls are in suspense betwixt hope and fear, we do not enjoy the present, and the future torments us. Huguenot the Duke's Chancellor sent the King word that if it pleased him to send his Deputies unto the bridge, Treaty of Peace betwixt the King & the D. of Bourgundie. midway betwixt Auennes and Veruins, the Dukes should be there to resolve upon that which was presented. The King would be present notwithstanding that his Council dissuaded him, and he led with him Haward and Cheney, Hostages which the King of England had left. One of them being sorry for the Peace, seeing the Deputies for the Duke of Bourgundy accompanied with a great number of soldiers well mounted and armed, said, that if the Duke of Bourgundy had showed many such to the King of England, he had not so suddenly repast the Sea. Philip de Commines, to whom these words were spoken, answered not any thing, he had so great patience in hearing, and such stay in his speech, as it was no pain for him to hold his peace in occasions where the tongue sometimes escapes: t He that is not patiented to hold his peace, can not be discreet in speaking. The Vicont of Narbonne who had heard them, said, that without doubt the Duke of Bourgundy had a good number, but the English had so great a desire to return into England, as they were contented with six hundred pipes of wine, and a pension which the King gave them. This English man who was much altered with this Peace, found his grief doubled with this flout, and all fuming with choler, he said, It is true that was told us, that you would jest at us, call you the money which the King gives us a Pension?, u Every man gives what names he pleaseth to things. That which in effect was a pension, the English call tribute. An insupportable word to a free Nation. Saluian lamenting the condition of the Empire of Rome which paid Tribute unto the French, who had newly seized upon G●ul, saith, Aur●m quod pendimus munera vocamus, dicimus donum esse quod pretium, et quidam cōdi●onis miserimae. The gold we bestow we call reward, we term that a gift which is a price, and of a most wre●ched condition. It is a Tribute, and by St George you may speak so much as we shall return. Philip de Commines (O the wise man) broke off this Discourse, and from serious and biting as it was, and might have been worse (for the French would never have endured that they should have termed France tributary to England) turned it to a jest. But the Englishman was discontented, and complained to the King, who was much offended with the Vicont of Narbonne, who had not considered that to bad demands good answers cost little and profit much, and that a small matter calls back an enemy who departs discontented. x Words of contempt or mockery inflame men's hearts to other resolutions than are expected. Cabades a Captain of Persia besieging Amida, and finding 〈◊〉 that the si●ge would be long & difficult, resolu●a to leave it. The inhabitants grown proud thereat, came running to the wa●s, calling him coward, and mocking at his retreat. Wherewith Cabade● was so incensed as ●e returned, priest, forced, and spoiled the Town. The Deputies of either side met, but could not agree, every one seeking to maintain his own. The King told his that he would not have so many words, and causing the Duke's deputies to come, he shut himself in with them, and before they parted concluded a Truce for nine years, beginning the 13. of September, 1475. and ending the same day in the year 1484. The Duke would have Baldwin Bastard of Bourgundy, the Lord of Renty, john de Chata, and Philip de Commines excluded and to lose the benefit of this Truce, the which notwithstanding was not so soon published to save the Duke's oath, who had sworn not to hearken unto it so soon. As they were upon the Treaty the King of England, being discontented that the Duke of Bourgundy treated apart, sent Thomas of Montgomerie unto the King, to assure him that be would return in the Spring with a mighty Army, to finish the Duke of Bourgundies' ruin, but the King, who loved him well where he was, answered, that the Truce which was then in question, was no other than what had been made with him without any alteration, but that the Duke desired to have his Letters Patents apart. Thus a peace was made both with the English and Bourgundians. These mists which were so thick as there was no hope to see the Sun all the day, were disperse in a moment, leaving France in the same clearness that it was before. The wisemen of those times saw and did acknowledge the particular care of God's providence over this Monarchy having by his singular grace escaped so terrible a storm. It was not the first brunt, nor the greatest fit which tried the firmness of her forces. The foundations of this Estate are so well laid, y All the estates in the world have tried her Inconstancy, what are become of the Empires of Assiria, of Persia, of Media, of Egypt, of judea, & of Macedon. Quicquid in altum ●ortuna tulit ruitura levat. Whatsoever fortune hath raised on high, is to fall again. And Plato says that every thing is in this world as upon Euripus, sometimes above, sometimes beneath. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. her laws have so wisely prevented all kinds of accidents, that although there be nothing constant in the world, and that nature turns every thing sometimes above, sometimes beneath, yet it stands amidst the greatest shake, and supports itself like a Colosse with his own weight. The composition of this body is so strong and vigorous, as it entertains itself even with his excess and disorders: other Estates with all their good order are not in better case, and the least disorder they commit brings their life in danger. z Plutark said, that the reputation of Sparta was like unto a body which always took a diet, & which was distempered with the least disorder. The King's wisdom was the Instrument of God's providence to free this Realm from the danger which did threaten it. It is true that if necessity, which hath no law, did not excuse the proceed of this Prince, and if the honour of the action did not remain to him that hath the profit, there might be exceptions taken to that which the King did to have this Peace. A wise Prince and less fearful would have adventured a Battle, rather than be subject to his enemy's pride, but these high and generous forms of treating are buried in the ruins of proud and triumphant Rome, and there is nothing remaining but admiration which the History represents. The Romans never received condition nor capitulation a As the Romans did never receive offers nor conditions from an enemy, so long as he was armed, so did they never go whether they called them. If thou be'st mighty, thou mayst force me, if thou canst not, I must go whether my commodity leads me. from an armed enemy they never made retreat in disorder. Never did General of a Roman Army give place to any one, were he a King: Never did they in strange Provinces quit the marks of their authority. Never did they allow a stranger, how great so ever, to enter into their lodging on horseback. b When as Tigranes came to Pompey, to yield himself into his hands, the sergeant told him that he must light, for that no man was ever seen to enter on horseback into the Romans lodgings. Pl●t. And in a word, never had Prince his mind and resolutions raised to more generosity. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF of the seventh BOOK. 1 THe Constable's perplexity after the peace. 2 The King sends for the Constable. 3 The Constable leaves. S. Quentin, and retires to Mons in Hainault. 4 The King seizeth on S. Quentin, and summons the Duke of Bourgundy to effect the Article of the Assembly of Bowines touching the Constable. 5 He is delivered to the King, and conducted to the Bastille, his process made, condemned to die and executed. 6 Profit and blame which the Duke of Bourgundy received by the Constable's death. 7 Army of the Duke of Bourgundy in Lorraine. 8 Attempt upon the Duke's life discovered by the King. 9 Army of the Dukes against the Swisses. 10 The King's voyage to Lyon. 11 Siege of Granson. The Swisses give, and win a Battle, and recover Granson with a great spoil. 12 The Duke seeks unto the King for a continuance of the Truce. 13 Rene of Anjou King of Sicily comes to the King at Lyon. 14 Duke of Bourgundies' Army before Morat, defeated by the Swisses. 15 The Swisses enter into the country of Vaughan, and the Duke retires into the Franche Conty. 16 Yoland Duchess of Savoy the King's Sister leaves the Bourgundian party. 17 Alfonso of Portugal comes to demand succours of the King. 18 Henry the fourth King of Castille declared unworthy of the Crown. 19 Accord betwixt the King of Castille, and the King of Portugal. 20 Affliction, heaviness, and grief of the Duke of Bourgundy after the Battle of Morat. 21 Rene Duke of Lorraine besiegeth and takes Nancy. 22 Army of the Duke of Bourgundy before Nancy, and treason of Cont Campobasso. 23 Defeat of the Duke of Bourgundy and his death, an observation of his courage, and a memorable example of his justice. 24 Death of Galeas Duke of Milan. THE HISTORY of LEWIS the XI. THE SEVENTH BOOK. AT the Treaty of Piquigny the Constable of Saint Paul resembled a Tree beaten with three contrary winds, which notwithstanding conspire all together to tear it up by the root. The Constable in ill terms with all men. a Great wits do oftentimes commit great errors, and you shall seldom see a great spirit without some medley of f●lly whereof the purest com●s from the finest wisdom, and therefore Thucydides will not have the choose high aspiring spiriits into the Counsellor of Princes nor to the managing of affairs, but those that are mean who are less obstinate. He thought to make a perpetual war betwixt the King of France, the King of England, and the duke of Bourgundy, behold he is amazed to see them reconciled and against him. He hath made himself unworthy of grace with the first, of succours, and defence with the second, and of all hope with the third, and in opinion with all three that he would play the companion b As it is dangerous to contend with ones equal, so is it mada●sto quarrel with his superior, and to seek to go hand in hand with him. with them, raise his reputation and merits upon the ruin of their affairs, mingle his ashes with those of their Estates, and eternize his memory not in burning one Temple alone, Ill with the King. but the Estates of them all three. The King had done him good, not in respect of his person, but of the services which he might do him, and when as he saw his affections altered, his will also grew could, making it known that great hatred proceeded from great friendship. c The favours & benefits of Princes are not for the respect of the persons, but in consideration of services and merits which they find in their servants: when these qualities change, it is not strange if in like manner their favours and affections alter. He could not forget the practices which he had made to keep France in trouble and combustion; nor the arrogant and insolent show of arms upon the Causey of Compiegne●, nor the letters written to the King, at the sight whereof he swore his great oath, which he did never violate; that he should die: Nor so many acts of a spirit which made itself miserable for that he could not bear his felicity. The Duke had never pardoned him the taking again of Amiens and Abbeville. Ill with the Duke. the desire of his revenge was a river d Revenge runs on still although it appears not, Plutarque compares it to rivers which run under the earth, and afterwards hur'st forth with more violence. which had his course through the rocks of the difficulties of his affairs. He could not forget his cunning practice, to marry his daughter to the Duke of Guienne, nor his refusal to receive his men into Saint Quentin after that he had caused them to come. Moreover he was incensed, e Offences often renewed end with immortal pains. for that he had first made war in his country by fire the rest being contented to use the sword, for whilst he lay encamped before Amiens, the Constable had made a road into the country of Haynault, and burned the Castle of Seurre, belonging unto Baldwin of Lannoy whom the Duke loved. Ill with the King of England. The King of England was offended with him, for that having counseled and persuaded him to come into France to triumph there, he had returned without triumph. All three would rather have made an other hell than have suffered such treacheries unpunished. All things seemed to bandy and conspire his ruin, he could not keep himself up firm seeing so many persons about him overthrown. The Constable's perplexity after the peace. f It is no wonder not to be moved in tranquillity but we may be amazed to see a man rise when as all others shrink and to stand firm amongst them that stumble Sen. Epist. 73. The disgraces which fortune hath done him in the public ruins are augmented by many other private crosses: His wife, the only support of his greatness, is dead, james of S. Paul his brother prisoner, lafoy Scala his nephew returning out of England was taken by the King's men and found seized of dangerous Instructions; the Earl of Roucey his Son in the duke of Bourbon's hands. The Earl of Dammartin his enemy with the King's forces near unto S. Quentin: And the Prince of Orange at liberty, carrying the title of Prince by the grace of God. g jealousy and envy work strange distemperatures in their minds which march hand in hand. The Constable of S ●. Paul. could not endure the prosperity of some great men in court. He is grieved that the prince of Orange is set at liberty for thirty thousand Crowns, and that the king hath suffered him to carry the title of Prince by the grace of God to coin money and to pardon all offences except heresy and treason. All these things were so many thorns in his bed to keep him from sleep, he doth not dream, wake nor think but how to stand firm against all these violent storms of fortunes, but he seeks to cure his harms h A pernicious remedy to cure one mischief with another, and to think to be cured by disorders which caused diseases, the intemperance of the Patien● causeth the cruelty of the Physician. by other mischiefs. He is like unto an earthen vessel which must needs break if it fall upon a stone or a stone fall upon it. The needle of his Compass turns toward the King's Clemency as to his north. He sends Rapine, his secretary, unto him with silken words humble and mild, beseeching him to believe that the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundy desired nothing more than to draw him to the extremity of despair, The Constable seeks the King's favour. and to seek his safety of them being that he could not find it with the King. That a desire to be revenged of him who had not offended them, but in that he had not offended his majesty, had given way unto the slanders which had been published against him, and favoured by the ill will of his enemies which were about his majesty, namely by the Lord of Dammartin and Lude who did not love him, and that his heart could not bend unto that divine rule to love his enemies. i To love one's enemies is a divine Action, to love his friends human, but to hate his friends is brutish. But men are of that disposition, especially great men, they cannot endure the prosperity of their enemies. Good workemasters know one another's work, one line makes them judge by whom the picture was made. The King, his craftsmaster in dissembling, did judge that whatsoever the Constable pretended to do was but counterfeit, Aristotle speaks of a rock which burns having oil cast upon it. that an ambitious spirit dissembles as he list, k It is dangerous to give credit to the words and actions of those that have any design, 〈◊〉 a desire to attain unto it makes them to feign any thing. that a wicked man is never worse than when he will counterfeit to be good, wherefore all the oil of his goodly l words do not always serve to open but to cover the intentions. Archidamus son to Agesilaus said that sheep kn●w but one note but Kings had many to use as they pleased. words did but inflame the flint of his revenge the more, and from the concurrence of these two contraries rose the last tempest which ruined the Constable. Yet he made show to approve his Intentions, he said they were good, and called a secretary unto him to write a letter, The King sends for the Constable. by the which he gave him advice of all that had passed with the English, and that for the trouble of mind wherein he was to dispatch many great affairs he had great need of his head. If he had promised to save him he would have accepted the neck of his promises, he was so constrained to make an example of the treachery of a bad subject. Rapine was not cunning enough to observe two things which passed at this instant. m Paul Erizze governor of Negrepont having yielded in the year 1470. upon condition that they should save his head, Mahomet caused him to be sawn in two and when he reproached him with the breach of his word, he said unto him that the flanks were not comprehended in the promise to save his head: justinian. the one was that the king turning to the Lord Haward, deputy for the King of England, and the Siegneour of Contay, expounding unto them the counterfence of this letter said, I do not mean that we should have his body but his head only. The other was that the Lord of Lude demanded of Rapine if he knew where his masters ready money was, a word which should have condemned the mouth from whence it came to perpetual silence n By the law of the Gymnosophists they that have once accused the use of the tongue are condemned to perpetual silence. It was sooner delivered then considered, there are wits which betray wisdom and discretion, their suddenness stays upon the first objects, they are not always ready. This speech should have served as a Trumpet to give the Constable an Alarm, who understanding what Rapine had done and heard, chose rather to commit his safety to a good place then to the King's good words. He had caused the Castle of Han to be built, and within it a Tower six and thirty foot thick, Castle of Han built by the Constable. upon the port whereof there was seen a cord woven with two tassels hanging on the one side and the other, and this motto of his humour. Mon Mieux. He assured himself to find his best always in that place in the worst estate of his fortune, and from thence he should see, as from a safe shore, the waves and winds play upon France. But there is no rock nor acrocorinth that can hold at the presence of a Prince which means to punish the infidelity of his subject. Against a just enemy they must make it known that a great courage hath not less Clemency being discovered, than valour in Arms. o Mithridatus king of Bosphorus being defeated & vanquished, he entreated the Emperor to make him fire war, his answer was short and generous. That at Rome there was as much clemency against the vanquished as courage against an armed enemy. But against disloyalltie and ingratitude all pity is cruelty. He had propounded to retire himself thither, but considering that he should be besieged by the King's forces and the Duke of Bourgundies', he resolves to go into Germany to employ his money in the pourchase of some place upon the Rhine or else to pass into Spain. Perplexities of the Constable. There was not any Saint in paradise in whom he durst trust. By Saint Quentin he had always shrouded himself from the thunderclaps of these two Princes. By Saint Quentin he did hope to pass without touch amidst so many arrows that were shot at him. He would have kept these Princes in fear & doubt, and they now drive him into an amazement p A dangerous course to keep his master in fear and jealousy. Although that every man (saith Phil. de Com) seeks to free himself from suspicion and fear, and that every man hates him that keeps him in it, yet there is not any one that in this point comes near to Princes, for I never knew any but did mortally hate them that would keep them in fear. and to the sad thoughts of his ruin. This Castle of Saint-Quentin was but a prison unto him, q Great men in the government of public affairs must make themselves famous and not envy by their pride and insolency. he never hears it named but his soul is tormented. He added to these meditations public hatred, raised against him by the Insolency of his carriage, having used his great offices to purchase envy of the great, and to oppress the meaner sort, besides the libels & scandalous songs which had been heard publicly throughout Paris, the which had had more credit and course being prohibited, then if the reading had been allowed, for such drogues do presently lose their scent when they are vented, the trouble to recover them augments the currosity. Being priest and oppressed with these difficulties, all resolution abandons him, as he had abandoned himself. There was danger in going forth, and danger in staying. France threatened him with death, England with captivity, and Flanders with scorn. In these trances and amazements which are not so great without as those which his Conscience gives him inwardly, to see that he is held of all men as r It were much better not to be in the number of men then to be held among those that are borne for the ruin of the commonweal. borne to the ruin of the Commonweal; he cast his eyes to that part whereas nature had first opened them, The Constable retires to to Mons in Hainault. & desiring rather to give himself unto the Duke then to suffer himself to be taken by the King, he goes to Mons in Henault, upon a passport which they gave him, with fifteen or twenty horse; not considering that the firmest friendship doth not pass the Altars nor the respects of duty which we own unto superiors, and that in Accidents of injustice the proof is s It is dangerous to try friends against Princes and laws. Alcibiades to make this trial one a time called them whom he held to be his friends and led them one after another into a dark place showing them the Image of a dead body and saying that it was a man whom he had slain, entreating them to help to bury him, but he found but one among them all that would yield unto it and that was Callias. Happy is he that hath many friends but unhappy that hath need of them. dangerous. He trusted in the Lord of Emery Balife of Henault his surest friend who commanded there for the Duke It is hard to take an old fox, Mucho sabe la Raposa pero mas el que la toma A she Fox knows much but he more that takes her. but in the end he is taken, and he that takes him is craftier than the fox. The King knowing that he was out of his burrow and in the Duke of Bourgundies' Country, caused 800. horse to advance with speed towards S. Quentine, to the end he might take that place from him and with that all hope to recover the Duke of Bourgondies' friendship, so as being advertised that the King was in it, and that he could not have it from any other hand then from his, The King seizeth on S. Quentin. he did not remember the Constable, but to remember the revenge of the wrongs he had done him. The King who would not use that power unto the Constable which heaven hath not given to any but to Kings, had no care but to be rid of the Constable, t The power to save men from death is so excellent a gift (saith Seneca) as the Gods have imparted it to none but Princes. he caused the Duke to be summoned to maintain & effect that which had been concluded betwixt them upon that subject, seeing that he was retired into the countries of his obedience. This promise bound the Duke to do justice of the Constable within eight days, or to deliver him unto the King, who desired to have him rather alive then dead, to use him at his discretion, and to make him lose his life as he pleased, or to leave it him for his glory. u Every man that owes his life, lives to his glory that hath given it him. The Duke, who desired to have St. Quentin, Han, and Bohain, and could not have them but by the performance of this promise, commanded the figneour of Emery to give the Constable a guard, and to command him to keep his lodging. This was not enough; the King who would not lose the Constable, to have the Duke to win him, x It is not the means to be rid of a bad servant to chase him away and to disgrace him giving him means to remain with his enemy, but he must be assured of him. If jugurth had done so, he had escaped the treason of Bom●lcar. Sallust sent the Lord of Bouchages to press him either no dispatch him or to deliver him unto him. He had an Army ready in Champagne ready to suecor the Duke of Louraine if he discontented him by the breach of promise. Although the Duke were wholly bend to ruin the Constable, yet did he not think it reasonable to deliver him into the King's hands who had put himself under his protection, and therefore he delayed long the accomplishment of this promise. And on the other side the Constable, who saw nothing before his eyes but fearful apparitions, so as his imagination was continnually troubled with the imagination of the King's revenge and his Conscience finding no satisfaction y When the Conscience is not satisfied, all that seemeth good is bad. It is the privilege of a good man to live in tranquillity of Conscience. in his fact, he besought the Duke to remember the faith which he had given him, to the which he had cast himself as into a haven of safety against the long storm of his fortune. But the Duke, who measured his religion by the ell of his profit, desiring infinitely to recover St. Quentin, The Constable delivered to the King. after some delays, he commanded Hugones his Chancellor, and Imbercourt to deliver him. These men on the other side being wronged by the Constable, executed this commandment diligently. It was a very sensible grief z In mis●ries the affliction is doubled when 〈◊〉 he represents unto himself the contentment which his 〈◊〉 shall receive. Caesar b●ing surprised by Pirates in Asia, & detained prisoner by them be cried out aloud. O what pleasure wilt thou have C●assus when thou shalt hear of mine imprisonment Plut. in the li●e of Crassu●. to see his life & fortune at the discretion and scorn of his enemies, who led him to Peronne and consigned him to the bastard of Bourbon Admiral of France and to the Signeour of St. Pierre who conducted him to Paris. They did not long enjoy the content of this revenge of their enemy, for the Gantois shall soon after kill them in view of the Duchess of Bourgundy, who shall have no power to save them. The unfortunate Constable, Prisoner in the Ba●●le. clad in a black chamlet cloak lined with velvet, mounted upon a little nag, goes complaining of the breach of public faith; as he accused his own indiscretion a A man of courage should do anything to free himself from being made an example & the Infamy of public justice. For this respect Eumenes conjured his soldiers to kill him, and spoke these brave words unto them. You have no reason to fear that Antigonus will be discontented, for he demands Eu●enes dead and not alive. Or if you will not use your hands to do this office, unbind but one of 〈◊〉 it shall suffice for that effect, and if happily you fear to put a sword into my hand, cast me bound hand & foot unto wild beasts. and condemned himself already by the feeling of his Conscience, so his servants accused him of want of courage for that he had not attempted some other way rather than that of the grieve. Thereupon they made him pass by S. Anthony's gate to enter into the Bastile, with his hat pulled down in his eyes to hide his face, being full of paleness and shame of so tragical a condition. Three hours after that the Duke's men had delivered him they received letters of countermand, forbidding them to deliver him, but this defence came too late. The eyes of man cannot behold the Sun firmly, yet they see it in a basin. It is impossible to comprehend the judgements of the Sun of justice, we must consider them in the life and variety of the Constable, which passed like an arrow in the water, as soon as ever he was prisoner it was said that he would never come forth, and he himself thought that in losing his liberty he could not save his life, that he was a dead man, and that it was a folly to desire life b He that will not do any thing whereby it may be known dying that he hath lived, should not desire life. The Troglodytes said, that such a desire of life for one that had done nothing worthy to live, was an extreme misery. Dio. lib. 3. c. 3. seeing that in living he could not do any thing to revive his reputation. When he was come into the Bastile he found the Chancellor there with the first Precedent, and some councillors of the court, prepared to revenge the public injury, and to make known what the body feels when the head is hurt c Areius capito said, that it did much import the Common weal to punish them rigorously who had in any sort attempted against the Prince, unless they will say that the Body hath no cause to grieve when the head is wounded. Suet. The Admiral told them that by the King's commandment he did deliver the Constable over unto them, to make his process with all speed, upon the letters written and sealed which the King of England and the Duke of Bourgundie and Bourbon had sent the which he presented unto them. d The want of rewarding the good is not so prejudicial to an estate, as the impunity of the wicked. The Empires of the world marched upon two feet, upon the recompense of good and the punishment of ill, and they must go straight on the one, and not halt on the other, and yet it is better to fail on the right foot which is the reward of good, then on the left which is the punishment of whomsoever. On this foot they went against the Constable, but somewhat to swiftly. He saw himself reduced unto those terms as they did not regard his services past, but his present offences. He bears this affliction as impatiently, e They carry prosperities insolently and adversities impatiently which think that neither the one nor the other can ever change. as he passed his prosperities insolently. They began his process by his answers. He must either speak or be silent, His process is made. his words discover the treason, his silence the Traitor. There is nothing but pity to speak for him, and there is not any to be found for crimes of this sort: His own writings were against him. He confessed that to maintain his office of Constable and trouble the King's estate he had always entertained war betwixt the king, & the Duke of Bourgundy, His Concessions. & to this effect had given him his seal and promise that when as the soldiers which marched under his commandment should be ready to strike he would cause them retire. That seeing a marriage f He that desires to continue war in an Estate, let him follow the Maxim of the Constable of St. Paul, always to keep the King in bad terms with the nearest of his blood. As the Princes of the blood being well united unto the Prince make him to be more assured and redoubted, so when as they are drawn away the state must needs suffer. Hereof we read two goodly examples, one of Hipparcus in Thucid: the other of sixth Tarqvinius in Tit Li●ius. treated and concluded betwixt the Duke of Guyenne the king's brother & the princess of Castill he wrote unto M sr. advising him to have a care▪ how he proceeded, & as soon as he should be gone into Spain to fetch his wife, the King was resolved to send an Army into the Duchy of Guienne to dispossess him, & to make him miserable, and that if he would give ear to marry with the Duke of Bourgundies' daughter, he assured himself to make him have her, so as he would send his seal to the Duke of Bourgundie, & that he would pass a procuration to obtain a dispensation of the oath for his promse of marriage with the Princess of Castill. That the Duke of Bourgundie having sent a man expressly to him to have his seal, the which he would send to the Duke of Savoy, he would that they should paffe to the Duke of Bourbon, to draw him unto their league and intelligence against the King, who answered them that he had rather be as poor as job g There is no misery comparable to that which treason and infidelity causeth: and therefore the Duke of Bourben did rather choose the condition of job, then to revolt against his K. then consent to their conspiracy, and that the end would be miserable. That the king having commanded him to write to the king of England, to the Queen, to the Earl of Somerset and to M sr. de Candalles touching the E. of Warwick, that he had written quite contrary to the king's intentions. They desired to hear him touching the bar and Causey of Compeigne. At that word he found his own mistaking, and that the perfection of man's actions depends of well knowing himself h The first precept or rather the summary of the Instructions of the conduct of man's life, is to know himself well. thereon depends the good or bad issues of actions. Heraclitus speaking of a great and high cogitation of his spirit, said that he sought himself. . He could not deny but that he had there played the companion with his master. He confessed that when he spoke with the king near unto Compiegne, he had caused a bar to be made betwixt the King and him to the end he might talk in safety, and yet the king notwithstanding past the bar to embrace him and to entreat him to hold his party, the which he promised and swore, & notwithstanding two days after the Duke of Bourgundy sent one unto him to know if he would perform that which he promised him, & to offer him a pension of a thousand pounds sterling. That he had written unto the Duke of Bourgundie that he could find means to seize upon the king and then kill him or carry him to any place, and that he would lodge the Queen and the Dauphin where as they should be always found. They showed him the letters which he had written to the king of England, He acknowledgeth his letters written. and he doth acknowledge them, and if there had been no other crime, i Phil. de Commines saith that the haste of this proceeding was sound strange and that the King did much press the Commissioners. The historians have not well observed the time but we may conjecture it, in that the Earl of M●rle the Constable's son sent on the 4. of December a herald called Montioy, who did reside commonly with the Constable to john Ladreche Precedent of the accounts borne in Brabant to entreat him to secure and to stay the Constable if this were the beginning of his imprisonment as it is credible, his process was made in fifteen or sixteen days. it had been sufficient to convict him. The king did press the Commissioners very earnestly, and they proceeded but slowly in a matter of that weight. The treason being apparent, their opinions tended to death by the courses of extremity and of the highest point of justice, and the sentence was pronounced in Parliament by the Precedent of Popincourt. It was necessary that the prisoner should hear it in Parliament, He is sent for to the Court of Parliament. and therefore the Siegneur of St. Pierre went early in the morning to the Bastile to fetch him, coming into his Chamber he demanded of him what he did, and if he slept? he answered that he had been long awake but he kept his bed, having his head full of fancies. The Siegneur of St. Pierre told him that the Court of Parliament had viewed his process for the expedition whereof it was necessary he should be heard. He rose and prepared himself to go unto the Palace, not thinking that from thence he should be led unto his death. And for that the Court had ordained that the Seignieur of Estouteville, Knight and Provost of Paris, should accompany him, he grew into some jealousy that it was to draw him out of the hands of Philip Hu●llier Captain of the Bastile, who was his friend, and entreated him mildly, to deliver him unto the Provost of Paris his enemy, who he thought by an inhuman voluptuousness k To laugh at another man's misery is an inhuman voluptuousness and to weep at another man's harm is an eternal misery, received great content at his misery. Hated and detested of the Parisiens' He feared also that the people, who hated him as much in the end, as they had admired him in the beginning, l It is in ourselves to be esteemed, or scorned, Never man was more contemned in the beginning nor less in the ending then Brutus. and had conceived an implacable hatred against him, and defamed his reputation both by writings m In june 1471. the K. by a public proclamation promised 300. Crowns to him that should discover the author of Libels that were made against the Constable's honour. Henry Mariette who had been Liefienant criminal of Paris, and Peter Mercier a Scholar were committed to prison for that fact, but they were absolved. and words publicly, would do him some outrage as he passed through the streets. The Siegneur of St. Pierre assured him, and freed him from either fear, telling him that he went not out of one prison to go into another, and that he would never suffer him to be wronged in his company. Thus he went to the Palace on horseback betwixt St Pierre and Estouteville. Being come to the stairs foot of the Palace, the Lord of Gaucourt, Governor of Paris, and Denis Hesselin came to meet him, to lead him to the Tournelle, where he found the Chancellor, who having exhorted him to patience, demanded of him the order of St. Michael. The Constable took it from his neck, kissed it, and gave it him. He had received it from the Kings own hand, being the third of fourteen which first received it. The Chancellor did also demand the Constable's sword of him, n When men in high degrees are condemned to lose their lives, the death of honour by degradation goes before that of the body by punishment. he answered that it had been taken from him when he was committed to prison. This done the Chancellor retired himself and left the Constable in some hope that justice would be satisfied with this degradation of honour, and leave him the remainder of his life as a gift, the which notwithstanding he should neither desire nor accept being offered, having lost that which was dearer than it. o There remains nothing to lose for him that hath lost his reputation. He dies too late that survives his honour. But behold the Precedent of Popincourt which pronounceth his sentence and speaks to him after this manner. His sentence pronounced. The Court hath and doth declare you guilty of high treason, for the which it doth deprive you of the office of Constable of France and of all your offices, honours, estates and dignities, and for punishment it doth condemn you to suffer death, and to lose your head at the grieve, in Paris, it declares all your goods movable and immovable forfeited to the King. And although, considering the foulness of the great and execrable crimes of treason which you have committed, you should be quartered, p By the greatness of punishments they judge of the foulness of offence. Treason & felony have always been severely punished your four quarters to be hanged on the high ways, and your body on a Gibbet, yet for some considerations moving the Court, namely for your last marriage, of which were issued Children, and other causes, it hath ordained that after public execution done of your person, your body shall be laid in holy burial if you require it. The Constable with an amazement ordinary in such strange and sudden accidents, and excusable in the most constant men who suffer death resolutely, Four Divines exhort the Constable to die. and yet abhor to see it, q Nature abhors death. A valiant man goes freely unto dangers, and yet is moved at them that miscarry. There are some which receive the stroke more Constantly the● they apprehend it. Sene. Epist. 58. answered. Ha God be praised, behold a hard sentence, I beseech him to give me the grace to acknowledge him well this day. They gave him four Divines to comfort him, but in these extremities consolation is a part of the misery. They dispose him to unite all his thoughts to the last and most important act of his life, to end it to his health, r justice in destroying the body, gives always time to think of the health of the soul. At the point of death man sets up his rest that being lost their is no more to lose. for it concerns the loss both of body and soul, Death being a game, which if it be well played they hazard little to gain much. He demanded of the Chancellor if he might not be allowed to receive the Sacrament, but it was denied him, s If the Sacrament be denied to them that are condemned by justice, the resolutions are drawn from the Cope. Super eo de heret, in 6 and c. question 13. 9 2. They thought it fit that a Mass should be said before him, and that at the end they should give him holy bread, and so 〈◊〉 continued with the Divines, about the examination of his conscience, till betwixt two and three of the clock in the afeernoone, and then he was carried on horseback to the townhouse, where he disposed of that which the King suffered him to give by his last will. He divided among the four companies of begging Friars threescore half Crowns, which were all the jewels he had sowed in his doublet, whereof the Hangman thought to make booty. t john King of Hangary, whom Sultan Soliman made K. of Buda, paying a tribute caused the head of Gritti, son to a Duke of Venice, to be cut off. When the executioner had stripped him, he found in his breeches a little purseful of precious stones which were valued at 4000 crowns. Paul jou. lib. 32. Many Princes & noblemen held it then, and do yet hold it an act of wisdom and foresight not to be without some pieces of gold, for that they may be driven to that distress, and so ill assisted by their followers as for want of an hundred Crowns, or much less, to stay the bad design of some desperate fellow they may suddenly run into some dangerous fortune. He had upon his finger a ring with a small diamond; he entreated the Bishop of Paris his confessor to put it on the finger of the Image of our Lady of Paris, and to offer it on his behalf. He charged another to give unto his Grandchild a stone, which he ware about his neck, and which resisted poison, but the Chancellor kept it to present it unto the King. This disposition being made they led him to a great seaffold, from the which they did ascend to an other which was less, but higher, where he should receive an end of his life, u Death is sweet when it is the end & not the punishment of life. And they say it is a troublesome thing to die before one be sick. for a punishment. Upon the greater were the Chancellor, the Siegneur of Gaucourt, and some other of the King's Officers, all the place, and all windows were full even to the tops of houses. He went up unto the Scaffold with his hands unbound, He is executed at the grieve. the executioner bond them with a little cord. They presented him a Cushion of other stuff than those be whereon the Constables x The Chancellors & Constables of France take their oath unto the King, kneeling upon a cushion of velvet, here they offer the Constable one of wool, with the Arms of the City of Paris. of France take their oath unto the King. He removed it with his foot and set it right, and then he kneeled down with his face towards our Lady's Church. There in the sight of heaven and of two hundred thousand people, the firebrand of war was quenched the 29. day of December 1475 He died much amazed but full of devotion and repentance: He died trembling. To die trembling after that manner, was not to die like a man who had carried the sword of France. The executioner should not have been more hardy to strike, y In what place soever death assails a generous man he should die generously. The generosity of courage doth something abate the infamy of the punishment. Rubrius Flavius being condemn thy Ne●o to lose his head, when as the executioner said unto him that he should stretch forth his neck boldy, he answered. Thou shalt not strike more boldly than I will present my head. than he to offer his neck to receive the blow. Thus he, who had no care, nor thought but of division, had his head divided from his shoulders, the which as full of wind goes into the Air, and the body falls to the earth: the life which remained caused some little motion, which makes the head to move apart, and the body apart, but it is without soul, for that is not divided. The Franciscane Friars carried the body to their Church, and they said then upon the dispute which they had with the Curate of S. john, at the grieve, that two hundred Fria●s had had their heads cut off. We must conclude this discourse with so certain a Maxim as whosoever shall affirm it cannot lie. Never any one that dealt craftily with his Prince, but in the end he was deceived, and there is nothing more certain by considerations of precedents, experience and reason, that who so keeps his Master in fear forceth him to free himself. This place remained unsupplyed above forty years, Importance of the office of Constable. for the command is so great over all the forces of the Realm, and the name of such lustre, as if it falls into the hands of an ambitious man, that is able to make his authority march equal with the Kings, if of a Prince of the blood, he is the King's King, if of an other the Princes and great men of the Realm will not obey him, and his commandment, as Bertrand of Gueschin said, z Ber●rand of Gueschin refused to accept the Office of Constable, for that he was but a simple Knight and dur●t 〈◊〉 presume to command the king's brothers, Cousin's 〈…〉 not yourself by this means, for I have neither Brother, Cousin, nor Nephews, Earl n●r Baron within my realm, but shall obey you willingly, if any one should do otherwise, he should displease me. Froislard. doth concern the great rather than the less. The Constable's goods being forfeited were restored to Francis of Bourbon Earl of Vendosme marrying Mary of Luxembourg. Her slender and small stature brought into this house the smallness of bodies of those great Princes, who before were of that goodly and rich stature. The first beauty of men, admired, and desired in Kings. As the King had showed an example of his justice in the Constable's death, Duke of Alencon set at liberty. so did he one of his bounty to the Duke of Alençcon, a The D. of Alencon was conducted from the Lowre, to the house of Michael Luillier on Thursday the 28. of December 1475 at six of the clock at night by john Harlay Knight of the watch with four torches, as the Author of the Chronicle doth observe. whom he suffered to go out of the Lowre where he was a prisoner and to be lodged in a Burgesses house of Paris. The fortune of this Prince was to be pitied, and the consideration of his birth bound the Princes to commiseration. He was of the blood of France, and the house of Alencon was a branch of that of Valois. Charles of France Earl of Valois had two sons. Philip of Valois King of France, and Charles of Valois b Charles of Valois, Brother to Philip of Valeis King of France had four sons by Mary of Spain his second ● wife. Charles who was a jacobin, and then Archbishop of Lion, Peter Earl of Alencon, Philip Archbishop of 〈◊〉, and Robert Earl of Perch. Earl of Chartres, and then of Alencon who died at the Battle of Crecy. He was father to john first Duke Duke of Alencon, who married Marry of Brittany, and by her had this john the second of that name Duke of Alencon, his son Rene Duke of Alencon married Margaret of Lorraine by whom he had Charles the last Duke of Alencon married to Margaret of Orleans, the only Sister of King Francis the first, and died without children. By the Constable's death the Duke of Bourgundy received from the King St. Quentin, Profit and blame of the Duke for the Constable's death. Han, and Bohain, and the spoils of the dead which might amount to fourscore thousand crowns. He was sorry that he had lost him who had made him have so good a share in France. He was blamed to have given him a safe conduit and then c Behold the judgement, which the Lord of Argenton makes upon this delivery. There was no need for the D. of Bourgundie who was so great a Prince & of so famous and honourable a house to give an assurance to the Constable to take him which was a great cruelty, the Battle where he was certain of death, and for covetousness. deliver him, 1476. and to deliver him to him that pursued him after the assurances of Protection and defence. This breach was noted for an infallible presage of the ruin of his house. The Annals of the Franche Contie of Bourgundy add an other cause, which was, that the Duke had seized of a great sum of money at Aussone, which was levied by the publication of the Croisadoe, and appointed for the war against Infidels. From that time he approached still near unto this precipice, making his grave in his own designs, as Silkworms die in their own works. He began to distrust his own subjects and to take strangers. When a d A Prince is much weakened that it forced to distrust his subjects, & to employ strangers, whose obedience, affection, and fidelity is not tied to any other respect but their pay. They think they are freed from their saith when as money fails. Prince is brought to that misery, all goes to ruin. He revives in his soul all the thoughts which he formerly had to be revenged of them that had offended him. He will dispatch them first whom he holds the weaker, and remembering that being before Nuz, Rene Duke of Lorraine had defied him, spoiled the Duchy of Luxembourg, and razed Pierrefort, in revenge, for that after the death of john Duke of Calabria and Lorraine, The Duke of Bourgundy declares war against the Duke of Lorraine. he had taken him prisoner, he resolved to make him repent it, whereupon he armed for the conquest of Lorraine, by the which, besides the hereditary Titles of King of jerusalem and Sicily, which are in this house, he promised to make himself so mighty against the Germans, as he would make the Emperor repent that he had denied him the title of King. Ambition troubles his imaginations; it represents unto him all that in possession which he hath but in hope; he believes that all the ships that go upon the sea are his; Ambition's great designs. e Ambition represents things as the ambitious man desires or propounds them. It troubles the imagination. Trasillus thinks that a● the ships which are in Pyrce have se●sayle for him, he keeps a Register of them, and is sorry that his brother Caton seeks to dissuade him, for he is never better content then with these imaginations. but as the moon is eclipsed when she is full, so fortune, which had so much favoured him, grew dark when as he thought it had been complete. He thought to have his triumphant chariot drawn not by Lions like to Marc Anthony, nor by Elephants as Pompey, nor by stags like Aurelian, but by Princes like Sesostris. f The insolency of Sesostris King of Egypt in prosperity 〈◊〉 so great and disordered, as he caused four Kings to dra● his Chariot in stead of horse, the one of them fixing his eyes still upon the turning of the wheel burst out in laughter, and being demanded bg S●sostris why he laughed: This wheel (said this poor Prince) turning that up which was below, makes me remember my Condition, and to think that yours may be the like. He is as near as Sesostris to try the instability of this wheel, and that the favours of fortune are no presents but baits. The Earl of Campobach passing by Lion to go into Italy had made offer unto the king to deliver unto him the Duke his master, Attempt against the Duke's life discovered by the King either a prisoner or dead, assuring that he could do it easily, the one by poison, and the other when as the Duke should be riding upon a nag to view his Army, as he was accustomed. He discovered this ingrateful & damnable Intention to Simon of Pavia a Physician of Lion, & to St. Pry the King's Ambassador in Piedmont. The king did abhor and detest such a wickedness, to the which the generosity of the blood of France would never have suffered him to consent to gain the monarchy of the world. g The answer was noble of Alphonso the first King of Naplês to Roger Earl of Pallanza, who offered to kill▪ the King of Castille. If it were (said he) to be King of all the world I would never consent ●o such a wickedness. A prince that seeks to rid himself of an enemy otherwise then by the course of Arms is wicked. All treason is cursed and execrable. He advertised the Duke h It is an act of a free and generous spirit to reject those that offer to betray their masters. Fabricius sent him to Pyr●us who had offered to poison him. by the Siegneur of Contay, but he contemned this advice, being unable to judge of the intention of him that gave it, and thinking that it was to draw the affection of a profitable & necessary servant into jealousy, he seemed to make more esteem of this Traitor than he had done ever. The ●ame year 1476. in October john Bon a Welshman borne, and a household servant to the King, was punished at Paris, for that he had conspired to poison the Dauphin. He was condemned by the Provost of the King's house to lose his head: being ready to be executed the King sent unto him to know whether he had rather lose his eyes then his head, he answered yea: then the executioner put out his eyes and delivered him to his wife. The Duke was then very busy at the siege of Nancy, Campobache, who was very confident to Rene, dissuaded this enterprise. The Duke not able to taste the reasons which he represented unto him, suffered himself to be so transported with Choler, as he struck him, and yet against all reason and the rules of wisdom, which do not allow any trust i A man of courage which hath received an indignity or outrage desires to be revenged, & doth long harbour this desire in his heart, after which they must discharge him, and n●uer trust him more. It is the precept of Thucydides, whosoever finds himself unjustly wronged by him, that had no occasion, if he can once get from him, he will seek to have a more sharp revenge then an open enemy. to be given to servants that have been so entreated, he kept him still about him. He prevailed over Nancy, and Lorraine yielded to the yoke. This was not sufficient; The Duke of Bourgundy seizeth upon Lorraine. Ambition prescribed him new designs. He remembered that whilst he was encamped before Nuz, the Swisses entering into Bourgundie had taken Blasmont, besieged Hericourt, and defeated two thousand Bourgundians in Battle. He remembered the complaints which james of Savoy Earl of Romont, brother to the Duke of Savoy, had made unto him, he desires to revenge it in his revenging humour, Duke arms against the Swisses. and with it the Sovereign Majesty of Princes, which was wronged by the rising of this people, who being in league to become masters of themselves, said that the troop was better kept by many then by one alone, k They that prefer the government of many before that of one, say that a flock is better kept by many dogs then by one alone. They are answered, that a ship which hath many Pilots or Masters is in more danger than that which hath but one good one. and in less than an hundred years had extinguished in their country the memory of those which had commanded over them. The King conjured him not to trouble himself with the conquest of a country where he could not enter the stronger, He seeks to revenge the Earl of Romon●s wrong. but with hazard to die of hunger, nor weak but to be beaten, that the enemies whom he tormented had pain enough to live in peace, and that he should seek some better. l Against an enemy that it poor and miserable, there is no great hope of war nor profit. They did council julian the Emperor to make war against the Goths. I will said he, have better enemies, we must leave them to the Merchants who sell them as they please. Sigonius Lib. 6. Imp. Occid. The King parted from Tours in the beginning of February, The King's voyage to Lyon. in the year 1476. he passed into Bourbonois and Awergne, stayed at our Lady of Puis, from thence to Lion, and so into Dauphine. It was to assure his frontier, m On that side where a neighbour is armed, they must always provide for the frontier. the Duke of Bourgundy and the Swisses being in Arms, and to be near at hand to see what would be the issue of their quarrel. A desire to have often advice made him to erect posts. Posts erected. He did much apprehend the Duke of Bourgundies' progress against the Swisses, the which would have added much unto his power, for he had all the house of Savoy at his dispose, and the Duchess, although she were the King's Sister, was most passionate for the red Crosse. n The Duke of Bourgondy gaped af●er the Duchy of Milan, Rene King of Sicily and Duke of Anjou held the conquest infallible, and therefore he desired to adopt him for his son, & to give him the County of Provence. The D. upon this ●ope had sent Chasteau Given into Pi●dmont to levy men, and to make them pass into Provence. The King of Sicily Earl of Provence offered him Provence. Galeas Duke of Milan was his Ally. The Princes of Italy were of his intelligence, it was a wonderful content unto him to see so many seek his friendship, o The offers of succours of alliance & friendship are pleasing when they may be forborn. Magnificum. saith Tacitus, Laetumque 〈◊〉, 'tis sociorum auxiliis ambiri neque indigere. It is stately to be offered so great succours from Allies & not to need them. and to be able to pass without theirs. The Germans told the King that if he did not declare himself against the Duke, they would make an accord with him to make war against the King. The King who saw far of and behind him, thought that his affairs could not long prosper, if the Duke's enterprise did succeed against the Swisseses. The Swisses being advertised of his resolution to assail them, they prepared to let him know, that as a desire of command was natural in him, The Swisses crave peace of the duke of Bourgundy. so a resolution to defend themselves was also natural unto them. p There are no such people to be found. There were never any so simple as to submit themselves volontarily to servitude without defence or resistance. As it is natural for the sicilians, saith Hermo. crates, to seek to domineer over those that do willingly submit themselves, so it is proper for a man to defend himself from the injuries that any one would do him. Thucid. But to lay all the blame upon him, they sent him their deputies to beseech him to leave them in peace, they offer to forsake all Alliances which should be offensive unto him, even that of France, that their countries deserved not the pains he should take, for all the spoil and ransoms his soldiers could hope for was not worth his horsemen's spurs and bits. The deputies of the Cantons, which were then but eight commonalties q The liberty of the Swisseses began in the year, 1315. by the Alliance of Vry, Schuits and Vnderuald▪ Lucerne did ascociate itself to these Cantons in the year, 1332. Zurich. 1350. Zug and Glaris. 1352. Firbourg, and B●rne, 1401. S●leure. 1481. Basill and Schaffosue in the year, 1501. App●●zel. 1514. returned with nothing but words of choler from this Prince who was offended, both for the succour they had given to the Duke of Lorraine, and for the injury they had done to the Earl of Romont, having taken from him a cart laden with sheeps skins, so small an injury was the ruin of his house, whose most illustrious mark was the Golden Fleece of a sheep. This war being begun for less than figs or raisins, or the head of a wild boar r Small matters have drawn great armies to field. A Swiss named Elico brought figs and raynsis out of Italy to the Gauls, to make them know the abundance and delights of the Country: upon which motion the Gauls past the Alps. The Lombard's were invited by the like allurements. The war betwixt the etolians and Arcadiens was long and bloody for the head of a wild b●are. discharged his first furies upon Yuerdun, Light occasion of the war against the Swiss. the which was taken and recovered again in few days, Granson, a town near unto the Lake of Neuf castle, was besieged and defended only by four huundred Swisseses of the Canton of Berne, who not finding themselves strong enough, Army strong in men and artillery against the Swiss. nor the town to be held against so great forces (for the Duke had fifty thousand men, and a great number of ordinance, of divers sorts) s I. de Serres writes that the Duke of Bourgondy had five hundred pieces of ordinance of all sorts. The History of the Swisseses reports that they took in the spoils, 400. pieces ●ey. 400 allerlye buchsen If we consider the equipage necessary for all this, we will h●ld it a fable. they abandon it and fire it, and then retire into the Castle, where they compounded to have their lives saved. The Capitulation was not observed, for the Duke being incensed that the besieged had endured many days siege, Siege of Granson. caused four score to be hanged, two hundred to be drowned, and the rest to be put to ransom: an Act which thrust the other towns into despair, and gave them so much courage, as they resolved never to trust this Prince's faith any more, and rather to see themselves ruined then to yield. Being victor over this first resistance, he promised unto himself the like issue, The Duke shows all his riches at the siege of Granson. and as he was in the Mountains, not to fight but to triumph, he discoursed rather what he should do after the victory, than what was to be done. t It is a ridiculous presumption to assure himself of that which depends of the inconstancy of fortune, Caesar mocked at Pompey's captains, who talked more how they should use the victory, thē●ow they should fight. Nec quibus rationibus superare possent, sed quemadmedum uti victoria debeberent, ●ogitabant▪ Caes. lib. 3. de Bel. Civil. His Camp was a general show of the riches and state of his house, the content whereof depended more of other men's eyes then of his own. He never shows himself but in rich and stately arms, the pure gold was not more precious. He shows not himself to foreign Ambassadors but glistering with stones, his tents and pavilions were of cloth of gold, and his movables inestimable, for there was more in that house then in three of the greatest of Europe, his equipage was also as rare in profitable pieces, as that of Darius was in unprofitable mouths: more fitting for an army of women or of Eunuches. u Parmenio writing to Alexander of that which he had found in Darius' baggage, numbers, 300 Courtesans for music, 46 men to make Crowns and garlands of flowers, 270. makers of sauces, 29. Potters, 40. Perfumers and about, 80. Officers of the Goblet, Athen. lib. 13. ca 30. The Swisses gather together to succour Granson, thinking that the besieged would give them time. The Canton of Berne sent eight thousand men, Swisseses co● to succour Granson after the loss. and the rest made ten thousand, they came to Neuf castle the day of the Composition, which was the last day of February, 1476. On Saturday the third of March they went to field with an order seemly in all things, but very profitable and goodly for the war, x There is nothing so commendable in war as order be it in marching or fight. Xenephon saith that it is the goodliest & most profitable thing in men. Among the precepts of Vegetius this is singular, Vt omnes milites in acic vel in itinere incedendi ordinem servant. v●g●t. C. ●. That all the soldiers should keep order, either standing in Battle, or marching. being come to bast, a village above Neuf castle, they would have seized upon the Castle of Famerku which is shut up betwixt the Mountain and the Lake, whereof the Duke had seized the Day before; the Army having recovered the top of the hill, they descovered that of the duke of Bourgoundy standing in three great Bartaylons', and their ordinance before them: The Swisses did not think to have seen them so soon in that order, and found that it was in good earnest, and that they must of necessity join. Wherefore they caused their forward to march in the which were the troops of the Cantons of Bierne, Encounter of both armies at Granson. Schuitz and Biene, the Battle followed afterwhere were the Banners and standards of the Cantons, which are never displayed but upon great occasions when as the Commonweal is in danger. They keep them always in the midst of the body of the army, as the most sacred and in violable pieces of the army; they hold it infamous and unfortunate to lose them. The reproaches which are at this day most sharp and shameful among them, renew the memory of such losses. y They reproach them of Zurich, who for that they had lost their ensign a● a Battle given at Vuinterberg, had sense added a band of purple, but the marks of this quality were black. And this hath been given to Zurich by the Emperor Raoule of Ha●spourg, for an honour. Simlerus. A town cannot give a greater testimony of want of valour then to have lost her ensign, as a soldier cannot do an Act more unworthy of his profession then to abandon his colours. z The Roman soldier took an oath to follow his General in all places, not to attempt any thing against the people and not to abandon his Ensign. They had some few horse led by Erman of Eptingen. Those of St●ausbourg being about one thousand and two hundred horse, lost the opportunity to be there, having charged their quarter the day before for the discommodity of forages, not thinking that the Duke of Bourgundy would appear so soon. The footmen of Basill were appointed for the rearward, lest the enemy should come and charge them behind. In the mean time the Duke moves, The Duke's Army put into 〈◊〉 Battles. he draws his three battalions together, and causeth some lances to advance to begin the charge, they give with great cries (signs of courage a Cries in the beginning of a Battle were held by the Romans for a desire to fight and an abundance of courage. A Captain in the second book of Tit. Liu. speaks after this manner to his soldiers, Si iam satis animi est, decernique placet a gite dum, clamorem, qualem in acie sublatu●● estis, his tollite, judicem voluntatis, virtutisque vestrae. If you have yet courage enough, and desire to be noted, go on & raise up such a cry, as you are accustomed to do in Battle, which is a sign of your w●ls and virtues. ) and fury upon the Swisses Battle, which withstood them valiantly. At the same time the Swisses horsemen charged the Duke's army in flank, and the footmen followed with such violence as the Bourgundians were forced to retire; those that were in the last ranks took this recoiling for a flight, and put themselves in disorder. Those few horse which had done this effect, Victory of the Swisses and recovery of Granson. would have pursued them that fled, thinking that they might with reason doubt of their courage against them that held good, if they showed not some proofs against them that ran away. b He that doth not charge th● that waver, will be very stayed against them that stand firm. One said unto Agis, that he should let his enemies pass. And how then shall we charge them that resist if we do not fight with them that fly? Plut. But the Colonel Eptingen stayed them, showing them how dangerous it was, for so small a number to follow so great and mighty an Army, c The Roman Army did commonly consist of 24000. men, & for the most of fifty thousand. With this number they did encounter the Gauls and Africans. They made war with order and Art, and these with numbers & fury. which was yet whole, and had endured no other harm, but what had happened by their amazement; That they might rally themselves again together, turn head, and take from them the advantage which they had, and that very easily, being far from their foot, who could not follow the chase. The Duke had but too many men. Multitudes have not always gotten the greatest victories. Pyrrhus demanded but fifteen thousand men to assail the world. There was a little Hill near unto it, on the which the Duke gathered together what troops he could, and presented himself to fight, but the Swisses encouraged and puffed up with the good fortune of this first encounter returned furiously to the charge. The Duke's horsemen found their own weakness against these great battalions of Pikes; if they had left their horses the charge had been greater d Philip Viscomte D. of Milan being assailed by 1●000. Swiss, sent the Earl of Carmagnoles with 6000 horse, and some few foot to ●●ght with them, he was repulsed with loss, but finding the great advantage of the Swisses arms against horsemen, he resolved to return, and being near ●e caused his men at Arms to light, who br●ke the Swisses, slew 15000, and the rest laying down their Arms yielded. but the amazement was such as the Duke's Army resolved as soon to a General abandon of Camp, baggage and Artillery, as to fight. The Swisses recovering Granson, they took them of their Nation down whom the Duke had caused to be hanged, and in their place hung up as many Bourgundians with the same halters. The spoil was above three millions in gold, movables & jewels, whereof the victors made so little esteem, through the ignorance of price of things, as they gave gold for copper, and silver for tin; They tore tents and pavilions of cloth of gold in pieces to apparel their wives and children. They lived yet in the commendable ignorance of money which made Sparta for fine hundred years the Queen of Greece. e Soarta flourished by the laws of Lycurgus, but when as under the reign of Agis it began to know gold & silver, and to love and admire riches, then werethey violated and came to nothing. Plut. in the life of Li●urgus. The Duke's great Diamond which was held a master piece of the sun, was sold for a Florin to a Priest, who was so religious as he sent it to the Magistrates of his Canton, who gave him six shillings starling. They say that this piece passed through many hands for a small price, at last it came unto a Geneva Marchant remaining at Lion, who sold it for eleven thousand Florins, and then Pope julio the second had it for twenty thousand. They found also three Rubies alike, which were called the three Brethren, with other inestimable jewels, which were little esteemed by the Swisses. Their General made many Knights after this victory, three of Zurick, four of Berne, two of Basill, and some of Strausbourg. Valour is no less respected in Commonweals then in Monarchies, in the first they love valiant men, in the other they fear them, and although that in the commonweals f There proceed more excellent men 〈◊〉 of Commonweals then out of Realms for that men gr●w excellent & make proof of their virtue as they are employed & rewarded by the Prince or commonweal, so as where there are many Principalities and divers Estates so they also find greater ●obers of valiant men. Asia had sew for that it was all under the Empire of one alone. Africa in like manner, Carthage hath raised many. Emrope having been divided into many Empires, hath had more than all the rest, and the fear they have had one of another hath made the profession of Arms to flourish and that they which have excelled have been partakers of honours and public recompenses. they apprehend always lest some one which excels the rest in merit, should attempt to exceed them in authority: yet it is certain that Europe for that it hath had more commonweals than Africa or Asia, being subject to the power of one alone, hath had more excellent Captains than those, and after that Rome had made but one state of all the world, and that virtue had no other Theatre but Rome the Estates of Europe began to neglect the excellency of Arms, virtue giving her favours and recompenses no where but at Rome. This was a great corrosive unto him, to see himself vanquished by them whom he contemned and held unworthy of his courage, but much more to see that his reputation which he had so highly preserved was blemished for that it was well known that he had come from Granson to joigne without any stay, and that it was a dishonourable thing that footmen had caused such mighty troops of horse to fly fifteen leagues. Courage of the D. of Bourgondy after the Battle lost. But he hath courage enough remaining not to faint under the rigour of this misfortune. He doth not blame his own rashness but the blindness of fortune, and the daily hazard of arms. He hath lost nothing but what may be recovered for money, the loss concerned himself alone and if it deserved grief no heart should be touched therewith but his. He thought that the greatness of his house g Indiscretion doth ●alwaies take fortune to warrant her from reproach for her bad government. Fortune alone is commended it, all men's Actions solely esteemed and solely outraged, and solely blamed for bad events. and of his fortune stood yet firm as long as he had an army on foot. He conjured the chief noblemen which suffered in this loss to forget it, and to change their grief into wrath against enemies unworthy of such a booty, & to make them buy the little profit which they had gotten at a dear rate. h The words which proceed from the mouth of a Prince after any lo●se should be generous. M. Crassus seeing that the Parthians carried the head of Publius: Crassus his son upon a lance and that this sight did daunt the courage of his soldiers, he went through the band crying out the grief of this loss doth concern me alone, but the greatness of the Fortune and glory of Rome remains invincible so long as you stand firm: Yet if you have compassion on me who have seen me lose so virtuous and so valiant a son, I beseech you to convert it into wrath against your enemies, and make them bu●e the joy which they have received dearly. Thus he resolved to have his revenge, but nothing troubled him but the King. He fears that he will make his profit of this loss, and that he will annoy him, wherefore he sends the Siegneur of Contay unto him, The Duke seeks for a continuance of the Truce with the King. to advertise him of this accident, and the opinion he hath to repair it to his advantage beseeching him with words of humility, befitting the condition of his affairs more than the greatness of his courage to entertain the Truce, and to excuse him if he came not to Auxerre as they had concluded together. Although the Duke were in bad estate, yet the King considering that he had lost nothing but his reputation, and that he had his estates and forces entire, would not break with him, but assured him all that he desired for the Truce. He could not believe that this Prince was ruined, so long as he had a sword remaining in his hand. i The loss● of reputation is great, i● should never be hazarded, but it may be recovered if the estate remain, it being lost they labour in vain to return again; a vanquished prince is miserable that is expelled his estates. he knew that his subjects carried so great a●●ection and loyalty that they would not suffer him long in that necessity, that arms were changeable and that all the nations in the world had many examples, and France some, how that the vanquished had subdued the victors and that a Prince is not ruined so long as he hath a spirit, hope and a sword remaining. k As long as a Prince keeps himself up how ruinous soever his affairs he, we must not ●ould him for lost. Masanissa being put to rout by Siphar, saved himself by swimming▪ hide himself in a Cave being bruited that he was dead. He went to field being cured of a wound received, and recovered his Realm. Leonidas son to Syph●x expelled him another time, he fled with 70. horse and by Scipio's means was restored. The King informed himself particularly of this defeat, Contay told him that there were but seven men at arms slain, Number of them that were slain in the battle. but the loss of the baggage was inestimable. The King being among his most confident servants made it appear that nothing displeased him so much as the little number. He commanded them to make Contay good cheer, who made no show to hear the people of Lions singing through the streets the shame and ruin of this battle, the courage of the Swisses and the rashness of the Bourgondians, for at that time there was not a Battle but there was presently a Song made of it. l The custom is very ancient to make hymms and Songs of Battles and victories. There are examples in Aristophanes and in Plutark in the life of Flaminius. Charle maigne caused a collection to be made of all the rhymes of the like subject. This hard encounter bred a great alteration in men's minds and affections. Those which feared the courage and admired the prosperity of this Prince, began presently to contemn him after the news of this rout. There was not any friend, no love. Galeas Duke of Milan renouncing the alliance the had made with him, besought the King to renew those which he formerly had with France, and offers him a hundred thousand Ducats. The King made this brave & proud answer to his Ambassador. Tell your master that I will none of his money, and that once in a year I levy three times more than he, as for peace and war I will dispose as I please, but if he repent himself to have left my alliance to embrace that of the Duke of Bourgondy, I am content to return as we was: upon which words the Truces were published again. This good news augmented the content which the King took at Lion, whether Rene Duke of Anjou came to see him. This good Prince who had seen the death of his three sons, Rene Duke of Anjou comes to the King. and had but one daughter m Rene Duke of Anjou had by Isabel daughter to Charles Duke of Lorraine three sons who died in the flower of their years. john Duke of Calabria. Nicholas Duke of Bar. Lewis marquis of Pont, and yoland. put the Duke of Bourgondy in some hope that he would adopt him for his son: and transfer the rights of his house to the Crown of Sicily, with the Earldom of Provence and this Prince had already sent Chasteau Guion into Piedmont with 20. thousand crowns to levy soldiers and to pass them into Provence, to take possession thereof. The King being advertised hereof sent to Philip Earl of Savoy to seize upon Chasteau Guion with his money and men. He had great difficulty to save his own person but lost his money, adding this loss to others which his master had received. The King entreated him to come to Lion, and not to deal with the Duke of Bourgondy who sought to ruin him. The good old man being discontented with the Duke of Lorraine, who had forced him to give his daughter n After the death of Charles the first of that name▪ Duke of Lorraine, Rene Duke of Anjou pretended the Duchy, as husband to Isabella daughter to Charles. He lost a Battle against the Earl of Vaudemont, and was taken prisoner & forced to give his Daughter Yoland to Ferry of Lorraine son to Anthony Earl of Vaudemont. Yoland of Anjou to Ferry his son, resolved to this voyage. Complaint of the Duke: of Anjou made by the Seneschal. He led with him john Coss Seneschal of provence, who with a freedom worthy of the age wherein he lived and little known to them of his nation, (for he was a Sicilien) let the King understand that all which o Rene of Sicily sold to Lewis of Chalon the homage & sovereignty of the Principality of Oranges, his Son submitted it to the Parliament of Dauphiné, and afterward K. Lewis restored it unto him. Duke Rene had treated with the Duke of Bourgondy touching Provence & Sicily, and that which he had dismembered to the benefit of the Prince of Orange, was only to make his majesty know the wrong which he had done him in detaining the Castles of Bar and Angers, and crossing him in all his affairs, that this despite had forced him to these resolutions, the which notwithstanding he had no desire to effect if he might otherwise have reason from his majesty. The King taking the liberty of this Discourse in good part, as free from flattery, and seasoned with discretion, p To fit a discourse to flattery for to please, is impudency, but it is a great indiscretion to be to free and hardy, to avoid pleasing & flattery. They must observe a mean. seemliness comes from mediocrity. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. he found truth in it which he could not gainsay, the which did bind him by all courtesy and good usage to deface the discontents which the good old man his Uncle King of Sicily had against him. The Chronicle saith, that he made him great cheer at Lion, he made him see the fair of St john, and the fair Dames of Lion, but he did well requite this good cheer, for before he parted he contented the King with such assurances as he desired to add Provence to the Crown. The Duke of Bourgundy had besieged Morat, Morat besieged by the Duke of Bourgundy a small Town two leagues from Berne with an army of fourscore thousand men. The Swisses had twelve thousand Pikes, ten thousand Halberds, and ten thousand shot. The Duke of Lorraine came also with such troops as the King had given him, and although the number were not great, yet he was commended by the Swisses. q They were weary saith Phil. de Com. in our Court of the D. of Lorraine. When a great man hath lost all his own, most commonly he tires them that support him. There might be in all some thirty two thousand foot, and three or four thousand horse. The Duke of Bourgundy held it impossible for the Swisses or the Duke of Lorraine to succour Morat, Battle of Morat won by the Swisses. and yet they did attempt it and execute it very happily. As they approached the Duke saluted them with his Canon which did play so furiously upon their troops as presently there were many horses seen without riders. The Swisses notwithstanding march on, for the way was such as they must either advance forward or retire back: they charged the Duke's troops, beat them back, and force many to seek their safeties in the Lake, into which they waded up to the chins: but they were no more assured in the water then on the land, the fury of the victorious soldier slew them like Ducks. It was presently made red with the blood of this slaughter, many fled to the next Forest, and were slain there. The Duke returned from Suisserland, as r He that will see in what equipage Xerxes returned out of Greece, whether he had led a hundred thousand men, let him read the tenth Satire of Iwenall. * Xerxes did out of Greece. * Sed qualis redijt? nempe una nave cruentis, Fluctibus ac tarda per densa cadavera prora, Has toties optata exigit gloria paenas. The Swisses having continued three days upon the place of Battle, they dismissed half their troops, and with the rest recovered the places which the Duke had taken, Petterlingen, Romon and Milden: they enter at Losanna without resistance and find that all were fled. Swisses enter the country of Vaux. They become masters of all the country of Vaux, and think to do as much unto Savoy, to make it known that they that would not be their friends, were their enemies, s Aristenus saith in the 9 Book of Titus Liu. speaking of the E●oliens. Romanos aut socios habere oportet, aut hosts, media via nulla est. The Romans must either have fellows and friends, or enemies there is no middle way. that there was no mean betwixt both. The Lady Yoland, Mother and Governess to the Duke had broken the Treaties of Alliance, having favoured the Earl of Romont's quarrel against them, and given passage to the Duke of Milan's troops, and to the Bourgonians to make war in Suisserland. Geneva compounds with the Swisses. The Town of Geneva paying four and twenty thousand Florins was presented from the storm which their Bishop of of the house of Savoy had drawn upon them. The Duke retired into the Franch Contie, Affliction of the Duke: after the Battle. oppressed with so many griefs and discontents as no man durst come near him. If this great Battle did not draw water from the air, as they say that after great and bloody Battles there shall fall great showers, t After great Battles follow great showers, for that there is some God which doth wash and purify the earth polluted with human blood, or for that the dead bodies and the blood which is spilled cast up gross vapours which thicken in the air. Plut. it did from the eyes of many widow women and Orphans, for the number of the dead was eighteen thousand of both sides: the History of Germany speaks of two and twenty thousand. The Duke vexed at this unfortunate success, the which he had attempted more to revenge the injuries of the house of Savoy then for his own, and fearing least the Duchess of Savoy should reconcile herself unto the King her Brother, The Duchess of Savoy seized on by the Bourgundians. and that the Savoyards' should follow the fortune of the victory, he commanded Oliver of la March to seize upon the Duchess and her two sons. He stayed her near unto the ports of Geneva, set her on horseback behind him, and gave order to them of his troop to do the like unto her two sons and two Daughters. The Duke of Savoy was saved and carried to Geneva. Oliver de la March he went on his way all night, past the mountain, came unto a place called Myiou, and from thence to S. Claud, and from thence to Rochfort, and in the end to Rowre near unto Dijon. The King drew her from thence by the Lord of Chaumont, and caused her come to Tours, u The Duchess of Savoy being prisoner at Rowre sent unto the King to beseech him to set her at liberty. If she had not been in these extremities, she would not have done it, the hatred had been so great betwixt the King and her. whether he went after his departure from Lyon. Being arrived there, he saluted her with these words. Madame of Bourgundy you are very welcome. To whom she answered, that she was a good French woman and ready to obey his commandments. He took her at her word and this first answer was the best. x The first answers of women are commonly the best. It is that which Ulysses considered in Homer pressing the soul of a woman to answer speedily. Their humours and their passions were very contrary to extract the essence of true and perfect love. She leaves the D. of Burgundy's party. Many things had passed in their lives which had as it were losened the Cement of this brotherly affection. Philip de Commines saith, that he conducted her to her chamber, and caused her to be well entreated. True it is that he had 〈◊〉 great desire to be rid of her, and she as great to be far from him. The King would willingly that she had married the Princes her children to his humour, but she excused herself, and wrought so as by his means and the mediation of the Duke of Lorraine and the Archduke of Austria, she retired from the Swisses some of those lands which they had seized on, paying fifty thousand Florins for the charges of war, but it was not possible for the Earl of Romont to recover his. Eight days after the King caused her to be conducted into her country with her children, but before they parted one from an other, they would be assured of the promises of love which they had made, and not trusting to bare words they added writings and others. They deprived themselves of that content which their wills might have received in producing freely the effects of a reciprocal affection and confidence. But they had rather be bound to religion then to Nature. From this Flower-de-Luce are issued two Princes which have governed in Savoy. y A●e the 3. Duke of Savoy husband to Yoland of France succeeded Lewis the second his father in the year 1468. Philip the seventh D. married to Mary of Bourbon. Philibert the eight to Margaret of Austria▪ the ninth, Charles to Beatrix of Portugal: the tenth. Emanuel Philibert, to Margaret of Valo●s: the eleventh Charles Emanuel to Catherine of Austria. She was mother to Philibert and to Charles, Philibert reigned ten years under her charge, every one desired to have this Prince in his power. King Lewis, as his Uncle by the Mother's side. Charles Duke of Bourgundy, as his kinsman and neighbour. The Earls of Bresse, Romont and Geneva, his Uncles by the father's side, who would exclude Galeas Duke of Milan, who had given him his Daughter, took also the government. He died and left no● children. Charles his brother succeeded him and married Blanch of Montferrat: of them was borne Charles the sixth, whose barren reign was but nine months shorter than his life. He lived six years eleven months. Philip Earl of Bresse, son to Lewis, and great Grandfather to Charles Emanuel, who had been prisoner at Loches succeeded him, a great Prince, as all they have been whose fortunes have been tossed and crossed. z They whom a variable & unconstant fortune hath exercised and tried govern themselves better then others Tacitus speaks it of Caractatus. Quem multa ambigua, multa prospeta ext●lerant, ut c●teros Britannorum Imperato respr●mineret. Whom many crosses and many good fortunes had raised up, that he might exceed the rest of the British commanders. After that justus Lipsius to confirm this truth hath spoken of Charles the fi●t, and Lewis the eleventh: he adds Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy, and concludes that the Greek word, is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I have learned of them that have hurt me, Miseria brudentiae bona matter. Misery i● a good mother of wisdom. At the King's return from Lion, Alfonso K. of Portugal comes to demand succours in France. Alfonso King of Portugal came to salute him, being at Tours, he came unto him as to his last refuge, being no longer able to resist the power of King Ferdinand and Isabelta. The cause of their contention is well worthy the knowing, and to understand it we must remember that it was formerly said that by the peace made betwixt john King of Castille and john of Navarre, Blanch the eldest Daughter of Navarre was married to Henry of Castille Prince of the Asturies, and that the marriage was not consummated by reason of the disability and coldness of the husband. a Pope Eugenius the third, gave a dispensation for the degree of proximity that was betwixt the married couple, and the marriage was celebrated at Madrid in the year 1440. The bashfulness and modesty of this Princess made her dissemble her misfortune, disability of Henry K. of Castill●. whereof no man might inconsiderately grow in doubt, for the Prince was of a manlike and brave aspect, but his actions were faint and languishing. They were but five and twenty years old when they were married. At one and thirty he succeeded to his father, who died in the year 1454 of a quartain Ague, after that he had put Alvaro de Luna b Dom Aluato de Luna abusing the greatness of his charge and the great love the King bore him, was hated of the Princes & Noblemen of Castille, they forced the King to banish him six years from the Court. His faction won the Prince D. Henry, who armed against his father, & wrought so as he was restored to favour, and made Master of the Order of S. james, but seeking to be revenged of his enemies; and making many enterprises against them, Queen Isabel favouring them, made the King resclue to put him in prison: & to have him executed at vail dos●t. The King did forfeit all his goods, they did set a silver Basin whereas his head was to receiu that which passers by would give for his entertainment. A remarkable example of the inconstancy of Kings and fortunes favours, All sin 〈…〉 vita, a la tarde loa el dia. The life is commended by the end, and the day by the Evening. his Constable to death, and had reigned nine and forty years and six months. Henry succeeded him, and Alfonso his second son was great Master of the Order of St. james, he would willingly have given him his Crown, for the grief he had conceived for Henry's disobedience. His Daughter Isabel was but three years old, to whom he gave the Town of Cuellar, and a great sum of money for her marriage. All things succeeded otherwise then he had projected. The eternal providence, which hath written in his tables of Diamond the adventures of things, which are, have been and shall be, had disposed after another manner. But as the most constant patience is tired at length this Princess, The Pope dissolves the marriage for sterility. having for a long time endured her husband's disability, began to murmur, and he prevented her complaints, presenting a request unto the Pope to be separated from her, and showed that she was barren and could not be a mother, and that the affairs of Castille required an heir. The Pope dissolved the first marriage and suffered him to marry again with jone Infanta of Portugal, Sister to King▪ Alfonso, and Daughter to King Edward, a Princess exceeding fair, who more desirous to be a Queen then a wife, consented to this marriage, notwithstanding that she was fully advertised of the disability of the husband which she took, who although he were a great Prince could not have found a woman, where as every one may have for his money. But she made it known that a politic woman never dies without an heir. On the other side the King held the blemish of disability to be so dishonourable, as to make the contrary known▪ and to have children to succeed unto his Crown, he consented that Bernard de la Cueva, one of his favourites c Some writ that D. joane consented thereunto by force, but when she had once made this leap, she had more need of a bridle then a spur. A wonderful incontinency and impudence. Being at it were confined to the Castle of Alacaes', under the custody of the Archbishop of Sevelle she had by D. Pedro the Archbishop's Nephew two children, D. Ferdinand and D. Apostol. should lie with the Queen, who presently conceived with child, and to the end it should not be thought to be done by supposition, he would have her delivered in the presence of Henry Earl of Alba de Lista, the Archbishop of Toledo, and the Marquis of Vellena. It was a Daughter, which had for her Godfather the Earl of Armagna●, who was at that time Ambassador in Castille to King Lewis the eleventh. Wisdom and discretion might have made this deceit more fortunate than it was, Henry the king of Castille degraded. for all Spain made demonstration, of incredible joy for the birth of this Daughter, but there was folly and indiscretion of all sides. The King, who would confirm this opinion that he was a gallant man, sought the love of other women, who soon discovered the deceit. The Queen made show to be jealous, entertained her love securely with D. Bernard, so as the great familiarity he had with her made the world doubt of her chastity, and when as they saw that the King honoured him with the chief charges of the Realm, making him master of the order of St james, and then Duke of Albuquergue, they did imagine that he made him play his part in this Comedy, which ended with cruel & tragical effects, for the Great men of the realm made a league to seize upon D. Alfonso and D. Isabel, brother & Sister, to the end that this Bastard should not deprive them of their rights. Alfonso being about twelve years old was proclaimed K. of Castille by them, and then did D. Henry show the imbecility and weakness of his Nature, for whereas he should have opposed himself against those mutinies, he suffered them to get such credit and authority, as the Archbishop of Toledo, being sent for to come unto him, to the end he might pacify those troubles, he said unto him that brought him this charge. Tell your King that I am weary of him & his affairs, and that he shall shortly see who is the true King of Castille. The Grandoes of the Realm assembled in a great plain near unto Auila to degrade the King from the royal dignity. That which they could not do unto his person, Alfonso proclained K. of Castille. they did unto his statue d When as King Henry understood of this degradation, which was in june 1●65. he said, I have bred up children and they have contemned me. I came naked from my mother's womb, and the earth attends me naked: No man can live so poorly as he is borne, and it God expels me now for my fins he will comfort and preserve me afterwards, for his infinite power is that which kills and restores to life, which wounds and cures: that which gives Siegneuries & takes them away, which raiseth up Kings, & pulls them down when he pleaseth. which they presented upon a scaffold: when as the Herad said that D. Henry was degraded from the royal dignity, the Archbishop of Toledo took the Crown from his image, the Earl of Plaisance the sword, and the Earl of Beneuent the Sceptre, this done Diego Lopes cast it out of the royal seat. Alfonso's standard was advanced, and poor Henry shouted at and contemned. They would end the quarrel by a battle before Olivedo. e The Battle of Oluiedo was in the year 1467. They do not agree who had the victory. D. Alfonso was seen armed a● all pieces encouraging his men. D. Henry appeared not in the fight, but entered triumphing towards night into Medina del Campo The two Armies fought by order, one squadron against another. The Archbishop of Toledo led his army having a white stole upon his arms. The combat continued three hours, and ended with so great disorder of either side, as both parties made bonfires for the victory. The Pope sent his Legate f Anthony de Veneris Bishop of Lion, the Pope's Legate, being in Spain, commanded them to lay down Arms upon pain of excommunication, the great men of Spain opposed themselves & said that they appealed to a Council. The Licentiat john D. Alcacer and Doctor Alphonso of Madrigal were committed for this appeal. to pacify these troubles, during the which King D. Alfonso having reigned three years died of the plague at Cardegnosa: Death of Alfonso King of Castille. The League would have declared Isabel heir of the Realm, the which she would not accept the King her brother living, whereupon a peace was made, by which she was declared Princess of Castille the nineteenth of September, 1468. upon condition that she should not marry without the consent of the King her brother. They would have married her to Alfonso of Portugal, who was a widower, and D. joane to john the eldest Son of Portugal, upon condition that if there came no children of the marriage of the Pincesse Isabella, g D. Isabel was sought for in marriage by the brother of King Lewis, & by the King of England's brother. She made choice of D. Ferdinand Prince of Arragon. He came to see her unknown, D. Guttiere of Cardona who conducted him showed him her, saying in Spanish, Esse es. It is he. To whom the Princess answerered suddenly, and S. shallbe thine arms, upon this cause the family of this knight doth at this day carry an S in their arms and device. those which issued from the marriage of D. joane should succeed to the realm Castille. But D. Isabel had other thoughts, she loved Ferdinand son to john King of Navarre and Arragon, whom she caused to come to Vaillidolet in a disguise habit and married him the eighteenth of October. 1469. Isabel of Castille marries Ferdinand of Arragon King Henry was so incensed at this marriage, as he declared his Sister fallen from all the rights which she might pretend to the crown of Castille, and caused joane his daughter to be proclaimed his true heir, who was married to Charles Duke of Guienne, as hath been formerly said. This treaty of marriage was broken by the death of the Dukd of Guienne. King Henry died also. h The death of Henry the 4. King of Castille was in the year 1474. the one and forty year of his age and the on & twentieth of his reign He was interred in the great Chapel of the Monastery of Guadalupe. He appointed 52. lamps of silver to burn day & night upon his tomb. And notwithstanding that the Crown were assured to Ferdinand and Isabel, yet joane continued the title of Queen of Castille, Troops sent out of France into Castille. and in this quality she married with Alfonso King of Portugal, which was an occasion of great wars. The French King being discontented with the house of Arragon, and the war of Pergignan, sent troops to the King of Portugal under the command of Aman of Albret. i Ambassadors have host engaged their Masters in very ruinous voyages. Philip de Commines who had treated with them of the K. of Portugal, saith that if they had been well advised, they would have informed themselves better of matters here, before they had counseled their Master to this voyage w●ich was very prejudicial unto him. But the King of Portugal having lost his enterprises and his Partisans, was forced to retire himself into Portugal carring away no other triumph of the war of Castille, but the Princess D. joane his wife, whom notwithstanding he would not marry before he were assured of the Realm of Castille, and therefore he went into France to implore aid from King Lewis, with whom he had treated an alliance by his Ambassadors, who under the good cheer which was made them, and the good words which were given them during the treaty, without any other intent, persuaded their Master to come into France, assuring him that he should do more by his presence for the succours which he demanded, then by the mediation of his servants, and that there might be a marriage made betwixt the Dauphin and D. joane his Niece. He landed at Marseille, Alfons● K of Portugal comes to Tours. came to Lions, and so went down the river of Loire to Tours, where he acquainted the King with the cause of his voyage. k Necessity ●orceth Princes even to things unworthy of their quality. They writ that this Prince besought the King to succour him with such vehemency and humanity as he fell on his knees at his heat. It had not been secret though he had been silent. King's come never to the gates of other Kings to offer or to give, but to demand and entreat. He carried a Lamp in his hand which descovered his heart. l The discommodities of great Princes cannot be hi●den. Ariston saith that poverty is a lamp, which doth lighten and make all the miseries of the world be seen. The King's affairs would not suffer him to be more liberal to this Prince of good effects then of good words. Lewis refuseth him succours. If he had no other consideration but of the estate of Spain, he had taken an other course, but he had always for a perpetual object the greatness of the house of Bourgondy, whereof he durst nor judge so long as the Duke was armed, and therefore he had rather fail his friends then himself. To resolve of the succours which the King of Portugal required of him, he consulted rather with reason then affection, m Resolutions taken by the Counsel of affection, are subject to change those which are grounded upon reason last perpetually. which laid before him his great expenses in Germany and Lorraine for the entertainment of his army, which he might not dismiss unless he would run the hazard of a surprise and scorn, not to have foreseen that which concerned himself. n Wise men see all accidents in their thoughts they cannot be surprised 〈◊〉 word. I did not think it comes never out of their mouths. Seneca calls it the word of ignorant men. Audimus aliquando voces imperitorum dicētium● Ne●ciebam hoc mihi restare sapiens scit sibi omnia restare quicquid fattum est dicit sciebam. We sometimes here the words of ignorant men saying, I did not know that this would have happened A wise man knows that all things may happen: He saith whatsoever is done I knew it. The King of Portugal thinking that if he might so reconcile these two Prince's affairs, The King of Portugal mediats a peace in vain. as they might have no subject to doubt one another, he should d●aw succours from them both, he undertook to go into Lorraine to persuade the Duke to reconcile himself unto the King. His voyage was not long, for upon the first propositions he found that his enterprise was impossible, and so returned to the King, who continuing the honours which he had done him at his arrival, entreated him to see Paris, and in the mean time procured a dispensation for him from Pope Sixtus the fourth o Notwithstanding that D. Ferdinand & D. Isabel of Castille made great oppositions at Rome against the marriage of King Alphonso of Portugal and D. joane his niece, his sister's daughter, yet the Pope granted a dispensation at King Lewis his instance. to marry with D. joane his Niece. The Chronicle and Martinienne, make a curious relation of his entertainment, which was the 23. of November 1476. The Lord of Gaucour Governor of Paris, Reception of the King of Portugal into Paris. and Robert of Estouteville Provost of Paris went to meet him on the way to Orleans towards the windmill. The Chancellor of Oriole with the Precedents and Councillors of Sovereign Courts, and many Prelates went forth. The Magistrates presented him a Canopy at Saint james gate. The Rector of the University, with the Doctor and Regent's, received him at St. Stephens, the Bishop and Clergy of Paris at our Lady's Church. The short days and the long speeches added fire to the greatness of the ceremony p Fire carried before the Prince was one of the ornaments of Majesty, it was not in a Link or Torch, but in a Lamp or Lantern. Prenuncius ante, Signa dedit cursor posita de more Lucerna. Corippus lib. 2. Herodian saith that Pertinax came unto the Senate not suffering them to carry fire or any other marks of the Empire before him. The Precedent Bertier saith, that the same honour was given to the patriarchs in the Greek Church, and the ti●le of Balsamon. In Respons de Patriarch. Pr●uileg. They caused fifty torches to march before him to conduct him to a merchants house called Laurence Herbelot in the street of Prowelles. The showed him the singularities and beauties of Paris, he saw the Court of Parliament of peers, the most sacred Senate of Europe, where he did number as many Kings as Senators, Francis Hale Archdeacon of Paris, A cause pleaded in Parliament by two 〈◊〉 the King's advocate, and Peter of Brabant an advocate of the Court and Curate of S. Eustache pleaded a cause the Chronicle says, that it was a goodly thing to hear. Hear the ignorance of those times moves me to pity, few men were learned, and few learned men taught in France. Italy had gathered up some wits of that great shipwreck of Greece, The tyrant of the East would not allow of any exercise of learning. q Greece hath given these goodly wits unto Italy. Emanuel Chrisoloras an Athenian. George of Trebizo●de. Theodore de Gaza a Macedonian. Ier●nimo Spartiate, G●egory Typhernas, john Argyropile of Constantinople, Lao●●●c Chalcondile Athenian. Marcus Musurus, of Candie, and john Lascaris. For they make him believe that learned men are soon possessed with great and heigh resolutions, against the servitude which keeps them under r Books & Sciences teach men of judgement more than any other thing to know themselves, and to feel the smart of servitude & the loss of liberty. But this light could not pass into France through squadrons of men of war, and good books which are not preserved but in the Temple of peace, lay yet in the dust of Cloisters, they were not made common to the world, and they feared much that the masters in speaking well and eloquently in a Chamber would not be so in doing well in field in sight of the enemies, s Cato persuaded the Senate to send away Carneades who was come to Rome on the behalf of the Athenians, for that his eloquence drew the youth of Rome to follow him, & disposed the rather to imitate to speak well the to do well in war, & in the managing of affairs. Plut. that all eloquence was grown rusty in Barbarism. These great and goodly actions of those times, in the which they must spread the main fails of eloquence, were given to Doctors of the Sorbone. They undertook to make Overture at the Estates, and to justify or condemn Princes before the King's Council. See here a Curate of the greatest parish in Paris, who makes proof of the grace and greatness of the French eloquence, in the first Parliament of France before a strange King; the Ignorance of those times found none more capable, he deserved to have money given him to be silent, rather than to speak. t The ancient Orators got money both to speak and to be s●●et. One demanded of Demosthenes what he had gotten for speaking, & he answered. I have sold the silence of one day for five talents. Plut. After that the King of Portugal had stayed sometime in Paris, they put into his imagination (as jealousy doth easily possess afflicted minds) that the King who had at the same time confirmed the ancient alliances u The Alliances betwixt France & Castille, were confirmed by the Deputies of both Kings betwixt Ba●onne. & Fontaraby. of France with Castille: Alphonso retires into Portugal. would cause him to be taken: he thought to retire himself with an intent to shut himself into a Monastery, or to make a voyage to jerusalem, hoping for no succours but from God, having in vain attended them from men. The King being loath to abandon him in this preplexity, caused certain ships to be armed in Normandy to conduct him into Portugal, where his son despairing of his return, had already taken the title of King. D. Beatrice widow to D. Ferdinand of Portugal, Aunt to the Queen of Castille, Accord betwixt the Kings of Castille and Portugal. undertook to reconcile them, entreating her Niece to come to Alcantara to confer together. Their Conference did produce a peace for a hundred years x It was said by this accord that the peace should be kept betwixt the Kings of ●astile & Por●ugal for a hundred years & one to come. to the content of both Realms, and to the glory of both Kings, who then carried their arms and their designs to the conquest of new countries. y In the year 1475. the first voyage was made to Guinee by the mariners of Castille, after they had conquered the canaries in the year 1417. Of this enterprise john of Batencourt a french was General and carried the title of King. Of that of Guinee Pedro de Colied s. By this peace it was said that the King of Portugal should not marry D. joane; that she should departed out of Portugal, or if she would remain there, she should have her choice, either to marry with D. john Prince of Castille, newly borne when he should come to age or enter into a monastery. This Princess did rather choose a monastery then marriage, and took upon her the habit of Sta. Clara in the royal Monastery of Coimbra, who for the greatness of her courage and contempt of the world, deserved of posterity the surname of excellent. The flight of Granson, and the loss of Morat, two fatal accidents to a spirit insupportable both in prosperity and adversity, z There are spirits like unto sick bodies which are distempered with heat and cold they cannot iud ure prosperity nor adversity. brought comfortless afflictions unto the Duke, Affliction of the Duke of Bourgondy after the Battle of Morat. and made him continue six weeks solitary at Riviere, suffering his beard to grow carelessly feeling his understanding to grow weak, and his natural heat so cold, as they made him to drink wine alone, in stead of Ptysan, which before was his ordinary drink. And to recover his spirits and to cheer his heart, they applied thereunto divers sorts of remedies; and if by fits he came to his good sense, it was but to make him have a more lively apprehension of his unfortunate Estate. a A great courage is very sensible of pu●l●●e disgraces. Mahomet seeing himself forced to raise the siege from Belg●ade with loss and sh●me, called for poison to Rol himself. He never remembered this ahh●o●t but 〈…〉 his is head against the wall and ●are his mustastachos. The solitariness which he used to pass away his grief, did but augment it, and let him know that there is no worse estate then that of a discontented mind in an unsound body. He would not endure any one to talk unto him, and was mad when they spoke. If he would have suffered himself to be seen it would have given him ease, and by the cheerfulness of his countenance his soldiers would have recovered their spirits which this accident had daunted. b Princes in the change of their fortunes ent●r into fury against them 〈◊〉 at seek to advice them. Perseus' having been defeated by Paulus AEmilius, slew 2. of his greatest friends, who s●ept forward to tell him some truth. Every thing dis●leaseth an afflicted mind. Great sorrows must be evaporated, for the more they are restrained the more they swell and grow more violent, but being passed they must show a countenance free from all perplexity or baseness. He is contemned of his friends. Time did but increase the wound in the Soul of this Prince, his friends and allies contemned him. Gal●as Duke of Milan seeing that by this loss all his Intelligences were crossed in Italy, turned his back to him. Frederie Prince of Tarentum, abused with a hope to marry his daughter, allies himself to the house of France; whilst that this triumphant Chariot went well, every one would be on the top of it, but now it is overthrown they abandon it. c Prosperity finds many friends & kinsmen: misfortune and misery hath no●any,: 〈◊〉 shi● doth most commonly fellow fortune, who hath haviour & good success at her sides. The Duke of Lorraine seeking to make his profit of the Duke of Bourgundies' misfortune, recovers his places lost in Lorraine, with the horsemen he had of France, Duke of Lorraine recovers his own Country and be●leegeth Nancy and some footmen from the Swisses and the Towns of Germany. He besieged Nancy, forced the Lord of Bures of the house of Croy to yield, after that he had in vain solicited succours from his Master. d R●ne Duke of Lorraine recovered many places which the Bourg●ndians held. E●pinal wou●d not yield without seeing him, for that they were made believe that he was dead. Nancy having endured ten weeks siege it yielded the 7. of November. 1476. The English which were within it having lost Cohin their leader began to murmur more at the length of the succours than the languishing of the siege, for they had no other torment then the impatiency of that which they attended. They told the Bures that if he did not compound they would make their own appointment. De Bures in steed of opposing himself to so unjust & dishonourable a demand yielded unto them. The Pilot believed the Galley slaves, and the Physician yielded to the pleasure of his sick patiented. e Pompey resolved to makewarre at the appetite of his soldiers, the which the Captain of a sh●p should not do, much less the General of an army, and against his own mind, for he was wont to commend those Physicians which did not please the disordered Appeti●e of their Patient's. Plut. The composition was made, and three days after succours came. The Duke of Bourgundy, Army of the Duke of Bourgon dies before Nancy. not to give the Duke of Lorraine leisure to fortify Nancy, nor to furnish it with men and victuals, blocked it in on every side, having Pont a Mousson for his retreat. This was not done with the advice of his best Captains, f Nothing doth more advance the ruin of a Prince than not to believe Couns●ll, and to presume to know more than any. They hold him, saith Paulus AEmilius▪ that would manage all things after his own brain for an arrogant rather than a wise man. Tit. Liu Lib. 44. who held that seizing upon the small places thereabouts, he should cut off their victuals, and in the end famish them without troubling his Army, which had more need to refresh itself in garrison then to Campe. But his Counsels were disordered, and choler and fury made his spirit run headlong. g Of an enterprise governed by choler and fury, there is no good issue to be expected. Furor iraque mentem precipitant. Fury and choler make the mind run headlong. His will void of all reason and government seemed to conspire against himself, the sooner to advance his misery. h Phil de Con. saith, that God propounds such resolutions to Princes, when it pleaseth him to change their fortunes. lib. 5. c. 5. He would give no credit to Pope Sixtus the fift, who sent the Cardinal of Friuly i The Cardinal of Friuli the Pope's Legate being at Basill exhorted the Swisses to lay dow●e arms: But they said they could not do it until the D. of Bourgundy were out of Lorraine, his Legate unto him to treat a Peace betwixt him and the Swisses. In the heart of winter, Swisses send succours to the duke of Lorraine. and of a very rigorous sharp winter, he camped before Nancy. The Duke of Lorraine was at Lucerne to have succours from the Swisses. They give him eight thousand men, which pass at Basil, cross through Alsatia, & spoil the jews in the towns of Ensicheim, Colmar & Schletstat, making no conscience to take in gross from the jews that which by their Usuries they had rob by retail from the Christians. All the Duke of Lorraines forces being together, he made two troops, the which were not equal to the Duke of Bourgundies', being great in number, but very weak and languishing for their precedent losses, and the discommodity of the season, which was wonderful rigorous, and wherewith notwithstanding both Dukes were pleased, as if they had been in the delights of their houses. k Delicacy doth not become a General in his Army. Tac represents Corbulo as a General of an army should be in most discommodious seasons. Ipse cultu levi capite intecto in agmine, in laboribus frequens adesse: Laudem strenuis, solatium convalidis, exemplum omnibus ostendere. He was accustomed to go in a light weed, to be bareheaded among the ranks, & to be present at labours, to commend the strong, to comfort the sickly, and to be an example to all. Tac. lib. Ann. 17. In the beginning of December the Duke of Lorraines Swisses and Germans go out of Bergarten and charge the Bourgundians which were at S. Nicholas, Bourgundians charged and slain. slew above a hundred and took many horses. The brute of this charge coming to the Camp before Nancy, awakes the Bourgundians, who presently beat to field to secure their friends and recover the booty which the enemy had taken at St Nicholas. At the same time the French and Lorraines, who knew nothing of all this, enter the Bourgundians quarter of an other side, where they slew many and set fire of it. Some thought that if this had been done by design, and with intelligence, Nancy had been delivered. Famine priest it extremely, the inhabitants were forced to eat Horses, Dogs, and Cats, their chief resistance was in the extreme fury of despair, l The fury of necessity makes strange resolutions, when as there is no other health but danger. which would have made them go forth like famished Wolves out of a wood. It was impossible to put in any victuals, Famine extreme in Nancy. but with the hazard of many men. The approaches were so kept as no policy, no stratagems, which are commonly practised in such victuallings, could succeed. m In military factions, as the victualling of a place near priest is one of the most difficult, so is it one of the most worthy. Policy can do more than force. That of Landrecy in the year 1543. is one of the most memorable, by Francis the fift in view of the Emperor Charles the first ●e made show to give Battle, and the light horsemen being in skirmish be caused the victuals to enter, and then he retired. Rene resolved to put in certain sacks of meal under the conduct and hazard of a company of men at arms. They passed not all, many were taken and presented to the Duke, who commanded they should be hanged by the rigour of the law of Arms, which wils that every man attempting to enter into a place to fortify it after that the Canon hath played shall be punished with death. Among these there was a Gentleman of Provence, called Ciffron, Stuard to the D. of Lorraine, Ciffron not heard meaning to discover Campo●asses treason. who before his death said that he desired to discovera matter which did import the safety of the duke's person. Campobasse who knew him for that he had been employed in the practice of his treason and intelligence with the Duke of Lorraine, makes the Duke of Bourgundy believe that his desire to speak was but to desire to live and to win so much time. This Duke too tractable in a matter of such consequence, and which should not have been neglected, commands he should be dispatched. Ciffron said that it was not any desire to prolong his life, but to free his Conscience, which made him desire to be heard, they report this unto the Duke, who sends back to know what he would say. This was to add cruelty to death, to refuse a little respite to a condemned man. n To give time to prepare one's self to die is an act of justice and humanity. The judgements of Ne●o seemed the more cruel, for that he gave not an hour to think of death. Ciffron desired no delay for himself, for he was resolved to die, but he required it to assure the Duke's life, to whom he sent word that he could not trust that which lay hidden in his breast to any but himself. Campobasse, who did wonderfully apprehend the last words of C●ffron, Kept near unto the Duke, to the end he might take from him all means to discover his Treason, wherefore coming out of the Duke's chamber he said that the Duke would not see Ciffron and that he commanded them to dispatch him, so in strangling him they smothered in his breast the advice which might have saved the Duke's life. A miserable condition of them whose misfortune no man believes until it be past. o The Emperor Domitian said that the condition of Princes was miserable, for that having discovered conspiracies made against them, they are not credited until they be slain. They always say unto them, it will be nothing, it can not be. The blow, which Campobasse had received from the Duke of Bourgundy, did continually blow in his heart the fire of revenge, which lay hid, and to the end he should not lose the remembrance, he did entertain that by the ordinary object of a device which was wittily cruel. Campobasse leaves the Duke. It was of a Figtree which by his own force did rive the Marble of an ancient Monument. p Nicholas of Campobasse carried for his device the Figtree of Meala, Marmora Mealae findit caprificus. Mart. lib. 10. Not able any longer to cover the fire of his revenge, nor to hide his unnatural treason, and fearing least the besieged, whom he fortified with advice and Council, should discover him, he passed to Re●es troops, and did weaken the Duke's army by some horsemen which followed him. That reason which makes traitors odious, and treason acceptable, caused him to be well entertained in Renes Court. Vice doth sooner find a wife then virtue a husband. There is no such villainy but it pleaseth when it profits. Yet the Swisses and Germans which were in the Duke of Lorraines Army detested this treachery, q They that abandon their duties and l●yalties are never esteemed, Princes do countenance & honour them for a time, but Noblemen that are about them 〈◊〉 on them. protesting that they would not fight with a Traitor. Rene sent him to Conde upon Mozelle, to keep the passage, and to make his profit of the spoil of the Duke of Bourgundies' men. They did counsel the Duke to retire to Pontamousson to refresh his Army, The D. of Bourgundy contemns Council. and not to expose it in that weakness to the hazard of a Battle, and to think that the succours which Rene brought to the besieged, was not answerable to the necessity wherein they were. That his army consisting of foreign troops, could not long endure the toils of the war, nor the rigour of the winter, being certain that the soldier which fights only for pay grows discontent and disbands. That which he receives is less in his conceit then that which he suffers and thinks to merit. r They that serve themselves with strangers find an undoubted inconvenience. Thucydides saith, that most commonly they make w●r with bragging words & shows but when they are to fight, they retire. lib. 3. He would not believe this Council, Contempt an assured presage of his ruin. and resolved with a courageous obstinacy to the worst, God had taken from him the tranquility of the mind, and the foreknowledge of his own miseries. Fortune, which meant to cast him down headlong, blinded his eyes that he could not see this Precipice. s God will not only deprive most men of a quiet se●led and happy life, free from all troubles and care, but takes from them most commonly the foreknowledge of calam●●es & afflictions which shall fall upon them, and the means to prevent them, either for that he will not have his will prove vain & be diverted, or to exempt them from the care & vexation wherein they might be, attending the blow, if they should foresee these inevitable accidents. Nicetas Choniates. The wheel began to turn, to stay it was difficult, and the fall was infallible. The descent unto ruin is easy, but the assent to good fortune is painful. The Duke of Lorraine divided his army into two great Battaillons, either of seven or eight thousand men, whereof the chief force were Swisses, glorious and proud of two victories which they had won at Granson and Morat. The Duke of Bourgundy had not the third part of his troops, and if he had made choice of the best to fight, he should not have found twelve hundred, yet he attends the enemy resolutely being well entrenched, having before him a Brook betwixt two thick hedgerowes, near unto the Hospital of Magonne. The Swisses upon their first approach seize upon St Nicholas, Defeats & death of the Duke of Bourgundy. and chase away the Bourgundians that were within it. The same night the Duke of Bourgundy thought to surprise Nancy before that the succours should arrive. The Duke of Lorraine was speedily advertised thereof: The Swisses let him understand that the season was so rigorous, and the cold so extreme, as if the troops did continue long without any employment they would ruin themselves without profit. t An army in time surmounts all accidents. In like manner which in time ruin armies. Of this kind are hunger, cold, & other discommodities of the air. The next day which was twelve day, they advanced towards Nancy, the Duke's chief strength was in his ordinance, the which notwithstanding wrought no great effect. The Duke being advertised of the Swisses march, planted his Ordinance against the highways coming to Nancy, thinking they would come that way, but they took the left hand which was a rough and troublesome way along the River of Mozelle, passing a little Brook through the Y●e and Snow which then fell and ceased as soon as the Battle began. They recovered a little hill, by the which they might charge the Duke's Army of both sides. The Bourgundians discovering it, they raised a great cry to have the Artillery charged: But it was too late. The Swisses having taken breath, and made their prayers fell violently upon the Duke of Bourgundies' footmen, and after some resistance won their trenches, make them recoil, and disorder them. The horsemen seeing the footmen in rout fled that way where as Campobasse stopped their flight and their retreat. All the Bourgundians were at the discretion of their enemies. The Duke being known by the traitor Campobasses men was slain with one blow of a Halberd, and two thrusts of a Pike. u When the D. of Bourgundies' body was knowle, they found that he had a blow with a Halberd which did 〈◊〉 his head from above the care unto the teeth, one thrust with a Pike through hi●●high, and an another in his fundament. After the Battle they were full of care what was become of him. They sought him both among the living and the dead. There was no difference, the bodies were all naked, the Lion was stripped by some poor Greyhound which durst not look on him living. x Cowardly dogs bite the skins of wild beasts 〈◊〉 they are in the house & 〈◊〉 off their hair, but they dare not touch them when they are in the ●ield. Plut. They found him in a ditch, his face being plastered over with mire and blood, the sharpness of the winter having frozen all that they could not know him. Nature having given him no greater share of ground in this fall then to the meanest soldier. The brute was that he had escaped, and for sorrow of such a loss had attired himself in a Pilgrim's weed to wander throughout the world. y There was seen in the town of Bruxelle in the Diocese of Spire, a naked man covered only with a linen cloth, whom they held to be the Duke of Bourgundy. Rene Duke of Lorraine sent to Metz to learn if he had not been seen pass, the Secretary of the Town having made inquiry, assured him that he had not been seen. The Duke's body found by a Page. Campobasse killing all them that fled, had reserved one of the Duke's pages, who did serve to find out his body, z The Duke of Burgundy's body was known by a Por●ugall Physician, by the bashara of Bourgundy, by Oliver of La March, and by the Grooms of his Chamber. the which he knew by divers marks, the wanting his teeth of the upper jaw which he had lost in his youth with a fall, by the scar of a wound which he received in the throat at the Battle of Montlehery, by the withering of the skin upon his shoulder which a coal had made; by a Fistula which he had under his navel, and by his nails which he ware longer than any one of his Court. The Duke's Ensigns and colours were presently carried to Rene, who observing the Fuzils or Irons to strike fire which they carried said. The Duke interred at Nancy. What a Pity, when this Prince would warm himself, he could not make use of these Fuzils to strike fire! a The duke carry 〈◊〉 his colours an iron to strike fire betwixt two trenchers of wood, meaning that it was in his power to make a great fire of war when he pleased. The body was drawn from among the dead and carried to Nancy, where after they had washed it, and attired it in a poor weed of linen cloth, they laid it upon a table, under a cloth of Estate of black Velvet, the chamber being hanged with the same. The Duke mourning in his outward habit for this death, and carrying joy in his heart for his victory, would needs see him, and was not so scrupulous as Pompey, who turned away his eyes from the dead body of Mithridates, King of Pontus, lest he should provoke the revenging wrath of the Gods against him. At this sight the Duke was moved to pity and sorrow, as compassion is not less natural in great courages, than cruelty even against the dead is proper to base and cowardly minds. b Great minds are moved at the spectacle of the ruins of nature, and at the tragical effects of fortune. Alexander felt his ●ies to swell with tears when he read these words in Persian upon Cyrus' tomb. I am Cyrus who conquered the Empire of the Persians, let no man envy this little ground which covers my poor carcase. Taking him by one hand, he said, God receive your soul, you have caused us much trouble and sorrow. He caused him to be interred with all kinds of Funeral Pomp, finding no expense so pleasing as that which is made to inter an enemy. It is strange to read what is written and credited, K. Lewis advertised of this death the next day. that the day after the Battle, King Lewis being at Mass, the Archbishop of Vienna said unto him presenting him the Pixe. Rejoice Sr your enemy is dead. The Posts which brought this news so speedily might truly be called winds, like unto those of Elius Verus. c The Emperor A●lius Verus gave wings and the names of winds unto his Posts calling one the North, another the great wind, an other the South, etc. And as the people believe not that which they desire not, his subjects were long doubtful of the truth of his death. They said that the grief of this loss kept him hid, and that he had been seen in a Pilgrim's weed. It is troublesome to believe the death of Princes whom they love, who have won their hearts by mildness and affability. This Prince said, and his tomb speaks it yet, that he never had any rest in his life. He would be the Eagle of Princes in design and execution, and as Eagles have always in their nests stones which sound, he had always some design in his head which disturbed his rest. He that did inherit the matteresse whereon he slept, might well keep it to cause sleep, seeing that a man so distempered did sleep little. We must not suffer honour to grow old, Humour of the D. of Bourgundy nor to wear like a garment, it must be renewed by some goodly action. He sought by new designs and new enterprises, to maintain the brute of this reputation, which he thought did pass away presently, if some other courageous action did not renew it, and he feared nothing more than that his idleness should give the people occasion to demand what he did. Mean men are not to give an account of all their actions, but will know what great men do or do not. d A Prince should never give the people occasion to inquire of his idleness. Cato had reason to say, Non minus otii quam negotii clarorum virorum rationem extare oportere. The reason of famous men's Idleness must be apparent, is well as of their employments. His great courage was given him to afflict his body, & to torment his spirit. His force was not equal to his Ambition, less pride or more power. His life was too short to go that great way. He would not have been satisfied with half Europe. Excess the Duke's Ambition. All or nothing. He had more valour than government. Of this King & this D. might have been made the composition of a great and absolute Prince; e Who so could have taken some of the King our Master's conditions and some of his, might well have made a perfect prince, for without doubt the King exceeded him much in judgement, and the end did show it by his works. Phil. de Com. for the two essential parts necessary to make a great Captain, Wisdom, and Valour, he had but one, and would make himself to be esteemed by actions which were rather animated by courage, then guided by Counsel. But he was laborious and diligent, two qualities f He is a good Captain that is both wise & valiant. Hannibal was valiant, & Fabius wise. This man by his wisdom undermined the heat & courage of the other. Guiechiardin saith. That it is no less the duty of a valiant Captain to do ●he works of a wise man then of a courageous Paulus Aemilius did persuade Marcus Varro his Colleague to temper the hot fumes of his courage, by the coolness of his wisdom. requisite to make a Captain. He would be every where, himself did view the situation of his Camp, with the advantages and discommodities about it, he observed who went and came, who entered and who went forth. g Charles D. of Bourgundy was called by many the toiling, for that he would see all and do all, toiling himself extraordinarily in all occasions. He was still walking among the soldiers, reprehending the Captains privately, and the soldiers publicly, when he found them to neglect their duties. The meanest fortune requires wisdom to guide it, and the greater it is, the more it is environed with difficulties. This Prince grew so insolent, & fell into so great a conceit of his own valour, after his first deeds of Arms, that although his natural inclinations were not merely warlike, yet he took delight in no other exercise then war; with such great presumption, as he held no wisdom comparable to his Counsels, nor force equal to his valour, and yet in that there was impatiency and deceit, and in this rashness and violence. Presumption was so violent in his imagination, as he would not have given place to Hannibal nor to Scipio. h Antigonus being demanded who was the best Captain, he answered. Pyrrhus if ●e had lived a man's age. But among them that lived so, the first rank was due to Hannibal, the second to Scipio, and the third to Antigonus. He had made a temple of his heart, which adored no other Deity, than his Ambition. After the Battle of Montlehery, The Duke grew presumptuous and insupportable. he did nothing by Council, all after his own head, and according to his own humour, being not able to restrain the fierceness of his pride, nor moderate the greatness of his designs, i After that Paulus Emilius had vanquished Perseus, King of Macedon, he spoke these goodly words. Let us learn to humble ourselves, and let us restrain our fierceness and pride. Vanity did so overshadow the tree of his fortune, as it made it die. His death was the ruin & desolation of the great body of the house of Bourgundy, which hath continued some 100 years under four Dukes in continual felicity & prosperity. And so all ended, yea the empire of Rome which commanded all that was great, rich, & powerful upon the habitable earth, is in the end fallen to pieces. k The Empire of Rome in the time of the Emperor Adrian, had 200. thousand foot, and 4000 horse entertained daily, with 300. Elephants for war, & 2000 Chariots armed with 300. thousand Armours complete: As for their sea forces, they had above 2000 gal●es, and 1200. gal●casses, and 800. vessels for pomp, silvered and gilt for ostentation only, and in ready money above fifty millions of gold. Appian Alex. in his preface. He had virtues worthy of a Prince, but Pride, presumption and wilfulness blemished all the glory. Above all he was a great justicer, and they report an admirable example of his justice against a Governor of a Town in Zealand who was in a manner mad for the love of a Lady which was equally fair and wise, Example of the Duke's great justice and who had committed the guard of her beauty, to the love of virtue. He attempted against her honour, and this violent curiosity to be partaker of an other man's pleasure, l Plut. saith, that Adultery is a curiosity of another man's pleasure. made him to sue unto her and serve her. Seeing that he could not win her by prayers, services nor presents, he committed a notable villainy, causing her husband to be imprisoned, and feigning that he was advertised of some intelligence, which he practised with the enemy. Behold he is in an estate where he must justify himself or die, for in such accusations there is no other way. m He that is accused of a crime must have no other thought but to die, or to justify himself. It was the message which that courageous woman of Sparta sent unto her Son, being told that he was accused of some crime. Either rid thyself of thy life, or of thine accusation. Plut. His wife cast herself at the governors feet, whose entreaties she had so often scorned, suing for the innocent, & innocently pleading plainly for the prisoners liberty. Why how now saith the Governor do you make suit unto him whose will you hold subject to your laws? restore me myself, and I will restore you your husband; he is my prisoner, and I am thine, it is in your power to set us both at liberty. She saw herself reduced betwixt bashfulness and fear, A mind afflicted with fear & love. blushing first, and then paleness painted upon her face, did witness the one and the other passion: for shame to lose her honour, by a crime more odious in her Nation then in any other, n When as Tacitus in his description of Germany speaks of their customs, he saith. Paucissima in tam numerosa gente Adultera, quorum poena presens maritis permissa, accisis crinibus nudatam coram propinquos expellit domo maritus, ac per omnem vicum verbere agit. There are very few Adulteries in so populous a Nation, whose present punishment that is allowed the husband, her hair being cut of, he drives her naked out of the house before the neighbours, and beats her through the streets. and fear not to recover her husband. The Governor gave her no time to bethink herself, for supposing that she was in an Estate not to refuse him any thing, he takes that by force which he could not have with her heart, and for that he would have no companion in this tyrannous possession, Cruelty base and villainous. to his looseness he adds cruelty, which is pleased with that company, and doth commonly lodge in base minds. o Cruelty is an ulcer of the soul, proceeding from weakness and cowardice. Ammi. Marcel. lib. 27. He caused the Husband's head to be cut off, the Wife did summon him of his promise to set him at liberty, and he willed her to go into the prison and take him: she goes thither with a hart swelled with joy for the delivery of her Husband, and with a great desire to revenge this injury, but she found him dead laid in a Coffin. She cast herself upon him, and with fearful cries detested the governors inhuman and cruel deceit: which done, she goes forth more furious than a Tiger, p Iust. Lipsius who hath written ●hi, History saith, Retinere & placare conatur frustra; non tigris magis soeviat 〈◊〉 coepto; statim que Amicarum fidis advocatis, rem denarrat, eius ordinem & eulpam suam non culpam▪ ac consilium viamque ultioni exquirit: Censent omnes ad Principem eundum: qui inter alias virtutes insignes, nisi superbia et pervicacia corripui●let, eximius justitiae cultor erat. He laboured in vain to pacify her. No Tiger did rage more having lost her young, she presently called her friend's, to whom she declared the matter, the manner, & her offence, yet no offence: and required their advice & a course to revenge it. They all thought is fit to go unto the Prince, who among other noble virtues, if pride and frowardness had not corrupted him, was a great favourer of justice. from whom they have stolen her young ones, and reports to all her friends this cruel adventure. They advised her to go unto the Duke, to whom she fled and cast herself at his fear, where with tears of revenge and grief, she acquainted him with this injury, demanding justice. The Duke hearing of his barbarous accident, sends for the Governor, who being confronted with this woman, feels his face to blush for shame, as much as hers was pale for grief, who after he had with trembling denied a crime which had no other witness but his own conscience, and tried that villainies are more easily committed then excused: q It is a trouble to colour and disguise a villainy. An ancient Lawyer being importuned by a Tyrant to excuse a parricide, which he had committed in killing his own Brother, answered, That it was much more difficult to excuse an offence then to commit it. he embraced the Duke's knees, demanded pardon of him, and promised to marry this woman, to repair the wrong & injury which he had done her. She craves revenge for the death of her Husband, and not the love or alliance of him that had slain him. those that were present advised her to accept of the offer, seeing the mischief was done, and justice might well revenge, but not repair the wrong. She being forced to fly to forgetfulness, the Goddess of the unfortunate, resolved to give herself unto him, who had deprived her both of honour and husband, and to bind him unto her for his life, which he could not save but by her means. The promises were written, concluded, and sworn, whereunto the Duke added this Article, that the husband and dying first without Children, all his goods should remain to his Wife. This concluded; their hearts did sacrifice to the concord of marriage, and they promised to live lovingly together. It seemed there was nothing else to be done, nor that so clear a heaven as was that day, should have any lightning or thunder. The Duke turning towards the woman, demanded if she were content: I am my Lord answered she, by your bounty and justice. I am not, replied the Duke, who weighed how much the Commonweal was wronged in this crime: that a Prince may well declare, but he cannot make an offender innocent: that he is bound to do justice, r A Prince doing justice equally, wins more glory than if he had given limits to the Sea, vanquished Monsters, ruined hell, and supported heaven. & to give an account of innocent blood, there being no triumph equal to that which a Prince raiseth to his glory in doing justice. He commanded the woman to retire, & caused the Governor to be carried to prison, giving charge that he should lose his head in the same place where he put the woman's husband to death, A woman deprived at one time of two husbands. and that he should be also put into a Coffin. s D. Ferdinand of Gonzaga, Lieutenant General to the Emperor Charles the 5. in Italy, made the like reparation to an Italian Lady. He caused his head to be cut off that had committed the rape, having first made him to marry her, & to give her all his goods. Which done, he sent this woman to the prison, who being amazed at this spectacle, & to see herself the widow of two husbands in so short a time, was so violently oppressed with grief, as within a short space she followed the way which these two men had made her. But to end the life and discourse of Charles Duke of Bourgoundy, he died at the age of three and forty. He came into the world at Dijon on Saint Martin's Eve; in the year 1433. The very day that he was christened he received the choler of the golden fleece, and withal the name of Charles, which Charles Duke of Bourbon gave him, the title of Earl of Charolois, and Lord of Bethunes. The house of Bethunes entered into that of Flanders, long before the house of Flanders entered into that of Bourgundie. Baldwyn Earl of Flanders, who purchased the Empire of Constantinople by the force of his Arms, and the happy assistance of Anthony and Coesne of Bethunes, had two Daughters. jone married first to Ferdinand Prince of Portugal, and afterwards to Thomas Prince of Savoie, and died without Children. Margaret her Sister, married William of Dampierre, and had three Sons and one Daughter; Guy, William, john and Marie. Guy married the Daughter of Fegard of Bethune, Robert of Bethune succeeded him, to Robert Lewis of Nevers, to Lewis of Nevers Lewis of Malain, Father to Margaret his only Daughter, who was married to Philip Duke of Bourgondy, great Grandfather to Charles. This house of Bethunes hath like unto others t The house of Bethunes hath brought forth many, great Captains under this name of Robert. Robert who defeated Manfroy in Sicily, & married the Daughter of Charles of Anjou: Robert who besieged and forced Roche vandaiss. Look in the Duke of Sullys Panegyre. felt the injuries of Time and Fortune. Of Time which changeth and rechangeth all things, which maketh the grass to grow upon the tops of Towers, and gives bounds to Empires and Monarchies. Of Fortune, which makes of houses and men as an Auditor doth of Counters, and a Melter of Medalles; the first doth value them as he pleaseth, and the last doth cast the same Image in Lead and Gold. It hath remained in a manner overthrown, under the ruins of this house of Bourgondie, there remained nothing but the remembrance of her greatness, and a mournful conference of that which she was, with that which she had been, but Virtue would never suffer Fortune to deface out of the courage of her descendants the magnanimity which was hereditary unto them. Valour and magnanimity were as natural marks in their hearts, u Many at their births have carried marks of their extraction; the Children of Seleucus carried an Anchor upon their thigh, they of Python of N●sibe had upon their bodies the impression of an Axe, and the children of Seems founder of Thebes had a Lance. as the Anchor, the Axe, and the Lance, to the Children of Seleucus, of Python, and of Seems; But as that river which having run far under ground, riseth up more proudly and violently, so this house continues about a hundred years unknown, and far from favours and great dignities, it shall be like unto an example of virtue without fortune, of fidelity without credit, of merit without recompense: it shall not be but to appear more glorious, more powerful, and more happy than ever. At the same time Galeas Duke of Milan was murdered, Death of Galeas duke of Milan. his injustice and cruelty had made him odious and insupportable. He caused a Priest to be buried quick with a dead man's body, the which he would not inter without money. An extreme cruelty, and an extreme avarice. Nothing did so much hasten his ruin, as a disgrace which he had done unto his Schoolmaster, having caused him to have as many blows with a stirrup leather given him in his own presence, as he had received stripes with a rod from him being his Scholar. x Princes do willingly remember the severity which hath been used towards them in their In●ancies. Nero put Seneca to death. Arsenius fled into the desert, for that Arcadius his Disciple had resolved to kill him. To revenge this affront, he disposed there of his Disciples whom he knew to have been wronged in their honours by Galeas to kill him: Cruelties and whoredoms of the Duke of Milan. the one had been deprived of his benefice; the other two saw their Sisters dishonoured, by the voluptuousness of this Prince. y Galeas Duke of Milan deflowered the Sister of Charles Viscount, master of his ward rob, and then gave her to one of his Mignons to abuse. Paul. jou. The conspiracy being resolved, and they furnished with courage and arms for the execution, they go to him being at the door of St. Stephen's Church in Milan, approaching near him, He is slain at the Church door. & making show to salute him, john Andrew Lampognano struck him in the windpipe, z They writ that Lampognano to accustom and encourage himself to this execution, did every day stab the Duke's picture with a dagger, and after his cruel meditations executed his design. jerosme Olgiato in the throat and stomach, and Charles Viscount wounded him in the belly. It was impossible to escape, presently the Duke's Servants seized of them. The first being content to die, seeing that Galeas was dead, cried out as they cut him in pieces. After this manner I desire to die. jerosme was taken alive, and being condemned to be fleied and quartered upon a scaffold alive, he said (making no other repentance for this crime) that of so cruel a death, the reputation would be perpetual. a jerosme Olgiati being stretched out upon the scaffold to be quartered said. Mors acerba, fama perpetua, stabit vetus memoria facti. Burt. Lib. 5. Hist. Florent. A bitter death, but a perpetual fame, the memory of the fact shall remain old. The King was not so much grieved for the death of Galeas, as he had been for that of Francis Sforce, Lewis xi. a friend to Francis Sforce. the best of his good friends, from whom he received 500 men at arms, and 3000. foot, led by Galeas against the league of the Commonweal, and to whom he was resolved to retire, if he might not have entered into Paris. When as the King saw himself freed of one enemy, Lewis sends an Ambassador into Scotland. he studied what he should do to be revenged of another, and remembering that K. Edward had past the seas for the D. of Bourgundies' passions, he desired to cry quittance with him, and therefore he sent Robert of Ireland a Scottishman, and a Sorbonist, with two French Gentlemen, to persuade james 3. King of Scotland, to make war against England, but the Estate of Scotland was so full of bad humours, as they could not stir this body without danger of an incurable disease. b Whilist that a body is found, it feels not the putrefied and corrupted humours which are disperse into divers mebe●s, but as soon as one part is grieved, all gather together & run thither. It is even so of states whilst they are in peace, but upon the first trouble, any thing that is wicked, seditious and rebellious discovers itself. . The King was but seven years old when he succeeded to his Father, Contention in Scotland for the Regency. and the division was great to know who should have the Regency and Government of the Realm. Some were for Queen Marie his Mother; Others were for james Kenneth, and George Douglas Earl of Anguse. The Queen caused herself to be declared that which she would be, & they that were for her said; that if they regarded Proximity, there was not any nearer unto the Son than the mother: If they did consider the good of the child, not any one could have more care than she: If they could not contend with her in the degree of Proximity, it were indiscretion to call her affection and fidelity in doubt, having therein nature for her Caution. If they respect the common good, the condition of her birth was considerable, for that being a stranger, no way possessed with love nor passion, they should not find that she would support the one to the prejudice of the other, as they might do which had Alliances, Kinsmen, and Intelligences within the Realm, who carried their designs beyond the kings life, and might build upon his tomb: As for her, the death of her Son could bring her no other fruits but a perpetual sorrow, and therefore she was bound to desire his health and preservation. Kenneth seeing this, Scottishmen hate the command of women. stirs up the people to apprehend the injury which was done unto the Laws of a Realm, which had always detested the rule of Women, as contrary to that of nature, c Gynecoratis or the government of women is directly against the laws of nature, which hath given unto men se●ce, wisdom, arms, and commandment, and hath taken it from women: and the law of God hath wisely decreed, that the woman should be subject unto the man, not only in the government of realms and Empires, but also in every man's private family. Bodin. Lib. 6 cap. 5. and which had seen the reign of an hundred Kings, and not any one of their Daughters that succeeded. Shall we not find said he, among so many thousands of men, one man that is capaple to command men? must a Nation which hath no other experience but arms, beforced to subject their swords to the laws of a distaff, and suffer themselves to be governed at the discretion of a woman, and of a strange woman? d The first woman which opened the way for the rule of women in Scotland was Mary Stuard: and Marry the Daughter of Henry the 8. in England. To pacify this discord, they resolved to leave all matters as they were for a month, during the which, the passions of both parties were but the more inflamed. Many within the Realm, desired rather to obey the Queen than any other that should be of an equal condition, or superior unto them. But as in such occasions a man of credit and authority works wonders, drawing the hearts and opinions of men as he pleaseth. james Kenneth Archbishop of St. Andrew, giving the Parliament to understand, e Cato desirous to let the Romans understand, that the commandment of women was shameful, spoke these words unto them. All men command women, we command men, and women command us. Plut. that to give the authority to the Queen, was to contradict the ancient Laws of the Realm, to expose Scotland to dangers, and Scottishmen to the scorn of a shameful government; and who should justify the reproach which might be made unto them to command men, and to be commanded by women. That Scotland never knew what the government of women was, they found no names in their language to express it, they had never seen woman preside in their Counsels nor Parliaments, nor to dispose of justice nor of the Treasure, and that which other Nations call Queen, Scotland calls the King's Wife. f The history of Scotland reports the words of james Kenneth: Mairoes nostri adeo erant a cura publica muliaeribus mandanda alieni, ut si omnia rerum vocabula excutias, ne mul●ebus quidem imperii nomen opud eas invenias. Quorsum enim e●rei nomen imposuissent, cuius ipsi nullum, penitus usum habuissent, nec imposterum vilum fore sperabant? Quas enim Reginas alii suo quisque sermone, nos Regum uxores appellamus. Our Elders were so far from giving the government of public affairs to women, as if you will examine all words, there is not any one to be found with them of a woman's government: why should they give that a name whereof they had no use, neither did they hope there should be. Those whom other Nations in their language term Queens, we call Kings wives. That for these reasons he could not council the Estate of the Realm, to prefer the government of a woman before that of a man, not to the Queen to attempt it, beseeching her to think, that they which counseled her did it more for their own fortunes, then for her honour. That although her virtues were not unknown to Scotland, and that they must hope well of the vigour of her spirits, and the greatness of her courage, yet they had but two many examples of the ruins which very sufficient women had brought to States, when as striving to excel their sex; they would exceed the bounds ordained by nature. g Zenobia Pal●●yren● having vanquished the Parthians, and valiantly defended the Roman Empire, in the end she saw herself vanquished and a prisoner. In a moment she lost the realm which her husband had enlarged and enriched. This seems to show, that the enterprises of women beyond their reach are always dangerous. His advice was, that they should choose one, or more, capable to govern the Realm, until the King had force of mind and body to discharge them. This opinion was followed by the greatest part, and they that would willingly have crossed it, Council appointed for the Regency of Scotland. seeing themselves overswaied by the multitude, consented. But to the end, one faction should have no advantage over the other, they took two of either, giving them power to keep the Prince, and to govern the Realm. They left unto the Queen the care to bring up his two Brethren, Alexander Duke of Albany, and john Earl of Marre, and his two Sisters: but she died the year following. The affairs being thus settled in Scotland, the King of England made a truce with the Scottish men for fifteen years. About the sixth year of his reign, Robert Bothwell favoured by the King. Robert Bothwell a bold spirit, being desirous to have a share in the affairs, found means to approach near unto this young Prince, and told him, that he had been long enough under the government of these old men, that it was time to make himself known, and what God had ordained him to be. Persuasions to reign and command are always sweet, especially to Princes, who think they cannot begin their reigns too soon, nor end then too late. Upon this discourse, the King suffered himself to be led to Edingbrough, to begin his reign. The Regent's of the Realm were incensed at this presumption, & make Bothwells' process. But the King declaring that he had done nothing but for his service, and by his commandment, makes him Lieutenant General of the Realm, and a Companion both in his authority and affairs. h Tiberius' called Sejanus Socium laborum, a Companion of his labours, he caused his statue to be honoured in Palaces and theatres. Tacit. lib. 4. He commits unto his charge his own person, his Brethren and Sisters, his Forts and Towns, until he should come to the age of one and twenty years, he binds all the Noblemen that were about him, to acknowledge him in this quality, and he gives his eldest Sister in marriage to Thomas Bothwell the son of Robert. i The points reserved to Sovereign Majesty should never be imparted to any Subject, no not by Commission, lest they open a way to the Subject to enter into the Prince's place. That which the King thought to do to assure this breeding greatness was that which overthrew it, Nobility of Scotland conspire against Bothwell. for the Nobles of the Realm did so envy it, and did pretend so many dangers in this great Communication of the Royal Authority to a private person, as they conjured the ruin of this house. The King had demanded Margaret, the King of Denmark's Daughter in marriage: whereunto they did the more willingly accord, for that by the treaty the controversy was ended betwixt those two Crowns, for the islands of Orcades. The question was to send one to conduct the Queen: This charge was given to Thomas Bothwell by the advice of his enemies, to the end that this absence might cool the great hear of the King's love (as commonly Princes affections favour that only which they see) and weaken his faction, giving more courage to his enemies to make their party against him. They that had never spoken word during his great prosperity, cry now against those Horseleeches of State, against those Ravens and Harpies. k For a time they suffer and dissemble the public injuries and oppressions of private men, but when as any one gins to cry, all pursue them. All the complaints which had been made against the Father for the bad government of affairs, were revived with such vehemency, as the King saw himself in a manner forced to hear them, and to provide for it. A Parliament being called at Edinbourg, they make a great instance unto him; he cannot bandy himself against such wholesome resolutions, and they let him understand, that the force of his Estate consists in the Accord of his Will with those of his Senate. l A Prince cannot sh●w to much favour, love and protection to the general Council of his Estate, from whence go all the resolutions, for the good of the Commonweal. Otho speaking of the Senate of Rome, said unto his Army. Quid vos pulcherimam hanc urbem, domibus, tectis, & congestu lapidum stare creditis? Muta ista et inanima intercidere & reparari promiscue possunt, aeternitas rerum, & par gentium, & mea cum vestra salus, in columitate Senatus firmatur. What do you think that this goodly City consists in houses, buildings, and heaps of st●nes these dumb & senseless things may fall and be repaired again, the eternity of things, the peace of Nations, and my health with yours is settled by the safety of the Senate. Robert Bothwell is sent for to appear in person, and to give an account of his actions. Bothwell condemned by the Parliament. His flight into England did convict him. His Son being ficke, and not able to fly away was stayed a prisoner, and condemned to lose his head in the Spring following: Thomas Bothwel being come to Edingbourg with the Queen, much amazed after so many dangers which he had run for his service, to see his house thus ruined, and upon the advice which his Wife gave him, of the small hope there was to return into favour, he returned into Denmark, passed into Germany, and so into France, to entreat K. Lewis the eleventh, to make his peace with the K. of Scotland, but when he saw that the king would not do any thing, he retired to the Duke of Bourgondie, and did him great services. But he did not long enjoy the peace and quietness which he thought to find there, for the King of Scotland, who desired to see this house utterly ruined, commanded his Sister to leave her Husband. m An extreme hatred from an extreme love which forceth the K. of Scotland to break a bond which could not be dissolved but by death. An example that t●er is nothing assured in the great favour of Princes, and an instruction to ground our felicity upon ourselves and not upon an other. Man gins to be subject unto Fortune when he settles his felicity without himself. She was fully resolved to run her Husband's fortune, but he himself entreated her to go unto the King her Brother, thinking that he could not have more favour, nor better solicit an end of his exile then by her. As soon as ever she came to Court, the King married her to another, and makes her to send for her children which were in Flanders: Thomas Bothwell died for grief at Antwerp, and the Duke of Bourgoundie, his heir, made him a rich tomb, not so much for any care of his memory, as to erect unto Fortune the trophy which she had gotten by the ruin of a house, n The house of the Bothwels was as soon over thrown as raised. The History of Scotland saith. Ita Bodiorum quae tum erat in Scotia florentissima familia intra paucos annos & creu●t & corruit, magno posteris documento quam sint lubricae Regum adolescentium Amicitia. So the family of the Bothwels which then did flourish much in Scotland within few years did both rise and fall; a great instruction to posterity how slippery the love of young Kings is. against the which it seemed she had no power. The King in the mean time who had been bred up in great liberty, King of Scotland's good inclination corrupted. suffered himself to go whether his humours led him, and puts his Estate into such confusion, as there was nothing in a manner firm nor well settled. The Truce with England was expired, & it was feared they should fall to war, for that the same time the English had taken and spoiled a great ship of Scotland, but K. Edward, who after that he had ended his business with France, had no care but to take his pleasure, made no difficulty to restore that which had been taken, to the end the Truce might be continued, & the marriage of one of his daughters treated with the King's eldest son, the better to Cement this accord. The King of Scotland sent two Ambassadors to the Duke of Bourgundy to have justice of some complaints, made by the Merchants which did traffic upon his coast. Being arrived in Flanders, there came a Physician called Andrew to visit them. He was a great Sorcerer, and one of those who to steal divination, think to imitate Divinity, Andrew a Scottish Physician a great Sorcerer. and to abuse the world with illusions, wherewith their Demons abuse them. o The devils inspire illusions into Sorcerers minds, to the end they should not see that which is, & see that which is not. Quicquid miraculi ludunt per Dae moans faciunt. What miracle soever they play, they do it by their Devils. Min. Felix. They are Apes of Divinity thieves of Divination. Emulantur Divinitatem, dum furantur Divinationem. They imitate Divinity, whilst steal Divination. Tert. Apolo. c. 22. He met them with amazement, for he told them that they needed not to make su●h haste, for that within two days they should have news of the Duke which would make them to change their resolution. The two days were not expired before the news of the Duke's death was brought to Gand. An accident which overthrew their embassage, and sent them home into Scotland, where they did not forget to tell the King (as Courtiers do willingly discourse of that unto their Master which pleaseth him) that Andrew a Physician had foretold them of the duke of Bourgundies' death. King of Scotland given to Sorcery. Curiosity and idleness had already framed this Prince's spirit to receive these vanities for infallible sciences, believing that he could not be a King if he were not a Magician. p Apuleius saith that to be a King in Persia he must be a Magi●ian. Vili inter Persas concessum est Magum esse, hand magis qnam regnate. The bravery of the Court was all in these Impostures, if there were any spirit corrupted with these errors, he was presently led into the King's Cabinet, whose spirit was like an infected liver which draws out of a great glass of water a drop of wine to corrupt it more, q When a spirit gins to be depraved it seeks the ill although it be shut up & environed with good, and converts the good into bad nourishment. some of his learned women had foretold him that the Lion should be smothered by the young Lions. To have more knowledge of this prediction, he sent for this Physician, he gave him Benefices & great entertainments to make him stay in Scotland, and consulting with him as the Oracle of his fortune, he had this answer from him. That the dangers which threatened his life should come from the conspiracy of his own. These words made so strange a Metamorphosis in this Prince: as being gentle, mild and courteous, he became inaccessible, jealous and distrustful. r Cruelty gives unto a Prince the ●itles of Cyclops, Busyris, Phalaris, and others, wherewith Maximin was defamed for his cruelty, and to make it a Maxim, Nisi crudelitate Imperium non retineri. An Empire is not held without cruelty. jul. Cap He thought that cruelty would purchase fear, and fear would assure him, and disappoint the designs which should be made against him. He held his nearest kinsmen for enemies, and the greatest of the Realm to be traitors. He made new creatures and gave himself to be governed by base men, who managed the state at their pleasures, and never did well but when as they thought to do ill. The Nobility of the Realm being offended at this bad government, The Noblemen conspire. and to see that the King was a slave to men, who could not remember their father's condition without blushing, and who held him cooped up like a savage beast that he might not grow tame, they resolved to free him: but to prevent it, these petty tyrants of the Kings will seize upon his Brethren, s john Earl of Marre the King's brother was slain in prison, he was accused to have sought to bewitch the king, they caused twelve Sorcerers to be burnt they make the younger dye by bleeding, the other was put in prison, but the escaped and got into France, Parricides and cruelties. with his wife, Daughter to the Earl of Bullen, being forced to make that his country where he found his fortune, thinking to see the same sun every where which he saw in Scotland. He besought K. Lewis the eleventh to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland. t Every soil is the Country of a great courage. Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus, ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit. As nature hath opened the day and night for all men, so hath she all countries for men of courage. Tac. lib. 4. The bad usage he had received from his brother carried him to these motions to overthrow all that he could not remove. The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies upon an other man's passions: so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected from the king, he passed over into England, and persuaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland. u It is always dangerous to make war upon the Counsels of men that are banished from their countries, and reduced to those extremities to ruin it for revenge. Passion doth easily transport them, they promise that which they cannot hold, and their wills are subject to change. The Noblemen of the Realm apprehending this storm assembled together by night in a Church, where they resolved to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest, and which made the King to play at tennis with his subjects heads, x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruel Prince as the blood of his subjects. Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and necks of beasts for his supper said it was that wherewith they that governed the commonweal played at tosse-ball. Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himself of domestic enemies before he did encounter strangers. The King who had spies in all places was advertised of this assembly, and sent Cocheran one of his favourites to discover it, he was met by Archembald Douglas Earl of Anguse, Conspiracy of the Nobility executed. who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chain of gold which he himself ware, and then he gave him in guard to certain soldiers until it was day, at the break of which he was carried unto a gibbet, lamenting his hard fortune, which had raised him up to ruin him. Some cried out to have him dispatched, others were moved to pity. y In these changes of fortune some sing, others we●p w●●n Radamystus caused▪ Mithridates to be taken & unchained, the people remembering the rigour of his commandments added blows to his misfortune: others lamented the change of his fortune. Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat. Et erant contra qui tantum fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people. required his hard command with reproaches and blows. And there were others which Pitied the change of his fortune. Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conversation of fools. Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse. Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to have left the persuades to madness. All rejoiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague. He goes directly to the King's Chamber, and seizeth upon all these Empirics of state, under whose government impiety had so reigned, and injustice been in such credit in Scotland, and causeth them all to be hanged. The King of England made his profit of these broils, King of England sends an army into Scotland. for having sent Richard Duke of Gloucester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Army, he forced the King to restore him Barwick, which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty years, by means whereof a Peace was treated and sworn. The Nobility of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise, having no more these instruments of folly about him, ᶻ but he made them to change their opinions, for having settled his affairs abroad, he began to call them to an account at home, and to be revenged of them which had prescribed him a law. This caused anew revolt, to pacify the which the King fled to the Pope, who sent a Legate, to draw the Rebels to their duties, and he entreated the King of France and England by his Ambassadors, to assist him to quench a mischief, the contagion whereof might creep in among their subjects. Not holding himself safe in Edinbourg, he would have retired to Sterling, but the Governor would not give him entry. He was then forced to keep the field having no retreat; his enemies encounter him, & he accepts the Battle which they presented, King of Scotland ●●airne. and fought valiantly, but finding his horse wounded, he retires unto a Mill, whether he was pursued, and slain, in the year 1488. the 31. of his age, and the eight and twentieth of his reign. FINIS. THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOK. 1 THe King is advised to make his profit of the divisions of Italy, but he will not hear of it. 2 Troubles at Florence, and conspiracies against the house of Medicis. 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines, and for their sakes the Venetians, arming the King of Naples against them. 4 The King declares himself for the Florentines, and forbids to send money to Rome. The Venetians join in league with the Florentines. 5 He sends his Ambassadors to Rome, and is arbitrator of the controversy: Overture for a Peace: The lets of the Venetians side. 6 The Pope's complaint against them. 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Britain discovered, and Letters surprised by the King. 8 Punishment of Peter Landais. 9 Towns of the River of Somme recovered by the King. 10 Negotiation of Oliver le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Town of Tournay. 11 Princess of Bourgundy sends Ambassadors unto the King to have his Peace and protection. 12 The King wins the Ambassadors. Restoring of the Towns of Hesdin, Therovenne and Monstrevil. Siege of Bullen, two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged. 13 Arras yields upon a composition, which is not observed. 14 The Gantois rise against their Princess, and will have part in the government of affairs. Their Ambassadors, sent unto the King, bring back a letter which the Princess had written, contrary to their Embassage. 15 The Princess Chancellor, and the Lord of Himbercourt Governor of Liege, put to death. 16 Ingratitude and impiety of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father. 17 The King entertains friendship with the King of England, and keeps him from inclining to the Princess of Bourgundy. 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria, with the Princess of Bourgundy. 19 The King's army in the Franch County. 20 The fi●st alliance of France with the Swisses. 21 Estate of the affairs of Castille under the new reign of Ferdinand and Isabel. 22 Death of john the second King of Navarre and Arragon. 23 Peace and alliances renewed with the Spaniards. 24 Blanch Countess of Foix Queen of Navarre, the mother of many children. 25 Battle of Guinegast. 26 Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet the second, and the valiant resistance of the great Master. ❧ THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleventh. THE EIGHTH BOOK. TWO great occasions presented themselves unto the King to augment his Empire, 1477. after the death of the Duke of Bourgondy. In the first, it seemed that Italy was not divided, but to unite it again under the government of one alone; and that not any one but the French King, might undertake it, or hope for it. They counseled him to make his profit of these divisions, K. Lewis counseled to make his profit of the division of Italy. and to renew the right which the Crown of France had to the Realm of Naples; since Charles, Earl of Anjou a Pope Vrban the third, called Charles of Anjou against Manfroy, and promised him the investiture of both Siciles. Charles came to Rome in the year 1264. in May, and received it from Clement 4. and from the same hand the Crown at S. john de Latran. the 28. of june. & Provence, brother to the great King, who renowned by the power of Arms, and much more by the holiness of his life, deserved to be declared a Saint. Robert of Saint Severin came unto the King, b Robert of S. Severin came to the King, to make him resolve to come into Italy. Paulus Aemilius saith, that the King answered him, that he had learned from his Predecessors, that the French could never keep any thing in Italy. and made him divers overtures to move him thereunto▪ but he, who was a Prince which made more account of the essence then of the appearance of things, would not hearken to it. The Genevois entreated him to take them under his command, having lived happily under King Charles the 7. He was contented that john Galeas, Duke of Milan, c john Galeas Duke of Milan did homage for his mother, for the Duchy of Genoa to the Lord of Argenton, returning from his Embassage to Florence in the year 1476. should do him homage; and when they said, that they gave themselves unto him, he gave them unto the Devil, refusing a command so ill grounded, as upon the quicke-sand of the will of a multitude. He was also resolved not to meddle with the affairs of Italy, having learned from his forefathers, that to send Armies beyond the Alps, was nothing but to purchase repentance with much charge, and great difficulties. d The Genevois have often sought a Master. Guichardin saith, that desiring with great instance to give themselves to Lewis the eleventh, he did not accept the donation, and had often refused, Dimescolarsi in Italia come cosa piena dispeses & difficulta & all ultimo perniciosa al regno di Francia, to meddle with the affairs of of Italy, as a thing full of charge and difficulties, and in the end dangerous for the realm of France. Guic. l. 1. He sent the signor of Argenton to Florence, Troubles at Floremce. being full of troubles for a conspiracy made against the house of Medicis: Laurence de Medicis lived in that Commonweal as a Citizen, and commanded as a Prince: for always in states which depend of the authority of many heads, there are some which excel the rest. e In popular Estates there hath always been some private man more eminent than the rest. Pericles at Athens, Epaminondas and Pelopidas at Thebes. His Grandfather the great Cosmo, Cosmo de Medicis surnamed the Great. had laid the foundation of a great authority, which did threaten the Commonweal with a new form of government under the power of one alone: He was in such reputation, through favour of his wisdom, as he began to terrify the liberty of the City; and as Machivel saith, the other Citizens held it dangerous to offend him, and most dangerous to suffer him. The contrary faction attempted to stop the growing of this design, the which they thought they could not effect, but in killing Laurence and julian de Medicis brethren, who were not odious unto great men, but for that they had too great credit, and their virtue too much reputation and applause. f In a free City the great virtue and reputation of one alone is always suspected. Cato said against Scipio, that a City could not termed free, in the which the Magistrate did respect & fear a private man. Heaven, which reserves unto itself the disposition of States, and which advanceth or stays the Destinies as it pleaseth, had resolved to raise the house of Medicis by the same means that their enemies sought to ruin it. g Conspiracies do many times succeed happily for them against whom they are made. Brutus in his History of Florence, the 6. Book, saith: Consilia quae à coniuratis ad Medicum potentiam evertendam inita fuerant, ad eorum principatum stabiliendum mirifice contulerunt. The counsels which the Conspirators had taken to overthrow the house of Medicis, did wonderfully serve to settle their power and authority. It was already grown to that splendour, and raised so high, as the fight of the vulgar sort was dulled, and could not discern it. The Lords which carried this Name, being hardy and courageous, knew their own merit, and knowing themselves capable to reign worthily, past all difficulties to reign assuredly. The Conspiracy was executed upon julian being at Mass in Saint Reparees Church, but Laurence saved himself in the Vestry. The Conspirators were hanged at the Palace-windowes, and the Conspiracy held so execrable throughout all the world, as Mahomet h All Princes are interessed in the punishment of traitors; When as Mahomet understood that one of the Conspirators was in Constantinople, he caused him to be apprehended, and sent bound to Florence. would not suffer one of the Conspirators to live safely in Constantinople. Pope excommunicates the Florentines. The Archbishop of Pisa was among them that were hanged: Nicholas, Cardinal of Saint George's was put in prison: Pope Sixtus the fourth was offended, and favoured all those that had been dealers in this Conspiracy; he did excommunicate the Florentines, Army against the Florentines. and caused Ferdinand of Arragon, King of Naples to Arm against them: the Duke of Urbin was General of the Pope's Army, and of the King of Naples, and with him the Kings two sons, they did overrun the Territories of Florence, yet they spared that which did belong to Laurence de Medicis, to bring him into suspicion, and to make the people believe that he had intelligence with them. i So Hannibal spoiling and burning the houses which were about Rome, forbade the Soldiers to touch any thing that did being to Fabius Maximus. This Commonweal was in deadly convulsions of her liberty, Changes of government at Florence. scarce knowing what should become of her: Her Physicians had rather see her rot with languishing, then to cure her, or bury her. k P●susanlas said, that he was a good Physician which did not suffer the sick to languish nor rot but did bury them speedily. Plut. She had passed through all the forms of governments which the laws have established over people. From Oligarthia she fell to an Aristocratia, and then the people banded against the Nobility, and were reduced to those terms as they entreated the Pope to give them a Prince. This was Charles of Anjou l The City of Florence was made desolate by the cruel factions of the people, which made the blood to flow in, the streets, and put all into combution. The Lucquois came and parted them, & it was resolved, they should take a master from the Pope, so as he were royally descended. This was Charles of Anjou, brother, to the King S. Lewis. brother to the King S. Lewis going to Naples. He had scarce let them know what difference there is betwixt the just command of a Monarchy, & popular confusions, but they that were bred up, not to endure a master, bring the popular estate again into credit; Duke of Athens died at the battle of Poitiers. then they return to a Sovereignty, and submit themselves to the Duke of Athens, against whom they made their conspiracies, and forced him to leave them: m It is hard for a multitude to continue long in one form of government, especially when it is a stirring, active, and subtle Nation. These changes have been noted in the Athenians, Samians, Megarians, Syracusans, Florentines & Genovoys. The Athenians changed 6 times in less than a hundred years. The petty Cantons of the Suiffes have maintained themselves in their first popular estate. then they returned to their first confusions, they change and rechange their policy & government, thinking that they had got much by the change, when they had new Officers, and that they which governed had new names, the people's understanding being dulled with a desire of Innovation: so as we find, that in less than a hundred years, Florence in an 100 years changed estate seven times. they have changed their estate seven times, every man seeking to have his share in the affairs, and thinking himself more capable than his neighbour. That wherein they were now, was to be held most lamentable, and would have been more, if the King had not showed his affection for their defence. He sent them not any force against their enemies, King Lewis declares himself for the Florentines. but he made an Edict, forbidding his subjects to send any money to the Court of Rome, either by bills of exchange, or otherwise, to obtain provisions of benefices, to the end that France should not furnish the Pope with money to ruin his friends. In the Edict which the King made to forbid them to send money to Rome, bearing date the 16. of August, 1478. after a great and pathetical complaint of the enterprises, and practices against Florence made by Count jeronimo, whom he calls an Upstart, a man almost unknown, of base and mean condition, we read these words: We did hope that our holy Father, like a good Father and Pastor of Christian people, would have employed himself for a peace, and not have showed himself partial of either side; and hoping that for our sake, who have always carried a great reverence and devotion unto the holy Apostolic Sea, he would do some thing, we have let him understand of the ancient friendship, league and alliance which we have with the Sgniory and Commonalty of Florence; Oath of the Government of Floremce n The Florentines have been always Allies & Confederate to the Crown of France, they holding that their City being ruined by Totila, King of the Goths, was built again by Charlemaigne, & cherished by the succeeding kings, whose party they have always followed, and declared themselves Guelphs for their sakes. Moreover the King was bound to favour this house of Medicis, which hath been always affected to his service; and be remembered the great Cosmo had exhorted his Citizens not to break with France, to favour the designs of the Pope, of the King of Naples, nor the Duke of Milan. And in consideration of these great proofs of affection & good will, he had suffered Peter his son, in the year 1465. to carry three Flowers de Luce in his Scutcheon. which hath been always so well affected to us, to the King and house of France, as they have held them for their singular Protectors; and in sign thereof, whensoever they renew the Governors of their Signory, they swore to be true and loyal to the house of France, and to defend their honour, and to entertain themselves in their friendship, good will, and service. But notwithstanding all these abovenamed things, and without respect of the present necessity of Christian people, our sacred holy Father, hath showed himself partial in this matter, against the said Signiory, and Commonwealth of Florence, and in like manner against the Duke and Signory of Venice; wherefore they cannot by any better means, fortify the Turk and Infidels against Christians, then to molest and oppress them, that maintain the War against the Turk: which things are so strange to think of, as the Universal Church, and every virtuous and Catholic Prince should be grieved at it. And moreover, we have been advertised, that our said holy Father hath said; that in this war against the Florentines, Venetians, and others of their part, he would employ his Person, Goods, and all that he could furnish. The which is a very strange thing, that the goods and revenues of the Church, which are appointed for the service of God, defence of the Catholic Faith, and for the sustenance of the poor, should be employed in such wars, and for such Factions against Christians, and to maintain such conspiracies to usurp the Signiories of Italy, and such murders and execrable crimes. In like manner it is very strange that they suffer the endue exactions which are made at Rome, by expectative Bulls and other means, and by the Vacants which they levy, contrary to the holy Cannons and Decrets of the Church, made, and constituted, by the holy Fathers, and against the determination of the Universal Church, and of holy counsels, to employ the money which hath been so gotten, to any Earldoms and Signories, to give them unto men of base condition, and to advance them, without precedent merit, or without any aid or secure which they have given unto the Church. Among all the Kings and Realms of Christendom, we, our sacred Realm of France, and Country of Dauphine, and generally all our Subjects, have a very great interest and loss, by the great abundance of money which is drawn and paid by a great excessive tax, contrary to the said holy Decrees, and the liberties of the French Church. The Venetians made a league with the Florentines: League betwixt the Venetians and Florentines. The Pope excommunicates them, being no less offended at this League, then at the troubles which happened in Florence: The Duke of Milan entered also into their League. The war was managed with that spleen wherewith their spirits were then transported. The Venetians contemn these flashes of lightning, and are amazed that Rome when it was Pagan had forbidden their Priest to look upon dead men, o The Priests at Rome diverted their ●eyes from all funeral sights, when as Tiberius made his sons funeral Oration, there was (said Seneca) a vail betwixt him and the body: Quod Pontificis oculos à funere arecret: That it might keep the high Priests eyes from that mournful sight. Sen. in Cons. ad Mart. and being Christian, that he suffers men to kill one another: That Pallas Priests durst not curse Alcibiades, p Pallas Priests at Athens would not curse Alcibiades, although the people commanded it, for I have (answered she) the office of a Priest to pray for men, and not to curse them. and that the Pope being head of the Church, should curse a whole Commonwealth. Italy became the force and storehouse of the wars of Christendom, there being no hope to quench the fire which his wilfulness had kindled, but by the blood of the vanquished. 5 Lewis entreats the Pope for the peace of Italy: The King knowing that the common enemy should reap all the profit of this war, sent his Ambassadors to the Pope, to beseech him not to show himself implacable to these two Christian Commonwealths. The Pope received them with much contentment, as the Angels and Messengers of peace: They came to Rome in February, q All this discourse is drawn out of the Oration which is in the Acts of the Vatican of Sixtus the 4. the which is cloqunet & judicious for that time, and for the estate of the business, it gins after this manner. Proximo Februario venientes ad nos dilectos filios Oratores Christianissimi Franceorum regis, pro nostra in eum principem solita charitate laeti suscepimus. Auxit laetitiam missionis tam longinquae causa. Ad pacem enim in Italia procuranda dicebantur venire. Our dear sons, the Ambassadors of the most Christian French King, coming unto us, we received them joyfully, for our wont charity unto but Prince. The cause of this long Embassage did increase the joy, they were said to come to procure a peace in Italy. and had audience as soon as they demanded it: They let the Pope understand that the King's affection to the holy Sea, and his zeal and piety to the service of the Church, had bound him to seek the means to quench this great division, and to unite the children's will unto the fathers, for that he was well advertised that Christendom should have need to join all her forces to resist the Turk, who had a desire that year to invade Christendom, and it may be would begin with Italy, and therefore the League did promise to give care unto a Pacification, Offer made by the King for the League. to the end they might contribute their forces and means for the common defence of Christendom. The Pope r Egimus pro meritis gratias, & pium magni regis desideriumlaudibus quibus potuimus extulimus. Non vinci nons tanti boni affectu monstravimus. We gave them than thanks for their well deserning, we did commend as much as we could, the godly desire of that great King: And, we did show that we could not be vanquished in affection to so great a good. did thank the King's Ambassadors with great affection, he did much commend that commendable desire in Lewis, whom he termed the Great King: (he that saith Great, saith enough, it was the glorious Title of the Kings of the East, s For the title of Kings, that of Great is excellent, and common to the kings of Persia, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. and which comprehends all other greatness) and desired that when there should be any occasion presented, to seek and advance the good of Christendom, his affection should never give place to any other, and that he had made it well known all the time of his Popedom, by so many Legations which he had sent into all places, The Pope desires Peace. to maintain the Public Peace, and make war to cease, and by that means supply the necessities, and serve for the defence of the Faith: That never Bishop t The History of Africa saith, that the Bishop of Nola, after that he had sold all his goods to redeem Christian slaves, he sold himself unto the Vandals for his brethren. sold himself more willingly for his brethren, than he would do, for so many poor Christians, which do groan under the yoke of Infidels. The King's Ambassadors; as Arbitrators and judges of the Controversy, Ambassadors of France make an overture for a Peace. propounded some Articles to end it, and among others: That there should be a suspension of Arms and Censures; That the Cardinal of S. George should be set at liberty; That they should ordain certain Suffrages and Prayers, for them that had been slain in the Tumult of Florence; That the Florentines, and Laurence de Medicis should humble themselves unto the Pope, as they offered to do, for the reverence of the Apostolic Sea; And that all together should demand absolution, after the form ordained by the Church: That they should give caution and assurance, for their obedience and fidelity, and to maintain the Liberties of the Church: That all the forces of either side should be united together, and paid for two or three years, to make war against the Turk. The Pope having imparted the Articles and Instructions of the French Ambassadors to the College of Cardinals: Articles of peace imparted to the Consistory. Every man commended the King's Integrity, Religion, and Wisdom, but they found them not full enough in matters which concerned the Holy Sea, u Non multos post dies jidem oratores sicut internos atque adversantes nobis mediatores accesserant, ita media quedam ad conveniendum scripta dederunt integritatem, religionem, & sapientiam devoti regis monstrantia judicio tamen nostro & venerabilium fratrum nostrorum ad honorem sedis, quem imprimis seruatum volebant satis non plena. After some few days, as there came adverse mediators unto us, so they propounded certain means for an accord, showing the integrity, Religion, and wisdom of the Great King, yet in our judgement, and of our reverent brethren, they were not ample enough for the honour of the Sea, which they would have chief kept. which the Pope did chief regard, and yet they were allowed, upon hope that they would produce a Peace, and an union of Christian Forces, against the enemy of the Church; and also for that the King pretended to make the Venetians and Florentines consent to any thing that should be thought reasonable for satisfaction of the holy Sea. Upon this assurance, The Pope receives the Ambassadors of Venice and Florence. the Ambassadors of Venice and Florence were welcome; for the Pope did believe that they came to perform all that which the King had promised on their behalf: without this belief he had not received them, for the Church doors are always shut against them that are Excommunicate, x They that be excommunicated are not heard, but to demand pardon and absolution. Pope Nicholas in the ninth Epistle to Lewis and Charles Kings of France, saith unto them: That he could not hear King Lothaire in his reasons, for that he had been disobedient to his commandments: Quod si contra propositum nostrum forte presumpserit venire Roman minime cum qua cupit honestate vel hic suscipitur, vel hinc profecto regreditur: That if he shall presumne to come to Rome contrary to our purpose, he shall neither be received with the honesty that he desires, neither shall he departed. when as they present themselves to contradict his judgements, and to excuse their faults: But as they were about this Treaty, the Pope supposing there would be no other difficulty, but for the Ceremonies and Circumstances of the Reparation, which was due for the offence done unto the holy Sea; a Post comes unto the Venetians, bringing them news of an accord which they had made with Mahomet, by the which they did give unto him, Scudry, Tenare, the Promontory of Lyconia, with the Island of Lemnos, and they did promise to pay him yearly eight thousand Crowns for the liberty of the Traffic. This Peace brought joy unto the Venetians, but it did terrify all the Princes of Italy: For this Tyrant was so near, as he saw them from the Port which he had newly gotten y Mahomet did besiege Scudry, the fifth of june, with four score and five thousand men, the siege continued nine months. The Pope was wonderfully discontented, seeing that the foundations of the Peace of Christendom were overthrown, and that the King was disavowed by them, in whose name he had made such instance for a League against the Turk, z Indoluimus pro fidei causa vehementius, & quia potissimum conficiendae pacis fundamentum submoneri ex hoc videbamus, nec minus ipsius Regis Christianissimi gratia, in cuius dedecus maximopere redundat quo dum se huius pacis ad Ligae requisitionem autorem profitetur ab ijs tamen pro quibus orati, tam iniuriose contra fidei caussam affectus fuerit. We were much grieved for the Faith's cause, and for that he did see the foundations of making of a Peace shaken, and no less for the most Christian kings sake, to whose dishonour it doth much redound, who whilst be doth profess himself author of the Peace, at the instance of the League, yet he is injuriously dealt withal, by them for whom he had entreated. yet he did acquaint the Venice Ambassadors with the Articles; and they demanded respite to answer, and to have advice from their Superiors. This answer was attended two and twenty days: Venetians demand suspension of Arms and Censures. The Pope thinking that the longer they were to consult, the more just and reasonable the resolution would be. a Fatemur errorem (dilecti filii) dies tam multos, ad saniora consilia pertinere credidimus, quanto inter eos consulebant diutius tanto & iustius & reverentius ad salutem animarum utilius responsuros putavimus. Dear sons we confess our error, that there were so many days of respite given, we did think they had been employed in sounder counsels, the longer they did consult among themselves, the more just and reverent we thought their answer would have been, and more for their soul's health. But for their answer, they demanded before all things, a Suspension of Arms and Censures, adding great complaints, the which Sixtus maintained to be contrary to the truth, entreating them to resolve within eight days. The Pope reports all this unto the Consistory, and they find it hard to suspend the Excommunication, Unpleasing to the Consistory. b Dura res videbaturminusque aestimationi Apostolicae dignitatis conveniens, ad corum condemnatorumque nutum, nullam poenitentiae significationem edentium irrogatas poenas suspendi, diesque tantum octo, ad eam suspensionem edici. perversa & confusa justitiae norma haud dubiè apparebat ex reo judicem, & ex judice reum constitui. Porro autem cum Censurae ipsae nostrae ludibtio habitae esset, magistratumque imperio interdictum nullibi obseruatum, omnibus in locis, omnia profanata, ridiculum iudicabatur, id suspendi quod seruatum non esset, id concecedi quod sibi peccatores ante sumpsissent. Et enim si censuras timebant, quaerebatur cur eas sprevissent, si non timebant, expediens non videbatur rem judicio peccatorum non necessariam vel concedi, vel peti. before that they which were excommunicated had made any satisfaction to the Church, nor made demonstration of repentance: It was held a distasteful thing that the Accused should prescribe a Law unto his judge, that the judge should do the duty of the Accused, and the Accused perform the office of the judge: It was a ridiculous thing to demand suspension of that which had not been observed, and that they should grant that which they had already taken of their own authorities, and they said; if they fear Censures, why do they contemn them? if they fear them not, why desire they to have things granted, which in their judgement, they hold not necessary? Moreover they considered, Suspension of Arms not always necessary to make a peace. that it was not always expedient to have a cessation of Arms to make a Peace: That many Treaties had been made, both within and without Italy, in the heat of Arms; That in this suspension there might not only be loss but also danger, for that the course of the correction being broken, men's minds grew incorrigible & more obstinate: And yet the Ambassadors of France did show, that private considerations could not have such great effect as the general for the common good of Christendom; That the peace which the Venetians had made was no let, but the other Sovereign powers of Italy might join together to resist the Turk, every one binding himself to entertain a certain number of Soldiers, for so long time as should be thought fit. Upon this consideration, Censures suspended & a Truce made. the Censures and Arms are suspended, c In ijs disceptandis augustijs publica charitas privatum nostrorum periculum vicit, & defiderio intenti ad ea quae Gallici Oratores finem procurandae pacis, & oratione sua & mandatis & medijs regio nomine ediderunt, de iure nostro decessimus, acquiescendumque putavimus. In disscussing of those doubts, the public charity prevailed over our private interest, and inclining with a desire to that which the French Ambassadors had delivered in the King's name, and by his mediation and commandment, for the procuring of a a peace, we have relinquished our own right, and thought good to surcease. The Ambassadors of Venice and Florence fall to an examination of the Articles: They find not any pleasing unto them, they make new demands, & will have all restored which had been taken during the war, they pass over the Pope's interests & respects highly, and say plainly that the affairs are changed, being no more in the estate they were in before they had made a peace with the Turk, the which they declared they would maintain constantly and fully: Conditions of Peace refused. As for demanding absolution, after the form of the Church, there was no such meaning. d Pia insuper sanctaque impiè & nefandissimè occisorum Christianorum Domini suffragià, & Cardinalis legati detensionem ambagibus quibusdam praetereunt. Qui vero monumentum declinandum existiment, si nostram eam infamiam putant aequo animo per Deum superflui officij curam deponant: Nam conscientia pluris est nobis quam omnium sermo & benefactis, quorum testis est Deus, malorum calumnias veras nobis laudes adscribimus. Discrimen iniustae criminationis malumus subire, quam tot defunctorum animas refrigerio justo career: Qui si ad seipsos eam infamiam referunt imièque factorum delere de ciuita●e memoriam cupiunt: sunt haud dubiè in seipsos & mortuos duri. Ad iterandam enim contritionem, proximisque praebendum exemplum, subleu andumque imprimis extinctorum animas stare ante oculos peccatum volunt: durae nimirum recusationis suae culpa haec est, non misericordis postulati nostri. They think it would be no honour for them to entertain an odious remembrance of things past, causing Anniverssaries to be said for the souls of the dead, & to give new assurance of their affection toward the Church, there was no mention. When as the Pope saw this, Pope's complaint against the League. he assembled the Consistory, with the Ambassadors e Vertimur ad vos Itali, & Confederati Oratores, quorum causa haec agimus: lamentamur primo 〈◊〉 Deo, & fratribus nostris, ceterisque Legatis in hoc loco presentibus, vocem patris, & plena salutis consilia ad hunc diem, non audita esse. Clementia nostra vest●os Principes, pie non usos plus apud eos armorum & belli fiduciam, quam Matris vestrae Apostolici Sedis charitatem, obseruantiam valuisse. Angimur quoque tam longinquam missionem amicissi Regis, curamque eius & vigilias pro viribus susceptas, sanctumque pro fide propositum, successum per vos non habuisse. of the Emperor Frederick, of Lewis the French King, of Edward King of England, of Ferdinand King of Arragon, of Maximilian Archduke of Austria, and of the Confederates: He complained of the contempt of his authority, and told the Ambassadors of the league, that he lamented the obstinacy of their Princes, who would not hearken to the voice, and wholesome counsel of their father, whose bounty they did abuse, and had more confidence in their own Arms, than affection to the Church their mother: That he was exceeding sorry that the King's Embassage, and the good Offices which he had done to the holy Sea, should remain without effect, that for his part, his conscience should never accuse him to have contemned any thing for the good of the Church, that his arms were always open to receive them that would repent. And for that the Ambassadors of Venice, Florence, and Milan, demanded leave to departed, he declared that they were free, that he would not force the necessity of their return; but if they would stay, they might with all safety, that it might be, time and their presence, might make those things easy, which seemed difficult; Intelligences of the Duke of Britain discovered. and that sometimes Treaties were broken off to be united again more firmly. But it is more time to repass the mountains, and see how the King makes his profit of these last accidents. Estates are like unto ships, all things are not so well, but there is still some disorder: It seemed that the Duke of Bourgundies' death had brought France to that estate, as she could not desire any thing else to make her felicity perfect; But there is yet another Duke which hinders this perfection: It is he of Britain, who since the Treaty made at Victoire near unto Senlis, hath not discontinued his practices in England, forgetting that the English had always reserved this Province for the exercise of their Arms, when they should be weary of peace; f Edward the third, King of England, would not have the Duke of Britain comprehended in the Treaty of Bretigny, to the end he might have means to vent in this province the boiling humours of his Realm, & have where to discharge himself of his Soldiers. and that they have taken delight to see him in bad terms with the King. The Duke was more earnest and careful hereof, when he saw that he had lost the Duke of Bourgundy, assuring himself that the King would fall upon him, and that it would be verified of him what the Fable says of the Lark in the Hawks talons: g The weak receives from one that is more strong, what Law he pleaseth. The Lark (saith Hesiodus) demanded of the Spar-hawke, why he offered him violence. Miserable (answered the Spar-hawke) why dost thou complain, a stronger hath thee in his power? Wherefore he sent often to visit the King, to entertain him in a good opinion of his pains, and the fidelity of his promises, and yet he continued his practices with the King of England. The secret of this practice depended of Peter Landays, Disposition of Peter Landais Superintendant of the Duke's affairs and Treasure, an able and sufficient man to manage such Monopolies: He had Flattery for great men, arrogancy and bravery for Inferiors, and he was difficult and severe to them that were his equals: h These three qualities attributed to Landays, have been given to Cutius R●fus, a man whom Tiberius, to ●●de the b●s●nesse of his extraction, said to be borne of himself. Curtius' Rufus videtur mihi ex se n●tus Curtius Ru●us seems to me to be borne of himself. Tacitus adds that he was, Adu●rsus superiores tristi adulati ne, arro●a●●s minoribus, inter pares difficilis. To his superiors a sour flatterer, arrogant to his inferiors, and difficult to his equals. Tacit. Animal. Lib. 11. He employed and called Maurice Bromell, who carried and recarried the Packets. The King, who had spies every where, discovers the messenger, and wins Bromell, who by means of a Norman that could counterfeit the King of England's hand, the Duke of Britons, and their Secretaries, sent the original letters unto the King, and carried the counterfeit Copies into England. The Duke of Britain, who thought he had no other witness in this action, than the Sun, and that the king could have no knowledge thereof, i In Actions which we think to keep most secret, there is always one witness irreproveable, our own Conscience. sent his servants often unto him, to assure him, that he was wholly at his devotion, and would not depend of any but of him. When as the King had means to verify the contrary by the proofs which the Norman put into his hand, he caused Chawin, Chancellor of Brittany to be stayed, with all them that did assist him in his Embassage, to the number of six or seven of the Duke's Council, and committed them to close Prison for ten or twelve days, the reason whereof they did not understand. k When as an inferior Prince deals not plainly and sincerely, with one that is mighty, he must not think it strange, if he makes known the knowledge he hath of his subtleties, even upon them that know not any thing: and who, by the Law of Nations, should not be drawn in question. For this reason Lewis the eleventh commits to prison Chauvin the Chancellor, the Seneschal of Vennes, and six of the Duke of Brittanies' counsellors. Chauvin seeking to justify his masters Actions, and imputing this imprisonment to the power which some standerous suggestion had over the King, they did show him all the Letters which did witness the strict intelligence which was betwixt the King of England, and the Duke of Britain. Your Master (said the King) is much too blame, who assuring me of his affection, shows the contrary in seeking the ancient enemies of this Crown. I have told him often, Letters of the Duke of Britain showed to his Chancellor. that so long as he should hold the English for his friends, he must needs be an enemy to France; and to the end he shall not excuse himself, nor contradict this truth, behold two and twenty Letters upon this subject. Chauvin views them, and considers of them: All his Rhetoric is not able to excuse the Duke, he had rather calm the King's just choler by confessing and yielding, then to incense him more by contradicting. The Duke of Brittanny seeing, that by the treachery of his Servants, his faith could not be untainted with the King, he sent for Peter Landays, Peter Landays suspected of treason. who alone had the charge of this Negotiation; Being much confounded, he had no other answer, but a protestation of his Innocency, submitting himself to the rigours of justice, if he were found tainted with any such disloyalty: then remembering that he had not employed any therein, but Maurice Bromell, who had carried the Letters, and the answers, he caused him to be apprehended. This miserable wretch confessed all; and upon his confession, he was put into a Sack, and cast into the River, to the end the King should discover no more. Peter Landays was upon the declining of the precipice of his life, and of this great favour which he had with the Duke of Britain, if Bromel had not been found; but he was not contented to have escaped this danger, Hatred of Landays against the Chancellor Chauvin. his devilish malice engaged the Chancellor Chauvin, whose justice and Integrity he could not endure, being mad to see him so honest a man. l An honest man is a great torment to malicious and wicked minds: for although they blame and fly Virtue, yet they consider the glory and light, and that whatsoever is goodly in the world, as tributary to it. All the gold that is above, or under the earth, is not comparable to Virtue. Plat. & Plut. The meanest Virtue may procure Greatness that is vicious to envy. He thought that the Wheel of his Fortune could not well be stayed; but being observed by so quick and piercing an eye, to discover and censure that which he did, and that which he did not. But he had more pain to accuse him, then to slander him. Chauvins' actions were like unto well polished Tables, the flies of detraction could not stick upon them, they rest upon rough and uneven places. He makes the Duke believe, that without Chauvin the King had never discovered the Negotiation of England, that he had Intelligence with him, depended of his Commandments, and was his Pensioner. The Duke was so hooded by Landays, as he did not see but by his eyes, gives ear to this slander, chargeth the Innocency of this good servant, Death of the Chancellor in prison in great poverty. puts him in prison, and makes him die there with grief, languishing, and hunger. m Chauvin, chancellor of Britain, after two years and a half imprisonment, died of languishing and want in prison: four poor Beggars carried him to be buried in the Franciscans Church at Vennes. He was so old, as he could not live many years, but his memory shall live ever, as a memorable example of the injuries which Fortune hath done to Virtue. Soon after Landays appeared upon the Theatre of God's justice, to make known the shame which attended him at the last step of his greatness. The Duke could not prevent it, but he must justly feel the same fortune which he had caused Chauvin to run: Landays process made. for he was taken prisoner even in the Duke's Chamber, his process was made, and he did insolently and arrogantly confess all the excess of his life, upon assurance which the Duke had given him to save him, and to draw him out of the Hangman's hands. In the end, for his Concussions, Violences, Thefts, Outrages, and other Crimes, And hanged at Nantes the 19 of july. 1485. he was condemned to be hanged, and the judgement executed before the Duke had any advertisement; the Castle gates were guarded until the execution was done, to the end, that not any one should enter. n It was thought fit that the Earl of Comminges should go and entertain the Duke, during the execution; when as the Duke saw him, he demanded in what estate Landays process was: he answered, That the judges would come and speak with him. They shall do well, said the Duke, for whatsoever he hath committed, I pardon him, and will that he shall not die. When as he understood of the execution, he said, that his ereherous Gossip, the Earl of Comminges had deceived him. He was therewith so troubled in mind, as few men saw him. This Landays came of base parentage: he was the Duke's tailors Boy, he had charge of his Wardrobe, and by little and little grew to have the absolute command of the afffaires of Britain. When as men of base condition are advanced to great places, they forget themselves, they abuse their favour, and respect not their fortune with that humility and moderation which they ought. Britain had no need to have so great a King for enemy, Misery of the Duke of Britain o The Duke of Britain sh●●s the pitiful estate of his imprisonment in a Sentence given against the Earl of Ponthieur, in these words, The Windows of our Chamber were shut close and we made a little hole with a Pin, through the cloth that was waxed, by which hole we did look into the Castleyard. He saith also, that Margaret of Clisson, Mother to the Earl of Ponthieure, came & scoffed at him, using these words Deposuit potentes de sede. He hath put the Mighty from their seat. Hist. of Brit. Lib. 11. it had felt the ruins and desolations which the justice of God brings upon Principalities for the sins of the Princes and People. The division betwixt the Houses of Montfort and Blois, had brought it to the last extremity, and it had seen an Act of wonderful presumption of a vassal against his Lord; Duke john having been prisoner to Oliver of Blois, with such unworthy usage, as he was in a manner deprived of the air, which all the powers of the world cannot take from Man, there being nothing but death that can deprive him of breath. This poor Prince had no Air at all, but was in darkness, p When as God, (saith Epictetes) takes from thee necessary things, as food, raiment, and thy senses, he sounds a retreat, he opens the door, and commands thee to come. and in a little Chamber, where he could not see, (but by a hole made with a Pin) the Sun; for the which many have believed they were in the world: Anaxagoras said, that he was in the world to admire the Sun A more tedious kind of life then death itself, and he that is reduced unto it, hath a strong resolution if he doth not murmur that God suffers him to live so long. One of the wise Stoics thought that he gave man leave to departed this life, when as he gave him no means to live. But let us return unto the King: Towns upon the river of Somme recovered by the king. Before the news of Duke Charles his death was assured, he broke the Truce which should have continued seven years longer, and seized upon Abbeville, dourlan's, Monstrevil, Montdidier, Peronne, Han, Bohain, Saint Quintin, and the Towns upon the River of Somme, which by the death of Charles, the last Male of the House of Bourgondy, returned unto the King. He wished he might have done as much to all the Low Countries, and by some juster means, then by Arms, in marrying his son to the heir of Bourgondy. Lewis desires to marry his son to the heir of Britain But beside the great inequality of their ages, he had promised him to the Princess of England, and he desired to give him the heir of Britain, for she was more suitable to his sons age; and this Princess was a Rampart against the fury of the English, who being seconded by the Dukes of Britain, have entered that way, and come into the heart of the Realm. He persuaded himself to prevail by other means: he had good servants at Gand, who had made show that this kind of government was against their minds; and that they affected new Masters. q The day after that the Ganto is received news of the Duke's death, they put to death 25 men of their Law. The pretex was, for that they had executed a man before they were confirmed in their charge. He thought that in taking some of the chief Towns of the Country, the rest in this confusion of Counsels, and weakness of forces, would yield of themselves; and as if there had been no other difficulty, he disposed already of places and governments of Provinces. His humour was to employ mean men in great affairs, and to handle great works with small engines. He sent Robinet of Odenfort to S. Omer, and Oliver le Dain, his Barber, to Gand, who was of such power and authority, even with the King, as the French going out of the Realm, they demanded of them in mockery, among other news of Court, Presumption of Oliver le Deign. if Lewis were in good terms with Oliver. r Strangers mock at princes which depend upon 〈◊〉 companions, and give themseles, as it were, in a prey to their conduct. This man, for that he was borne in a village near unto Gand, was so presumptuous, as he thought he could make this Town subject to the Kings will, and took this charge upon him to go thither, under colour to carry some message to the Princess, who had called an Assembly of the Estates at Gand, s Estates in the Law Countries held at Gand. The Oath of fidelity was renewed to the Princess: for it had in already taken by Guy of Ro●●fort, Lord of Pluvant, her Chamberlain, & by Guy Perrot, her Secretary of state. and under hand practised men to what he had intended: he styled himself Earl of Melun. This purple-hue did nothing at all beautify the Ape, but made him more ridiculous to them that knew the baseness of his breeding. t Baseness of birth is a reproach which is given to them that gloriously forget themselves. Iphicrates, Tully and Marius endured it. Yet the King persuaded himself that he would do wonders in this City, telling the chief Noblemen of his Court, that they whom he had sent to Gand, and Saint Omer, were able to get the keys of the Town, and to draw in his Troops. He made account of the one, as Augustus did of Maecenas, u Augustus Caesar loved 2. men above all others, Agr●ppa for his patience, and Maecenas for his secrecy, and discretion. Being in Council with them after the war of Actium, how he should govern himself, Agrippa advised him to live a private life: but Maecenas wished him to think of a monarchy. Dion Plut. & Suet. and of the other, as Agrippa. Oliver having demanded audience of the Princess, Affront done to Oliver at his audience with the Princess. and refusing to speak unto her, but in private, he caused himself to be scorned; and this disgrace concerned him that had sent him, who had not considered, that such Commissions did properly belong to men of birth, or of great merit; and that it seems they contemn the Prince to whom they send Ambassadors of base condition. x They that carry the Title of Ambassadors, should be men of credit & reputation. Caesar said, that the Swisses sent Ambassadors unto him, the chief whereof was Devico, he who in the Cassian war had been their General. The Gantois having discovered, Negotiation of Oliver le Dain at Gand, and taking of Tournay. that he had some secret practices in their Town, he was in danger to have been cast into the River; whereupon he retired to Tournay, and practised thirty or forty men, by whose means he brought in Money with his Company, which he had at Saint Quintin, and seized of the Town, sending seven or eight of the Governors to Paris. The Princess Council seeing that her subjects fidelity was shaken, and the Towns of Picardy delivered unto the King, that she had to deal with a Cyrus, Embassage sent from the Princess of Bourgundy to the King. and that she was no Tomyris y Cyrus' having attempted against the Massagets, a people of Scythia, Tomyris their Queen being Imperious, high minded & proud, sent him the choice, either to go & assail her in her own country, where she would attend him, or that he would stay in his own, and she would go unto him. to say unto him, If thou comest not, I will go: that every one followed the stranger's fortune, they sent a great Embassage unto the king, consisting of many Noblemen, and of all the orders of the Country; among which were William Huguenot her Chancellor, and the Lord of Himbercourt, the duke's chief servants, they found the king at Peronne, where he had made his entry, and present the Princess' letters unto him, who besought him to protect her, rather than oppress her, as having the honour to come out of the House of France, and rather consider the pitiful estate of her present Condition and Sex, the which beside was subject to the Counsels and Authority of passionate Men, than the respects of his own private Interest: That all subjects of Hatred and Offence should be buried in the Tomb of Duke Charles her Father: z When 〈◊〉 the Supreme Authority lights upon a woman, she must of necessity be supported with great and eminet virtues, with a generous courage, and a wise conduct to govern herself: upon the first refusal discontentments grow, and then factions. Simon Rosgon Bishop of Agria, demanded of Q. Elizabeth, daughter to Sygismond, and wise to Albert King of Hungary, the Archbishopric of Strigonia, to whom she answered: Whilst I reign you shall not have it; and he replied; as long as I live you shall not reign, and they both kept their words. That it was piety, for a great Prince, her Kinsman and Sovereign, to defend her in her Countries and Estates, whereunto she succeeded according to the Laws and Ordinances of Kings his Predecessors, and in the end that she was resolved to refer her affairs, to the good government of four persons, of the Dowager her Mother, Sister to King Edward of England, of Ravasteen brother to the Duke of Cleves, her near kinsman, of Huguenot her Chancellor, and of the Lord of Himbercourt. The King gave them good words, The King wins the Princess' Ambassadors. and having entertained every Deputy a part, following the first precept, not to force all at once, but to pull of the horses tail hair by hair: a To show that perseverance & continuance doth by little and little prevail over all things: Sertorious caused two horses to be brought, the one lean, feeble, and old, the other fat and strong; behind the leaner he set a strong and mighty man, and behind the other a slender weak one: a sign being given the strong man took the lean horse by the tail and sought with all his force to pull it of, but he laboured and sweat in vain: The weak man who was behind the great horse began to pull it hair by hair, and soon stripped it without any pain. Plu. He drew the chief of them to be at his devotion, upon the assurance of the marrying of his son with their Mistress: Huguenot having all his lands in Picardy towards Amiens, and Himbercourt in Bourgundy, give themselves unto him, and for the first proof of their affection, they dispose Philip of Crevecoeur Lord of cords to open the gates of Arras unto him, holding him freed from his oath to the Princess: They thought that if this marriage took effect, there were nothing to be divided betwixt the house of France and Bourgundy. Upon the same opinion, Towns yielded to the King. Hedin, Therovenne, and Monstrevill yield: b That which the Ancients called Gessoriacum, is at this day named by the French Bologne, by the English Bollen, and by the Flemings Beunen: Beatus Rhenatus saith, that he had seen an old Inscription, where were these words: Gessoriacum, quod nune Bononia. Bulloine did not believe so lightly, it endured a Battery; the King entered, and finding this Town fit for the fortification of the frontiers (as it hath been always famous on either side the Sea) he compounded with Bertrand de la Tour, who was Lord in propriety, and as the new Lord, he did homage without Girdle or Spurs, barehead, and on his knees, to the Virgin Mary, offering as a right and duty unto her image, a Hart of Massive Gold, weighing two thousand Crowns, Boulogne under the Virgin Maries homage. upon condition that from thenceforth, he and his successors Kings, should hold the Earldom of Bulloine of the Virgin, should do her homage, and at every change of a Vassal, should pay a Hart of pure Gold of that weight. Thus the Princess of Flanders, Arras besieged. saw herself forced to quite that, which she could not keep; c It is better to quite that which we cannot keep, then to lose it in keeping it. Philip of Macedon did willingly abandon many places unto the Romans, and a great continent of his Country which he saw he could not defend, rather than to be seen to have lost it unwillingly: So after the Battle of Cans, the Romans refused to secure many of their Allies, desiring rather to lose them, then to be blamed for that they were not able to defend them. T. Liu. Dec. 4. yet the King held nothing of Arras but the City, which de cords had delivered unto him, and wherein he remained Governor. The Lord of Lude defeated the Horsemen which they of Douai had sent, and in this Encounter Vergy was taken, and remained a whole year prisoner in chains, for that he would not be sworn unto the King, protesting obstinately that he could not cease to be servant to the house of Bourgundy, nor begin to affect that of France: d It is dishonourable rashly to fall from the duty which we own unto the Prince, L. Maenius an Officer to Augustus, being carried prisoner to M. Anthony, he demanded of him, What wilt thou shall be done with thee: that they strangle me, answered Maeniu●, forneither for grace, nor punishment, will I ever cease to be Caesar's soldier, neither will I begin to be yours. They of the Town seeing themselves priest demanded a Passport of the Bastard of Bourbon, Admiral of France, for two or three and twenty Deputies under colour of going to Bollen to treat with the King. They go forth with this passport, but being followed and surprised upon the way to Flanders, they were led to Hedin, and by a sentence given by the Provost condemned to lose their heads: the King arriving upon the execution stayed it: Princes always cause punishments to cease when they are in presence: They told him that among them that were executed, there was a Parisian called Oudard of Bussy, to whom he had given the office of a Master of Accounts in the chamber at Arras: He caused his head to be set upon a stake in the Marketplace, wearing a scarlet hood, furred with Menever. Arras yielded by composition. A breach being made, an assault valiantly given, & basely defended, Arras yielded by composition, the victory was but of bare walls, for their hearts remained firm to the house of Bourgundy: e There were a good number of Citizens found in Arras, who suffered themselves rather to be hanged, than they would say, God save the King. The king also thinking it impossible to make this people obedient, and to imprint the Flower de luce in their hearts, caused most of the Inhabitants to departed, f To people a Town with ancient subjects, & to expel the natural Inhabitants, is a means to assure it, but very inhuman: It was a pitiful spectacle to see poor men laden with their infants upon their shoulders, pass out of the Coast Towns where they were borne, by the commadement of Philip king of Macedo, & to go into Emathia, quitting their houses and inheritances to the Thracians. Tit. Liu. lib. 10. Decad. 4. & planted natural Frenchmen, commanding the Town should be Francis-towne, & that with her first name, she should lose the ancient hatred she bore unto France. This people had no sooner yielded, but they made it known how much they were grieved to see themselves reduced under the command of a new Master, for the King having sent the Cardinal of Bourbon, the Chancellor of Oriole, Des cords Governor of the Town, and Guyot Pot Bailiff of Vermandois, to receive the oath of fidelity; they saw themselves assailed, in the Monastery of S. Vast, where they dined, with a furious mutiny of the people, crying kill, kill, The king's servants were only made afraid, but these madmen repent it, for many of them were stripped and slain, and the City fined at threescore thousand Crowns. The Princess remained at Gand, Gantois ready to revolt against their Princess. with much trouble to keep the Gantois in obedience: She knew well their sedition, but she dissembled the number of the seditious; h It is not good to hold all them to be wicked, in open show, which are so in effect: In old time they did not think it necessary to mark all their slaves, to the end they should not know their own strength: In seeking out all the seditious, they know one another, & learn how many they are. seeming to make account of their fidelities whose revolt and treachery she held to be certain: They would have again the privileges, which her father & grandfather had taken from them, they undertake the conduct, and absolute direction of affairs, not being able to endure them, who for their wisdom and experience had deserved the first places in the Princess Council, & she had not any person capable to make head against this Mutiny, the which doth never fortify itself, but through the weakness and cowardice of them that may suppress it. i A people which is fearful, is always humble and tractable: when as Mutines see the powerful sword of justice before their eyes, they distrust one another: Being all together they are Lions, and divided Goats. They made an Assembly in form of Estates, and resolved that from thenceforth she should be governed by the advice of the Estates, who should send unto the King, to acquaint him with this resolution, and to beseech him to allow thereof, and in this consideration to cease all Acts of Hostility against her Countries: These Ambassadors come unto the King, thinking to bring him a subject of great content: assuring him that their Princess desired nothing but the honour of his friendship and protection; being resolved not to do any thing but by the advice of the three Estates of her Countries. The King, who knew well the humour of the Gantois, the confusion of this Princess' affairs, and had a desire to make his profit in this trouble, Ambassadors contradicted & confounded. k In many things, but especially in this, Lewis did imitate the most politic of Roman Emperors, who held it for one of the best maxims of State, to have peace at home, & war far off. Princes which have followed this course, have atained to a perfect prosperity of their affairs, others have gone astray. said unto them: My Masters, I know not what to think of the cause that draws you hither, knowing well, that it is not conformable to that which you say unto me, & that your mistress will not advow that she hath given you charge to tell me, that that she would be governed by the advice of the Estates of the Country, for she hath given me to understand the contrary: And as these men protested of the truth of their instructions, and seemed resolute, the King hears them coldly, & shows them a letter written by the Princess, and brought by Huguenot her Chancellor, & Himbercourt. At the sight of this letter, The King delivers the Princess' letters to the Ambassadors. which made mention that the Princess was resolved to refer her affairs to the discretion of four persons, & not of the Estates, they end their Embassage, and attend no other answer, being satisfied to see themselves deceived, and the King suffers them to go full of choler & revenge. They present themselves unto the Princess, to give an account of their Embassage, complaining, bitterly and indiscreetly, that she had made them to carry a message unto the king, contrary to that which she had resolved; that she had reserved truth in the heart, and put falsehood in their mouths to ruin them: When as the Princess sought to justify the truth of her intentions, l When as the Deputies of Gand presented themselves unto the Princess Council, saying; That the King had let them see the contrary of their Embassage, the Princess sought to maintain that she had done nothing contrary to their instructions, Then (said Philip de Comines) the Pensioner of Gand, drew out of his bosom the said letter, before all the world, & gave it her. He showed that he was a bad man and of small respect, to do that affront to a young Gentlewoman, to whom so villainous a scorn should not be done: for if she had committed any error, she should not have been reprehended publicly: It is not to be demanded, if she were ashamed, for she had told every one the contrary: Phil de Com. assuring them, that what she gave them by instruction, was what she thought; they present unto her the letter which the King had given them: She held this for a great affront, and contempt, and the blood which appeared in her face, discovered the trouble of her mind: The Gantois having no means to discharge their choler upon her, upon her mother in Law, nor upon Ravesteen; they vomit it out upon Huguenot, and Imbercourt, the chief of the Princess' Council. They were instantly ceased on, imprisoned, and accused to have caused the City of Arras to be yielded, m Oliver of la March saith, that the Chancellor Huguenot, confessed that he had concealed the Duke of Bourgundies' letters, written at Nancy, the which did much import the safety of his person and Army. and to have taken money of a private man of Gand, to give him a favourable end of his suit, and to have infringed the privileges of Gand, Hogonet & Imbercourt condemned to die. the which may not be changed nor broken without pain of death: Upon these accusations, or rather slanders, the Mayor & Aldermen of Gand, condemn them to lose their heads. In 6 days their process was made, the number of their friends, nor the appearance of their innocency, which in those extremities is the last refuge, could not save them. n Innocency is the last refuge of the miserable, & helps him much, that hath nothing else remaining: It hath sometimes set the condemned in the judges place: Neri, son to Vgucione of Fagivola, Lord of Luga, condemned Castrucio to death, and the people freed him going to execution, and set him in Neris place. Three hours after the sentence was pronounced they were executed, without any respect to the appeal which they had made to the Court Parliament at Paris, Brother in law, The Pope and Emperor offended at this impiety. at whose instance, the Pope, and the Emperor Frederick, send unto Adolph to set the Country at liberty, and to yield obedience to his father; and upon the contempt of this commandment they writ unto the Duke of Bourgundy, not to suffer this impiety any longer. The Duke was then about dourlan's, he commanded Adolph to come, and to bring his father: Adolph durst not displease so mighty a Neighbour: The Duke hears them in their complaints, and confronts them together; The son accuseth the father of villainous and wicked actions, Duke of Bourgundy judge of the quarrel. whereof he presently purgeth himself, and by the testimony of Noblemen that were there present; at this confrontation the son's slander was discovered and detested, than the father, transported with extreme grief presented the single combat unto his son. The Duke would not allow it, for the uncertain event could not be (where soever the victory fell) without a certain crime: Having conferred of this business with his Council, he ordained that the father should retain the title of Duke with the Town of Grave, and 3000. Crowns for his entertainment, & the son should have all the rest. Notwithstanding that this judgement was so favourable for the son, as all men thought that the judge was more affected to him then to the father; x Adolph had married Catherine of Bourbon, daughter to john Duke of Bourbon, and Anne of Bourgundy, sister to Philip: The Sigr. of Argenton saith, that the Duke favoured Adolph in respect of this marriage. yet this unnatural son, straying from all obedience & duty, y Decius was commended for that he refused the Empire, saying; that being Emperor, he should forget to be a son. Imperet pater meus, meum imperium sit parere humiliter imperanti: Let my father rule, my Empire shall be, humbly to obey him that rules: Val. Max. lib. 4. would not be satisfied, saying; That his father had reigned long enough, and that he should content himself with the pension of 3000. Crowns, and that he should never set his foot in the Country of gelders: To be short, that he had rather cast his father into a Well, and himself headlong after him, than consent to the conditions of this sentence. z It is an impious thing, saith Plato, for any one to force his father, and his Country, he saith moreover that the child should have a care not to offend him, for there is not any prayer which the Gods hear sooner, than that which the fathers make against their children. The Duke being priest to go unto his Army before Amiens, leaves them in this dispute, and would not alter his judgement. The son fearing that his obstinacy might bring him to the place where he had put his father, and knowing that few men affected him, stolen away in a disguised French habit, and took the way to Grave: Adolph steals away and is taken prisoner. But passing the River at Namur, with one man in his company, he was known by a Priest, and stayed by others, and conducted to the Duke of Bourgundy, who sent him prisoner to Villevor, and afterwards to Courtray, where he remained miserable, and no man pitied him in his misery, a It is a cruelty and inhumanity to pity a parricide: The punishment which he endures, how great soever, doth not give so much amazement, as the crime causeth horror and execration. until that the Gantois set him at liberty, to be their General in the war of Tournay. The father dying had given the Duchy of gelders to the Duke of Bourgundy. The war being undertaken, by them of Gand against Tournay, and the Mutiny growing insolently violent against the Duchess of Bourgundy, they had need of a Head, for without it their hands were not much to be feared: He is set at liberty by the Gantols. They cast their eyes upon Adolph, draw him out of prison, and like madmen (as they are) think that this cruel wretch, who could not love his father, will have a care of their affairs. b What piety can be expected of him that hath been impious, and inhuman to his own father? Qui fallere audebit Parentes qualis erit in ceteris? He that dares deceive his Parents, what will he be to other men? Casiod. They give him absolute command, being resolved to advance him higher than his Predecessors, and to make him husband to the Duchess. People in such distractions have played madder pranks, and made more indiscreet elections. He lead them to Tournay, where having burnt the Suburbs, he was slain: His death was not more honourable unto him than his life. The Princess was not sorry for this action; For if he had returned triumphing from this exploit, the Gantois had forced her to marry him; and rather than to have had a husband of their choice, she would have taken one by chance, as the heir of Bohemia had done, Primislaus a Laborer becomes King of Bohemia. who married Primislaus, and drew him from labour, to the honour of her Marriage, and Crown▪ c Lybussa daughter to Gracus second King of Bohemia, declared in an Assembly of the Estates, held in an open field, that she would take him for husband, before whom a horse should stay, which she should let go, without guide or force: He stayed before Primislaus, who was tilling his Land. They took him, and led him to the Princess, who made him her husband, and gave him to the people for their King: His wooden shoes were long kept in the Cathedral Church of prague, and showed to the Kings of Bohemia, to make them remember their beginning. The Princess of Bourgundies' affairs impaired. Many Physicians undid the Patient. The King had a mighty Army, which kept all the Low Countries in awe, in his absence it was commanded by the Bastard of Bourbon Admiral of France: There was nothing attempted by the enemy, but was defeated. In many exploits of war, which were made upon this Frontier, I find that Guerin le Groin Baliffe of Saint Peter le Moustier, and Robinet of Quesnoy, Either of them Captain of a hundred Lances, took a great Convoy of Money, which came to Douai, and with a small Troop defeated a great number of Horse, which did guard it. If the King of England had declared himself for the Princess of Bourgundy, there had been a great alteration, and she had less apprehended the power and hatred of the French King, who had wisely prevented it: Lewis entertains friendship with the English. He knowing that King Edward loved his ease, and that he would not show himself too passionate in his Neighbour's quarrels, caused his Ambassadors to observe him, and entertained him often with Visits, and Presents, d To send wise and politic Ambassadors to Princes whom they fear, upon divers pretexes, is the true means to prevent their designs. but especially with the hope of a Marriage betwixt his son, and his daughter; Whom in England they called the Dauphine: He caused the fifty thousand Crowns, due by the Treaty of Piquigny, to be paid at the day in the City of London, which the English called the Tribute of France: He gave great Pensions to the Chancellor, Chamberlain, Admiral, and Master of the Horse in England; This made some to speak, and others to hold their peace touching the affairs of France: e To cast Gold into a Prince's Council, is a great charm for greedy minds: Gold is a medicine which at one instant works two contrary effects: To speak, and to be silent. There never came any Ambassadors but commended his bounty at their return, and held themselves, in a manner, bound to favour his intentions: by which proceed, he held himself, in a manner, assured on that side. This made the Princess of Burgundy resolve to marry, & to follow the counsel of the Lady of Haluin, Princess of Bourgundy will have a man to her husband. her first Lady of Honour, which was to take a man, and not a child, for she was capable to bear them: f There was a great disparity of age betwixt the Dauphin, and thus Princess, who was mother of three children, before the Prince was a eleven years old. She refused the king of England's brother: It was thought that if they had propounded, the Earl of Angolesme, father to King Francis the 1. she would have harkened unto it, g The Annals of Aquitane speak thus upon this occasion: King Lewis wanted indgment in this action, for if he had not, he would have married her to Charles Duke of Angol●sme, father to King Francis that now is. her affections inclining to have a Prince of France, although she were much discontented, for that the King had been the cause of the death of her two good servants, Huguenot and Imbercourt. The Emperor Frederick sent his Ambassadors unto her, to put her in mind of the letter which she had written, by the commandment of Duke Charles her father, carrying a promise of marriage to the Archduke Maxamilian his son. The Duke of Cleves, who had another design, instructed her to refer herself to her Council, h In a Council held upon the reception of the Ambassadors, the Duke of Cleves said, that after they had delivered their message, the Princess of Burgundy should say unto them, that they were very welcome, and that she would refer it to her Council, and no more. Phil. de Com. and not to say any thing to the Ambassadors: but at the sight of this Letter, and a Diamond which did accompany it, she declared that she had written the Letter, and given the Diamond, Princess of Bourgundy marries Maxmilian. by her father's commandment. The marriage was treated, and Maximilian came into Flanders to consomate it, and before the year was expired, Philip father to Charles the 5. was the first fruits of this marriage, Maximilian was then but twenty years old, i When as Maximilian came into Flanders, he was but twenty years old: He was borne in the year 1458. Elinor daughter to Edward king of Portugal was his mother. & desiring to show that the love of the Princess of Burgundy was not blind, in choosing him among so many Corrivals, he sought to recover that which she had lost. The King sent Craon into Bourgundy, King's Army in the French County. k Peter or George of Tremovile, Lord of Craon, Lieutenant of the King's Army in Bourgundy. who having a power, and being assisted, by john of Chalons Prince of Orange, reduced the Town of Dijon under the King's obedience: The Prince of Orange seeing himself deluded by him, and that he did not deliver up the places unto him, which he had taken, according to the King's commandment, grew discontented, revolted, and recovered in a manner all that Craon had won in the County, and then cast himself into Gy. From thence Craon besieged Dole, Dole besieged. contemning them that were within it, as men whom he held to be without courage or defence. This contempt, accompanied with carelessness, made him to lose his honour, the King's favour, and the Town which he might have taken; for the besieged made a sally in a night that was windy, dark, and rainy, with such advantage, as they surprised him, and forced him to ritire, with the loss of some of his Ordinance, and of three thousand men. l The fault of a General of an Army is sufficiently punished by the loss of his honour, and his Prince's love and favour. The Romans had no punishment for such errors, to the end their Commanders should not have their minds troubled with the dangers, and ordinary Inconveniences in such charges, and with the examples of such, whose faults had been punished with death: For it is impossible to resolve judiciously betwixt fear and suspicion. Charles of Amboise, Lord of Chaumont, was substituted in his place, who advised the King to renew his alliance with the Swisses, and thereby to weaken the house of Bourgondy. The persuasion of this counsel was not difficult: the King thought nothing more fit for the safety of his estate, then to make his enemies weak of Intelligence and Friends: He sent some to practise this league, and pursued it with great vehemency. He had received so great content in the ruin of the most obstinate of his enemies, as after the Battles of Granson and Morat, he did nothing but speak of the Swisses valour, m Lewis the ●1 greatly advanced the reputation of the Swisses. After victories which they had won against Charles, Duke of Bourgondy, he caused them to be much esteemed. He sent Ambassadors with rich presents: he gave them after the battle of Granson, until his death, above a million of Florins of the Rhin. and esteem their Friendship. He put them in greater reputation than ever they had been, although they had much honoured the establishment of their liberty with a triumph of nine or ten Battles; and that we may say of them, as Titus Livius did of the Romans, n Nulla unquam Respublica nec maior nec sanctior, nec bonis exemplis ditior fuit, nec in quam tam serae avaritia luxuriaque immigraverint, nec ubi tantus, ac tamdiu paupertati ac parfimoniae honos fuerit. There was never Commonweal greater, nor more holy, nor richer in good examples, nor into which avarice & luxury crept later, nor whereas poverty and parsimony were so long honoured. That never Commonweal was better maintained in her ancient discipline; nor whereas Avarice had less credit, and Simplicity more honour, then in that of the Swisses. For these reasons the king made a defensive leave with them, Alliance of France with the Swisses. & by the Treaty, gave himself the Name of the first Ally of their Commonweal, and termed himself their Bourgesse. o The Duke of Savoy said, that the Title of the first Ally of the Swisses, belonged to him before all others. They promised to furnish him with eight thousand men at all times for four Germane Florins and a half of monthly pay. 2000 pound sterling. Moreover, he gave them a pension of twenty thousand Franckes, to be distributed among them. By the means of this Alliance, his forces increased greatly in Bourgondy, Dole was taken by assault, spoiled, ruined, and made miserable. But this pillage did impoverish the King, being certain, that what is taken from Towns vanquished, is lost for the Victor. p Croesus', King of Lydia, seeing Cyrus' Soldiers running up and down the Town of Sardes, he demanded whither they did run. They go to the spoil of the Town answered Cyrus. They take nothing from me (replied Croesus) all they carry away is thine, and not mine. Aussonne held out but five days; Besançon, an Imperial Town, continued in her liberties, and was not forced to more duty than she had been accustomed to yield unto the Earls of Bourgondy. Verdun would not yield but by force, and suffered for her wilfulness. Beaune avoided it, submitting herself to a fine of forty thousand Crowns. The King labouring to ruin the house of Bourgondy, Estate of the affairs of Castille apprehended the rising of that of Castille, seeing that by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabel, the Realms of Castille and Arragon, which had been divided 405 years, were united. q Castille & Arragon in the beginning were but Earldoms, they were made Realms after the death of D. Sancho, the great king of Navarre, who was the last Earl of Arragon & Castille. He would have been nothing sorry, if the contention which was betwixt them, who should have the government of Castille, had continued longer. Queen Isabel said, that as daughter to King john of Castille, she was sole heir of the Realm, and that her marriage should not deprive her of her quality. King Ferdinand objected, that he was son to john the second, King of Navarre and Arragon, descended in the direct line from john the first, King of Castille; and that it was not fit a woman should carry the Sceptre of so great a Realm. r Lipsius' speaking of this Prince and Princess gives this censure, Maritus caetera vir egregius restrictor aut timidior erat retinere sua melior quam augere. Haec dilatabat. The husband a worthy man, a holder fast, or more fearful: he was better to hold his own, then to augment it. She enlarged it. It was concluded by the advise of the Grands, that all Letters and Expeditions should be made in the name of both, and under the Seal of both Realms, of Castille and Arragon, and the money coined with the Arms quartered. This judgement (wherewith Ferdinand was not well pleased) was grounded upon the great and eminent virtue of Isabel, Virtues of Isabel of Castille. another Zenobia of Spain; and who did never breathe any thing, but what was great and generous: A great justicer, if ever any were, and inexorable to rebellions, s The City of Se●ile being revolted, through the factions betwixt the house: of Gusman and Ponti, the queen Isabel went thither, & forced them all to their duties: she caused all that were in the Castle to be hanged, having refused her the entry. she made the Court of Spain a true Academy of honour and virtue, out of which came Gonsalue the great Captain: her counsels were followed as Oracles, and often times her husband and the Grands of the realm, having found that no great matter was effected, if it were not approved by her advice, never disputed against that which she had resolved. It is she that began and ended the war of Portugal, expelled the Moors out of Grenado, added the realm of Navarre to that of Castill, and gave means to Christopher Columbus t In the year 1492. the third of August, the Queen D. Isabel sent Christopher Columbus from Palos de Moguet in Andalusia to discover the western Indies: having sailed 2. months and 8. days, he first landed in the Island of Guanahamo, betwixt Florida & Cuba. to discover new countries: they also commend her for her great & constant piety, and for her admirable sobriety, having never drunk wine: she loved learned men, and took delight in the knowledge of the Latin tongue: she was full of courage & resolution in adversity; for being upon the treaty of her daughter's marriage with Emanuel, King of Portugal, news being brought her of the death of her only son, u The Prince D john of Castille, being married to Margaret of Austria, died at Salamanca. The History of Spain saith, that the King D. Ferdinand to acquaint his wife D. Isabel, with this death, caused a brute to be raised that he was dead, and then presently showed himself unto her, so one sudden consolation betwixt two great afflictions, did moderate both the one and the other. she did not cease to proceed, suppressing her grief until that Emanuel was advertised thereof by others. She was very constant in all distemperatures and dolours of the body, for she was delivered of her children without any groan or cry. x In partus acutissimis doloribus & gemitum & vocem supprimebat, rem incredibilem, nisi à fidissimis matronis quae à cubiculi cura erant: id certo se cognovisse Marinaeus Siculus adfirmaret. In the bitterest pangs of childbearing, she did neither groan nor cry, an incredible thing, if Marinaeus the Sicilian did not affirm that he had received it from the faithfullest, matrons of her chamber. King Lewis being very jealous of the county of Rousillon, Death of D. john, King of Navarre. which was a thorn in the foot of Castille, held the kings in jealousy and expenses, and desired to have the realm of Navarre continue in the possession of the successors of King john, who died in the end of the year 1479. y D. john, king of Arragon died at Barcelona, being 81 years old, having reigned in Navarre 53. years, and 4. months: and 21 years six months in Arragon. He was buried in the Monastery of Poblete. He was a great Prince, & like unto others, had past the pikes of fortune. It hath been said before, that his son Charles, and after his death his subjects of Barcelona, and after all that the king of Castille, and then the kings of France made war against him: he saw his realm in horrible combustions by the factions of Beaumond and Grandmont, which he had seen spring up, & neglected to quench them in their breeding. About the end of his days, when as he had more need of a Tomb then a wife; and that the law Papia z Augustus in his latter days caused the Senate to make the Law Papia, it had many heads, & amongst others, a man of 60 years old, & a woman of 50, might not marry. This word Buckle was used by Seneca; and after him, by Lactantius. Quid ergo est quare apud Poetas salacissimus jupiter desierit liberos tollere▪ sexagenarius factus est & illi ●ex papia fibulam imposuit? had buckled him up, being above fourscore years old, he fell in love with a young maid, named Francina Rosa, which was no help for him to recover his sight, which extreme age (for the interest of so long an abode in the world) had taken from him. The year before his death, he went to see his son D. Ferdinand at Victoria, to confer with him upon the affairs of the realm, which he should leave unto him: In this encounter the father had not any with him, but ancient men, above threescore years old, and the son was attended on by the flower of all the Nobility of Castille. It was noted that the father in all things gave place to the king, D. Ferdinand his son, as the head of the house of Castille, from whence he was descended. a Alphonso the fifth King of Arragon, brother to john the second, king of Navarre would have his Ambassadors give place to them of Henry the fourth, K. of Castill●, in signing the Articles of a Treaty made at Naples. The dispute of this precedence had been begun in the Council of Constance, and decided in that of Basil, in favour of Castille; Alphonso, the fift king of Arragon, would not yield it to his father john the second King of Castille. b It is a difficult thing sometimes for the prerogative of nature to give place to that of fortune, & dignity; witness the Senator of Venice, who would not give place to his son, although he were Duke, who to bind his Father, did always carry a great Crucifix, to the which the father said he did his duty. The law of Majesty was of more force than that of respect and natural obedience, whereof the son, how great soever, many not dispense himself towards his father. The Crown of Castille had always pretended that Arragon depended of it in sovereignty; and that if it were free, it was by grace. The King D. john the second, at his return from this voyage, died at Barcelona. It was by his advice that a peace was at that time treated, Peace and Alliances renewed with Spain of betwixt king Lewis the eleventh, and the kings of Castille, to confirm the ancient Alliances that were betwixt the two Crowns. d Philip de Comines saith, that the Alliances of France and Castille, are betwixt King and King, Realm & Realm, Man & Man of their subjects. The Ambassadors of France were the Lord of Lescut, and the Bishop of Lombais, Abbot of S. Denis: they of Castille were john de Gamboa, Governor of Fontarabie, and john de Medina, one of the king's Council. This peace being concluded, the Ambassadors of Castille came into France, they were received at Paris with great honour, on Saturday, the third of july, 1479. they did the like to the Ambassadors of France, who went to Guadalupa, whereas D. Ferdinand, and D. Isabel were busied in punishing the disobedience of the Marquis of Villena, who had hindered D. George Manriquez from chastizing them of Cinchilla, who had revolted. At that time when as the Court was at Guadalupa, the Marquis of Vill●na, head of the faction, being incensed that his enemies had caused six of his Soldiers to be hanged, would do the like to as many of theirs, being his prisoners: the chance fell upon a Soldier of Villeneufue of Laxara, near to Allarcon, in whose place the younger brother presented himself, and entreated that he might die for him, for that his brother had wife and children, who was set at liberty, and his offer accepted. Hist. of Spa. Lib. 22. The Articles are sworn by the king; and moreover it was agreed, that the Town of Parpignan should be put into the possession of the Cardinal of Spain, & that the two kings should name an Arbitrator, to decide within five years what K. Lewis did pretend to be due unto him. After the death of D. john the 2d, king of Navarre and Arragon D. Ferdinand succeeded in his father's Estate of Arragon and Sicily, and D. Leonora to the Mothers, as daughter to Blanch, Queen of Navarre; but this succession which she would have advanced, contrary to the Laws of Nature and Humanity, being blamed by the Histories of Spain to have caused her elder Sister to be poisoned, f D. Blanch being put away by D. Henry the unable, was carried as it were a prisoner to Lescut in Bearne, by Gaston Earl of Foix her Brother-in-law, to the end she should not marry again. The Spaniards writ that her sister Elinor caused her to be poisoned. did not pass the fifteenth day after her Coronation. She had by Gaston, Earl of Foix, many worthy Children, Gaston, Blanch, Countess of Foix, mother of many children. Earl of Foix; john, Viscount of Narbona; Peter, Cardinal of Foix; james, who served King Lewis the twelfth in the wars of Lombardy, and five daughters; g Out of this house of Foix, were issued four Queens, cousin germane, at one time: Catherine Q. of Navarre, German, Q. of Castille, and Arragon; Anne Queen of France, and Duchess of Britain, Anne Queen of Bohemia & Hungary. Marry, wife to William, Marquis of Montferrat, joane married to the Earl of Armagnac, Margaret to Francis Duke of Brittany, Catherine to the Earl of Candal●, and Elinor promised to the Duke of Medina Celi. The peace of Castille did not hinder the war which the King had against Maximilian of Austria; 1479. who to divert the King's forces, and frustrate his designs, besieged Therovenne: h Maximilian camped before Therovenne with 20000. Flemings, some Troops of Germans, and 300. English. It was relieved by the cords with 8000. Frank Archers, and eleven hundred men at Arms. the Lord of cords came to secure it: Maximilian went to meet him, and both Armies encountered at Guinegaste. The i The Gauls Horsemen were always esteemed and feared. Plutarch, Polybius and Appian commend them. Caesar saith, that in the war of Africa, 30 horsemen Gauls, put to rout 2000 horsemen Numidians. Cavalarie of France showing their ancient valour, Battle of Guinegaste. broke that of Maximilian, and chased them as far as Air, which made their Footmen to waver: yet they were stayed by the constancy and good order of the Captains which did fight on foot. Maximilian put himself among the footmen: the Earl of Rhomont, and Engelbert Earl of Nassau, behaved themselves so valiantly that day, as they carried away the honour, and Maximilian had the field and profit. The French being Victors, busied themselves at the spoil, k Greediness of spoil hath many times made them lose the victory who had it most assured. They that escaped from this battle, and were at that of Novora, committed not this error in pursuing the victory, as to fall to spoil: they were heard to cry out in the seld; Companions, remember Guinegaste. and lost the victory which they had certain. When news was brought unto Lewis, he would not believe that the loss was such as they said. If it be true said he, that the victory be lost for me, farewell all my Conquests. This loss made a Truce, and the Truce a peace, Christendom had great need to unite her forces against Mahomet, who besieged Rhodes. The King obtained a jubilee from Pope Sixtus, and caused it to be published throughout his Realm to gather men's Alms and Devotion for the relief and defence of that mighty Bulwark of Christendom. But the History doth not say that he gave any thing of his own to the Religion, as King Charles the seventh had done, to prepare himself against the Agression of so mighty and fearful an enemy, who under a vain and deceitful proposition of peace, l Nothing doth so much favour the designs of war, as an opinion of peace: Mahomet caused his son Zizimi to make some overture of a truce unto Demetrio Sofrano, Ambassador of the Order, and under his negotiation he prepared for the war. laboured to discharge upon them all the furies of war. But it was vain against Rhodes, Siege of Rhodes by Mahomet valiantly defended. by the valour and vigilancy of the great Master of Aubusson, who upon the first advice that was given him of Mahomet's design, provided carefully for the defence and safety of the Town, he caused some Churches to be beaten down, which might have annoyed them, if the enemy should get them; but he would not attempt this demolition tumultuously, nor of his absolute authority, but would first have the Priests, Monks, and all others that were interessed. These men, by the permission of the Metropolitan of the Grecians, and of the Archbishop m There is always a great correspondency betwixt the Order of the Church, the inferiors ordain nothing without the advice of their superiors. The Synod of Laodicea forbade the Bishops (divided among the Villages of the Province) to do any thing without the Bishop which was in the Town. Colossensis, or of Rhodes (for there is a great Relation of authority and obedience, of power and respect among them) consented. In all his designs he ever respected the King's advice and counsel, and informed him of all that past; yea, of the fortifications which he made in the Island, and of the overtures of an accord which Mahomet made to deceive him; beseeching him, that the French Commanders and Knights, which were within his Realm, should not lose so goodly an occasion to serve Christendom. The siege of Rhodes began after that of Scutari, n At the siege of S●utari, the Assailants shot so many Arrows into the Town, as the besieged, for a long time after the siege, burned no other wood but Arrows: Mahomet was forced to raise the siege. The Venetians, Lords of Scutari, left it him to have a peace. in the end of May, 1480. 1480. After that Mahomet had known, Tribute refused to Mahomet. that it was impossible for him to have that tribute from the Rhodians which he demanded, in regard whereof he would suffer them to live in peace; the Army camped on Saint Stephen's Mountain, and upon little Hills thereabouts, it consisted of an hundred thousand men, and a great quantity of Artillery: A great troup of horse and foot came furiously from the Mountain, to discover the Town of Rhodes; the which were twice beaten and repulsed. Their Batteries being planted, the Canon played against S. Nicholas Tower: The great Master was informed of every thing in the Turks Army by a German Engineer, who cast himself into the Town, and left the Infidels, making show that the only zeal of religion had moved him; he related the whole estate of the Camp, and discovered that which they could not learn, but by him. But his zeal was mere treachery and treason; Treason of a Germane Engineer. for the which he was soon after hanged, by the commandment of the great Master, who feared Traitors more than Enemies. o At the siege of Towns, the practices within are no less to be feared, than the attempts without. Scipio Affricanus said, that he was not so careful to defend himself from the enemy, as from traitors. He refreshed the Garrison in S. Nicholas Tower, and placed of the most valiant Knights, and best Soldiers to guard it; he views the ruins which the battery had made, and causeth them to be repaired speedily. The Turks assail it with an incredible fury; but they were so received, Assault given by the Turks. as in less than an hour they lost 700 Soldiers, besides them that were wounded; and they that retired suddenly to their Galleys, were drowned. The great Master went triumphing to Rhodes, to give God thanks for this victory. The Turks, to weaken the forces of the besieged, and to vanquish them the more easily being divided, batter the Town in many places p The Artillery battering the walls of Rhodes caused the Island tremble; and it was heard plainly at the Island of Castle Rosso, towards the East, an incredible way off. with pieces, and Engines of war of an unknown greatness. There was never Fort more furiously battered, neither was there ever Camp more annoyed by the battery of the besieged. The assailants made some shot, whose noise was like unto Thunder, and their ruins like that of Thunderbolts. The Rhodians had a Canon which they called the Tribute, which carried away great heaps of the enemies. The Scorpions, Rams, Slings, and Crossbows of the old wars, which carried and forced Millstones, and Rocks, with such great violence, and so far off, wrought not such terrible effects. The Turks shot out of Engines, the stones whereof ruined houses where they fell. And after this manner Philip Augustus, and Richard, King of England, had in former times ruined Ptolemaid: There was danger to remain within, and danger to come out of the houses. q Pau●us Aemilius saith, that at the siege of Ptolemaid, Saxorum ictu quae Tollenonibus mittebantur tecta domorum superne perfringebantur. The tops of house's were broken down with the stones they cast out of engines. The great Master, whose prudence was without fear, and valour without rashness, would not neglect it: he was as covetous of his people's blood, as he was prodigal of his own; he could not see them die miserably, but provided a good remedy, r To fear to lose his men, & to spare their lives, is the duty of one that commands. Forts paratissimi effundere sanguinem suum, alienum videre non possunt. Valiant men are ready to power forth their own blood, but they cannot see another's. Sen. commanding the Women, Children, and unable persons, to leave the houses, causing them to be lodged in a void place, betwixt the houses and the Town-wall, under Tents, supported with great pieces of timber. The stones they shot out of their Bombards always past over them: for the Turks shot only at the houses, and at the places most frequented; and if any stone fell there, it found resistance, and did no harm. At night the people retired into Churches, that were vaulted. He commanded public prayers to be made, every man casting his eyes to heaven, having no other hope of help: it was impossible to defend the wall, and therefore he made entrenchments, where the Women laboured with a wonderful affection; they would have given their hair s Women have often given their hair to make Instruments for the war, or strings for bows, the examples are reported by Vegetius, lib. 4. The Senate of Rome in remembrance thereof, did dedicate a Temple unto them, called Venus without hair. In honorem Matronarum Templum Veneri caluae senatus, dicavit I●l. cap. to have made ropes against the Turks, more willingly than ever the Dames of Rome, Aquilea, or Byzantium did to make bowstrings against their enemies. When as the Bashaw saw, that the sole presence of the great Master was the chief force and defence of Rhodes, The Bashaw seeks to poison the great Master. he set two men to poison him: the first being surprised, and trembling at the first demand they made him, entering into Rhodes, discovered the second. Saint Nicholas Tower did so command the Port, as the enemy thinking that all the defence of Rhodes depended thereon, gave an assault by night, when as they thought that the besieged, tired with the continual toils of the day, had neglected the defence, they made their troops to land secretly, and marched directly to the Mole, (it is the Port whereas sometimes the Colosse, one of the wonders of the world stood u The Colosse of the Sun at Rhodes, was 70 cubits high of brass set upon the port, all ships passed betwixt the legs: It was overthrown by an Earthquake, and lay long upon the shore: Mabia, a Captain of the Saracens, having defeated Constant, the son of Constantine, and nephew to Heraclius, in a battle at sea, seized upon Rhodes, and sold the metal of this Colosse to a jew, who laded 900. horse, and sent it to Alexandria, in the year 614. that is to say, 1460 years after that Charles the Indian, an excellent Graver, had made it. ) but found them that attended them, who repulsed them in such sort, as they lost a great number of their companions. The Bashaw by these first attempts, did judge of the Issue of the siege, thinking that he did beat in vain against this rock, and that he might win the great Master by some other means; he demanded to speak with him upon the ditches bank, where he told him, that he wondered at his presumption and rashness, in seeking to resist so mighty a Prince, and obstinately to refuse him tribute, x It is a troublesome and importune demand, to require a tribute of freemen; yea it is insupportable to them that are born to servitude. The King of Castille demanded from Mulai Alboacen, King of Granado, the Tribute and Arrearages, to whom the Ambassadors answered, that the Kings of Granado, tributaries to them of Castille, were dead, and therefore their bond was void; and that in Granado they carried no more gold nor silver, but heads of Lances, Arrows, and such like Arms, to turn them against their enemies, and to free themselves from servitude and charge. seeing that he could not receive more honour, then to be Tributary to a Prince, to whom the greatest of Asia, Africa, and Europe paid tribute. Although the great Master did not think it fit to spend time in words, and answers, for that in such occasions, a General should not have his hands on his tongue, but his tongue in his hands, yet would he not suffer the Bashaw to return without an answer, as without any profit of his discourse; and therefore he said unto him: Know that thou hast not to do with base and effeminate Asians, Generous answer of the great Master. but with Christian Knights, who are ready to bury themselves in the ruins of this Town, rather than once think of yielding. The walls of Rhodes had in few days endured 3500 Cannon shot, the Towers, the Bastions, with the goodliest buildings, were beaten down and ruined: there was a breach on all parts, but in the knight's hearts, who were resolved to lose themselves, rather than to leave it. y Constancy and courage is never better tried, then in Towns besieged, whereof there have been admirable examples seen. Some more through obstinacy then reason, have first slain their wives and children, and then killed one another, to win the honour to be constant. The Bashaw, the more to encourage the Soldiers to an assault, gave them the spoil of the town, and caused it to be proclaimed by Trumpet, declaring that nothing should be saved, but the Infants to be conducted to the great Turks Serrail, that all the rest should be put to the Sword, having caused 8000 stakes to be made, to empale them that should be taken alive. All things being ready, forty thousand Turks came unto the assault towards the jews wall, and the quarter of jerusalem, with such fury, as if their Prophet had been behind them, like unto the Egyptian Gods: z King Amasis making war against the Arabians, caused the statues of the Egyptians gods, whi●h they did worship to be carried after them; to the end they might go more cheerfully to dangers, remembering that they had behind them their Gods for spectators; and that they were bound to save them, and not to leave them in their enemy's power. Polioenus, lib. 7. The attempt was so great, as the christians could not hinder them from planting of their ladders, the wall was won, and their Ensigns set up in sign of victory; but they continued not long: the great Master, and Anthony of Aubusson, Viscount of Montelier his brother, came to secure them: they find many Turks within the Town, Scalodoe repulsed. whom they cut in pieces, repulsed the rest, and follow them even to the bashaws Pavilion, where they take the Turks standard Royal, and carry it to Rhodes. They say, that in this assault, the Turks saw a This vision is related at large by I. Bosio, in the first part of his History, accordingly as it is set down in the Text, the which to avoid repetition, I omit. in the air upon the walls, Vision miraculous. a shining Cross of gold, a virgin attired in white, with a Target on her Arm, and a Lance in her hand, and a man muffled with a Camel's skin, followed with a great troup of armed men, all glittering, which seemed to come to secure the town: that the assailants were so amazed and terrified with this vision, as they that were nearest unto the walls, durst not go on, and they that were far off, fled. This miracle hath been mentioned by all the Historians that have written of this siege: and William Coarsin, Vicechancellor of the Order, speaks amply in his Commentaries. The Bashaw mad at their great constancy and resolution, Retreat of the Turks retired, & caused his Artillery to be carefully drawn away, whereof a General should have an especial care; for the loss is dishonourable: He caused it to be embarked, with his hurt men. The rage which he could not pour forth upon the Inhabitants of Rhodes, showed itself round about the Town, leaving no tree un-cut, Vine unpuld up, nor house un-burnt. The Bashaw going out of the Port, discovered two great ships, which Ferdinand, K. of Naples sent to their succour: he held it an affront if he should suffer them to pass without fight. But in despite of him, and 20. Galleys which assailed these two ships, they entered the Port after three hours fight. Thus Rhodes, the clear Sun b For that there is no day, how clo●d● soever, but the Sun is seen at Rhodes: the ancients said it was consecrated to the Sun. It lies in the Carpatia●sea, in the 〈◊〉 of I●cia, separated from the coast, by an Arm of the sea, which they call, the 〈◊〉 of Rhodes, 20 miles broad: It is lo●g and 〈◊〉 about 120 mile's compass. Towards the North lies freya, Ae●●pt to the south, 〈◊〉 to the Ea●t, and Candy to the west. of the sea, so famous in the Histories of Antiquity, was preserved for the Christians. All the City in sign of joy, made bonfires, shot off Ordinance, & rung their bells. The Trumpets, Hautboyes, and drums were upon the walls, upon the news which the great Master received from Pope Sixtus the fourth, of a mighty Army which came to his succour. The Bashaw desirous to know the cause of this joy, sent certain Grecians to demand it of the Sentinels, who told them, it was for that the Christian Army was near; which being reported unto him, he commanded to weigh anchor, and to set sail, the 18 of August, having continued at this siege 89 days, and lost the best part of his Army. This valiant resistance, for the preservation of the Island of Rhodes, did purchase much glory to Christendom, and bound Christians to praise the God of Victories, to make him favourable when he should be called c Xenophon exhorts men to honour t●e Gods in prosperity, to the end they ma● be ●auou●able v●to them in adversity. in the like necessity, for that the defence of towns and the defeat of Armies come only from him. The Cross triumphed over the Cressants. Mahomet, after this affront, did but languish, having propounded, for a revenge, to make a great enterprise upon Italy, to make Rome another Constantinople, a Serrail of the Vatican, and a Mosque of Latran. Upon the apprehensions of such ruins and desolation, Sixtus the fourth was ready to abandon Rome, and go into France. Italy being too weak to resist so mighty an enemy, who having made himself Master of 12 realms in the lesser Asia, of the Archipelagus, of Albania, and of Sclauo●ia, of all the Empire of Constantinople, & of Trebizond, threatened to enter into Europe by Apulia, & Calabria, d M●homet the 2d. made war three years in Apulia, and Calabria, he took the towns o● Ydrunte, Tatum, and Leuce, by force. where he had caused wonderful desolations, and spoiled Italy of the flower of her horsemen; and it may be, he should not have found Princes which would have sent back his Ambassadors so courageously, nor contemned his threats, as Mathias corvinus, K. of Hnngary, and Poland did: for when this Barbarian had sent to him, to have him yield him his realm of Polonia, he made this brave and hardy answer to his Ambassadors; e This generous answer made by Mathias corvinus, is related by joachin Cu●eus, in the Annals of Silesi●, Mahomet did ever after fe●re him. Go and tell your master, that he reigns in Greece by my means, and that he shall remain there no longer than I please. The end of the eighth Book. THE CONTENTS OF the Ninth Book. 1 MAXIMILIAM makes no good use of his advantage, after the battle of Guinegaste. 2 Attempt against the King's Person, miraculously prevented. 3 The like enterprise discovered and punished. 4 Taking and recovering of Beaune and Verdun. 5 Sigismond Archduke of Austria, gives his Estates to the Archduke Maximilian his Nephew. 6 Lewis of Bourbon Bishop of Liege slain by William de la March. 7 A new discipline for Soldiers made. 8 Goodly obser●uations of the advantages which Footmen have over Horse. 9 Death of Mahomet the second, Emperor of the Turks, an abridgement of the chief actions of his life, and his cruelties. 10 The King's design upon Lorraine: Estate of that House from Duke john to Yoland of Anjou, wife to Ferry Earl of Vaudemont. 11 Variable success of the huse of Anjou in the Realm of Naples, from Lewis the second, son to King john, to Rene Duke of Anjou. 12 Death of Rene Duke Anjou, his death and exercises, he instituted the Order of the Croissant. 13 Charles Earl of maine and Provence, gives the County of Provence unto the King. 14 The King seizeth upon the Duchy of Bar. 15 Rene, Duke of Lorraine General of the Venetians Army. 16 War of Ferara against the Venetians: The Pope, and the King of Naples, deal in it. The Venetians are excommunicated. 17 Peace treated against the Pope's liking, magnanimity of his courage. 18 Necessity of the Church to hold a Council. 19 Hardy enterprise of a Prelate against the Pope. ❧ THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleventh. THE NINTH BOOK. WHAT availeth it for Stags to have goodly and strong heads, if they have not courage to use them? Maximilian makes no great use of his advantage at Guinegaste. The Archduke Maximilian had more subject to repent himself, then to rejoice for the success of Guinegate, for that he did not make use of his advantage: If he had presented himself before Therovenne or Arras, he had found amazement for resistance. But he durst not attempt it, a Philip de Cōmin●s saith, that after the battle of Guingaste, if Maximilian had been counseled to return before Therovenne, he had not ●ound any creature within it, nor yet in Arras. So as the battle which should have purchased him glory among the Flemings, He lost more than he got. made him contemptible, for they knew well, that the place of battle was not left him, but to present unto him the inequality of the loss, having lost a greater number of men than the King, who was still Master of Artois, without the which, the Earls of Flanders are but petty Princes. Those Estates are unhappy which are forced to seek strange Masters, they are like unto counterfeit legs and arms, set on to natural bodies: It fareth not much better with Princes which are always hated, who being not loved cannot be well obeyed. b It is a glorious Title for a Prince, when he can say, that he is well beloved of his subjects. It cannot be purchased but by royal virtues, which are more to be esteemed then Kingdoms. I● regnare depend spesso della fortunà, ma il Re che si proponga per unico fine la salute & la felicità de populi suoi depend solament da se medesimo & della propriavirtu. To reign, depends often upon fortune; but that King which propounds unto himself for his only end, the health and felicity of his people, depends ●oly of himself and his own virtue. Guic. lib. 1. Maximilian had not been bred up in affairs, His age without experience. his youth could not be ripe before his time: The Emperor Frederick his father, one of the most covetous Princes in the world, had neither given him men, nor money, sufficient to perform those wonders which were expected from him, before they saw him: In a word, he had not done sacrifice to reputation, c By the first judgements which are made of a new Prince, his reputation is weak or strong, and therefore the wise advise. Instandum famae nam prout prima cedunt censentur universa. We must stand upon fame, for as the first succeed, all the rest are censured. entering into the Country. Moreover as men are more grieved for the failing of things promised, then for those which are but in expectation; they saw the Emperor Frederick did not care to assist him, nor to relieve him with forces equal to the subject which did press him; For he had written unto the chief Towns, that as soon as he had settled the affairs of the Empire, he would follow his son: and yet he left him in a confusion of miseries, d By the Emperor frederick's letters written to the Town of Dole, bearing date the 12. of February, 1477. we see that he promised to follow him presently. Nos vero compositis paulisper negotijs nostris eundem fillium nostrum ducem Maximilianum illico subsequemur, & ad vos in propria persona accedere volumus parati & inclinati ut ad omnem gratiam & favorem quos vos intuitu dictorum ducis Maximiliani, & contoralis Ducissae Mariae impartiri possumus. Ann. of Bourg. having not where with at all to defray the charges of his own house, so as the Princess was forced to sell and pawn part of her reveneves. So the battle of Guinegaste was not followed by any other loss. Only the Prince of Orange would make use of it, having found, that what he had designed against the King's person brought him nothing but shame and repentance. Revenge invents villainous practices to please itself: Being offended with the King for that he had not given him so great authority as he thought he had deserved, he was not content to have left his service to follow the Archduke, and to have caused the Towns of Bourgundy to revolt, Attempt against the King's person discovered. but he attempted against his life, thinking that to free himself from fear he should utterly ruin himself, e To attempt against an enemy's life is a testimony of fear and cowardice, upon an apprehension that he will be revenged: It is a counsel of safety, not of courage. Monsr. d'Espilly the King's Attorney General in the Parliament of Dauphine (who is one of those that in merit and sufficiency find more men to imitate him then to go before him) sent me an extract out of the Register of the Chamber of Accounts of Dauphine which related a strange example thereof, and serves as in a clear Lantern, that the eternal Providence hath never failed in the preservation of this Monarchy, diverting those storms which hell had raised to overthrow it. And behold the History. john Renond, john Renond a Lionois. Borne at Saint Chaumond in Lionois, and making profession of a Mercer, and an Apothecary, f By the Process verbal, it is said, that this Renond was married, at Clermont, that he had two brethrens at Lion, one Beneficed in the great Church, and Peter Renond a Hosier, Tenant to Master Michael Lambert. in the Town of Clermont in Awergne, undertook to go to Florence to see one called Francisquin, whom he had sometimes served, and who was a servant in the house of Medicis, carrying him a horse of some twenty Crowns price, being in hope that he would do him some good, for men of that sort, give not, but to receive. He began his journey before Easter, past the holy week at Lion, and past the Monday after towards Mantua, where he was encountered by five men who led him to Saint claud, to the Signior of Erbens, who committed him to prison, Prisoner to the Prince of Orange. for that he said he was a Frenchman, and sent him to the Prince of Orange, who was then at Arbois. The Prince of Orange informed himself curiously of all that he knew, and finding by his discourse, that a desire to draw something from the Master which he had served at Florence had made him undertake so great a voyage, that necessity made him capable of any thing, and that it made him of a sick man's humour, to whom a small matter fitly administered gives ease: g Benefits which prevent the demands of them that have need, and whom necessity doth press, work great effects, and are like unto those easy remedies which being fitly given, do much case the Patient: In aegris oportunitas cibi salu●aris est, & aqua tempestiue data remedij locum obtinet. In sick persons, the opportunity of meat●s healthful, and water fitly given is in stead of a remedy. Sen. he began to cast forth some words of the tediousness and difficulty of the way, assuring him of greater good with less pain; he demanded of him if he would not be as well pleased to have it done him there, as to seek it so far off. He offers to do any thing. Renond answered that he was well content, and that he was ready to serve him against all men, yea were it to go against the King: The Prince of Orange replied: Thou sayest well, thou art the man I seek for, commanding they should make him good cheer; and after that time they suffered him to go up and down the Town where he listed, yet they caused a Legeois to accompany him, lest he should escape. The Bastard of Orange did sound him, to see if he continued in this humour, & if he did embrace it willingly, or with grief, h We must not hope for any good success of that which is done unwillingly. Per multum interest vt●um sponge nostra quid faciamusan inu●ti. There is a great difference whether we do any thing willingly or by constraint. Arist. & assuring him that if he did persist, he should find a happy fortune: that if he would swear to serve the Archduke of Austria faithfully, the Prince of Orange had power to do him good, and his authority was such, that if he gave him half the Country, He is engaged with the hope of great rewards. the donation should not be revoked. These words wrought the effect, which may be expected from a soul of that disposition, and in such affliction as to recover his liberty, he would have promised any thing. The Prince of Orange, thinking that there was not any else to do but to bind him, causeth him to come into his chamber, in the presence of the Bastard of Orange, to swear uponthe Mass-book, and the Figure of the Crucifix, He swears to do what he would have him. to do all that he should command him, and adding this clause unto his Oath, i An oath should have three 〈◊〉, Truth, judgement, and justice, if it wants any one, it is execration: we must always forbear to swear to deceive him that trusts unto the oath that is made unto him. In dolo iutat qui aliter facturus est quam promittit, cum periurium fit' nequi 〈◊〉 decipere credentem. He swears deceitfully that doth otherwise then he promiseth, being perjury, wickedly to deceive him that believeth. August. 21. q, 2. Can. in dolo. that if he did it not, he renounced God, his Christianisme and Baptism. Renond swore, and spoke those words freely, and takes a chamber in Hell (those were his words) if he failed to effect that which should be commanded him; but his heart did not consent to this Oath, desiring rather to deceive his heart, then to betray his Master. They left him yet three days, to see if he did persist in this resolution, and to observe if there were any coldness in his words, or amazement in his Countenance, for that words the most certain in show are changed by the inconstancy of will, the Nature of man being such, as it oftentimes taketh away Will from all his intentions, k There is nothing constant in human resolutions, man 〈◊〉 subject to reject that suddenly which he hath promised and sworn. Quia non ex▪ toto vult, non ex toto imperat. For he that doth not wholly will, doth not wholly command. and in these dangerous bargains, we must not buy men by the sound, as they do vessels of Tin, the eye must judge both of the inward and outward man. The Prince of Orange gave him a horse, and carried him to Bleterans, where he caused him to come into his Chamber, and commanded the Bastard of Orange to bring him five boxes of Lead, They show him five boxes of poison. presenting which unto Renond, he conjured him by the oath which he had taken, to use them as he should direct him: He let him see that those Boxes were full of divers Liquors, and that every one was of a different colour; then he said unto him. Thou knowest that when the King hath heard Mass, or done his devotions, he is accustomed to kiss the ground, and, many times, the corners of the Altars. l Revenge is blind, it respects neither the holiness of places, nor the reverence of things. Prince's should learn ' by this example, that death watcheth them, and may surprise them every where. Thou shalt find means to power these Liquors at the corners where he shall kneel, and shalt rub the corners of the Altar: and to the end, the colour may answer the Ornaments that are upon it, and that the diversity make them not observe the spots, thou shalt take green liquor for green Ornaments, black for black, white, for white, and in like manner, red and blue for the like colours: The white may be laid upon the ground, or upon any grey colour. They are of this Composition, that as soon as they are powered forth, there will nothing appear, and no man can perceive it, but beware thou dost not touch it with thy hand. This defence not to touch them, made Renond demand after what manner he might lay them on the Ornaments of the Altar, and not rub them with his finger. The Prince said unto him: Thou shalt take a wax candle, and fret the end of it, then feigning to make thy Offering, thou shalt according unto custom, kiss the corners of the Altar, and then thou shalt touch them with the end of thy Wax Candle, rubbing the place, where thou shalt think the King will kiss the Altar. Renond who did abhor all this in his soul, He promiseth to do it. made show by his words that nothing seemed more just, nor more easy to be done. The Prince of Orange did long to have him gone, and it seemed to him, that his Revenge, although she were drawn by Cruelty, Boldness, Impatiency, and Impudence, as by four Tigers, m The Chariot of Revenge hath four wheels, Cruelty, Impatiency, Boldness, and Impudence. Valde enim velox currus iste ad effundendum sanguinem, qui nec innocentia sistitur, nec patientiaretardatur, nec timore frenatur, nec pudore inhibetur. The Chariot to shed blood is very swift, it is neither stayed by Innocency, restrained by Patience, Fear doth not brible it, nor shame hold it back. went not swift enough, saying always, that seeing the King would not have him for his servant, he would never hold him for his Master. Renond promised to do all this, and made no difficulty but how he might get out of the Country and not be stayed, for that as soon as he should enter into the Realm, he was in safety, and feared not any thing. The Prince of Orange gave him money, and caused him to be conducted out of the Franch-County: He gave him a Passport to pass unto Bresse, and promised him two hundred Crowns: But, for that Renond said, the recompense was not equal to the service he undertook, he swore by the Prayer Book, which he held in his hand, that if he did that which he commanded him, he would give him an Office, which had two hundred and forty pound yearly fee: That if he died, he would cause to be given to his wife and children, thirty pound Sterling of yearly rent, and a house, in the Town of Salins, for their retreat: and in a word, that they would do him more good than they had promised him. There remained no more to do, but to make the King's Epitaph, but as they were upon this discourse, the signor of Erbeins arrives, who broke them off, and the Prince caused Renond to retire, who went down into a chamber, whereas the tonnell of the chimney did answer to that of the Prince, by the which he might easily understand what they said: After that Erbeins had discoursed with the Prince of the affairs of war, and that Dijon, Chalons, and Beaune were ready to yield unto the Archduke: n The Towns of Dijon, Beaune, and Verdun revolted against the King. The Lord of Chaumont, who was Governor, recovered them. Phil. de Com. saith that it was for want of judgement in the enemy, and th●t God gives wisdom and g●uernment to that part which he will support. He heard the Prince say unto him: You have brought us a man which is very fit for us, for the boxes which you know: Whereupon Erbeins said unto the Prince, you have done ill to discover this business, to one that is a Frenchman. If you (said he) have promised to make him a Knight, the King will make him an Earl: He hath Knighted a Scullion, and given him great means, Danger wherein Renond was. for that he discovered the like enterprise: And what remedy then (said the Prince.) You must cast him into the River (answered Erbeins) to the end he discover not any thing: That were ill done (said the Bastard of Orange) seeing that he was taken in Savoy, in the habit of a Merchant, and not of a Soldier; that he was a poor man, who had never spoken unto Soldier but with his hat in his hand. This first instrument being made unprofitable, the Prince did not for all that desist from his bad intent, his revenge was so inflamed with rage and despite against the King, who had contemned him as a person that could neither do him good nor harm. o The King, saith Phil. de Com. did not think that the Prince of Orange had had courage, or means, to rebel the Country of Bourgundy, as he did a great part of it. The Prince demanded whom they should then employ for the Boxes: I will answered Erbeins, give you one of my servants called Catherine, a very faithful man, who can both go and speak, and knows many in Court, and hath been the Winter passed at Arras, Paris, & at Tours. They sent for this Catherine, who promised to do any thing they would. Then the Prince of Orange commanded the Bastard of Orange to carry Renond to Salins, and to have a care lest he escaped. You shall do well (said Catherine) for if he go into France, I will not go, for that he will discover all 〈◊〉 designs, and knowing me he will accuse me: He had reason to think thereon, for if he had been discovered, they would not have given him any time to repent. p There are crimes, whose example is so necessary, as they that are apprehended must be presently dispatched. In other excessesit is good that repentance go before the punishment, and a good Prince: Non poena semper, sed saepius poenitentia contentus esse debet: Not always with punishment, but oftentimes must be content with repentance: Tacit in vit. Agtic. The Bastard of Orange said, that he would put such irons on his feet that he should not be well able to fly: The next day, Renond was led to Salins, and lodged in a base chamber at Chastelbellin, where he had fetters put on him, weighing above an hundred weight. The Bastard of Orange went to Beaune q The Process verbal shows that the Country made great joy for the reduction of Beaune, 〈◊〉 these words. And in making the said feasts and dance, he heard them that were in the chamber, under the Tower where this deponent was, cry out with a loud voice, Long live Burgundy and of the rest one: Thus they cried three or four times, and so did the rest that were in Castelbellin. to reduce it to the archdukes obedience, Renond a prisonerin Irons, put to ransom. which done he returned to Chastelbellin, and told Renond that he was his prisoner taken in the wars, and that he must put himself to ransom, Renond could do no other thing but weep, saying, that the Prince of Orange had promised him otherwise. The Bastard of Orange told him, that it was no place for tears, and that water was dear, that he should resolve either of a ransom, or to be cast down headlong from the top of the rock; Seing no remedy, he promised to pay two hundred Crowns by Midsummer day, and if he did not acquit himself within the time he should pay the double. He found himself in this perplexity the first day of May, which was the feast of Saint james, and Saint Philip, he made his Vow unto our Lady of Puy in Velay, and to Saint james in Galicia, promising to go thither to pay his Vows, if he escaped out of that prison, and not to see wife nor children until he revealed the Prince of Orange's practice unto the King. His prayer being ended, God (who hath always had a particular care of the King and Realm of France) gave him means to break his Irons, Renond delivered miraculously and to get out of prison, to advertise the King of these matters, so much importing the safety of his person, and of his estate: r The Process Verbal saith; that after that Renond had made his Vow, his Ironsopened, and he found means to escape▪ by two lances which he had tied one unto another; and by cords which he found there. The fear he had to be followed made him to take the way to Lausanne, from whence he went with all speed to Bourges, where hearing of the Lord of Bouchages being, and that he was one of the King's principal Servants, he addressed himself unto him, to tell him all that he had learned of the Prince of Orange. The Lord of Bouchages sent for Raoul Pichon, councillor to the King, to hear this Declaration, and caused a verbal Process to be made, the which was enrolled in the chamber of Accounts of Dauphiné, bearing date the eight and twentieth of May, one thousand four hundred seventy and eight, Signed Imbert of Baterne, R. Pichon. From this Discourse we see another spring. The signor of Erbeins, The like attempt discovered and punished. to let the Prince of Orange understand, that he had inconsiderately made choice of a Frenchman, to be the bearer of his boxes, and the executioner of his designs; for that, beside the bonds of God, and nature, which bond him to his Prince; and not to hold any thing which he should promise against him: f Unjust promises must not be kept, it is justice to fly from them; and injustice to observe them▪ If they were extorted by force they bind not, for his will that promised was not free. The estate wherein he was, when he promised, dispensed him of his promise: he said unto him, that if Renond did it for the hope of recompense, he should have more from the King, then from any other, and that he had made a Scullion of his Kitchen, or one that did make sauce, a Knight, for that he had revealed the like enterprise. The Chronicle maketh no mention of this kind of recompense: but it reports the service, which a Sauce-maker, called Colynet, did unto the King. Princes have Instruments for the good and evil which they do, they find men for all affairs, whose spirits are apt to undertake any thing, & to dispatch them of men by ways unknown to generous minds, and unworthy of Princes. t To practise against the life of an enemy by any other means than by Arms, is unworthy of a Prince: Adgandestre Prince of the Chattels promised the Senate to put Arminius to death if they would send him poison, the Senate answered: Non fraud neque occultis, sed palam & armatum populum Romanum hostes suos ulcisci, qua gloria aequabat se Tiberius priscis imperatoribus, qui venenum in Pyrrhum regem vetuerant, prodiderantque That the Romans were not revenged of their enemies by fraud and secret practices, but by Arms, in which glory Tiberius was equal to the ancient Emperors, who did forbid poison to be given to King Pyrrhus, and did bewray it. The Duke of Bourgundy had some, who practised a Merchant called Ithier, to have the king poisoned upon promise of 50000. Crowns, to distribute among them that should execute this damnable design, but they found that the gate, by the which they would have it pass was shut, and had never been opened to any such thoughts, whereas they found nothing but misery, for we may say, to the glory of fidelity, that such detestable conspiracies did never enter into the kitchen. Ithier corrupted one called Hardy, and he dealt with a maker of Sauce in the King's Kitchen, to whom he promised twenty thousand Crowns. This Sauce-maker resolved suddenly to cry quittance with this wretch, that came to tempt him, preferring the duty of his fidelity before all other considerations of profit, making show to hearken to this bargain, he told him, that he could not do any thing without Colinet, who was also an Officer, and that it was necessary to put the poison into his hands: Hardy delivered it unto them and instructed them how to use it. The King advertised of this poisoning. They presently advertised the King, who caused this poisoner to be apprehended and examined in his presence, to know the motives and the effects of his design; He confessed the whole matter: The King went from Amboise (where he was at that time) to go to Paris, and caused Hardy to be conducted by john Blosset, Captain of an hundred Archers of the Dauphin's Guard, who carried him in chains in a little Cart, to deliver him to the Provost of Merchants of Paris, to do justice of him: The came and received him in the Suburbs, and caused him to sit in a chair, made fast in the Cart, to the end the people of Paris might see him, not so much to the shame of this miserable wretch, as to the confusion of the Duke of Bourgundy, for that it was publicly spoken, that he had commanded this foul attempt. They made his Process, Hardy condemned to be quartered. u Execution of john Hardy, on Thursday the 30 of March 1474. The Chronicle saith, that his head which had been set up at the Grieve, was presently stolen away. and he was condemned to be quartered, his four quarters to be carried to four frontier Towns, with an Inscription, containing the cause of his punishment, his houses to be razed, and the place where he was borne to be ruined and never more to be built. A holy, and just judgement: If the places for that they have been innocently guilty of any heinous villainy, have been termed wicked; they that have suborned and suffered these Murderers, and poisoners, of Kings, should be held most cursed and execrable. x The place whereas julia caused her Caroche to pass upon the body of Servius Tullius her father, slain by Tarquin. The gate by the which the 300. Fabians went forth to battle where they died. The place of Battle whereas Claudius' father to Drusus was sick. The place where the Vestales were interred alive: were termed Execrable. The fear of the like punishment did not divert an Englishman, called john Bon from the like thoughts, who undertook to poison the Dauphine. john Bon an Englishman condēne●. He was condemned to lose his head, by a sentence given by the Provost of Paris. Being at the place of execution, he desired to have his wife and children recommended unto the King: The King's pleasure was, that the loss of his life should be moderated with the loss of his eyes: He accepted of this commutation of punishment, which did not bind him, but to go accompanied, y There is not any affliction but doth still find some thing to comfort it. Asclepiades being grown blind, said that blindness brought him this content to go always accompanied, causing 〈…〉 fe to be guided by a young boy. and kept him from a passage where man finds no Companion, and is without hope ever to return. My opinion is, that the King did it in remembrance of some services, which this miserable man had done him in the discovery of some of the Earl of Armagnackes practices, as hath been formerly said. God dispersed these wicked practices which the Prince of Orange had against the King's life, Taking & recovery of Beaune & Verdun but his designs upon the Towns of Bourgondy succeeded: He made Beaune revolt; and as we have said, the bastard of his house entered into it. Verdun did also declare itself against the King: the Towns of Mons-aujon, Chastillon upon Seine, Semur, and Bar upon Seine, followed this rout. Chaumont, Lieutenant general of the Country, recovered them as speedily as they had been taken, Rebels punished. and caused them to be severely punished which had been chief actors in this revolt. z The punishment of a rebellion should be● done speedily & sharply, as Q. Fuluius did upon the Capuans, of whom he put 80 to death without acquainting his Colleague therewith, or expecting any commandment from the Senate. Ita ad Capuam res compositae consilio ab moni part laudabili severe & celeriter in maxim noxios animaduersum. Thus at Capua matters being settled by a commendable resolution, the chief offenders were speedily & severely punished Tit. Liu. lib. 16. Their enemies wanted judgement, and Phil. de Commines refers that to the difference of men, which should be imputed to the secret judgements of the eternal Providence, for the favour or disgrace of Princes and states. The Memorials of the Franch-county, written by Golu, accuse the covetousness of the Emperor Frederick, and the weakness of his Garrisons that were in Bourgondy. Giury compounded for Beaune at forty thousand Crowns. The Bailiff of Auxois yielded Semur. William of Vaudré was taken prisoner at Seurre, and Simon of Quingey, and Cottebrune at Verdun. The Prince of Orange's attempts (who was retired to Basill) had not lasted so long in that province, Sigismond Archduke of Austria inconstant, gives his estates to his Nephew. if the Archduke Sigismond had not been an Actor, and quit the King's Alliance. He was suddenly incensed, and as soon pacified. a Lightness, Cho●er, and Facility do not well become a prince: either he is feared more than he ought, or esteemed less than be desires. Such was Vitellius, Quem subitis offensis, aut in tempestivis blanditii● mutabilem contemnebant, 〈…〉 as inconstart, they did contemn and fear, for his sudden choler and unseasonable flattery. These humours do never encounter in a Prince; but they make him contemptible, or fearful: He suffered himself to be governed by his servants, who abused him as well in making him fear, as in putting him in hope. By the counsel of some, he had followed the King against the Duke of Bourgondy▪ by advice of others, and in the worst estate, he leaves the King for his Nephew the Archduke Maximilian, and sends Germane Troops into Bourgondy, under the command of Simon of Quingey, dispossesseth himself of all his estates, and reserves only a pension. b Sigis●●nd, Archduke of Austria having no children by his first nor second marriage, gave his goods to the Archduke maximilian his Nephew. Phi. de Commin 〈◊〉 saith, that he suffered himself to be governed by his servants, and there was never any great judgement nor honour in him. What was lost in the battle of Guinegaste, was recompensed with the winning of the Town of Air, Lewis of Bourbon, Bishop of Liege, slain. and the troubles which happened at Liege Lewis of Bourbon, Bishop of Liege, brother to john and Peter of Bourbon, was grown old in the hatred which the Liegeo is bare him the which took deep root in their memories, when as they remembered, that to revenge his private injuries, the Duke of Bourgondy had reduced them to that misery and desolation which they yet felt. William de la March, called the Boar of Ardenne, who had been bred up by the hand of this Prince, and who was a pensioner to the house of Bourgondy, undertook to kill him, and to make his son Bishop. To execute this design, he gathered together a troup of the most desperate wretches that were in Paris, (a Forest at that time where such savage beasts did lurk,) c 〈…〉 with the honour of their villainies, and the fear of justice. Therascally mullitude in Towns are always dissolute, and they principally, quibus ob egestaten● & flagitia, maxima peccandi necessitas, who for then poverty or vil●anies, are forced to sin. he gave them red Cassocks; and for a Badge, a Boars head upon the sleeve, with whom he went into the Country of Liege. He acquainted some of Liege with his Conspiracy, Treason of the Liegeois. who promised to serve him. They presently took an Alarm to see these Boars in their Vines; they let the Bishop understand, that he must not suffer them there, and that if he would go forth to chase them away, every man would follow him. This good prelate, whose courage could not defer such an occasion to another season, and did think that Palms were not planted for cowards, resolved as suddenly as he was entreated, to go out against these thieves. Being ready to charge, the Liegeois abandoned him, so as he was compassed in by these Boars, and barbarously slain by their Leader, who caused him to be stripped stark naked, and to be carried to the place before the Cathedral Church. Soon after Maximilian caused the head of lafoy March to be cut off. Although the King held a Peace difficult betwixt Provinces so near, so interressed, and so accustomed to pick quarrels, as it is a hard matter for two Neighbours, Lewis seeketh a peace of Maximlian. which have many desputes, to be long at peace; d Neighbour Estates have always some disputes: The Romans and Carthaginians, continued five hundred years in peace; but when they began to extend their frontiers, and to draw near one unto another, suspicion. jealousy, and envy of either's greatness thrust them into war. yet the loss of the battle at Guinegaste, made him resolve to seek it. A resolution which could not grow, but from great wisdom and policy, having duly considered, that it was necessary, honourable, and profitable for him so to do. A Prince that is already well stricken in Age, who sees great discontentments amongst great men, and hears great complaints amongst the meaner, and hath his Children very young, should no more think of War, if he could not draw unto him the advantage which he desired; and considering that the Footmen had all the honour of the battle, he made the body of an Army of ten thousand Foot, two thousand pioneers, six thousand Swisses, and a thousand five hundred horse to employ upon all occasions. This establishment must be reckoned among the examples of his good Government, or rather among the Instruments which he could handle to reign powerfully. If he had made this Order sooner, New discipline for Soldiers. or if King Charles the eighth, and Lewis the twelfsth had continued it, France had not felt those wants and weakness which have been a let that her designs have not been equal to her courage. Estates depend not so much upon a good form of Government, e Estates may well be governed either by one alone, or by few heads, or by many, but their strength or weakness depends upon private order; and especially of Martial discipline, whose effect is so great, as it preserves even Tyrants in the estate which they hold, whereof the house of the Ottomans is a precedent. as of Force: Military Discipline is the foundation of an Estate. The grounds of Warlike Discipline are Footmen; and all Footmen which are not drawn from the Princes own Estates, cause more discommodity than profit. Rome which in her greatness (that is to say, Dangerous to employ foreign soldiers from Numa to the Emperor Augustus) f Footmen have given unto the Romans the Empire of● all the world. Fron Numa to Augustus, they had but one year a suspension of Arms, & have always carried the war into the Enemy's country, how far off soever. had fought five hundred and fifty Battles, and had won four hundred thirty seven with her own Troops, held that footmen were the sinews of her forces, and hath not found a more certain cause of her ruin, then to have mingled strangers in their legions. Strangers draw away the chief treasure of the realm, their affection and fidelity is not so natural, as they care more than the subjects to preserve the estate: They dis-band for want of pay, and sometimes they bandy against them of the Country with more fury than against their enemies: they will prescribe a law when they are ready to decide a good action; and like unto Ravens, rather follow the prey, then accompany the Wolves which pursue and take it. g The Fable saith, that the Ravens having accompanied the Wolves at the pursuit of some beast to devour it, would have their share when it was taken, saying, that they had assisted them, and always followed them: you were not for us (answered the Wolves) it was the prey that drew you thither, & if it had succeeded ill, and that we had been taken, you would not have spared our own flesh. Experience teacheth many examples to confirm this Maxim. Those estates which have no other support but by foreign forces, suffer great discommodities in time of peace, and receive small profit and succours in time of war: they are always declining to their ruin, the which is not deferred, but by the slackness of the occasion, or the small courage of the assailant. Men of war are not ordained but to preserve or conquer, Observations of the advantages of Footmen over horsemen. to defend or take towns, and to decide by a battle the rights and differences of Princes and Estates. In all these occasions footmen are more proper than horsemen. A town which is kept by horsemen, receiveth such discommodity for provision, as oftentime it is more priest by necessity within, then by the enemies without: and always horse do more trouble a h Philip. father to Alexander, seeking to camp in a place of advantage for the soldiers, but unfit for the horse, cried out, that it was a great pity of our life, which must be subject to the commodity of horse. General to feed, then to discipline his soldiers. At assaults of places horsemen are of small service, if they leave not their horse, & serve on foot. At battles, footmen which have means to entrench and cover themselves, and have good store of pikes, are always more than equal to horsemen. It is true that the Cavallary hath great advantages, for a horseman hath better legs than his own, he chargeth more furiously, and hath more force, heat and breath then a footman. Footmen are levied more speedily, are led and lodged with more facility, are paid and entertained more commodiously, fight more safely & courageously, and rally themselves again more i We are not now in the time of the old wars, when as Gentlemen only gave themselves to the exercise of Arms. At this day every man hath liberty to seek it without the Realm, and many are grown Soldiers, and never went out of their Village easily: For the facility of the levy, it is so great in France, since that the civil wars have armed the people, as there is not any parish where you find not Soldiers which have carried Arms, and others which are resolved to run that fortune. The Provinces are so peopled, France cannot be disarmed of footmen. as if the King should lose as many battles as the mightiest conqueror could give him, yet could he not disarm him of Footmen. Add hereunto, that horse fit for the war, are always dear, and rare, and that we ever find more men than horses. k The Romans, to repulse the Gauls, who had seized upon some Towns of Lombardy, made a description of their forces, and of the number of men fit for the war: they found six hundred thousand foot, and threescore thousand horse. Touching the pay, we know that the difference is great betwixt the pay of a man at Arms, and that of a footman; and that it is easier to raise a thousand foot, than a hundred horse. For the facility of lodging, footmen cover and entrench themselves in field, and fortify themselves within a Town: if they be lodged in a village, they lie close to defend themselves, and not scattering like unto horsemen. For the advantage of fight, it is true that horsemen have sooner done; ˡ but also we have seen battles lost by the disorder and violence of the horse, who can hardly keep their ranks, nor recover them being lost; and oftentimes they fall upon the foot, and break them with more disorder than the Elephants of the Ancients, m One of the greatest forces of the Armies of the East, consisted of Elephants: They must of necessity (saith M. de Montagne) give great credit to their beasts and to their discourse, abandoning unto them the head of the Battle: wher●s the least stay they could make for the greatness and heaviness of their bodies, & the least amazement that had made them turn head upon their own men, was sufficient to overthrow all. to whose discretion they did commit the head of the Army. A Footman fights more surely, and more resolutely than a horseman. In what perplexity doth a valiant man fight upa fainthearted jade? and what is a Coward, or a madman upon a courageous horse? How many have we seen carried away by their horses, into dangers not foreseen, who can no more stay them in the flight, then in the heat of their fight? n They that speak of war with knowledge and experience, hold, that commonly when as the Cavallary advanceth to give the first charge, it is the cause of the loss of the victory, returning often upon their foot, and striking a great amazement into them, for that having conceived a great opinion, and assured themselves often to win the Battle, they find themselves suddenly deceived; and therefore the Rout of the Cavallary is always full of amazement. For the commodity of the leading, be it to march, lodge, or fight, the footmen pass in all places, whereas the Cavallary comes often into such difficult passages, as the men at Arms should rather desire flying, then ordinary horses. Speaking hereof with a brave French knight, very well known in these last wars, and who hath yet command amongst the King's men at Arms, he said unto me, That the discommodity of forage had been so great, as the horsemen were sometimes fifteen, or twenty leagues from the camp to supply their wants: That some went to war with five or six Horse, who fought but upon one, and yet the people were forced to feed these unprofitable beasts, with their keepers: That ten horsemen had more Carts than a company on foot. And if his advice might purchase credit, they should therein imitate the Spaniards, who give honours, recompenses, and marks of virtue to the foot, and the contrary to horsemen. o It is more honourable in Spain to be among the foot companies then among the Horse. The contrary is observed at Rome. Valerius the Consul said unto his troup: Agite juvenes prestate virtute peditem, ut honore & ordini prestatis. Go to young men, excel the footmen in virtue, as you do in honour and order. Liv. The Horsemen were the loss of the battle at Courtray, and the footmen defeated the Earl of Flanders before Gand. The horsemen seeking to have all the honour of the battle at Poitiers, came to charge before that the foot companies had means to join, this was the cause that the English, whose force consisted wholly in Foot, won the Battle. At the Battle of Guinegaste, the Archduke Maximilians Horsemen abandoned the Foot, who stood firm, and kept the place of Battle. We have formerly seen, that the men at Arms at the Battle of Montlehery, who seemed as if they would have supported heaven with their Lances, fell upon their own Archers, and trod them under their feet, doing them more harm than their enemies. It is true, that whatsoever was fortunate and glorious in this Encounter, came from the Arrierban, or Gentlemen of Horseback of Dauphiné, who made the Forward under the command of the Baron of Sausonnage, who was slain there: for of four hundred Gentlemen which died in this Battle, there were four and fifty of Dauphiné. Before the troubles, their names and Arms were to be seen in a Chapel in the Convent of jacobins at Grenoble. Yet for all this discourse we may not banish horsemen out of Armies; if Rome p To them that say, the Romans made their Conquest by Footmen, we may answer, that in like manner, the Parthians increased their Empire by horsemen: And that M. Antony having vanquished them in eighteen battles, found his victories unprofitable, by reason of the inequality of Horsemen. Plut. could have equalled them of France in Courage and Resolution, she had sooner carried the proud Title of Queen and Mistress of Nations. But she was forced to make a virtue of necessity: for meaning in the beginning to have all the people fit to serve in War, and all having not means to be Horsemen, her chief force was settled in Footmen. Romulus' q Romulus' made but three Sentries for hundred of Horsemen. Tullus Hostilius added ten troops, either of two & thirty Horse. Tarqvinius ordained, that the number should be of three hundred: Servius disposed the people into five bands, which made 93 Centuries, whereof 18 were for horsemen. having divided the people into thirty Tribes, made but three hundred horsemen. And to prove this poverty, we find that when as Lucius Tarqvinius, of a Patrician race was made Constable by Lucius Quintius Cincinatus, he had always fought on foot, for that he had no means to mount himself on Horseback. Horsemen are very necessary in divers occasions, Necessity of Horsemen. which cannot be otherwise performed: If it be needful to make a long journey, to surprise the Enemy, seize upon, approach, cut off, or hold passages, recover the Cannon, invest Towns, keep the Enemy in Alarm, to command the fieild, to make a spoil, to cut off victuals from the besieged: all this Horsemen do, and more readily, and more effectually than Footmen. oftentimes they have recovered that which the Foot have lost; they alone have saved the Estate: r Sext. Tempa●●●us seeing the Volsques come to the charge against him, spoke these words: Nisi haec armata cohors sistat impetum hostium actum est d● Imperio. If this armed troup did not ●●ay the Enemy's fury, the Emperor were undone. and we know well, that the Parthians have done as great Exploits with their Horse, as the Romans with their Foot; but it is certain, that the men at Arms have always been beaten when as they encountered Footmen, and therefore we often see, that the Roman Horsemen left their Horses to fight and defeat Footmen, and took them again to pursue them when they were in flight. s Titus Largius at the Lake of Regilla, and the Consul Valerius fight against the Sabins, caused their Horsemen to light: And when as Largius had defeated the Latins, he caused them to mount again to pursue them. Equitibus admoti equi, ut prosequi hostem possunt. The like hath been observed in the English and Bourgondian Armies. But to return to the Camp which we have left; It was not sufficient to have made this Levy of Men of War, to keep the Field, and to serve upon any occasion, if they had not added two necessary things to make it profitable, Entertainment and Safety: for if it had always lain open to the injuries of the Air, and the enterprises of the first Assailant; or if it had been forced to dis-band, to seek for Victuals, it had been like unto the Pyramids of Egypt, of great show and ostentation, and of no profit. The King provided for the first, imposing a Tax upon his Subjects, which Philip de Commines calleth Excessive and Cruel, t The entertainment of the soldiers of the camp, cost the king a hundred and fifty thousand pound sterling yearly. necessity justifieth all kinds of impositions: for all that is necessary to the State, is justice; and all that is profitable, is necessary. Necessity goeth beyond the Law; u Necessity teacheth Princes to command the laws, and dispenseth them from observing the Laws, it doth excuse that which they do, Necessitas, magnum humanae imbecillitatis patrocinium, omnem legem frangit. Necessity a great support of human weakness, breaks all laws. Sen. and when the Prince is priest, he doth more consider that which he doth, then that which he should do: his justice goes of another train, then that of Princes; and those things which seem to be against the laws, are not done, but to make the laws live and continue. Wherefore, Armies are not to be entertained without tribute. whoso will draw service from any thing, must make it last: for that which is not for ever, cannot always profit, and he that will have it last, must make the means which entertains it lasting: x The Tributes by the which the means to make war, are maintained, may not be touched. Augustus' ordained a perpetual and certain revenue for the entertainment of Soldiers, out of the twentieth penny of Legacies and Successions. After his death, the Senate entreated Tiberius to extinguish it. Dion saith that he would not do it, and Tacitus gives this reason. Quod militare aerarium eo subsidio niteretur, that the treasure of the war did 〈◊〉 consist of that aid. The quiet of Provinces cannot be without Arms, and Armies; Arms are not to be found, nor Armies entertained without Money; and the Money which is to be employed in public necessities, is not drawn, but from private commodities. The Senate would have Tiberius suppress the twentieth penny imposed (by Augustus) upon Legacies, and Successions: But this wise Prince would not yield unto it, for that it was only affected for the entertainment of his Soldiers. For the second, he caused a great company of Tents, and Pavilions to be made, to lodge his Soldiers dry, and Carts to close them in, and entrench them. All this would have been found weak against a mighty Enemy, and against a mighty attempt, Lewis the eleventh, strong in Artillery. if he had not placed Artillery. I do not hold it a small matter the commendation which Philip de Commines gives him to have been always well furnished of Ordinance in his Armies, and better than ever King of France: for the great designs of Princes are not executed by handy strokes. His Chronicle saith, that about the end of the year 1478. He caused twelve great Bombards to be made, with a great number of Iron bullets in the Forges of Creil, and many of stone, in the quarries of Peronne. Since that men grew so ingenious not to imitate Nature; 〈…〉. as Xeuxis in his Vine, Appelles in his Venus, Memnon in his Statue, Miron in his Cow, Architas in his Dove, Sapor in his Heaven of Glass, Mont-royall in the Eagle of Wood, and in his Fly of Iron, Albert the great in his brazen head, but to offend and destroy: Artillery invented. that men's wits have given wings and fire to Iron, to hasten death more speedily; that a Germane Monk y The invention of Gunpowder and Ordinance was found out by Bartholomew le Noi●, a Germane Monk. The year is diversly reported: some date it 1330. others 1334, and others 1380. went down into Hell, to find fire there for the ruin of Man, as Prometheus had mounted up unto Heaven to fetch that there, wherewith he thought to give them life; and that Europe hath known that which was not in use, Nothing strong without Cannons. but to unknown Nations. z The Portugals found Pieces of ordinance in the realm of Pegu, which the Chinois had brought thither 2500. years before: and the Chinois attribute this invention to an evil spirit, who taught it to their first King, called Vitey, to defend himself against the Tartars, above a thousand years before the birth of Christ. Artillery hath been a mark of the power and greatness of Estates, which cannot be held strong, nor assured, if they be unfurnished, seeing that nothing can be gotten, nor preserved without it. Artillery shows those Forts to be weak, which the Ancients held impregnable; there is not any but fears this thunder: and if they overthrow the Attempts, and consume the means and patience of the assailant, Forms of war changed. it is only by the Cannon: It works such terrible effects, and so far from the use of the Engines in old time, as it hath changed a Artillery is the cause that war is at this day more judiciously managed then in former times, when as quarrels were ended by battles. Every man seeketh to win time, and to force his enemy to necessity. They trust nothing to fortune, that may be committed to wisdom: they govern their designs with longer time, and more safety. all the old forms of Sieges and battles. Gunpowder and wildfire are multiplied in so many sorts, and are grown to such perfection, as the war which in former times was made only with Iron, is now done with Artillery and Powder. They cause the Cannon to march in the head of the Army, All yieldeth unto the Cannon. and that holdeth the rank of Elephants: a Elephants have been employed in the head of Armies. Siquidem Tirio servire sedebam An● ibali: When I did sit to serve Hannibal of Tire. and Chariots armed with Sythes, which did cut in sunder all they encounter. They give them the honour to begin those great battles, whereupon depend the healths of Estates; they open passages, and make new: all that come by one way, scatter themselves into a dozen, because they would not encounter them: nothing preserveth itself, but to receive death, or fight. They are absolute judges of the doubs of victory; and if a battalion of foot presents itself so strong, so well armed with Pikes, and so covered with Muskets, as they mock at all the attempts of a victorious Prince, and merit that glorious name of an Armed wall, b Dion calls the fourth Legion, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. See what hath been spoken thereon in the first Book. they must at the sight of the Cannon yield their Arms, or suffer the pain of their rashness, and see themselves sooner overthrown, than Grass or Corn is mown down and reaped. c The terrible effects of Artillery is wittily represented by the signor of Bartas in his Poëme of the Law. Even as when many Cannons shot at once, Affront an Army; th' earth with thunder groans: Here flies a broken arm, and breaks another, There stands th' one half of a halued body; th' other Falls down a furlong thence: here flies a shield, And deepe-wide windows make they in the field. It is Ordinance then, which maketh a Prince equal to thundering jupiter, who maketh the Rocks to leap, and overthrows the Giants under the mountains which they had raised against him: The Brazen-mouthes which vomit forth Iron, winged with fire, show the greatness, and augment the reputation of them that make them speak. All the Trumpets of their glory sound not so loud, and are not heard so far as these Flutes. They be the most certain Titles of the right of Arms, and are not subject to contradiction; so the charge is Royal, and there is not any Prince, how great and powerful soever, but in process of time will find it insupportable. They writ, that King Henry the second, in his voyage to Germany, never made Canonshot, but cost him three hundred Crowns. d Blaise of Vigenere ● saith, That in the voyage of K. Henry, in the year 1552. at Danwilliers, & juoy, places of small importance, which notwithstanding endured thousands of Canonshot, there was not any one shot but cost the King, (accounting all the equipage & furniture belonging to the Artillery) two or three hundred Crowns; so as a dozen of those balls came to a thousand six hundred crowns. All the Instruments and Engines of War, known unto the Antiens, have been contemned to bring Artillery in use, which hath all the effects and force of Bows, Arrows, Rams, Slings, Crossbows, Scorpions, and those terrible Engines which did raise up men into the Air, carried away whole Galleys, heaped up and carried with great violence, Rocks, Millstones, and Men, e The Cross-bow was an Engine which carried far off, and with great violence. Sometimes they did put in men alive, or dead. Pelagius, a young man of Spain, seeing himself forced to yield to the infamous & execrable lust of Almansor, struck him on the face, wherewith being incensed, he caused him to be cast by one of his Slings, beyond the River of Betis, or Guadalquibir, in the year 895. jussit ●um funda machinali trans Betim mitti scopulosis rupibus illidendum. whom they made to leap beyond the Walls, the Rivers, and the Mountains of those places which they would make subject to ruin. But as Inventions are not perfect in the beginning, the first Pieces of Ordinance were all of Iron, Inventions at the first rude and imperfect. with bands and hoops of the same, so heavy and ill made, so difficult to govern, so ill mounted, and of so bad a boar, as they had more show than execution, and did only serve to amaze them that would be amazed with the noise. f All Mechanic Inventions are rude and gross in their Infancy, as appears in Artillery and Printing. The Batteries of those times were ridiculous, they did only serve for an unprofitable expense of powder. They shot● a far off, and at random, and five or six volleys in a whole day. The Chronicle reports an example which shows the little industry and address that was even in the Masters of this Art: for all the Officers of the Ordinance being gathered together on Monday before Twelfth day, Bombard made at Tours. in the year 1448. in the field before Saint Anthony's Bastille, to try a great Bombard which the King had caused to be made at Tours; At the first shot it carried an Iron Bullet of five hundred pounds' weight unto the Gibbet at Pont Charenton: They thought it was not well boared, and therefore they would have it cleansed and charged again. The Caster playing the Gunner, scoured it so carelessly, as he left fire in it, so as having charged it anew, and put in his Bullet; the Bombard having no fire set to the touchhole, discharged of itself, blowing up the Caster into the Air into many pieces, which slew (near and far off) two and twenty men, and burnt and maimed many others. g The Chronicle adds, that the pieces of the Casters body were gathered together, and buried in the Church of S. Merry, and that they cried in the streets; Pray unto God for I. Maugue, caster of the Bombard, who is newly dead between heaven & earth, in the service of the king our Lord. Our age more industrious, Ordinance of Brass. and subtle, having caused Brazen Ordinance to be cast, that is to say, a mixture of Tin and Copper, softer and more flexible than Iron: Artillery began to be good in the wars of the Emperor Charles the fift, and of Francis the first, and better under the reign of Henry the second: King Henry the fourth hath brought it to perfection. France could not carry the title of Invincible, before her Arsenals were filled with that, whose want maketh the mightiest Empires weak: She may now brag to have the keys of all the forts of Europe, and that there is not any one, but will stoop and humble itself at the sight of this Thunderbolt, when as at the first word of jupiter, it shall be cast forth by the Eagle which carrieth it, and which only demands where is it? If Christian Princes would have vented out in any other place then in Europe, Death of Mahomet 2. that warlike heat, which turmoiled them to their own ruins, God had given them a goodly occasion to employ, both the Camping Troops of Lewis the 11., and all the forces of other Christian Princes, to the overthrowing of that of the Turks, which was wonderfully shaken by the death of Mahomet h Mahomet the second, Emperor of the Turks, died the the 3d. of May, 1481. in the 52. year of his age. : He died at that time in Nicomedia: Pope Sixtus was so glad, as he appointed three festival days, Sixtus the 4. rejoiceth at the death of Mahomet. in Rome, to thank God for that the Church was delivered from such a scourge: dying he cursed Rhodes thrice: he was a wiser and more politic Prince than any of the house of the Ottomans, as he who in all his conquests added policy to force. He was thick, sinewy, and strong of body, he had an Aquiline nose, and so crooked, as the end hung over his lip: Being young, he began to take delight in the acts of Alexander the Great, promising himself to surpass or equal him. i Mahomet propounded no other pattern unto himself then that of Alexander, not to imitate him in his virtues, but in his ambition. The first day he sat in the Throne of Amurath k Amurath died before the Castle of Croy, in the year 1450. his father (who reigned 32. years, Mahomet surnames himself the Great. a Prince much beloved of his own, and just unto his enemies) he would be surnamed the Great. In show he held Mahomet's Religion, but having been bred up as a Christian by his Mother, who was daughter to Lazarus Prince of Servia, & instructed by her in the Prayers, & Confession of the Christian Faith, when he came to the Empire he found himself in so great a doubt & distraction what he should believe, as he resolved not to believe any thing, caring no more for the Gospel, then for the Alcoran, making a scoff at Mahomet, whom he termed to be a Slave & a Thief, holding his Prophecies for Fables, and his Laws for Impostures. The father dying had recommended unto him his young son Turcin, being but eighteen Months old, and he had promised not to make him feel the rigour of the house of the Ottomans: But as he had no faith towards God, so he kept none with men, l We must not expect any observation of faith, from a Prince that hath no Religion. he forgot this promise, for death had no sooner closed up his father's eyes, but he drew this poor Infant out of the Nurse's arms, to beat out his brains against the wall, saying; that he would not have his father interred alone. Moses, one of his chief servants, entreated him not to defile his hands in his own blood. This reason did not move him, but only to change the executioner, for he commanded him to kill him. Moses caused water to be brought, and powered such abundance into the mouth of this infant, as he did both smother him and drown him. The mother seeing this Inhumanity, filled the house with fearful cries, and made terrible imprecations against Mahomet, who to comfort her said; That she sought in vain to revive her son with tears, that she should conform herself unto the Law, m This custeme is inhuman and unnatural. But we must not expect just Laws in a 〈…〉 it is better to murder some few, then to expose a million to death by the war which should gr●w in the house of the Ottomans, if the great Senior should suffer the Princes of his blood to live: But where is the Law of the God which they adore that approves a Parricide? It is a tyrannous custom, but yet ancient. The successors of Alexander, saith Plutarch, did commonly kill the mothers, wives, and children, with their brethren, it was an ordinary custom. which would not that a Prince coming to the Empire should suffer his brethren to live, for that there could be but one Head in the Empire, nor but one Sun in Heaven: but if she desired any other thing, whatsoever it were, she should be sure to obtain it. This woman changing her grief into revenge, demanded the heart of Moses; Revenge of a woman Mahomet. instantly commanded that he should be bound hand and foot, and with the same knife which she thrust into his body, she opened his side, pulled out his heart, cast it to the dogs, and was therewith pacified. n The Author of the History of Scandeberge, relating this History in the 7th. book, adds these words: A profitable instruction, for those corrupted spirit's, which prostitute their consciences to the furious passions of great men. Amurath had another son of six months old, called Calepin, and foreseeing it would be impossible he should escape death, if he were known for his son, Treachery of Haly Bassa. he recommended him to Haly Bassa entreating him to save him. This Treacherous wretch to purchase the favour of the new Prince, discovered this innocent creature unto him. Calepin was viewed and known by thirty Matrons, and presently strangled. Haly Bassa, did not live long in the impunity of this treachery, for after the taking of Constantinople, Mahomet caused him to be strangled, accusing him of Infidelity, & of Intelligence with the Christians, and that he had diverted his father Amurath from the siege of that City. He carried his designs higher than his Predecessors, he breathed nothing but the Monarchy of the whole world, and the desire of glory made him to love those which keep the glory of Princes from decay, and to favour men of knowledge o Mahomet much delighted in Histories and Historiographers favouring john Maria of Vicenza, for that he wrote the Persiam wars against Vssan Cassan, in the Turkish and Italian tongues. against the intention of his Lawgiver, who the better to keep under the minds of men, and to make them subject to the yoke of servitude, did forbid them the knowledge of learning: He caused to be written in the Arabian tongue, the lives of great Captains, and especially that of Alexander, whom he took for his Pattern; but he had not his generosity in battles, nor his moderation in victories: He used it more cruelly, Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople, & other places. when as at the taking of Constantinople, he caused the head of the Emperor Constantine to be carried in mockery through out his whole Army, and troops of men to be slain like sheep. The most apparent which were retired into Saint Sophia's Temple p The Temple of S. Sophia, which had been built by the Emperor justinian, was spoiled of the treasure, and precious relics, which Constantine the Emperor had preserved so dearly: It was made a Brothel-house, and a Stable for horses. being brought before him as he was at meat, he gave himself that cruel content, to see their heads fly off under the hangman's sword. When as he took Trebizond he gave his word to the Emperor David Comnene, and to his two sons, he led them in triumph to Constantinople, with the chief Noblemen, their wives and children, but this was but to add unto the infamy of their death the quality of their misery, and to make the spectacle more solemn, causing them to be publicly executed. At the taking of Chalcide, q Mahomet besieged Chalcide in Negrepont, in th● year 1470. He took it in 30. days & lost 40000. men. it was a capital crime to pardon any man being above twenty years old: He caused some Noblemen of Albania to be fleed by piece-meal, and caused this barbarous inhumanity to continue fifteen days, to the end he might have time to taste the sweetness which he took in this cruelty. He besieged the Castle of jaisse in Bossina, the King yielded by composition, that he should carry away all that was within it, but there was no faith kept with him, for he caused him to be bound unto a Tree, and to be shot to death, reproaching his avarice unto him, that he had rather save himself with his Treasure, then with his Honour. r There is nothing more shameful and dishonourable to a Prince, then to yield without defence, or danger. They that bend without blows are more worthy of blame and reproach, than they that do their endeavours to resist courageously, Thucydides in his admonition to the Athenians. He had employed Mahomet Bassa in his greatest affairs, and loved him as one that had been bred up with him from his youth. This miserable man had been a Christian, and in his greatest honours did still sigh for Christian liberty; for the greatest have no other title but of slave to the great signor, and although he were advanced above the highest in the State, yet his nature being proud and ambitious, he held himself under all, so long as he should be a slave, and that he should see one or two above him. s An ambitious spirit cannot endure any thing higher than itself. Marcus Crassus is the picture of men of this humour. This foolish ambition had so blinded him as he could not be satisfied to precede so many millions of men, but he held himself in a manner, the last of all, & that all things failed him for that they esteemed him only inferior to two. Plut. in the life of Marcus Crassus. Trusting therefore in his masters love and favour, he made him a sumptuous feast, and at the end thereof offered him fifty thousand Crowns, beseeching him to declare him free, and take from him that odious name of slave, leaving him that of most faithful, and most obliged servant. Pride trodden under foot. Mahomet was so incensed at this demand, as having instantly commanded this Bassa to couch with his belly against the ground, he set his foot divers times upon his neck, until that this miserable wretch began to cry: I thank you my Lord, I thank you, it is too great a happiness for me to live under your feet. To live after this, was to declare himself unworthy to have received life, Generosity of a young boy of Sparta. and to have less courage than that Boy of Sparta, t A young boy of Sparta being forced to serve, said he would not do it. He spoke the word and performed it, for when as they commanded him to bring a Chamberpot he ran his head against the walls: whereupon Seneca saith. Tam prope libertas est, seruit aliquis? Doth any man serve, when as liberty is so near? who seeing himself forced unto a service which his condition should not refuse, cried out ● I will not serve: and in speaking this, he ran his head against the Wall. The siege of Belgrade was the Theatre of his power, and misery, for he never made greater attempt, nor had a mightier Army. He had caused his Cannon to be carried in pieces by his Soldiers, and when he was in Mysia he made divers Pieces to be cast of an unmeasurable greatness, for he took delight in those fearful Engines, having at the Siege of Constantinople employed a Bombard, to move the which, he used the force of two thousand men, and of seventy yoke of oxen. Hitherto fortune had ever smiled on him, now she makes him to receive so sensible an affront, as he is forced to hold them happy, which had been always miserable, for being ignorant of the estate of prosperity, they did with more patience endure their misfortunes: u Adversity is insupportable to the which have always tasted of prosperity: Denis of Corinth, held them happy which from 〈◊〉 infancy had be● unfortunate. L●●io●es relinquet quos numquam fortuna respexit quam quos deseruit: Sen. Fortune 〈◊〉 the more 〈◊〉 whom she hath never fivored, then w●om she hath forsaken. He was shot with an arrow at this siege, by reason whereof he was carried secretly to Varna, to the end it should not daunt the courage of the Turks, and fortify the Christians: Being dressed, he demanded what they did in the Camp: Loss at the siege of Belgrade. to whom it was answered: That all was in disorder, the Bassa of Asia slain, the chief Captains put to rout, forty thousand men dead upon the field, the Ordinance lost, and that they lost time to think to take the Town, which the only presence of john Coruin made impregnable. These words put Mahomet into such a rage, and rage into such despair, as cursing both heaven and earth, Mahomet seeks to poison himself. and blaspheming God, he called for poison to kill himself, which being refused him, he set fire of his Camp, and retired. As the unfortunate event of the Siege of Belgrade, made him to desire death, so that of Rhodes, and an extreme sorrow to see himself vanquished, Mahomet dies for grief. having done nothing but vanquish, made him to die: x Mahomet continued six and forty days before Belgrade, the siege bganne the 13. of june, and was raised the sixth of August. 1456. Despairing then to subdue the Rhodians, and having continued all his fury and violence of war, against that strong rampart of Christendom, four score days, he retired to Damiet in Nicomedia, y It is hard for a Prince to be vanquished, having always been victor. Boleslas the third, King of Polonia, having won 47. battles, and being forced at last against the Russians to fly, died for grief: Cr●m. lib. 6. where he was surprised with so violent a Colic, as he died. Phil. de Comines saith: That every year in the beginning of Summer, one of his legs did swell as big as his body, and did fall again after some time, yet no man could give a reason of this grief: He imputes it to his Gourmandize, and to the punishment of God. It may be it was that leg into the which Bladius, brother to the Prince of Valachia, stabbed his knife, to save his honour from that Goat, who would have forced him to the infamous and unnatural lust of a barren Venus: z Amurath his father would have done the like to twelve young Gentlemen of Polonia, whom he reserved for that abomination, they resolved to kill him, but being discovered, they slew one another to avoid a more miserable life, or a more ignominious and cruel punishment. His cruelties & inhumanities' made some Soldiers of his Guard resolve to kill him in his bed: Excess of Mahomet. The Conspiracy being discovered by a Christian, he caused the Conspirators to be strangled; and from that time he suffered not any one above twelve years old, to enter into his chamber. For these reasons Mahomet is the second of those great Princes, whom Phil. de Commines prefers before all others, to have reigned at one time: King Lewis the eleventh, is the first, and Mathias Huniades the third. The King did not extend his thoughts so far, Designs of the King upon Lorraine and Provence. for seeing himself approach near unto the West of his days, he carried them not into the East; His thoughts were converted upon his nearest neighbours, as upon Lorraine and Provence, he held the Counsels to plant the bounds of his Empire unworthy the courage of a great Prince: He would have France like unto a great Tree, which with the spreading of his branches, and shadow, hindereth the growth of all that is about it. a Augustus was author of this Counsel to Tibe●●us, Coercendi intra terminos impe●ij. To ●●straine the Empire within certain bounds: A hard lesson for a Prince that hath courage: una & ea vetus causa bellandi est profunda cupido Impe●ij & diuitia●um. A great desire of Empire and riches hath been the old and only cause of war. Sal. The Estates of Navarre, Flanders, Britain and Provence, were not more in the power of their Princes then in his, and trembled under his authority, as the Pigeon, or Partridge do under the flight of the Hawk: The designs which he had upon Lorraine and Provence, were executed in adding wisdom to occasion, and force to reason. To understand this proceeding we must know that john Duke of Lorraine, Estate of Lorraine. did first marry Sophia, daughter to Eberhard Earl of Wirtemberg, and had two sons, Charles and Frederick: b The children of Charles Duke of Lorraine were, Ralph, Lewis, Charles, Robert, Frederick Ma●y, married to Enguerand, Earl of Coucy, Margaret to the Earl of Baden, and Isabella to René of Anjou Charles.,, succeeding him in the Duchy of Lorraine, married Margaret daughter to Robert of Bavaria Count Palatine, by whom he had many children which died before him, leaving no heir but Isabell. Frederick Earl of Guise, married Margaret, daughter to Henry Earl of Vaudemont, and had Anthony Earl of Vaudemont. Charles married his daughter Isabel to René Duke of Anjou, Calabria, and Bar, Earl of Provence, King of Sicily, Naples, and jerusalem: Of their marriage came john, Lewis, René, Charles, Elizabeth, Margaret, Yoland, and Anne: After the death of Duke Charles, René would have entered the Duchy, as his wives Inheritance: Anthony Earl of Vaudemont opposed himself by this reason, that the Males exclude the Females. c At the Council of Constance Anthony Earl of Vaudemont demanded of the Emperor Sigismond, the investiture of the Duchy of Lorraine against René of Anjou, for that it was a see of the Empire, whereof women were not capable. The controversy was first ended by Arms, René brtnd the battle of Blanuille and was taken prisoner by Anthony Earl of Vaudemont, who gave him to Philip Duke of Bourgundy, for that he had succoured him; afterwards by the marriage of Yoland daughter to Renè and Isabel, with Ferry son to Anthony of Vaudemont, the Duchy of Lorraine remained in effect to René the Husband of Isabella, Renè of Anjou D. of Lorraine. and in hope to Ferry husband to Yoland. john succeeded in the Duchy of Lorraine; He had married Mary d john and Mary had four children, Isabel who was married to james King of Scotland Rene, john, & Nicholas. daughter to Charles Duke of Bourgundy, who died in her delivery of Nicholas, Marquis of Pont, her third son, who succeeded in the Duchy of Lorraine, after the death of his father and brethren: He left the affection which his Predecessors had borne to France, and fell to the Duke of Bourgundies' party, upon hope that he would give him his daughter in Marriage. Death surprised him in the year one thousand five hundred seventy three in the thoughts of his Marriage, and to renew a second enterprise upon the Town of Mets, e Nicholas Duke of Lorraine would have seized upon Mets by this Stratagem. He caused certain pipes to be put into Wagons, as if they had been full of wine, wherein there were armed, Soldiers. They entered, but seeking to seize upon the gate, the Portcullis was let down, and they all taken and slain in the Town which they would have surprised. the first having been unlucky and unfortunate. Thus there remained not any Male of the Branch of the Dukes of Lorraine, there was not any but that of the younger brethren of Vaudemont and Guise. Branch of Vaudemont. The Law preserved the right of the succession for the daughters of René Duke of Anjou, and of Isabel of Lorraine: Margaret Queen of England being a prisoner pretended not any thing: Yoland widow to Ferry Earl of Vaudemont succeeded: She was mother to many children, and the right of Priority gave the title of Lorraine to René, but Yoland reserved the authority and command unto herself, the which held ten years. René assured himself to be Earl of Provence, as he was Duke of Lorraine, that his Grandfather, by his mother side, disposing of his estate would remember him; but the King had persuaded him to make Charles of main, his Nephew, his Heir, f René Duke of Anjou King of Sicily and Earl of Provence, made his Will at Marseilles the 22. of july. 1474. as he did in all his Estates, except in the Duchy of Bar, the which he gave to René, Duke of Lorraine, with the lands of Lambesque and Orgon. He gave to john his base son, the Towns of S. Reny, S. Canat, and the Marquesat of Pont. They would both have had Provence, but the good old man, to let them know that neither of them should have it, being one day at Table, he cast a shoulder of mutton to two Spannels which fought for it, and at the same instant he let slip a great Dog, which scattered them and took it away. It shall be even so, said René, of your affairs, you contend for that, which one that is more mighty shall carry away. This Emblem, is yet to be seen embossed and engraven on a cha●re, in his Oratory in Saint saviours Church at Aix. This Discourse, grounded upon the very Originals, do contradict the opinion of them that have written, René did not give Provence to the King. g An error of some Writers which have believed that which the chronicle hath spoken of this donation, making express mention that René being at Lion, concluded with the King that after his death, the County of Provence should return directly unto the King, and be united unto the Crown. that René gave the Earldom of Provence to Lewis the eleventh: That the loss of the battle at Gransson, having altered the minds of many Princes towards the Duke of Bourgundy, King René changed that which he had done to institute him his Heir, and that being come to Lion, he flatly renounced his friendship, and did consent that Provence should be united to the Crown, upon condition that the King should set at liberty his daughter, being Widow to Henry the sixth, King of England, and prisoner to Edward, and that for her ransom he should pay fifty thousand Crowns, that in regard of this sum she should renounce the pretensions which she might have unto Provence: That to content those which the children of his daughter Yoland, Duchess of Lorraine might also have, he left them the Lands of Lambesque and Orgon. That to make the King know that the declaration of his Will, came from his heart, with an extraordinary content he wrote this Donation in letters of Gold, with his own hand, and did enrich it with exceeding fair Lymning h We must observe that among the titles which René took in Testament, he adds that of Earl of Provence, Barcelona Forcalqueci, & P●dmont. . The Testament of this Prince speaks not any one word of King Lewis, neither is it found that he made any other, notwithstanding that he came unto him the year following being at Lyon. He named for Executors of his Will: Queen joane of Lavall his wife, Executors of Renes Testament. Charles Earl of maine his first and chiefest Heir, René Duke of Lorraine his second Heir; William of Harcourt, Earl of Tancaruille, Gui of Laval Knight, signor of Louë, and Seneschal of Anjou, john of Vignolle, Deane of Angers, and Precedent of the Assizes and Accounts of Anjou, john Pinot Doctor of Divinty, his Confessor; Peter Le Roy, called Bemanon, Vicechancellor of Angiers; john Buell, Doctor of the Laws, and Master of the Accounts: i Beside the contentment which the observation of these names may give unto those families which have any interest therein, it serves to the curiosity of divers qualities united in the same persons, the which at this time seem incompatible. He would also that if he died in Provence, the Archbishop of Aix, and the great Seneschal of Provence, should be among the Executors of this Testament. The King being advertised that René Duke of Lorraine made practices in Provence, and fearing that by his means King René should change his mind, commanded that they should seize on him, k King's have long hands, and many s●ares to entrap their enemies: It is hard to avoid all their ambushes. and laid so many ambushes for him as it had been impossible for him to escape, if he had not speedily recovered Marseilles, where he embarked; He remained three months at Sea, passed into Sicily, came to Venice, and crossing through the Grisons Country, he arrived in Lorraine, never complaining of the dangers which had run, nor the time which he had lost to make haste and fly from an incensed Prince, whose clemency is nothing but a wearied severity and rigour. René had that misfortune which is insupportable to great courages, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. to survive the greatness of his house: He saw the Crowns, which had honoured the heads of Kings his Predecessors broken. Battle of Rocgueseiche. Lewis Duke of Anjou his Grandfather, second son to King john, had gotten the second Title of Right unto the Crown of Naples, but his bad Government, after the battle which he had won against Ladislas, in the year one thousand three hundred four score and three, l At the battle of Rocqueseich, the troops ●f Ladislas were defeated by them of Lewis, but the victory was not pursued, when as Ladislas spoke of this encounter he said, that the first day after the battle, his enemies had been Masters both of his person and the whole Realm, if they done their endeavours to vanquish, the second day they might have been Lords of the Realm and not of his person, if they had followed the victory: but the third day, they could neither have had his person nor the Realm. whereof he had reaped not the profit which he should have done, forced him to quit Italy, where he had entered with an Army of fifty thousand men, and to retire into France, grieving very much at the unfortunate, and ill success of his enterprises. His son Lewis the third, Duke of Anjou, was also declared King of Naples by the Pope, and instituted Heir by john the second, who had succeeded Ladislas her brother. This Princess, so famous in the history for her unchasteness, was first married to the duke of gelders, and afterwards to james of Bourbon Earl of March, whom she expelled both from her bed and Realm, and this poor Prince made choice of the Convent of Franciscane Friars, joane Queen of Naples died at Cossence. at Besançon for his last retreat, where he caused himself to be carried upon a Sieve, in despite of the greatness and vanities of the world. She died at Cossence without Issue, in the year one thousand four hundred thirty and four, and remaining sole of the house of Duras, she left her heir by Testament René Duke of Bar, brother to Lewis. Alphonso King of Arragon who had been adopted by joane, and afterwards dishinherited by her, Alphonso of Arragon adopted son to joane of Naples. besieged Gaetta: René being freed from prison, m René after the Battle of Bl●niuille in the year 1431. against the Earl of Vaudemont, and the Marshal of Bourgundy, was de●●yned prisoner. whereas the Duke of Bourgundy had held him, armed to go to Naples, whither he had sent Isabella and his children: He was received at Naples like a victorious Prince. The Pope sent him the investiture of the Realm, upon condition that he should pay him a Tribute. This was an occasion of great and extraordinary joy at Naples, being followed with so great honours, as there was reason to hold them for signs of the people's inconstancy. n The people's great joy, & the honours which t●ey do unto their new Princes, are a●vaies followed with some act of their inconstancy. Thus excess of honour is a bad sign of their love. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. in Demet. He went through the Streets on Horseback in a Royal Habit, a Crown upon his head, and a Sceptre in his hand, he made seven and twenty Knights, choosing them from among the chiefest, and most valiant, of the Noblemen, and of his most faithful serseruants. He reigned four years with some happiness; Siege of Naples. but he had Alphonso of Arragon always opposite unto him, who besieged Naples with four thousand horse, and a great number of foot. He entered by an old Conduit of water, which a Mason had discovered unto him, being the same by the which Bellisarius that great Captain had entered it nine hundred and fifty years before, and had expelled the Goths. This City in one night became wholly of the Arragon faction. René left it, and returned into France with much grief for his loss, but with more resolution to live in peace, detesting war and ambition which entertained it. Alphonso died, Ferdinando base son to Alphonso. being much troubled in mind to have broke his word with Lewis of Anjou. o Alphonso had promised by express capitulations, not to trouble Lewis his cousin, in the Realm of Naples: But a Crown is too sweet a morsel not to break with a friend, and to seem too full of conscience: He persuaded Queen joane to adopt him, and she for assurance of this Adoption, delivered into his hands the two Castles of Naples. Ferdinando his son was crowned by Pope Pius the second. john Duke of Calabria son to René, sought to recover the Realm which his father had lost. The Genevois did furnish him with three Ships of burden and ten Galleys, and lent him three score thousand Crowns: He went out of the Port of Marseilles with twelve Galleys, and a promise from King Charles the seventh of greater succour at need. With this Fleet he arrived at Gaette, for the greatest of the Realm came posting to kiss his hand, Battle of Sarmy, won by john Duke of Calabria. and to declare themselves for him. He won the Battle of Sarmy and Saint Fabian, and was wonderfully well served by Count james Picenin, so named for his small stature, who in a little body had an invincible courage, and the forces of a Giant, p We must not so much regard the greatness and stature of the body, as the force and vigour of the mind: Homer saith that Tideus, father to Dyomedes, was little, but warlike and valiant. He was General of his Army, and held for one the of most valiant Captains of his time. The power of the Arragonois had been quite ruined, if the q 〈◊〉 the secod decleres himself for Ferdinand, King of Naples, & gave him the Crown upon condition that he should restore unto the Church the lands of Ben●vent and Te●acina, held by A●phonso of Arragon his father. At the council which he called at Mantova in the year 1459. he exhorted Christian Princes to succour Ferdinand against john, Duke of Calabria. Pope (who fearing lest the prosperity of the French affairs would prejudice the liberty of Italy) had not made a league with the other Princes, to secure the Arragonois, being besieged in Barry, a Town ill fortified, and worse furnished against the necessities of a Siege. But all their league had prevailed little, if it had not been fortified by Scanderbag, that other Mars of Albania, whom Ferdinand called to his succours, and whom Pope Pius the 2d conjured to assist him: He came, in regard of the strict amity he had had with Alphonso, and was exhorted to this voyage by Paul Angé, Archbishop of Duras. Scanderbag joined at Duras with twelve Italian Galleys; and from thence came to Ragusa, r Ragusa in old time was called Epidaurum upon the adriatic sea. It hath a Castle, which in those times was held impregnable, the government is Aristocratical. attending his Troops, and preparing victuals to send into Apulia. He forced john, Battle of Vrsare won by Scanderbag Duke of Calabria, to raise the siege of Barry, and won the battle of Vrsare. The Duke escaped the danger by the witness of his horse; he recovered Troy, where he was received, and drawn over the wall with a cord: from thence he caused himself to be conducted to Genova, where he found a Galley, which carried him into France, despairing ever to do any more good at Naples, nor in Sicily; from whence he carried nothing but the bare name of Duke of Calabria. He was followed by some Captains, who (for that they had run the same fortune) durst not remain under the command of the Arragonois; s Count Picenin having escaped this danger, remained for a time hidden in Italy, Francis Sforce Duke of Milan, having drawn him unto him by a false promise to make him his son in law, delivered him to K. Ferdinand, who put him to death so as René grew old in the complaints of this usurpation, favoured by the Popes: All his hopes were dead for the recovery of his forefathers Inheritance; t The investiture of the Realm of Naples, having been once granted by the Popes to the house of Anjou, could not be given away against their liking to that of Arragon. We hear often in their plead, Id quod nostrum est sin● causa nostra à nobis aufe●ri non potest. and to fill up the measure of his sorrow, he saw the first Branch of this Powerful and Royal house of Anjou whither in his son and grandchild. René surviving, his son and grandchild died in the year 1480. A Prince who had great and eminent qualities, worthy of a better fortune: he was a great justicer, and an enemy to long dispatches. He said sometimes, when as they presented him any thing to sign, being a hunting, or at the war, that the Pen was a kind of Arms, which a Prince should use at all seasons. u K. René, although he were in Arms, did not forbear to do justice to them that demanded it, saying, That the pen of Princes should never be idle, that long expeditions made them to lose the love of their subjects. They writ that he drank not any wine, and when as the Noblemen of Naples demanded the reason, he answered, that it had made Tit. Livius to lie, who had said, that the good wines caused the French to pass the Alps. The reign of so good a Prince was much lamented: for he entreated his subjects like a Pastor and Father. Commendation of René of Anjou. They say, that when as his Treasurers brought unto him the Royal tax, which was sixteen Florins for every fire; whereof Provence might have about three thousand five hundred, he informed himself of the abundance, or bareness of the season; and when as they told him, that a * The North-east wind. Mestrall wind had reigned long, he remitted the moiety, and sometimes the whole tax. He contented himself with his revenues, and did not charge his people with new tributes. He x Michael de Montagne in the 2d book of his Essays C. 17. of presumption, saith, that being at Bar-le-Duc, he saw presented unto K. Francis the 2d. a portrait, which René, K. of Sicily had made of himself. spent his time in painting, the which were so excellent, as they are yet to be seen in the City of Aix: he was drawing of a partridge when as they brought him news of the loss of the Realm of Naples, yet he would not draw his hand from the work, such pleasure he took therein. He lived long. A Precedent of Provence making an Oration before King Charles the ninth, in the year 1573. said, that he had been seen by some that were then living. He instituted an Order, which he called of the Crescent. The Knights carried a Crescent, or half Moon upon their right arm, with this Motto, l'Os en Croissant; encouraging them thereby to seek and desire the increase of their valour and reputation. He died at Aix, his wife caused his body to be transported into France, and by a witty policy deceived the Provençals, who would have had it. His death made no other change in Provencae, but of the person: Charles, Nephew to René, succeeds him. Charles his Nephew, son to the Earl of maine, was acknowledged Earl of Provence: but his time was very short: for he died before he could finish the second year of his reign. Some few days before his death, on the tenth of December, 1481. he made the King his heir, and after his decease, Charles his son, and the other Kings his Successors, y The institution of the heir is set down in th●se terms in his Testament, Et quia haeredis institutio est caput & fundament cuiuslibet testamenti dictus Serenissim●s Domi●u● noster rex in omnibus● regn●s commitatibus Vicecomitatibus, etc. fecit, instituit & ordinavit, ac ore suo proprio nominavit sibi haeredem suum universalem & insolidum Christianissimum excellentissimum principem ac dominum Ludovicum Dei gratia Francorum Regem, eiusdem consobrinum & Dominum chariffimum atque reverendissimum & post eius obitum illustrissimun & clarissimum D. Delphinum etc. beseeching him with all his heart, to suffer his subjects of Provence to enjoy the graces, liberties and privileges which they held of King René, Provence given to K. Lewis. recommending unto him his Cousin Francis, Lord of Luxembourg, to keep him in his Court, and to maintain him in the lands of Martigues, which he gave him, he did not recommend him unto any one of his servants in particular, but one Archer of his guard, called the great Pickard. There was little difference betwixt his Testament and his death, K. Lewis takes possession of Provence. and less betwixt his death, and the taking of possession: for on the nineteenth of the same month of December, one thousand four hundred eighty one, the King sent a Commission to Palamedes Forbin, a Knight, Lord of Sollier, Chamberlain to the Earl of Provence, to take possession, and to command in the Country in quality Lieutenant general, with absolute power to dispose of Offices, to place and displace Officers, to remit and abolish crimes, yea high Treason, to confirm or revoke ancient Privileges, and to grant new, to assemble the Estates, to impose Tributes, and to levy Soldiers for to force obedience: z This commission was dated at Thovars, the 29. of December, 1481. in the presence of the Earl of Mar●e, Martial of of France, and of Estellan, Bailiff of Roven. The quality of this Commission, was a great Testimony of the service which he had done the King, having solely disposed his Master to make this goodly present unto France. But as all changes cause amazement, there was some trouble to execute this Donation, some holding the party of Lorraine, and others of France. René, René, duke of Lorraine discontented Duke of Lorraine, finding his friends feeble, and his power weak against the King, was not willing to grow obstinate in Provence: a He that encounters one that is more mighty, doth but undo himself. More mighty is to be understood in dominions, subjects, force and treasure. A wise Italian saith to this purpurpose: Si tu truovi una machina cresciuta per la felicita & disciplina d'ottocento anni, discostati da essa, che è cosa impossibile, quando pur ella cadesse, che tu non rovini sotto. If thou findest a work grown by the felicity and discipline of 800 years, avoid it, being impossible if it falls, but thou shalt be ruined under it. He passed the Alps with an hundred men at Arms, and a regiment of a thousand foot. The King sent a garrison of Scottish men unto Bar, under the command of the Lord of Aubigny, he caused the Walls to be repaired, and the Arms of France to be set upon the gate, such as are yet to be seen. He remained in Italy till after the King's death, which day he held to be the rising of his hopes, the which were only supported by the assurance which the Duke of Bourbon b This hope was not vain: for in the first year of the reign of K. Charles, he was restored to the Duchy of Bar, and had a company of an hundred Lances given him. gave him, that this rigorous season would be followed with a greater calm. War against Ferrara. The Venetians entreated him to accept the charge of General of their land Army against the Duke of Ferrara. It was a war which shaking the peace of Italy, brought the peace of Christendom into question, and gave a great advantage unto the Turk, who beheld these Tragical furies near at hand. And this was the cocasion. After the death of Borsio of Esté, Hercules of Esté his brother would succeed in the principality: Lionel of Esté, their brother, had left Nicholas his son, who had the same pretension. Italy was in a manner divided, the one for the Uncle, the other for the Nephew. The Venetians did secure Hercules so powerfully, & so fitly, as the Sceptre of his fathers remained to him. He married Elinor, daughter to Ferdinand of Arragon, and being fortified with this new alliance, he suffered the heat of friendship, which his fathers entertained with the Venetians, to grow cold; as commonly Princes do not long follow their predecessors steps, and if they commend their Orders, yet they subject not themselves unto them. c Borsio had very carefully entertained friendship with the Signiory of Venice. When there fell out any controversy betwixt them for their limits, or that their Officers did attempt upon one another's jurisdiction. Borsio came to Venice with a small troup, like a private person, to give reasons unto the the Senate. He restored the Salt-pits of Commachio, contrary to the ancient conventions: he took from the Venetian Merchants the exemptions and freedoms of Imposts which they had enjoyed: he caused a Fort to be built near unto Cap d' Argent, to bond his Estates, and dissembled the wrong which the Magistrate of Venice, residing in his City by accord had received, having suffered him to be excommunicated by the Archbishop of Ferrara. The Venetians, The venetians proclaim war against the Duke of Ferrara, although tired with war by reason of the great ruins which they had received by the Ottomans, yet they declared it against Hercules of Esté, they grounded it upon the necessity of their defence, which justifieth all kinds of proceed, and makes all that to be found good, that is profitable. All times are in season. d When there is question of a defence, there is no regard to be had to justice or Religion. A certain and inevitable danger justifies Armies. The Romans held some days unfortunate for enterprises, but when as necessity forced them, they feared not any thing. Dies certos & evitabiles obseruabant cum inferenda in hosts arma non propulsanda forent. They did observe certain avoidable days when to assail an enemy, but not to repel him. They raise two Armies, one by land, and another by sea, the one to run along the Costs of Apulia and Calabria, and to hinder the succours of Ferdinand, the other to remain in the river of Pau. The Pope was in the beginning for them, and hindered Alphonso of Naples from passing with four thousand men to secure his brother-in-law. The Senate sent Robert of Arimini to secure the Pope, Pope Sixtus joins with the Ve●etians who won a battle against Alphonso of Arragon; but this victory cost him his life, which he ended soon after. e They writ, that in one day died two of the greatest Captains of Italy. frederick of Urbin at Ferrara, and Robert of Ar●minial Ro●e. Pope Six●us caused th●se words to be set ●pon 〈…〉, veni, vidi, vici, & pontifici retuli, 〈◊〉 secundis rebus invidet. I came, I saw, and overcame, and told the Pope, that death envies prosperity. Ferrara was besieged, and so priest with the valour and good fortune of the Assailants, as it could no longer hold out. The Pope (who had incited the Venetians to this war) exhorted them to peace; He declares himself against them. and seeing that they would not hearken unto it, declared himself for the Ferrarois: he drew the spiritual sword against them, & struck them, interdicting their Common weal. Baptista Zeno, & john Michele, 2 Venetian Cardinals, did courageously resist this resolution; yet the Pope notwithstanding their contradiction, proceeded on: It is true, that as in the heat of Arms, they do not always think of religion, his censures were contemned by the Venetians, who did not respect them as good physic, but as an Emperikes plaster, the which Popes were wont to use for all kinds of sores. They found it strange, that he would force them unto a peace, the which notwithstanding had not been observed when they were busied in war against the Turk. The Princes of Italy made a league against them, and an Assembly of the Confederates, which was held at Cassal-maior, in the territory of Cremona: Frederick Gonzague, Prince of Mantua, was chosen General of the Army, the honour of the enterprise, and of the chief authority being reserved to the Arragonois: There was not any Prince, City, nor Commonweal in Italy, except Genova, but was engaged in this enterprise, to ruin the greatness of Venice. f The greatness of Venice was then suspected to all the Potentates of Italy, & if it had been augmented with the estate of Ferrara, the way had been open to greater designs. René of Lorraine (whom the death and ruin of Charles of Bourgondy had advanced to the reputation of one of the greatest Captains of this age) served most gloriously in this Expedition. Both parties were soon weary of this war: they spoke of treating of a peace at Cesara, but this Proposition took no effect. It was continued at Tourbolles betwixt Robert Sanseverin, and Lewis Sforce, Peace concluded. who finished it, and it was concluded, That the Venetians should return into all the places which they had lost, during this war in Lombardie, and should retire all the garrisons which they had on either side of the river of Pau: They should ruin all the Forts which they had made on the banks thereof, and should restore to Hercules of Este all that they had taken from him, except the P●llesin of Rouig●, which they should retain unto themselves, & should enjoy the same rights, both old and new, which they were went to have in Ferrara, and there about. Such was the end of the social war, which cost the Venetians in less than 2 years, three millions, and 600000 ducats. This peace was received with much content after these turbulent and ruinous seasons. They made bonfires and combats with great pomp at Venice. g When ●s Guichardi● speaks of this peace, he saith, that it was honourable for the Commonweal of Venic●, & shameful for all the rest of Italy, the which with a general applause, and at such time as it did flourish in riches, arms, & force, had ●anded to ruin the Venetians; but God would not that the effects of his severity and mercy, of his wrath and peace, Fussero in potesta d'●n huomo ambiciosissimo & superbissimo sotto posto al vino & à molte alter in honest volunta che la ●ssercitasse ad arbi●●o delle sue cupidita, non secondo la consideratione della justitia o del bono publico ●ella Christianita, should be in the power of an ambitious and proud man, subject to wine, and many other dishonest lusts, and should use it after his own will and not according to justice, and the good of Christendom. Pope Sixtus hearing of this Accord, Grief of P. Sixtus for the Peace. died for grief: He had incensed all the Potentates of Italy at the Assembly of Cremona, against the Venetians: his courage and resolution went beyond all the designs, threats, and attempts of his Enemies: And when as to terrify him, they declared, that they would cause him to be cited to appear before a Council, he made it known, that he endured these threats, Resolution of Pope Sixtus. as the Physician doth the injuries of a mad man, answering; h Sixtus inge●ti animo summaque constantia respondisse fertur. Se concilium quidem libenter admissurum ubi spera●●● se omnium horum Principum criminibus par●factis res plurimas Ecclesia ablatas ab ijs repetiturum. unde qui illum metu expugnare sperabant ab eodem preterriti alia perfugia quaesiere. That he would always take the holding of a Council for a great happiness, when as there should be hope, by the discovery of their wickedness, to force them to yield unto the Church the goods which they had taken from it. Platina adds, that this answer was a proof of the vigour of this Pope's spirit, and of the greatness of his courage, which amazed them that thought to amaze him. The Church notwithstanding had great need of this Phlebotomy, or letting blood, as the most wholesome remedy for the disorders which time doth breed in the most holy and best ordered things. Lewis 11. neglects the calling of a council. It hath served happily in the first years of her birth, under the conduct and direction of the Apostles, i In the Apostles time, and in the first Infancy of the Church, when as always pure, according to her institution, there were 4 Counsels, or Apostolical Assemblies. The first the 34th year after the coming of our Saviour, whereas Mathias was named to the Apostleship, and the Assembly might be of 120 faithful. The second in the same year for the election of Deacons, of which number St. Stephen was. The 3d in the 48th year, according to Onuphrius, and 51th according to Baronius, for circumcision, and the heresy of Cerinthus. The 4th for the the toleration of circumcision for a time, that they might bury the Synagogue with honour in the 58th year. Of these four Counsels the Acts of the Apostles speaks. cap. 1. 15. & 21. and hath been ever since used. The King was not very careful to procure this remedy; being incensed for that which Pope Sixtus had done against the Florentines, he forbade the transport of gold and silver to Rome, and commanded the Bishops and Prelates of his realm, to assemble at Orleans, whither he sent the Earl of Beaujeu to preside. But he showed not the like zeal and courage which his father had done in the Assembly of the French Church at Bourges. Where there is question of God's service, they must proceed after another manner, then when it concerns but the Interest of men. Public buildings must be made after another manner, and of another matter then private. Moses sustained the people's cause before God with tears, he defended that of God against the people with Arms. The King came to Orleans to pass to Clery, remaining there but half a day to break off the Assembly; he was satisfied to have drawn from the Pope that which he desired in favour of the Florentines, and promised to continue it at Lions. This did but make the sights of good men more vehement, who burn with the zeal of God's house, Estate of the Church lamentable. and who saw that the wound was ●neurable, and that the canker had seized upon the vital parts, that the Church was at peace with Heretics and Infidels, and in perpetual trouble with her own Children. I have nourished (said she by the report of S. Bernard) Children, I have exalted them, and they have contemned me. k Vox plangentis in tempore isto. Filios enutrivi & exaltavi, ipsi autem spreverunt me, spreverunt & maculaverunt me à turpi vita, à turpi quaestu, à turpi commercio: à negotio denique perambulante tenebris. They have dishonoured me by the filthiness of their lives, and the foulness of their commerce, and by works which are done in darkness. The Chronicle of Basill reports a strange History of the passion, (or rather fury) wherewith a jacobin Friar was transported, whom it names Andrew, Archbishop of Krane, a man of learning and courage; who thrust on by presumption, l Presumption carries men's minds out of the common way, it follows unknown courses, & embraceth novelties. A spirit presuming little of itself, remains in the bou●ds of innocency and simplicity. (a vice diverting men's minds from their duties, Andrew, Archbishop of Krane, preacheth against the Pope. to wander out of the common way) past the mountains, came to Basill, and preached in the Cathedral Church against Rome, as against a new Babylon, conjuring the Emperor, and K. Lewis the eleventh, to procure the Assembly of a Council against her scandals. Pope Sixtus the fourth was no sooner advertised hereof, but he commanded the Magistrate of Basill to deliver him into the hands of his justice. The Senate answered, that they had already given advertisement thereof to the Emperor Frederick, and attended his pleasure; beseeching the Pope's Nuntio to have patience, and to assure himself that there should not be any thing done in prejudice of the holy Sea. The Archbishop on the 13 of july, the same year 1482. caused a declaration to be published; by the which, lamenting the ruins of the Church, he conjured and entreated all Ministers & Pastors to secure it; xcomE nicated by the Pope. and by virtue of the Decree of Constance, to assemble at Basill m The Council of Constance in the 39 Session decreed that every ten years they should assemble a general Council. to advise of the remedies: and for that the Pope had declared him excommunicate, he appealed against his sentence; and having no better reason to object against this excommunication, than the want of power, he maintained that Sixtus the fourth had not entered into S. Peter's Chair by the door, but like a thief; that he made traffic of holy things, and that he took delight, not to feed, but to flay Christ's Flock. The Princes and Commonweals of Italy were not in good terms with him, all threatened him with a Council: And although that Pius the second, his Predecessor, n Pope Pius the second did excommunicate those that did appeal from the Pope to a council. julio the 2d renewed the same excommunication. Silvest. verbo excommunicate. T. Num. 39 had called such form of proceeding against the Pope, Execrable; yet it seemed they could find no better means to restrain the excess: Every man cried after the reformation of abuses; but that which might be commendable in public complaints, did not justify the boldness of a private man, who presumed to censure the Pope: and the number of fools doth not excuse the folly. o A common error givest some excuse, but the number of them that fail, makes not the fault less. It is always ill done to play the fool with them that are not wise. Sixtus declared him an Heretic, and a troubler of the Churches quiet, from whose body he was cut, like a rotten member, unworthy to exercise the ministry, to hold any dignity, or to be partaker of the holy Sacraments, condemning him to remain prisoner in a Monastery, with bread and water, until he had made full expiation of his crimes. In like manner, the Emperor found the proceeding of this Bishop very bold, & gave him to understand, that seeing he was but a private person, he desired to know by what authority he pretended to call a Council. He answered, That the public necessity of the Church approved his zeal, and conjured the Emperor to maintain it, after the example of the Emperor Sigismond p The Emperor Sigismond laboured Christianlike to smother the new opinion of the Hussites of Bohemia, he procured the convocation of the Council of Costance, & was there in person. and his predecessors, who had not spared any thing for her quiet and peace, and to root out abuses: wherefore he besought him not to show himself difficult to grant out Patents and necessary passports for the convocation of a Council: otherwise he should answer before God for the ill which his negligence would make incurable. The 4th day of December Peter of Kettenheim, prior of Velpach; the Prior of Erford, and the Prior of Mortau; present themselves anew unto the Senate of Basill, and declared that they had charge to proceed against them by all the rigours of the Church's justice, if if they did not deliver this revolted person into their hands, to be exemplarily punished. He was honoured by some, like a St. Paul, that great Citizen of heaven, the pillar of Churches, an earthly Angel, and a heavenly Man: he was contemned of others as a seditious man, an Abironite, and a Rebel. Some thought it hard, that, because he had said (not secretly, like unto spies, and slanderers, but publicly, and in the Cathedral Church of such a Town) that fire was at the door, that the mine was ready to play, to overthrow the whole building, and that Satan had planted his ladders whilst that the Sentinels slept, they would entreat a Bishop so rigorously; and that, howsoever, they should consider the thing that was good and wholesome, q They say, we must consider the Council apart, and him that gives it apart. The Ephores caused the advice which had been given by a bad man, to be pronounced by one which was good In his quae à malis bene fiunt, hic tenendus est modus, ut appareat authorem displicuisse non factum. Plin. Paneg. Traiani. and not the person that might be passionate. They also remembered, that many great personages about that time had said, Words of Gerson. that in these disorders they might follow extraordinary motions, either of powerful authority, or of charitable admonition. r In the time of K. Charles the seventh, every man spoke of reformation. Gerson presumed to say, that the pursuit might be made, Per quos cunque fideles praesertim maiores authoritativa potestate, sive charitativa admonitione. Gers. in Propos. util. ad extirp. schiss. Others said, that the desire was good, but being guided by pride & presumption, it made him odious that propounded it, that he which was sttooken with death, for that of his own motion he had put forth his hand unto the ark, fearing lest it should fall, did serve as a terrible example, showing how dangerous it is to deal unreverently in holy things. The Senate answered, Basill excommunicated by the Pope. that they could not satisfy the Pope's desire, before they understood the Emperors pleasure. Upon this answer the Town was interdicted. The Emperor sent a Franciscan Friar to Basill, who had audience in a great assembly, where there assisted the Ambassadors of the Princes of the league of Italy, s In this assembly assisted josias of Seligni, Bishop of Zion & Grenoble, Anthony of la Roche, prior of Mortau, claud of Tholsugeo●, and William of Rochefort. where he delivered his charge, and spoke of this Archbishop, as of a Goliath, who had raised himself against the Lord's host. He said also, that being at Rome for the affairs of the Archduke Maximilian, when as the Pope had been advertised of these troubles and motions for the calling of a Council, the Pope had commanded him to go to the Archduke Sigismond, and then unto the Emperor, to know of them whether they did approve and favour this revolt: Pope complains of the town of Basill. and in like manner, to complain that the Town of Basill, which had been always very obedient to the Holy Sea, had suffered itself to be carried away very inconsiderately with such Impostures and Impressions: t The desires, and the effects of Desires which tend to reunite the members of one Family under one head, are just and commendable, and God doth assist them. There is none but Satan which hath favoured and advanced schism and division. We are all of one stuff, we make but one part of the garment, we have need but of one seam Sarrura tantum opus est. But it is not fit to hear all them that speak. That the Emperor having found, that whatsoever he did for the calling of a Council, proceeded from extreme hatred; and that his reason was wholly converted into passion against the Pope, and impudent arrogancy, presuming in the quality of a private person, to attempt the reformation of the Church, and to call a Council, the which belonged only to the Pope. The emperors intent was, u It was not for that the Emperor did not earnestly desire the ho●ding of a Council, having written to king Charles 〈◊〉 7th to come or send to Mentz, to the end they might remedy the necessities of the Church in the year 1423. but he did not allow of this particular Instance. that they should seize upon the person of this Archbishop, and that they should put him into safe keeping, and in such a place, whereas he might be represented unto the Pope. At the same instant he produced the emperors letters patents, The Emrour commands the Archbishop to be apprehended. by the which, commandment was given to all Provinces, Potentates, Towns, and Commonalties to apprehend this Archbishop. Then directing his speech unto him, he exhorted him to acknowledge his error, and to humble himself to the holy Sea, that he might recover the Pope's favour, who seeing his repentance, might have pity on him, offering to that end all the good offices that he could desire from him. The Archbishop answered in this sort: I have never failed in obeence and respect to the Emperor, The Archbishop resisteth in his proposition. and nothing hath moved me to speak against the Pope, but the zeal of God's honour. I can make a distinction betwixt the person and the dignity; the Chair, and him that sits in it. I have, with much grief, seen the scandals and abominations which abound in Rome; and that the Pope is more pleased to fleece, then feed the sheep, whom jesus Christ with the price of his blood, hath drawn out of the Wolves throat. x A Pastor should feed Christ's Flock, but, Illud quod hic dicitur pasce, alij mutant in tonde, quia multum student circa subditos exactionem temporalium exercere, & de pastu non cu●āt. That which is here said feed, some do unsitly change to fleece, for that they study to exact the temporalities from their subjects, & care not for feeding, Chrysost. I have thought that there was no means to remedy it, but by the holding of a general Council; and seeing that contrary to the intention of the Decree of the Council of Constance, they had let pass above thirty years without holding of a Council; and that the Decrees of that of Basil were not observed, nor executed, having often conferred with the Cardinals at Rome, and found that the mischief was neglected, I addressed myself to the Senate of Basill, as the most convenient place to make my good intentions known: and if I have therein erred, I submit myself to the judgement of the Emperor, the French King & the Council, and take the University of Paris for my advocate, protesting that I had never any intent to offend the Pope, neither can be called a Slanderer, having truth for a warrant of that which I speak; beseeching that I may have three days respite given me to answer more pertinenly to that which is objected against me. Hereunto the Friar replied, that if there were any disorder in the Church, there were doctors to teach and correct, whose doctrine they should rather follow, than their manners and actions, y The doctrine may be good, & the life bad: If the Pastor lives well, it is his profit; if he teach well, it is thine, take that which is th●e & meddle not with another man's. A bad and barren ground, may bear gold. and that it did not belong to him to undertake the correction. And for that in this Discourse he showed his wilfulness, he did summon the Senate of Basill to forbear to protect him, and to apprehend him prisoner. The Nuncios and Commissioners, deputed by the Pope, made the like instance, saying; that they could not refuse him unto the Pope, who was his lawful judge. The Senate of Basil referred the dicition of this business to the next Council. The Pope's Nuncio and other Deputies were there, and the Archbishop appeared, where the contention was long, and urged with great vehemency and affection, of either part, z In the Assembly of the Senate of Basile, on Saturday, the 21 of December 1483. the Archbishop of Krane was arrested prisoner, when as they consulted whether they should do it. The Ambassadors of the Princes of Italy which were in league against the Pope, would willingly have had a Council to humble the great heart of Sixtus, Dispute of authority of the Pope and Council. saying; that they should hold themselves to the Council of Constance, which had plainly decreed that the Pope should obey the Council, had prescribed him the time for the calling of a Council, and had bound him not to dispossess Angelo Corrario, who had carried the name of Gregory the twelfth, from the dignity of Cardinal or Legate: That the same doctrine of the Council of Constance had been followed and practised in that of Basile: a The Council of Constance in the fourth Session made a Decree, declaring that it represented the Universal Church, and had power immediately from God, the which every man was bound to obey, yea the Pope himself. that if they took away that constancy which was necessary for the observation of their decrees, they thrust the Church into distemperatures and languish, like unto those bodies which have their sinews strained, and their members and bones displaced. The Pope's Ministers said, on the other side, that the Church was a perfect Monarchy; that she had not her beginning from David, Alexander, Augustus, nor Frederick, neither did she acknowledge any other establishment: that the Church did not depend of any other judge but of God; That even the Council assembled at Sinuesse● would not forcibly condemn that poor Idolatrous Pope, who since was held for a great Saint. and who by a wonderful weakness, and base fear of death, had obeyed the impiety of Dioclesia●, and sacrificed to his Gods, for prostrating himself upon the ground, confessing his fault, one of the Fathers of the Council b In this History of Marcelline we find often that the Bishops said: judica causam tuamnostro judicio non condemnaberis: & that after his confession one of them says: just o'er suo condemnatus est & ore suo Anathema suscepit Maranatha, Quoniam ore suo condemnarus est, nemo enim unquam iudicavit Pontificem, nec prae●ul Sacerdotem suum, quoniam prima sedes non iudicabitur a quoquam. took the word, saying▪ he had justly condemned himself by his own mouth, he hath submitted himself to excommunication. Never any one did judge the Pope, for the first Seat is not to be judged by any; That the Council of Constance binding Popes to the execution of his decrees, had respect only to antipopes, and not to them whose election was holy and lawful: When as some said that the first Seat was not to be judged by any one, the others replied, that it was understood of private Assemblies, and not of a general Assembly of the whole Church. The day was spent in these long Disputes, and night approaching, Cinthius of Vrsin, Commander of Saint john of jerusalem, entered the Senate, laid hold upon the Archbishop and led him away prisoner to the Tower of Spalen. The Senate was much offended, and commanded the Pope's Nuntio to departed the Town, seeing that his charge was ended. He retired himself, and caused new Declarations and Excommunications against them of Basill to be published at Rahnfield, Constant, and other places, forbidding all sorts of persons to converse with them: The prisoner in the mean time languishing in expectation of what should become of him, took the shortest course for his liberty, and judging that if he lived in pain, his baseness was the cause of it, and that death might give him a free passage, he changed his patience into despair: so as on the Thursday after Saint Martin's day, in year one thousand four hundred four score and four, he was found strangled with the cord of his bed: This execrable kind of death was kept secret until that they understood the Pope's mind; after which the executioner of justice entered into the prison, put the body into a pipe, and cast it into the River of Rhine. c To kill himself hath been held an act of courage●: Plato forbids it in his Laws: The Thebians detested it, and the Athenians did cut off his hand, that had slain himself, & did cast it on the common dunghill. The Pope's Deputies returned to Basill, and the Excommunication having been observed three days, was taken away, and the Town delivered from the Pope's censures. Yet for all this they did not cease to wish that the Pope would earnestly embrace the reformation of the disorders of the Church. Desires of this kind are just, but we may not press them with heat of passion and indiscretion of zeal. An example showing that it is not reasonable, in such sufferings and perplexities of the Church, that the pride of any private person should presume to reform it: We must leave those thoughts to Princes and Magistrates. The simple multitude must attend with patience at the foot of the Mountain, until that Moses descend to let them understand the will of God: The Ship wherein that holy Family is included, which hath neither sight nor day, but towards heaven, shall in the end appear most glorious over the waves of the deluge, and shall come unto the Mountain of a happy tranquillity. (* ⁎ *) (⸪) The end of the ninth Book. THE CONTENTS OF the tenth Book. 1 Weakening and alteration of the King's health in the beginning of the year 1480. 2 An Apoplexy seizeth on him: His actions to maintain his authority, and to keep himself from contempt. 3 Liberty of Cardinal Balue, and his policy to obtain it. 4 Generosity of the Cardinal of Estouteville to maintain his dignity, and that of the Clergy: His death. 5 Oppressions of the people. 6 Desire of the King to reform justice, and tedious Suits. 7 Relapse of his sickness at Tours, he goes to Saint claud, in his return passeth by Salins, and there setteth a Parliament for the Franche County. 8 Death of Mary, Duchess of Bourgundy wife to Maximilian the Emperor. 9 Admonition made by the King to the Dauphin at Amboise. 10 Estate of the Low Countries at the discretion of the Gantoys. 11 Treaty of peace, and marriage, betwixt the Dauphin and Margaret Princess of Austria. 12 Death of the King of England, and troubles for his succession. 13 Earl of Richmond, prisoner to the Duke of Britain, comes to the Crown of England by the King's assistance. 14 Death of Francis Phoebus King of Navarre; suit for the succession. 15 Death of Alphonso King of Portugal. 16 Lewis falls into new apprehensions of death, and shuts himself into his Palace at Plessis. 17 Zizimi son to Mahomet, revolts against Bajazeth, flies to Rhodes, and is conducted into France. 18 Commendation of Mathias corvinus King of Hungary. 19 Impairing of the King's health. 20 He sends for Francis Paulo a Calabrois: strange distemperatures of his sickness. 21 His aistrust of john Duke of Bourbon. 22 Publication of the peace betwixt the King and Maximilian of Austria, Marriage of Charles the Dauphin, with the Princess Margaret: Magnificence at their entrance into Paris. 23 The third and last relapse of the King's Infirmity: his last actions: His perfect sense even unto the last gasp: His death. ❧ THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleventh. THE TENTH BOOK. IN the beginning of the year 1480. 1480. Lewis began to die, and to fear death, the which comes never so fitly, but it brings with it terror and amazement. a Life must be considered by the end: If it be good and glorious all the rest is proportionable. Quomodo fabula, sic & vita, non quandiu, sed quam bene acta sit, refert. Nil ad rem pertinet, quo lo●o desinas, quocunque voles, desine tantum bonam clausulam imponas. Life is like unto a fable: It imports not how long, but how well it be acted: It skills not where thou leavest, leave where thou wilt, so thy conclusion be good. Sen. His forces grew weak, but his courage was fortified & strong, upon an apprehension which he had that they would make designs upon his grave, and that they would not stay until he came to the end of his Career. He desired to end it with the Authority, Majesty, and Reputation that he had begun, and would not that they should know him dying, nor that they should hold him mortal: He works so, as in the West of his life, the shadow of his reputation and respect is as great as at the Noonday of his reign: Yet he finds that his judgement hath not the force and vigour which it formerly had; that the remainder of his life is become sour, Age is always accompanied. that age comes not alone, b When as wine and life grow low, they become sour. Antiphanes. having brought him divers discommodities, an incorrigible melancholy, agitations of the mind, a slow Fever, and the pains of the Emerauds: He hath more provision than he hath way to go, he gathers and lays up when he should abandon and let go. c Age becomes covetous when it hath not any need of goods, it fears the earth should fail it: One demanded of Simonides why he was so sparing in the extremity of his age; for that said he: I had rather leave my goods after my death to my enemies, then in my life time to have need of my friends. His designs are great and spacious, and his desires grow young, he cannot free himself from new hopes, his soul is as it were hung betwixt the fear of death and the hope of life, his understanding is a Millstone which the continual course of affairs doth turn day and night: And although his life passeth away in languishing and grief; yet had he rather endure the pain, than not to be, desiring rather to be freed from it, then from life, the which how painful soever it be, hath some hour of ease: d There i● no life so languishing and full of pain, but it is supported by some hope freed from the fears of death: When a● Antisthenes the Philosopher was in extreme pain, he cried out, Who shall deliver me from these miseries? Diogenes presenting a knife unto him said; This, if thou wilt, and that soon. I do not say of my life (replied the Philosopher,) but of my pain. For if pains be violent they are short, and if they be short, they give no leisure to complain: Going to hear Mass at a little Parish near to the Forges of Saint Chinon, The King suddenly and dangerously sick. he found himself very ill, and fell into a great weakness, and faintings, losing his speech and all knowledge. He was speedily succoured by the signor of Bouchages, who was his Physician, and afterwards Archbishop of Vienna, having taken a glister he recovered his spirits, went to horse, returned to the Forges and there dined. But he had so great a difficulty in his speech, as he could not be understood but by signs. Philip de Commines, who served him as Groom of his Chamber in this sickness, was also his Truchman e He understood little of what was said unto him, but he felt no pain: He made me a sign to lie in his chamber, he did not pronounce many words; I did serve him fifteen days at his meat and about his person, as Groom of his Chamber; the which I held for a great honour, and was well respected. Phil. de Com. when as he confessed himself to the Official of Tours: And for that being surprised with this sickness they carried him from the Table unto the fire, An Apoplexy unperfect, and would not suffer him to come near unto the windows; he remembered all this, and being come unto himself, he demanded who they were that had stayed him by force, and kept him from taking of the air, being named unto him, he chased them away and would no more see them, for he did never like that King Charles his father should be forced to eat, for that the Subject should not in any thing force his Prince. f We do not willingly see them that have been the secret witnesses of our faults, or imperfections. The Ape beholding itself and seeing his foulness, his wrinkles and deformed shape, breaks the glass. He thought that as soon as a Prince suffered himself to be governed by his servants, he was, as it were, in tutelage and servitude, Lewis maintains his authority to the last gasp. and he would not that this great authority, the which he had so absolutely maintained all his life, should be in any thing restrained, so as imagination being weakened and troubled by age; Melancholy and distrust could not endure that he should be contradicted or dissuaded from any thing, having these words often in his mouth: Do you think that I know not what I do? Nothing did so much afflict him, He fears contempt the forerunner of sedition. as the fear that his infirmity should be known: g There is nothing that a Prince, which begins to grow old should so much prevent, as to make it known that he grows heavy, & that the vigour of his spirits is weakened: For ambition of rule is so itching a thing, as every man will give order to these defects. For he thought that as soon as his weakness and infirmity should be discovered they would hold him as dead, and unprofitable to the world, that he should be contemned of his Subjects, who would pass suddenly from contempt to sedition. He feared that in the end they would make him believe that his senses were distracted, and that they would control him in the expedition of affairs: wherefore, as soon as he felt his faintings past, and that his spirits began to return, he would die in action and standing: h Vespasian being tormented with a bloudyflixe, whereof he died, did not forbear to rise and stir, his Physicians told him that it did increase his grief, persuading him to lie quiet, but he answered them; The Emperor must die standing. he caused all the dispatches, made by his Secretaries, He calls for dispatches and expeditions. to be brought unto him, seeming to understand more than he had vigour, or light of understanding: He made show to read the letters, and although he sometimes turned them upside down, and had little knowledge, yet no man durst advise him. The misfortune of this accident was happy for Cardinal Balue, i Cardinal Balue was imprisoned in August, in the year 1469. Cardinal Balue set at liberty. whom he remembered among the scruples of his consciences: He had taken as much pleasure to ruin him, as he had received content to raise and advance him: He was first imprisoned at Montbasson, he did confiscate his goods, and gave his movables to the Commissioners which made his Process: His plate was sold, and the money delivered to the Treasurer of the wars, Tanneguy of castle, Governor of Rousillon had his Tapestry-hanging: Peter of Orioles, General of the Finances his Library, the Lord of Crussoll a piece of Tapestry of twenty else, with the ground of Gold, certain skins of Sables, and a piece of scarlet of Florence: If we should only consider the malice of this man's nature, who was a deceiver, treacherous, and ambitious, and so known by the Italians, amongst whom he had lived, and there died, k Jerome Garimbert ●speakes of this Cardinal after this manner: Egli fu di natione Francesce da Verdune povero, pl●beio, triste, cupido sempre di novae rapacitae & ribald●rie. He was a Frenchman borne, of Verdune, a poor Plebeian, wicked, and always covetous of gain and filthiness. the cause of his imprisonment cannot be but just; His spirit which had lodged him there twelve year, for that he had employed all his policies and inventions to nourish civil discord, and which like unto the serpent drew in the whole body where he might pass the head, furnished him with a notable stratagem to set him at liberty. He pist and drank his Urine so secretly as they thought this retention would kill him. His policy to get out of prison. The King caused him to be visited, his Physicians told him that his life was desperate, whereupon the King (who was weakened with his infirmity) entered into some scruple, that he had done wrongfully to have kept a Cardinal twelve whole years in a Cage of Iron, that the Church was scandalised, and his liberty wronged. The Cardinal of Saint Peter ad vincula (who afterwards was called julio the second, and was come into France to mediate a peace) took the King in this good thought, l The question is great upon the exemption of Churchmen out of the power of Princes: Some hold it is ordained by the Law of God, and others by grace and concession. made him to apprehend the offence of the Church, in the long captivity of such a Minister, and entreated for his liberty, the which was presently granted: Balue went to Rome, and was all the remainder of his life an enemy to France, and for this cause was much favoured by Ferdinand King of Naples: he died Bishop of Preneste, and was interred at Saint Praxede. This Prelate had all his life time warlike thoughts and inclinations, and a choleric and stirring spirit: The Chronicle saith that in the war of the Commonweal, he went day and night on horseback to visit the Guards: He got a Commission from the King to go and muster the Soldiers at Paris. The Earl of Dammartin seeing the confusion and disorder which this Prelate's ambition caused in public charges, besought the King to suffer him to go and hold a chapter in the Cathedral Church at Eureux. If contrary aspects and shadows raise and grace things opposite: Generosity of Cardinal Estouteville. the great and excellent virtues of William of Estouteville Cardinal of Rovan, will show themselves here gloriously: He was the ornament of the Cardinals of his age, and neither fear of danger nor apprehension of ill did m To do good where there is no danger is a vulgar thing, but to do good where there is peril is the proper office of a good man: to do evil is too easy and too base. hinder him from doing good. Rome cast her eyes upon him, as Athens did sometimes on Aristides; He was wonderful jealous of the dignity of his rob, and considering that the world was but a Theatre, on the which every man was bound to play the part, which his virtue, or fortune, had given him, he would always perform his with constancy and honour: King Charles the seventh, commanded him to go to Rome, with the Ambassadors which he sent to Pope Calixtus the third, to yield him obedience, but he excused himself, not for fear to expose his sufficiency, n Ignorance & weakness fear any encounter, for that they think being compared one with another, their imperfections will presently appear. to the encounter of a greater, but not to offend the honour of his Cardinal's place, which did not allow him to accept of any Legation, but from the Pope's authority. With the same courage that he maintained the honour of his Hat, he defended that of the Church, and of France. The Barrisell, or Provost of Rome finding a man in committing a flagrant delict or heinous crime, and having no hangman to execute him, presently forced a poor Priest, whom he found begging in the street, to do this office: He laboured in vain to tell him that he was a Priest, and a Frenchman, and that he had never done an act unworthy the one or the other: Cruelty of the Provost of Rome. The Provost, who had abandoned the Helm of reason to the storm of choler, o A judgement transported with choler, is like unto a Ship without Pilate and without helm, or a lodging, out of the which the master is expelled by the fire and smoke which is in it: The end of all that is done in choler is the beginning of repentance. the which had filled his spirit with fumes, felt himself so transported with passion to punish the crime, as he would not hearken unto the innocent, but threatened to make him play the part of the offendor, if he would not do that of the Hangman. The fear of death, which had forced greater men to do worse, made him resolve to this infamous execution, after which he retired himself, holding down his head for shame, into the house of Cardinal Estouteville, where he complained of this wrong, and demanded justice. The Cardinal considering that by the injury of this poor man, the dignity of the Church, and the honour of the Nation was interressed, sent for the Provost, and having let him know his fault, commanded his Muletier to hang him at the bar in his Hall, with one of his Mules halters: At the sight of this Provost, hanging at the window, the Pope's Officers made great complaints, and the Cardinal Estouteville was ready to retire into France, but Pope Nicholas being advertised thereof blamed the cruelty and injustice of the said Provost, who had so affected the punishment of another, p It is the ordinary course of injustice to plunge itself into the mischief wherhinto she would draw others: Dat poenas dum exigit: They be ruins which break upon that whereon they fall. as he had not considered into what danger he engaged himself: He commended the Cardinal's justice, and entreated him not to leave Rome. He remained 28. years there, and died the same year when as King Lewis the eleventh left this life: He was made Chamberlain to Sixtus the fourth, Bishop of Ostia, and Deane of the College: He caused Saint Augustine's Church to be built, and did much enrich that of Saint Mary the Great: The Canons of this Church, and the Monks of the other, did not yield that respect unto his memory which they ought: For being ready to inter him they fell to quarrel for his Robes, with so great a disorder, as the rings were taken from his fingers, and he had like to have been stripped naked by the indiscretion of those whom he had clothed. This first sickness of the Kings continued some 15. days, q During this sickness all ●ffaires were dispatched by the Bishop of Alby, by his brother the governor ●f Bourgundy, by the Marshal of G●e, and the Lord of Lude, who were lodged in two little chambers under his. at the end whereof he went to see the Camp of his new disciplined soldiers, which he had erected, and caused them to be put in battle, in a Valley near to Pontdelarche in Normandy, having caused a great number of Tents and Pavilions to be made to lodge them in field, and Carts to enclose them and to serve as a Trench: For the entertainment whereof he must make new levies for money, and excessive taxes, for it did amount yearly to a hundred and fifty thousand pounds Sterling: They that were about him when this sickness took him, Oppression of the people. considering how much the people were oppressed, and thinking that he would never recover it, made divers decrees for the suppression of this Tax. Many thought that this sickness had touched his heart, and made him more sensible of the miseries and calamities of his subjects, for the remonstrances so often made upon this subject had not prevailed any thing, and they expected no ease but what should come from his own motion: r He had much oppressed his people (saith Phil. de Comines) and more than ever any King did, Authority and persuasions could not move him to ease them; It must come from himself, as then he would have done, if God had preserved him from sickness, & therefore it is good to do well whilst we have leisure, & that God gives health and understanding to men. He propounded to reform all the disorders of his Realm: If he might not have the honour to have reigned well, he desires to make his reign better at his death then in his life, thinking nothing makes a Prince to be more lamented, then when he dies in some great action for the good of his Realm. He meant to begin this Reformation by justice, The King's desire to reform justice. and Philip de Commines saith, that he loved not the Court of Parliament of Paris, for that he disliked many things: He had so much contemned to give great Offices to the recommendation of merit and sufficiency, and therein to consider the honour and condition of persons as ignorance had the reputation which did to belong knowledge, and they might say that France was betrayed by Asses, as Troy had been by a horse, s That age was in the thick darkness of ignorance, the which doth weaken all resolutions of well-doing. Diogenes said that Troy had been betrayed by horses, and the commonweal of Athens was lost by Asses. pettifogging did triumph in the Palace, and did plunge them that came for justice into gulfs of confusion: It became insupportable by long and tedious delays, and therefore he undertook to cut off the proceed of the instructions of suits, and those long formalities which made justice like unto a Vine, which, not being cut, brings forth much wood, and little fruit. Laws are made for public infirmities, and yet when there were most laws, the Commonweal was most corrupted, and weakest. t To shorten tedious suits, and to cut off that which is unprofitable, and superfluous in laws, hath been the enterprises of great Princes, of Theodosius, justinian, Ch●rlemaigne and Frederick, Emperors. But such good thoughts came to late: they say that the Moule opens her eyes when she is ready to die. The functions of his soul were languishing and dejected. It was no more that great Spirit, which gave life and motion to all the spirits of his Realm, that first mover which made all the spheres of Christendom to work; and who, remaining in his Cabinet, u Wisdom works great effects without moving from one place▪ Edward of England seeing that Charles the fift did so much annoy him, and y●t never went out of one place, said I never knew king that did Arm less: He doth cross me more with his letters, than ever his Father and Grandfather did with their great forces & Armies. kept all his neighbours in awe. The remainder of his life was at the discretion of all kinds of languish. This cold Melancholy could find no heat, it was i'll in the hottest days of the year, His waywardness & melancholy. and did plunge him into a perpetual waywardness, insupportable to his followers, and much more unto himself. Melancholy and sickness drew him by one and the same way unto death. They sought all means to cheer him, and caused musicans to play before him, they brought many shepherds of the Country of Poictou, to sing, to make him merry, and to keep him from slumber, which drew him to a perpetual sleep. But as the flame is smothered by smoke, so this great desire of life, and this base fear of death blemished the beauty of the goodliest actions of his age. x We must drink this cup joyfully when God presents it. He that hath a firm hope of enternall life, should not fear a temporal death. This careful desire of life retains nothing of the generosity of the mind. Maroboduus non excessit Italia per duodeviginti annos consenuitque multum imminuta claritate ob nimiam vivendi cupidinem. Maroboduus went not out of Italy for the space of two and twenty years, and he grew old, having much blemished his glorry, by his too great desire to live. Tacit. Annal. lib. 2. A year after he fell into a relapse of his sickness at Tours, where as he was taken with a more violent convulsion then at the first, Relapse of the King's sickness at Tours. so as he was held for dead, and remained some two hours laid upon a mattress. The signor of Bouchage, and Philip de Commines made a vow for him to S. claud, and he writes, that presently after he recovers his speech. A change which the mind of man should consider as all other marvels of the hand of God, by the humility of his zeal, and not by the subtlety of his judgement. y The reason of that which is done miraculously depends only of his power that hath done it. S. Gregory saith that miracles, debent considerari per studium & non discuti per intellectum. He went to Argenton to change the air, and remained there a month very sick; then he returned to Tours, and from thence past to S. claud to perform his vow, where he left an everlasting memory of his piety and devotion. z The Chronicle saith, that in this voyage, for the safety of his person, he led eight hundred Lances, and six thousand foott. At his return he passed by Salins, A Parliament erected at Salins. where he erected the Parliament of Bourgondy, which the ruins and extreme fury of the war had chased from Dole. He made ordonances for the government of justice, the which are yet observed in the Franch-County. Being at Beaujeu in Beaujolois, he was advertised of the death of Mary, Duchess of Bourgondy, who had fallen from her horse going a hunting, and had left two children, Margaret and Philip, for the which he was not sorry, foreseeing that this death would breed some alteration in Maximilians affairs: for the Gantois could not suffer the command of Maximilian, nor Maximilian endure the humours of the Gantois. a When as Manlius was chosen Consul, he said unto the people, Seek another to whom you may give this honour: for I cannot endure your manners, nor you my commandments. Liv. At this return from this voyage he would see his son the Dauphin in the Castle of Ambois, The King go●s to see his son at Ambois where he had remained since his birth, and had not seen him, neither did he suffer him to be seen by all sorts of men: for remembering, that at the same age the great men of the Realm had seized on him, against his father Charles the seventh, he feared the like attempt. b Clau● Seissel saith, That the King would not have his son seen by the Nobility, and men of Estate, so as many doubted whether he were living or dead. And I think it is one of the reasons which made him write, that Charles the 8. was supposed. One of the greatest griefs and discontents which he might have at the end of his life, was the apprehension of blame which France would give him, to have neglected the breeding and Instruction of this Prince, and to have so late sought to repair those defects: he would that the admonitions which he gave him in the presence of his most confident servants, should be published in form of an Edict, and enroled in sovereign Courts, to the end his subjects might know, that if his sons reign were not answerable to his hopes, the cause should not be imputed to his father's Instructions. Lewis, Admonition made by the king to the Dauphin. by the grace of God, King of France, Dauphin of Viennois, Earl of Valentinois, and Dioys, to all those to whom these Presents shall come greeting, We let you understand, that considering the beginning of all things, and the end thereof, even of human Nature, whose days are short: And that God our Creator hath given us such great graces, as it hath pleased him to make us the head Governor and Prince of the Noblest Region and Nation upon Earth, which is the Realm of FRANCE; whereof many Princes and Kings our Predecessors, have been so Great, Virtuous and Valiant, as they have purchased the name of The Most Christian King, c The Kings of France carry the Title of Most Christian since Clovis. Charles the Bald is called Most Christian in his Coronation. Pope Innocent, & Honorius the 3d. in their Bulls to King Philip Augustus, and to Lewis the eighth, called them, Most Christian. The Apostolic Legate, and three Bishops named in their Letters, writ that the Realm of France is Most Christian. Du. Tillet. as well for reducing many great Countries, and divers Nations, inhabited by infidels, to the good Catholic Faith, rooting Heresies and Vices out of our said Realm, and maintaining the Holy Apostolic sea, and the holy Church of GOD in their Rights, Liberties and Freedoms, as for doing many other goodly deeds worthy of eternal memory, so as some are held for Saints, living in the glorious company of GOD in his Paradise, which our Realm, and other our Countries and Signiories, we have (thanks be to GOD) so well entertained, defended, and governed, as we have augmented and enlarged it of all sides, by our great care and diligence, and by the aid also of our good, faithful, and Loyal Officers, Servants and Subjects, notwithstanding that soon after our coming to the Crown, the Princes and Noblemen of our Blood and Lineage, and other great Noblemen d The Princes and Noblemen of the League, were Charles of France, the King's Brother, john of Anjou, Duke of Lorraine and Calabria; john, Duke of Alencon; Charles of Bourgondy, Earl of Charolois; john, Duke of Bourbon; Francis, Duke of Brittany; james of Armaignac, Earl of March, and of Castres', Duke of Nemours; john, Earl of Armaignac his uncle; john, Earl of Dunois, and of Longueville, Bastard of Orleans; Lewis of Luxembourg, Earl of S. Pol. Charles, Lord of Albert, father to great Alain, and Anthony of Chabannes, Earl of Dammartin. of our said Realm, or the greatest part of them, had conspired, plotted, and attempted against us, and the Commonweal of our said Realm, many great practices, treasons and conspiracies, so as by means thereof, there hath followed so great wars and divisions, as it hath caused a wonderful effusion of human blood, ruin of Countries, and the desolation of multitudes of people, the which hath continued since our said coming, unto this present day, and is not yet fully quenched, but may, after the end of our days, revive, and continue long, if some good order and course be not taken. Wherefore, having regard hereunto, and to the age wherein we are, and to the certain infirmity wherein we are fallen, for the which we have been in great devotion to visit the glorious body of Saint claud; so as with the help of our Creator, we are much amended, and have recovered health. We therefore resolved, concluded and determined, after the return of our said voyage, to see our most dear and well-beloved son Charles, Dauphin of Vienna, and to instruct him in many notable things e Happy are those Princes which learn the forms of Governing well, by the examples and instructions of their fathers. Leon received them from the Emperor Basillius, and Philip Augustus from Saint Lewis. For if the highest knowledge of a Prince be to know his Estate, the knowledge cannot be more faithful, nor certain, then from those▪ which have the experience. The Book of the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenete, for the Instruction of his son associated to the Empire (the which is now remaining in the King's Library) is only upon this subject; and as Monsteur Casaubon, who hath it in keeping, writes in an eloquent Epistle upon Polybius: Sciebat vetus regnandi Princeps ad negotia gerenda in quibus Repub. salus continetur illud adprimè defiderari utingenia hominum probè nota sint quibus cum agitur sive illi sint subditi; sive amici, sive socij, sive hosts. The Prince who was old in Government, knew well, that in matters which concerned the safety of the Commonweal, it was chief to be desired, that the Dispositions of men, with whom they are to deal, be well known, be they Subjects, Friends, Allies, or Enemies. for the direction of his life in good manners, government, entertainment and conduct of the Crown of France, if it please God he come unto it after us. For the accomplishing whereof, after our return from our said voyage, into our Town of Ambois, we went into the Castle of the said place, where our said son the Dauphin was, whom we have always caused to be kept, and bred up there; where, in the presence of a certain number of Nobleblemen, and Ladies of our Blood and Lineage, and other great Personages, men of our Council, Captains and Officers, both to us, and said son, we have called our said son before us, and have caused those words and Remonstrances which followed to be delivered unto him. First, after a recital made by us of the aforesaid things, or of the greatest part of them to our said son, we have let him understand, how much we desire, that after us he might (with the aid of God) come unto the Cromne of France, his true Inheritance; and that he might so govern and maintain it, as it might be to his honour and praise, and to the profit and utility of the Subjects of his Realm, Dauphiné and other Countries and Signiories, and of the Commonweal. f This Instruction regards only the settling of the Prince's affairs, and doth not extend unto the duties of Conscience, nor to those virtues which edify Kings, Piety and justice. But to what end so many Instructions? To make a Princes conduct happy, we must wipe these words out of his mind, If it please, it is lawful: If it may be, it shall be. A good Prince should not will any thing, but what he ought. Caesar● cum omnia licent, propter hoc minus licet: ut foelicitatis est posse quantum velis, sic magnitudinis velle quantum possis; vel potius quantum debeas. For that all things are lawful to Caesar, therefore they are the less lawful: As it is a happiness to do what thou wilt, so it is a greatness not to will any thing but what thou mayest, or rather what thou oughtest. Plin. Paneg. Traja. Item, That if it pleased God to work his will on us, and that our son should come unto the Crown of France, we have commanded and enjoined him, as a father may do his son, that he shall govern himself and the said Realm, Dauphiné, and Countries, by the Council and advice of our kinsmen, Lords of our Blood and Lineage, and other Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Captains and wise men of our Council; and especially of those whom he shall know and find to have been good and faithful to the deceased, our most honoured Lord and Father (whom God absolve) to us, and to the Crown of France, that have been unto us good and loyal Officers, Servants and Subjects. g Bod●n writes in the fourth book of his Commonweal, Chap. 4. that K. Lewis the 〈◊〉 made another Edict, declaring all offices perpetual, if resignation, death, or Fortune, did not cause some change, and he ordained, that a Destitution by forfeit should not take place, if the forfeiture were not adjudged. Item, We have also expressly commanded and enjoined him, that when it shall please God he come unto the said Crown of France, that he shall maintain all the Noblemen of our Blood and Lineage, and all other Noblemen, Barons, Governors, Knights, Esquires, Captains and Commanders at war, in their Offices and charges, and all other, having the command of men, and guard of Towns, places, and Forts, and all other Officers, either of justice, or other, of what condition soever, not changing or disappointing any of them, unless they be duly found faulty and disloyal, h An Officer which fears to be disappointed, holds all his actions pure, and keeps himself from failing: Yet a Prince should never displace without cause, and one of the greatest commendations which they give to king Robert, is, that he never disapp●●●ed any Officer if he had not offended. and that there may be a due declaration made by justice, as is requisite in that case. Item, Unto the end our son may, and will, consider of, entertain and accomplish our said Ordinance, Injunction and commandment, we have laid before him the great miseries, inconveniences, and irreparable losses which befell us soon after our coming unto the Crown, for that we had not maintained them in their estates, charges, & Offices, i King Lewis the eleventh coming to the Crown, did suddenly disappoint all his father's ancient servants, who handled him in such sort, as he was ready (as he confessed afterwards) to quit his Crown and his estate. the which hath continued long, to the great oppression and ruin of many of our Countries and Subjects, and doth yet continue, although that (God be thanked) we have not lost any thing of the Crown, but have augmented it with great Lands and possessions; hoping shortly, with the pleasure and good will of our Creator, to settle peace and tranquillity: And that if our said son should do the like, and should not continue the said Noblemen and Officers, the like, or worse, might happen unto him; and that as he loves the good honour and increase of himself, the said Realm, and others our Countries and Signiories he should have a special care not to do any thing to the Contrary, for what cause soever. Which Remonstrances made by us to our son, the Dauphin, for the good of the Crown of France, and to the end the said Ordonances, Commandments and Injunctions made unto him, should take effect, and be in perpetual memory, we have demanded of our said son, k A mark of great mildness in a severe Prince, and of great bounty in a difficult Father, he doth not use his authority over his son for so just a command. He first sounds his will, than he suffers him to consult with his obedience, the bond whereof is sealed with the Seal of Nature, the which hath not given to men any Commission to command others, and to make them subject, except the Father, whom Procles calleth, The Image of the Sovereign GOD. what he thought, and whether he were content, willing, and resolved to entertain the same things, and other delivered by us, and especially touching the said Charges and Offices. Whereunto he hath humbly made answer, and said, That he would willingly obey, acomplish, and perform with all his power, the Commandments, Instructions, Ordonances and Injunctions which we gave him, for the which he did most humbly thank us. Moreover, we commanded him to retire himself with some of his Officers which were there present, and confer with him upon those matters which he had propounded unto him, and resolve whether he would entertain all that we had enjoined him: The which he hath done, and then he spoke these, or such like words unto us: Sir, with the help of God, and when it shall be his pleasure that these things happen, I will obey your commandment and pleasure, and will perform and accomplish all that you have enjoined me. Whereupon we said unto him, That seeing he would do it for the love of us, he should hold up his hand, and promise so to do and hold: The which he hath done. Item, After many other things declared by us, concerning the same matter, and also of many Noblemen our adversaries within our realm, l A Prince cannot leave a more profitable and fruitful precept unto his son, then to make him know the friends of his Estate, to cherish them; and the enemies to beware of them: the one and the other are known by the effects; but men regard but the face, and God seethe the heart. who have always been contrary to us, and our said Crown, from whom part of the miseries and inconveniences above mentioned, have sprung, to the end he might have a watchful eye over them, we have recommended unto him some of our good and loyal Servants and Officers which were there present, and some absent, letting him understand how well and faithfully they had served us, as well against our enemies, and about our person, as also in many and divers sorts. Of which things, and of every their circumstances and dependences, we have ordained and commanded our loving and faithful Notary and Secretary, Mr. Peter Parrent, to make all Letters, Provisions, Patents and declaratory clauses of our said will and commandment, that shall be needful; as well during our said Reign, as that of our Son; and in the beginning of his said Reign, by manner of confirmation to the said Officers, and confirming them in their said Charges and Offices, and we have so commanded & enjoined our said son, to cause it to be done by the said Parrent, as our Secretary and his. We also command by these Presents, our loving and faithful councillors of our Courts of Parliament m Presently after the death of Lewis, the Parliament of Paris decreed, that the Officers should continue in their charges, as they had done before, attending the answer of the new King, the which shows, that charges are suspended, until that his pleasure he known, according to an ancient Decree made in October, 1382. of the said Realm and Dauphine, Exchequer of Normandy, Masters of our Accounts, Generals and Councillors of our Treasury, of justice, and of our Aids, Masters of requests of our household, Prou●st of Paris, and all Bailiffs, Seneshals, Provosts, and other our justices and officers, or their Lieutenants, and every of them to whom it shall belong, which are at this present, or shall be hereafter, in our time, or our sons, that they observe, entertain and accomplish, and cause to be observed, entertained and accomplished, from point to point inviolably our present Ordonances and Declarations, and all and every thing contained in these Presents, with their circumstances and dependences, not doing, or suffering any thing to be done to the contrary, either now or hereafter upon any cause or occasion what soever, forcing all them that shall oppose themselves to the contrary, by the taking away of their letters granted to the contrary, 〈◊〉 thereof, seizure and detention of their goods in our hands, imprisonment of their persons, even as is accustomed to be done for our own affairs, notwithstanding any opposition, appeal, or complaint, or any Ordnance made, or to be made by Us or our said son, restraint, or commandment, defences or letters to the contrary, for the which we will not have the contents, effect and execution of these presents in any sort deferred, stayed, or hindered. And for that many men have need of these Presents in divers places, We will that full credit shall be given unto the Copy thereof, made under the seal Royal, or signed by the said Parrent, or any other of our Notaries, or ordinary Secretaries, as to this present Original. In witness whereof we have caused our Seal to be set to these Presents. Given at our Castle of Ambois the 22 of September, in the year of grace 1482. and of our reign 22. By the King, my Lord the Dauphin, the Earl of Beaujeu, the Earl of Marle, Martial of France, the Archbishop of Narbona, the Signiors of Bouchage, Percigny, Plessis of Solhes, john Doyac, Governor of Awergne, Oliver Guerin, Steward of his household, and many others being present. Miscounting in the History. Signed Parrent. The date of this Edict discovers the mis-counting of Philip de Commines, n Philip de Comines was sent into Savoy, to set at liberty the signor of Illins a Dauphinois, whom the King had given for Governor to Duke Philebert his Nephew. When as the Earl of Bresse saw the King's Army at Maston, he did what they desired. who saith, that in the year 1483. the King would see the Dauphin his son, whom he had not seen in many years before, and that soon after he had spoken unto him, he fell into the extremity of his sickness, whereof he died: for this Remonstrance was made in the Castle of Ambois, in September 1482. and the King died not before August the year following. But to resolve the doubt of times, it may be that the King some few days before his death, had a will to see the Dauphin, when as they conducted him to Paris, to make his entry, and to celebrate his marriage, and that Philip de Commines not being at Ambois when this first Remonstrance was made, being stayed in Dauphin or Savoy, whether the King had sent him with Troops, against the Earl of Bresse, he had no knowledge thereof, and therefore hath written, That the King had not seen the Dauphin in many years before. If a History be the Image of Truth, o A History is the proof of time, the light of truth, the life of memory, the mystery of life, and the Trumpet of Antiquity. It is the Image of truth, and as the image is perfect, that doth rightly represent the Original, so a History should represent all things in their simple truth. and if Truth can have but one universal face in all things, how can it accord the Chronicle with this Edict? It writes, that the King going to Saint claud, and before his departure out of Tourraine, saw the Dauphin at Ambois, and gave him his blessing: That in the month of October, the same year, being fallen into a Relapse of his sickness, he caused himself to be carried to Ambois to exhort him to that which he should do, which makes me to wonder, if in matters that be secret and important, Writers do not always give full, perpetual, and immutable Assurances, seeing that in these they dispense so freely with the Certainty. The Instructions which the King gave unto the Dauphin, were found Good and Holy, but they could yield no good fruits, but with a peace. All the rest without it had been of small use, there being nothing whereof a Father, who leaves a young heir, should be more careful, then to leave him his inheritance quiet and assured. Being therefore resolved to give a peace to France, who attended it as a gift from heaven, p There can be nothing given more pleasing, no● more healthful to the people, than a peace, Vt circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata ●●nt, atque iocunda, nihil tam populare quam pacem, quam concordiam, quam otium reperimus. Let us look unto all things that are pleasing and acceptable unto the people, we shall not find any thing more popular than peace, concord, and ease. Cicer● pro Le Agr. he thought to give his son a wife, but not the Princess of England, who was promised him by the Treaty of Piquigny. After the death of the Duchess of Bourgondy, the Gantois had seized upon Prince Philip, Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois. and the Princess Margaret her Children, telling the Archduke Maximilian, that the Guard and Tutele belonged unto them. The King, who desired to have the Princess Margaret married unto the Dauphin, and knew well, that by the Gantois means, the Propositions of the Treaty would be to his advantage, commanded Des cords to make some Overture thereof, with two or three petty Companions of the Town of Gand, who had purchased some credit in the Seditions and Mutinies of the people. These Men sitting their duty to the time and fortune, A proposition of a peace and marriage. transported with private passion (a deadly poison q All passion & private affection is a poison in the conduct and managing of affairs. Peffimum veri affectus & juditij venenum sua evique utilitas. Every man's private interest is a deadly poison to true judgement. Tacit. in Affairs of importance) and distasted with the soft and effeminate command of Maximilian, consent speedily to the Propositions of Des cords, and promise to make them succeed to the King's good liking. There was little pain in the effecting of this business: for the Gantois, to prevent all difficulties which the Father might propound in the marriage of his Daughter told him plainly, that they would have no more wars with France. They insulted over him, doing and undoing many thing contrary to his Intentions. On the other side, Pope Sixtus, both by the reason of his Office, P. Sixtus mediates a peace. as a common Father, and by the Law of Religion, which doth nothing more Christian, r There is nothing more proper for a Christian, then to make peace. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 BASIL. then to make peace, solicited the King and the Archduke thereunto, to join their forces against the common enemy of Christendom, and had sent the Cardinal of Saint Peter ad Vincula to exhort them. The Deputies of either side met at Arras: A Treaty of peace and marriage. they laid open all the Pretences of the Crown of France to the House of Bourgondy. The King's intention was, that the Rivers should return unto the Sea, from whence they came; and his reason was grounded upon the Law of the Realm, which gives no part of Revenues of the Crown in propriety to the Females; and portions given to the Princes of France, pass not to their daughters, when as they leave no sons. s In old time the Infants of the House of France had their Portions in Sovereignty. This was abbrogated in the third race, and so ordered, as the younger sons could not pretend any thing to the Succession of the King their Father, but a provision for their entertainment, the which, (having no Heirs Males) returned to the Crown. Hereupon there was a Sentence given to the benefit of King PHILIP the third for the Earldom of Poitiers, and Lands of Awergne against CHARLES the first, King of Sicily, brother to Saint LEWIS, in the Parliament of Tousaints, 1283. Finally, upon that Maxim, That the revenues of the Crown are Inalienable, and not subject to prescription: For men cannot prescribe any thing against God, nor private men against the Estate. To apply the square unto the stone, and the Hypothesis unto the Thesis, the King's Deputies did show that the Duchy of Bourgondy, the Franch-County, with the Earldoms of Flanders, Artois, and Henaut, were pieces of the Crown. If their discourse was not in these terms, it was so in substance. The beginnings of the diminution of Flanders, as they of all the great Empires of the world, have been weak, uncertain, and fabulous. t Estates, as all other things in the world, have three times, the beginning, the decrease, and the declining. The Country was peopled by a Colony of Saxons, whom Charlemaigne brought thither, governed under the authority of the Crown of France, by their Lords Foresters. u The Governors and Guardians of Flanders (saith Mr. du 〈◊〉) before Baldwin, surnamed Iron-Arme, were Officers mutable at the will of the Kings of France, although that some sons have succeeded in their father's Offices, for that that they were heirs of their virtues, & were called Foresters, not that their charge was only upon the land, being fall of Forest for coals, but the guard of the sea was also commutted to them. The Estate began by Baldwin, surnamed Iron-arme, and continued in his posterity; but as it ended by Maud, daughter to Baldwin the fifth, Flanders passed under the commands of the Dukes of Normandy, then of Thierry, Earl of Alsatia, who married Sibilla, daughter to Foulques of Anjou, King of jerusalem, and had but one daughter, who was heir to the Earldom of Flanders, and married to Baldwin the fourth of that name, Earl of Henaut; of this marriage came Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, the eighth of that name, who was Emperor of Constantinople, who died at Andrinopile, who left but two daughters; joane, who died without children, and Margaret, Countess of Flanders, x Margaret, Countess of Flanders, who reigned thirty years, had two husbands, the first was Bourcher, an Englishman, by who she had one son, which died young: and William of Dampierre, second son to Archambauld, Lord of Bourbon, Father to Guy, Earl of Flanders, Father to Robert of Bethunes. who married William of Bourbon, Guy, Earl of Flanders son to Archamb●uld, Lord of Bourboun: He was father to three sons; William, who died without children; Guy Earl of Flanders, and john, Lord of Dampierre. Guy, Earl of Flanders, married Maud, daughter and heir to Robert (others named him Fegard) of Bethunes, Robert of Bethunes. by whom he had five sons, and three daughters: Robert of Bethunes his son, who hath deserved the surname of Great, as well for the greatness of his virtue as his fortune, succeeded him. Charles of Anjou, King of Sicily, brother to Saint Lewis, gave means to acknowledge his valour more gloriously, having set two Crowns upon his head, by the Victory of the battle of Benevent, y Battle of Benevent, the 10 of February, 1565. where as Manfroy, bastard to Conrade, whom he had poisoned, was slain. whereas the Parricide Manfroy ended his tyranny, honour and life. He had enjoyed them longer, and more happily, if he had followed the council of this Prince, z Robert of Bethunes, Earl of Flanders, did not allow of the death of Conradyne: The History, which detests it, reserves him this honour: Vtrique nou● ac regio nomine indigno crudelitatis in or be Christiano example fecuri vitam eripit frustra Flandriae Comite monente, generosum victorem decêre moderationem, & clementiam. Sed vicit vox cruenta vita Conradini, mors Caroli; mors Conradini, vita Caroli. He took away both their I was by an example of cruelty, which was new in the Christian world, and unworthy the name of a King, the Earl of Flanders ●●lling him in vain, that moderation and clemency did become a generous victor; but that cruel voice prevalid: The life of Conradine is the death of Charles, and the death of Conradine is the life of Charles. who found the death of Conradine and Frederick of Austria, Prisoners taken in the war, barbarous and inhuman. Of this Marriage Charles was borne who died young, a Charles of Bethunes' son to Robert Earl of Bethunes died at a eleven years of age. They writ that he brought from his mother's womb the figure of a Cross betwixt his shoulders. and Lewis who was father to Lewis the second, Lewis the second of Bethunes. Earl of Flandes▪ He married Margaret of France, daughter to Philip the Long, who treating of the conditions of this Marriage would that Robert of Bethunes his Grandfather, should declare the children that were to be borne of this marriage, Earls of Flanders▪ This Lewis of Bethunes, surnamed of Cress, for that he died at the battle of Cress, Lewis the third of Bethunes. left one some called also Lewis, and surnamed of Milan: These so divers names have but one Spring▪ Milan is Bethunes, and Bethunes is Flanders: The greatest Families of Europe have forgotten their first names to continue them of their portions and successions: So we see Bourbon for France, Austria for Habspourg, and in this Genealogy of the Earls of Flanders, Dampierre for Bourbon, Bethunes for Flanders, and without any other distance, but from father to son, Nevers and Milan for B●thunes. Lewis of Bethunes, or of Milan, married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Brabant, and had his only daughter Margaret, who was first married to Philip Duke of Bourgundy, and afterwards to Philip the Hardy, son to King john. From this truth we must conclude, that the Crown of France, had the right of homage, and of Sovereignty over the Earldom of Flanders, before this marriage. The like is said of the Towns of Lisle, Dovay, Orchies, and Bethunes. Consequently, Artois cannot be separated from France, no more than the Earldom of France from whence it is come, County of Artois. for the parties follow the nature of their whole. King Lewis the ninth, performing the will of Lewis the eighth, his father, gave it for a portion to his brother Robert, upon condition that he should not transfer it to the daughters which should be borne of his marriage with Maude daughter to the Duke of Brabant: For these reasons, the treaty of Arras betwixt King Charles the seventh, and Philip the second Duke of Bourgundy, did expressly reserve the Fealty, Homage, and Sovereignty, of those lands which did hold of the Crown. b King Lewis the eighth, disposed after this manner of the Country of Artois, Volumus & ordonamus quod filliusnoster secund●● natu habeat totamterram Attrebatensemin feudis & domanijs & totam aliam terram quam ex part matris nostrae Elizabeth, possidemus saluo dotalitio matris suae. Quod si idem qui Attrebatensium tenebit sine haeredem decedat volumus quod terra tota Attrebatensis & alia terra quam tenet ad filium nostrum Regni nostri successorem & liberos integrè redeat. The Franch-County hath made a part of the ●state under Cloves, The Franch-county. and Clo●ilde. The Duchy of Bourgundy hath always been one of the goodliest Flowers. Henry the first, King of France, gave it to Robert of France his brother for his portion; His posterity hath held it unto Philip the son of E●des. Philip the fourth, married joane, the eldest daughter of King Philip the Long: c Philip the Long had four daughters by the Lady joane of Bourgundy; joane married to the Duke of Bourgundy, Margaret married to Lewis of Crecy, Isable married to Guy Dauphine of Viennois, who was slain with an arrow before the Castle of Lapierre, and Blanche a Nun, in the Monastery of Louchan, near Paris. By this alliance, the two Bourgundies' were united, and of this marriage came Philip Prince of Bourgundy, who was married to joane daughter to Robert Earl of Bulloyne, who died at the battle of Crecy, Philip his son, surnamed the Rove: succeeded in the Duchy of Bourgundy after his grandfathers death, in the year, one thousand three hundred fifty and four; He was married young to Margaret of Flanders, the only daughter to Lewis the third, Earl of Flanders, and died at the age of twenty four years, in in the year, one thousand four hundred three score and two: By his death the Duchy of Bourgundy came unto the Crown, by the right of return, and by proximity of blood, King john being found nearest to the succession. This proximity is easy to verify, being certain that Robert, Duke of Bourgundy had four sons, and two daughters, by Agnes of France, daughter to King Saint Lewis, Hugh, or Hughues, Eudes, Lewis, Robert, joane, and Margaret; Hughues was Duke and died without children; Eudes succeeded him, joane was married to Philip of Vallois, father to King john, who only remained of the discendants of Robert: Philip the Hardy, Duke of Bourgundy. He caused it to be united and incorporated to the Crown, and gave it to Philip the Hardy, his son, by reason of his service and recommendation. d In the investiture which bears date the 6. of September, 1363. we read these words. Ad memoriam reducentes grata & laud digna seruitia, quae charissimus Phillippus filius noster quarto genitus, qui sponte expositus mortis periculo nobiscū●mperterritus & impavidus stint in acie prope Fictauos vulneratus captus, & detentus in hostium potestate: ibi & post liberationem nostram h●cten●s exhibuit ind●fessevero amore filiali ductus ex quibus suam merito cupientes honorare personam, perpetuoque praemio fulcire, sibi paterno correspondentes ●more spem & fiduciam gerentes in domino, quod ipsius crescente providentia dicti nostri subditi Ducatus eiusdem, à suis oppressionibus relevabuntur. The Deputies of Flanders were well instructed what they should answer, and if they had not been a denial had served for a sufficient reason, for in disputes of consequence, to consent were base, and to deny wisdom. They said, that reasons drawn from Laws, and Customs observed, did not prove that successions, Fees, and the place of Peers, were incompatible with the quality of women: judith daughter to Charles the Bald, brought unto her successors Earls of Flanders, the Low Countries, with their largest limits: e The ancient bounds of the County of Flanders, were betwixt the Ocean Sea, and the Rivers of Escault and Somme. The same Provinces have been governed in divers seasons by women, Margaret of Alsas, joane of Constantinople, and Margaret of Milan. The place of Peers of France hath been held by women. f In France, women are capable to hold the places of Peers, and to give their opinion in the judgement of Peers. Maude Countess of Artois did assist at the Process of Robert Earl of Flanders, in the year 1315. And in this quality, the Duchess of Orliance, and the Countess of Artois, were adjourned to judge the Process of john Monfort Duke of Britain. The examples are in Normandy, Guienne, Tholousa, and Britain. Raou● married the daughter of Lewis King of France, who had Normandy for her Dowry: Eli●or, daughter to William Earl of Guienne had that goodly Province in marriage: Alphonso brother to King S. Lewis, was Earl of Tholousa by his wife: Maude of Artois, g Maude of Artois, caused Robert, Grandchild to Robert the second Earl of Flanders, to be excluded from the succession by two decrees, the one made, by Philip the Fair, at Asmeres, the 9 of October 1309. and the other by Philip the Long, 1318. by the judgement of Philip the Fair, succeeded in the County of Artois, by this only reason that the daughters were capable of this succession, and that representation had no place in the direct line. To all this the Deputies of France answered suddenly; Answers to the objections. That Provinces once united to the Crown can be no more dismembered: That great Empires should endure great changes and alterations, if the Females were made equal to the Males in the right of succession, for their Crowns should not be dismembered into many pieces, for that we find in Commonweals in general, and in Families in particular, more daughters than sons; That if examples had more force than reason, and that they must decide the controversy by the number, they might not contradict the authority of King Philip the Fair, who would that the County of Poictou, which he had given to Philip his son, should return unto the Crown for want of Heirs Male, by reason whereof, when as Eudes the fourth, Duke of Bourgundy, and joane of France his wife, daughter to Philip the Long, had pretended the succession of the County of Poictou, against King Charles the Fair, h Philip the Fair, would that the County of Poictou which he gave to Philip his son, who was afterwards King of France, Surnamed the Long, should return to the Crown for want of Heirs Male, upon condition that the King should be bound to marry the Daughters. they were rejected by a Decree of Parliament given the 22. of February: The same hath been observed in other Portions of the Princes of France, for the Provinces of Berry, Orleans, Anjou, main, the County of Clermont, Artois, Alançcon, perch, and Eureux. The Deputies did not agree upon these points, and the proofs could not be so clear, but there would be still found some exception or diversity: Moreover, they treated for two Princes, who stood not upon words but held all things doubtful, wherefore they thought it fit for the good of a peace to give more power to trust then to jealousy, i In Treaties it is neccessary to use all the cautions which wisdom and foresight can invent, but in the end we must trust them with whom we treat, else it is impossible to resolve any thing. which is a shelf, against which affairs suffer shipwreck: They did wink at many things, and did turn from that which the necessity of affairs did forbid them to encounter: For in Treaties of this sort, He that can give, must give, and he that cannot, must seem liber all of that which he can neither sell nor keep; He that will have all, looseth all. Matters past as they desired, not by the rigour of restitution, but in favour of the marriage of the Dauphin Charles, with Margaret Princess of Flanders; k Margaret of Austria was married to the Dauphin, but she was not his wife, for in the year, one thousand four hundred four score and twelve, He sent her back, and married the Duchess of Britain: She was married to the Prince of Castille, who died in the first year of his marriage. For the Archduke and the Estates representing Prince Philip as Heirs to the Princess Mary, appointed for her Dowry, and promised, the Counties of Artois, Bourgundy, Mafconois, Auxerrois, Salins, Bar-sur-seine, and Noyers' for her, and her Heirs, Males and Females: For want whereof all the aforenamed land should return to Prince Philip, and to his Heirs. l Philip the first, was married to D. joane of Castille, and had many children, Charles the fift, Emperor: Ferdinand King of the Romans, than Emperor, and King of Hungary. D. Elinor Queen of Portugal and France, D. Maria wife to Lewis king of Hungary. D. Isabel Queen of Denmark, D. Katherine, wife to D. john King of Portugal. That if the lands returned to any other but Prince Philip and his Heirs, than the King might retain them until the controversy were decided, for the Towns of Lisle, Dovay and Orchies, the which should be done within three years after the case should happen: The said Signiory should be governed under the Dauphin, who should make satisfaction for the money borrowed in the Counties of Artois and Bourgundy, and suffer that the pensions granted by former Princes should take effect. And if the marriage were not consummated, all those places should return to Prince Philip, reserving only a Dowry of fifty thousand Florins by the year, assigned upon Bois de Vincennes, Montargis, Crecy, and other places of Champagne, Bry, and Touraine: That during the minority of Prince Philip, and before his marriage, the King, nor Dauphin, should not demand the government of his Low Countries: There was a general pardon granted to all banished men of either side, and every man should re-enter into his possessions, without restitution of fruits: m It was also agreed that be Prince of Orange, the Earl of joigny, Leonard of Chalousi●u●, Master William of Baume, signor of Ilain, and Claud of Theolongeon, signor of dirty, comprehended in the peace, should return into the possession of their lands, in Bourgundy, Dauphinè and the Realm. The King also promised to favour the signor of Romont for the recovery of his lands. All privileges given by the Princes should remain to them that had obtained them. The houses of Flanders at Paris, and Conflant, should be restored to Prince Philip, and that of Artois to the Lady Margaret. This marriage was the gate by the which many Families of the Franch-County, passed into France: The Signiors of the house of Chalon, john Dandelot Master of the King's horse, and Balife of Amont, james of Colligny father to Gaspard of Colligny, High Admiral of France, Guy of Rochefort signor of Plwant, Chancellor of France, john of Ache, signor of Verreu, Captain of Dijon, Balife of Auxois and Chamberlain to King Lewis, james of Vaudre, and some others of the house of Movy, and of Saint Fall. These Conditions of such advantage were yielded unto without any difficulty, for the King had won them of Gand, who had the children in their n If they of Gand could have given unto the King the Counties of Namur and Henalt, with all the subjects of that house which speak French, they would willingly have done it, saith Philip de Commines, to weaken Maximilian. possession, and whose only care was to weaken Maximilian, and to take from him all means to arm against them; not considering that flying one mischief they did run into another, giving the King means to have them at his discretion, and that they were like unto the horse, which suffered itself to be bitted and backed by man, to encounter the Stag. During this Treaty, the King was grown so●leane, pale, and disfigured, as a man could hardly know him, and in an other Religion they would have commended him more to have encountered death then to attend it. He was nothing but a shadow and a voice, in the hottest days of Summer his body was content with his own coldness, without seeking any other refreshing. He made difficulty to sign any Articles, not for that he did not allow of them, but to hide the deformity of his grief, o When as age, or sickness, causeth any deformityin a Prince, he should suffer himself to be seldom seen: Tiberius did therefore live out of Rome: Fancies parum decora aetas gravior, valetudo imbecillis saepe risui & fastidio sunt: A deformed face, old age, and 〈◊〉 are often subject to be laughed at, and loathed. L. Lips. ex Tacito. and there was not any one that durst speak unto him, nor demand any thing of him. When as the King of England received advertisement of the resolution of this marriage, Death of the King of England. he was so much grieved as he died: he saw his hopes frustrate in France, and his actions contemned in ●ngland, repenting that he had not given credit to his Council, who thought it necessary to break betimes with the King, & not to suffer him to fortify himself with the ruins of the house of Bourgundy, seizing upon the Towns so near unto England; for the taking of Bollegne did threaten him with the loss of Calais and Guines. Towards the end of his days, he recompensed the toils of his life, and plunged himself in delights, taking care how to make himself fat: That which was superfluous became necessary to him: p The increase of a Neighbour's power, holds a Prince in perplexity, and sometimes in sachirresolution, as not daring to make war, he● doth things prejudicial to peace. Philip de Commines saith, His Exercises and pleasures. that he had no thought but of Ladies (and more than was fit) of Hunting, and to entreat his own person well: When he went a Hunting, he caused many Pavilions to be carried for Ladies, and in this sort made great feasts, for he had a body as fit for it, as any that ever I saw, being young, and as beautiful as any man that lived in his time. q Edward was held in his youth to excel all the Princes of his age, in beauty and stature, but when as he came into France, in the year, one thousand four hundred three score and fifteen, He was grown gross. F●w men become so but by their own means. Entering into the Realm he saw himself surprised with a storm, and expelled by him who had assisted him to conquer it; He retired into Holland with two Hulks, a little Ship, and many men, without money, seeing himself to give a gown furred with ●ables to satisfy the Mariner who had transported him: At the end of six months he re-entered into London, when as his enemies had held him to be lost. In eleven days the Earl of Warwick had won the whole Realm for Henry the sixth, Edward recovers it in twenty days, with the hazard of two great battles. The strongest carried it, r They are sometimes bound to fortune, and sometimes to policy, for the happy events of great enterprises, but most commonly the stronger is the Master. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Occurrat forti qui mage fortis erat. and remained peaceable King, yet with some remorse to have been bound for the quiet possession of his Realm, to the cruelties, and inhumanities', which he committed against his own blood: For he put to death King Henry the sixth, and Edward Prince of Wales his son, with the Duke of Clarence his brother. The cause of this brother's death is not very certain: The most common opinion is, that he would have armed to secure the Princess of Bourgundy, contrary to his brother's liking. Polydore Virgil saith, that informing himself, he learned of them that lived in those times, that King Edward being advertised by a conjuror, s All the answers of Sorcerers are doubtful, and deceive them that trust in them: They spoke truly, meaning the Duke of Gloucester, and the King deceived himself understanding it of his brother of Clarence. that his name that should succeed him began with a G. had a conceit that George, Duke of Clarence, his brother, should take the Crown from his children, Death of the Duke of Clarence the King's brother. and upon this apprehension he put him to death in a But of Malmsey. Others have written, that he sought the Alliance of the Princess of Bourgundy, and that the Duchess Margaret, sister to Edward, favoured his Designs, which the King (not wishing so great a fortune to his brother) hindered. That at the same time one of the Duke's servants, having been condemned to die for poison, the Duke of Clarence was offended, and spoke in such sort as the King, taking his words for threats of some great trouble, caused him to die in prison. t George Duke of Clarence, brother to the King of England, made choice to die in a But of Malme●cy, to die with some content, which an 〈◊〉 dissolution of the soul is wont to cause, as Seneca saith: or to make himself drunk, and to free himself from the horror end feeling of death: Drusus meaning to die of hunger would not eat any thing in nine days but the flocks of his bed. Tacit. l. 6. Annal. An act notwithstanding which did afflict him with such grief and repentance, as remembering the great precipitation of his judgement, procured by his brother's enemies, when as any came to sue for a pardon, for any one that was condemned to die, u Repentance doth, undoubtedly, follow cruel and rash actions: Caracalla having put his brother Get● to death, he did never think of him, or look upon his stature but he wept. He caused Loetus who had persuaded him to this parricide, to be imprisoned, and did all kinds of honour unto his Funeral. Funus Gerae accuratius fuisse dicitur, quam eius qui à fratre videretur occisus. Getas Funeral was performed with more than his that seemed to be murdered by his brother. AELIUS SPARTIANUS. he always said: My poor brother had not any to sue for him, He left two children, Margaret who was married to Richard Poole, and Edward whom the King made Earl of Warwick. All the crosses which Edward had suffered did not so much afflict him, as he received contentment at his return from the wars of France, for the peace which he had brought back, and the Treaty of marriage which he had made of his daughter with the Dauphin of France, and the pension of fifty thousand Crowns: So when he saw the Dauphin married unto the Lady Margaret of Austria, he was so grieved as he resolved to return into France to revenge this injury: Choler and grief were so violent in his soul, as he died, the tenth of April, at Westminster, whereas the Parliament was assembled to resolve upon the war of France. His body was carried to the Castle of Windsor, and interred in S. George's Chapel: He had ten children by Elizabeth his wife, and left Edward Prince of Wales, and Richard Duke of York living. All his life he had been liberal, and died coue●ous: He recommended his wife, His brother murders his children. children, and Realm to Richard Duke of Gloucester, who to have the Crown, put Edward, who had reigned but two months, and Richard, his Nephews, to death. x Edward had a base son called Arthur, his daughters were married to divers Princes, Brigit the last was a religious woman. The daughters were declared Bastards, by the Parliament, for that a Bishop affirmed that he had married Edward unto a Lady of England before that he was married to the Lady Elizabeth Rivers: He caused himself to be Crowned King in july following. The parricide of his two Nephews, caused so great scandal and horror in all the orders of the Realm, and the mother, who had fled into the Sanctuary at Westminster, y This trust, and recommendation of such precious jewels, bound the Duke of Gloucester to have a care of them. IS DIGERDES King of Persia, seeing that ARCADIUS the Emperor his enemy, had recommended his some THEODOSIUS unto him, found himself bound to preserve his Estates, and laying aside all passions of precedent hatred, he proclaimed war against any one that should molest his pupil. having foreseen the rage of this Tiger, filled the City of London with very pitiful and strange complaints, as every man found this greedy and unsatiate desire to reign, inhuman and tyrannous, having forced him brutishly to tear in peecees the Laws of Nature, and to pollute his hands with his own blood. z Churches are Sanctuaries, but they give no safety but to Innocents', and to them that are wrongfully 〈◊〉. The Temples of the Ancient were a Sanctuary to three sorts of men, to Offenders, to Slaves, and to Debtors. God did raise up the Earl of Richmond, Earl of Richmond prisoner to the Duke of Britain. who was prisoner to the Duke of Britain, all good men desired it, to revenge the innocent blood, and this Tyrant, foreseeing that there was nothing to be feared but from that part, sent Thomas Hutton to the Duke of Britain to deal with him that he might not be set at liberty, a Ambition of reign is not restrained neither by the respect of piety, nor the motions of Nature. Cupido regni fratre & fillia potior. The desire of reign is dearer than brother or daughter. Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. seeking the friendship of King Lewis, who would not make any answers unto his Letters, nor hear his Ambassadors, calling him most inhuman, cruel, and wicked, for the most horrible and execrable murder of his Nephews. The King assisted the Earl of Richmond, who being set at liberty by the Duke of Britain, passed into England with three thousand normans, the scum (as Philip de Commines saith) of the whole Province, and was presently fortified, by all them that were offended for the death of their lawful Prince, Earl of Richmond King of England. giving him battle within few days after his arrival, in the which this Tyrant was slain, and the Earl of Richmond acknowledged for King. In all these great revolutions we must confess a Divine justice, which doth early or late revenge iniquities, pursuing them even in the generations of children, who are punished for their forefathers offences: Henry the fourth, caused Richard the second to die in prison, Henry the sixth, his Grandchild, died a prisoner to King Edward the fourth, Richard Duke of Gloucester murders Edward's children, and Richard is slain by Henry Earl of Richmond the seventh of that name. Who can deny▪ but there is an Eternal justice in all this, b When 〈◊〉 ● wicked man commits any villainy, he is presently a prisoner to GOD'S justice, and like a fish he is taken with the bait of pleasure and delight which he hath taken in doing it. which doth punish the wicked by themselves, and makes use of them to scourge others, and it defers public punishment for a time, the secret doth never abandon the crime, and is a perpetual thorn in the offender's soul. Francis Phoebus, son to Gaston Earl of Foix, died also, having succeeded to Elinor of Arragon his grandmother, Death of Francis Phoebus King of Navarre. he being but twelve years old, and reigned under the government of his mother. c The Lady Magdaline of France during her sons minority carried this Title: Magdaline, Daughter and Sister to the Kings of France, Princess of Viana, Governess to our most dear, and well-beloved son, Francis Phoebus, by the Grac● of GOD King of Navarre. The Realm of Navarre was so divided, as it had need of a Prince of more great respect and far better experience, and yet for that he was near allied to the Kings of France and Castille, the most factious were quiet, and took the oath of Allegiance, when as he entered with incredible applause into the Town of Pampelone, the tenth of December, in the year, one thousand four hundred four score and two. Presently after his Coronation, Ferdinand King of Castille offered him joane his second daughter in marriage: The Queen his mother did still protest that her will did wholly depend upon King Lewis the eleventh her brother: The History of Spain saith that he had a desire to marry her to D. joane, a Nun at Coimbra, to the end he might renew the pretensions which she had to the Realm of Castille, as daughter to Henry the fourth; and by this means, he did always assure himself of the County of Rousillon. But when as his mother had brought him back into Bearne, he was poisoned at Pau, playing on a Flute. He died with this grief that his life nor death did not profit any man, d As no man should desire to live to himself alone, so that death is honourable which is employed for the public: Turpe est sibi soli vivere & mori. Plut. there being nothing that doth more trouble a great spirit then when he lives and dies not for himself. Dying he spoke these holy words, which the mouth of the Son of God pronounced a little before his death: My Kingdom is not of this world: If he had lived, he was borne to be a great Prince, but the world (to speak truly) is so small a matter, as the Philosopher had reason to mock at Alexander, who had carried the Title of Great. e Alexander would be instructed in Geometry, to learn the greatness of the earth, He found that the Title of Great, which he carried, was false, considering: Quam pusilla terra esset, ex qua minimum occupaverat: Quis enim esse magnus in pusillo potest▪ How little the earth was whereof he held the least part, who can be great in a small thing. Sen. The Lady Catherine his sister succeeded him, Katherine of Foix, Queen of Navarre. and was married to john of Albret; john of Foix, Viscount of Narbona her Uncle, did quarrel with her for the Earldoms of Foix and Bearn, saying that these lands, lying within the Realm of France, whereas women did not succeed, Queen Katherine could not pretend any thing, and did by force seize upon Maseres and Monthaut, and besieged Pamiers, but could not take it. Queen Katherine advertised King Lewis the eleventh with this invasion, f France doth furnish many examples against the Viscount of Foix, to show that the daughters, being nearest of blood, did exclude the Males that were farther off. who sent Commissioners into the Country to forbid the Viscount of Narbona to proceed by way of fact, upon pain of losing his right. This controversy was of such importance as he himself would be judge thereof, Controversy for the lands of Foix, Bern, and Bigorre. and after him Charles the eighth was Arbitrator: In the end they must pass by the censure of the Court Parliament of Paris: john of Foix Viscount of Narbona, and after his decease, the King's Attorney General, as Tutor and Gardien to Gaston of Foix his son, said against Katherine of Foix, that daughters being uncapable of dignities, by reason of their sex, might not succeed in the Realm, g King Charles the eighth, sought to make an agreement betwixt the parties, and therefore committed it to the Cardinal of Foix, and Monsieur D'Alby, but seeing they could not agree, he sent them to the Court Parliament, All which proceed in writing were imparted unto me by Master Galland, one of the most famous Advocates of the Parliament. duchies, or Counties, but only the Males, and that they might not dispose thereof by Testament. h When as they say that women are incapable of dignities, it is to be understood of charges, which consist in Functions and Offices. A Woman cannot be a Consul, a Precedent, or a Chancellor; but when the dignity is patrimonial, and annexed to the Fee, such a dignity may belong unto a woman, as well as the jurisdiction. The King caused a Consultation to be made of all the learned Lawyers of his Realm, to know what his Nieces right was. They found that it depended upon this Maxim; That the Nephew, or Grandchild represents his Father and Grandfather in the right of Primogeniture, or first borne. That this right is transferred to the children of the elder, although he die before the Father, and holds the place of lawful heir. They did also consider the custom, and common observation of this Realm, where the eldest son dying, and leaving a son, he succeeds the Grandfather, as his Father should have done: The grandfathers second-sonne being excluded from all pretension: for the Nephew excludes the Uncle, and representation hath place in this Realm, in Fees which are not divisible. In the time of King Charles the fifth, his Majesty sitting with the Peers of France in his Court of Parliament, joane of Britain, married to Charles of Blois, i Charles of Blois, and the Lady joane of Britain his wife, did enjoy this Duchy five & twenty years, or thereabouts, until that john of Montford being succoured by the Forces of England, slew Charles of Blois in battle, and expelled his wife out of the Duchy. was declared heir to the Duchy of Britain, as representing her Father, against john, Earl of Montfort, her uncle. She was daughter to the Duke of Brittanies' second brother, and the Earl of Montfort was the third brother. alain, Lord of Albret, as son unto the eldest, Viscount of Tartas, who was deceased, succeeded his Grandfather in the Lands of Albret, and excluded from the succession the Lord of Sancte Bazille his uncle, and the Lord of Oruall, his Grandfathers younger brother. k In the house of Albret there are many Earldoms: The Earldom of Gaure, the Earldom of Dreux, the Earldom of Peyragore, and many Vicounties and Baronies. They held that house in the time of King Lewis the eleventh, to have six thousand pound sterling of yearly rent. King Philip, in the year 1314. did judge the suit betwixt Maud, daughter to the Earl of Artois, and Robert of Artois her Uncle; and by his judgement it was decreed, that the daughter should succeed, as the nearest unto her father. Lewis, Earl of Flanders, had but one daughter, the richest heir of Christendom, the which succeeded her father in the Earldom of Flanders, excluding the Duke of Brabant her Uncle, and was married to Philip of France, son to King john, and first Duke of Bourgondy, l The Treaty of Marriage betwixt the Duke of Bourgondy, and Margaret, Princess of Flanders, was made the twelfth of April, one thousand three hundred sixty nine. the Duchy of Guienne, which comprehends all Gasconie, as well that which is of the jurisdiction of Tolouse, as of Bourdeaux, and more, was carried to the Crown of England, by the marriage of the daughter of William Duke of Guienne, with Henry King of England. m Elinor, the only daughter to William, Duke of Guienne, and Earl of Poitiers, was married to Lewis, King of France; and being put away by him, she married again to HENRY, son to the King of England, and Duke of Normandy. Henry, King of Navare, & Earl of Champagne, left one daughter, who was married to K. Philip the Fair, and succeeded her Father in the Earldom of Champagne. The last Earl of Poictou n The County of Poictou, and the Town of Poitiers were united to the Crown by King Charles the seventh, in the year 1436. had one daughter named Margaret, who was married to the eldest son of France, and succeeded her Father, notwithstanding that the Earl of Saint Valier, her Uncle, was then living. Raymond, the fifteenth and last Earl of Tolousa, dying without Issue Male, joane his only daughter succeeded him, and was married to Alphonso of France, brother to the King Saint Lewis. o The marriage of Alphonso of France, and joane, Coumtesse of To●ouse, was treated in the year 1228. Matthew, Earl of Foix, dying without children in the year 1398. his sister, surnamed Isabel, succeeded him, and was married to Archambaut of Grailly. Lewis of Luxemburge, Earl of St. Paul, had many children, but his eldest sons daughter, who was married to to the Earl of Vandosme, was sole heir of all his lands, as representing her Father, who was the eldest. p They hold that the Countess of Vendosme did not succeed in the Earldom of Saint Paul by right of succession, but by a Treaty of peace, and that her Uncles were all incapable of this succession, for that the Lands of Lewis of Luxemburg her father, had been confiscate. The Earl of Lauragais left but one daughter, who succeeded in the Earldom, whereof she made donation to the French King. The Earl of Castres' had one daughter, who was married to a younger son of the house of Bourbon, Earl of March, who after her father's decease, succeeded in the Earldoms of Castres', and Vandosme, and excluded them of Montfort, who were her Uncles, from the succession. Of this marriage were borne two sons, james of Bourbon the elder, who was Earl of March, and of Castres': and the younger who was Earl of Vandosme. james of Bourbon married Beatrix of Navarre: q james of Bourbon, Earl of March, married with Beatrix, daughter to Charles the second, King of N●uarre, the fifteenth of August, one thousand four hundred and five. Elinor their only daughter, was married to Bernard, Earl of Armaignac and Perdiac, who after her father's death succeeded as well in the Earldom of March, as of Castres', and excluded the Earl of Vandosme from the succession. True it is, that these Earldoms have remained in the house of Bourbon by transaction. r The King made Donation of the Earldom of March, to Monsieur de Bourbon, and his wife: The Duke of Nemours children being restored to their Lands, there was a suit to overthrow this Donation, and then an Accord was made, by the which the Earldom of March remained to the house of Vendosme and Bourbon, the Duke of Nemours children being otherwise recompensed. William, Viscount and Lord of Mountpellier, although he had many kinsmen of his name, had no other heir but his daughter Mary, wife to Peter, King of Arragon. Peronelle, s Du Tillet saith, that this Peronella of Bigorre, had five husbands: 1. Gaston of Bearne. 2. Ninion Sans, Earl of Sardaine. 3. Guy of Montford. 4. Rao●l Tescu. 5. Boson of Mathas. daughter to the Earl of Bigorre, succeeded her father in the Earldom of Bigorre, in the year, one thousand two hundred sixty four, and was married to Boson of Mathas, Viscount of Marsan and Gabardan. Of this marriage issued D. Mathea, married to Gaston, Prince of Bearne, who succeeding her father and mother, brought unto the principality of Bearne, those goodly pieces of Bigorre, Marsan, and Gabardan. In like manner by the daughter of Gaston, Prince of Bearne, named Margaret, married to Roger Bernard, Earl of Foix, all that is come unto the house of Foix. Examples which serve to confirm this general custom observed within the Realm: That in all duchies, Counties, Vicounties, Baronies, Lands and Signiories, the daughters being nearest in degree have succeeded, and been preferred before the Males. So as if King Lewis the eleventh had lived, he would have decided this controversy, in giving sentence for the Niece against the Uncle: His judgement had been grounded, first upon the right of the first borne, and representation: secondly, upon the conventions of marriage betwixt Gaston of Foix, and the Lady Magdalen of France, making express mention, that the children which should be borne, should succeed in all the lands of Foix and Bigorre, then held by Gaston of Foix, her father. Thirdly, upon the ancient customs and observances of the Realm. Fourthly, upon the testament and last will of the Earl of Foix. Alphonso of Portugal died also at the same time: Death of Alphonso, K. of Portugal. he had his share in the miseries of Kings, he entered a child into the Realm, t Such as God gives the prince, such must the people receive him; but the wisest of all Kings saith, Unhappy is that Realm which is commanded by a child. Metius Falconius Nicomachus approving the Election which the Senate had made of Tacitus, being old and broken, used these words: Dij avertant principes pueros & pats patriae dici impuberes & quibus ad subscribendum magistri literatij manus teneant quos ad Consulatus dandos dulcia & circuli & quaecunque puerilis voluptas invitet. Quae malum ratio est habere Imperatorem qui samam curare non noverit, qui quid sit Respub. nesciat, nutritorem time at, respiciat ad nutricem manum, magistralium ictibus, terrorique subiaceat, faciat eos consuls, Deuces, judices, quorum vitas, merita, aetates, familias et gesta non noverit. God forbidden the Princes and Fathers of the Country should be termed children▪ whose hands their masters must hold when they subscribe, and who are drawn to give Offices with childish delights: What a misery is it to have an Emperor which knows not how to maintain his fame▪ nor what a Commonweal is, who fears his Tutor and is subject to stripes and terror, and shall make them Consuls, Dukes, and judges, whose lives, merits, ages, families and actions he doth not know. which was ill for himself, and worse for his subjects. His mother Elinor, sister to john the second, King of Arragon, was deprived by the Estates, of the Regency which her Father had left her: Peter, Duke of Coimbra, caused her to be poisoned. Alphonso took Arms to revenge his mother's death: Peter was slain before Lisbon with a poisoned Arrow. They would have married Alphonso to joane, the supposed daughter of Henry the fourth, King of Castille: this Tragedy hath been formerly played. He died at Sinta, being nine and forty years old, in the year one thousand four hundred, eighty two, and the three and fortieth of his reign, and was interred in the Royal Monastery of the Battle of the order of preaching Friars. After the wars betwixt him and the King of Castille, and the unfortunate voyage which he made into France, he did nothing but languish. He saw himself forced to pass into France for succours. Fortune could not set him in a more wretched estate for there is nothing so miserable, as to see a Prince expelled his Country, and begging. Pity is presently changed into contempt, and the consideration of that which is honest, doth not oversway that which is profitable. They may well say, that kings are brethren, that one royal blood calls another, that their interests are common, that Rome is his mother, the Senators his fathers, their children his brethren; yet if the aid which he demands, doth not benefit him that gives it, he shall return more discontented than he came. u In great deliberations, profit goes before honesty. Demetrius, son to Seleucus, having been given in hostage, and bred up from his infancy at Rome, entreated the Romans to restore him to his Realm, which was held by the children of Antiochus; and to move them thereunto, he called Rome his Country and Nurse, the Senators his fathers, and their children his brethren. But for all this the Senate inclined to that which was most safe and profitable, they assisted the children of Antiochus, being weak and young, suspecting much the great courage of Demetrius, who was in the flower of his age. Polib. Thus behold three Kings embarked almost at one instant in the ship of Death, Death of the Duchess of Bourbon. only God knows the port whereunto they are arrived: he did call at the same time, the Lady jane of France, Duchess of Bourbon, to the end that Lewis should not be grieved to leave the world. The Chronicle calls this Princess, Most noble, Powerful, Holy, and the example of good livers. She died in the Castle of Moulins, in May, 1482. She had laboured all her life to entertain love and friendship betwixt the King her brother, and the Duke of Bourbon her Husband, knowing that the concord of France, and the greatness of her household, depended thereon, and we may ascribe unto her, the glory of the peace which was made at Ryon, by the which the principal firebrands of the great fire of the league, were quenched; Whereupon all they that loved quiet, cast their eyes upon those of this Princess, and held them the Pleyades of France, whose sweet Influences made the Olive-tree of peace to flourish. x Princesses, by whose means peace doth flourish, are the Pleyades of Estates, wherein they are allied. Pliny saith, that the Olive-tree springs under the Influence of the Pleyades. Con●ipiunt oleae virgiliarū exortu haec sydus illarum est. Polybius saith, that among the Grecians the Caduce, and among the Barbarians the Olive is a sign of peace & friendship. At the same time died john of Bourbon, the second of that name, Earl of Vendosme. Here amazement stays me suddenly, why in all the History of King Lewis the eleventh, Philip de Commines hath never made any mention of that Nursery of Caesar's and of Alexander's, and of that Royal branch which hath brought forth the greatest King that ever aware Crown or Sceptre. He speaks of four sons of john the second, Duke of Bourbon, of Charles Cardinal of Bourbon, of Peter, Lord of Beaujeu, of the Bishop of Liege, and makes no mention of john the second, Earl of Vandosme, who lived under the reign of Charles 7, and continued unto the end of Lewis 11. we must not wonder if the Chronicle hath forgotten it, it doth often follow toys, and leaves most famous actions. As there are injuries which are repaired by the quality only of them that do them, y The baseness of him that doth a wrong, defaceth the fearing of the injury. Crates having received a blow on the face by Nicodromus, a Man of base condition, was contented for revenge to set these words upon his wound: Nicodromus faciebat. so we see writings of so poor a fashion, as it is indifferent whether they be inserted or not. But how comes it to pass that so diligent, so exact, and so judicious a Writer had never cast his eyes upon this house, which had held all them of France in admiration, and had not spoken of the actions of john the second, Earl of Vendosme, which were no works of ambition, but of virtue, and had not glory for their simple object, but the contentment of his own conscience, desiring rather they should be graven in the memory of good men, then upon the front of public works. An Historian that doth surpass honour, wrongs the public, and as a sacrilege doth ravish the recompense of virtue, z The sweetest fruit of a great and heroic action, is to have done it: they are deceived which think to give any other glory unto virtue, than itself. She cannot find out of herself any recompense worthy of herself. and doth envy the fruit that may grow thereby. For although that men may be borne generous, and full of heat for the love of virtue, yet it is needful that the precepts and Images be often represented unto them, and that the statues which 〈◊〉 set up in the Temple of memory, graven with the sciffers of eternity, should be showed them; yet it is not sufficient to show them adorned with the Palms and Crowns of their Triumphs; they would have them represented in such sort as they may seem to breath, speak, and say unto them: a men's minds are excited to the love of virtue, by the examples of glory & honour, which adorns the memory of men whom she hath made famous: werefore Polybius saith, that they did represent to the youth of Rome, their Images, as living & breathing, to encourage them to that desire of honour which doth accompany good men. Poly. lib. 6. You shall be as we are, if you will live as we did. This labour may have great defects: they are found in the most perfect, A History should be free from love or hatred. but they shall rather seem to come from want of judgement, then of will, the which I find free, in this kind of writing, from hatred and love, furious passions which disguise both truth and falsehood. They shall rather reproach me with ignorance, then with lying, and my writings shall always have more salt than spleen; with what face shall they appear in this age, so much bound unto the King's glorious actions, if they were dishonoured as the rest, with so injurious a forgetfulness of his Predecessors. john, Earl of Vendosme, great great Grandfather to Henry the fourth, King of France and Navarre, was son to Lewis, Lord Steward of France, and Governor of Picardy, son to Lewis, Earl of vendosme, son to john, Earl of March, son to james, Constable of France, the younger son of Lewis of Clermont, Duke of Bourbon, eldest son to Robert of France, second son to S. Lewis. His Grandmother was Katherine, heir to the house of Vendosme, his mother joane of Lavall, daughter to Guy of Lavall, surnamed dé Gaure. b The Signiory of Laval was erected to an Earldom by K. Charles the seventh; at the instance of Lewis of Bourbon, Earl of Vandosme, & was the first act of Sovereignty which he did after his Coronation. His father died in the year of our Lord 1447. and this death happened in a time so full of troubles, as he was forced to gird his sword unto him, more for the necessity of common defence, then by reason of his quality, or for seemliness. He passed his first Apprenticeship in Arms, under the brave Achilles of France, john of Orleans, Earl of Dunois, and was at the siege of Roven, Bourdeaux and Fronsac with john, Earl of Clermont, son of Charles Duke of Bourbon, and Carls of Bourgondy, Duke of Nevers. He served King Charles the seventh in all occasions that were offered to restore France; and to free it from the oppressions of her enemies, and did merit the Title of Most faithful servant of his Kings will, and an invincible companion of his dangers. These two qualities which should have purchased him love with his successor, loyalty of the Earl of Vandosme. were the cause of his disgrace, wherein he did comfort himself by the knowledge he had of this Prince's humour, who did not love any of his blood, nor them whom his Father had loved. This was not able to withdraw him from his duty: for he still preserved the reputation of the ancient fidelity of them of his house unto the Crown. c This branch of Vandosme hath that of glorious, that it hath never left their kings, in a manner all the Princes of France were of the league of the Commonweal; yet john, Earl of Vandosme, would not hearken to it. When as the Duke of Orleans took Arms against the Lady Anne of France, he drew unto his party Charles, Earl of Angoulesme, the chief Noblemen of France; only the house of Vendosme remained with the King's Governess. And although that john the second Duke of Bourbon had declared himself of the league of the Commonweal, for that the King had dispossessed him of the government of Guienne, from whence he had expelled the English, and had reduced it under the obedience of the Crown, yet would he not embark himself in the same ship; and for that he would not look upon this storm from a safe shore, he was present at the battle at Montlehery, with Francis and Lewis his children; one of which was prisoner to the Earl of Charolois. As the example of the head of his house did not make him revolt, so the feeling of his own interest did not make him discontented. His father had carried the Staff of Lord Steward, and his great grandfather the sword of Constable of France. King Lewis the eleventh disposed of the one and the other in favour of men, as far inferior in comparison of his merits, as in qualities of his birth; yet he did not murmur, nor seem discontented, considering that it is no more lawful for the greatest Prince of the blood, then for the least Officer of the Crown to prescribe a law to the Sovereign's will, to make it yield unto his passions; and that the elections of Kings, in the distributions of honours, are not subject to the rules of distributive justice, which observes a proportion betwixt recompense and merit. d The King of France holding his Crown of God only, & the ancient Law of the Realm, distributes honours as he pleaseth. It is a great violence to force a a mind full of courage, to hate that which he loves, and to ruin that which he hath raised. In the end this charge of Lord Steward is returned into the house from whence it went: It did honour others, Charles of Bourbon, Earl of Soissons doth honour it at this day by the great and goodly qualities which heaven adds to the greatness of his birth: he restored order in the king's house, and revived the glory of his majesties service. With the same courage that john the second followed the King against his rebellious subjects, he served him against foreign enemies, e He was present at the great Assembly at Ambois, with all the Princes of the blood, and the chief Officers of the Crown, to resolve a war against the house of York in England, & against the duke of Brittany, where there was a league made for the defence of the house of Lancaster, and Edward, son to King Henry the sixth, was married to the Earl of Warwick's daughter. and was employed with the Duke of Bourbon to disperse the storm wherewith King Edward the fourth threatened France, being come thither not so much to fight as to receive the triumph which the vanity of his ambition promised him. The proofs of his service are not verified by those of recompense; and we may say, that this Prince, being not present at the distributions of the great honours of the Realm, had no great share in the King's favours and bounty: We see him hold his rank at the Coronation, and in the Assembly of the Estates, but being none of those that were honoured with the first colours of the Order of Saint Michael, he hath remained in the rank of those great Spirits, whose contentment depends only of themselves. All the Princes of the blood cannot have all the honours of the Realm. All Planets make not a shadow: the refusal of a dignity augments the glory of him that hath well deserved it, and the concession doth not make him famous that is unworthy. f They ordained statues for them that had made war in Africa against Tacfarinates, though they did not vanquish him. Dolabella went thither, defeated him, & slew him; he demanded the same honours which had been given to others, which Tiberius refused, & Taci●us thereupon said, Sed neque; Blesus illustrior & huic negatus honor gloriam intendis. He had six daughters, joane of Bourbon, married to john the second, Duke of Bourbon: Catherine, married to Gilbert of Chabannes: joane, wife to Lewis of joyeuse: Charlotte, married to Engelbert of Cleves; Earl of Nevers: René, Abbess of Paints, and then of Fonteverard, and Isabella, Abbess of Caen, and two sons, Lewis Earl of Vendosme, g Lewis of Bourbon ha● 2 sons, john Earl of Vendosme, and Lewis of Roche-sur you head of the house of Montpensier. who married Mary of Luxemburg, and Charles his eldest son, the first Duke of Vendosme, married Frances of Alencon, and had by her seven sons, and six daughters: the second of his sons was Anthony, who married joane of Albret, Queen of Navarre, and heir of the house of Foix, Albret, Bearn, and Armagnac. Of their marriage was borne Henry the fourth, king of France and Navarre: their third son was Lewis of Bourbon, Prince of Condé, father to Henry, Prince of Condé, to Henry Prince of Conty, to the Cardinal of Vendosme, and to Charles, Earl of Soissons, and Grand-fahter to Henry, Prince of Condé, first Prince of the blood. The younger son of john the 2d Earl of Vendosme, was Lewis, head of the branch of Montpensier, and of Roche-sur-yon, whom death hath cut off from this great tree. There remains one daughter, promised to the Duke of Orleans, the King's second son. Death freed the Earl of Vendosme from the cares which a longer life had augmented by the jealousies and distrusts which the King conceived of all the Princes of his blood, & which kept him continually in the divers agitations of hatred and fear. It is impossible but that he who by his extreme rigours & severities hath offended many, should fear always: he cannot trust his subjects as his Children, seeing he hath not entreated them as a Father, h Love is a strong guard of a Prince's person. Agesilaus said, that he would live safe without guards, if he commanded his Subjects as a good father doth his children. He must be beloved of his subjects, and feared of strangers. Amorem apud populares, me●● apud hostes quaerat. Tacit. he hath his share of the fear which he hath made common. Wheresoever he casteth his eyes, he seethe marks of his severity; so he findeth not any one but puts him in fear: he hath fear of his Children, fear before him, and fear behind: and as in his life he had always desired more to be feared then loved, so in the end he found himself composed of the same humour, fearing more than he loved. Hitherto it seemeth he did not trust any man but Peter of Bourbon, Lord of Beaujeu, his son-in-law, in whom he had so great a confidence, as he referred unto him all the care of his affairs, when as the pleasure of hunting entertained him in the Forests, not for some few days, but whole months. The Author of the Annals of the house of Bourbon, who hath seen the originals of many great treaties, speaks after this manner: This Peter of Bourbon, Lord of Beaujeu was in such favour with the king, as his Majesty desiring to retire himself from affairs, kept commonly at Chamois and places thereabout, a Country, at that time, full of wood, and wild beasts, causing the said Lord Peter of Bourbon, his son-in-law, to remain at Montereau-faut-yonne, to be chief of the Council, to whom all men repaired for their dispatches which had any business in Court. i A Prince must be feared and loved, but for that it is difficult to have these two things concur together, it were better and more safe to be feared, for that Princes which have grounded themselves upon the love of the people, have found, that there is nothing more inconstant, & men do sooner offend him that makes himself to be loved, than he that is feared, yet must they not in seeking to be feared, make themselves odious. The King loved the woods and hunting to free himself from cares, reposing all upon the said Lord of Beaujeu. His Majesty also said, That he did hate deadly them of Bourgondy, Anjou, Alencon, and the Dukes of Brittany for their pride. And contrariwise, that he loved Charles of Artois, Earl of Yew, for that he retained nothing of the arrogancy of his predecessors, and them of Bourbon more for their mildness and humility. k It is not the first testimony which the kings of France have given of the mildness, wisdom and moderation of the Princes of the house of Bourbon. When as King Charles the ●s●h, passed from Au●gaon, (where he had seen Pope Clement the sixth) into La●gueclock to settle an order for the coplaints of the Country against the oppressions which they had suffered under the government of the Duke of Berrie his uncle he commanded the Dukes of Berrie and Burgundy to retire, and would not have any other prince ne●re unto his presence, but Lewis, duke of Bourbon, his uncle by the mother's side, and john of Bourbon Earl of March & of V endosme whom he loved infinitely, giving a reason hereof openly, That he loved those Princes, for that they had never served any other master, and had never had any ambition nor design against the state, neither had they ever given him any occasion to complain of them. This virtue was never found in a great spirit, but it did purchase power and affection with others. Pride is barren, humility fructifieth: a vine spreading upon the earth bears excellent fruit, the high and straightest Cypres-trees are unfruitful. He was not so bountiful of his favours to the Lord of Beaujeu, but he was as sparing to the Duke of Bourbon his brother: he had an implacable hatred against john, Duke of Bourbon, son to Charles, the Achilles of France. This hatred was nourished with a fresh apprehension, for that this Prince lamenting the disorders of the State, the miseries and oppressions of the people, and the bad usage which Charles, Duke of Berrie suffered, had laid the first foundations of the league, had left it by the Treaty of Ryon, and re-entered again into it upon despite, for that during this Treaty, the Duke of Milan, by the King's commandment, had overrun and ruined his Country of Beaujolois and Forrest. But for that he was a Prince of great power, great courage, and great credit in the heart of all France: he would not evaporate this fire of revenge and indignation which he had against them, and considered rather what he might do, than what he should do. And the Duke, who was acquainted with the disposition of this King, knew well, that all Princes writ offences done them in brass, and the service which they receive, upon sand; wherefore he remained long in his Duchy of Bourbonois, and would not come to Court. The King, whose chief care was to weaken his enemies, and to divide them, gave him the government of Languedoc, dissembling the remembrance of things past. Upon this assurance the Duke of Bourbon showed that he did not breath any thing, but the King's service; neither had he any greater content, then to yield him proofs equal to his affection: and therefore he followed him to Peronne, and we must believe that without him in this voyage he had given his Enemies more courage to execute those dangerous counsels, having resolved to stay him: For besides the respects of Alliance, the Duke of Bourgondy, respected this Prince, who had the two principal parts necessary in great Captains, Valour and good Fortune. l The two qualities necessary in the General of an Army are, Valour and good fortune. Duo sunt quae Claros Deuces faciunt, summa virtus, summa foelicitas. Lat. Pac. Paneg. We have formerly seen, that the Constable of Saint Pol did what he could to draw him to the Duke of Bourgondies' party, Fidelity of the Duke of Bourbon and to make him join with the King of England's forces; and that this brave Prince made it known, that nothing was able to shake his loyalty, no not if he should be reduced to the misery of job, m An extreme oppression is no lawful cause to arm against the Prince, rebels seek pretexes and colours to shadow their discontents, but good subjects suffer with patience. although that the sincery of his actions could never wipe away the blemish which distrust had put in this Prince's eyes, yet would he not trouble the content which he had received by the testimony which his conscience gave to fidelity and virtue. The King also foreseeing that if his enemies were fortified, with his favour and forces, he should be much troubled, he conjured him to come unto him. The Duke excused himself upon a resolution which he had taken to live quietly in his house, the which no man could envy him, having purchased it with incomparable toils and crosses. He besought the King to suffer him to rest in the port of this tranquillity after so many storms, and to content himself with the service which the other Princes of his house, and his Bastard the Admiral did him. The King entreated and conjured him to come, and to reap the same fruits in Picardy which he had sometimes received in Guienne, n The honour of the glorious victory of Fromigny is given to john the second Duke of Bourbon, who then took the title of Earl of Clermont, for he charged the English with such fury, as with the loss of ten men only, he defeated five thousand English, and took 1400. prisoners. to the shame and confusion of the English, sending the Bishop of mand unto him to deliver his requests, and recommendations more confidently, and to assure him that the occasion was not less glorious than at Fromigny. The Duke being loath to fail France in so great an occasion, and remembering that his predecessors had not desired a more glorious grave then to die upon a field of battle covered with the blood of their enemies, o The Princes of the house of Bourbon who have died for the service of the Crown, are Peter of Bourbon, slain the 19 of September 1356. at the battle of Poicters, james and Peter his son at the Battle of Brignay near unto Lion: Lewis at the Battle of Agincourt 1415. Francis at the battle of Saint Bridget on holy Cross day in September 1525. john at the battle of Saint Laurence, 1557. and Anthony at the siege of Rouen, 1562. and to free the King from all conceit, that he had a will to give ear unto the Constable, who did solicit him with all vehemency, he delivered the Constable's letters into the Bishop's hands, protesting that he would never carry Arms against the King's service. The effects did not differ from his words; for seeing the Duke of Bourgundies' troops approach to enter the Country, he went to horse and put them to rout: The Earl of Conches was slain there, the Earl of Rousillon Martial of Bourgundy was taken prisoner there, with the Earl of Dammartins' son, and the Signiors of Longy de Lisle, Digoin, Ruygny, Chaligny, and the two sons of the signor of Viteaux, one of which was Earl of joygny: Being then assured of the descent of the English, and that they had passed the Sea, he came unto the King with six hundred horse, and commanded part of his Army which was near unto Beawais. Matters being reduced to those terms that the King desired, and the King of England having repassed the Sea, he retired himself to Moulins to perform the last duties to his mother, p The Lady Agnes of Bourgundy died in December 1476. She was wife to Charles Duke of Bourbon, and mother to john the second of that name, Duke of Bourbon, to Charles, Cardinal and Archbishop of Lion, Peter Lord of Beaujeu, Lewis Bishop of Liege, and james who died at Bruges, and to the Lady joane of Bourbon, married to the Lord of Arlay, Prince of Orange, and Margaret of Bourbon, wife to Philip Earl of Bresse. and from that time resigned his abode at Court unto his brethren. After the Duke of Bourgundies' death, he would not be an actor in the war which the King began against his daughter, and with a discourse free from all flattery, a vice unworthy of a great courage) q A great courage speaks freely, but without btterner or slander: Fattery is the mark of servitude; and slander death falsely usurp that of liberty. Adulationi●oedum crimen servitutis, malignitati falsa specie● libertatis in est. Tacit. Hist. Lib. 1. he did not dissemble his opinion, saying; that the King should have given it a better and a more reasonable Title, than a simple desire to join the Low Countries to his Crown, this so free and true a judgement did much offend the King, who from that time resolved to let the Duke of Bourbon know that this last offence had renewed the feeling of the first: He caused secret informations to be made against him, yet doubting his courage & reputation, he would not have the rigour of his justice aim directly at him; He began with his Officers, and gave commission to john Auin, councillor in the Court of Parliament, and to john Doyac, to inform against him, thinking that to free themselves from trouble they should be forced to engage their Lord, r claud of Seyssiell saith, that King Lewis the eleventh sent unto ●he Duke of Bourbon some of his ministers, men of base condition, to do him some intolerable wrongs, under colour of justice, thinking for the great spirit which he knew to be in him, to provoke him to offer some violence, or to make resistance, but the Duke knowing to what end all was done, endured it with patience, and escaped by sufferance & dissembling. they decreed a personal adiournement against his Chancellor, his Attorney, the Captain of his Guard and many others, who appeared with more confidence to defend themselves, than slander had assurance to accuse them; upon their answer the Commissioners knew not what to say, and the Court of parliament, which knew well that it was a practice to trouble the Duke of Bourbon, whose probity and integrity (too rare qualities in that age) had purchased him the surname of Good, and the affections of all the people, enlarged them: The Chronicle saith, that this proceeding was against God and Reason. It was a very sensible grief unto him to see his loyalty called in question, and his services contemned. But he considered all these occurrents with an open eye, and a resolute brow, with the a ●uantages which a good conscience gave him, and did judge thereof with a settled spirit, lamenting the bad counsel which entertained the King in his great rigours in an age which was not fit for it. s Severtty is not good in a Prince whose age is declining, It is needful to purchase love, Galba knew it well. Some other would not have forborn tears for so piercing a grief, he would have lost his sleep, and his body should have found no other rest but that which disquietness brings by the agition of the mind; but afflictions which assail good men do them no other harm but burn the bonds which hinder them to lift their hands, with their hearts, up to heaven. They bless the name of God in the midst of flames, Imprisonment doth not deprive him, which suffereth for justice, of the sweetness of a profound sleep: His rest is so sound as the Angel of the Lord which comes to deliver him, must awake him. It is now time that Lewis go the way which these great Kings have traced unto him. There wants nothing but this piece to the triumphant Chariot of death, and he could not desire better company then of these three Kings his near kinsmen, who were there already, t Having passed through all the charges of life, we must not refuse that of death: Seneca said to him that was loath to leave the charges and offices which he had exercised in his life time. Quid tu nescis v●um esse ex vitae officijs & mori? Dost thou not know that to die is also one of the duties of life. Sen. Epist. 77. he had passed by all the offices of life, there remained nothing but the last: but it is the most difficult, and would be less if he had thought on it in time; if going by the way of life, he had thought of the lodging of death, those fears which hold him in worse estate than death itself, should be dispersed. Accidents foreseen a far off, considered without amazement, and attended with resolution, do not trouble the mind like unto those which surprise it: His thoughts were engaged in so many mortal and perishable things, as he had small care of Immortal, and yet these went before him and attended on him, and the others followed after him and abandoned him: He hath busied himself to gather up Attlantas' Apples, and hath so much the more hindered the fruit and prize of his course; In the way of health he that stays, retires; and he that retires looseth himself and goes astray. There are three sorts of men whom God loves not, they that stay, they that turn back, and they that wander: We must give courage to the first, call on the second, and direct the others. Lewis found himself to be in so difficult a passage as he had need to be encouraged, Lewis falls into new apprehensions of death. supported and directed, u It is a sweet consolation to a Prince's mind among the trances and fears which are found in the passage of life and death, when he hath not to do with any but himself, that all his enterprises are ended, and that he may say, I die content. he could not but murmurre against the Law of Nature which did not suffer him to glut himself with the pleasures of life: But to have content of the rest at the point of death, he must make provision thereof throughout the whole course of his life: That word, I die content, is not always found in the mouth, nor proceeds not from the heart of Princes, who have had so much pain to content themselves, & in whose lives, as in those of other men, we find, Vanity, weakness, inconstancy, and misery: The great oppositions which Lewis makes against the decree of death, show that he is not yet content with the fruits of life: He complains that he hath discovered the Port, and desires to thrust himself again into the violent waves of the world; He thought that a little more life would have made him reap the fruits of so many designs which he had sown in divers places, and did grieve that death would not suffer him to see that ended which he had begun. Yet it is a very remarkable thing that before his death he saw all things new or renewed in all other Kingdoms of Europe, as if the eternal providence of God, had not left him in the world, but to consider these great changes which did amaze England, Arragon, Navarre and Scotland. And although they were things far from his sight, yet could he not but be passionate, and inform himself as interressed in all things: His curiosity notwithstanding was stayed by the respects of his Religion, Offers of Bajazeth to the King. in contemning the offers of friendship which Bajazeth made unto him, who sent him a list of all the Relics which his father had found at the taking of Constantinople, and of the Holy Land, promising to deliver them unto him; so as he would assure him of Zizimi his brother, who had yielded himself to the Knights of Rhodes. This piece is worthy to be related: Zizimi revolts against Bajazeth. Mahomet left two sons, Bajazeth x Bajazeth was the elder, and Zizimi the younger, who said that he was the emperors son, for that he was borne during the reign of Mahomet, and Bajazeth before. the elder, surnamed by the Turks Ildrimy, that is to say, Lightning, he commanded in Paphlagonia towards the black or Euxin Sea, john called Zizimi, that is to say, Love, was at Conio a city in Licaonia, the janissaries were divided which of the two should succeed, the first was held effeminate and dissolute, the other led a more manlike and martial life: The controversy was followed by a great sedition, and the great Turk's Treasury was spoiled; many desiring that the Sceptre should be given to him that had the best sword. y The Law of Nations hath always preferred the ●lder b●fore the younger, what advantage of force or valour soever he hath, and although that Pyrrhus had ordained that which of his children had the sharpest sword should succeed him. Yet notwithstanding the eldest was less valiant and carried it. The faction of Bajazeth, by the wisdom of Acmet Bassa, remained victorious, and Zizimi was forced to retire himself into Asia the less, from whence he passed to jerusalem and then to the great Cairo, towards the soldan of Egypt. The great Caraman hearing of the division which was betwixt these two brethren, held it a fit occasion to be embraced, to recover the Realm of Cilicia which Mahomet had taken from him, whereupon he invites and solicits Zizimi by letters and Ambassadors to join with him. They make an Army, and present themselves near unto Mount Taurus to give Battle unto Bajazeth: Zizimi considering the inequality of their forces (for the Army of Bajazeth consisted of two hundred thousand men) and that if he fell into his brother's hands, he would put him cruelly to death, he thought there was no other retreat for him but to the Christians. z In any sensible grief, or when any execrable thing was spoken, the jews and Mahometans, rend their garments. Among the acts of choler and fury of Maximin, observed by Capitolinus are these: Incurrere in parietes, vestem cindere gladium arripere quasi omnes posset occidere. To run against the walls, to cut his garments, and to draw his sword as if he would kill all men. This was not without doing great violence to his conscience, breaking his habits in sign of breach of his heart, in such resolution, for he was a great observer of his religion, and so jealous, as he fell into fury when he saw a Turk drunk: He drank water with sugar, and sometimes wine, so as it were mingled with spices and other liquors, saying, that this mixture did alter it, in such sort, as it was no more wine. There is not any Law whereas human policy doth not find some exceptions. By the advice therefore of Caraman, he left his wife and children with the Sultan of Egypt, and resolved to seek his fortune and succours among the Christians, and to retire himself to Rhodes, having written this letter to Bajazeth. Zizimi King, to Bajazeth his most cruel brother. DEmanding of thee that which was just and honest, a Bajazeth receiving this letter and having read it, remained two days retired, and would not be seen, showing a wonderful grief, that his brother had retired to the Christians, especially to the Knights of Rhodes, the greatest enemies he had in Christendom. thou a breaker of all Divine, Letter of Zizimi to Bajazeth. and human Laws, and a contemner of Mahomet, doth force thy brother to fly unto the Christian name, and to them in particular, which wear a Cross, for the great hatred they bear unto our powerful House: I am forced to retire myself unto them to save my life, and thou art the only cause of this mischief: If thou hadst granted me that which I desire so justly I had remained peaceably upon the frontier, and thy brother, a Mahometan as thou art, and of the same blood, should not be forced to join with Christians, with whom it would be impossible for him to serve God according to the ceremony of our Law, Zizimi was always sad and melancholic, being deprived of the exercise of his Religion▪ At the first feast which the great Master made him, there was Music of all sorts of Instruments; yet he was nothing the merrier. They brought before him a scullion of the Kitchen, a Turk who was a slave, who sung, or howled out a song after the Turkish manner whereat he took a wonderful delight. I attend from God the revenge of so great a wickedness, and do pray unto our great Prophet to give thee a punishment equal unto thy crime: If our father had foreseen thy impiety, I assure myself that with his own sword, or by poison, he would have taken away thy life. He hath exalted the house of the Ottomans, and it seemeth, thou takest delight to ruin it: But it is impossble that an Empire which thou hast usurped with so great tyranny and cruelty, should continue long, the building cannot be firm upon so bad a foundation. The day will come, when to revenge thine impiety, some one will do the like to thee and thy children, that thou attemptest against me and mine. Adieu and look to the ruin which threateneth thee. Zizimi was well received at Rhodes the 24. of july 1482. the great Master sent Alvaro of Estuniga Prior of Castille with the Galleys of the Order to conduct him, Zizimi comes to Rhodes. he went himself to meet him with all his Knights: Zizimi was amazed to see himself received with so great honours in a Town which his father would have ruined. He made it presently known that he had a desire to go into France, and to cast himself into the King's Arms, although he were invited by many other Princes to come unto them. He is conducted into France. The great Master having thereupon received commandment conducted him thither. They took Say before him, c The Say which is taken to Princes is ancient, Xenophon in the first of his Cyropadia shows how the Persians did use it. Tacitus speaks of Halotus, who carved the meat, and took Say to Claudius: infer epulas & explorare gustu solitus. Athaneus saith, that the Romans called him that had this charge, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,. and the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they use to other Princes (an ancient custom and known to the Romans who had it from the Persians) whereat being amazed, and desiring to let them know that he was not come thither to distrust, he did eat of every dish that was set before him, before any Say were taken: Noble and generous minds (said Zizimi) are not distrustful, I fear not to be poisoned among such brave and noble Knights, and if I had feared it I would not have trusted my safety in their hands, I will live among them as a private man, and not as a Prince: Bajazeth was so fearful lest he should be set at liberty, and trouble his Estates, as he paid yearly 45000 Ducats to the Treasury of the Religion, 35000. for the entertainment of Zizimi, and 10000 to repair the spoils which Mahomet his father had done them at the siege of Rhodes, d There was an accord made betwixt the great Master and Bajazeth, the 8. of December 1482. the which is worthy of memory; for that it may be said that the great Turk to live in peace, and fearing that Zizimi should return into Turkey, was forced to yield himself tributary to the Knights of Rhodes. and would that the Ambassadors which carried the first payment should pass into Awergne to see in what estate he was. The great Master wrote to all the Princes of Christendom, that if they did not contemn this goodly occasion to divide the Empire of the Ottomans, by the means of Zizimi, they might spoil him of all the Estates he had taken from the Christians, and by so precious a Gage, bridle all his designs, in such sort, as Christendom might remain long in peace and tranquillity, for he should not dare to attempt any thing, whilst his brother were in the Christians power. e Bajazeth feared both at home and abroad, Zizimi had friends, he put all them to death whom he suspected to favour, and among others Acmath Bassa, who had taken Otranto, Isaac Bassa was dismissed from his Offices. But at this season Italy was full of divisions. The Pope, Venetians, and Siennese, were in league against Ferdinand King of Naples, the Florentines, and the Duke of Milan: The Emperor made an excuse that he could not intend it. Christendom did not reap the profit it might have done, and neglected this occasion, as the precedent offered by one of the sons of Amurath, who had made himself a Christian, and maintained that Mahomet was unlawful, and supposed. f 〈…〉 Mahomet the son of Amurath, and gave him to Pope Nicholas the 5. who caused h●m to be instructed in the Christian Religion and in good learning: after his death he retired himself to the Emperor, and then unto Mathias corvinus King of Hungary, and knowing the controversy that was betwixt Bejazeth and Zzimi, he let the great Master of Rhodes understand that both their pretensions were vain. Mathias corvinus King of Hungary sent his Ambassadors to the Pope to entreat him to be a means to deliver Zizimi unto him, promising by this means that Christendom should be revenged for the dishonour and loss that it had received at the cruel and bloody battle of Varna: Let us stay our eyes upon the excellent virtues of this brave Prince, which is the third of the three greatest Princes, which Philip de Commines saith, had reigned at one time (a season which did produce but mean things) and let us turn them a little away from the first, who is now dying, and is no more but a sad and lamentable image of the ruins of life. Mathias Huniades or Coruin, was second son to john Huniades, a great Nobleman of Valachia, Commendation of Mathias Corui●us King of Hungary. who after the death of Vladislas King of Poland and Hungary, slain at the battle of Varna, was chosen at the age of twenty years, by the common consent of the Hungarians to be Lieutenant general of the Realm. g Of all the battles betwixt the Christians & Turks, that of Varna was the most memorable in loss●: It continued three days and three nights, the victory which seemed to favour the Christians in the beginning, t●rned from then, and Ladislaus King of Hungary was slain there, the 20. of Neue●ber. 1444. He had forces in field, courage and opportunity to climb higher and to make himself King, but he would keep himself in this estate and preserve the Crown for Ladislaus son to Albert of Austria, and to Elizabeth daughter to Sigismond King of Hungary. The Emperor Frederick drew him unto him, after the death of his father, to bring him up. The Hungarians demanded him, and upon the emperors refusal to deliver him, Coruin did overrun the Country of Austria, Stiria, and Carinthia, filled them with fire and blood, expelled the Bohemians out of the Towns which they held in Hungary, and restored Ladislaus in his capital City to his father's Throne, at the age of 12. years. This great service deserved an equal guerdon, but as suspicions, jealousies, and slanders, are plants which grow of themselves in the Courts of Princes: Huniades made trial how hard it is for great virtues to be free from them, and to be long happy by the only conduct of wisdom. h Suspicions & de●ractions in the Courts of Princes not only hurt the against whom they are made, but them that invent the● an● that give care unto them. A Prince should give no 〈◊〉 ear unto them, especially when it concerns those whom he may not punish, but he must forget the great services which he hath 〈…〉. Virtue was in this brave courage, as the ivy which ruins the wall that holds it up: Glory which is the fruit of virtue made the Tree to whither, and this reputation, grounded upon his merits, stirred up envy against him, and envy framed slander, a monster of hell, Slander worse than hell. more curell than hell itself, which torments only the wicked, but she doth cruelly afflict Innocents': There was nothing in him that could offend it but the greatness of his merits, and services, which made him to be esteemed the i The History gives this commendation to john Coruin. Huius & felicitas tyrannorum impetus repressi●, velut obiecta moles, exundans flumen. Nec quisquam regum, aut ducum res maiores & Europae vtili●res adversus Tu●ca● gessit. This man's felicity did suppress the fury of Tyrants, like a bank cast up against an overflowing River: Neither hath any King or Captain done greater matters, nor more profitable for Europe, against the Turk. Hercules of Hungary, and the rampire of Europe, for he alone had presented his head, like a strong rampire, against those furious torrents Amurath and Mahomet, Vlric Earl of Cilia being incensed for that he had broken the designs of his ambition in Dalmatia, suggested matter against him to Ladislaus a young Prince, who believed easily that such a courage would not contain itself like to his other subjects, and that an authority which is excessive is not safe: Death freed him from this slander, but the Calumniator continued it against his children, k The continuance of a great power which is above his condition that holds it, is not sure. Nunquam satis fida potentia ubi nimia. That power is never safe that is overgreat. Tacit. Ladislaus and Mathias who smarted for it; The first not able to endure the insolency and pride of the Earl of Cilia, fell to strange terms with him, and from words to the sword, and slew him. The King was much amazed at so hardy an act against the chief of his servants, and from that time he resolved to be revenged, but hatching his revenge under a feigned forgetfulness, he swore to Temisvuar upon the Sacrament never to remember it, and for a greater proof of his love he presented him with a rob of Scarlet embroidered with Gold: he caused Ladislaus and Mathias to come to Buda, under colour to give unto Ladislaus a charge for the execution of a great design, and the conduct of a mighty Army against the Turk, and to Mathias the place of Lieutenant general of the Realm. They went rashly, not considering how their father had sometimes advised them not to trust an incensed Prince. l Two brethren which think they have offended a Prince, should not suffer themselves to be taken together. The King not thinking himself bound to hold his word unto a subject who had so much offended him, m When the Prince holdeth his word with them that have offended him, he addeth much glory to his reputation. caused Ladislaus head to be cut off. Cruelty of Ladislaus King of Hungary. God did show upon the point of this cruel execution the innocency of him that was executed, and that as this Prince had confounded his accusers outwardly, so he had lived in such sort as he felt no accusation in his soul. n To present one's self to death without amazement, is the triumph of his innocency, who feelleth no accusation within him, and is not confounded with that which is done outwardly: Sic vixi ut accusatorem exterius non timeam utinam sic vixissem ut intra me ipsam accusatorem conscientiam non haberem. I have liuèd so as I fear no outward accuser, I would I had lived so as I had not my conscience within me to accuse me. Greg. They bring him to the place of execution with his hands bound, and attired in that rob which the King had given him: he kneels down, recommends his soul to God, and stretcheth forth his neck to receive death: The hangman gave him three blows and made him to fall flat to the ground, yet he rose again although he were bound, and with all the force of his voice and soul, Death of Ladislous Coruin. called upon God, the witness of his innocency: at the fourth and fift blow the Executioner made an end of him: Ladislaus seeing that this death had wounded the hearts of the greatest of his Realm, and that he was not safe amongst them, retired into Bohemia, and led Mathias with him. The friends of Count Vlric seeing him conducted to prison mocked at him, Mathias Coruin a Prisoner at Prague. saying; That it was not the way to make himself to be crowned King, as he had projected. The fire of this great courage o A generous and courageous spirit cannot endure an offence or wrong, for any accident that doth oppress him. which burned incessantly (though covered under the ashes of this misfortune) answered; That if he were a King, he would cause their wickedness to be punished after another manner. These two brethren did serve for an example to reason, which assures how dangerous a thing it is to trust a Prince that is young, powerful, offended, and ill advised. He did not long enjoy this revenge, for soon after being at Prague he was poisoned by a Lady, incensed for that he had left her to marry Magdaline daughter to King Charles the seventh. As soon as Michael Zilasius brother to Mathias mother, was advertised of this change, and that George Poguebrac entreated Mathias courteously, he assembled all his friends, and came to the Estates held at Pesta, accompanied with 20000. men where he demanded audience: He represented the great services of Count john Huniades, Propositions at the Estates of Hungary. who by his valour and courage had purchased the name of the Lightning and Thunder of the Turks, p john Huniades defended Hungary against Amurath and Mahomet: He repulsed Mahomet from the siege of Belgrade: The History saith that he was called Fulmineus terrur Turcorum: The lightning terror of the Turks. he complains of the ingratitude wherewith he had been rewarded, and the unworthy usage of his children; forcing some to pity, and others to acknowledge those great merits: when as he saw their minds wavering, he thought it not fit to do things by halves; The people must be taken at their word, and opinions are like unto pieces of coin, which although they be scarce currant, yet are accounted so if they have course. Resolutions which are taken in such assemblies are not always grounded upon the knowledge of that which is, but of that which is maintained to be: He caused them which had the authority, to say that Hungary could not be without a King, & that they could not choose a better than Mathias: That if the Election might not be done willingly, he was there to have him crowned by force, and saying those words he drew out his Cimeterre, which he swore not to sheathe again until a resolution were taken conformable to his. Mathias corvinus chosen King of Hungary. The Estates of Hungary said, that they should not lose any time to seek another Prince, q It is easy for the son to mount to honours when as he finds that his father hath prepared the way. and that they would not desire one better known, more generous, nor of a better Race: Finally, they declared him King of Hungary. The advice of this Election was carried speedily to George Poguebrac, King of Bohemia, who was at supper, Mathias sitting at the lower end of the table, havig read the letter, he caused him to come and sit above him; r To go from a prison to a royalty, from great misery to a supreme honour, are the effects of GOD'S Providence and bounty, who raiseth the humble and throws down the proud. Mathias was much amazed, his condition made him to dobut that which he understood not, and his thoughts were obscured with the variety of false imaginations. After supper Poeguebrac told him what had happened, saluteth him & embraceth him as king of Hungary, and entreateth him to love him as his brother; Mathias promiseth it, and their promises were confirmed by his marriage with Katherine, daughter to Poguebrac, with whom he caused him to be conducted into Hungary. He began to triumph as soon as to reign, for to fight & vanquish was all one unto him. At one time being followed by his own forces, which were greater in courage and discipline then in number, s These three qualities were eminent in john Huniades, Valiant, Wise, and Generous, Ducum omnium (saith the History) qui cum Turcis arma contulerunt illotempore cla●issimus, solers▪ ac sagax in prospiciendis, patience in expectandis, acer in persequendis rerum occasionibus, atque in ipsis rebus urgendis pertinax, in conficiendis felix, ac fortunatus. Of all Commanders which had made war against the Turk, he was at that time the most famous; watchful to foresee, patiented in expecting, swift in embracing, resolute in pursuing all occasions, and happy in effecting them. He did gloriously end three great enterprises, the one against the Emperor Frederick, whom he forced to yield him that which he held of the Crown of Hungary; the second against the Bohemians, whose factions and conspiracies he overthrew, and the third against Mahomet the 2. to whom he gave many occasions to think that the valour, conduct, and generosity of john Huniades his father were revived in him. He recovered jaisse, Exploits of Mathias Coruin●s. and seven and twenty Castles thereabouts, he passed the river of Save, entered into the higher Misia, and in two assaults seized upon Zerbenic, where are those goodly Mines of silver: he expelled Suela, that famous thief out of Bohemia, pacified the seditions of Transiluania, punished them that were the Authors, t Punishment which is applied fitly, and severely done upon the head of a conspiracy, offends few, and spares many. who had made john, Earl of S. George's, King; and besieged, burnt, and ruined Romansarre. The flames of the fire of his justice, did amaze all Moldavia: all the furies came out of Hell to follow his Army, and to revenge the injuries of Christendom upon those Infidel Provinces. A war which was all cruelty, and a cruelty which was all justice; victory which is always insolent, and especially in civil wars, u Pity nor Mederation do not always purchase favour in a conquerors heart, they are forced sometimes to give place unto liberty, and therefore Tully saith, that victoria civilib▪ bellis semper est insolens, Victory is always insolent in civil wars. had no pity, but of those which had no more need: he had rather ruin Towns to save souls, then to save Towns, and ruin souls: he left in all places, such marks of the furies and terrors of the war, that even at this day the Country laments the effects, and numbers the examples. That which the sword did spare, was consumed by fire and famine. And therefore the name of Mathias was at that time a terror to the Women and Children of Hungary, His valour & conduct who in all occasions performing the duty of a General, and yet sometimes running the hazard of a Soldier, as if his body had been borrowed; he was wounded in the thigh with an arrow. He did so diminish the number of his enemies, as the province was assured, and his Army rich with spoils. x Mathias is taxed with ingratitude, for that he had made war against George King of Bohemia, who had given him liberty, and his daughter in marriage. This war was unfortunate to either, and prejudicial to Christendom. Being returned to Agria, he came to Buda, where he received letters of entreaty from Pope Pius the second, and from the Emperor Frederick to make war against the Hussits, the which he undertook. He makes war against the Hussites. It was not his only obedience to the head of the Church which drew him to this war, nor any desire to triumph over the truth, ambition had a great share in it, the desire of a new Crown made him forget the good usage which he had received in his imprisonment from Poguebrac, and dispensed him of those bonds which cannot be dissolved by death, nor discharged but by life. Great enterprises are not scrupulous, and if the laws of piety are to be violated, it is to content those of ambition. They writ that these two Kings made war ten years, MATHIAS King of Hungary, and GEORGE, King of Bohemia, made war ten years for Religion; And in the end they agreed, that his Religion should be the better, whose Fool did vanquish the other at fist. and that the combat of their jesters, fight at fists, reconciled them. In the end Mathias dispossessed George Poguebrac of the provinces of Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, and death of his Crown. Mathias caused himself to be proclaimed and crowned King of Bohemia, Mathias crowned King of Bohemia. and Marquis of Moravia. Some Bohemians refused to obey him, and framed a faction under the name of Ladislaus, son to Casimir, King of Polonia, whom they did acknowledge for their King. Mathias came thither, and priest them so eagerly, and entreated them with such rigour and severity, as all the Towns submitted themselves to his will, to have his peace and pardon: These long and and troublesome wars had so wâsted his treasure, as he was forced to make use of the Clergy goods. The Prelates of Hungary opposed themselves, and the chief Noblemen of the Realm joined with them, z This conspiracy was so strong and violent, that of 75 Tribes of the realm, there were but 9 that continued in their first obedience. conspiring together to expel him the Realm. Nobility of Hungary discontented. Hitherto he had made known what love and force might do; now he shows himself so wife and temperate, as returning into the way of the duty of a good Prince, he doth easily reduce his people to that of good subjects: a That Prince is wise which doth not disdain to give some satisfaction to his subjects whom he hath offended, especially when he fears a greater mischief. And by this means many who had cast themselves into his enemy's Army, returned unto him. Ladislaus being cooped up in Nitria, was forced to make an Accord with Mathias, and to return into Poland. Casimir his father apprehending this shameful retreat, and taking his part of the Affront, reserved the whole revenge to himself; he levied an Army of threescore thousand fight men, Polonians, Bohemians, Russians and Tartarians, and entered into Moravia and Silesia, to recover that which Poguebrac had lost. The first beginnings were so favourable, as not regarding the inconstancy of fortune, he suffered his thoughts to wander in the common error of Princes, who neglect the storm, during the calm of their affairs. In great designs Princes think on●y what they should do when they have executed them, & cast not their eyes upon that which may hinder the execution, and which as Polybius saith, hath need of great providence Polyb. lib. 11. Mathias held it not fit for his reputation nor courage to attend them, he goes to meet them with eight thousand horse, and having furnished the Town of Vratislavia with victuals and munition, he lodged himself in the suburbs, and there attendeth them with a resolution not to hazard any thing. c A Prince should not stay until his enemy come unto him, and force him to feed him at his charge. Every day they made Sallies and Skirmishes to the Polonians loss, who never returned but with grief for some prisoners taken, but many more slain. And to show that he did little esteem their Attempts, and that he could lose little, and get much, he caused scaffolds of Wood to be built upon the Walls for the chief Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town, It is a great advantage for a General of an Army, when he is assured that victory brings him great profit & great effects, and that the loss cannot equal the gain. and for those chief who were not made but to be beloved. They beheld the Knights who made Sallies upon their Enemies, and cast themselves courageously into dangers for their sakes. At their return they commended their valours, and encouraged them to continue. If they were hurt, they were the first that dressed them, if they returned victors, they presented them the prisoners Arms and colours which they had taken. The Princes of Germany desiring to divert this storm, and fearing that this fire, kindled upon the Frontier, would fly further, laboured to quench it: Ernestus, Duke and Elector of Saxony, and john, Marquis of Brandebourg, e The courages of these 3 Princes were vanquished by the eloquence of the Marquis of Brandeburg, who in the Assembly of three Kings, of Casimir, King of Polonia; Ladislaus, King of Bohemia, and Mathias King of Hungry, discoursed with such gravity and vehemency, ut prae admiratione adstantes obstupuerint. Ita tune, virtute Ernesti Saxonis & eloquenti● joannis Marchionis haec or a Germaniae magno discrimine liberata, redijt ad tranquilitatem, That the assistants were amazed with admiration. So then by the virtue of Ernest of Saxony, and the eloquence of the Marquis john, that coast of Germany was freed from great danger, and recovered peace. made an Army of six thousand horse, and presented themselves before Vratislavia, protesting that they came thither to no other end, but to set upon him that would not live in peace. So by their means a peace was concluded the 12. of February, in the year 1475. and Silesia was divided betwixt Ladislaus and Mathias. Mathias makes war against the Emperor This war being ended, he began an other against the Emperor, he besieged Bohemia, and forced the Emperor to demand a peace. Pope Sixtus, and the Senate of Venice (for that they would not incense the Emperor) took from him the pensions which they had given him, to the end that the Emperor should not think that they favoured his designs; Death of Mathias Huniades. yet for all this Mathias did not forbear to press the Emperor to effect that which he had promised him; & seeing that he thought to entertain him with the vanity of his words, he began the war again, and besieged and took Hambourg upon the confines of Austria and Hungary. Mahomet thinking to make his profit of this division, ouer-ran the Countries of Dalmatia, Carinthia and Friuly, and carried away a great number of slaves; but they were set at liberty, and they that led them cut in pieces, being encountered by Mathias Captains. f The portrait of of 〈◊〉 Prince makes him of a higher sature than the ordinary of men, open and quick eyes, his eyebrows elevated, a big head, a fair face, and of a good complexion a large forehead & flaxen hair. The Emperor Frederick sought a peace of him; the which taking no effect, there was a truce concluded. Soon after Mathias g He that hath written the History of the kings of Hungary, ends the discourse of Mathias life in these terms: In somma non si può diro altro di vantagio: se non ch'e vanita il persuadersi, che alter personnagio si trovasse alhora in tutte lc parti pareggiante l'inuitto & glorioso Matthia Coruino: see l'ambitione d'vna principessa Aragonesse non lo havesse tyrannegiato. To conclude, there can be no more said, but that it is a vanity to think that there can be any one sound comparable to the invincible and glorious Mathias corvinus: if the ambition of a Princess of Arragon had not tyrannised over him. died at Vienna in Austria of an Apoplexy, in the year 1490. being 47. years old. He had taken to his second wife, Beatrix daughter to Ferdinand, King of Naples, by whom he had not any children, suffering himself to be transported with her ambitious humours, enemies to all rest. The commendation which is given him of a great Prince, and a great Captain, doth not blemish that to have made the Sciences and learning to flourish again, and to have favoured them that made profession thereof, and among others, john of Monroyall, the Ornament of the Mathematics: He replenished his library with the rarest books he could find, out of the which are come some fragments of Polybius, and Diodorus Siculus. h A Prince which affects glory, esteems them that are the Trumpets. The most valiant have done things worthy to be written, and have written things worthy to be read, Corn. Silvius, Caesar, Augustus, Claudius, trajan. Adrian. If after the death of Mahomet they had put Zizimi into his hands, as he desired and besought the Pope, he had overthrown the tyranny of the Ottomans: for Bajazeth upon these apprehensions, sought to be at peace with him; but the Pope would have him make war against the Hussites of Bohemia. Let us return and see what Lewis doth in his sad & melancholic thoughts of that day which must be the judge of all the rest: he hath given an end to all his designs, and the law of Nature will have him end: he● doth not live but by entreaty, and the days which remain serve only but to the end he should husband them that they might profit those which he hath past and lost. His Servants comfort him, and his Physicians have no means to cure him: they entertain him with vain hopes, and divert his thoughts from any thing that might augment his waywardness: And for that they told him, that a Northerly wind, which did then reign, made men's bodies sickly, and did hurt the fruits, he commanded the Parisians to go in Procession to S. Denis, to cause it to cease. i The Chronicle saithn, that to appea this, Northerly wind, all the Estates of Paris went divers days in procession to S. Denis in the month of February, & that the same prayers were made in May following for the king's health. But he was more troubled with distrust: Distrust of Lewis 11. It is a torment unto him, in comparison whereof all his other afflictions seem light: He fears his son should deal with him, as he had done with Charles the seventh his father, and that he would be the head of a faction. When as Peter, Duke of Bourbon his son-in-law, entered into his chamber, he would see if they of his train were not armed. He lived in as great fear amongst his own followers, as a passenger can do in a thick Forest which is haunted with thieves and Murderers. k The Prince is happy which distrusteth not his subjects, but can sleep safely with them, yea among the woods, as Eberhard, Duke of Wittenberg said. He feareth lest they should advance his days, that the old factions would revive: In former times he dissembled all, now he distrusts all; he doth not remember what was past, but to be revenged of offences: he doubts his son-in-law, distrusts his daughter, and fears his son. And to the end the weakness of his mind should not be judged by the indisposition of his body; and to make it known that they be not the legs, l Authority and Severity should support the contempt of old age: the Empeperour Severus being full of the gout, the great men of his Count contemned him, and gave the Title of Emperor unto his son: Severus caused himself to be carried unto the Palace, and commanded those proved heads which contemned him, to be cut off, who being prostrate at his feet to demand pardon, he said unto them, Learn that it is the head, which commausndes, and not the legs. but the mind which commands and reigns, he makes divers Ordonances, which make the people think that they cannot come but from a sound judgement, and a firm and vigorous disposition: for although that these desires seemed to have ridiculous causes, yet they proceed from a great and constant resolution to end his life in action. But he was no more but a walking Anatomy, and every man wondered how he could live▪ Philip de Commines saith, that in the voyages which he made to divers places after his first sickness at the Forges of Chinon, His great Heart carried him. Now he hath not any about him but two or three men of base condition, and bad fame, who after his death were presently chased from Court: he did often change the Groom of his Chamber, and all other sorts of servants; and to excuse this change, he said, that it was one of the pleasures of nature. He did not suffer them to speak unto him of any Affairs, but such as could not be dispatched but by his Commandment. A Prince in his perfect health should not be troubled nor importuned with every thing. m Whilst that a Prince busieth his head about matters of small consequence, the most important pass away and are forgotten. It is not fit to trouble a prince with all sorts of Affairs, nor to bind him to play the part of a Chancellor or Precedent. Maius aliquid & excellentius à principe postulatur, Some greater matter, and more excellent is expected from a Prince. Tacit. human remedies failing to cure him, they had recourse to extraordinary, and did things which the original calleth strange. Philip de Commines saith, That Pope Sixtus the fourth being informed, that through devotion he desired to have the Corporal whereon S. Peter sang Mass, he sent it presently unto him, with many other Relics, the which were returned back again. n Of this, & for that the Turk s●●t to offer him the Rediques which were ●ound at Constantinople, Phil de Commines concluddes, that this Prince was esteemed and honoured throughout the world. It seemeth that Philip de Commines doth great wrong unto the memory and courage of such a Prince, when he saith, that never man feared death so much, or did so many things to think to avoid it; and who in the apprehensions he had that they would advance it, he neither trusted son, daughter, nor son-in-law: what a madness, to offend Nature to avoid that which she hath ordained? What a blindness, to think to resist time, which carrieth away all? Turn thy head of all sides, thou shalt see the ruins of Towns, and why not of Men? Behold Megara before thee, Aegina at thy back, Pyrea on the right hand, and Corinth on thy left. What is all this but ruin, contempt, solitariness and horror? o Sulpitius' comforts Tully by the ruins of these four Towns which were sometimes most flourishing, saying, Hemnos honumculi indignamur si quis nostrum interijt cum uni loco tot appidorum cadavera proiecta sint. Are we poor men angry if any of us die, when a● the carcases of so many Towns are cast into one place? They told him, that in Calabria there lived one called Francis of Paulo, an Hermit of an admirable holiness and austerity of life; who did great miracles: he never ceased until he had obtained leave from the Pope to draw him into France, thinking that by his presence and prayers he might prolong Life, and recoil Death. This holy man had not purchased the reputation of sanctity by false Titles: he had made profession from his Infancy p Francis of Paulo borne of mean parentage, professed himself an Hermit from his youth. He went out of his Hermitage to build a little Church near unto Paulo, where he laid the first foundations of his Order upon humility, calling them Minims that should make profession, and upon austerity, binding them by a fourth vow to a ●perpetuall lent. He died at Tours being 93 years old. by an incredible humility and austerity of life. God had given him the gift of prophesy, and had used his hands to make his power known. He had past the strait of Sicily upon his Cloak spread upon the Waves, the Master of the Bark refusing to receive him, and rejecting him as an unprofitable burden. The King sent men expressly to Naples to have him come: he passed by Rome, where he was honoured of all men for the holiness of his life. Entering into the King's Chamber, he cast himself at his feet, entreating him to prolong his days: he would willingly have had the Sun descend ten degrees, and the shadows of his Dial to have gone back▪ Philip de Commines doth not report the Answer of this Hermit, and hath deprived us of so just a curiosity, he saith only, That he answered as a wise Man should do. He went not with that ostentation which we find in them that are learned: for he was such a one as Saint Francis desired his Religious men, should be more skilful to pray then to read, q Francis of Assize said, that he had rather have his religious men skilful in praying then in reading. he had a sweet, pleasing, and easy speech, and his language was Italian, not common, or much known unto the French, which made him to be admired. We must believe, that this light of the Spirit of God, shining clearly in a mind purged from worldly affairs, r As the son is seen more plainly in a cleerre water then in mire, so the divine light shines more in spirits that are cleansed from worldly affairs then in those that are always troubled with the cares thereof. made him speak words, if not altogether Divine, yet at the least, Flatterers pleasing to Princes. free from pleasing and flattery, which in these extremities, do always abuse Princes; making them believe that they are far from death, although it hang upon their lips. There are many which assure them that they should hope for more good than they ever had; but there are few which let them know, that they should fear greater torments than they have ever endured. It is lawful for the Physician of the body to s Plato in the third Book● of his Commonweal, gives physicians leave to lie, and to promise health unto the sick, even in their extre●●t, to 〈◊〉 the comfort. lie unto his Patient, but he that hath the cure of Souls, neither may nor aught. God did much favour this Prince, to send him a man of this condition to help him to die; who among many great qualities, necessary to this Office, even towards such a King, might speak freely unto him, without dissembling, or flattery: For Princes in these extremities have need of men which should not be like unto the sons of Zebedee, who spoke of Sceptres and Honours, when as Christ discoursed of the Cross: They must let them know, that the world, and all that is great and admirable in the world, is unworthy of the soul, which is not made for the world, but the world is made for it. t The health of the body depends of the soul. The soul (saith Chrysostome) was not made for the body, but the body for the soul, who so neglects the first, and is too careful of the second, looseth both. That being of a substance exempt from corruption, and by consequence, from death, cannot have an object disproportionable to her power, nor can delight in mortal and corruptible things; and being the Image u As a triangle is not fill●a with a triangle, s nothing is able to fill the heart but God. Caeteris omnibus occupart potest, repl●ti autem non potest, capacem enim Dei, quicquid Deo minus est non implebit. It may well be busied with other things, but it cannot 〈◊〉 filled: whatsoever is capable of God, nothing can fill it that is 〈◊〉 then God. of God, there is not any thing hath reference to her eternal essence, but her Immortality. God had no beginning, and it hath hath no ending: God is for ever, and man desires nothing more than to continue his being. The form of his understanding is Truth, and there is no other Truth, but God. The great world hath but one sun, the lesser but one soul, and both have but one God. This good man undertook to make this Prince capable of two things, the hearing whereof is difficult to men, and Kings are very hardly taught: to love God, and to contemn the world. The world entertains their mind with so many things which men think worthy of love, as they cannot lodge any other affection in their hearts, and do not think of the love wherewith the Angels live and burn, being the fire of the Intellectual world, as the Sun is of the celestial, and the Elementary of ours. Princes in stead of loving God, love themselves, they find that all is made for them, they dispose so absolutely of all the beauties and pleasures of the world, as they desire no other: they have under their powers so many great and goodly spirits, as they have no will to change their abode, to see them of the other world; One demanded of Cercidas the Megapolitaine if he died willingly. Why not, said he▪ For after my death I shall see those great men, Pythagoras among the Philosophers, Hecateus among the Historians, Homer among the Poets, and Olympus among the musicans. Ael. lib. 13. de Var. Hist. all is made for them, nothing is spoken against them: for them the fish cut the waves, the birds beat the air, beasts march upon the earth, and men run, toil, sweat and kill themselves; wherefore when in the end conscience commands them to raise their thoughts towards the place whither their face is turned, to mount towards their beginning, to breath nothing but eternity, to contemn the fumes of the world, and to admire the light of Heaven, they have their heads so heavy, and their eyes so dazzled, as they cannot understand, that He that loveth the world, the love of God is not in him. They eye cannot, at one instant, bohold both heaven and earth. The exhortations of Francis de Paulo did cast some seeds of the love of God into this Prince's heart; but the cares of the world were the birds which carried it away, and did smother it in the thorns of affairs. The fruits of a slow piety, which doth flourish but in the Winter of man's life, do never ripe well. It must be manured in due time: y That piety comes late when it hath not recourse to God, but at need. Byon had vanquished Athens, & had poisoned many spirits with the impiety of Theodorus, his master being reduced in the end to languish of a great infirmity, he began to acknowledge, that there were Gods, but it was to cure him. A mad man (said be that writ his life) not to believe that there were Gods, but when he had need of their help. Diog. Laert. lib. 4. the same God which would have fire burning always upon his Altar, will that fire burn continually in a Prince's Heart. It was sometime kindled well in that of Lewis, but the first wind of worldly affairs blew it away. His heart had good inclinations when as necessity and afflictions priest it; but he suffered them to whither at the first Sunshine of prosperity. A mischief which is natural to the fragility of men, who do no good, but for the fear of evil, and make themselves voluntary slaves to things whereunto they should command, and which are made for them▪ There is not any man but would blush at the reproach which his own conscience may give him, that if he had given him the tenth part of the time which he hath employed for his flesh, it should be much better. z This reproach is like unto that of Marcus Varro, in his Satyrs. Si quantum operae sumpsisti ut tuus pistor bonum faceret panem, eius duodecimam Philosophiae dedisse tempore bonus iampridem esses factus. If thou hadst spent but the twelfth part of that time in philosophy which thou didst to have thy Baker make good bread thou hadst in time been made a good man. Lewis then following the first train of his life, seemed to have more Devotion than Conscience, more trembling with superstition then constant in Piety, a Alexander was struck with this infirmity, who having lived impiously, died superstitiously. A. his death there was none seen about him but Divines and Soothsayers, who made prodigies of the lightest things. more desirous of the health of his body, then of his soul: for having made a prayer unto Saint Eutropeus to recommend unto him the one and the other, Claudius of Seissell said, that he caused the word Soul to be put out, saying; That it was sufficient if the Saint made him to have corporal health without importuning him with so many things. He was grown so confident that his holy man would cure him, as he still sent to Plessis to tell him, that it consisted only in him to prolong his life: The more he trusted this good man, the more he disinherited all his servants. b Such extraordinary guards and distrusts were not without cause: for as Phil. de Commines saith, some had an intent to enter into Plessis, and to dispatch matters as they thought good, for that there was nothing dispatched; but they durst not attempt it, wherein they did wisely, for there was good order taken. The Castle was well guarded, the Walls were fortified with great bars of Iron. The guard stood Sentinel in the Ditches, having command to shoot at any one that should approach before the gates were opened He would willingly have drawn the ladder after him going to bed: he daily changed his servants, and depended upon the austere humours of john Cottiere his Physician, to whom he gave monthly ten thousand Crowns, not daring to refuse him any thing, and promising whatsoever he desired, so as he would chase away that fearful apparition c Alexander Tyrant of Pher●a lived in such distrust, as the Chamber wherein he was accumtowed to lie, was kept by two terrible dogs, having a ●●dder to ascend unto it. of Death, at the name whereof he shrunk down betwixt the sheets. This Physician did sometimes brave him, saying; I know well, that one of these mornings you will chase me away as you have done others; but I swear by God, you shall not live eight days after. This poor Prince in stead of using him as Maximin did his, d Maximin the Emperor commanded his physicians to be slain for that they could not cure his wounds. gave him whatsoever he would, Bishopprickeses, Benefices, and Offices. The holy man of Calabria on the other side watched, fasted, and prayed continually for the King, neither was it ever possible to divert him from the thoughts of his poverty. The King could not give enough to the one, and could not force the other to receive any thing. e Antipather King of Macedon said, that be had two friends at Athens, Phocian & Demades, The one he could never content with giving, and the other he could never move to receive any thing that be offered him. Plut. He sometimes attired himself richly, Curiosity of Lewis the 11th. contrary to his custom, but it was in a Gallery like to a flash of lightning, and as one would say, I am yet here; or by his rareness to procure admiration to Majesty and Gravity, like to to the Kings of Egypt; f The ancient Kings of Egypt showed themselves seldom unto the people, and always after some new● manner, carrying sometimes fi●e upon their heads, and sometimes a bird, or a branch, to move admiration. he had not any in his Court, but his Physician and master Oliver. Every man began to be weary of this solitariness. The French desire to see, and to press near their King: They do not Court it in vain, and do not serve an invisible master: He ordained divers businesses, both within and without the Realm, sending to fetch divers things out of far Countries for ostentation and rareness; g The more rare and unknown things that Princes have, the more apparent is their greatness, and therefore they cause many beasts to be kept for show, as Tigers, Lions, and Ounces. as little Lions in Africa, Rayne-Deere and Buffs in Sweathland and Denmark, Allans in Spain, Mules from Sicily, and little Greyhoundes out of Brittany: He changed his Officers, cashiered his Captains, took away their pensions, and all to be spoken of, fearing they should hold him to be dead, although it be very hard to conceal the death of a great King. h There is nothing can be less concealed than the death of a prince. They might say of his designs, as Stratonicus did of the Rhodians buildings: That he undertook things as if he had been Immortal: for he feared, that in doing nothing, the people would be curious to know what he did, not apprehending so much the hatred of his subjects as their contempt. Stratonicus said, that the Rhodians did ●ate as if they should die soon, and did build as if they had been immortal. Plut. In these last and extreme languish he caused the peace to be proclaimed at Paris, Publication of the peace. as the Archduke had done at Brussels: for it had been said, that it should be published in the Courts of Parliament of France, and in the chief Towns under the Archdukes obedience, and sworn by the Abbots, Prelates and Noblemen of the countries of Artois & Burgundy, to the end it might be known that it was not only made with the Princes to continue during their lives, but with the Princes and people. The Princess Margaret k This marriage was so displeasing unto the Archduke, as Philip de Commines saith, he would willingly have taken her f●om them if he could, before she went out of the Country, but they of Gand had given her a good Guard. was brought to Hedin by the Lady of Ravestien, base daughter to Duke Philip. The Earl of Beaujeu, and the Lady Anne of France his wife received her, and conducted her to Amboise whereas as the Dauphin was: She made her entry into Paris in the beginning of june, and was married in july. The Chronicle reports the pomp of this entry in these terms. On Monday the second of june, Entry of the Lady Dauphin into Paris. about fine of the clock in the evening, the Lady Dauphin made her entry into Paris, being accompanied by the Lady of Beaujeu and the Admiral's wife, with other Ladies and Gentlewomen, and they entered by Saint Dennis gate, whereas were prepared for her coming three goodly Scaffolds; in the one, and the highest, was a parsonage representing the King, as Sovereign; On the second were two goodly children, a son and a daughter, attired in white Damask, representing the said Dauphin, and the Lady of Flanders; and in the other underneath, were the personages of the Lord of Beaujeu, and of the Lady his wife; and of either side of the said Personages were the Arms of the said Lords and Ladies: There were also four personages, one of the Husbandmen, another of the Clergy, the third of Merchandise, and the last of the Nobility, every of which made a short speech at her entry. The marriage being celebrated at Paris, whereunto all the chief Towns of the Realm were invited, The King would have his son return to Amboise, not holding if fit that this new Son should rise before the West of his life. This great rejoicing of all France did but augment his heaviness, to see himself forced to quit the place unto his son: All the helps which the Art of man could invent were employed: He caused the holy Oil to be brought, l This Vial of holy Oil was seen by Philip de Commines upon the Cupboard in the King's Chamber, at Plessis, at the hour of his death. Others have written that the gave up the Ghost as it arrived. the Clergy of Paris, the Court of Parliament, the University, and other Companies, went in Procession, the last day of july 1483. to meet it at Saint Anthony's in the field, it was lodged that night in the holy Chapel, and the next day passed on, and was followed with the same company unto our Lady in the fields. Philip de Commines saith, that he had an intent to take the like unction that he did at his Coronation: Others have written that it was to know the declining of his life, for when the King is dead, it is empty, and filleth again miraculously for the Coronation of a new. On Monday, the 25. of August, he fell into that extremity of sickness which ended his days, Last actions of Lewis the eleventh. and forced him to acknowledge himself, not only mortal and dying, but as death: At that time he sent unto his son, all such as came to see him, saying unto them: Go unto my son, your King, serve him well: giving to every one some charge to deliver unto him, but most confidently to Stephen de Verse, Baliffe of Meaux, who had been his Governor: He sent unto him also his chief Officers, the Chancellor with his Seals, and all his train, the Captains and Archers of his Guard, his Huntsmen and Faulkeners. But his intent was not to suffer them long there, if he recovered his health as assuredly as he felt his courage firm, and his judgement strong, the brain not being troubled with the malign fumes of his infirmity, for he had a continual looseness: So we see that the soul in this separation of the lodging wherein it hath been shut, and whereof it hath great cause to complain, m 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 some guest, & the soul complaints of the body, 〈◊〉 of a troublesome lodging▪ Vt qui in alieno habitant multis aguntur in commodis, semperque de aliqua domicilij part queruntur: Ita animus nunc de capite, nunc de pedibus, nunc de stomacho, nonc aliud de alioqueritur significans se esse non in suo domic●o, sed unde brevi sit emigrandum: As they that dwell in another man's house have many discommodities and do still complain of some part of it: So the soul doth complain sometimes of the head, of the legs, of the stomach and other parts, showing that she is not in her own mansioan, but from whence she must soon departed. Sen. recovereth new strength, by the joy which it conceives to re-enter into this sphere of her rest. She disposeth (saith a great man of this age) more wisely, and more holily of all things, foreseeth more certainly that which is to come, foretelleth it and doth prophecy, for that she begins to approach to her first beginning, to be joined again to that immortal being, and to participate with the life eternal. Soon after he fell into great faintings, which made him to lose his speech, but he recovered it, to will the Duke of Bourbon to go unto the King his son, and that he should have a care of him, Commandments extraordinary of the King. charging him with many extraordinary things, the which had caused terrible accidents if they had encountered a froward and difficult spirit: Philip de Commines in this place speaks what he thinks good, and confirmeth his opinion by the events, He gave him all the charge and government of the King, and commanded him that some men should not come near him, telling him many good and not able causes, and if the Lord of Beaujeu had observed his commandments in every point (or at least in part, for there were some extraordinary commandments which were not to be kept) & that in the generality be had observed them better, I think it had been profitable both for the Realm and himself, considering those things which have since happened. n Phi. de Com. doth not● here the diu●sio●which was betwixt the Lady Anne of France, and the D. of Orleans, whereof he hath not written any thing in the coarse of the history: A division which caused the Assembly of the Estates at Tours, and then of a league, whose first attempts appeared before Orleans, the second ended in Britain, by the battle of Saint Aubin the 28. of july 1488. and by the taking of the Duke of Orleans. This commandment of the King incountering a spirit, which was mild, tractable, and temperate, had not the effects it should have had. Bounty, and mildness are sometimes negligent in matters which require heat, and quickness. This Prince was one of the best of his age, being nothing but mildness and courtesy. The more rare these qualities are in Princes, o Humility and courtesy are goodly qualities in great men: Humanitas tam clara in imperatore quam rara est. Nam quum indiscreta felicium predissequa sit superbia, vix cuiquam contingit & abundare fortuna & indigere arrogantia. Cuius quidem ita maiores nostros semper praetesum est, ut graviorem semper putaue●nt s●ruitutae contemptum. Humanity is as glorious as rare in an Emperor: For as arrogancy is an indiscreeet 〈…〉 to fortune, it seldom happens that any one abounds with good fortune and wants arrogancy: The which was always so hateful to our forefathers, as they held contempt more grievous than servitude. Lat. Pac. Pan. the more excellent they are: arrogancy never faileth in them who have no wants, and pride doth always follow felicity: It is a miracle to see a great Prince, courteous, mild, and affable. Rome found not any Surname more odious, for the last of her Kings, then that of Proud, and comprehended in that word all the vices, for the which she changed the form of her government, and suppressed the Royalty in despite of the King; Yet the mildness and facility of this Prince gave a great foundation to the troubles which happened for the Regency of the Realm. The King had often said in his life time, Lewis the 11. would not have them speak of death unto him. that in what extremity soever they saw him they should never pronounce that word of death unto him, p These fears which happen at the dissolution of such sweet company as the body and the soul, cometh not through faihtnes of heart, or want of courage; this word Death; hath drawn words of grief from the soul of the Son of God, it hath made the heart of the most constant to tre●ble, and the Stoics have painted paleness and blushing on the foreheads of many great and valiant Captains: The greatest courage of the world, would not willingly go to danger, if he were assured to die there. finding it too distasting for a King's ear: Yet must he be content that she present herself, and that she take his Crown from his head, as she hath done the Arms, Club, Sceptre, and Sword out of the hands of Achilles, Hercules, Alexander, and Caesar: They that had charge of his conscience, expected when he himself finding his strength to fail would acknowledge it. The resolution to signify this judgement unto him, was taken betwixt a Divine, his Physician, and Master Oliver: They went roughly unto him, and with small respect, like unto men which had added impudency to the baseness of their condition, there speech was after this manner: Indiscretion of them that speaks to Lewis the 11. of death. Sir, we must discharge our consciences, hope no more in this holy man nor in any other thing, for undoubtedly you are a dead man, think of your conscience, for there is no remedy: Every man spoke something briefly, to let him know that they were all of one accord concerning his death: He answered, I hope that God will help me; and the flesh desiring to deceive the Spirit by a vain confidence of her forces, and to declare herself openly against the constancy and resolution, which this last point of life required of him, to make them judge of his courage, she made him say, I am not, it may be, so sick as you think: Being half dead he counterfeits himself whole; The spirit, body, & forces fail him, only dissembling holdeth good: He desired rather to wear in languishing, then courageously to break in sunder the chain which (although he were a great Prince) held him in the servitude of life. q Lewis hath had great resemblances in his reign, and in his life, to the ●umour of Tiberius, his end did also savour of his. Tiberium iam corpus iam vires nondum dissimulatio deserebat, idem animi vigor sermone ac vultu intentus quae-sitae interdum comitate quamuis manifesta defectione tegebat. Force & strength failed Tiberius, but not dissembling, the same vigour of the mind with a settled speech and countenance, and a counterfeit courtesy did cover it, although he decayed visibly. Tacit. lib. 6. Annal. He was environed with Relics, and made Barricades of them, thinking that death should not dare to pass over them, and lay hold of him, he was so often dead, as five days before his death r Tiberius did all he could to conceal his death, it being bruited abroad Caligula thought to enter into the Empire, but behold the dead man demanded meat, and his successor began to quake for fear: Macro who had been one of his fauourits, seeing him to continue too long, caused him to be smothered with coverings. Macro intrepidus opprimi senem iniectu maltae vestis jubet discedique ab limine. Macro being without fear, commanded that the old man should be smothered with coverings, and that they should presently go from the door. news came to Paris before the accident, by reason of a fainting: They that were about him held him for dead, and every man thought of his own private affairs: But behold suddenly the dead man called for meat, they saw him revive in an instant having a plain speech, a firm understanding, and a judgement such as in the vigour of his age, disposing of many things for the good of his Estate, as if this fainting of his bodily force had been nothing but to suffer his spirit to meditate: saying; Tell Des cords that he give over the enterprise which we have upon Calais, lest he incense the English, that he remain six months with the King my son, and that they think no more to make war against the Duke of Britain, nor any neighbours to this Realm for five years at the least. He would have peace begin his new reign, to the end the Kingmight grow in age, and France in wealth: I will be interred, said he, at our Lady of Clery, and accompanied at my funeral by such and such. They told him that the Kings of France were interred at Saint Dennis, s Saint Dennis 〈…〉 is the Sepulchre of the kings of France Dagobert was the first s●under, and there was interred: The king's predecessors had there Sepulchres in deuers places, Clovis is interred at Sa●nt 〈◊〉, Childeber●, Chilperi●, and C●o●a●e at S. 〈◊〉 main despres, Clovis or Lewis, at Ch●l●es, Pe●in at Saint Denis, Chorlemanse, at Air La●● apelle, and their successors have their Tombs in divers places, but the greatest number is at Saint Dennis. and that his father and Grandfathers were there, It is all one, said he, I will lie there: He had so great a devotion to the Virgin Mary, had made so many vows unto her, and had received such visible effects of her intercession, as he would have her Temple the depositary of his bones. He fell extremely sick on Monday, and although that no man thought that he should have continued until the next day, yet he said, That the good Lady would make him live until Saturdy: It was true, his prayer returned into his own bosom; he ended the week, Death of Lewis the eleventh. the last day of his life was on Saturday, the thirtieth of August, at eight of the clock at night, having lived three score and three years, and reigned three and twenty: He continued in the world longer than any Prince of his race, that is to say of the third branch of the Kings of France, but he lived little, t I think, saith Philip de Commines, that from his infancy, he never had but troubles and afflictions until his death, and if all the good days which he had in his life, wherein he had more joy and pleasure, than trouble & care, were well numbered, I believe there would be few sound, and that for one of pleasure & ease, their would be twenty of pain and affliction. he that hath been long at Sea in storms and tempests, and hath never arrived at a safe Port, cannot say that he hath sailed much, but that he hath been long tossed with a tempest: In like manner he that hath lived long in the crosses of this life, cannot say that his life hath been long, but that he hath continued long in the waves of this world. He died not with this grief, not to have done any thing in the world, he that in dying carrieth no other mark of his being, but old age, departeth shamefully out of this life: Lewis the 11. left it not with that remorse to have been idle, & to have let the torrent of age slip away, without retaining something u Of running water there is nothing kept but what is drawn forth to use; In like manner of the course of life, there remaineth nothing but what virtue reserveth for glory to have lived: Tantum habes à current flumine quant●m hauris ita ex a●nis semper euntibus nihil accipis nisi quod in res duraturas collocaris. Thou hast so much of a running stream as thou drawest forth, so of years which still slide away, thou retainest nothing but what thou dost employ in durable things. for his successors, give him the honour to have freed them from subjection, and France is bound unto him to have beautified it with the Crowns of Dukes and Earls. The death of Charles the last, Duke of Bourgundy, restored unto him the Duchy, and County of Bourgundy, but his good title must be so assisted by force, as his Provinces were rather conquered then restored. He united also unto the Crown, the duchies of Anjou and maine, which had been separated for the portion of Charles the first King of Sicily, x The returns of the Counties of Anjou and main, which had been very remote from the Crown, was drawn 〈…〉 ●arriage of Charles of Valois, who married the daughter of Charles the second, King of Sicily, upon condition that he should renounce the rights and hopes of the Crown of Valencia and Arragon. and given for a Dowry to the Lady Margaret of Sicily, who married with Charles of France Earl of Vallois. This marriage restored that hope unto France, which she had in a manner lost to reunite those Provinces, for that contrary to the Law of the Realm, they had been given in marriage to a daughter. France is also bound unto him for the acquisition of the County of Provence, by the means which have been formerly mentioned: The piece was not entire, for the principality of Orange was separated, yet in the year one thousand four hundred three score and fifteen, he had purchased the homage and jurisdiction of William of Chalon Prince of Orange, and made it subject to that of Dauphine. y Lewis of Chalon Prince of Orange, bought of René King of Sicily, the ●omage and Soneraignty of the Principall●ty of Orange, which was held of the County of Provence, and William of Chalo● sold it to King Lewis the 11. He passed the three score and third year of his age, the which he had always apprehended for that the Kings of this branch had never attained unto it: Age of Lewis the eleventh. And as it is the nature of man to desire to live, and to repent to have lived, when he had attained unto it, he would willingly have kept back that term, in the which nature by the great infirmities wherewith he was brought low, chased him out of this life, not as from a Shipwreck, but as out of an Inn where he had made good cheer. z Themistius compares the death of old men, to the going out of an Inn, and that of young men to a Shipwreck. In like manner Princes, and they that have lived in pleasure, fear not death for want of courage, as many think, but for the long continuance of their delights and contents. He arrived not at this port without storms and great perils, in the which he was preserved by the same hand which had diverted many damnable attempts against his person. The most doubtful of these accidents was at Peronne, the greatest at the battle of Montlehery, the most unexpected under the port of the Castle of Alencon, Dangers which he did escape a This accident happened on Sunday the 8th. of August 1473. Edward the 2. King of England, playing at Chess, ended his game so fitly, as a great stone f●ll upon the place as soon as he was up, and had slain him if he had stayed. Thomas Walsingham. when as a great stone falling from the Vault did but touch his sleeve: An accident which shows, that no man knows where death shall surprise him, and that a wise man should always attend it resolutely in all places. This Reign was rough, difficult, and tossed with strange revolutions. Such as lived in those times said that the world had never been more wicked. Opinion, which like unto Orpheus' Harp, doth always move the lesser and weaker spirits, hath made this belief common among them, that the world doth daily impair, that the Golden Age is changed into Silver, then into Copper, and in the end into Iron and Brass: That our b It is true that the older the world grows, the more remote it shall be from the innocency, and simplicity of the first Age. Aetes' parentum peior avis tulit. Nos nequiores mox daturos▪ Prolem vitiosiorem. But in all ages men have been corrupted and disordered: Seneca saith, that his complained, and that such as should come after would make the like complaint. grandfathers times were better than that of our fathers, that ours hath increased in wickedness, and that they which shall succeed shall be more wicked. Paradox that the world growth not worse. But I find in this Prince's time as famous villainies as have been since: His Chronicle doth produce many, besides those great distractions which the History hath observed in public actions, as rebellions, Infidelities, Attempts, Treasons and Conspiracies, not discovering many other excesses which have remained smothered in the consciences of two or three. I have collected the examples which it setteth down, as a lump of many poisons to make a Treacle against vice. The first in showing a great liberty discovereth a great bounty. The year that the King made his entry into Paris, a young woman left her husband to follow her own disordered lusts, and after her husband being well advised (these are his very words) took her again. Wise men hold the sour and sweet of marriage secret: That age as well as those which have gone before, and have followed after, doth furnish examples of men, who in favour of Mecanas c Galba having in●●ted Mec●●nas to supper, seeing his wife and him to court is by looks and signs, he 〈◊〉 down upon his C●sh●●a f●yning to be v●●y sleepy, to give way unto their leaves: The which he maintained with a good grace, for his man being ready to take away the dishes which stood upon his Table, he cried out unto him, how now Knave? dost thou not see that I sleep not but for Maecenas. have shut their eyes whilst they courted their wives. In the war of the Commonweal, Examples of divers disorders. there were seen pass through Paris two hundred Archers on horseback, after them eight Strumpets, with a black Monk their Confessor: In the year one thousand four hundred three score and five, the sixth of june, a Capper in Saint Dennis Street, strangled his wife in his own house, and a Labouring man of Clignancourt cut his Throat. Another Gentlewoman of Paris was accused of Adultery, and poisoning, by her own husband. A father had long abused his own daughter, and had many children by her, and as the wicked are never content with one wickedness, he fell from Incest to Parricide, d When as the mind of man hath once subjecteth itself to the tyranny of vice, he is not wicked with one kind of crime only. Quisnam hominum est quem tu co●tentum videris uno Flagitio. What is he among men, whom thou shalt s●e content with en● villainy. Iuv●n. killing his children so soon as they were borne: He was hanged at Paris, and his daughter was burned at Magny near unto Pontoise. Three sergeant, forced a Priest's chamber in Paris and did beat him outrageously, they were condemned to be whipped through the Streets of Paris. A Religious man of the Temple had his Throat cut by one of his brethren, The great Prior of France being assisted by the Commanders and Knights, condemned him to be kept prisoner in a Dungeon, and there to be fed with the bread of sorrow and water of heaviness. A fair Burgess of Paris, who was much esteemed among the women of best fame, gave ear to the Earl of Foix, who attempted against her honour, suffered herself to be won, and left father, mother, husband and children, to follow him. A Hosier being accused of many Thefts cut out his own tongue, for that he would not confess any thing. There were many scandalous Libels cast abroad in Paris, against the King's chief Officers, namely against the Constable of Saint Paul. An Archer was condemned to be hanged at Paris, for e ●he School o● Physicians at Pa●●s, dear an. 〈◊〉 to be cut, that they might see how the stone is framed, and how it lieth in man's body, for that there were many troubled therewith in those days, he was cured and his life saved. sacrilege, having rob the Church of Meudon. A Franciscan Friar Preaching indiscreetly, was banished the Realm, in the year one thousand four hundred three score and eighteen, in the month of October, a Monk Hermaphrodite using both Sexes became great with child. Behold how that in those times, as well as in ours, excess and disorders were common. The world is nothing but a sink of all filthiness. O what a vile and abject thing (said an Ancient) is man, if he do not raise himself above man! We see few become good men for the only respect of integrity and honesty: If they enter into the Temple of Virtue, it is always by some false door. Lewis the eleventh had three sons and three daughters: joachim died young, Children of Lewis the 11. and this death drew, with sorrow, from the father's heart a Vow never to know any other woman but the Queen. Francis Duke of Berry died in the year one thousand four hundred three score and fourteen: This loss caused him to shut himself up for some few days, in the Castle of Amboise, refusing to see or to be seen of any, not considering that King's children were men borne in the cries and groans of their mothers, and bewailing their own miseries like to other men. f Stratonicus an Artificer of Athens, hearing that the mother of Timotheus cried out at her delivery, said; How would she have cried, if she had made an Artificer? He mocked at that common slattery, which spoke of King's children, as of the children of the Gods. Atheneus. This grief was human, and should have been lamented humanly, and comforted by this reason: That the thing which is restored to him to whom it belongeth cannot be said to be lost: But it is hard to see a goodly flower die at the break of day: A vain reason, he that maketh it to grow, may gather it when, and how he pleaseth. Lovyse his eldest daughter died also in her Infancy▪ Anne was betrothed to Nicholas marquess of Pont, Grandchild to René Duke of Anjou, but he did not marry her, for the Duke of Bourgundy being jealous of this Alliance propounded unto him the marriage of Mary, his only daughter, to draw him by this vain hope, from the service of this Crown: She was married to Peter of Bourbon, joane his third to daughter was married to Lewis the twelfth, and put away in the first year of his reign: So as finding herself hateful unto her husband, and unpleasing to many, she left the world: g Being unmarried she wedded herself to solitariness, the which she had desired all her life: In her Infancy, the King demanded of her of what Order she would have her Confessor, and she made choice of the Gardien of the Franciscan Friars at Amboise. Her father loved her not, for that Nature had given him cause to complain of her deformity, having not engraven any makes of her favours, neither upon her face nor on her person, for she was black, little, and crooked: h Beauty, is a piece of so great recommendation, as they that are not favoured therewith, are less pleasing even to them that by Nature should love them. The signor of Lesguiere her Governor did hide her often under his Gown, when as the King met her, to the end he should not be troubled with the sight of her. The hatred of King Lewis the eleventh, her father, the death of Charles the eighth, her brother, and the divorce of King Lewis the twelfth, her husband, changed all the sweetness of her life into the bitterness of the Cross, and embarked her as in a tempestuous Sea, whereas she found no other Port but that of death. The children of great men to become the children of God, are bound to drink of the cup of affliction i Happy are those pains and afflictions which are to amend & save, not to ruin & destroy the afflicted: The Cross is the mark of the Citizens of heaven, they whom the hand of God disdlaines to strike, are such as he disdains to amend. as well as the meanest. The way to heaven is full of Thorns: The flaming sword appeared at the entering of Paradise: The Land promised to the faithful aboundeth with plenty of Milk and Honey: Milk is first blood before Milk; Honey is drawn from bitter flowers, Roses grow among Thorns. Her husband loved her not, 'Cause of the dissolution of the marriage of Lewis the twelfth. and yet during the time of his imprisonment in the great tower of Bourges, he received no other succour, nor assistance but from this Princess. The cause of their Divorce was Sterrility, and want of consent in marriage. CLAUDIUS of Seyssell saith that he gave her unto him, to the end that sterrility, and barrenness, might deprive him of all means to have children, so much he hated and abhorred the Blood Royal. k The cause of this divorce was fterility, and want of consent in marriage: Lewis declaring that King Lewis the 11. had forced him to marry her. Her consolation was in this solitariness, for that she recovered the liberty which she had long desired: The King gave her the Duchy of Berry for her portion, the Town of Bourges was her retreat, with a yearly pension of one thousand two hundred pounds Sterling. She made the Order of the Religious of the Annunciado, otherwise called the Order of the Virgin Mary, the which was allowed and confirmed by Pope Alexander the sixth, in the year one thousand five hundred and one, and she caused the Monastery of Saint Laurence of Bourges to be built: The habit of her Religious women is a blue, or sky coloured Gown, a white Kercher, and a red Scapulaire, with a Cord of ten Knots, signifying the ten Virtues, or Consolations, which the Virgin Mary had in her life l The ten Knots of this Cord had relation first to the pureness: secondly, to the wisdom; thirdly, to the humility; four, to the faith; fifthly, to the virtue, sixthly, to the praise; seventhly, to the obedience; eighthly, to the poverty; ninthly, to the patience; and tenthly, to the pity of the Virgin Mary. : She died at Bourges, the fourth of February, one thousand four hundred and four: Her body was burnt, and the ashes cast into the wind in the first troubles, when as the Earl of Montgomery took the Town of Bourges. Charles his son succeeded him at the age of thirteen years: The Histories of those times, speak much of the greatness of his courage, and the weakness of his brain: They all agree that he neither had any great understanding, nor much wit: Two great defects in two little words, the which are much dilated in the actions of his life, whereas we see that he attempts lightly, and gives ear to many things which are always prejudicial to them that harken to them m A Prince should stop his ears to reports, and should fly them: Clandestinas existimationes nullisque magis quam audientibus insidiantes susurros. Melius omnibus quam singulis creditur. Singuli enim decipere & decepi possunt, nemo omnes neminem omnes fefellerunt. Secret suggestions and whisperings which cirumvent none more than them that give ear unto them. It is more safe to trust all in general than any one in particular: A man in particular may deceive, and be deceived, no man hath deceived all men, neither have all men deceived any one man. C. PLIN. PAHEG. : If the felicity of an estate dependeth of obedience, if to obey well depends of commanding well, if to command well depends of a Prince's wisdom, what good commandment can be expected from a Prince, who neither hath a sound judgement, nor hath gotten any thing to make it better? What hope is there that he shall ever be able to command others and himself well? After that Philip de Commines hath showed that he was touched with the like fever of the brain to Charles the seventh his Grandfather, and to Lewis the eleventh his Father, who both feared their Children; and that for this cause he soon passed over his grief for the death of the Dauphin his son: He adds, that this Prince was alway little, Disposition of Charles the eighth both of body and understanding; but he was so good, as there was never a better creature seen. Claudius' of Seissill saith, That he was a good Prince, Noble, and of a greater courage then of body, covetous of honour and glory, desiring all good and honest things as much as his age could bear, and that he failed in the flower of his youth, when as he began to understand his own affairs. Peter Desrey a Champenois, who hath written his Chronicle, saith; That having past the weakness of his first Age, youth gave great hopes of more force and vigour of his Spirit, and that he did exercise himself in the knowledge of many things, which make Princes learned in the difficult knowledge of all. n The knowledge how to reign and command, is the highest and most difficult of all others. Books may help much, for that they furnish examples whereof the shortness of life cannot see the hopes. But a good understanding doth all. The knowledge which comes from books, may serve for an ornament, but not for a foundation. The Philosophy of Princes is constancy, faith and sincerity, other sciences are but as Paintings, as Plato saith. After the death of his father (saith this Chronicler) and that he had taken upon him the Royal dignity, he began very willingly to read books written in the French tongue, and had a desire to understand the Latin; and to do like a good Prince, he employed his youth willingly to serve God devoutly, and to hear the council of wise men, desiring to learn how to govern well. Notwithstanding that the carelessness of Lewis the eleventh to have him Royally instructed, and bred up, hath ministered occasion to the most famous Historian of those times, and which hath been since, to write that which cannot be spoken but of a Prince, ill bred, and worse brought up: yet let it not displease him: for this Charles, whom he gives us for an Ignorant Man, is the same whom he compares unto julius Caesar, for that his coming and his victory in Italy was but one thing. o Carlo condotto ad allogiare all castle Capoano gia habitatione antica de re Francesi havendo con maraviglioso corso d'inaudita felicita sopra l'essempio di julio Caesare prima vinto ●he veduto & con tanta facilita che non fusse necessaria in questa espeditione ne spregare maivn padiglione ne rompere may pur una lancia. Charles being conducted to lodge in the Castle of Capua, an ancient habitation of the Kings of France, having with an admirable course of unheard of felicity, beyond the example of julius Caesar vanquished before he had seen, and that with so great facility; as in the expedition he had no need either to pitch a Tent, or to break a Lance. For it is true, that he struck more amazement into Italy at the brute of his coming, than the Gauls had done by their descent in former times. He put all the Potentates in alarm, Pisa at liberty, Florence in fear, and Sienna in jealousy; and having the effects of his desire greater than those of his hopes; he entered armed into Rome, with his Lance upon his Thigh, he planted his Cannon on the Marketplace, and made himself to be acknowledged and admired of all men for the Deputy of the living God, for the reformation of the disorders of Italy: and without striking stroke, or pitching any Tent, he entered a Conqueror into Naples; and in his return, he marched (as it were) upon the belly of Italy, being all banded against him, to hinder his retreat. And although that France hath not reaped the glory and fruit which she promised unto herself by this voyage, it sufficeth that the cause was just and glorious: for we must judge of things not by the events and executions, but by the causes and motions of their wills that have done them. p He that considereth of things by the events, doth judge of the whole Image by the heel. In all occasions we must settle our judgements not upon the issue & execution but upon the causes & intentions of them which do them, and the differences of things. Polyb. lib. 2. This course might have carried me unawares to unfold the whole part of the Table. Behold (by the grace of God) we are come to the bank; It is sufficient to have written the Father's History, leaving the Sons to some other. But before we end, we must repass unto the judgements of the actions of this Prince. That done, we will enter into the great Career of the toils and glory, the Combats and victories, the Virtue and Fortune of the greatest Prince that ever was before or after Lewis the 11th. The end of the tenth Book. THE CONTENTS OF the eleventh Book. 1 LIberty of judgements upon the life of Lewis the eleventh. 2 A particular examination of his actions, his piety, his devotions, & pilgrimages, his good deeds to Churches, his behaviour toward the Pope. 3 What he was towards King Charles the seventh his father, towards his son, his wife, and the Princes of his blood. 4 Majesty: The care he had to preserve the respect: he did not affect pomp: who were the chief officers of his Crown: he is very wary to confer titles of honour and dignity, he contemns the mark of majesty. 5. Magnificence: The order and expenses of his house: he receives the Ambassadors of foreign Princes with great state. His buildings. 6 Clemency: He leaves no offence unpunished: his Prisons and Cages of Iron, a rigorous usage of the Dukes of Alencon and Nemours: He revengeth old offences which he had received before he was King, and forgets not them of the league: Severity in the end makes him fearful and distrustful. 7 justice: He institutes the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Dijon: he loves not the Parliament of Paris: a free and courageous admonition made by the Precedent La Vacquerie: how chief Ministers should carry themselves to Princes: Of the King's Audiences. 8 Wisdom: He was always accompanied with fear, he let slip the occasion to do his business in England and Flanders, he can choose men and draw foreign Princes to his devotion, as the Archduke of Austria, Cosmo di Medicis, and others; he drew unto his service the Lord of Lescun, and Crevecoeur, and Philip de Commines. His tongue offends his wisdom. 9 Liberality: He is neither covetous nor liberal: he hath forms to give which bind much: he entertains many Pensioners: his liberality passeth to excess, empties his Coffers, drives him to necessity, and to lay rigorous Impositions upon the people. 10 Valour: Proof of the greatness of his courage in divers encounters, what care he had of war. His policy and military discipline. 11 Knowledge: He had more knowledge of learning & the s●yences, than other kings his predecessors. The pitiful estate of the profession of learning under his reign, his Apothegms and Answers. 12 Temperance: He had two base daughters: his private kind of life: his domestic pleasures: his exercises and his confident servants. divers other observations upon his life and History. ¶ THE HISTORY Of LEWIS the eleventh. THE ELEVENTH BOOK. MEN judge freely of the lives of Princes after their deaths: judgements are free after death. the glistering of their Purple-Robes doth no more dazzle their eyes, a Themist●us 〈◊〉 that the court of the Emperor jovinian was full of flatterers, said, that then adored the purple more than the person, and that the Court was an Euripus whose waves did f●ow and e●be in an instant. Nicep. Cal. l. 10. c. 42. and the judgements which are made, are purged from flattery, which doth always augment the good, and diminish the ill which they do. That King doth greatly bind him which speaks of his life, when he gives him no occasion to lie in commending him: For Princes are never so perfect, but Truth may find great exceptions in the goodliest qualities of their praises; and before that the Statue be made perfect, there must much Marble be taken away, and the form exactly sought in the substance. Philip de Commines saying that he had seen the greatest Princes of his time, and in them all there was both good and evil, for that they were men; he adds for truth, freed from all flattery, That God had created Lewis the eleventh more wise, more liberal, and more virtuous than all they, and that in him there were more things belonging to the office of a King and Prince, then in any of the other. I have in a manner (saith he) seen them all, and known what they could do; wherefore I divine not. This great authority which he preserved unto the last gasp, Liberty of judgement upon the life of Lewis 11. and carried into death, was supported by three mighty pillars, which his own wisdom had raised, Severity, Constancy, and Reputation. b Majesty is the invincible f●●t of a Prince, it is better preserved by severity, then by too great 〈…〉. But for that these good souls are like unto the mildew of the stars, which looseth much of her pureness passing by the Regions of the air; and by the entrails of Bees which form it; and that the gold of Prince's virtues cannot be drawn absolutely pure from their lives, being always mixed with divers strange matters, we must consider if the piety which was in him, hath retained nothing of superstition or hypocrisy, his clemency of fear, justice of cruelty, wisdom of subtlety, liberality of prodigality, and his other goodly qualities of Art and dissimulation. Every man may now speak his opinion without fear of displeasing, or blame of flattery: c Praises which are not necessary are best: Neminem magis laudare Imperato●em decet, quam quem minus necesse est. praise may pass on freely, and boldly, without any other necessity or bond, than the respect which every man should have to preserve the memory of Princes, against the outrages of slander. Posterity, which understands not things, but by the voice of such whom benefits or offences have bound to remember them, doth always receive flatteries and lies for truth. d Flattery or hatred do most commonly turn an History out of the right way of truth, & therefore Tacitus protests, that they of whom he speaks, are not known unto him neither by offences done, nor by benefits received Mihi Galba, Otho, Vitellius, nec beneficio, nec iniuria cogniti. It is fitting in painting to represent Hannibal and Antigonus halfe-faced, to hide the eye which they wanted; but a History must show the whole face, to the end that Princes may find their own vices in the portrait of others. This hath noted them, to show that there is nothing perfect in this world; and if the Tapestry of this Prince's life be fair and pleasing, viewing it on the right side, you shall find the back very much disfigured with knots and seams. We must not seek his Eulogies in the Histories of strangers, e Buchanan saith, that Lewis 11. Tyrannidem exercebat, practised tyranny; and that there was nothing more common, Quam ex usu & suis commodis sine discrimine ●idem fall re quibuscunque sed praecipue agnatis Principibus, then of custom, and for his own profit, to deceive any without distinction, especially the Princes of the blood. who speak as if God had suffered him to live for the misery of the Commonweal, and the ruin & desolation of the people, whose fatness and good estate he held dangerous for the health of the whole body; holding for a Maxim, that they should not do ill unto the people, nor attend any good of them. In the end the Chronicle speaks after this manner: This King in his life time, by reason of some men that were about his person, as Oliver the Devil, called Dain his Barber, john Doyac, and many others, to whom he gave more credit than to any men of his Realm, did during his Reign, many Injustices, wrongs and violences, and had brought his people so low, as at the time of his death they were almost in despair. All this is nothing but a rough draft of his humours: Plety and Religion of Lewis the 11th. To view the whole Table we must consider what his Religion and Piety was towards God, and his obedience towards the Pope: then we will pass to his affection toward his Wife, his Son, Father, and his nearest Kinsmen the Princes of his Blood, and his Servants. Of all these things the judgement shall be reserved to truth and discretion, which will have the memory of Princes to be always reverenced; and that they speak of their defects, not as of vices, but as of imperfect virtues. f The virtues of Princes should be spoken without flattery, & their vices by discretion, they must not set down their defects plainly, but pass them over as virtues which are not perfect. It is the advice which Plutarch give, writing the life of Simon. For the first, the good is always good, and the evil is always evil; Opinion cannot change the essence of things, they are very hardy which will have actions to be other than they appear: Slander having no strong sight to behold the brightness of virtue, useth false spectacles, and calleth that Fear which is Wisdom, Hypocrisy that which is Devotion, ●arde judgement of Claudius Seissel. and Inhumanity that which is justice. I find that Claudius Seissell hath judged very boldly of the Devotion and Piety of this Prince, thinking that he hath pierced into the very inward parts, by the observation which he hath made of the outward man. He hath represented him very melancholic and superstitious, always trembling and terrified with the horror of eternal pain. His devotion g True p●ety supports itself, she will have the soul cheerful & obedient, and that a good man be so, although that nothing should be ever known. (said he) seemed to be more Superstitions then Religious: For to what Image, or Church of GOD, and Saints, and namely of our Lady, that he understood the people had any devotion, or where there were any miracles done, he went thither to make his Offering, or sent some expressly thither. He had moreover his Hat full of Images, the most part of Lead and Tin, the which whensoever any good or bad news came unto him, or that the humour took him, he kissed, falling sometimes suddenly down upon his knees, in what place soever he were; so as he seemed rather a man distracted then wise. Such censures belong to him who doth keep and judge the hearts of Kings; God the judge of Hearts. but it is true, this Prince's Religion was wholly outward, retaining nothing in his heart. It was popular and ceremonious, as if he had had for the object of his worship a visible dignity, and that it were sufficient to appear holy, and not to be so. h Religion will have an exterior and public exercise with her Ceremonies. The Prince is bound unto it, and it is Impiety for any other to contradict it, and to trouble the order, But the service which is done by the Spirit, is answerable to the essence of God, who is all Spirit, and that which is done outwardly, is more for us them for him. His Chronicle saith, that on a Sunday, the eighth of September, going from the Tournelles to our Lady's Church, he passed by the Church of Mary Magdalen, to subscribe himself a brother and companion of the great brotherhood of the Bourgeses of Paris. The God of the people is the God of Kings, but the exterior service of Religion allows many things to the simplicity of the people, which are not fitting for the majesty of Kings. If we shall judge of causes by the events, we may say, that the Pilgrimages on Foot and Horseback, Pilgrimages of Lewis 11 and the most zealous devotions of this Prince, have often covered designs which were repugnant to Piety and justice: He did therein always circumvent some one, and upon this opinion, that the show of religion works wonders in the belief of men, i The people opinion of their Prince's holiness works great effects. Sertorius with his Hind had gra●en such a superstition in his soldiers minds, as they did not think that they were governed by a man who had more judgement than they, but they did firmly believe that it was some God which guided them. keeping them from judging rashly of his life and actions, whom they saw so familiar with God. They say, that he did fit his religion to his designs, and not his designs to his religion. They did not in those times speak of that most impious Maxim; Maxim of Machivel. That it is sufficient for a Prince to seem outwardly religious and devout, although he be not so. A Maxim of Atheism, which mocks at God, to deceive men: at God, who in the end confounds hypocrites, & will be served with an unfeigned heart, whereof he sees and sounds the deepest bottom. k They make Machivel Author of this Maxim, that a new Princce cannot observe all things for the which men are esteemed good; being often constrained for the maintaining of his estate, to do things contrary to faith and religion, to leave the good when he may, and to do the evil when he is forced. We may well say, that the world looks but to the exterior, and that which is in show. It is not possible in matters of religion, whose actions must be so often reiterated, that hypocrisy should still join them so well together, but some one will dis-band and discover the deceit. The signor of Haillan, Historiographer of France, who hath promised to publish the whole History of this King, and hath given us an abridgement in his book, which is excellent and judicious touching the affairs of France, speaks of his Religion after this manner: Never Man was more superstitious than he, he did things which were good in show, but to a bad intent, thinking by his superstition to deceive both GOD and the world. The superstitious fear not to do evil for the opinion they have to obtain absolution by the acts of their superstition. l Hypocrisy cannot continue long, lying cannot deceived long. The night lasts not, but when the Sun is far from the Horizon. judgements are settled upon that which they see, wherefore Machivel saith, It concerns every man to see, and few to feel, but in the end the mask falls. He took from the poor to give unto Churches, and did more oppress his people with Tributes and Taxes, than any other King of his Predecessors, and therefore he made his subjects to be ill affected unto him. He confessed himself often, for that once a week he touched them that were troubled with the King's evil. Curing of the King's evil. It is the only miracle which hath remained perpetual in the Christians religion, and in the house of France. That this grief, whose beginning is an incorrigible ill digestion, a hideous ulcer to look on, dangerous to touch, and for the most part incurable, should be healed by these words: The King toucheth thee, and God cures thee, is a wonder beyond the reach of discourse and judgement. m That Clovis did first cure the King's Evil, is drawn out of the Epistle of Hormisda a Pope. S. Lewis adds to the Ceremony of touching, the sign of the Crosse. His arm is at Poblette, whither they that are sick of that disease▪ go in pilgrimage to be cured. I say aperpetuall miracle: The Kings of England have the same virtue. for since Clovis the first Christian King, it hath continued to them which succeeded to his Religion and Crown. Other Realms have had the like graces given them, but they have not continued: The Kings of England cured the falling sickness, they of Hungary the jaundice, and they of Castille those that were possessed. I could not find what men he employed for the service of God, and the conduct of his conscience. n We find that he, who was the head & director of God's service in the King's house, was called Apocris●ire under the first race, Arch-chaplain in the second, and great Chaplain, or great Almoner under the third. I read, that besides the great chaplain, or Arch-chaplin, he had two chaplains and one Clerk of the Chapel; and that a Franciscan Friar called john Vouste, did for a long time exercise one of these charges. The Chronicle saith, that a little before his death he made a Doctor of Tours, called Master Martin Magistri, his councillor and Almoner, who died at Clerry after the voyage of Saint claud. In the accounts and expenses of his House, we find, that he bond the City of Tours to give every day in the Week (Friday and Saturday excepted) a piece of Royal Beef a foot square to the Lepers and Hospital of Tours; and for the performance thereof gave a hundred pounds sterling to be employed in the purchase of lands for the foundation of this piece. Leprosy, which grows from an Adust and Melancholy blood, demands meats that are less earthly; o The air, water and nourishment may not only alter the temperature of bodies, but also of the mind. Sunt qui non corpora tantum verum etiam animos valeant mutare liquores. being certain, that nourishment engenders diseases, and being engendered, entertains them. He granted unto the holy Chapel at the Palace of Paris, the moieties of the Regalities to be employed in the entertainment of the Church and Ornaments. He founded the Religious Nuns of the ave Marie, which was the ancient Convent of the Beguines, a kind of Religion, which was (as it were) Neuter, betwixt the Maries, and other religious Women: his picture, and that of Queen Charlotte is to be seen in the choir in glass. He did enrich the Church of our Lady of Clery, and of Victory, with great revenues. Being at Lion in the year 1476. he gave unto the Chapter of the Church of Foruiere, p This Church is on●● of the most remarkable Antiquities of the C●tty of Lions. The word of ● oruiere comes from Forum veneris or Forum vetus. It is much bo●nd to the memory of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury. the rents and guards of S. Simphorien le Chastel, and the Farm of the Chastelenie of Charlien, to bind them to say certain Masses daily in a Chapel called, Our Lady of good Council. The letters of dispatch show the great devotion of this Prince to the service of the virgin Mary, and begin in these terms: Having had consideration of the great and singular graces which God our Creator hath heretofore done us, at the Intercession of his blessed Mother, the glorious virgin Mary; in whom, after God her son, we have always had our chief refuge and hope: and who, in the conduct of our greatest affairs, hath always imparted unto us her grace and Intercession to God her son; so as by her means, and aid, our Realms and Signiories are, by the grace of God, preserved, entertained, and remain in peace, under us and our true obedience, notwithstanding any enterprises, practices and conspiracies which have been made since our coming to the Crown, against us and our said Realm, Signiory and Subjects, as well by our enemies and adversaries, as other our rebels and disobedient subjects, their adherents and complices. He did institute many godly things, the observation whereof hath continued unto our times: q The institution of the prayer which is made at noon by the sound of a bed, was the first day of May, 1472. his devotion to the virgin Mary made him ordain, that at noonday every man should pray at the sound of a bell, and say the salutation of the Angel for the peace of the Realm. The Emperor Charlemagne had great and eminent virtues: The commendation of Charlemaigne. he declared himself enemy to Didier, King of the lombards, who had revolted against the Pope: he pacified Italy, subdued the Saxons, and expelled the Saracens out of Spain. But this enterprise was greater and more hardy than profitable and needful: for Gannes, otherwise called Gannelon betrayed him, and was the cause of that memorable defeat of Roncivaux, r In the valley of Roncevaux died these valiant Captains, Rowland, Reynold of Montauban, and Ogier the Dane▪ Charlemaigne made these four verses upon the death of Rowland his sister's sons Tu patriam repetis tristi, nos orb relinquis, Te tenet aula nitens, nos lachrymosa dies, Sed qui lustra geris octo & binos super annos, Ereptus terris, justus ad astra redis. where those brave and generous knights were lost, whose incredible valour is no more believed, than the truth of the Romance. He joined the Roman Empire to the Monarchy of France. But the Imperial Diadem did not cure the great afflictions of the mind which he had all the time of his Empire, by the revolt of the Saracens in Spain, the slavonians, or Danes, and the Normans. Three years before his death, at the age of 68 years, he gave himself to holy contemplation, and to the care of Religion, and the Church; Founder of the University of Paris. he erected the University of Paris, by the advice of Alcuin his Schoolmaster, and did people it with the most learned men of his time. He had sour wives and many Concubines, the greatness of his virtue, and the wonders of his reputation, made him to be adored of his subjects, and redoubted of strangers: The Sophy of Persia, and Prester john of Ethiopia sought for his alliance: He built two goodly houses, His Buildings. the one at jughelheim the place of his birth, the other at Nieumegue; he built the Bridge at Mentz, a work of ten years, the which, the year before his death was ruined by a sudden fire, in less than two hours: He built the Church of Aix la Chapelle where he is interred: During his life he caused six Counsels to be called, at Mentz, at Rheims, at Tours, at Chalons, at Arles, and at Francfort, and made Orders for the Reformation of the Church: s Charlemagne made a book for the reformation of the Church, which carries this title, Capitula Carol● Magni, and contains Proofs of his great piety▪ When he went to Collegiall, Churches, or Monasteries, he did sing with the Priests, and say the lessons of the morning, and caused them to be said by his children and other Princes of his Court. He died the eighteenth of january, and in the eighth day of his sickness, in the year eight hundred and fourteen, His Death the three score and eleventh year of his age, and the seven and fortieth of his reign, including fifteen years of his Empire. For his great and heroic virtues, which serve as an example, and pattern to Princes, and for his great bounty to Churches, for the which Philip de Commines saith, that a Chartreux Monk called john Galleas, His Canonisation. Duke of Milan Saint: t Philip de Commines visiting the Church of Pavia, and beholding the statue of john Galeas Duke of Milan on horseback to be higher than the Altar, whom a Chartrous Monk, borne at Bourges, called Saint; he demanded of him why he called him Saint, seeing the Towns which were painted about him were so many marks of his tyranny, he answered softly, in this Country we call all them Saints that do us good, he built this Monastery. King Lewis the 11. would that the day of his death should be solemnised like Sunday. The Church doth not solemnize the birth of Saints, it makes the day of their death a Feast, which is another kind of birth than the first, there being no more proportion betwixt the world out of which they go, and heaven whereinto they enter, than there is betwixt the womb out of which they go, and the world whereinto they enter. He caused his Statue to be taken out of the rank of the Kings, to make an image upon the Altar of the Chapel at the Palace with that of Saint Lewis; he would also have his own in his rank, after another fashion, kneeling before the Image of our Lady. But how great soever his zeal was unto the Church, yet would he have the Popes know, wherein, and wherefore, they were bound unto the Crown of France: The Kings of France have deserved, the glorious Surname of Eldest son of the Church, Popes bound to the Crown of France. having defended it from great enemies, and freed it from terrible persecutions. It is also found that at the last wherewith she is threatened she shall have no other deliverer but a King of France; u This opinion is grounded upon a Treatise of Antichrist, which some attribute to Saint Augustine, others to other ancient fathers, and many to Rabanus: Read upon this subject the eighth Discourse of Doctor Suares, a Portugois, upon the Apocalypse. the which hath made many to say, and write, that the Majesty of the Church shall never be overthrown so long as the Crown of France shall endure. The devotion of Lewis did not make him insensible of the wrongs which the Temporal power might receive from the Spiritual. Pope Pius the second, Paul the second, and Sixtus the fourth, knew well that this spirit could not submit himself in all things without knowing the reason: He did not dissemble the wrong which Sixtus the fourth, x Pope Sixtus being afforded at the violence done to Cardinal Riario his Nephew, and to the Archbishop of Pisa, did excommunicate the Florentines, declaring that ●ee would employ against them & the Venetians his person, goods, & whatsoever else he could: The KIng upon this advertisement thought it not reasonable that the goods appointed for the service of God, should be employed in war, making a defence to to carry money to Rome. did unto the dignity of his father, and common pastor of Christian people, banding himself against the Commonweals of Florence and Venice, and suppoting the undue exactions which were made in the Chancery of Rome: He forbade all men to send any money thither to have provision of Benefices, by Bulls and expectative graces, upon pain of confiscation of body and goods, giving the movables, jewels, and horses of all the offenders to them that should discover them. He appointed Commissioners in the chief Towns of the Realm, to see and peruse the Bulls and provisions which should be brought from Rome, that he might know whether they were contrary to the privileges and liberties of the French Church; y The signor of Gaucourt● Chamberlain to the King was appointed in the Town of Amiens, the commission is reported by Du. Tillet. He commanded the Bishops and Prelates which remained in the Court of Rome, to watch over their Troops, and to be resident in their bishoprics, upon pain of privation of the Temporal of their Revenues, and to prepare themselves for the holding of a Council at Lion when it should be called, upon the instance which he would make unto the Pope: He was advertised that Religious Friars going to general Chapters of their Orders out of the Realm, were employed to carry packets, Religious men employed in messages. and intelligences, he made a defence for the going to any Chapters which should be held in foreign Provinces; z The defences by this Edict given at Selongnes the third of September 1476. were general against the Religious of the Order of Cisteaux, of the Charthusians of Clugny, and the four begging Friars; But the Chartusians are not subject to the punishment, by the same Edict it is spoken of the friars Minors of the three Orders. the punishment was divers: He appointed banishment for them of Cisteaux and of Clugny, and declared them incapable to hold any Benefices in France, and in regard of the Begging Friars, besides banishment, he said that he would root out, and expel the Realm all them of that Order which should infringe his Edict. Howsoever he did reverence Churchmen, yet would he not have them stray from public instructions, Sermons of sedition. to censure affairs of Estate; for such kinds of discourses do more trouble the minds of men than comfort them: They be but clouds which break forth into brutes of sedition, incense Princes, a Discourses of affairs of State in a troublesome and difficult time enter into seditious Spirits, as burning nails do into green wood. They be Conduit Pipes, saith the Precedent Du Vair, by the which destill the affections wherewith the people are seasoned, and afterwards thrust on to good or bad actions. and are like unto the arrows of Thrace which were shot against heaven to appease it: He was advertised that Friar Anthony Fradin, a Franciscan born at Ville-Franché in Beaujollois, spoke too boldly of the bad government of affairs: He sent Oliver le'Dain to Paris in the beginning of the year 1479. to forbid him to Preach. The multitude (which runs as it is led) mutined against this pursuit, and followed this Preacher in troops to defend him, b The people go like troops and consider not; Quo eundum, sed quo itur: Whether they must go, but whether they go. yea the women carried stones and knives, to use against such as should come to offend him. From one liberty they saw divers spring, as faults follow one another, and this sedition was ready to cause great tumult: c Light faults should be repaired by pardon, and great by severity; and a Prince, as julius Agricola saith, must not always be pacified with the punishment, he must rest oftentimes contented with the repentance of such as have erred. Nec poena semper, saepius poenitentia contentus esse debet, Tac. The Court of Parliament prevented it in such sort, as they gave the King subject rather to content himself with the repentance than the punishment of this silly multitude. They commanded the Friar to go out of Paris, and not to Preach seditiously in any other Province; They did consider that France had seen and suffered terrible agitations by the violence of these spirits, and that England had been violently afflicted under the reign of King Richard, by the seditious Sermons of one only man, who seeking to confound all Orders by a pernicious equality, Preaching always in his Sermons that when as Adam did eat the Apple there were no Gentlemen, that Nature, the Minister of God, had created all men of the same form, and had cast them in the same mould, as brethren and companions lodged on the same earth, d The Bishops of England having forbidden the Pulpit to john Ball an English Priest, he went to Preach seditiously in the fields, causing himself to be followed by the people, where in the hearing of 200000. he began with these terms. and if God would have made this distinction amongst men, he would have ordained this difference from the beginning. A great man of that time spoke these words upon that subject, which are so worthy and true, Discourse is a powerful charm. as the History shall not stray to step a little out of the Highway to consider them. In truth (saith he) the force of speech is a powerful thing, especially having life given it by passion; for you would say that it doth, in a manner, mould and fashion men's souls, and that it is a fire kindled, which encountering another body inflames and sets it on fire, When Adam delude, and Eve span: Who was then the Gentleman? how far off soever it be, like unto Naphte, which kindles at the very sight of the fire. e What cannot Eloquence do in the mouth of an honest man and of credit, seeing that coming from a seditious spirit, it works such great effects. One word of a man of credit, saith Polybius, may divert men from bad enterprises, and draw them to good: The eloquence of a wicked man is like poison in a cup of Gold. I have often observed when, not with any eloquent discourse, but with words which were scarce intellegible, and without any discourse of reason, they have put the people that heard them into choler, for that they were so: so easily do passions communicate by words, and pass from him that speaks, to him that hears. The same jealousy which a husband hath for the honour of his wife, the feeling which the son hath for the love of his father, the same motions which a faithful Minister hath for the love of his Prince, a Preacher should have for the Glory of God, he should dry away for the zeal of his house, and for the increase of his service; any other passion that transports him is but fury. Next to the service of God, piety respects the obedience and honour which we own unto our parents. How Lewis was towards his father. It is true that Lewis offended against this Law, not only in his first age (whose weakness & facility to the impressions of other men might excuse his error) but in his full vitility, which made him inexcusable, when as he could not be ignorant that his duty towards his father was so natural, so religious, and so strictly commanded, by Divine and human Laws, as all other duties yield unto it. f All the offices of Piety yield to that of the child to the father, the son which sees his father & his son in danger of their lives, if he cannot relic both, he must abandon his son to save his father, for the duty which he owes him is more ancient than the love which he hearer unto his children: Cymon being unable for his poverty to bury his father, before he had paid his debt, sold his own liberty. The joy which King Charles the 7. had of his birth did not continue so long as the sorrow he had for his disobedience; when he was borne he had cried Noë like others, and this word which in the beginning did signify rest & consolation, was a presage of the crosses & toils which he endured. It is true that this sour severity wherewith he controlled his actions, was cause of his disorders & excess; g The rough, severe, and imperious proceeding of fathers towards their children makes them to grow insolent and disordered. It is a Divine counsel which Saint Paul gives unto fathers: Parents he prou●cetis ad iracundiam filios ne despondeant anim●m: Parents provoke not your sons to anger, lest they turn away their minds. For being unwilling to disjoin the authority of a father from that of King, he chose rather to keep him in fear and obedience by the severity of the one then by the mildness of the other: He thought that he had no better means to enjoy this spirit then by keeping him short, and restraining the violent motions of his courage, and that being in necessity he should be always in obedience. He was eighteen years old before he had any portion allowed him, no not that which did belong unto him from the day of his birth; for the father considered that if at the age of twelve or thirteen years, when as he had no part in the Estate, he should have been had of some great faction, the increase of means and years would have drawn him to great enterprises. The first example of his disobedience was the trouble of the Praguery, which hath been formerly related, when as he suffered himself to be surprised and stole away from the Earl of March, his Governor, whom Chroniclers have called a Prince of the Blood, and erroneously have taken the husband for the wife. For it is true, that james of Bourbon, h The Lady Elinor of Bourbon daughter to jeames of Bourbon Earl of March, was married to the Earl of Perdriac, son to the Earl of Armagnac. Earl of March, King of Naples, and son to john of Bourbon first Earl of Vendosme, having but one daughter of his first marriage, gave her to Bernard of Armagnac Earl of Perdriac, who by this marriage carried the name of Earl of March, and Governor to Lewis the 11. i They writ that Lewis chased away the Earl of March, for that he had advertised King Charles that the Duke of Alencon was come to Ni●rt to suborn him. For this reason it was late before he gave him the government of the Country of Dauphine, neither would he that the displacing of Officers should depend upon his capricious humours, this wise father having found that his actions were so wandering, inconstant, and contrary to themselves, as it was a difficult thing sometimes to believe that they proceeded from one spirit, for there is nothing equal k men's minds change not according to the motions of reason but according to occasions: Nemo non quotidie consilium mutat: There is not any man but changeth his mind daily. if it comes not from the same resolution, wherefore in the Letters Patents, which were granted at Charleiu the 28. of july, 1440. the King reserved not any other thing, but that he should not displace those Officers which were settled in their charges, and that the Chancellor of France should keep the seal of Dauphine. For the taking of possession of this Province, he sent john signor of Gamaches, a Knight, and Gabriel of Bernet signor of Targey, a Squite, Steward of the King's house to Grenoble, whom he termed his Ambassadors; they presented the King's letters, and the Dauphins, to the Council of Dauphine, in the presence of Juvenal of Vrsins a Knight, Lord of Treynell, lieutenant of that Province, in the absence of the Lord of Gaucourt, who was Governor, and of the chief Noblemen of the Province. Stephen Guillon Precedent in that Council made an Oration upon this subject, but after such manner, as it discovered the rudeness and simplicity of the matter, for who so should discourse now after that manner, they would wonder why the feet should do the ears so much wrong as to suffer attention. l A Babbler demanding of Aristotle if his discourse were not strange; no, answered he, but yet a man having feet should not give himself so long patience to bear thee. They found men in those times who knew how to speak, but few were able to discourse eloquently, It is easy to judge of the beauty of the building by the frontespice: Behold the first period of this Oration, Seeing it is the pleasure of my Lords the Ambassadors to our most redoubted Lord and Prince my Lord the Dauphin Lewis, that I should say something unto you concerning the matter of their Embassage, to obey them as I ought, I will speak it as well as I can, with the help of our Lord & of his Mother, and also with the good supportation and correction of them and you my Masters, and the better to relate it I take for my Theme: Fillius ditus est nobis dominator Dominus & in manu eius potestas & Imperium: I say the third and the ninth chapter: m In those times public actions were performed like Sermons, and always they took some passage of Scripture for the ground of their discourse. The whole Discourse is of the like strain, and extends itself upon the Dauphin's praises, being drowned, as it were, in the allegations of divers passages of Divinity and Law. I think in those days they had more regard to deeds than words, Simplicity of the eloquence in the old time. and that they had more care to do then to speak, that their discourses were without pomp or vanity, and did not favour of that bold babbling which will make men believe, that he which is beaten should make reparation, and that the vanquished is victor. n Thucydides and Pericles, had charge of the government of the Commonweal of Athens, yet could never agree, Archidamus King of Lacedemonia, termed their contention a wrestling, and ask Thucydides who was the stronger, he answered: When I have thrown Pericles down be makes them that see it believe that he is not vanquished, but that he stands still. But in this action there is neither choice of terms, nor choice of reason; and for that he would not have it wholly without invention, he stands upon the letters of Lewis his name, and saith that that in this word Ludovicus there are nine letters, the first represents the Liberality of this Prince, the second that he was Vertable, the third that he should Domineer, and be feared; the fourth that he was Orthodoxal, the fift Vigilant, the sixth a justicer, the seventh Charitable, the eight Virtuous, and the ninth that he was filled with Wisdom: Having ended the Dauphins Panegericke, he fell upon that of ●his Ambassadors, and said that the signor of Gamasche, who was called john, was a forerunner to JESUS CHRIST, and the other the Angel which did foretell his Incarnation to the Virgin MARY, for that his name was GABRIEL. Such kind of writings are like unto Medals, which men esteem more for their stamps, and for the testimony they give of the doubts of Antiquity, then for their proper beauty: neither do we see any but give some light in the obscurest difficulties, and serve in the managing of great affairs. We see in the beginning of his discourse, o The Dauphin is not acknowledged Prince of Dauphiné until the King hath given him the power. how this Precedent labours to satisfy them who held, that Dauphiné should acknowledge the Dauphin from the day of his birth: for he maintained, That the eldest son of France, could not be acknowledged for Prince, and Lord of Dauphiné, until it should please the King to give him the provisions and command. The History sets down how he retired into Dauphiné, and from thence into Flanders: A wonderful heart's grief unto the King, Grief of K. Charles the 7. which did accompany him unto his grave; In either of his vioages, he was always accompanied by necessity: His servants purses being emptied in the voyage of Dauphiné, they borrowed a hundred Crowns of them of Romans. The Bill which he made is carefully kept among the public writings of that Town. It is true, that Lewis the eleventh, was such towards Charles the seventh his father, as he desired not that Charles the eighth his son, should be like unto him, and doubting that the disposition of his nature might be helped by his nourishment, he did not care to breed him up in those virtues which are worthy of a Prince. These defects proceeded not so much from the father's fault as from the time, p In th●se days they held that learning did wrong to courage, and the most valiant of those times were very gross and ignorant: They say also that Italy being given more to learning then Arms, had given a great advantage to them that had conquered it. where the old error was sworn by the greatest Families, that the study of learning did daunt their courages: He would not have him learn any more Latin then these few words: Qui nescit dissmulare nescit regnare: q King Lewis the 11. would not have his son learn any other Art, but how to dissemble, in the which he had pasi Master; he also said that in reading books he should find so many accidents and perils, as he would becomelesse courageous. A Prince leaves his son learned enough, when he hath made him capable to force obedience: Obedience is the Science of Princes. r There is not any Science necessary for a Prince but to command well, and to be well obeyed. Of his two daughters he loved none but her whom he gave to the Duke of Bourbon, the eldest was a sad encounter to his eyes. He failed also in the affection which he ought unto the mother, for he gave her not so good a share of his heart as she ought to have had. CLAUDIUS of Seyssell saith: That whilst he was in the vigour of his age, he was not loyal of his person, He always kept her meanly attended, in some Castle for the most part, whether he went some times to see her, Lewis the 11. a bad Husband. more for a desire to have Issue, then for any delight he took in her; and for the fear she had of him, and his sour usage of her, it is credible, that she had no great delight nor pleasure in his company: But that which is worse, towards the end of his days he sent her into Dauphiné, and did expressly command that she should not be near his son when he should be King. Of all the contentments of life that of marriage is most to be desired: It is a roughs passage, the ways are flanked with Bushes and Thomes, it is impossible to go unto the end of it, but some Brier or Bramble will catch hold of you: s Marriage is good of itself, but it is subject to bad accidents: To explain this truth, Gregory brings a comparison of a way which is clean and strait, & yet hath on either side brambles which may catch hold: In via quidem munda non offendimur, sed à latere nascitur quo pungamur. We are not hurt in a clean way, but it grows from the sides wherewith we are pricked. Greg. 12. Moral. And the great Prince, which did draw all sorts of Sciences abundantly out of the Treasures of the Eternal Wisdom, doth number the concord of Marriage among his chiefest felicities, holding him happy that hath a wise wife, and advowing that there is not any thing more pleasing unto God then Nuptial Concord. That of brethren is no less pleasing unto him, Lewis bad to his brother. there was not any betwixt the King, and the Duke of Guienne his brother, and we cannot say that of them which is written of the two Twins, t Two brethren were held Twins, for that being touched with the same Infirmity, the beginning, progress, and declining was equal in either of them. August. lib: 5. de Civit. that the one had a feeling of another's infirmity: There was no resemblance of Complexions and Will betwixt them. The Duke of Guienne having seen that his presumptions in the League of the Commonweal, and those of the Dukes of Britain, Bourgundy, Bourbon had been recompensed, and to draw favours from the King, it was good to make himself to be feared, he still continued his practices with them that might terrify him, and held his spirit in the apprehensions of war. This great rigour, which the King used towards him, might well be excused and maintained with this great reason, not to make the Princes of the blood great in a time of trouble and liberty. If his brother had had a greater share in the State, and if his portion had lain nearer to his enemies, the League of the Commonweal had continued longer. In the beginning he thought to content him, in giving the Duchy of Berry u The Duchy of Berry was given him for his portion in November 1461. & in the year, 1465. he entered into the Duchy of Normandy, and the Lands which the Duke of Orleans held there, as the Counties of Mortaigne and Longueville. to him, and to his Heirs Male, than the Duchy of Normandy, with power to impose all sorts of Subsidies: But he did all this only for the necessity of his affairs, and to dispierce, and cut asunder the storm of the League: Soon after, he drove him out of Normandy, and compelled him to retire, and withdraw, himself into Britain, as poor as ever. This severe course was approved and allowed by the three Estates, who held it not fit, nor convenient, to pull so goodly a Flower from the Crown, saying; that he should rest himself contented and satisfied with the offer which the King made him of twelve hundred pounds Sterling yearly rent, with the Title of a Duchy, and four thousand eight hundred pounds Pension: x This offer was made, according to the Ordnance of King Charles the fift, in October 1374. by the which he would that Lewis of France his second son should have twelve hundred pound sterling yearly rent, for his portion, and 4000 pounds given him to furnish him. In the end, he gave him the government of Guienne, but he commanded john of Popincourt, Precedent of the Accounts at Paris, not to invest him with his Letters, before he had delivered, and resigned up the others, and made his renounciation: This was but a scantling of the whole piece, for of this great, spacious, and goodly Province of Guienne, he had nothing but the Country of Bourdelois, Bazadois, and Landesse: He neither enjoyed it long, nor yet possessed it quietly; for being there, he presently found great troubles for the limits, and bounds, which the King's Officers strove and contended for, and for the which the Duke of Bourgundy would have taken Arms, but it was compounded and verified by the Court of Parliament two years after. Death gave him a more contented, quiet, and certain Portion in the other world. If death had not done the like grace to the Duke of Orleans, and drawn him out of the cares and afflictions of this life, he had declared the cause of the same resolution the which he made known to King CHARLES the seventh: The violent death of LEWIS Duke of Orleans his father, having invited the English to mount upon the Stage, and there to act the part of Kings of France for many years, made him to take Arms, and to join the revenge of this death to the defence of the Crown: He was taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt, and carried into England, where he remained five and twenty years. His liberty and rest came from thence, from whence proceeded the causes of the miseries of his house, and of his captivity. Philip Duke of Bourgundy, paid two hundred thousand Crowns for his ransom, married him to Mary of Cleves his Niece, and gave him the Order of the Golden Fleece, y The Duke of Orleans received the Order of the Duke of Bourgundy, after his return out of England, in the year 1440. He was not received by King Charles the seventh, according to his hopes and the greatness of his quality. Assembly at Nevers in the year 1442. This discontent made him to join with the intentions of the Dukes of Bourgundy, Britain, Alencon, and other Noble men, who assembled at Nevers, to make King Charles the 7. regard them better than he did, and to reform the disorders of the Realm. z The discontented Princes assembled at Nevers, in the year 1442. The Archbishop of Rheims Chancellor of France, was sent to moderate their choler, and to assure them of all they desired. This was presently repaired, for the English made their profit, and the Duke of Orleans recovered the rank, and authority which the dignity of his birth gave him near the King: Who employed him in the conference which was made at Tours, for a Truce betwixt France and England, under the favour whereof he undertook the conquest of Milan, after the death of PHILIP MARIA. The success of this enterprise did show that he had believed them too lightly who had represented it so easy; as the first day he should arm, Lombardy would give him the Castle of Milan. He passed into Italy to take possession of the Duchy, a It is a great error in a Prince to believe that lightly which is represented unto him of the facility of a great design, notwithstanding that the most temperate are subject to suffer themselves to be carried away with these goodly persuasions. Credulitas error magisest quam culpa & quidem in optimis cuiusque mentem facillimè irripit. Credulity is an error rather than a fault, and it doth easily creep into the best men's minds. Cicero. But as it hath been always reproached unto the French, never to think of their return when they pass the Mountains, being there he was presently unfurnished of all necessary means to work any great effect, and was forced to end his enterprises as soon as they began. The conquest of the County of Ast was the fruit of his voyage, the rest remained to FRANCIS SFORCE. This County of Ast served him for a retreat for some time after, the greatness of his courage not suffering him to remain near the King, 'Cause of the Duke of Orleans death. for the small esteem he made of him. A contempt which did wound his heart with so sensible a grief, as CLAUDIUS of Seyssell finds no other cause of his death. Lewis Duke of Orleans was successor to this bad usage, and to the end that this contempt might be a counterpoise to the greatness of his courage, he would have his breeding less exquisite than his generous disposition could bear, and forced him to marry his daughter, who was weak and crooked, b The Author of the remembrances of the Royal House of Bourbon saith, that Lewis the eleventh, caused Lewis Duke of Orleans to be bred up as grossly as he could, to abate that generous heart of the house of Orleans, Claudius of Seyssell saith, that he used him very roughly, and sought to kill him. giving him a bone of grief and repentance to gnaw for above twenty years. According to the Maxim, to humble the Princes of his blood, he entreated the Earl of Angoulesme no better, and would not suffer him to think of marrying the Princess of Bourgondy, desiring rather that that great and mighty Estate should be in the power of a foreign Prince. He doubted the courage of them that were nearest allied unto him, and held them (as it were) overwhelmed under the rock of contempt and necessity, and kept them from great charges. The springs of his bounty were drawn dry for them, for he used France like unto an Orchard, where as they cut, pull up, and transplant trees at their pleasure. That great and wonderful house of Bourbon, which alone can reckon as many triumphs as France hath had enemies, and which before all others carried a Ducal Crown, avoided these storms. c This royal family of Bourbon hath been so much esteemed by our ancient monarchs as it was the first among the Princes of blood that was honoured with the Title of a Duke: for although the Duchy of Bourgondy were long before the erection of the Duchy of Bourbon, yet it was never comprehended in the house of France, but since Charl●s the fift and the Duchy of Bourbon was erected by Philip of Valois, Grandfather to Charles the 5. He would have used it with the like rigour, but he found it more firm, Greatness of the house of Bourbon. forcing him to convert his spleen and hatred into other effects of love and affection. For he he gave the first collar of the Order to john Duke of Bourbon, his brother, who had married the Lady joane of France, daughter to Charles the seventh, and the Lady Agnes his daughter, to Peter of Bourbon, to whom he committed all his important affairs; he gave him the inheritance of the Earl of Armagnac, yet he would not have him carry the Title of Earl. Majesty. Next to the duties which bind a Prince to serve God, and to love his Allies, there is not any thing which should keep his spirit more in action then the care of Majesty: for it is so delicate a spring, as if it slip or break, the whole frame of authority is in disorder, and he becomes a king of a Tragedy. When I speak of Majesty, I mean not that, to maintain that a Prince should live like unto the Kings of Persia, in a Castle with three Ditches, Ridiculous gravity of Princes. and as many Walls, d The Kings of Persia were rather worshipped then reverenced by their subjects. They remained in a Castle with three Ditches & three walls, speaking to few, and yet had news daily from all parts of their Empire, from the strait of Hellespont to the East Indies, by Sentinels which were set upon the mountains. that they should not speak unto him, but through a travers, like unto the Kings of Borney: that he should not see his subjects, but bareheaded, and covered with ashes; or that he should not show himself but once a year, like to the first Kings of France: But my meaning is to speak of that inviolable and glorious respect which binds a Prince not to say, do, or yield to any thing contrary to the dignity of his Crown, which cannot endure to be forced, and doth never show himself in public actions, but with what is fit and necessary for his greatness and power. e The words and actions of Princes are so considered, and the people judge of them as they understand them; and therefore should always appear Majestical, and (if it may be) Divine. And ancient Grecian said, That a Prince should not speak before the people, but as if he were upon a stage in a Tragedy. This Majesty is like unto Moses Rod, Majesty compared to Moses rod. the which being held in the hand, was the Instrument of admirable things; but creeping on the earth, there was nothing but horror and contempt. Lewis the eleventh was always very careful to maintain this Majesty, being wonderful desirous of reverence, respect, and reputation, and yet his private and familiar actions were very contrary. This care was the last garment he put off; he showed it upon the tigpe of his lips when as he thrust forth the last words of his life. He gave it two supporters, Fear and Admiratition, f 〈…〉 that gre● God, who the Prince doth represent. It is the support and protec●sion of an estae and conf●●● be contemned, nor wronged, but the whole body will be distempered. maiestas Imperij solutis tutela. Maiestly is the guardian of the Empire's health. another would have maintained it with Love and Authority; but he missed this first way at his coming to the Crown, and could never after recover it: he found such savage humours, and so accustomed to liberty, that as the intemperance of the Patient justifies the severity of the Physician, he was forced to use fury to make mad men wise. Thus his Majesty was feared of the greatest Princes of Europe, it was not contemned of any man without punishment, and it was reverenced of all his subjects. This Majesty was like unto those Pictures which seemed fairest far off. It was admired in foreign Provinces, but it was something blemished by his carelessness and facility, wherewith he did often wrong his greatest actions. The castilians at the voyage of Bayone, scoffed at him, to see him with so little pomp and majesty. Custom of Lewis 11 at ceremonies. Upon days of great show he caused some one to be attired like himself. g At the interview of King Lewis the eleventh, and Edward the fourth at Piquigny, Philip de Comines was att●●ed like the King. And yet a Prince should never do any thing that should cause him to be sought for among his subjects and servants; the brightness of his Majesty must shine like unto a Planet over the lesser stars. Great men which environ a Prince, give a lustre to the greatness of Majesty. Offices of the crown The Offices of the Crown are ordained to that end, and the great dignities which France doth impart to great merits, adds reverence, and doth incite their minds to merit them. It is like unto the Garden of Phaeaces, which abounds with all sorts of fruits. It is not unfitting to set down here who tasted of them during this Reign. h When as king Lewis the eleventh came unto the Crown, there was no Constable: Arthur, Duke of Brittany, Earl of Richmond, was under the Reign of Charles the seventh. Constable. Lewis of Luxembourg, Earl of Saint Paul, no other carried the Sword during this Reign. Chancellor, Peter of Moruilliers, juvenal of Vrsins, Lord of Treynell, and Peter of Oriole. Lord Steward. The Lord of Nantoillet, JOHN of Croi, CHARLES of Melun, ANTHONY of Croi, son to JOHN of Croi, and ANTHONY of Chabannes, Earl of Damartin. Chief Chamberer. JOHN the second Duke of Bourbon. i The Office of chief Chamberer, or Gentleman of the Chamber, continued long in the house of Bourbon. The King Saint Lewis gave it to Robert of France his son, Lewis the first, Duke of Bourbon, Charles the first, john the second, Peter the second, Dukes of Bourbon. Lord Chamberlain. JOHN of Orleans, Earl of Dunois, ANTHONY of Chasteauneuf, Lord of Lau. Marshals of France, ANDREW of Lavall, Lord of Loheac, JOHN Bastard of Armagnac, Earl of Comminges, joachim Rovant Lord of Gamasche, of Boismenard, and Peter of Rohan, Lord of Gye. There were but two until King Francis the first. Admiral, john Lord of Montauban, Lewis Bastard of Bourbon, Earl of Rousillon; Lewis, Lord of Graville. Master of the Crossbows, k The master of the Ordinance of France, or the Co●oncll of the Infantry, have succeeded in this charge. john of Estouteville, Lord of Torcy. Great Butler, the Lord of Lau. We find not that he had any Master of his Horse, or Master of the Pantry. joachim of Rovant was Master of the Horse at his Coronation. Yuon of Fau his chief Huntsman, Lewis of Lavall, Lord of Chastillon, was master of the Waters and Forests. The ancient order of France was, that Knight's Banneret, the Master of the pantry, the chief Carver, and the chief Cuppebearer should serve the King at the four Annual Feasts, and to either of them was given four pounds sterling: but when as Lewis the eleventh neglected this Gratuity, they forgot the Duty. It is one of the precepts of Majesty, that the marks of Sovereignty be not imparted to any, l A prince should not be more sparing of any thing then of honours which depend of his majesty. yet he suffered the Prince of Orange to style himself Prince by the grace of God, Here P. Matthew is deceived. and to René King of Sicily, to seal in yellow Wax in the year one thousand four hundred sixty nine, the which doth only belong to the Kings of France, other Princes of Christendom seal in wax of divers colours; and to Charles Earl of Angoulesme to release prisoners, when he made his first entry into any Town where he commanded. m In this privilege, but for once to Charles Earl of Angoules me, prisoners for high Treason were excepted. It was granted in the year 1477. He was very stayed in giving Titles of Honour and Dignity to great Families: a Prince cannot be too wary therein: for it falls out often, that the considerations which favour the private merit of any one, end with him when he dies; but when the dignity is tied unto the person, as the feodal titles of Dukes, Marquises, Earls and Barons be, the Family for the which the gratification was made, is dispossessed thereof, when as the Lands go away. n Many disallowed that the feodal Titles of Dukes, Marquises, etc. should be given in France to the Land, and not unto the Blood, for it happens that some one losing the land, doth also lose the means to maintain the Title which remains. Hence it comes that in England such dignities are not annexed to the Lands and Fees, Policy in England for the titles of Houses. but to the Blood, and the Descendants of the Family. The Germane doth not impart it to the whole posterity, but only to them which descend from the Males. There are two houses which be so great and famous of themselves, as they honour the titles which are given them. King Charles the seventh his Father, having made the Earldom of Foix a Pairie for Gaston of Foix, he confirmed this erection; but he made not any new. This house of Foix was in those times one of the most famous in Christendom, and compare with Sovereign Princes o We find that in great ceremonies the Earls of Foix are named before the Princes, and had precedence of the Earls of Vendosme. There is no other reason but that the eldest of Prince's houses precede the younger of other houses, and therefore at the Estates held at Tours, the Earls of Nevers, Eu and Foix, had precedence of the Earl of Vendosme. Gaston of Foix, who lived in the time of King Charles the fifth, went equal with Kings: when as King Charles the sixth was at Tholousa, he sent the Earl of Sancerre Martial of France; and the signor of Riviere, one of the chief of his Council to the Earl of Foix, who was then at Mazere, to entreat him to come unto him, or else he would go to see him. He did not excuse himself upon the Indispositions of his great Age, and being sorry that he had not prevented this summons, he parted from Mazere with six hundred horse, and came to the King to Tholousa. Train of the Earl of Foix. The History saith, that presenting himself unto the king, he was followed by two hundred Gentlemen, all clothed in silks; among them there was noted the Viscount of Bruniquet and his brethren, Roger of Spain, Lord of Montespan, issued from the blood of Arragon, and head of the house of Montespan, p Espagno let of Spain, son to Roger of Spain, son to Leon of Spain. and the Lord of Corras, who first raised the honour of the Earls of Caramain, a great and rich family, Beginning of the houses of Montespan & Caramain allied to that of Foix, and who (seeing that Houses and Families have their periods like to all other worldly things) could not desire a more glorious fall, then into the house of Monluc, where it gins to revive. King Charles the sixth requited this visit at newyears tide in the year 1390. q At this voyage the Earl did institute King Charles the sixth his heir, the which he would not accept, for that he would not defraud the Viscount of Chastellan his lawful Heir. He favoured the house of Lavall with the like declarations of honour, House of Lavall. the which was long before held for one of the worthiest of France, having never wanted children, nor the first dignities and alliances of France, having for their stem the House of Montmorency, r They draw the beginning of the first house of Montmorency, to the time of Saint Denis, by whom the first that was converted among the French Knights, was a Lord of Montmorency, and therefore the ancient Device of this house is, God help the first Christians. the first Christian of France; and there is no difference in their Arms, but five Cockleshells Argent to the Crosse. Wherefore he would that Francis of Lavall, Lord of Gaure, son of a daughter of king Charles the sevenths' sister, should go in rank with the Earls of Vendosme, as well in Council as in Parliament, and in all other public actions; and caused his letters to be dispatched at Man's the nine and twentieth day of November 1467. to serve for a special and perpetual privilege to his posterity. He had much contemned the glorious and honourable marks of Majesty. s Princes had always men appointed to serve in time of peace and war for the ornament of their majesty, and royal greatness. Heralds were instituted in France for that respect, in time of peace they carried mails upon their breasts, and in times of war their Coat of Arms powdered with Flowers de Luce. I have observed in the Church and Cloister of Saint Catherine du Val of the Scholars, twenty of their Tombs which show the form of their Maces and Scutcheons. Bodin writes, that having chased away almost all the Gentlemen of his house, he employed his Tailor for a Herald at Arms, and his Barber for an Ambassador, and his Physician for a Chancellor, as an ancient king of Syria did Apolophanes his Physician, whom he made the precedent of his Council. Philip de Commines observes it, when he shows how much he was troubled to furnish out a Herald which he sent to the King of England. Heralds were necessary for the Majesty of a Prince, in actions of war, and in the most solemn days of peace. They had divers names, and divers charges, and they either carried the Titles of the Sovereigns, Provinces, or of some other famous occasion, as in France the Heralds are diversly named, and we find often in the History of France, these names given to Heralds: Bosios' error in the History of Malta. Monjoy e Saint Denis, Mont Saint Michael, t This word of Monjoy Saint Denis was sometimes the warlike cry of the French. They say it grew upon that which Clovis said in the battle near to Colleyn, when as fearing to lose it, he promised to believe in jesus Christ, worshipped by Clotilde his wife, and to hold him for his jove. Since that time they cried in their battles, Monjoye Saint Denis, as if they would say, Christ whom Saint Denis hath preached in Gaul, is my jove, that is to say, my jupiter. The word of jove being turned into that of joy. The Antiquities of Gaul wri●ten by the Precedent Fauchet. wherein a great man of Italy hath erred, and moves them that observe it, to laugh; for having found in our Histories that King Lewis the eleventh had sent two Heralds to Bajazeth to complain that he had broken the peace with the Venetians: he sets down their names after this manner: Monsieur Gaudio de Saint Denis, Monsieur de Saint Michael, whereas he should have said, The Herald Monjoy Saint Denis, and Mont Saint Michael. They were created at great and solemn Feasts, and when they presented Wine unto the Prince, having drunk, he gave the cup to him whom he made Herald, wherewith he should make his Scutcheon. Oliver of la March saith, that Philip Duke of Bourgondy did sometimes give them the name of that Country whereas the Wine which he then drank, did grow: which done, the other Heralds gave him the Coat of Arms, charged with the Prince's Arms. There were more Ceremonies at the Creation of a King at Arms: for his sufficiency was to be testified by all the Kings at Arms, Creation of Heralds and Heralds that might be found, and they were distinguished from others by a Crown croslet, which they carried on their heads. Their chief charge was to make a distinction of the Arms of Families, to preserve the ancient, and prevent the usurpation of new. They might forbid them that were no Gentlemen to carry Arms which were not fit for their profession, or for Gentlemen to carry any other Crests than their Fathers had done, or to open the Helmet, or to crown them without permission. It was also their duty to keep the Blazon of Arms of Houses, u There were great considerations in the form of Scutcheons, and in the Crests of Arms. A Knight's Scutcheon might be cut square, or voided at his pleasure, whereunto a Crest was added, taken out of part of the Arms, and the Helmet shut, and standing strait. A Squire's Scutcheon was round, like unto a Rondache, and had had no Crest, but his Helmet only shut, turned on the one side. to have recourse unto them upon any dispute that might grow upon differences and conformities. Office of Heralds at Arms. They kept a Register of the Devices and Colours of Sovereign Houses, as White for France, Black for England, Red for Bourgondy, Blue for Savoy, Yellow for Lorraine, and Green for Anjou. The King at Arms in the house of Bourgondy had a care that such as were made noble, should not carry a field gueles, for that it was the colour reserved for the Prince. This house did greatly observe the Respects and Ceremonies of a Sovereign pomp. Magnificence of the house of Bourgondy. When the Duke did eat at any solemn Feast, besides all the ordinary state of Kings, he had behind him the Kings at Arms, and Heralds with their Coats and Crowns, and before him were set, at a low Table, two Ushers, and two Sergeants with their Maces, who had always their eyes upon his, to execute his commandments upon the least sign he should make; yea, to take the greatest prisoners which could not be taken elsewhere. These Charges have been contemned by the contempt of persons which have not desired them, but to cover the indignity of their birth. In former times they were not held but by Gentlemen, whose honour carried them unto dangers with the same courage that they which are less generous fly from them. They had the guard of the King's Chamber, and had that charge which since the Archers of the Guard have. x The Sergeant's at Arms, by day, carried a Mace before the King, and guarded his Chamber by night, and therefore du Tillet thinks, that they held the place of the Archers of the guard. They showed good proof of their valour at the battle of Bowines, under Philip Augustus, by reason whereof Saint Lewis did build the Church of Saint Katherine du Val des Escoliers, and King Charles the fifth appointed the brotherhood there, whereas at this day many Tombs are to be seen, which have preserved the ancient form of their habit and Arms. That which Philip de Commines observes of a Gascon which came into the place where as the King was at the stool with three or four, confirms this opinion of the small care he had of the forms befitting Majesty; for although there were no Ushers at the doors, Duty of Chamberlains. yet this facility to enter even into the Cabinet, was dangerous. His Predecessors had provided for it, and the Chamberlains were bound y The first care of the king's person belongs to the Lord Chamberlain, he was bound to lie at the King's feet, when the Queen was not present, and so Peter, Lord Chamberlain to the king S. Lewis, was buried at Saint Denis, at his masters feet, as he served him living. And at this day in the Assembly of the Estates, & when as the King sits in justice, the Lord Chamberlain sits at his feet. by the duty of this charge, not to suffer it: but he contemned it all the time of his reign, until the end, when he was more careful of it than was needful, passing from a great facility and confidence, to a rigorous severity and distrust to keep his gates shut: we find these words very remarkable in the Ordnance of King Philip the long: After the care of the soul, they must not be so negligent of the body, as through negligence, or bad guard any perils arrive, especially when for one person many troubles may happen. We therefore ordain, and do therewith especially charge our Chamberlain, that no unknown person nor boy of poor estate enter into our Wardrobe, nor lay their hand, nor be at our bed making, and that they suffer not any strange sheets to be laid on. And we command the Steward of our house, that our pantry or Kitchen, and all other Offices of our house be so well and carefully kept, as no danger may arrive, and these things we will have observed in the houses of our Company, and of our Children. The other precept of Majesty, Great Offices should not be hereditary. is not to continue great Offices in one Family, z The perpetuity of great charges is dangerous. They that have commanded long, are loath to obey. Antiquitas voluit Provinciarum dignitatem amica successione repara●i ne diutina potestate unus insolesceret. Antiquity would that the Governments of Provinces should be supplied yearly, lest that any one by a continual command, should grow insolent. and to make them hereditary. The Order and justice of the state, will that a distribution be made of those who by the quality of their birth, or the greatness of their merit, are capable. The perpetual Dictatorship did overthrow the state of Rome, the great authority given to the Mayors of the Palace, did ruin the first Family of our Kings. To those that are ambitious of the same Offices their Predecessors enjoyed, we should wish the like moderation and integrity that Quintus Fabius Maximus had, who having been five times Consul, and undergone many great charges, entreated the Senate not to confer that Honour unto his son; not that he thought him unworthy, but that he knew well, that the Commonweal should receive prejudice by the perpetuity of great Offices in one Family. a In an other occasion Quintus Fabius Maximus did show, that in the election of great Charges there should be no respect had but of the public good, he would not consent that T. Octacilius, who had married his wives daughter, should be Consul, for that he held him not capable of that charge; nor of courage to make head against Hannibal. T. Liu. lib. 24. This was to love the State more than himself. Lewis the eleventh took more delight than he received content or profit to change his Officers often. When as a place is executed worthily and profitably by any one, his dismission is unjust, and the Prince's service is wronged: Offices are to be maintained if they be good. for if the place be not supplied by a man of the like experience and sufficiency, the Commonweal is damnified: b As the ruin of Families comes commonly from new servants, so the fall of Estates proceeds from new magistrates which enter into Offices without experience. those that are new come, being greedy of gain, prefer their own private Interest before all public consideration. The soundest Estates have always some ulcers: to change the remedy, and to change the Physician is one thing. Wounds have no time to close up, when they do often change plasters. He dismissed the Duke of Bourbon from the government of Guienne, Changes in divers Charges. and gave it to the Bastard of Armagnac: c JOHN of Andie, Lord of Lescun, bastard of Armagnac, Earl of Comminges, head of the house of Riberac. He took from the Lord of Bueil the Office of Admiral of France, and gave it to the same Bastard, and afterwards to the Bastard of Bourbon his Sonne-in-lawe, who did him great services; yet having no consideration thereof, he took from him the Government of Picardy, to give it to PHILIP of Crevecoeur, Lord of cords. He would have the Lieutenants in the Government of Bourgondy to hold their places as the Wolf by the ear: He took it from Des cords, and gave it to Chaumont, who died in the year, one thousand four hundred eighty one. d King. Lewis the eleventh being discontented that the Lord of Tremoville had not taken Dole, he took from him the Government, and gave it to Charles of Ambois, who was governor of Champagne. He took the Seals from PETER of Moruillier, and gave them to JUVENEL of Vrsins, from whom he had taken them when he came to the Crown, them he gave them to Peter of Oriole: He took the Office of Marshal of France from the Lord of Loheac, and to restore it to him again he took it from the Earl of Comminges, bastard of Armagnac. Charles of Melun was his Lieutenant in the City of Paris, he dispossessed him of that charge to give it the Earl of Yew, and made him Lord Steward of his house. Entering into Paris he made james of Villiers Lord of Lisle-Adam Provost of Paris. After the War of the Commonweal he dismissed him from that Charge, and gave it to ROBERT of Estoteville. His whole Chronicle is full of these changes in all sorts of dignities and Offices. Magnificence. Magnificence of Lewis 11. The Majesty of a Prince is followed by his Magnificence, which is one of the Flowers of his Crown; It is a Foil which gives lustre to this Diamond, e jamblicus calls Magnificence, the crown of the Empire of princes, & saith, that it is chief admired among the principal actions of a Prince. it shows itself in many places, and upon many occasions; but her Theter is in his House, and at his Court, she presides in his expenses, and appears in the private Ornament of his person. Lewis the eleventh did respect it so little, Habit of Lewis 11. as to see his Apparel you would have said, that he desired to live poor, and to die rich. He attired himself plainly in course Cloth, and took no delight to see sumptuous Apparel. His Chronicle saith, That he ware Doublets of Fustian. Whether he did it to make his Fashion more popular; or (by his example) to cut off vain and un-necessary expenses, thinking that a King, who should carry nothing that doth savour of a Woman, is more adorned by the Ornaments of the mind, then by those of the body. f A Prince's habit should not be too stately, & full of pomp. Romulus' attiring himself in scarlet, or purple lost the love of his people, nor lascivicous and dissolute, like to Nero, Calligula, Commodus and Heliogabalus, nor of a strange fashion, for the which Hieron of Syracuse was odious unto his subjects. It never represents him well appareled but once. This was when to conclude the Treaty of Conflans, he went to the Mercer's Grange with a small Train, and little brute, Attired in a long Robe, lose, furred with Ermines, the which was much more seemly than the other garments which he was accustomed to wear. There is to be seen at this day in the house of a Councillor of State, Bed of Lewis 11. the bed wherein he lay, the which we cannot behold without admiring the excess of this Age, and the simplicity of that. It is of Yellow and Carnation Damask, without any Lace, and the Fringe without fashion. Bodin saith, That in scorn he ware a greasy Hat, and the coarsest Cloth. In the Chamber of Accounts there was an Article found of his Expenses, making mention of two shillings for a new pair of Sleeves to an old Doublet; and another Article of three halfpences for a Box of grease for his Boots, 300000 L sterling. and yet he raised yearly three millions more than his predecessors had done, and did alienate a great part of the Crown lands. The expense of his house was much less than that of many Noble men of that time. All things were very exact there, frugality was recommended in such sort, and superfluity so odious, as they needed not to pass out of Sclavonia g Dissolution hath been great in private persons by the examples which Athens doth produce, and among others, of Aesop, a player of Tragedies, who being come into Sclavonia to eat Crevices, which were much esteemed in that Province, when as they told that those of Africa were better, he sailed into Africa. into Africa to eat crevices. By the accounts we find that they increased according to the years' voyages and affairs. It did not exceed three thousand six hundred pounds starling until the year 1480, when it amounted to four thousand, three hundred threescore and one pounds, eight shillings Sterling: In the year 1481. it came to six thousand six hundred sixty and eight pounds Sterling: h The expense of the King's house for that which concerned the mouth only, was in the year 1471. two thousand 800. and three pounds two shillings Sterling: In the year 1472: 2900. pounds: The year 1473, 3280. pounds: In the year 1474. 2520. pounds Sterling. The year 1475. 3020. pounds. In the year 1476. 3040. pounds. in the year one thousand, 4. hundred seventy and seven, three thousand 600. and four score pounds: In the year 1478. 3480. pounds, and in the year 1479, 3700. pounds sterling. And yet he went not from Plessis, from the eight of November until the seventh of September, the year following, that he was carried to be buried at our Lady of Clory. The number of Servants for the ordinary service of this expense was not great, their wages small in comparison of these times. They served the whole year, and it began in October. There are none but these set down in the roll of his voluntary pensions. Two chaplains, and to either of them twenty shillings a month, and to a Clerk of the Chapel ten shillings: A Groom of the King's Chamber nine pound a year; Four Squires of the Kitchen to either twelve pounds a year: One Hastler, one maker of Broths, a Sauce-maker, a Head-cooke, a Butler, and two Grooms of the Carriages, to either of them twenty shillings a month: Two Vnder-Cookes of the Kitchen at sixteen shillings a month; a Porter, a Pastry man, a Baker, two Carters, to either of them six pounds a year: To a Groom of the Stable, and two to assist him, eight and forty shillings a month: A Farrier twelve pounds: The Master of the Chamber of the King's treasure had six score pounds, and the Comptrouler fifty: i King Lewis the 11. gave thirty pounds of increase to Martin Barthelot, Master of the Chamber of his Treasure, but the chamber of Accounts would not allow of it without a special command, the which was dispatched at Paray le Moinat the sixth of April 1481. They gave but five shillings for the grooms Livery, and four and twenty shillings for Cloaks for the Clerks, Notaries, and Secretaries of the house and Crown of France. His expense was not all in one place, many did profit by it, and did draw their commodities out of the lively Springs of the Prince's Magnificence: Lewis remained little at Paris but most at Plessis. I have observed in the Accounts of the Chamber of the Treasure, k By the Accounts of the King's house which were made monthly, we find that in twelve years they were made. but twice at Paris, the one in the King's house, and the other in that of Master john of Popin court. that there passed not any year but he made many voyages, and that Paris saw him but seldom: In the mean time he kept not his Chamber to live at his ease, neither did he imitate the first Kings, who did not show themselves unto their subjects but like the Images of the Gods, which they drew once a year out of their gilded boxes: He did visit his Provinces, he spent not the twelve months in one sole lodging of the Zodiac: Neither did he send his affairs to the Mayor of the Palace. l Clovis the 2. the 12. King of France began to give to his successors, until Charlemaigne, the name of idle, They were seen but once a year. Magnificence doth not always consist in the private expenses of a Prince's house, Magnificence how far it extends. in numbers of Horses and Dogs, nor in the show of Lions, Tigers, Leopards, or Elephants; it should appear in Receiving, Lodging, Feasting, and defraying foreign Princes and their Ambassadors: This Prince in such occasions made it known that Magnificence doth not dwell but in King's houses, and that Frances was the Theatre: He received in this manner the King of Portugal, the Queen of England, and the Prince of Wales her son, René of Anjou King of Sicily, the Duke of Savoy, and the Princesses of Savoy, Anne, Lovyse, and Mary. m The expense of these three Princesses came to forty two pounds eleven shillings and a penny, from the 28 of October to the 24 of November. By the same respects of Magnificence, which will that a Prince labour to content the eyes, and minds of others, as himself, n A Prince doth many things wherewith he might dispense if he had none to content but his own s● lf: Magnum est personam in Repubtueri principis qui non animis solum, sed occulis civium servire debet. It is a great matter to maintain the person of Prince in a state, who is not only bound to serve the citizens minds but also their eyes. Cic. he made many other expenses, which were esteemed and commended both by his Subjects and Strangers: He did often, and for many days, feast and defray the Ambassadors of England, Hungary, Arragon, and Naples. In the year 1477. in March, the king of England sent the Lord Howard to visit him, being followed by three score and ten persons, whom he defrayed all the time of his abode in France. The good cheer he made unto the English at Amiens, after the Treaty of Pyquigny, and the twelve pipes of wine, of the growth of Fay Monjan which he caused to be conveyed to Deipe to give to Edward King of England, bound the English to those cries of joy which were heard in their Army, and at their departure: A largesse for the Noble King of France. But as there is one kind of Magnificence which is all in show, and doth purchase great applause among the people, so there is another which is not so glorious and hath much fruit: It is that which gives pensions to strangers, and doth bind them to serve the Prince, o He doth gratify his memory in binding learned men unto him who have credit with posterity. Senec. which doth nourish, advance, and recompense good wits, entertains excellent Artists, favours good inventions, and all those that have any credit with posterity. There is also an other which is Religious, Religious Magnificence. and which hath not been known but by the most Christian Kings, who without wronging the greatness of their Majesty made their houses a refuge for the miserable: Robert son to Hugh Capet had commonly a thousand poor men in his train, he gave them horses to follow him, and to pray for him: p Lewis the 9 was founder of 28. Colleges in France, who dying commanded his son to be devout to God, and charitable to the poor. Lewis the eleventh had ordinarily six score, and in Lent two hundred and forty, whom he fed with meat from his Table. And yet this is not the whole extent of Magnificence, it goes farther, and will be seen in Plays, Shows, and jousts, and in things which are rare, and not common; q In public calamities, the Greeks and the Romans did vow Hecatombs, they did sacrifice a hundred beasts upon so many piles of wood: Si verò Imperatorum votum esset, centum Leones, centumque Aquilae unà mactabantur. If it were the emperors vow than were there a hundred Lions, and a hundred Eagles, slain together. when as the people did vow Hecatombs of hundred Oxen, and a hundred Sheep, the Emperors did offer a hundred Eagles, and a hundred Lions: But the expense which is wholly employed for sight, entertains the people but till they think of the belly▪ A remembrance which dispenseth with all other things, and hath no share in public cares, but that which doth provide means to content it, r The multitude cares not for the conduct and good success of affairs, so they find corn at Market: Vulgo una ex republica Annonae curae. The common people have no care of the Commonweal, but for Corne. when it endures any want, all Sights, all Plays, all Sports are tedious, and makes them say that the Feast is made at their charge. The Prince's Magnificence must therefore show her effects in things whereas the pleasure encounters with profit, and which pass not with the contentment which the spirit takes in admiring them, like unto the daughter of Marvel which inamels her half circle unprofitably in the Air. The Prince must not imitate the pride of the Pharaohs of Egypt, who employed the sweat of their Subjects, and the treasure of their Coffers in works of Ostentation, s They say that the Pyramids were unprofitable works, but the structure was profitable for the Prince, who by this means made his subjects to labour, whom idleness had corrupted and drawn to revolt and sedition. and studied more for vanity then profit: Wherefore Princes have caused their Magnificence to be renowned in public works, Works of vanity and ostentation. and in the beautifying of Towns, which seemed not to have been ruined but to be re-edified more stately, and which have purchased the honour to have left them to their Successors much fairer than they had received them from their Predecessors. t The City of Romewas bound to the Emperor Augustus for her decoration, and most glorious ornaments, therefore he said: Roman lateritiam accepi, marmorean relinquo: I received Rome built of Brick, I leave it of Marble. We do not see that he did any great works in Buildings, for it is a hard matter for a Prince to hold a Sword in one hand, and a Trowel in another. He caused the Church of our Lady of Clery to be built, and repaired that of Victory near to Senlis, he did enrich and beautify by his bounty the High Altar, with 16. Lamps of Silver: His Statue stands on the right hand, we see it also on the portal with that of Queen Charlot, and their Arms round about, with those of the Dauphin. Philip Augustus had caused this Church to be built in remembrance of the happy victory which he had against the Flemings: u The battle of Bovines in july, 1214. won by Philip Augustus against Otho of Saxony, and john King of England: Ferdinand Earl of Flanders was taken prisoner there and carried to the vure, and the Earl of Salisbury an Englishman to Saint Quentin. There remains nothing of the ancient building but the Body and the Cloister, the Enclosure of the Church, all the Choir and the portal are new, and carry a remarkable difference of the Architecture of these two reigns: The first is plain and low, the other is stately and more raised than those times did bear. He hath not left in France any other mark of this public care, and although that Philip de Commines gives him the honour to have done more than his Predecessors, in the fortification of his Realm, yet it was so little as neither the memory nor the fruit hath remained to his successors. x The Roman Emperors have preserved their memory by the reparation of public ruins. Augustus' restored the Theatre of P. Emilius: Tiberius that of Pompey: Caligula the walls of Syracuse Vespasian the Capitol. Titus the theatres: Antonyn that of Adrian, and Alexander Severus Traian's Bridges. This glory which hath beautified the Bays of victorious Princes, and which hath given a dumb eloquence to Marbles to eternise their names, did belong to Henry the fourth, the restorer of ruins, whereof France imputed the cause as well to the liberty of the French, and carlessenes of her Kings, as to the injury of times & the designs of her enemies. As we may give him the glory to have restored life, order, & liberty to France, so we may say that he hath given her a new face, new force, and new beauty: The Fortresses of France, which did tremble and humble themselves at the first approach of any enemy, are become inexpugnable. The King's houses which seemed desert, & had felt, with the rest, the fury and liberty of troubles, do now carry upon their Frontespice, the glorious marks of the felicity of his Reign: Barren and inhabitable places are become fertile and frequented, Towns are added to Towns, and Rivers joined unto Rivers for the facility of the Commerce. All Bridges, Ports, Passages and Highways are honoured with the eternal Monuments of this Prince's care for the greatness of his estate, and the necessities of his people, who besides his part of these public works, retires with one hand for the reward of his toils, that which he pays with the other for the tribute of his duty; for the Treasury of France which hath a continual ebbing of that which it receives, doth not resemble that of some Emperors, which never restores any thing of that which it takes, and therefore it hath been compared to Charybdis, y The treasure of a covetous Prince is compared by Latinus Pacatius, to the Gulf of Charybdus. Noster ille pirata quicquid undecunque convenerat, id nobis sibique periturum in illam specus sui Caribdim congerebat. Boni nostra ad aerariun●, una & perpetua via ibant, nullas eorum reliquias, nulla fragmenta, vel sero victa fastidio, illa communis vorago revomebat. That our Pirate whatsoever came from any place, that did he thrust into his Carybdis to perish both for us and himself: Our goods went one way continually to his treasure, and that common Gulf: and being glutted did not vomit forth again any relics or fragments. but with this difference that this Gulf casts to shore whatsoever it hath devoured, but nothing comes out of that bottomless pit. Thus the profit made the toil pleasing, and they which labour so profitably complain during the Solstice of Summer that the day passeth away too fast: Thus the poor cannot excuse their misery whilst they have arms left them: z A Prince should entertain public works lest that idleness bred sedition, and that the poor may have no excuse that they want means to get their livings, for where there is idleness they always find Mutines and thieves. Thus idleness, the plague of States, is banished, and finds no retreat but among idle hands which steals the fruits from them which labour. The structure of these great and incomparable works, whereas we see the marvels of the industry of Mirons, of Phidies, Appelles, and Lysippus, and which are worthy to be accounted the eighth wonder of the world (if it be true that there were seven) could not be effected but by that great Augustus and most victorious Prince, the best of the Kings of France and Navarre: a The most glorious Title of a Prince is that which the Senate ordained for trajan. Ne videri potest optimis in sua cuiusque laud praestantior. Minus est enim Imperatorem & Caesarem & Augustum quam omnibus Imperatoribus, & Caesaribus & Augustis esse meliorem. He cannot seem the best that doth not excel them all in their own virtues: It is less to be an Emperor, a Caesar, and an Augustus then to be better than all Emperors Caesar's and Augustus': Plin. Panegeric. None but the Duke of Suilly, great Surveyor of France, could execute his Commandments with more order, courage, and care. France is bound unto him for her decoration, the enriching of her Crown, the restoring of her rights, and the recovery of her first beauty and felicity. For her he hath first put in practice that great Maxim of politic knowledge: To maintain fertile places by commerce, and barren by handy Trades: This Eloge is not mine own, I received it from the Kings own mouth. Clemency: Clemency This goodly Pearl is not seen in his Crown; b The virtue which raiseth Kings to heaven is Clemency: Consulere patriae, p●rcere afflictis, fera, Caede abstinere, tempus arque ira, dare Orbi quietem, saeculo pacem suo, Haec summa virtus, petitur hac coelum via. Sen. in Octau. this great and royal virtue which pardons the afflicted, raiseth up them that are dejected, Lewis the 11. knew not how to pardon. and breaks the current of choler, was unknown unto him: Yet never Prince found more occasion to win himself honour, but that deceitful Maxim, that a Prince's justice may always and in all cases dissemble, c A Prince may mingle prudence with justice, he may be a Dove and a Serpent, with these three conditions, that it be for the necessary, apparent, and important good of the State, that it be with measure and discretion, and that it be for an offence, and not to offend. and sow the Fox's skin unto the Lions, filled his reign with tragical examples of severity, and gave him in dying that contentment not to have left any offence unpunished. Philip de Commines being to live under the sons reign, hath not written all he knew, and could have spoken, upon the fathers, and yet he says but too much to show his rigour. He was (these are his words) suspicious, as all Princes be which have many enemies, and which have offended many, as he had done: He was not beloved of great men, nor of many of the meaner sort, and had charged his Subjects more than ever King had done. If Commines would have painted out a cruel Prince, he could not have employed other colours than those wherewith he sets forth his rigorous prisons, his Cages of Iron, and his fetters: d Cardinal Balue inventor of these Cages of Iron, was lodged there with the first, and continued 14. years. Lacum fodit & aperuit eum & incidit in fovean quam fecit. He digged a pit and opened it, and fell into the Ditch whic● he had made. He saith, That they were of wood covered with plates of Iron, that he had caused Germans to make most heavy and terrible fetters for men's feet, Rigorous prisons of Lewis the eleventh. and there was a ring to put upon the leg, very hard to open like unto a choler, the chain was great and weighty, with a great bullet of Iron at the end, much more weighty than was fit, and they were called the King's Snares. Although that punishments be the effects of justice, and very necessary, for that he hurts the good which pardons the wicked, yet it carries some show of cruelty, when as the Prince himself seems more careful thereof then he ought, and that he doth employ them as well against innocents as those that are guilty: e The more rare executions be, the more profitable is the example. Remedies which curemildly, are to be preferred before them which bur●ne & mutulate: To affect new punishment, and against accustomed manners of the Country are marks of cruelty. I have seen (saith Philip de Commines) good men prisoners with fetters on their feet, who afterwards came forth with great honour, and received great favours from him, amongst others, a son to the Lord of Gruture of Flanders, taken in battle, whom the King married and made his Chamberlain, and Seneschal of Anjou, and gave him a hundred Lances: Also the Lord of Pierces, a prisoner in the war, and the Lord of Vergy: For he found in the end that vigour doth but distract men's minds, the violent gust of the Northern wind cannot make a passenger to abandon his Cloak, whereas the Sun casting his beams by little and little, doth heat him in such sort as he will be ready to strip himself into his shirit: Generous horses obey the shadow of a small Wand, whereas Asses tell their paces by the number of their blows. The reign of this Prince was wonderful stormy, they could not say of him as of Antonyn, that he had shed no blood. f The reign of the Emperor Antonyn was so good as Herodian called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. that is to say without blood. Tristan his great Provost, who for his barbarous and severe behaviour, did as justly as Maximin deserve the name of Sour, was so ready in the execution of his rigorous commandments, as he hath sometimes caused the innocent to be ruined for the offendor: He always disposed this Prince rather to use a sword to punish faults, than a Bridle to keep them from falling. A more temperate Spirit would have stayed him, and Princes in these storms do but what pleaseth them which guide the effects of their Wills. A Prince is no less dishonoured by the multitude of executions, g A multitude of executions, saith Seneca, breeds as bad a reputation to the Prince, as a multitude of Burials to a Physician, too great rigours makes the pains contemptible, augments the number of offenders, and makes them to become wicked through despite. than a Physician receives blame by the death of his Patient: Claud of Seyssell could not say any thing more bitter to the memory of this Prince than that which he writes: That there were seen about the places of his abode many men hanged upon Trees, and the prisons, and other houses near, full of prisoners, who were often heard day and night, crying out for the torments which they endured, besides others which were cast into the River. Many great Princes have felt the severity of his humours: john Duke of Alencon had in the end as much cause to murmurre against his justice, as he had to commend his Clemency in the beginning of his Reign. He had been condemned to lose his head under Charles the seventh: The King restored him to his liberty and honour, to make him some years after undergo the like censure: h The Duke of Alencon being prisoner in the Casile of Loches was led to Paris the sixth of june, 1473. by the Lord of Gaucort, & Chaletiere Steward of the King's house, with 24. Gentlemen and 50. Archers. He caused him to be apprehended and carried to the Tower at the Lowre; His Process was made in the year one thousand four hundred three score and fourteen, and a Sentence pronounced the eighteenth of july in these terms: Sentence against the Duke of Alencon. The Court having seen the Charges, Informations and Confrontations of witnesses against john of Alen●con, his voluntary confessions, the Process and other things which were to be seen touching the great and heinous crimes committed by him, by the conspiracies, practices, and treaties which he hath many and sundry times had, and made, with the English, the ancient enemies and adversaries of this Realm, and other Rebels disobedient to the King, and to the great prejudice of the King, and subversion of the public good of the Realm, forgetting, through ingratitude, the great grace that the King had done him, i The King going into Touraine about the end of the first year of his reign, found john Duke of Alencon prisoner at Loches, and set him at liberty. infringing the conditions for the which the King had pardoned him, and likewise the quality of other crimes which he had committed: Having also seen and considered all that was to be seen in this party, with mature deliberation, It hath been said that the Court declares the said john of Alencon guilty of High Treason, Crimes wherewith the Duke of Aleniçon was accused. and Murder, and to have caused counterfeit Money to be qu●ined with the King's stamp and Arms, k Coining of money is one of the rights of Sovereignty: It is treason to make any be it good or bad; Many Noblemen in France had the privilege to coin, but they were revoked by an Edict made by King Francis the first. and as such a one, the said Court hath condemned him to receive death, and to be executed by justice, and with all hath declared all and every his goods forfeited to the King, the execution notwithstanding of the said john of Alencon, reserved unto the King's good pleasure. The King freed him from the pain, but he left him one more tedious than that of death, Ignominy and Imprisonment. He did not also suffer René King of Sicily his Uncle by the mother's side to live in peace: He commanded his Court of Parliament to make his Process, But it made him answer that he could not be judged of Treason but in the King's presence. l Bodin in the fourth book of his Commonweal, the sixth Chapter, saith; that the Court of Parliament made this answer the twenty sixth of April one thousand four hundred three score and fifteen: It had done the like in the Duke of Alençons' Process in the time of King Charles the seventh, In the year 1458. He had the courage to withstand this brunt, and as we have seen, attended until that time had cured the ulcer of the King's hatred against him. The Duke of Nemours could not escape the severity of his justice, the which he had contemned by great relapses into the same faults. If the Duke of Bourgundy had returned a Conqueror from the Swisses and Lorraines, the King would have been no less troubled to put him to death, then to set him at liberty: m Captivity is a means to free the soul from the tyranny of the body: It is an act of çenerosity to contemn death more than to hate life. Fortium virorum est magis mortem contemnere quam odisse vitam. Q. Cur. lib. 5. The tediousness of his prison had disposed his soul to leave that of the body without grief, to contemn death and to hate life. Princes find the offences of them they have bound unto them more sensible and less pardonable: The King had erected the County of Nemours into a Duchy, Relapses of the Duke of Nemours. he had pardoned him his felony of the League of the Commonweal, and yet forgetting the effects of such a bond, and his oath of fealty, presently after the Duke of Guienne was retired into Britain he sent a man unto him, disguised like a Friar, to offer him both his body and goods, protesting to serve (as he did) against the King his Sovereign Lord. The Duke of Guiennes death forced the Duke of Nemours to fly the second time to the King's mercy, for a second pardon, which the King granted him upon an oath which he took never to conspire against his Prince: n The extract of the Process sent to the Provines and Parliaments, shows that this oath was taken in the presence of six Apostolic Notaries, and six Royal Notaries, and upon the Cross end Crown of our Saviour. soon after he assisted the Earl of Armagnac, and renewed the practices and intelligences which he had with the Duke of Bourgundy: All these inconstant actions were degenerated into so many crimes, which might not remain unpunished, and which did assure him that death could not surprise him. His soul was bound to resolve the same day that he entered into resolutions, which could not be otherwise expiated. o Innocency may be surprised, crimes cannot, for the offence and the punishment are Twins: it is also a kind of content to foresee which way we must pass. julian dying did thank the Gods for that they had not killed him by surprise. The King caused him to be taken at Carlat, and sent him prisoner to the Castle of Pierrescise, which was then without the walls of Lyon. A while after he caused him to be conducted to Paris, where his Process was made by the Court of Parliament. p By an accord made betwixt King Lewis the eleventh, and james of Armagnac Duke of Nemours, the 17. of january, in the year 1469. the said Duke did renounce his place of Peer, being content to be tried as a private person, if he did fail in his obedience to the said King, who did not show that rigour, but did furnish his Court with Peers for his judgement, made at Noion the fourth of August 1477. Du tiler. The Lord of Beaujeu Earl of Clermont was Precedent by the King's Commission: He confessed all that hath been formerly spoken, and moreover that he had had intelligence with the Constable of Saint Paul to seize upon the King and Dauphin: Confessions of the Duke of Nemours. That the Duke of Bourgundy had sent him word if he could take them he should have the City of Paris and the I'll of France for his part: That the Dauphin should be delivered into the hands of Monsieur de Bresse, and the King transported out of the Realm of France: q The Duke of Nemours confessed more that he had consulted and given credit to a Friar a Doctor of Divinity, whose books had been burnt in the Bishop's Hall at Paris. Upon these occasions he was condemned to lose his head at the Hales in Paris, the fourth of August, one thousand four hundred three score and seventeen: He was a Peer of France, but this quality was omitted in his Sentence, for that by an accord made the seventeenth of january, in the year one thousand four hundred three score and nine, he had renounced his place of Peer, and was content to be tried as a private-person, in case of relapse. The sentence of death was pronounced unto him by Peter of Oriole Chancellor of France: r A Prince should always keep his word inviolably, and hold faith the foundation of justice. It is a great glory for a Prince when his tongue and heart agrees. Mira est in principe nostromentis linguaeque concordia, non modò humilis & p●●ui animi sed servile vitium scit esse mendacium: The union of mindle & tongue is admirable in our Prince: he knows that lying is not only the sign of a base and abject mind, but that it is a servile vice. He had no refuge to his innocency, for it appeared not, nor to the King's Clemency, which was tired with relieving him, he appealed to Faith, which is the first virtue of a Prince, saying: That he had not yielded but upon assurance of a pardon, which was promised him. The King protested that he had not promised him any thing, and that he would rather have forced him in the Castle of Carlat, then receive him to save his life, having so often deserved death. He therefore would have the chief points, whereof he was convicted, drawn out of his process, and sent to other Parliaments throughout the Provinces, to the end they might know what had incensed the severity of his justice. He never pardoned any that had been engaged in the league of the Commonwealth, nor those which had banded themselves against him to follow his brother's designs. His hatred against the Bishop of Paris appeared most after the death of this Prelate, for being advertised that he was lamented by all the Orders of Paris, he commanded the Provost and Aldermen of Paris to make him an Epitaph, which showed the bad services he had done his Majesty, by his intelligences with the Princes of the League. As they that were nearest unto his blood have felt the effects of his wrath, so they which thought themselves to be nearest unto his heart have not been freed, s Prince's favours are not immortal. Fato potentiae (saith Tacitus speaking of Maecenas) raro sempiternae, an satias cupit, aut illos cum omnia tribuerunt, aut his cum iam nihil reliquum est quod cupiant. and have not grown old before they have tried the truth of this old Maxim: Favours of Princes last not. That Prince's favours soon grow old: For a Prince is weary of giving; or he that is favoured being full of favours doth not care to husband the continuance: They make mention of the fear he put the Lord of Ludé, and the Earl of Sancerre in. Antony of Chasteauneuf Lord of Lau, may well be produced for an example, both of his favours and of the miseries which do accompany favourites: The Chronicle saith that he was chief Butler of France, Seneschal of Guienne, Lord Chamberlain to the King, and more beloved of him then ever any one had been, having had in less than five years, three or four hundred thousand Crowns in reward from the King: But we must attend the end, and not judge of the building before it be finished; t Alvaro de Luna whom john King of Castille advanced and loved above all men of his Realm, said to them that admired his fortune: judge not of the building before it be fun●sh●. He died by the hands of justice. behold the backside of the Medal. At his return from the voyage of Peronne he caused him to be put in prison in the Castle of Suilly upon Loire: He commanded Tristan to draw him from thence and to lead him to usson in Awergne, but he escaped. Many were punished for this evasion, Charles of Melun, a man at Arms of the Admiral's company, and Captain of usson lost his head at Loches, his wives son called Remonet, and the King's Attorney at usson. This Charles of Melun must not be taken for Charles of Melun who commanded in the Bastille, when as Paris was besieged by the Army of the league, and who could not avoid it, but his fidelity was otherwise censured by his King then it appeared in the proofs of his service. He felt the storms of fortune in the disgrace which he received when as the king took from him the Office of Lord Steward of France, to give it to the Lord of Craon. The ordinary examples of new punishments for old faults made repentance vain: his searches being feared of Innocents', did forbid them that were guilty to trust unto the assurances of his clemency. All were in fear, and stood upon their guard, not so much for him as against him. They knew well, that he had his eyes blindfold, to strike of every side, according to his choler, and the suddenness of Tristan, Severity of Tristan the Hermit. who had reduced the marks of Majesty to the Sword and Halter. If he had sworn by as many Gods as the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians and Grecians did worship, u The Egyptians did worship as many Gods as the Earth brought them forth fruits, the Assyriars as many as they had Town: the Persians as many as they saw stars, or fires the Grecians as many as they had fountains. no man would have trusted him; wherefore they that followed his brother considering that he knew not how to forget injuries, and that he made a jest of that royal precept: A Prince that will sa●e much, must pardon much, they went to serve them whom they held to be least reconcilable with him. claud de la Chastre, who had left him, upon some discontentment, to serve the Duke of Guienne, who honoured him with many charges, and among others, with the guard of his person, had retired himself unto his house at Nancy after the death of this Prince: x If a Prince hath any subject of choler, it should be open, and soon gone, it is not generous to convert it into hatred. and the King, who had both his choler sudden, and his hatred long against offences of this kind, and who never held the smallest that were committed against him, to be light, sent to take him prisoner by his Gossip Tristan, and held him about a month in suspense what he should do with him: for he had committed no fault, but in serving the Duke of Guienne loyally, preserving his faith unstained amidst great temptations, and seeing himself a prisoner, he did more glory to be an Innocent in prison, then guilty at liberty: y Admirable is ● at faith which amidst great accidents and vehement pursuits remains untainted. he caused him to come before him, and demanded of him, if he had a will to serve him as faithfully as he had done his brother. He answered, that he could never do so great service unto his Majesty; but his affection would be greater; and that the service which he had done unto the Duke of Guienne, was a proof of the fidelity which he would always show to him that should be his Master. The King told him, that he would use his service, and having an intent to make his guard, as well of his own subjects, as of strangers, z The Infidelity of subjects forceth Princes to employ strangers for their guards. Alex. Severus was the first which took soldiers of a rough aspect terrible & fearful, and therefore Dyon saith that his entry into Rome was odious. The Emperors did ordinarily employ Gauls, Italian Spaniards, Germans, or Macedonians. The Emperor of Constantinople was guarded by Englishmen, Tiberius by Germans, Nero had Hollanders, or Frisons, & Herod of judea Germane. he sent him with a Commission to raise a Company of an hundred Gentlemen for the guard of his person: then remembering that his wife had been much altered and distempered with his imprisonment; Lewis fears the revenge of women. and that the weakest are strong enough to do mischief, he said unto him; Harken Captain claud, women are bad when they will do a mischief; behold a pair of perfumed gloves which thou shalt carry to thy wife from me, with five hundred Crowns which are in them: I know that she was much afraid when as my Gossip Tristan went to take thee, bid her that she should not wish me ill, and come again to me three Months hence with thy Company. I give thee one of my best Mules to carry thee more easily. This was the first French Company, there having been none before but that of Scottishmen, a The first guard of the body was Scottishmen, & therefore the Captain of the Scottish guard carries the Title of the first Captain of the Guards of the King's person: he gins the year, and serves the first quarter. and it is called at this day, The ancient French Guard. claud of la Chastre, who was the first Captain, died at the age of 81 years, under the reign of Lewis the twelfth. After his death, five of his successors and heirs of the same Arms commanded successively in this charge. It is at this day commanded by Monsieur de Pralins. Offences grew not old in his memory, and the secret wounds which his Conscience b A Conscience touched with remorse for his cruelties and inhumanities', suffereth terrible torments without dying. Such was that of Herod, and of Catullus, who were terrified every night with the fights of such as they had put to death, & had daily their complaints & sighs in their ears. gave him in reproach of so many men which had been beaten and ruined by the lightning of his justice, He pursues old offences. made him not more tractable to pardon. He did never forget the displeasure which he received during the wrath and indignation of King Charles his Father. Three great personages of the Parliament of Grenoble; john bail, the King's Attorney, th●● a Councillor, and afterwards a Precedent. Guy Pape, a Councillor in the same Parliament, and held by the sovereign Courts and Universities of all Europe, the Oracle of the Law, and René of Tomassin, a Councillor also, felt in their Age, the rough blows of this Prince's remembrance. They had all three declared themselves for the Father against the son, and not willing, in this division, to waver betwixt justice and Discretion, resisted his designs, and diverted all those which strayed from their duty to follow this Prince. As soon as Lewis came to the Crown, he remembered all this, c A Prince which pardons offences, gives a great peace unto his conscience. The Panegyrics of Constantine hath this goodly passage: Sibi imputet quisquis uti noluit beneficio tuo, nec se dignum vita iudicavit quum per te liceret ut viveret: tu quod sufficit conscientiae tuae etiam non merentibus pepercis●i. Sed ignosce dicto non omnia potes, dij te vindicant & invitant. Let him impute it to himself that would not make use of thy bounty, neither did he think himself worthy of life, when he might have lived by it: thou to satisfy thine own conscience, hast spared even them that deserved it not. But pardon me, thou canst not do all, the Gods revenge thee, and invite thee. not to make use of it to the glory of Clemency, and to the content of a good Conscience, which takes delight to pardon even them which deserve it not, and remits the revenge to God, but to give new punishments to old offences; and as his nature was more prompt to revenge an offence, then to reward a good service, and more easy to hate then to love, d They are very natural passions to be sensible of injuries. It is a dullness and baseness to have no feeling of an injury, and it is folly to hold that for an injury which is not. Irasci in quibus non oporter, insipiens est: non irasci in quibus oporter, insipientis est. Arist. in 3. Eth. he caused a Commission to be dispatched the two and twentieth day of April, in the year 1462. and sent it to the Precedent of the Chamber of Accounts, and to one of the Stewards of his house, to make the Process for these three good servants to king Charles the seventh. The chief points of the Accusation were, That they had assisted and seconded King Charles in the detention of Dauphinè (for so they spoke) from the Dauphin Lewis, the true and only Lord of that Province: That they had crossed the designs of their Sovereign Lord, and that the general Estate of the Province, assembled at Grenoble, did not grant him a sum of money to supply his wants when as he was in Flanders. That Baylé had imprisoned all his servants which came about his affairs, and depended wholly of king Charles; from whom he had obtained, for one of his sons, the Archbishoppricke of Ambrun; and for another, the place of Attorney General. The accused were heard, and the Innocency which they felt in their Souls, did put such generous words into their mouths, as the judges hearing them, did not distinguish good men but by the hatred of their Prince, and their hard Fortunes, holding them more worthy of the Recompense of Prytaneus, e The judges consulted after what manner they should put Socrates to death: Cicero saith, that upon the diversity of their opinions, he spoke after this manner: Ego ob ea quae feci dignum me censeo qui publicitus alar in Prytaneo. then of the Severity of Areopage: Yet they were forced upon these Accusations, to pronounce a sentence the second of june following, by the which they were declared, convicted of Felony, Ingratitude and Treason committed against the Dauphin, A sentence very rigorous. deprived of their Offices, Charges and Dignities, and condemned to restore the Fees received by them since the Dauphin's departure into Flanders, their Fees, Lands, Signiories, jurisdictions, and other goods depending of the Dauphin confiscate, and themselves banished for ever out of Dauphiné, with defence never to return again upon pain of death. They ended the remainder of their days under the rigour of this judgement, and and left nothing to their Children, but the hope of a milder Reign, having not tasted any under this Prince. f Those which had been Donotaries of these goods, would not leave them, and opposed to the Letters of CHARLES the eighth, that of LEWIS the eleventh, by a Sentence solemnly given by the Commissioners in the presence of the King's Lieutenant, dated the eight and twentieth day of june, in the year 1484. It was said, Priorem sententiam minus debité fuisse latam nec talemeos pati debuisse, sed po●ius absoluendos. The first sentence was not duly had, neither should they have suffered it, but were rather to be absolved. M. de Franc, Treasurer of France at Grenoble instructed me herewith. After his death, King Charles the eighth, by his letters dated the three and twentieth day of March, in the year 1483. restored them to their Honours, Fame and Reputation, and would that all their goods should be restored unto them, notwithstanding any opposition which was made by them that held them as confiscate. The examples of this severity shows the reason of the fear and distrust which troubled his mind, and kept him shut up like the vestal fire, and set Care and Silence in guard about him, being reasonable that he should fear those which he had hurt: for neither great nor small can love them that have wronged them. Herewith accords that which Claudius of Seyssell hath written. g The fear which grows from rigour and severity doth never purchase the people's love. Oderunt quem me▪ tuunt. And it is hard long to resist the public hatred. Plebi multae manus, principi una ceruix. A multitude hath many hands, and a Prince but one neck. He openly discovers the fear which he had of his subjects when as he heard say, Galeas D. of Milan brother in law to the King. that Duke Galeas Sforce had been slain by certain Milanese in the City of Milan upon a festival day, and in the Church: for he augmented his guards about his person, and forbade them to suffer any man to approach near him; and if any one did strive, he commanded them to kill him. And moreover he caused a page to carry a Pertuisan after him, to defend himself if any should offer to outrage him; the which (being come into his Chamber) was set at his beds head: And truly it appeared plainly at his death, whether he were beloved or hated: for then all sorts of people rejoiced, few were sorry for it; no not his very servants, and they to whom he had done most good. But if nothing but the dislike of the people had blemished the memory of this great Prince, it had not been less glorious; the judgements of the multitude are judgements of folly, and the affections of the people are always indiscreet, they reject that which is good, and approve that which is bad; what they say is false, what they commend is infamous, what they undertake is fury, and they make things greater than they are. h They that have well known the people, have compared their judgements to a tempest. In Imperita multitudine est varietas & inconstantia & crebra tanquam procella, sic sententiarum commutatio. In the unskilful multitude there is variety & inconstancy, and often like unto a tempest, so often they change their minds. Cic. pro domo sua. His justice. justice. They cannot deprive him of the honour of the erection of two parliaments, to do justice to them of Guienne, and of Bourgondy. He instituted that of Bourdeaux in the beginning of his Reign, and that of Dijon presently after the death of Charles the Terrible. We have showed before how much he was grieved for that he had not reform many things that were deformed under his reign, and especially the administration of justice. He had been bred up in an Age so full of liberty, that as he had been forced to see and suffer many injustices, i A Prince should never dispense with the laws of reason. Those words are flatteringly tyrannical, Licet si libet, in summa fortuna id equius quod validius, nihil iniusta quod fructuo sunt; sanctiras, pietas, fides privata hona sunt, qua iuvat Reges eant. That is lawful that they list; in a great fortune that is justest that is of most force, there is nothing unjust that brings profile; sanctity, Piety and Faith are private virtues: Kings may go which way they please. The Law is the Prince which we must obey, the head which we must follow, and the rule whereunto we must apply all our actions. Arist. 3. Polit. It is the invention and the gift of the Gods. Demost. in Aristog. so he did not care but to do justice himself, according to the laws of his will, thinking that his duty was contained within the limits of his pleasure, and reason within those of his will. But admit his life were so pure and sincere, Hatred of Lewis 11. against the parliament. as the most severe Cato could find no cause of reprehension, yet would it be hard to excuse that which Philip de Commines saith, That he hated the Parliament of Paris, and that he had resolved to bridle it. This is not like a little fly upon the face of his reputation to beautify it, but a malicious ulcer to disfigure it. It is the duty of a good Prince to give authority to the administration of his sovereign justice, to maintain those venerable heads which conceive the Oracles, and preserve the rules of state, who are always laden with mortar to repair the ruins, and are the Ministers and Interpreters of the law, ᵏ which is the rarest invention, and the most excellent gift that Heaven hath given to men. The roots of this hatred were very deep, and the first effects did appear in the year 1442. when as K. Charles the 7. his father left him at Paris, to command there in his absence. The Earl of main sought to make use of this occasion, and of his favour to have certain privileges verified. The Court of Parliament being priest, and in a manner forced, put this clause in the verification; By the express commandment, to show that if their suffrages had been free, it had not been done; l We find often in the Registers of Sovereign Courts these words, De expresso mandato: and De expresissimo mandato, and sometimes, Multis vicibus reiterato. he sent for the Precedents of the Court, and commanded them to put out that clause, else he would leave all, and would not go out of Paris until it was done. The wisdom of the Court contented him, the clause was put out of the Decree, and retained upon the Register. The change which he made in the Parliament presently after his Coronation, was a branch of this root; m john of la Vacquety was Recorder of the Town of Arr as, when as after the death of Duke Charles the King did send to summon it to yield. La Vacquerie said that it might not be, for it was of the ancient patrimony of the Earls of Flanders, & descended to the ● daughter's for want of heirs male. and I think that it serves for a reason, for that upon the execution of the Treaty of Conflans, the letters were directed to the Chancellor and Privy-councell before the Parliament. It is also true, that he would often have had the wills of the Court liable to his; and that having threatened it upon the refusal it made to verify some Edicts which it had found unjust, n Whether a Magistrate be allowed to quit his Office rather than to verify an Edict, is a question treated by Bodin in the second book & fourth chapter of his Commonweal, but very superfluous, for there is not any one but knows therein what he should do. the Precedent la Vacquery (whom he had drawn from the service of the Princess of Flanders) came unto him with a good number of other Precedents and Councillors in their scarlet robes. The King being amazed to see this red procession, demanded wherefore they came. Sir, (answered la Vacquerie) we come to resign up our places into your hands, and to endure whatsoever it shall please you, rather than to wrong our consciences in verifying the Edicts which you have sent us. He was very sensible of these words of Conscience, and did not willingly like of any thing that was spoken to charge it: he presently called them back, and promised never to do any thing but what should be just and reasonable: yet this course was not commended by them who compare a Magistrate leaving his charge (for that he cannot allow of the Princes will) to a Mariner which abandons the Helm during a Tempest, A Magistrate should not quit his charge for any respect. or to a Physician, who judging the Disease incurable, doth not vouchsafe to apply Remedies to assuage the pain when as he sees those that may cure it are in vain. In these occasions the examples of good men, whom we must imitate, and the advice of wise men whom we must honour, should carry a light before judgement. He who first (in France) had the keeping of the sacred Seals of two Crowns, seeing himself sometimes forced to have the constancy of his duty strive with the absolute commandments of the King, shows how others, over whom the dignity of his Office, his virtues, experience and merits give pre-eminence, should compose and govern their Actions. When as the King, to free himself from the Importunity of some Spirits which are hard to content, and who abusing discretion in demanding, grow discontented when they use liberty in refusing, commands him to pass the Seal for things which exceed the ordinary forms of justice, and are both without Precedent and Reason. o Example is a clear light in doubtful things: for those which are not grounded upon example, cannot be maintained by reason. Quod exemplo fit, id etiam iure fieri putant. That which is done lie example, that they think lawfully done. Cic. ad Sulpitium. He hath been heard to say, that he should hold himself inexcusable, unworthy of his charge, and to carry the Title, of the first Minister of the King's Sovereign justice, if he did represent unto him the wrongs which it received in commanding him things forbidden by the laws, and which should be odious to his own judgement, if importunity had not rather wrested then obtained them from his bounty; justice is the felicity of Empires. they have seen how discreetly to his Admonitions he added most humble prayers not to wrong the most sacred thing which the wisdom of God hath left to Princes for the felicity of their estates. And when these Admonitions have not prevailed, that his Majesty hath had other motions, and that the effects which seemed contrary to justice, have made him see causes which Time, the Men, and the Affairs have made lawful and necessary, he hath always converted his Reason into Obedience, contenting himself to have showed the integrity of his mind, without opposition against the will of his Prince, which is above the Laws, and doth declare all that just which doth accommodate his Affairs: for there is no Law which commands a Magistrate to ruin himself in maintaining justice against the power of his Prince; and Wisdom, which carries a light before all other virtues, will that a man fail in any thing rather than himself. p Among the Precepts which Polybius sent to Demetrius, to draw him out of the danger into which youth and indiscretion had engaged him, this is remarkable. Quit all rather than thyself. When as the Princes will strays from reason, it must be reclaimed mildly by discretion; we must think that he can do nothing without the advice of his Parliaments: q King's have always had a Council a part, to consult & resolve upon the great affairs of their estate. The peers of France did not enter into the King's Council, & their quality did not privilege them, if they did not please the King. It is also observed in the Ordonances for the government of the realm, and for the Regency in the absence and minority of Kings, they do not in any sort speak of the Peers of France. The King should be no King if there were (in his Realm) an Authority above his. Great resolutions, which concern the safety of the State, are not treated of in great Assemblies, where as the secret, which is as the soul, cannot be long kept in, but doth evaporate. r Matters are never kept secret in great Assemblies: whatsoever was done in the Senate of Rome, was blown abroad, the Senators Children told news to their Mothers; and Titus Livius wonders that the Ambassadors of Greece and Asia had discovered nothing of the speech which King Eumenes had used in open Senate against King Perseus. monarch have always had a Council separated from the Senate, which is otherwise busied enough with the flowing and ebbing of Suits, and they have not only reserved great affairs to their Council, but they would have chosen persons confifidently to impart unto them their most important affairs. This is not without Precedent: for the greatest and most happy Founders of the Roman Empire, had (besides the Senate) a Privy Council of few persons. s julius Caesar had for his privy Councillors, Q. Paedius, and Corn. Balbus: Augustus had Maecenas and Agrippa, with whom he treated his greatest, and most important Affairs. The Parliaments have the care of the execution of the King's Edicts, they publish them, and cause them to be observed: they keep the Registers, that at need they may have recourse to them. It is true that Princes have sometimes showed themselves so absolute in their wills, as the wise men of their Council, not being able to restrain or moderate them, have often allowed the oppositions which the Parliaments have made to their Edicts, and favoured them for that they were conformable to reason, and agreeing with the public good. For although the Sovereign be above the Laws, and that he may derogate from Right and Law, wherein Sovereignty doth properly consist, yet it is necessary that the absolute power be restrained by the Civil, and that he consider, that in destroying the Law, and offending justice, he is like unto the ivy, which pulls down the wall that bears it up. I leave it unto the wise to consider, if they did well to put into the mouth of King Charles the ninth, Words of K. Charles to the parliament. (the thirteenth year of his Age, and the second of his Reign) these words: t These words are reported by Bodin in the 3d book of his Common weal, the first chapter, and he adds, that the Parliament made other admonitions, for that there was a division upon the publication of his Letters, which gave occasion of the Decree of the Privy Council the 24 of September following, by the which the division was declared void, & the Parliament forbidden to put into deliberation the Ordonances proceeding from the King concerning affairs of State; the which was also done by letter patents in the year 1528. I will not that you deal with any other thing but to do good and speedy justice: for the Kings my Predecessors have not set you in the place where you are, but to that effect, and not to make you my Tutors, nor protectors of the Realm, nor preservers of my City of Paris: And when I shall command you any thing, if you find any difficulty, I shall be content you acquaint me with it; which done, without any further reply I will be obeyed. But when the State is governed by a wise Prince, whose reputation is grounded upon great and eminent virtues, they have no other part in the Estate, The Authority of the king is an Ocean. but the Honour and the Obedience. u The duty of a sovereign Magistrate is to obey the Prince, to bend under his obedience, to command his subjects, to defend the warlike, to resist the mighty, and to do justice to all. A Regal power is an Ocean, into the which all others, like unto Rivers, lose their name: They be as Stars, which borrow their light from the Sun, and have none in his presence. It is sometimes necessary that they resist those commandments which have been rather extorted by importunity, then obtained by reason from the Prince's motion; and the admonitions which they make in such occasions, should be always considered. But if the Prince have other Reasons, and other respects, and that his thoughts go not the common way, it is not for them to show themselves difficult, neither must they attend a third command; and it were better to dissemble and support some things extraordinary to the Princes will, then to incense him. It is well known, that the obstinacy and resistance of PAPINIAN to the will of CARACALLA, made him more cruel and violent. x Caracalla having put his brother Geta to death, he commended Papinian to make his excuse unto the Senat. Papinian answered suddenly, That he would not do it, and that it was not so easy to excuse, as to commit a particide. Caracalla incensed with this answer, put him to death, and continued his cruelties, which a more discreet proceeding had restrained. Spartiat. Wise men think one thing, but they do not utter it: They always ways go one way, but they go not still the same pace. If a storm hinders them from coming into the haven, it is wisdom to obey the Wind, and not to bandy against the Tempest. y The Office of a Wise man is comprehended by Cicero in these words: Vt in navigando tempestati obsequi arti● est, sic omnibus nobis in administranda Repub. proposit●m esse debet. Non idem semper dicere sed idem semper spectare. As in sailing it is Art to obey the Tempest, so should all we do in the government of the Commonweal. Not always to speak the same thing, but to look to the same end. Lewis the eleventh strained his absolute power unto the height: His Provost went and took prisoners out of the Consergerie of the Palace, and caused them to be drowned right against the Mercer's Grange. Towards the end of his days, he found his Conscience much oppressed with the contempt of justice: he would have repaired it, but he was come to the Sabaoth of the week, when it was no longer lawful to labour. In April 1482. he sent unto the Court of Parliament an Act of the Oath which he took at his Coronation, z The King in his Oath at his Coronation, doth promise to defend his subjects from all violence & wrong, and that in all judgements he will command equity and mercy, to the end that God, who is merciful, may grant it to him and his subjects. to exhort them to do good justice, and to free him from that bond. It is that wherein the condition of Princes is to be lamented: They are laden with the very weight of their Consciences, and with the excess which hath been committed through all the Orders of the Realm, for that they have neglected the remedies. What peace can a soul have which labours to fight against his own faults and other men's? a It is a troublesome enterprise to correct his own vices, and to strive against other men's. Neque enim multum prodest vitia sua projecisse si cum alienis rix ●ndum est. Neither hath he profited much that hath cast away his own faults, if he must contend with other men's. SENEC. He that shall consider how easily he did communicate with all sorts of persons, and how willingly he did hear them, he will think that if he had not a care of justice in general, he had done it to all men in particular: But he erred as well in this, as in any other thing. But it is equally bad to give ear to all the World, and not to any man, and he made it known, that in matters which are held perfect among men, there is always some thing to be taken away, or added, and that is only perfect, where there is nothing wanting, nor any thing that exceeds it. b There is nothing perfect in the virtues of men: Nothing can come from man that is in every degree perfect. Nunquam è mortali semine nascetur qui sit omnibus bonitatis numeris absolutus. He shall never be borne of mortal seed that shall be absolute in all goodness, DIONYS. HALIC. lib. 8. PHILIP DE COMMINES hath observed in two places of his History, that his ear was open to every man. In the first he saith; Never any man did lend so much ear to men, nor did inquire of so many things as he did, nor that desired to know so many men. In the second: He meddled with many mean things of his Realm, which he might well have forborn, but his humour was such, and so he lived. And his memory was so great, as he remembered all things, and knew all the world, both in all Countries, and about him. It is the office of a King to hear the complaints of his subjects with mildness and gentleness, which doth not blemish Majesty. God who hath constituted them judges over their Subjects, will require reason of the justice which hath been demanded and not done, c King's should give an account of the administration of justice over their people: Wisd. 6. Audite Reges terrae & intelligite, discite judices finium terrae, praebete aures vos, qui continetis multitudines, & placetis vobis in turbis nationum, quoniam data est à Domino potestas vobis & virtus ab Altissimo, qui interrogabit opera vestra, & cogitationes: quoniam cum effetis Ministri regni illius non recte iudicastis nec custodistis legem Iustitiae●, neque secum dum voluntatem Dei ambulastis: Hear ● ye judges of the earth, understand, etc. To demand justice of a King is to do him a kind of homage which doth not belong to any other, and to confess that he holds the rank over men that God doth over Kings: But for that they cannot participate with every thing, see all, hear all, not be every where, Princes rely upon their Ministers. they rely upon the diligence and fidelity of their servants, whereof some assist them with their wits, counsel, and tongues, and others with their hands, swords, and fortune. France hath always been seconded by men of this quality, it brings more forth daily, and is not weary of so many Childe-birthes. Princes are like workmen, their Officers are the justruments with the which they may cut and fashion as they please: And although all charges be distinguished and have their bounds, that the Trowel may not do the office of the Hammer, yet they tend all to one end, the service of the Prince, whereon depends the public safety, which is the perfection of the work. The Prince's ear is like unto the Temple of the Goddess Horta, which was always open, but the prayers must be short and guided by reverence and humility, for jupiter of Crete hath ears at his feet: Those which are unjust, are dead towards the King, and mortal towards God for him that makes them: We must speak unto the King as if God understood it, and none must speak unto God as if we were understood by men. There are some which demand things of Kings which they would not give to them that ask them, and others that would blush if the prayers which they make unto God were known: Wherefore a Prince sends such petitions to whom he pleaseth to see if they be just and civil; It were impossible for him to hear them and determine them, without doing wrong to those affairs which require no delay to resolve on. The greatness of his Majesty is wronged when as they make him descend into the care of base things. d It is importunity to a Prince to give him an account of base things, When as Pliny wrote to trajan, De servis damnatis quise Ministerijs publicis immiscuerunt. Of slaves condemned who had wrought in the public works: He adds this Preface to his Letter: salva magnitudine tua, Domine, descendas oportet ad meas curas cùm ius mihi dederis referendi ad te de quibus dubito. My Lord, saving your Greatness, you must descend unto my cares, having given me leave to impart my doubts unto you. Wisdom, which is the light of his actions, and the Serpent which shadows his forehead, e Bochoris King of Egypt being by nature rough, sour, and violent, the Goddess Isis sent him a Serpent, which wrething about his head did make a shadow, to the end his judgement should be seasoned with Prudence and justice. forbids them to trouble their heads for all sorts of affairs, the which are often represented by men, which neither see far off nor much behind them, who confounds their discourses in the beginning, and speaking without reason would be heard with patience. We must beautify this discourse with the same authority which gave lustre unto the precedent. The discourses which are held at the Table of the Chancellors of France are always upon some goodly Subject, pleasing to learn, and profitable and necessary to understand, and we may say, that delicacy of wits finds that there which excess did furnish to the appetite of men for four months, to deliver into his hands the four chief Towns of Brabant, Brussels, Antwerp, Macklin, and Lovan, and to leave him the Country of Flanders in Sovereignty without homage if he could conquer it. These offers proceeding rather from the necessity of affairs, then from the King's intention, who desired nothing but to advance his affairs in Bourgundy and Artois, and to divide and weaken his enemy's forces, were well and wisely weighed by the King of England, y The less which is profitable and certain is to be preferred before the more which is unprofitable and uncertain. The King of England desires rather the Countries of Bullen in effect, than Brabant & Flanders in hope: neither could the English consent unto a war which did interrupt their Traffic with the Low Countries. who answered that if the King were so well minded to make him a sharer of his conquest, he had rather have some of those which were already conquered in Picardy, and that in delivering him Bulloine he would declare himself for him against the Princess of Bourgundy. The King then having contemned the way of mildness and reason to follow that of force and fortune, neglected also the occasion which this first amazement of the Princess and her people put into his hands, and leaving her the liberty to marry herself, and to carry those goodly Provinces to a strange house, all things became impossible: Maximilian, having married the Princess, raised with great solemnity the order of the Golden Fleece, z Oliver dela-March, reports the ceremony which was made at the raising of this Order, and saith that they wondered the King had not prevented the Archduke. to show that he would also restore the affairs of that house. Yet for all this they do not leave to give him the honour of the wisest of his age: Parts of wisdom. He made his wisdom appear in that he could consult and deliberate well, he could judge and resolve well, and he could lead and execute well; This wisdom was wholly his, and depended not of the motion or discourse of any other: Wherefore when as he demanded of Brezay, Seneschal of Normandy, the reason why he said that his horse was great and strong, being but little and of a weak stature: For that (answered Brezay) he carries you and all your Counsel. It is a very singular grace of heaven when as the actions of Princes, unfurnished of Council, succeed happily: For as a Prince hath need of a soul to live by, so is it necessary for him to have counsel to reign: a Every Prince hath two Counsels, one interior and the other exterior: The interior is that which grows in his head from his own knowledge and understanding: The exterior is of those that assist him in the managing of affairs. It is weak council which consists only of young heads: Young men may well have some good points, but they are like unto those of the ears of corn: The force of council consists in wisdom which is not gotten but by experience, and experience comes not but with time: A man may be borne capable of wisdom, but only time makes the wise; Young Vines carry Grapes abundantly, but the old make the good wine: In all that he undertook he showed the force of his spirit; speaking of Arms he seemed never to have done any other thing but fight with men and besiege places, and discoursing of affairs of Estate he seemed to have past his whole life in Council. b Great Spirits are always entire in any thing they deal in. When as Cato had Arms in hand be seemed never to have practised any other thing: When as he spoke of Sciences a man would have said he had never gone out of the University. He informed himself curiously and exactly of all things, and of all persons whom he knew not to be capable to show any art or disguising: A Prince adds much esteem and respect unto his reputation when as he believes that he knows all. Philip de Commines observes an effect of his wisdom to sow discord and division among those that would agree against his service: King Lewis our Master understood that Art better; to divide men, than any other Prince that I ever knew; and he spared neither his Silver, Goods, nor Pains, not only towards the Masters, but also to the servants. c The must hear all things to draw profile from them: Valetius Publicola is praised by Plutarch for the liberty he gave every man to enforme● him of that which concerned him. And Isocrates doth therefore commend Euagoras' King of Cypress: But there must be great discretion in that which is spoken with and against private men. Another act of his wisdom to have kindled, and entertained the fire which did consume the forces and burnt to ashes the ambition of his enemy; In causing the instruments of the war of Germany, Switzerland, and Lorraine to move, he remained at peace: He had means to discharge his Realm of the unprofitable burden of men which cannot live but in trouble: As the flowing and ebbing is necessary for the Sea, to discharge it of the great scum and filth which a calm gathers together, so a great Empire must purge itself and cast forth the bad humours which a dead and idle life draws together. Although his promptness in speaking hath oftentimes hurt him, Silence a soul of great actions. yet would he have it known that his very Hat had no part of his secrets. Silence is the Pole and axle-tree of enterprises, the which must not only be in words, but also in gesture and countenance, for the eyes and the face are the dumb interpreters of the mind: d He that doth manage a great design must know how to govern his tongue, but much more his mind, for Polybius saith that many have discovered by their faces the designs which they have kept in their hearts. They cannot be executed but at certain times, upon certain places, with certain men, and by certain means; if the one or the other be neglected or discovered, all must go to smoke. The concurrence of many things is necessary for the execution of a design, the failing of one is able to ruin it, but there is never enough when they talk too much. Wisdom hath also cause to complain of his tongue: He hath often paid for the liberty of his speech: But who can impose silence to Princes? The liberty of Speech is a mark of their authority, it is the point and seasoning of discourse, but the diversity of occasion makes it perilous: It sometimes offends the most mild and patiented spirits, and as every wound hath his grief, so there is not any wound that seems light to him that feels it, and oftentimes they fall into incurable ulcers: e Nothing can happen more troublesome to free men then to be debarred of the liberty of free speech. The liberty of free Discourse (saith Democrates) is a sign of courage and generosity. There are hours when we may not speak anything, A rule how to speak. others when we may speak some thing, but none when we may speak all. Besides the exact intelligence of his affairs, he had a great judgement in the choice of men, and an admirable wisdom to entertain them and keep them. He esteemed them, bound them unto him, and did not suffer them to languish in any discontent, nor to attend the fruits of their service: He knew how to lay the stone-worke, to enrich the jewel, and to beautify it with Amaile, gold, and ornament: He not only knew them of his Realm that were most capable to be employed in divers functions for his service, but also who were the most worthy Ministers with Neighbour Princes: He knew in what heads did reside the sufficiency of England, Spain, and Portugal, and did not cease This great and profitable skill to divide their minds, that might hurt him, did not only stetch to the servants and ministers of the same Prince, but he knew how to divide Princes of one blood and family. He did govern the affections of Sigismond at his pleasure, n The Archduke Sigismond of Austria was won by the King, whose party he followed both against the Duke of Bourgondy, and the Archduke Maximilian. He revoked the adoption which he had made in his favour, believing them that said, that to shorten his hopes, he would shorten his life. and turned him sometimes against the Archduke Maximilian, his persuasion being of such force with this Prince, (who was good and tractable) as he made him believe that Maximilian had designs against his life, the sooner to get possession of his Estates, which were assured him after his death. Sigismond in the end discovered this fraud, and found that the ruin of the Archduke his Nephew, touched him so near, as the Franch-County could not be lost, but the County of Feret would be also exposed to great danger, and had great subject to apprehend the increase of greatness of so mighty a neighbour; and therefore he yielded to a levy of some troops in his Estates of Elsasse and Ferret, which were employed to relieve and defend Dole, the chief Town of the Franch County, which was besieged by the Lord of Chaumont, of Ambois. The King found means in losing Sigismond, to win the Captains that led the Troops, so as they suffered a great number of Frank Archers of the King's Camp to slip into the Town with their Troops, who seizing upon the Gates, gave entry to the rest of the Army. The Town was exposed to sack and pillage, Sack and desolation of Do●e. both of the enemies and of strangers, and fire made an end to ruin that which the Soldiers could not spoil or carry away, neither was there any house exempt, but whereas the General was lodged. o A lamentable example of the misery of those Towns which are relieved by foreign forces, whose fidelity being gotten & maintained by money, depends always of him that offers most. From that time Dole was called the Dolorous. By the same skill of winning men, and knowing how to unknit knots without cutting the Cord, he had at his devotion the most confident Ministers of England. Philip de Commines saith, that he was employed to win the Lord Hastings, as the Duke of Bourgondy had formerly done to have him his friend at a thousand Crowns pension. He was very difficult to resolve; but as Silver is like unto Shafalus Arrow, which is never shot in vain, that a long pursuit shakes the most constant resolutions, he suffered himself to be won for two thousand Crowns pension. The King sent Peter Cleret, one of the Stewards of his House, unto him, to carry him this Money, and to bring back a quittance to be put with the rest, and to justify hereafter, that not only Hastings Lord Chamberlain, but also the Lord Howard high Admiral, the Lord Chainey, Master of the Horse, and Thomas of Montgomery had been Pensioners to the French King. This was said to make a gain in giving, and to make a Trade of liberality. q To hope for profit of that which is given, is to traffic, and to put money to usury, it is to think to ●old in letting go, and to receive in giving. Philip de Commines doth plainly set down what passed betwixt them. Cleret demanded a quittance, and Hastings was not so ill advised as to give him any: Cleret let him understand that he had to do with a Master who was very distrustful, and if he did not make it appear how he had delivered this sum unto him, he might say he had stolen it; and therefore he desired only a letter of three lines unto the King. Hastings seeing that there was some colour in his reasons, but much more in those which did not allow him to write, gave him to understand, Wisdom of the Lord Hastings. that they should trust his Faith and Word, r There is nothing that doth bind more than the assurance which we take of the fidelity & conscience of any one. It is easier to break civil bonds than them of honour. which he esteemed more than an hundred bonds in writing. He therefore answered after this manner; Sir, that which you say is reasonable, but this gift comes voluntarily from the King your Master, and not at my suit; if you will have me take it, you shall put it into my sleeve, and you shall have no other letter nor testimony: ● will not that it shall be said by me, that the Chamberlain of England hath been a Pensioner to the French King, nor that my quittances be found in his chamber of accounts. s It is injustice to cause benefit to be hurtful & infamous to him that receives it. The said Cleret rested satisfied, left him the money, and came and made this report unto the king, who was much offended that he had not brought him a quittance; but he commended the said Chamberlain more than all the other servants of the King of England, and he was ever after paid without giving quittance. He was so great an Architect, as he employed all sorts of spirits, fortunes and conditions in the building of his designs. He did not only seek to have at his devotion the chief Ministers of kings, but he also drew them unto him, that had credit and authority in free Towns and Commonweals, therefore he loved great Cosmo de Medicis, and was grieved for his death, which happened in the first years of his reign. The laws of wisdom did bind him to enter friendship with a house, Commendation of the house of Medicis. whose great felicity drew the greatest of Europe to admiration. Virtue doth force even Envy itself to suffer this Palm to grow, which sprung up the higher, the more they sought to depress it, t When as Envy hath stormed & striven against the growing glory of a house, in the end she is forced to yield, her eyes can no more endure such a glistering light. Est aliquod meriti spatium quod nulla furentis Inuidiae mensura capit. Claud. in laud. Stiliconis. and made it known that it is no less indiscretion to malign the glory and prosperity of merit, as to be angry when the sun shines, which jupiter commands, and Apollo pronounceth his Oracles. In those days to envy the glory of the greatness of the house of Medicis, was to deprive the Colossus of virtue of his shadow, which is glory. Lewis 11. had great reasons to esteem him, knowing that great Cosmo de Medicis had made Francis Sforce Duke of Milan, that the wealth of his servants had raised the hopes of many great Princes, Riches of the house of Medicis. which were in a manner dejected, u A servant unto Peter de Medicis lent unto Edward the fourth, an hundredth and twenty thousand Crowns, and another 50000 to the Duke of Bourgondy at one time, and 80000. at another. that without him Edward 4. had not returned into his Realm, and the Duke of Bourgondy had lost his credit in Italy. In those times they did not speak but of the Piety and Magnificence of great Cosmo de Medicis, who had opened the bar to his posterity to attain unto the sovereign command of Tuscanie. He lived as a Citizen, commanded as a Prince, and his Country gave him the Title of Father: His virtue was a Rampart to good Men, x A good man is a great Rampart to good man against a powerful Citizen that persecutes them. Such was Nicias at Athens against the insolency and rashness of Cleon. Plut. in Nicias: his House a refuge to good Wits out-raged by Fortune, and a Port to the Muses chased out of Greece. His b●unty appeared in four Millions of Gold, The Kings of Perou have their news carried after this manner, They have, upon the high ways, posts, or Cabanes, appointed at every mile, the first Carrier cries unto the second what is commanded him, the second carries it unto the third with the like speed, and so until it comes unto the place appointed. e 〈◊〉, as Suetonius reports, I●uenes P●●ro modicis inter●alles per militatis vias dehinc vehicula disposuit. He first set young men by small distances upon the high ways, and then he appointed Coaches. He speaks also of Caesar's diligence by Coaches. Longissimas vias incredibili celeritate confecit, expeditus meritoria rheda, centena passuum millia in dies singulos. He went long journeys with incredible speed, a hundred miles every day, being set in a hired Coch. The Emperor Augustus ordained Coaches in certain places, to conduct them that carried his commandments through the Provinces, or that brought him any news, before time they did hire them, and Caesar did use them when as he went in so short a time from Rome to the banks of Rosne. Paris, the Rome of France, the miracle of the Cities of Europe, whereof it should be the Diamond if it were a Ring, owes unto this Prince the most favourable concession and confirmation of the privilege which it enjoyeth, and wherewith Kings have always gratified it, holding it reasonable that it should bear the marks of their favour; Privileges of the Parisians. and the profit which it feels by the ordinary presence of their Majesties, he gave leave to every Burgess to take yearly a certain measure of salt for their provision, paying the merchants right only, and to be freed of the foreign imposition, paying six deniers upon the Liver in Paris, and twelve upon the furthest parts of the Realm, not being bound to give caution for the sale of it: That they should not be forced by any harbinger to lodge the king's Officers, nor any Soldiers, but at their own pleasures. f These privileges were amplified and confirmed during the war of the Commonweal, and for that the people did apprehend that they might be revoked when it did cease, the Chronicle saith, that he declared in a great Assembly, that he desired rather to augment them, then to cut off any thing. Not to be bound to plead any where but in Paris, for what cause soever. To be freed from all duties and services for the fees they held, yet upon condition to have sufficient and defensible Arms, according to the value of their fees, for the guard and defence of the City. In like manner the City of Lion (that mighty Bulwark of the State) is bound unto him for the establishment of the Fairs. Commerce is a great means to draw foreign commodities into a State, but it may cause a dangerous transport of gold and silver, if it be not entertained by the exchange of Wares. And as it should not be lawful to transport those that be necessary, and whereof the Subjects may have need, g One of the justest, and most ancient means to augment a king's tributes, is upon the entry, going forth, and passage of Merchandise. It is the foreign Imposition, an ancient right to Sovereigns, and it is called, Portorium quod mercium quae importantur exportan●urve nomine penditur. neither those which are un-wrought, so the permission should be easy and free for those which are needful for strangers; that the subjects may thereby gain the profit of their hands. This Prince being given to understand, that the Fairs at Geneva did draw a great quantity of Money out of France, he erected four Fairs at Lion, h The Estates of Tours after the death of King Lewis the eleventh, required to have these Fairs ●ept but twice a year, at Easter, and at the Feast of All-Saints, and in some other Town than Lion, for that it was too 〈…〉 ●●●thest bounds of the Realm. and gave them his letters patents at Saint Michael upon Loire, the 20th of October 1462. Traffic cannot receive a more sensible injury then by the calling down, or raising of Money, which wrongs the Law of Nations. If there be any thing in an estate which should be immutable, it is the certainty of their valour. Wisdom is not commended but for the constancy of that which she resolves: i A Prince who is the warrant of public justice, & subject to the law of Nations, should not suffer the course of Money to be variable & uncertain, to the prejudice of his subjects & strangers, which treat & traffic with them. Wherefore the Kings of Arragon coming to the Crown, took an Oath, not to alter the Coins which were allowed. she learns fit accidents which are mutable and immutable to reason, which is constant and one, and not reason to accidents. When as the course of Money is disordered and uncertain, all is in confusion. Lewis the eleventh changed the course of coins in the year 1473. he ordained that the great Blanks should go currant for eleven Deniers Turnois, which before were worth but ten; he reduced another coin called Targes, Orders for Coins. to eleven Deniers, which passed for twelve. The Crown at thirty Souls, three Deniers Turnois, and after this proportion all other pieces. Then considering that one of the causes of the weakening of Coins grew for that the Officers took their Fees and entertainments from the rights of the Mint, which should be unknown in great Estates, k The Ancients knew not what the right of Minting meant, and the Coins were not imparted for the fees of officers, which were taken from other kinds of money, to the end that the coining of money should be free from all suspicion of deceit, it was done in public places, as at Rome in Juno's Temple; and Charlemagne did forbid any to be coined but in his Palace. and are not seemly but in petty ones, where they draw profit from every thing, and augment their Revenues by the coining of money. In the year 1475. he displaced the Generals and Masters of the Mint, and set four Commissioners in their places, German de Merle, Nicholas Potier, Denis the Britton, and Simon Ausorran, and ordained that the King's crowns of Gold which before had course for four and twenty Souls Parisis, and three Turnois, should go for five and thirty pieces of eleven, being worth five and twenty Souls, eight Deniers Parisis, and they should make other Crowns, which should have a Halfmoon in stead of a Crown, which was on the rest, and should be worth thirty six pieces of eleven of the value of twenty six Souls, six Deniers, and new Dozains, at 12 Turnois a piece. Liberality. We should lie in calling this Prince covetous, as well as in saying he was liberal: Liberality he never knew what it was to spare, no not in his age, when as covetousness doth most trouble the mind when it hath least need of it. l Covetousness, which comes in the end of man's life, is inexcusable. What avails it to provide so many things for so small a journey? avaritia senilis maxime est vituperanda. Potest enim quicquam esse absurdius, quam quo minus viae restat eo plus viatici quaerere? Covetousness in age is much to be blamed. Can there be any thing more obsurd than when there is least way to go, to make most provision? Cat. M●i. One thinking that there was nothing so honest, as to demand and receive, demanded of King Archelaus, being at supper, a cup of gold, wherein he drank. The King commanded his Page to go and give it to Euripides, who was at the table, and turning towards him that had begged it, ●e said; As for thee, thou art worthy to demand, and to be refused, for that thou dost beg; but Euripides is worthy to be rewarded although he demands not. he knew not what it was to give with reason and discretion, to whom, how much, and when. He gave not with a refusing countenance, but cheerfully and freely. No man holds himself bound for that which is given by importunity, and which is rather wrested away then received. Slow graces are as troublesome as the swift are sweet: Bounty should prevent demands, sometimes hopes, and never merit. She doth not consider who receives, how far the greatness of his courage and fortune goes that gives, and doth forewarn him, that there are some that deserve to be refused when they demand, and others which demand not, deserve to have given them. ᵐ He gave good Words, but his Promises were so sure, as he seemed to be bound to the day he promised. A Man might hold that received which he offered. There is nothing so great, hast passed, hath given thee nothing but increase, the conspiracies of the greatest powers of Europe have only tried thy forces. Rich and goodly France, whom the ingratitude of thine own children could not shake: If thou hast been sometimes ignorant of thine own power, thou canst not (at this day) dissemble what the felicity of an Estate is which lives in assured peace. In former times there was nothing found in the Treasury but debts. The difficulties which Kings have had to decide Controversies with their own Subjects, have forced them to sell their domains, the chief part of the entertainment of their Majesty. The sinews of this body were heretofore shrunk, their functions were neither lively nor free: now that this great Esculapius hath set together the members, and restored it to life, heat and motion, France may say that she was not happy until the day that she was vanquished by his victorious Arms. f Lat. Pac. making Rome to speak in the panegericke● of Theodosius, saith thus: Quando me Nerua tranquillus, amor generis humani Titus, pietate memorabilis Antoninus teneret, quum moenibus Augustus ornaret, legibus Hadrianus imbueret, sinibus Trajanus augeret, parum mihi videbar beat●, quia non eram tua. When as mild Nerua, the love of mankind, religious Titus, and memorable Antonine enjoyed me, when as Augustus did beautify me with walls, Adrian gave me Laws, & trajan augmented my bounds, yet did I hold myself scarce happy, because I was not thine. It is the Hercules which hath cut off these Hydra's heads, which hath delivered France, tied Want to mount Caucasus; and who (after incredible toils) hath dedicated Peace, that white Hind Menelea, which hath the Head and Feet of Gold. The beams of this Glory reflect upon so many great understandings, so many noble resolutions which have followed the justice of his Hopes, and the crosses of his Fortunes. A good Prince hath an Interest in the Commendation of his Servants, he hath a feeling of that which honours them, he is moved with that which wrongs them; and a good Servant cannot desire a more glorious acknowledgement of his services, then in the heart and judgement of his Master. Every man knows, and many understand the esteem which the king made of the Duke of Suillyes' services, which are such, that as all the Nations of the Earth give the palm of Valour to this great King, in the restoration of this great Empire of FRANCE, so they cannot deny him the glory of great Wisdom, and clear judgement, and Providence, in the election which he hath made to commit unto him the principal pieces of his Estate. The purest eloquence hath already showed her riches upon this subject by Discourses which cannot be followed but by the eyes of Admiration, and a desire to imitate them. A great, rare, and happy Wit, Counsellor to the King in his Counsels, and Precedent in a Sovereign Company, hath made the Marbles to speak upon this verity. His Panegericke filling men's minds with Admiration, and their eyes with Wonder, hath made known that one line sufficeth to judge of the excellency of the Hand that drew it. I have taken this period as a glistering stone to beautify this Discourse. Commendation of the Duke of Suilly. This great HENRY hath lodged his Treasure in the Temple of your Integrities, a Temple shut for the profane, a Temple whereas only virtue finds a place to receive the reward▪ of her Travels. You have made all Europe know, that there is not any place so fortified, either by Nature or Art, or by both together, which can long hold out against the thundering Artillery which the JUPITER of France hath committed into your hands, as to his faithful Eagle, to carry it wheresoever he shall command. It is now that our great King may sit in his Throne of justice, and punish Rebels according to their deserts: For although that men's offences be without number, he can cast forth as many thunderbolts as they can commit faults. The glistering of so many perfections and Arms wherewith your Stone-houses are filled, dazzles the eyes of Subjects, and people bordering upon France; the one fear them, the other are assured; but both the one and the other do equally admire so fearful a Power in the King, and in you so great Industry, who knew how to provide the means to make our peace so firm, as we can give it, and take it from whom we please, whereby the King's Majesty is (at this day) the Arbitrator of Christendom. Valour comes in order in the observation of the Virtues and Vices of this Prince. Valour natural to the Kings of France. It is superfluous curiosity to search it among his Virtues: for although some men say, That Nature makes few men valiant, and that valour comes from good institution, yet it is true that the Kings of France are all borne valiant. g Valour doth constantly resist all the accidents which may shake the weakness of man. Timendorum contemptrix, quae terribilia & subiugare libertatem nostram nitentia despicit, provocat, frangit. A contemner of fearful things, those things which be terrible, and seek to subjugate our liberty, he despiseth, provokes, and breaks. This virtue, which (through excellency) is simply called Virtue, and which containeth many other virtues, all Heroic and Royal, Magnanimity, Wisdom, Assurance, Constancy, and Perseverance to vanquish, break and endure all kinds of accidents and difficulties, which returns from Combats in the like sort it goes, fears death no more in Arms then in his House, and hath his seat in the Heart and Will. This Prince had not learned the Art of War by discourse, he went to Horse at the age of fourteen years, and continued until his Father had expelled the English out of his Realm. h He that is no Soldier but by seeing battles painted, is like unto him that understands music, but can not sing. He made proof of his Courage at the battle of Montlehery, at the Alarm and Assault of Liege, and in the War of Artois. His Wisdom corrected the heat of his Valour: for that which was esteemed valour before he was King, would have carried the name of Rashness after he came to the Crown. PHILIP DE COMMINES saith, that (of his own nature) he was somewhat fearful, and would not hazard any thing. But every where, and in any great occasion he gives him the glory to have carried his resolutions beyond all kinds of accidents and dangers. We must judge of Courage by all the dimensions, and not only by the height and greatness, but also by the length and extension, not being sufficient to be valiant, if it continue not. Adversity is the Touchstone of men's resolutions, i He that hath neither enemy nor misfortune cannot make account of the force of his courage. Mis●rum te esse judico, qui nunquam tue●is miser, traxisti sine adversario vitam. Nemo scit, quid potueris, neque tu quidem ipse. Opus est enim ad sui notitiam experimento. Quid quisque possit, non nisi tentando didicit. I hold thee miserable that wer● never wretched, and hast drawn forth thy life without an enemy. No Man knows what thou canst do, no nor thou thyself. It is needful to have experience to know one's self. No man hath learned what he can do but by trial. no man can judge of his good fortune, nor her forces, if he hath not tried those of misfortune, and the vigour of his enemies: She is a learned mistress in all professions, and makes that ruins, shipwrecks and routs produce the precepts which frame sufficiency, and assure the judgements of Architects, Pilots and Captains. He gave Military charges to them that were capable to discharge them, he loved men that were resolute to dangers, and did them good. By the Capitulation of the Castle of Hedin, Flamen of Launoy, who was governor, remained in the King's service, k There is no other thing to be considered in the provision of great Offices which cannot be executed but in presence & person, but experience and sufficiency. Tiberius' regarded the quality of the birth, so as it were seconded by proofs of virtue. Mandabat honores, nobilitatem maiorum, claritudinem militiae, illustras domi artes spectando, ut satis constaret non alios potiores fuisse. He gave honours, respecting the Nobility of the Ancestors, their valour in war, and their good deserts at home, so as it might appear there were not any more worthy. Tacit. all his lands being then in the conquerors power and dominions, the King gave a pension to Raoul of Launoy his son. After the siege of Hedin, the King did batter Quesnoy le Comte, made a breach and gave an assault, Raoul of Launoy, to begin his service by some notable proof of his courage and valour, did climb up the ruins of the Wall, through the blows, fire, and flame, so courageously, as the King seeing and admiring his courage, said aloud, He is too furious, he must be bound. The place being taken by assault, the king sent for him, and said unto him: Passion of God my friend, thou art but too furious in a fight, we must bind you to moderate your heat: for I will not lose you, desiring to make use of your service more than once. And in saying so, he put a Chain about his neck of five hundred Crowns, and gave him a company of footmen. l The presents and rewards of Princes are Chains and Manacles which bind and captivate men's affections. He was made Bailiff of Amiens, and Lieutenant for the King at Genoa. They of his house have for a long time carried a Chain about the Scutcheon of their Arms, in remembrance of this gratification. Arms than were the delight of this Prince in his youth, wisdom gave him Maxims, contrary to those of his courage, when he was king, and yet in all places whither he sent his Armies, commanded by his Liutenants, and in those where he was himself upon the Frontier of Flanders, he always made it known, that his wisdom to resolve, and his presence to execute, made the principal part of the happiness of his affairs. He had all the time of his reign Armies on foot, Contempt of discipline in Soldiers. and they give him the honour to have entertained greater and more mighty Armies then his Predecessors, m One demanded of Agesilaus what parts were requisite to make a great Captain, he answered, Courage against his enemies, and wisdom and judgement to make use of occasions. and to have had more care of Men of War, Fortresses and Artillery. All this is seen in the Precedent book, speaking of his new erection of Troops to have always the body of a great Army ready to guard his Estate and person, and to suppress any sudden revolt, holding it indiscretion to attend necessity for the levying of Soldiers. They of his time lived very licentiously. The complaints that were made presently after his death, n An Estate should have ordinary & extraordinary forces: the ordinary is understood of Companies which are entertained in Forts, and near unto the Prince: the extraordinary is in Arms which are levied, entertained and employed in occasions of war. to the Estates at Tours upon this subject, were vehement; and it was particularly said, That the men at Arms, the Gentlemen of the Ban, the Frank Archers, and the Suissers, had done infinite harm unto the people; that the Soldiers not contenting themselves with the goods they found in the labourer's houses, forced them with cudgels to go and fetch Wine, Fish, Spices, and other excessive things from the Town. King Lewis the eleventh sought to remedy these disorders, and to settle discipline, to make the Soldiers more modest and moderate, o Military discipline consists in three points, Continency, Modesty, and Abstinency. By the first they avoid voluptuousness, which makes courage faint. By the second they frame themselves to valour, and it hath these three points: Velle, vereri, & obedire, to Will, to fear, and to obey. By the third they are content to do that which is allowed. and to hold their hands free from all violence. But he did it not effectually: for his Edicts had neither constancy nor execution. Edict to reform Soldiers. The Chronicle saith, that in the year 1474. being at Creil, he made an Edict touching the Men at Arms of his Realm, by the which he declared, That a Lance should keep but six horses: that is to say, the Lance three horses for himself, his Page and Cutler, and the two Archers two horses, and one horse for the Groom, and that they should no more have Paniers to carry their Arms; and withal, they should not lodge above one day in a village. And moreoverit was proclaimed, That no Merchant should sell unto the said Men at Arms, or lend any Silks and Chamblets, upon pain of losing the money which the said Soldiers might owe them by reason thereof: and also that they should not sell unto them any woolen-cloath of above three shillings three pence an Ell. The disorder of Silks was as great in those times as it had been little known in precedent Ages. p PHILIP the fair made an Ordnance for the reformation of apparel, according to the condition and difference of persons. There was no mention made of Silks, for that the use was not common, nor known in France. It allows a Duke, Earl or Baron of six hundred pounds sterling a year rend, or more, to make four suits of apparel every year, and no more, and as many for their wives, and forbids Lawyers and Clerks which are not in dignity, to make Gowns for their bodies of cloth of above sixteen Sou the Ell of Paris. This dissolution was one of the causes of the rareness of Gold and Silver, which was no more to be found but in Chains of gold, and in their purses who had had means to transport it out of the Realm to have Silks. The Estates of France complained at Tours, and it was said, That every man was clad in Velvet and Silks, and that there was not a Fiddler, Groom of the Chamber, Barber nor Soldier but ware it, that they had Collars, or Rings of Gold on their fingers, like the Princes, and that there was not treason nor villainy but they committed to continue this disordered sumptuousness of apparel. Science. Science. If he were learned by Art or by Practice, we must look unto the effects of his good Conduct, with the which (like unto Perseus with Minerva's Courtelax) he had cut off the head of the Medusa of revolts and sedition in his Realm. If it be true, that in his time simple honesty, q Innocency doth commonly lodge with Ignorance and Simplicity. The troubles which have molested the world, are not come from the simple. The learned, or they which presumed to know all things, have framed them. Simplex illa & aperta virtus in obscuram & solertem scientiam versa est. That simple and open virtue is turned into obscure and cunning knowledge. and ignorant virtue were degenerated into a Science, or knowledge of dissembling, or subtlety, we must hold him for the most learned Prince that ever bare Sceptre in his hand, or Crown upon his head. He had (saith Philip de Commines) his speech at commandment, and his wit perfectly good, without the which books serve to small purpose. They make men learned, but not wise; and the difference is great to have a full head, or a head well made, to be sufficient or learned, instructed in contemplation or in action. r They teach men divers Sciences for their use, and to excel in them. Prince's should learn, Regere Imperio populos, To govern the people. A Prince's Science is to know how to command. Philip de Commines saith, that he was learned enough. The Author of the Annals of Aquitane writes, That he had gotten more knowledge, as well Legal as Historical, than the Kings of France were accustomed to have. And although he were not of those times, when as they met with emperors going to the Schools with Books under their Arms, s Lucius met with M. Antony, who went to see Cyrus the Philosopher, son to one of Plutarkes' sisters, this Prince said unto him, That it was a goodly thing to learn, even for a man that grew old. To whom Lucius all amazed, answered, O jupiter Romanorun Imperator iam apetente senio gestans librum qui pueris mos est preceptorem adit. O jupiter the Roman Emperor growing old, goes unto his master, carrying a book, as schoolboys use to do. nor was not of the humour of that other Emperor, who forgot his Dinner to hear Lessons, t Charles 4. Emperor loved learning in such sort, as being in in the schools at Pragne, some coming to put him in mind of dinner, he said unto them, that he had dined, preferring● the contentment of the mind before that of the body. Aen. Silu. yet that great leisure which he had in Dauphiné, and afterwards in Flanders, accompanied with a desire to learn (which is the first step to mount unto knowledge) could not leave him in the ignorance of things necessary to reign well. On a time he used his Latin to good purpose: Pope Sixtus had sent Cardinal Bessarion, u Cardinal Bessarion borne at Trebisond, and Monk of S. Basil was made Cardinal at the Council of Florence by Eugenius the fourth, and sent Legate into Germany to reconcile the Emperor and the Archduke Sigismond brethren. a Grecian borne, to mediate a peace betwixt him and the Duke of Bourgondy. He had been employed in great Embassies in the time of Pope Eugenius, who had made him Cardinal, and of Pius the second, the which he ended happily. This was the cause of his death: for having begun with the Duke of Bourgondy, as holding him the most difficult to draw to reason, the King took it ill, and imputing it to contempt, or to some private passion, as he presented himself at his Audience, he laid his hand upon his great beard, and said unto him: Barbara Greca genus retinent quod habere solebant. x The Grecians called all other nations barbarous. Plat. in Menoxeno. An Arrow shot not against Greece, which gave the name of Barbarous to all other Nations, but against the Birth and Incivilite, or Indiscretion of this Cardinal, whom he left there, and commanded to be so speedily dispatched, as he knew his stay there was no more pleasing unto him, than his Indiscretion. The feeling hereof did so afflict him, as soon after returning to Rome, he fell sick at Thurin, died at Revenna, and confirmed that Truth, That Embassages ambitiously affected, do never succeed happily. z A grave and true sentence spoken by john Caruagial Cardinal of S. Agnolo, Nessuna legatione ambita puo haver desiderato fine. No Embassage affected can have a desired end. jer. Garimbert. Who so had the Apothegms, the goodly speeches, and good words of this Prince, should enrich this discourse with so many pearls and precious stones. There comes nothing from the mouth of a great King, full of wisdom and experience, but should be as curiously gathered up as the crumbs which fall from the table of the Gods. a Damis did curiously collect the words of Appollonius. Some misliking that ●e busied himself with such trifles, said that he had done like unto dogs, which gather up all the crumbs and fragments which fall from their masters tables. Damis answered, You say well, but this is a banquet of the Gods, and all that assist at it are Gods also, the Officers suffer nothing to be lost. Philip de Commines hath observed this: A King hath more force and virtue in his Realm where he was anointed and crowned, than he had without it. To have served well, doth sometimes lose men, and great services are recompensed with great ingratitude; judgement upon the recompense of services but this may happen as well through the error of them that have done the services, who too arrogantly abuse their good fortune, as well to their Masters, as their Companions, as through the mistaking and forgetfulness of the Prince. b Prince's seeing the merits and services to be so great, as they cannot recompense them but by great advancemets, they do not willingly look upon them, who as often as they present themselves unto their eyes, seem to demand recompense. Beneficia eo usque laeta sunt, dum videntur exolui posse. Vbi multum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur. Benefits are so long pleasing as they think they can be paid; but when they have exceeded, hatred is repaid for thanks. Tacitus, lib. 4. To have good in Court, it is greater happiness for a Man when as the Prince whom he serves doth him a great favour for a small merit; wherefore he remains bound unto him which should not be if he had done so great services as the Prince had been much bound unto him. Wherefore he doth by nature love them more that are bound unto him, than those to whom he is beholding. When as pride goes before, shame and confusion follows at the heels. c Pride is always followed by Ruin and Shame. Dominare tumidus spiritus altos gear, Sequitur superbos ultor à tergo Deus. SEN. When he changed his servants, he excused this change, saying; That Nature was pleased with variety. He said, That if he had entered his Reign otherwise then with Fear and Severity, he had served for an example in the last Chapter of BOCACE his Book of unfortunate Noblemen. And considering that secrecy was the soul and spirit of all designs, he said sometimes, I would burn my Hat if it knew what were in my head. d Metellus said the like, that if he knew his shirt understood his secerets, he would burn it, He remembered to have heard King Charles his father say, that Truth was sick, and he added, I believe that since she is dead, and hath not found any Confessor. Mocking at one that had many books, and little learning, he said, that he was like unto a crooke-backt man, who carries a great bunch at his back, and never sees it. Seeing a Gentleman which carried a goodly Chain of Gold, he said unto him that did accompany him; You must not touch it, for it is holy, showing that it came from the spoil of Churches. It is long since that this sacrilegious liberty hath been in custom, and that Princes, that would please GOD and Men, have detested it; but custom to evil hath more power over the wills of men to entertain them in it, than it gives horror and shame to fly from it. e Caesar did bite Pompey to the quick, for that he had taken away the ornaments of Hercules Temple. Pecuniam omnem ex fano Herculis in opidum Gades intulit, and giving himself the honour to have caused it to be restored, Referri in Templum jubet. He took delight in quick answers, which were made without study: for if there be premeditation they lose their grace. On a time seeing the Bishop of Chartres mounted on a Mule with a golden bridle, he said unto him, that in times past Bishops were contented with an Ass and a plain Halter. The Bishop of Charters answered him, That it was at such times when as Kings were Shepherds, and kept Sheep. The Annals of Aquitane, which report this, add that that the King began to laugh: for he loved a speech which proceeded from a sudden wit. He loved Astrologians, and this love proceeded (as it were) from a natural and hereditary curiosity, having much troubled the minds of his forefathers. Charles the fifth was governed by them, Credit of Astrologians. and gave them means to teach Astrology publicly in the University of Paris. He had for his Physician one called Monsieur Garuis Cretin a great Astrologian. f CHARLES th● fifth caused many Books of Astrology to be Translated into French, he built a College for Astrology and Physic, and gave them the Tithes of the Village of Caugie, and caused the foundation to be confirmed by Pope VRBAN the fifth. He caused the Nativity of King Charles the sixtth, to b●e cast by Monsieur Andrew of Suilly. The like curiosity made Charles the 5th to love and cherish familiarly Michael Tourne-rove a Carthusian, who was very skilful in the practice of Elections: He made that of the day when as the King went a hunting, where as he found the great Stag which had a collar of Copper about the neck, wherein these words were written; Hoc Caesar me donavit, Caesar gave me this. The figure of it was set up in the palace of Paris. He was also much bound to the advice which james of Angiers gave him of the bad Intention which two Augustine Monks had to open his skull, who were beheaded at Paris. g In the book of SIMON of Phares, which is in the King's Library, we read this: JAMES of Angiers was in that time, who discovered the false intent which the two Augustine's had, which did open King CHARLES his head, saying; They would cure him, being ignorant both in Physic and Chirurgery: They were suborned by PHILIP Duke of Bourgondy, (as was said) to work this effect. The matter being discovered, the said Augustine's were degraded, and lost their heads, as was reason. He also made great account of Charles of Orgemont, who foretold him that the Duke of Anjou his brother should bring nothing back from his voyage at Naples, but shame, want, and misery, the which happened: for all the Knights which had followed him, returned with white sticks in their hands, h Upon this Prediction SIMON of Phares speaks thus: The French were forced to fly, and the Duke of Milan forgetting his Faith and Oath, did kill them that were taken, and suffered the Dogs to eat them, and therefore let this be an advertisement to the Kings of France, and to the French, never to trust in a Lombard's tongue. or died in Hospitals. He was also advertised of the issue of the voyage which Boucicant made to Genoa, and of the treason of the Marquis of Montferrat, and of Count Francisque. CHARLES the seventh had Astrologians all his life: He entertained in his Court JOHN of Bregy, a Knight, who cast the Nativity of AM Duke of Savoy, and of the Lady YOLAND of France his wife; and German of Tibonuille, who foretold the death of King Henry the fifth, and of Charles the sixth. He received into Pension, and into his house JOHN of Buillion, whom the English had kept prisoner at Chartres, for that he had foretold that which hahpened unto them at the siege of Orleans. He gave entertainment also to SIMON of Phares, borne borne at Orleans, whose book of excellent Astrologians is to be seen in the King's Library: i This Simon of Phareswrites of himself that he did foretell, The great famine at Paris, and the great plague which followed under the reign of Charles the ●. that the Lands were untilled, and the woods, so ●full of wolves as they devoured women and children, and that it was proclaimed that for every Wolf they could take they should have two shillings, besides that which the Commons might give. Master Lewis of Langre a Spaniard, a Physician and Astrologian at Lion, told King Charles of the victory he should get at Fromigny, in the year 1450. & of the great plague which was at Lion a year after, for the which he gave him forty pounds a year, pension. In all the chief actions of the life of Lewis the eleventh, we find that john Merende of Bourg in Bresse, did cast his Nativity, and speaking of his Adventures unto the thirtieth year, Predictions upon the life of Lewis the eleventh. he advertised King Charles the seventh of his rebellion, and how his government would be wonderful to men, k This man was much esteemed by Duke Amedeus the Pope, he foretold the Schism of the Church, and the war betwixt France and England. Manasses a jew of Valencia continued these predictions unto the battle of Montlehery: Peter of Saint Valerien, a Cannon of Paris, and a great Astrologian, was sent in the year 1435. into Scotland for the marriage of the Lady Margaret; during his abode in Flanders, he consulted always with Astrologians of future things, and these impostors, more hurtful to a Commonwealth than Players, l Sights entertain the people and breed them up ●n idleness: And therefore Philip Augugustus by an Edict banished Players out of France: Nihil tam moribus alienum quam in spectaculo desidere. Sen. whom his predecessors had chased away, were always in his ears. He caused many judgements to be made by john Coleman his Astrologian, who taught him to understand the great Almanac, and upon the great Conjunction of Saturn and Mars, which was the eighth of April, about ten of the clock eighteen minutes, in the year 1464: He spoke plainly of the troubles of the League, and so did in like manner Peter of Graville, whom Lewis the 11. caused to come out of Normandy: Conrade Hermgarter a German left the Duke of Bourgundies' service for the Kings, who gave him great entertainments. But above all, he made great esteem of Angelo Catho a Neapolitan, who came into France with the Prince of Tarentum, m john Spirink did also foretell the Duke of Bourgundy that if he went against the Swisses it would succeed ill, the Duke answered, that the fury of his Sword should vanquish the course of heaven. and had foretold the Duke of Bourgundy and the Duke of gelders their misfortunes. The King gave him the Archbishopricke of Vienna, wherein he could not reside for the great crosses he received from them of Dauphiné, but was forced to retire himself to Rome: His Chronicle doth also speak of the death of Master Arnold his Astrologian during the plague, in the year 1466. the which he had foreseen, and which unpeopled Paris of above 40000. persons. France had other kinds of men which did better deserve the favour and bounty of the King than these Deviners. God is offended at the rashness of this science which undertakes the knowledge of future things, which is only reserved to his eternal Providence, and which in regard of man is all composed in with clouds and impenetrable darkness. Vanity of judiciary Astrology. The curious are deceived, for they tell them things that are either true or false, n Favorinus with this Dilemma mocks at judiciary Astrology: Aut adversa dicunt & prospera. Si dicunt prospera & fallunt, miser fies, frustra expectando. Si adversa dicunt & mentiuntur, miser fies frustra timendo? Either they tell adverse things or prosperous: If they foretell prosperous things and err, thou art a wretch in vain expectance? if they tell adverse things and lie, thou wilt be a wretch in fearing without cause? They make themselves miserable in the expectation of prosperity which never happens: They are miserable also in the apprehension of adversities which they fear incessantly, & happen not but when they least dream of them, thinking they have escaped them, and howsoever lying deceives hope and augments fear: o judiciary Astrologyis forbidden by the reasons which Epiphanius produceth against the Manicheans, Bas●le in his Exameron: Chrisostome upon Genesis▪ Hom. 5. Augustin. lib. 4. cap. 3. of 〈◊〉, Cofession●, and by the councils of Tol●do. The Church which hath the eternal truth for the vertical Star of her establishment, which doth always look unto the Sun of justice and Constancy, not governing herself like unto the Synagogue, by the inconstancy of the Moon, hath religiously and judiciously detested the practice of judiciary Astrology, which fills the ears with vanity and curiosity, and the conscience with amazement. If the curiosity had had any reflection to the advancement and beautifying of learning, Barbarism had not tyranized so long over so many good wits: Princes cannot add goodlier Crowns to the Palms and Bays of their virtues, than those which good wits do dedicated unto them as an acknowledgement of their favours to learning. p The glory which a Prince doth get by Arms is great, That which comes from the favour and protection of learning is immortal. Int●r omnia quae vertute principum ac felicitate recreantur, sint licet for tasse alia magnitudine atque utilitate potiora, nihill est tamen admirabilius haec libertate quam fovendis honorandisue literarum studijs i●partiūt. Among all the things which are delighted with the virtue and felicity of Prinalthough it may be there are some to be preferred in greatness and profit, yet there is nothing more admirable than that liberality which is bestowed to nourish & honour the study of learning. Eumenes' Rhoet●r in orat. pro instau. scho. King Charles the seventh, father to Lewis, and King Charles the eighth his son, had some care of the University of Paris: The first set down an order for the decision of causes referred to the Court of Parliament: The last declared what men should enjoy the privileges of the University, and how they should be inrowled in the book of Privileges: But we do not find that Lewis hath done any thing either with it, or against it. The Precedent Thou, whose History Europe doth no less admire for his eloquence and boldness, than Italy did Titus Livius, and Greece Thucydides, speaks of johannes Vulceus of Groningue, and saith that he reform the University, during the reign of this King, and this reformation shows that there was some disorder. The negligence of men was not so much the cause as the violence of times, full of troubles and confusion, which did not permit them either to teach or to learn. These clouds of Ignorance were as dark in other Nations: Barbarism in in the time of Lewis. The misery of that age was so great as who so should represent the potrraite of that Barbarism, would move the minds of men both to pity of so great ignorance, and to fear that our negligence would bring us soon into the like. The sweetness of the Muses was but bitterness, their flowers all withered, and their light all confusion; the men of those times did not only contemn learning, but they did abhor her beauty, and said that it did not agree with the gravity and severity of other Sciences. q Barbarism being banished the schools whereas the taught good learning, it remained long among the Lawyers. King Francis the first having seen these words in a Decree, debotavit & debottat: commanded that al● the Acts of justice and contracts should be made in Latin. For this cause the purity of the Latin Tongue was banished out of the Schools, and they were filled with unknown Sophistries, which were strange and barbarous: The Schools were no more the Fountain of the Muses, but Moats full of Frogs, There were good wits, as all ages doth produce, as all Seas may breed Pearls: But as there is a necessity to howl with Wolves: they were forced to fit themselves to the common use, being impossible to wipe away the contumely which was done to the reading of good books: It was a good Verse if it fell not twice or thrice upon the Cadence of the same Syllable: All Lyric Poets meddled with time, as careless of elegancy as of reason. The Latin tongue was harboured in some Cloisters, and thence the Proverb came, Not to speak Latin before Friars: as if they should not handle any tools before good workmen, nor dance before good dancers: But they that have written of those times show that all the eloquence was nothing but a confused babbling which brought forth new words, as monsters bred of pride and ignorance: So the greatest & most famous actions were all made upon the model of Sermons, and they always took some Text of Scripture which they called the Theme of the Discourse: r In those day: they busied men's w●ts with unprofitable & impertinent Etimologies: They said in Schools that the Scipio's and the Censorins were names of dignity: That the Ethnics came from Mount Ethna, and that the Law▪ Falcidia was so called a fal●e, for that like a scythe it did cut off Legacies. They did often add ridiculous and foolish Etymologies, and their inventions were about Letters and Syllables. The proof hereof may grow of that which hath been observed in divers places of this History, as of the discourse which the first Precedent of Grenoble made to Lewis the 11. Of the pleading which was in the Court of Parliament before the King of Portugal: Of the Oration made at the opening of the Estates of Tours: That which was made unto the milanese under the reign of Lewis the 12. is an other mark of this great simplicity: s The milanese for a rebellion made against King Lewis the 12. came in Procession to demand pardon of the Cardinal of Amboise, his majesties Lientenant, Mr. Michael Ris a Doctor of the Laws, councillor in the great Council and Parliament of Dijon, and in the Senate of Milan, made a great discourse upon this occasion, the which he began in these terms. Misertus est Dominus super Ninivem civitatem quod poenitentiam egit in cinere & cilicio. In like manner the Oration made by the Rector of the University of Paris, to Queen Mary, second wife to Lewis the 12. When they have searched into the causes of this great desolation, they have found that avarice hath contributed most; for when as they found that great wealth was not gotten by the profession of learning; that they which had consumed most in good books, had wasted their estates unprofitably, and contemned their fortunes: that only pleading got the grain and left but the straw for other professions: Men studied no more to be learned but contented themselves to be Doctors: The Law itself, which makes a great part of politic knowledge, was, in a manner, abandoned, and her excellencies dishonoured with an infinite number of ridiculous glosses and vain questions: Wherefore Pope Innocent the 3. who laboured, more seriously then happily, to restore that Profession to honour, did often complain that avarice had made the Liberal Sciences Mechanic, and that many passed impudently from the first precepts of Grammar, to the study of the Laws, not staying neither at Philosophy, nor any other good Art: Wherefore throughout all the East good books were not known but to some rare and eloquent spirit, and in the West the Latin tongue was grown barbarous, the Syriac unknown, and the Greek so odious, as it was no ignorance in the most learned to skip a Greek word and not to read it. t Ignorance is so shameless as she glories of that she understands not. In those times when they met with a Greek word, they were dispensed with, if they made no stay at it, and the Reader said: Graecum est non legitur. The taking of Constantinople did wholly ruin learning in the East, and was the cause to make it revive in the West, by the care of Pope Nicholas the fifth, and of great Cosmo de Medicis, who gathered together the sad Relics of this Shipwreck: They caused the good books of all the Greek Authors to be sought out and preserved, and did lodge and entertain them that were capable to make them speak Latin. This misfortune made them to arrive in Italy as into a Port of safety, against the tempest of Greece, or rather as some precious movable rescued out of a great fire, they found a sweet retreat, and an honourable resting place in the house of Medicis. Some time before Emanuel Chrisolara had been sent by john Paleologue, to demand succours of Christian Princes against Bajazeth the first, who threatened Greece with the servitude which it hath endured under the Empire of his descendants: Having done his charge he stayed at Venice, then at Florence and at Rome, he read some lessons at Padua, passed into Germany, and died during the Council of Constance. George Trapezonde, by extraction from Trapizonde, but borne in Candy, and Theodore Gaza of Thessalonica continued these first beginnings. Cosmo de Medicis made choice of john Argyropile, u john Capnio was one of his Auditors, the first time he entered, Argyropyle asked him of whence he was and what he would; he answered that he was a german, and would remain at Rome to learn something of him in the Greek tongue, whereof he had already some knowledge: Argyropile commanded him to read and to interpret a passage of Thucydides, Capnio did it after so elegant a manner, and with so clean a pronunciation, as Argy●opile sighing said, Graecia nostro exilio transuolavit Alps. Greece by our exile hath flown over the Alps. their companion to be schoolmaster to Peter de Medicis his soon, than he went to Rome, where he did publicly interpret the Greek Histories, and did so inspire the love of learning into the hearts of good spirits, as the Cardinals and Noblemen of Rome did not dsidaine to go and hear his Lessons. Out of the School of Emanuel Chrisolara came Gregory Typhernas, who came to Paris, and presenting himself to the Rector, he said unto him, That he was come to teach the Greek, and demanded to have the recompense allowed by the Holy Decrees: The Rector was somewhat amazed at the boldness of this stranger, and yet commended his desire, and with the advice of the University stayed him and gave him the entertainment he desired: Jerome of Sparta succeeded him. The Shipwreck of Greece brought many other great personages to the road of Italy, Demetrius Chalcondyle, x Demetrius Chalcondyle an Anthenian, taught publicly at Florence after Argyropile: He went away through the practice and jealousy of Angelus Politianus, and retired to Milan. Marcus Musurus a Candiot, john Lascaris of the Imperial race, whom the Magnificent Laurence de Medicis employed to get leave from Bajazeth to visit the Libraries of Greece, from whence are come many good books, which where so many Lamps ● dispierce the clouds of Ignorance and Barbarism. The University of Paris as fruitful a mo●●er of good wits as a careless Nurse to cherish them, is much fallen from her first glory: Her Schools, which were sometimes more famous than those of Athens in Greece, are unpeopled; the water of her Fountains which did water all the youth of Europe is troubled; there is no Spring in the year for these goodly flowers, which are cherished of some for the rareness, of others for the smell, and of all for the assurance of fruits. The Northern blasts of the last troubles, have (in a manner) withered them, and hardly will they recover their beauty, if the same Sun which hath raised the Flower de Luce doth not revive them. Hercules after so many glorious labours, did not disdain the name of Musagete: y Fuluius caused a Temple to be built in Circo Flaminio at Rome to Hercules Musagete, that is to say the conductor of the Muses, and Eumonius the Rector gives this reason: Quia mut●is operibus & premijs iwari orna●ique deberent, Musarum quies defension Herculis, & virtus Herculis voc● Musarum. For that they should be relieved and adorned by their mutual works and rewards: The quiet of the Muses by the defence of Hercules, and the virtue of Hercules by the voice of the Muses. France dare not hope that any other will finish that which Henry the fourth shall leave unperfect, he will not suffer that she which carries the glorious name of his eldest daughter, and hath purchased it by her immortal watches, and by the production of many great personages, which have worthily served the Church and State, shall languish any longer in hope to recover her first dignity: There wants nothing else for the triumph of his glory, james David Cardinal du Perron High Almoner of France. nothing but that can make his Bays immortal: The Muses have need of Hercules valour, and the labours of Hercules have need of the recommendation of the Muses. The generous thoughts which our Augustus hath of this restoration, are wonderfully revived by the lively and powerful persuasions of the learned Cardinal, the miracle of our days: But where shall we find so many B●deus, Turnebus, Cuias, Murets, and Scales as is necessary to have the effect answerable to the design and reputation. Temperance: Temperance wherein it consists. If it were not taken but for the moderation which seasons all things, that great temper which he had in prosperities, and his constancy in adversities, had purchased him the palm of this virtue, but if they take it for the rule and restraint of voluptuousness, and of other motions of the mind, it is not so apparent in his heart as in that of Alexander's, Cyrus, and Scipios: The two base daughters which he had shows that he was not contented with the lawful intemperance of marriage: z After the Battle of Montlehery the King gave his base daughter to the Bastard of Bourbon, and the assurances were made in the Town house of Paris. He married the first to the Admiral of Bourbon, and the other to the Lord of Saint Valier: The letters which were dispatched for the declaration of her Arms, would not be unprofitable to insert in this place, and they were in these terms. Lewis, by the Grace of God, King of France, to all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting: Having of late treated, and accorded, the Marriage of our dear and loving Base daughter, Marry, with our dear and faithful Cousin, Aymard of Poicters, Lord of Saint Valier, We have thought it expedient to appoint the Arms which it shall please us our said daughter shall carry: We therefore give to understand that, being assured that the said Mary is truly our base daughter, and desiring to honour her and her posterity, that she may enjoy the honours, dignities, and prerogatives which belong to the Bastards of Princes, for the great love and affection which we bear her: a Du Tillet saith that the Surname of France is allowed to the base daughters of Kings, if upon the aduow there be no other Surname given than, and the Arms of France with the difference of a Bend: Some have been advowed by letters Patents, and others by fact being nursed. We will, and ordain, by these presents, that the said Mary, our base daughter, carry the Arms of France, and for a difference a Bend Or, beginning at the sinister Canton, as base children have accustomed to do, for the which we have and do give her power and faculty for ever: In witness whereof we have caused our Seal to be set to these Presents. Given at Meslay, the eleventh of july, 1467. and of our Reign the sixth: By the King, the Lord of Crussol. Peter Doriole & others being present. L. Toustain. It were a great proof of Inconstancy, Opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed. and profane policy, if that were true which many have said, that King Charles the 8. was not son to Queen Charlot, and that the King having him by a Mistress made this supposition: They that writ things whereof they cannot speak, which are not known to all men do often err, for that they trust to their own conduct, and turn away their eyes from that which might give them light in the darkness of such difficulties. It is the melancholy of men of this profession; presumption and vanity b Vanity hath much power among learned men. justus Lipsius hath observed it in his time. O litterae, litterae! quam semper à vobis aliqua vanitas, & quam illud verum, oportere omnibus corydalis cristā●inesse. makes them think that they see clear enough, and as the Cities of Greece ruined themselves for that they would do their business a part, Error of learned men not to communicate. they lose by this disunion that which they might preserve by conference. I have always held it an honour to learn, and a happiness to be reprehended. A man should hold himself more bound to be warned of a fault in his writings then of a blemish in his face: Upon this supposition I went to Monsieur du Haillan, for that in the second book of the estate of the affairs of France he reports this opinion, and promiseth a more ample discourse in the History of this King not yet printed: c Many were of opinion that Charles the 8. was supposed, others held that he was the King's son but not by the Queen, and that the King to quench the troubles which had been raised by his brother, made this supposition, the which is more amply written in the History of the said King, and not yet printed. Bernard of Girard signor of Haillan in his second book of the estate of the affairs of France. He answered me that he held it from them who thought they knew it well, and that he hath written many other things of like consequence upon the belief of Tradition. Prince's will have their loves excused, for that love doth not alter the generosity of a great courage, Caesar did sacrifice his heart to Arms and Ladies: d We cannot find a more perfect pattern of Ambition and Love then Caesar. As for Ambition, his life is full of it: For Love, he had the Maidenhead of Cleopatra, he made love to Eunoë Queen of Mauritania, to Posthumia wise to Servius Sulpitius, to Lollia of Gabinius, to Tertulla of Crassus, to Mutia of Pompey, and to Seruilia, Sister to Cato, and mother to Marcus Brutus: He changed wives four times. But I find this Prince sometime in delights which were not ordinary, nor scarce known to the Kings of France his Predecessors: His Chronicle speaks of Baths prepared for him, for the Queen and Ladies. I was of opinion that he had brought that custom from Flanders: when Philip de Commines speaks of the excess and dissolutions which peace had brought into the Low Countries, he makes mention of Baths. The great and superfluous expenses (saith he) of men and women in apparel. The greatest and most prodigal banquets that I have known in any place: The Baths, and other feastings with women, great and disordered, and with little modesty. Delights and pleasures are not fashioned in an instant e Besides the Baths of Agrippina, of Nero, of Vespasian, and of Titus, Rome hath been beautified with them of Domitius, of Alexander, of Gordian, of Severus, of Aurelian, and of Constans. Marcus Agrippa, to purchase the people's favour caused 170. Baths to be built in Rome, to the end that every Quarter should have one, Antonin was the first that decreed they should pay nothing for Bathing, for before him they gave the fourth part of an Assis. they have their beginning, increase, and continuance: That of Baths was the like. At Rome, in the beginning, they did wash nothing but their Arms and legs, after labour and painful toil, for that they would not have their members unclean, and their pores stopped with sweat: They did wash the whole body at Fairs, and health was the end of Bathing, as a thing generally held holdsome, since health is grown unto voluptuousness, and they add unto it vanity and needless pomp. The rarest Marbles of Africa and Alexandria were sought for, and the most industrious Carvers and Architects were employed in these Baths as for the building of Temples. If Temperance gave no other content unto a Prince but the quiet enjoying of health, Fruits of temperance. he should be wonderful curious, f Health is to be preferred before all things, as the richest present of nature. Pithago●as said that men should demand 3. things of God, Beauty, Riches, and a good constitution of mind and body. for there is not any thing but we should do for that which is the best, and richest present which Nature hath given, and without the which li●e is but a languishing, and all other felicities troublesome, and importune; men are miserable, in that they know not the price of things but by the loss of them: They do not taste of rest but in labour, nor of peace but after war, nor health but in sickness; When they are sick they make vows to health, when they are in health they do what they can to be sick. They sacrifice to health and eat the meats of the sacrifice even until they burst, so as drinking, eating, sleeping, playing, watching, sickness itself, health, and all the actions of man's life are so many steps to death: g One demanded of Hypocrates a rule for his health, he answered him, Cibi, potus, somni, Venus, omnia● oderata sint. Let thy meat, drink, sleep, and Venus' sports be moderate. And although that delay of payment be no quittance, yet life is longer or shorter according to the Order of these things. Princes are not always known in these eminent places, they must be seen in actions which are not so glorious: Let us look upon Lewis the 11. in his private carriage and course of life: Great spirits have not their heads always busied with great affairs, their thoughts descend often to mean things and of small consequence: Egypt worships her Gods clothed in those forms which are farthest from the Majesty and greatness which she thinks is in them. h Nicias going from Council shut himself up, and caused Hieron his man to say that he left his own affairs to think of the public, yet in the mean time he informed himself by a Divine of the issue of his affairs, and thought of his mines of Silver which he caused to be digged. Plut. in Nicias. Nicias makes men think that he extracts the quintessence of his wit for the affairs of State, whilst that he entertains himself with the hope and profit of his Mines: trajan did sometimes spend whole nights in telling tales with his servants. i It is good a Prince should be sometime familiar with his servants, but the more rare the better. trajan surprised them sometime at meat, he came to their houses without Guard, and spent whole nights there: Xiphilinus: But they do not all with that Titus went to the Baths and washed himself openly with the people; Affability is a goodly thing so as it draw not near to contempt. When as Lewis the 11. was in his solitary abode at Plessis, he took delight to go into the Offices, and to talk with the first he met. One day he went into the Kitchen whereas he found a young Lad turning of the spit, he demanded his name, of whence he was, and what he did earn: This Turne-spit, who knew him not, told his name, that of his father, of his Village; and although he were in the King's service, yet he got as much as the King: For the King (said he) hath but his life and so have I, God feeds the King, and the King feeds me. k A small matter raiseth the fortune of a man, and changeth his basensse into greatness, Mahomet Bachas who was Vizier to three Emper●urs, was beholding for all his greatness to a leap which he made when he was young: Sultan Solymari being at a window which did look into a Garden let fall a Letter, every man ran down the sl●ires to fetch it, but Mahomet who was a young Lad leapt out at the window, and brought the letter unto the Emperor. This ready answer pleased the King, who drew this Boy out of the Kitchen to make him serve in his Chamber, & fronthence raised him to great wealth: Behold how fortune favours even then which have no knowledge of it, nor seek it not. He added to the pleasures of solitariness those of rustic Husbandry. I have seen by the Accounts of the Chamber of the Treasure, that in the year one thousand four hundred three score and seventeen, he caused a woman of Bethune, with two more with her, to come to Plessis, having two horses and four Kine, to make Butter and Cheese for his own mouth, and that for the voyage, implements, and provision of this woman and her Family, he paid seven pounds. This popular facility did much avail him to win the hearts of the Parisians, Popularity of Lewis the 11. whom the pretext of the Commonweal had much shaken. The signor of Haillan saith: That being come to Pares he went from street to street, and from house to house, to dine and sup with them, talking familiarly with every one, to make himself pleasing unto the people, and to incense them against his enemies; That the Parisians never held the better party, nor did any thing commendable, but at this time, for they were for the King, and did support and relieve him. His Chronicle observes, for an example of his affection to Paris, that he came in the year, one thousand four hundred three score and eleven, with the Duke of Guienne his brother, and there made great feasts, and kindled the Bonfire at the grieve, on Saint john Baptists Eve: His most confident servants fate commonly at his Table, and he made them discourse of diverse subjects. He would not have their hearts in the clouds whilst their bodies were at the Table: l 〈…〉 the mind 〈◊〉 the necessary pleasures of the body, not that 〈…〉 wallow in them: He must submit his violent occupations & 〈◊〉 Lbhorious thoughts to the use of the ordinary life, and if he be w●se l●t him use moderation. He would be entertained in his ear by them that came from other Provinces to understand all things, and to draw out the Quintessence. Among the profits of Commerce the knowledge they have of that is done among strangers should be esteemed one of the chief, for by the going and coming of merchants Princes are advertised of many things, whereof they should otherwise be ignorant, and they that report them do not conceive of them after the same manner as they do that receive them. Great Understandings draw profit from every thing, and can judge of the resemblances of things which do nothing resemable, the which is one of the highest points of human wisdom. It is true that the wise observe other discommodities which grow by commerce, to alter and degenerate men's m When as Caesar would give a reason of the Belges valour, he saith: Propterea quod à cultu & humanitate Provinciae long issimè absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant, atque ea quae ad effemina●dos animos pertinent, important. Caes. l. 1. de Bell. Gall. For that the Provinces are far from civility and humanity neither do Merchants go often unto the to carry those things that may make their minds effeminate. manners & courages. The King being very familiar with men of this sort, caused them to eat at his Table to discourse more freely: The King's good countenance, added to the place, and good cheer, makes them speak that are most stayed: A Merchant seeing himself often in this honour, disdained to see himself still called Sir john, and besought the King to make him an Esquire: The King gave him letters of gentry, after which the Merchant ware a Rapier and apparel accordingly: n Merchandise is incompatible with Nobility, not for that the one propounds honour only, & the other profile, for both may be united: But for that Gentry cannot be purchased but by birth, and the service of the sword, or by the dignity of Offices which make men Noble: wherefore the Emperor Maximilian answered a merchant who besought him to make him a Gentleman: I can make thee much richer than thou art, but it it is not in my power to make thee a Gentleman. He presented himself unto the King, thinking that by this new honour he had been raised to the Epicycle of Mars, and that he should go equal with the chief Noblemen in Court. The Ass is entertained with blows when as the Spaniel is cherished at the Table. But he would not vouchsafe to look on him, and left him always attending. The Merchants would gladly have left his letters to return unto his first course; and not able to endure this change, he complained unto the King, who said unto him: When I made you sit at my table, I held you as the first of your condition, and did no wrong unto this Gentlemen to honour you for such. o The change of condition is not always honorarable nor fortunate. It is better to be the head of a sly, than the tail of a Lyon. Now that you would be a Gentleman, and that in this quality you are preceded by many, who purchased it by the Swords of their Ancestors, and by their own merits, I should do them wrong in doing you the like favour. Go Mr Gentleman. Of all exercises he was most earnest at hunting; Lewis 11. delighted in hunting. and indeed it is the most royal and most necessary for a Prince, to enure him to toil, p Hunting is the true exercise of Princes. The Roman Emperors being always in war, had no pleasures, and beside, they were forced to hunt very far from Rome. The Kings of Macedonia, Persia & Parthia have always been great Hunters. to know the Country, and to entertain, in time of peace, a goodly table of war; but he would not have this exercise common, although it doth rightly belong unto the Nobility, when they are dispensed withal from the service of the sword. He did forbid hunting in the beginning of his reign, and added to this defence odious punishments. It was a hanging matter for a Gentleman to fly idleness: they punished him as rigorously that had slain a wild beast, as a Man: q To take the exercise of hunting from a Gentleman, is to declare him base. Besides it, he can not do any thing in time of peace, and to play the Gentleman for time that is not, is to do nothing. A Lacedaemonian seeing that the Ariopage had condemned an Athenian of Idleness, entreated his friends that were about him, to show him the man that was condemned to live a Gentleman. and thereof come so many tales of the severity of this Prince, which have dishonoured his life, and which now beautify this History as Toads, Serpents, and Monsters are admired and pleasing upon Marbles and Agathes. r It was more pardonable, saith Claud Seyffel, to kill a man, than a Stag, or a wild Boar. Princes have always made choice of a great number of servants, in some they have had more confidence and credit, they have done them greater favours, and advanced them more than the rest. And although these elections be not always grounded upon merit, and that honours conferred upon unworthy men are the less esteemed, yet it were to clip the wings of the King's Authority to restrain him from this liberty. He made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters, placing some for hundreds, others for thousands, some for ten, and some for vnits. He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet, who could not remember the condition of their forefathers without blushing, or disavowing them. s Honour meeting with an unworthy subject, hath less lustre and esteem. When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbol●● 〈◊〉 decayed man, and who had nothing to lose) was intreatreated equally with good men, they dissolved the 〈◊〉 an honourable punishment for those whose virtue was suspected. In like manner they took it ill at Roma when as Flavius being freed by Appius, was made Edilis Curulis. But for all that he did not leave to have about him, and to employ in great charges. Noblemen issued from houses which were then illustrious, both by their own virtues, and by those of their forefathers. Of this number was john of Daillon, Lord of Lude, The Lord of Lude. and Imbert of Baterney, Lord of Bouchages. They came in favour with this Prince by divers means, and maintained it in like manner. The Lord of Lude had been bred up with this Prince, and the affection which gins so soon, doth not whither easily. Philip de Commines adds this reason, that he knew well how to please the King. Fortune favoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney. Imbert of Baterney. Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himself into Dauphiné, and going from Moras to Romans, he stayed in a valley under the Castle of Baterney, to take the cool air, and demanding some refreshing in the heat of the season, and the tediousness of the way, the Lord of Baterney sent some things unto him, and came himself to do his duty; he brought with him Imbert of Baterney, being then but a young man, who carried a Hawk, with the which he killed some Partridges. t The pleasure of hunting, which had been the ra●ing of his fortune, was (in a manner) the cause of his ruin. claud of Seyell saith, that going to 〈◊〉 to see the Dauphin, & having had him to field to see his Hawks fly, the king was much inc●sed, thinking that he had a design to make him see the wo●ld, and to know it. The Dauphin took pleasure in it, and commanded him to come unto him to Romans, for that he had a desire to see that Hawk fly again. He went, and did so please this Prince, as he demanded him of his father, and from that time he never abandoned him until his death. He made him great in riches, and honour, as he was in merit and virtue. Charles of Artois, Charles of Artoix. Earl of Yew, having remained three and twenty years prisoner in England, returned into France, and was much beloved of king Lewis the eleventh, for that he held nothing of the sour & arrogant humours of his predecessors, & he continued in the King's service at such time as the Noblemen left him to follow the Prince's Army. He reconciled the King, and the Duke of Brittany, and soon after died in july, in the year 1471. without any children: john of Bourgondy, Earl of Nevers his Nephew, was his heir. u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Britain was made at Saumur in the year 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the dexterity of the Earls of Yew and Dunois. john of Orleans, Bastard of Orleans. Earl of Longueville, base son to Lewis Duke of Orleans, was the greatest and most fortunate Captain of his time: he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Commonweal, pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise. He was chief and Precedent of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realm, and died before he could see the effects of that which he had so earnestly pursued in the year 1470. Andrew of Laval, Andrew of Laval. Lord of Loheac. Lewis 11. took from him the dignity of Marshal of France, wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him, and rewarded his service. He restored it unto him again, when as necessity made him know, that none was more capable than he. For his sake he gave unto his brother the Lord of Chastillon, the Office of great Master of the Waters and Forests. Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatness of courage which gave the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grandfather. Alaine of Albret. x Charles of Albret was not only entreated, but in a manner forced by the King to receive the sword of Costable. The king p●t it into his hand, the Dukes of Orleans, Burgundy, Berry, & Bourbo girt him with it, a little before he had carried Charles the seventh unto the font. He left the league of the Commonweal as soon as he was entered into it, and remained more constant in the assurance of his word, than the Duke of Nemours: his great courage found nothing impossible: He was often wont to say, that he which had force in hand, needed no other thing. He married Francis Vicountesse of Lymoges, and was father to john of Albret, King of Navarre. john of Bueil, john of Bueil. Earl of Sancerre, presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleventh, was dismissed from his Office of Admirally, y The Earl of Sancerre was Admiral of France by the death of Pregent of Coitivy, Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix, Martial of France. for no other reason, but for that he had served Charles the seventh. He returned to Court and favour, but yet he stood always upon his guard against that Lion which struck with his paw when they least thought of him. john of Andie, john of Andie. Bastard of Armagnac, Lord of Lescun, and Earl of Cominges, was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earl of Sancerre, and then Marshal of France, he chased the Britain's from Baieux, and was Governor of Dauphine. joachim of Rouvault, joachim of Rouvault. z He had done great services under King Charles the seventh, and had been present at the battle of Fromigny, and at the siege of Bourdeaux. The King gave him the place of Marshal of France: and Monstrelet saith, that Charles the seventh made him constable of Bourdeaux, and that he took his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France. Lord of Gamasches served him worthily and courageously in the war of the Commonweal, and was the cause of the preservation of Paris. He always coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keep it from scattering to the hurt of the King's subjects; and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing. Then he cast himself into Paris▪ and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident (rather feared then foreseen) had much dejected. The King gave him the government with a troup of two hundred masters, and made him Marshal of France. Tanneguy of Chastel, Tanneguy of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinal of Balue. one of the Architects of the league, found in the end, that there was no better lodging then at the king's arms. His fortune was ruined in Britain, and raised in France. He did negotiate the interview of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne, he was employed in the Truce of nine years, 1475. and was advanced to the government of Rousillon. The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority over all the Armies of France, Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable, for he did exercise the Functions, the King having made him his Lieutenant General throughout his whole Realm, and afterwards Lord Steward of France. He was so favoured, as the King gave him often the moiety of his bed. This favour lasted not long. The Chronicle of the King's library saith, That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspicion. Death of the Lord of Nantoillet. He caused his head to be cut off in the year 1468. and that the Hangman having cut off but a piece at the first blow, he lest him force and courage enough to stand up, and to protest before heaven and the people, that he died an Innocent. After that Philip de Commines had said, that he had served the king well in Paris in the war of the Commonweal, he adds: In the end he was ill rewarded, more by the pursuit of his enemies then by the King's fault, but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselves. Anthony of Chabannes, Anthony of Chabannes. Earl of Dammartin, brother to james of Chabannes, Lord Steward of France, saw the ship of his fortune cast upon the shelf in the beginning of this Prince's Reign. His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the war of the Commonweal, in the end whereof he was made Lord Steward of France, he had the chief charge of the King's Army in Guyenne, and was then much favoured by this Prince, with whom he was so inward, as when he meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans, he discovered his secret affections unto him by a letter which he did write unto him upon that subject, where of the Chronicle (in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth) makes mention: he sent him word, that whatsoever they said, he was resolved to give his daughter to the young Duke of Orleans, but no man should be troubled to nourish the Children that should be borne of that marriage. Peter of Termoville, Peter of Tremoville. Lord of Crone, saw not his life to end with the favours and honours he had had of this Prince. His Predecessors, Guy of Tremoville and john of Tremoville, Lord of jonuelle, were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies' party. The eldest of this house married joane Countess of Boulleyn and Comminges, Widow to john of France, Duke of Berry. b K. Charles 〈…〉 year 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremoville, Lord of Craon, in the quarrel which he had with the Earl of Richmont for the Lands of Thovars and Benon. Peter of Tremoville defeated the troops of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County, but having been repulsed from the siege of Dole, he was disgraced by Lewis the eleventh, who loved the services better than the servants. He was (saith Philip de Commines) a very fat man, who being reasonably well content and rich, retired himself to his house. Charles of Ambois did long feel the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father, Charles of Ambois. who retired himself in the beginning of the reign of Lewis with the Duke of Berry. c The House of 〈…〉 by the King's Commandment in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards employed in great affairs, and continued unto the end. His brother was Bishop of Alby, and then Cardinal, and the greatest favourite of Lewis the twelfth, who called him Mr. George. Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois, a most Valiant, Wife, and Diligent man.. Peter of Rohan, Peter of Rohan. Lord of Gy, did govern his fortune happily amidst the waves and storms of this Prince's reign, who made him Marshal of France. He was one of the four which undertook the government of affairs during the King's infirmity, and disability. d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Ch●umont, the Marshal of Gye, and the Lord of Lude, governed the Estate for 10 or 12 days. He continued this great Authority under the reign of Charles the eighth: for the respect whereof, the Lady Anne of France, Regent to the King, and Wife to Peter of Bourbon, offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted upon her Authority, would have taken him prisoner by the Marshal of Gye. The Duke of Orleans retired himself, and he that was chosen to stay him, was the Instrument of his return, and made his peace with the Regent. john of Chalons Prince of Orange, john of Chalons. left the Duke of Bourgondy to serve Lewis the eleventh: then he left Lewis to serve Mary, daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy. This first discontentment against his first master, grew, for that disputing the succession of john of Chalons, Prince of Orange his Grandfather, e john of Chalons, son to Lewis & Margaret of Vienne, was married to Mary of Baussac, heir of the principality of Orange, by whom he had Lewis, surnamed the Good. Lewis first married joane of Montbel●art, by whom he had William: and then he married Elinor of Armagna●, by whom he had Lewis and Hugh. Willia● was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉, of 〈◊〉, john of Chalons was borne, of whom we now make mention. against Lewis and Hugh his uncles, the Duke of Bourgondy being Precedent in his Council when as the cause was pleaded, made a Decree against him. This despite drew him to the King's service, who promised to restore him to his lands, and to give him the government of Bourgondy; but when as he saw that he had but the name, and that the Lord of Tremoville had the command of all the forces, he returned to the service of the Princess of Bourgondy; and caused the whole Country to revolt from the King. He troubled him much, and let him see, that a great Prince hath no small enemies; that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury. john of Esteteville, john of E●●teuille. Lord of Torcy, governed his fortune amidst so many rocks and shelves unto a safe port. The King made him master of the Crossbows, and committed unto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castle of Montbason. It was he that came and advertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens, during the Treaty of Piquigny. Philip of Crevecoeur, Philip of Crevecoeur. Lord of Esquerdes, or cords, Martial of France. He had great honours, and deserved great advancements in the house of Bourgondy: he received the collar of the golden Fleece, when as D. Charles did first solemnize the order at Bruges after his father's death, f Charles' 〈…〉 should have stood with these words, which are read in a Chronicle, M. S. of the King's library: The Earl of Nevers being adjourned by the letters patents of the most high, and most excellent Prince, my redoubted Lord the Duke, sealed with the seal of his order of the Fleece, to appear in person at this present Chapter, there to answer upon his honour touching witchcraft and abusing the holy Sacraments of the Church, hath not appeared, but hath made default. And to avoid the suit and deprivation of the order to be made against him, he hath sent back the collar, and therefore hath been, and is declared out of the order, and not called in the offering. when as the Earl of Nevers was degraded more unworthily than the respect of his house made him to hope from a Prince his near kinsman. The Duke gave him the government of the County of Boullein, & afterwards of Artois. He came unto the King's service, and delivered into his hands the Town of Arras after the Duke's death. It seems that Philip de Comines would not speak all he knew, nor call a Fig, a Fig. He knits it up shortly in these words: He could not mistake in submitting himself unto the King's service, unless he had taken a new oath to the young Lady of Bourgondy, and in yielding up that unto her which he held of hers. They have and will speak diversly hereof, wherefore I refer myself to the truth. Tristan the Hermit whom the rigour of this reign hath made so famous for the suddenness of his executions, was high Provost. Tristan the Hermit. King Charles the 7th made him knight after the siege of Fronsac g After the siege of Fronsac there were made knights, john of Bourbon, Earl of Vendos●ne, john of bourbon his base brother, the Viscount of Turaine, the Lords of Rochefautaut, Commery, Rochechovart Grignaux, de Bars, Mommorin, Bordeilles, Fontenelles and Estauge. The name of Tristan was given to Princes borne in some great affliction. john of France was surnamed Tristan, for that he was borne at Damiete during the Imprisonment of S. Lewis his father. In like manner, the son to the King of Sicily was called Tristan, for that he was borne in Catelonia, when his father was a prisoner. Philip de Commines Lords of Argenton. Philip de Commines. Some have thought that he freed the king from the danger of Peronne; and that it was the cause of the great favour which he had purchased with the king. I have wondered why the king did not add the honour of the Order of S. Michael, and how it was possible that it should fail a man who wanted not any thing, and who was so much favoured, and so familiar with the king, as he did often lie in his Bed, eat at his Table, sit at his Council, and carried his most secret designs to Prince's treated q We do often find the 〈…〉 of the secrets in Lawyers books. Procopius saith, that the waters of 〈◊〉 were called a Secretis. Honour qui tunc daba●ur egregijs, dum ad Imperiale Secretum tales constet eligi, in quibus reprehonsionis vitium nequeat inveni●i. An honour which was then given to worthy men, whilst such are chosen to the secrets of the Empire, in whom no vice of reprehension can be found. happily, but by them that know them by the beginning, Secretary of state a necessary Office. progress, and effects, by whose eyes and hands they see them, and then dispatch them. Sufficiency, Experience, and Fidelity, serve as a lamp in obscurest deliberations, and gives them Ariad●es thread, which keeps them from meeting the Minotaur of repentance r The Venetians (whose state is Aristocratical) change all their Officers yearly, and some every two months; but the Duke, the 〈◊〉 of St. Mark, the Chancellor, and the Secretaries of State, are for life: the which the Florentines ordained in their state wh●● as Lewis the twelfth freed them from the tyranny of Count Valentine. in the intricate Labyrinth of Enterprises. For this reason in some well-governed Commonweals, where as Offices are annual, that of Secretary is perpetual; to the end that one alone may be Register of that which is concluded by many, and an inviolable Guardian of Secrecy; which is the soul of affairs, and returns never when it is once let slip. s Secrecy is the soul of affairs, and as Valerius calls it, Optimum ac 〈…〉 agend●rum vinculum: The best and safest hand for the managing of Affairs. France cannot pass without the Counsel and experience of him: who for that he hath served four Kings in that great and painful charge, is held by all Europe for the Oracle of all resolutions and revolutions. There is not any thing unpenetrable to his judgement: who entering into the most confused and obscure affairs, doth presently draw light. But it is time to go to land. This name so famous and renowned throughout all the world, is the rock of Adamant which draws my ship. He is the Port of this Navigation which I finish: he shall be the North-star of another which I continue. The profit of them shall redound to all in general; the thanks unto the King; and the glory unto God. The end of the History of Lewis the eleventh. MAXIMS, JUDGEMENTS, AND POLITIC OBSERVATIONS OF PHILIP DE COMMINES Lord of Argenton. UPON THE LIFE, REIGN, AND ACTIONS OF LEWIS the eleventh, and of divers other occurrents. PLACES AND TITLES of these Maxims. Providence of God. Princes. Realm. Salic Law. Interview of Princes. Governments. Counsels and Councillors. Court of Parliament. Ambassadors. Treasure of the Prince. Assemblies and Treaties. People and Subjects. Towns and Nations. House of Bourgondy. Enemies. Enterprises. Battles. War. Soldiers. Sieges. Victories. Changes. Prosperity and Adversity. Division. Tumults and Sedition. Liberality. justice and Injustice. Punishment. Injury and Offence. Wisdom. Secrecy. Experience. Knowledge. History. Nourishment. Nature. Hope. Age. Foresight. Carelessness and Vigilance. Pride and Presumption. Treachery. Duty. A good man.. POLITIC MAXIMS. PROVIDENCE OF GOD. ALL well considered our only hope should be in God, In the end of the first book. for in him consists all our assurance and all goodness, which cannot be found in any other thing in the world: But we do, every man, acknowledge it too late, and after that we have need: yet it is better late than never. Grace and good fortune comes from God. Lib. 1. chap. 4. In all enterprises we must have God of our side. Lib. 2. chap. 1. God hath always loved the Realm of France. Lib. 4. chap. 1. To see things which God hath done in our time, Lib. 4. chap. 13. and doth daily, shows that he will leave nothing unpunished; And we may see plainly that these strange works come from him, for they are supernatural, and his sudden punishments, and especially against them that use violence and cruelty: Who, commonly, are no mean men, but great Personages, either by their own absolute power, or by the Prince's authority. When God means to change the fortune of a Prince, Lib. 1. chap. 3. from good to bad, or from prosperity to adversity, he prepares him enemies of no force, suffers his servants to become treacherous, and makes him distrustful and jealous of them that are most faithful. Example of Charles Duke of Bourgundy. God gives the Prince as he means to punish Subjects, Lib. 5. chap. 9 and to Prince's Subjects, and disposeth of their affections towards them as he means to raise or ruin them. God hath not created any thing in this world, Lib. 5. chap. 18. neither men nor beasts, but he hath made him some thing opposite, to keep him in fear and humility. God speaks no more to men, neither are there any more Prophets which speak by his Mouth; For his Faith is ample and plain to all those that will hear and understand it, and no man shall be excused for Ignorance, at least they which have had hope and time to live, and which have had their natural wits. The misery of Princes is when as God is so offended as he will no longer endure them, Lib. 5. chap. 18. but will show his force and his Divine justice, and then he doth first of all take away their judgements, which is a great wound for them it toucheth: He troubles their house, and suffers them to fall into division and murmur. The Prince falls into such indignation with God, as he flies the counsel and company of wise men, and doth advance Upstarts, Indiscreet, Unreasonable, Violent men, and Flatterers, who applaud whatsoever he saith: If he must impose a penny, they say two: If he threatens a man, they say he must be hanged; and in like manner of all other things: And that above all things they cause themselves to be feared; They carry themselves insolently and proudly, hoping that they shall be respected and feared by this means, as if Authority were their inheritance. Princes. THere is good and evil in Princes, In the Prologue. for they are men like unto us, and to God only belongs perfection. When as the virtues and good conditions of a Prince are greater than his vices, In the same. he deserves great praise; for that such personages are more inclined to all voluntary things than other men, as well for their breeding and little correction they have had in their youth, as for that coming to the age of man, most men seek to please them, and to applaud their humours. No man should attribute any thing to himself, Lib. 1. chap. 4. especially a great Prince, but should acknowledge that grace and good fortune comes from God. Great Princes are much more suspicious than other men, Lib. 1. chap. 5. for the doubts and advertisements which are given them, and oftentimes through flattery without any necessity. Princes and they which rule in great Estates should be very careful not to suffer any faction to grow in their house, from whence this fire flies throughout the whole Province: But this happens not but by a Divine instigation. For when as Princes or Realms, have been in great prosperity and wealth, and have forgotten from whence that Grace did come, God hath raised them enemies of whom no man doubted. God doth a great favour unto a Prince when he makes him capable to win men, Lib. 1. chap. 9 and it is a sign that he is not infected with the odious vice and sin of pride, which doth purchase hatred with all men. Princes and great men that are proud and will not give ear to any, Lib. 1. chap. 10. are sooner deceived than they that are affable and hear willingly. God shows a great grace unto a Prince, Lib. 1. chap. 10. when he knows good and evil, especially when the good precedes. Adversity teacheth a Prince to be humble, Lib. 1. chap. 10. and to please them that he hath need of. Example of Lewis the eleventh, expelled from his father's Court in his youth. A Prince which hath entered into league with others, Lib. 2. chap. 12. should dissemble many things which may breed division betwixt them: and as he is the stronger, so should he be more wise. It is the counsel which the Lord of Contay gave unto the Earl of Charolois, who was discontented; for that the Dukes of Berry and Britain held counsels in his chamber and presence, divided from him. I never knew Prince that could discern the difference of men, Lib. 2. chap. 12. until he had been in necessity and in action. Princes have sometimes need of them whom they have contemned: Example in King Lewis the 11. Edward the 4. and the Earl of Charolois. Princes impart their authority to them that are most pleasing unto them, both for the age which is most sortable unto them, and for that they are well conceited of them: or sometimes they are led by them who know and govern their delights. But they which have understanding, return soon when there is need. I have seen Princes of two humours, some so subtle and suspicious, Lib. 1. chap. 16. as no man knew how to live with them, and they did still imagine that they were deceived: the others trusted enough in their servants: but they were so gross and understood their own affairs so ill, as they could not discern who did them good or evil. And these are presently changed from love to hatred, and from hatred to love. And although that of both sorts there are few found good, nor any great assurance in them: yet I had rather live under the wise then under fools. For there is more means to purchase their favour: but with the ignorant there is no means to be found, for that there is nothing done with them, but with their servants whom many change often. Yet every man must serve and obey them in the Countries where they are, for they are bound unto it. To pardon, to be bountiful, or to do any other grace, are things belonging to the Office of Princes. A Prince, or any other man, that was never deceived, cannot be but a beast, nor have knowledge of good and evil, nor what difference there is. Men are not all of one complexion, Lib. 1. and therefore the Prince for the lewdness of one or two, should not forbear to do pleasure to many. For one alone, being the least of all those to whom he hath done any good, may happily do such service as it shall recompense all the villainies which the others have committed. Example in the Hostages of Liege, whom the Duke sent away free, contrary to the opinion of the Lord of Contay, who concluded to put them to death, some made the Liegeois grow obstinate in their revolt, others were the cause of their reduction, and the instruments of the wise negotiation of the Lord of Imbercourt to draw in the Duke. One of the greatest signs of judgement that a Prince can show is to draw unto him virtuous and honest men: For he shall be held in the opinion of the world to be of the disposition and humour of such as are nearest about him. God hath not ordained the Office of a King or Prince to be executed by beasts; nor by them who through vain glory say, I am no Clerk, I refer all to my Council, I trust in them, and so giving no other reason, go to their sports: If they had been well bred in their youth, they would have other reasons, and be desirous that both their persons and virtues should be esteemed. God cannot send a greater plague unto a Country, than a Prince of weak understanding: for from thence proceed all other miseries; First grows division and war, for he always puts his authority into an other man's hand, the which he should be more careful to keep then any other thing, and from this division proceeds famine and pestilence, and all other mischiefs which depend of war. Princes hate them mortally that seek to keep them in fear. Wise Princes do always in their Designs seek some honest and apparent colour: Example in Lewis the eleventh, who caused the Estates to assemble at Tours, and there made his complaints against the Duke of Bourgundy, to have a Subject to break the peace. Of those bad Princes, and others, having authority in this world, which use it cruelly and tyrannously, not any, or few, have remained unpunished: but it is not always at a prefixed day, nor at such time as they that suffer desire it. It is no blemish to Princes to be suspicious, and to have an eye over those that go and come: But it is a great shame to be deceived, and to lose by his own error; yet suspicions should have a mean; for to exceed is not good. A weak and covetous Prince endureth any thing: Example in the Emperor Frederick, whom the Author calls a man of a faint courage, and who endured all for fear of spending. There is no reason a Prince should thrust himself into danger for a small matter, Lib. 1. chap. 1. if God hath not abandoned him: Example in the Duke of Bourgundy, who undertook a war against the Swisses for a very light occasion, and without hope of profit, considering the nature of the people and country. Princes give not honours and riches at their pleasures that demand them. In the 〈◊〉 Princes fear not to thrust a servant into danger if need require. Lib. 3. The Duke of Bourgundy had commanded Philip de Commines to go to Calais, which he durst not do without some assurance: The Duke commanded him to pass on, although he should be taken, promising to redeem him. A Prince governed by other counsel then his own doth in the end return to that which is most necessary for him: Lib. 3. chap. 10. Example in the Duke of Britain. A Prince should always fear to put any thing in hazard. Lib. 6. chap. 2. There is not any man, Lib. 6. chap. 12. of what dignity soever, but doth suffer, either in secret or in public, and especially they that cause others to suffer. The condition of two Princes, which have been enemies, is therein miserable; that they cannot by any means assure themselves one of an other. Example in Lewis the eleventh, and Charles Duke of Bourgundy: When they were together at Liege, there were not fifteen days past that they had made and sworn a Peace, and yet (saith the Author) there was no trust. The old age of a Prince makes him patiently to endure many things: Lib. 1. chap. 2. Example of the Duke of Bourgundy, who dissembled that which the Earl of Charolois his son did against the house of Croüy. Realms. GOD hath had, Lib. 4. chap. 7. and hath still the Realm of France in special recommendation. The divisions of Realms are made in heaven: Lib. 1. chap. 3. Example of the houses of Lancaster and York, and of the crowns of Castille and Portugal. Lib. 5. chap. 18. God hath given to the Realm of France the English for Opposites, Lib. 3. chap. 18. and to the English Scots, to Spain Portugal, to Castille Grenado, to the Princes of Italy the Commonweals, to the house of Arragon the house of Anjou, to the Sforca's that of Orleans; to that of Austria that of Bavaria and the Swisseses, to that of Cleves that of gelders, to that of gelders that of juliers: The Princes and Towns of Germany are opposite one to another, and it is necessary it should be so throughout the world. Salic Law. WIth wise and great deliberation, Lib. 6. chap. 3. and the Assistance of God's Grace, that Law and Ordnance was made in France, that the daughters should not inherit the said Realm, lest it should fall into the hands of a foreign Prince, for hardly should the French ever have endured it, neither do other Nations: And in the end there is no great command whereas the Country doth not remain to them which are of the Country; the which you may see by France, whereas the English have had a great command within these forty years, and at this day they have nothing left but Calais, and two little Castles, which cost them much to keep: The rest they lost with much more ease than they conquered it, and they lost more in one day than they got in a year. The like we may say by the Realm of Naples, the Island of Sicily, and other Provinces, which the French have enjoyed many years, and at this day there is no sign nor memory of them, but by the Sepulchers of their Predecessors. And although they should endure a Prince of a Foreign Nation, with a small train well ordered, and himself wise, yet shall they hardly do it with a great number of men: For if he brings with him a great Train, or he sends for them upon any occasion of war, they fall out with the Subjects, as well for the diversity of their humours and conditions, as for their violence, and for that they are not beloved in the Country as they that are borne there, and especially when they seek Offices, Dignities, and the Managing of great affairs in the Country. A Prince that will show himself wise, when he goes into a Foreign Country, must reconcile all his Towns, and if he be endowed with this virtue (which only comes from the grace of God) it is to be esteemed before any other thing: And if he live the age of a man he shall have great troubles and affairs, and all they that shall live under him, especially when he shall come to age, and his men, and servants, shall have no hope of amendment. Interview of Princes. IT is almost impossible that two great Lords shall ever agree, Lib. 1. chap. 14. for the reports and suspicions which they have hourly, & two great Princes which desire to love should never see one another, but send honest and wise men one unto another, who should entertain their friendships, and reconcile their errors. It is a great folly for two great Princes (which are in a manner equal in power) to see one an other, unless they were very young, at which time they have no discourse but of pleasures: But when as they begin once to envy one another, although there were no danger for there persons (which is in a manner impossible) yet there hatred and envy increaseth. Wherefore it were better they should reconcile their quarrels by good and wise servants. governments. A Prince should have a great care what Governors he sets in a Country newly conquered, or joined to his State, to the end the Subjects may be better entreated than they were before. Example of Archam●and of Hagembach, who was the cause that the Duke of Bourgundy lost the Country which he held by engagement from the Archduke Sigismond. Councils and Councillors. A Wise man cannot be bought at too dear a rate. Lib. 2. Chap. 1. It is very necessary for a Prince to have many of his Council, for the wisest err very often, either for that they are passionate in matters whereof they speak, through love or hatred, or for that they will oppose one against another, and sometimes by the indisposition of persons, for we must not hold that for Council which is done after dinner. Some may say, that men committing any of these errors, should not be of a Prince's Council. To whom I must answer that we are all men, and he that would find out such as should always speak wisely, and should never be moved nor distempered, must seek them in Heaven, for they are not to be found among men: but to recompense it, there may be some one in Council which shall speak very wisely, and much better than he hath been accustomed, and so one helps another. There are few things secret in this world, Lib. 2. Chap. 8. especially of those that are spoken. About great Personages there are always some Clerks or Lawyers, as it is fit and reasonable when they are good, but very dangerous when they are bad, they have still the Law in their mouths, or some History, and the best that can be found, may be turned to a bad sense: but wise men that have read will never be abused, neither will any be so hardy as to tell them lies. It is a great treasure for a Prince to have a wise man in his company, and very safe to give him credit, and that he may have liberty to speak the truth. Court of Parliament. IT is the custom of France to publish all Accords in the Court of Parliament, Lib. 2. Cham 14. else they should be of no force, yet the King may always do much. Ambassadors. WHen as Ambassadors return from Treaties and Negotiations, Lib. 1. Chap. 9 they must be heard alone, or in little company, to the end that if their discourse be to terrify, they should give such words as they ought to them that are inquisitive, for every man desires to hear news of them that come from such Treaties, and many will say: Such a one will not conceal any thing from me. But yet they will, if they be as I say, and that they know they have wise Masters. It is not very safe to have many doings and come of Ambassadors: Lib. 3. Chap. 8. for many times they treat of things that are prejudicial, yet it is necessary both to send and receive it. Ambassadors which come from true friends, Lib. 3. Chap. 8. and where there is no cause of jealousy, should be well entertained, and may see the Prince often, according to the quality of the Prince's person, for if he be not wise nor honest, the less he is seen the better. If Ambassadors come from Princes, which are not friends, they should be received and entreated honourably, they must appoint trusty and wise men to accompany them, and dispatch them presently, for it is a bad thing to keep an enemy with him. Although war were begun, Lib. 3. Chap. 8. yet should they not break off any Treaties or overtures that are made of Peace, (for they know not when they shall have need of it) but entertain them all, and hear all Messengers, doing the said things, and keeping good guard, what men should go unto them, and who should be sent both by day and night, but as secretly as might be. And for one message or Ambassador which they should send me, I would send them two: And although they were weary, saying, that I should not send any more, yet would I send when as I should have means and opportunity. For you cannot send a better Spy, which should have so good means to see and understand. And if they be two or three, it is impossible to keep so good guard over them, but the one or the other will have some speech, or learn some thing from some of them: I mean holding honest terms, as they do to Ambassadors. And it is likely that a wise Prince will always endeavour to have some friends with his adverse party, and prevent it as he can: for in such affairs they cannot do as they would; Some will say that your enemy will grow more proud. I respect it not; for I shall know more of his news, and in the end shall reap both the profit and honour. And although that others may do the like with me, yet will I not forbear to send: And to this end will hear all practices, and not break any, but still find new matter. Moreover, some are not always so judicious as others, nor have so great experience in these affairs, neither have they so great need. And in this case the wisest gain always. Treasure of the Prince. KIng Charles 7. did never raise above one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds sterling a year. Lib. 5. Cham 18. And King Lewis his Son did raise at the hour of his death, four hundred, threescore and ten thousand pounds starling, besides Artillery and such other like things: and without doubt it was a great pity to see the poverty of the people. But our good Master had one good thing in him, that is, he laid up nothing in his Treasure. He took all, and spent all, and made great buildings for the fortification and defence of the towns and places of his Realm, more than any of the Kings which had been before him. Assemblies, Conferences, and Treaties. THe Assemblies and Conferences which are made from party to party are very dangerous, Lib. 1. Chap. 9 especially for him that is in danger to fall. Most men have naturally a desire to raise or save themselves, the which draws them easily to the stronger. Some are so good and so constant, as they have none of these respects, but there are few of them. And this danger is chiefly, when as they have a Prince which seeks to win new. Example of the conference which was made at the Mercer's grange, which was since called the Market, for that both parties did debauch one another's men. Treaties of peace should be managed by the most faithful Servants of Princes, Lib. 1, Chap. 9 and men of middle age, lest their weakness cause them to make some dishonest bargain, or to amaze their Master at their return more than is needful; & they should be rather employed that have received most favours from him: But especially wise men, for no man ever made his profit of a fool, and these treaties should be rather handled a far of then near. There was never so good a marriage but some dined ill. Lib. 1. Chap. 4. Example in the Treaty of Conflans where as some did what they would, & others got not any thing. There are some good people which have this glory to think that they will end matters whereas they understand not any thing, Lib. 1. Chap. 16. for sometimes their Masters discover not unto them their most secret intents. In the company of such, who, most commonly, go but for show, and many times at their own charge, there goes always some mean man which doth negotiate apart. Prince's should have a wise care to whom they commit their affairs, Lib. 1. Chap. 16. and so should they also have that are employed for them, and deal in such business. He that could excuse himself and not meddle (unless he saw that they themselves understood it well, and had an affection unto the matter) should be very wise. It is an honour for a Prince to fear that which is to be feared, and to foresee it. A Prince if he hath age should be very wary not to make this excuse, I did not think such a thing would have happened, for it is not allowable. Princes fear not to thrust their Servants into danger when they have need. In Treaties Princes must employ men that are pleasing, and such as will pass over all things, and all words, to attain unto the end of their masters designs. alliances. BEtwixt the Kings of France and the Emperors, there are great oaths and confederacies not to attempt one against another. The first Swisses that were seen in this Realm, Lib. 1. Chap. 6. and who have given credit to them that have come after them, were at the Siege of Paris, in the war of the commonweal, whereas they behaved themselves most valiantly, and in all other places where they were employed. The English are in a manner unprofitable in the wars of France. If the Duke of Bourgundy would have made use of them, Lib. 4. Chap. 5. it had been needful that for a season he should have accompanied them, to help, to direct and govern their Army, according to the manner of our wars. For there are none more ignorant nor more untoward when they first pass: But in a short space they become good Soldiers, wise and valiant. There is but one high Chamberlain in England: Lib. 6. Chap. 2. and for that there is but one, it is a great office. The English are the best Archers in the world. Lib. 1. Chap. 3. The English are suspicious. Lib. 6. Cham 11. The English have a common saying, Lib. 3. Chap. 8. whereof they have sometime told me treating with them: That in battles which they have had with the French, they have always, or most commonly won: But in all treaties with them they have ever lost. And in my opinion I have known men in this Realm, as worthy to manage a great Treaty, as any other in the World, and especially of the breeding of our King. The Florentines did every three months change their Lords who had all the government of the City. Lib. 6. Chap 5. The English are not so subtle in Treaties and Accords, Lib. 4. Chap. 9 as the French: and whatsoever is said they go grossly to work, but they must have patience and not debate matters cholerickly. The Italians take not Towns besieged so speedily as the French. Lib. 6. Chap. 5. They know not so well how to force places and to defend them: but to hold the field, and to settle a good order for their victuals, and all other things necessary to hold the field, they understand it better than we do. I do not think that I lie, Lib. ●. Chap. 2. to say that I believe, that since the first battle of Granson, unto the death of the King our Master, the said Towns, and private men of the Swisses, have gotten of our King a Million of Florins of the Rhin, of the Towns I mean but four, Berne, Lucerne, Friburge, Zurich, and their Cantons, which have their Mountains. Swisses is one, yet it is but a Village. I have seen one of this village, being an Ambassador with others, in a very mean habit, who notwithstanding gave his advice with the rest. Solewre and Ondreval are called the other Cantons. The English, Lib. 6. Chap. 2. as well Nobility, Commons, as Clergy, are inclined to war against this Realm, as well under colour of their quarrels which they pretend, as for the hope of gain; for that God hath suffered their Predecessors to win many great battles within this Realm, and to have a long possession, both in Normandy and in Guyenne, which they had held three hundred and fifty years, when as King Charles the seventh won it first, as I have said elsewhere, at what time they carried great spoils and riches into England, as well of Princes and Noblemen of France, which had been their Prisoners, and in great numbers, as of Towns and places which they had taken in the said Realm, and hope still to do the like. But hardly should such an adventure have happened in the time of the King our Master: for he would never have hazarded his Realm, by putting himself, and all his Nobility, on foot to fight with them, as they did at Agincourt, but would have proceeded more wisely if it had come to that point. The Earldom of Flanders is a small matter, Lib. 6. Chap. 7. without the Country of Artois; which lies betwixt France and them, and is as it were a curb unto them. Offices and Estates are more desired in Paris then in any other place of the World, Lib. 1. Chap. 6. for they that have them make of them what they can, and not what they ought: There are Offices without fees, which are sold for above eight hundred Crowns, and others which have very small entertainment, are sold for more than their wages amount unto in fifteen years. Wherefore seldom do any disappoint themselves. And the Court of Parliament maintains this Article. It is reason, for it concerns them all. Among Counsellors there are also some good and worthy men, and in like manner there are some ill conditioned: So is it in all Estates. House of Bourgundie, her greatness and fall. AFter along felicity and great riches, Lib. 2. Chap. 9 and three great Princes good and wise going before this, who had continued sixscore years or more, and lived well and virtuously; God gave this duke Charles, who continually held his Subjects in great wars, toil, and expense, and in ● manner in Winter as much as in Summer, so as many rich men were slain or ruined by imprisonment in these wars. The greatlosses began before Nuz, and were continued by three or four battles, even unto his death, so as in this last battle all the force of ●is Country was consumed, and his men either slain or taken prisoner's, who might and would ha●e defended the State and honour if his house. And so (as I have said) it seems that this loss hat● been equal to the time that they were in felicity: for (as I have said to have seen it great, rich and honoured) so I may say to ha● seen it all in his Subjects; for I think that I have seen and known the best part of Europe, yet have I not known any State or Country, so much for so much, nor of larger limits, that did so much abound in riches, movables, and buildings, nor in prodigaliti, expense, feasting, and good cheer, as I have seen during the 〈◊〉 I was there. And if it seem to any one (who was not there in ●ose times) that I speak too much, others that were then prese, will happily say that I speak but little. It is God which made this great and sumptuous building to fall suddenly; that powerful house which hath fed and maintained so many good men, and hath been so much honoured both far off and near, by so many trophies and victories, as not any Neighbour in those times hath received the like. And this felicity & grace of God continued an hundred and twenty years, when as all their Neighbours did suffer (as France, England and Spain) and they have all come thither to require aid; as you have seen by experience of the King our Master, who in his youth, and during the life of King Charles the seventh his Father, lived six years there, in the time of the good Duke Philip, who received him lovingly. From England I have seen King Edward's two Brethren there, the Duke of Clarence, and the Duke of Gloucester; who afterwards called himself King Richard, and of King Henry's party (who was of the house of Lancaster) I have seen in a manner all that race there. I have seen this house honoured from all parts, and then suddenly fall, and to be the most desolate and ruinous house both in Princes & Subjects of all her Neighbours. Enemies. THere is not any thing which a Prince should not do to send an Enemy out of his Realm; Lib. 4. Chap. 8. but he must not yield to give him any land: by the example of king Lewis the eleventh to have Edward the fourth repass the Sea: who said that he would hazard all, rather than give him any places. Enterprises. WE must be slow and fearful in Enterprises, Lib. 2. Cham 10. & pursue them in such sort, as we may be sure to be the stronger. Such was Lewis the eleventh. In all Enterprises we must rely chiefly upon God. Lib. 2. Chap. 1. Battles. THe chiefest things in battles are Archers; Lib. 1. Chap. 3. 〈◊〉 as there be thousands (for being in a small number they are not of any force) and that they be ill mounted, to the end that the be not grieved to lose their horses; or that they have not any at 〈◊〉. And it is better for this kind of arms, in a day of battle, to have ●hose that never saw any thing, than others that have had much pra●ise. The English hold this opinion, who are the flower of all the ●rchers of the world. Battles are in the hand of God, Lib. 1. Chap. 3. who disposeth 〈◊〉 victories at his pleasure. Matters succeed not in the field, as they are concluded in a Chamber. Example of the battle of Montlehery, wherea●he Earl of Charolois did quite contrary to that which had been resolved. It is dangerous for any one to hazard his estate upon a battle, Lib. 2. Chap. 2. if he may avoid it. For although the number be small that he lose, yet the hearts of his men are daunted, and the change more than can be imagined, as well in fear of their enemies, as in contempt of of their Master and of their trusty servants, and they fall into mutinies and practices, demanding more boldly than they were wont, and they grow angry if they be refused. One Crown before would have satisfied them better than three will now. And if he that hath lost be wise, he will not at such a time hazard any thing with them that have fled: But only stand upon his guard, and seek out something easy to vanquish, whereas they may be Masters to put fresh courage into them, and take away fear. Howsoever, a lost Battle hath always a great train, and bad for the loser: True it is that Conquerors should seek it to shorten their work, especially they that have good footmen, and better than their neighbours, as we may say at this day the English or Swisses. I speak not this to contemn other Nations, but those have had great victories, and their men are not to hold the field long without employment, as the French or Italians can do, who are wiser, or more easy to lead. Contrariwise he that gains grows into greater reputation and esteem with his men then before. His obedience increaseth among his subjects. In this estimation they grant him whatsoever he demands, and his men grow more courageous and hardy: Also the said Princes do sometimes grow so glorious and proud, as they miscarry afterwards, and hereof I speak upon knowledge: But such grace comes only from God. Every one should be fearful to hazard a battle that is not forced: Lib. 2. Chap. 4. But if there be no remedy, before he come to it, he must cast all the doubts that can be thought on. For commonly they that do things fearfully make provision for all events, and gain oftener than they that proceed with pride: yet when God will have a hand in it nothing can prevail. Every man should do what he may, Lib. 2 Chap. 3. and what he ought in a day of Battle, and acknowledge that it is one of the accomplishments of the work of God, begun sometimes upon small occasions, and giving victory sometimes to the one, and sometimes to the other. And this is so great a mystery, as Realms and great Signories are sometimes ruined, and others increase and begin to reign. War. IT is an easy matter to begin War betwixt two great Princes, but hard to pacify it, by reason of the accidents which happen: For many exploits are done of either side to annoy his enemy, which on the sudden cannot be recalled. It is a great folly in a Prince to submit himself to the power of an other, especially when they are in war. It is a great show of pride or folly for any one to hold himself too strong, Lib. 2. Cham 10 and yet Captains do it sometimes to be held valiant, or for that they do not well understand the business which they have in hand. Among other things that are fit to make conquest, if there be not a great judgement all the rest is of no force, and I think that it must come from the grace of God. He that hath the profit of the War hath the honour. There must be no haste nor precipitation when they undertake, Lib. 5. Chap. 28 and begin a war: And I tell you that Kings and Princes are much the stronger when they undertake it with the consents of the subjects, and are more feared of their enemies. When it is a defensive war this cloud is seen coming a far off, especially if it be from strangers, and therein good subjects should not complain nor refuse any thing, and the accident cannot be so sudden but they may call some men, such as shall be named. It is not done without cause, and therein they use no fixion, nor entertain a petty war at pleasure, and without cause, to have occasion to levy money. The greatest miseries come commonly from the stronger: For the weaker seek nothing but patience. Soldiers. I Hold that men at Arms entertained are well employed under the authority of a wise King or Prince, Lib. 3. Chap. 3. but when he is otherwise, or that he leaves Infants, the use, whereunto their Governors employ them, is not always profitable, neither for the King nor for his subjects. Men at Arms lie continually upon the Country, without paying any thing, committing infinite insolences and excess, as all others know: For which they are not content with an ordinary life, and with that which they find in a labourer's house, from whom they are paid: But contrariwise they beat the poor men and force them to fetch bread, wine and victuals from abroad: And if he hath a fair Wife or a Daughter, he shall do well to keep her safely. Yet seeing there is pay, it were easy to reform it, so as the men at Arms were paid every two months at the farthest, and so they should have no excuse to commit those insolences which they do, under colour of want of pay: For the money is levied and comes at the end of the year. I speak this for our Realm, which is more oppressed in this case then any other that I know, and no man can help it but a wise King. Other neighbour countries have other punishments. Sieges. ALthough that sometimes sallies be very necessary, yet are they dangerous for them that are in a place, for the loss of Ten men is greater to them then a hundred to the enemy without, their numbers not being equal: neither can they recover more when they will, and they may lose a Commander or a Leader, which oftentimes is the cause that the rest of the soldiers demand nothing more than to abandon the place. In sieges of places the loss of one man alone is the cause to preserve his Master from a great inconvenience, Lib. 5. Chap. 3. although, he be not of his house, nor of any great extraction, but only hath judgement and virtue. Example in Cohin, an Englishman, who being slain with a Canon shot within Nancy, the Englishmen whom he commanded mutined and caused the Town to be yielded. After that a Prince hath laid siege against a place, Lib. 5. Chap. 6. and planted his Artillery, if any come to enter and to relieve it against him they are worthy of death, by the law of Arms. Yet it is not practised in our Wars, which are more cruel than the wars of Italy or Spain, whereas they use this custom. Despair of succours make men besieged to put all things in hazard. Example by the furious sally of them of Liege who had like to have taken or slain the King, or the Duke of Bourgundy. Victory. THey do always augment the number of the vanquished. Lib. 2 Chap. 2. I have seen in many places whereas for one man they said they had slain a hundred, to please them, and with such lies they do sometimes abuse their masters. He that gains in war grows in greater reputation with his Soldiers then before. Lib. 2. Chap. 2. His obedience increaseth. They grant him what he demands, and his men are more hardy and courageous. Changes. THe changes are great after the death of great and mighty Princes, In the Prologue. where some lose, and others gain. Great changes proceed not from fortune, Lib. 1. Chap. 12. which is nothing but a Poetical fiction. The Author speaks this upon the Constable's ruin, and concludes in these terms. He should be very ignorant that should believe that fortune, or any such like thing, should cause so wise a man to be hated of these two Princes at one instant who in their lives did never agree in any thing but in this, and most of all of the King of England who had married his Niece, and did wonderfully love all his wives kindred, and especially those of this house of St Pol. It is likely and very certain that he was deprived of the grace of GOD to have made himself an enemy to these three Princes, and not to have any one friend that durst lodge him one night, and there was no other fortune that had any hand in it but God, and so it hath happened and will happen to many others, who after great and long prosperities fall into great adversities. When as a great man hath lost all his own, he soon wearies them that support him. Example of Rene Duke of Lorraine, who retired into France after the Duke of Bourgundie had taken his Country. God gives extraordinary wills unto Princes when it pleaseth him to change their fortunes. Lib. 5. Chap. 5. Example of Charles Duke of Bourgundie who grew obstinate at the second siege of Nancy, against the advice of his Council. Prosperity, Adversity. A Misfortune never comes alone. Lib. 3. Chap. 5. Prosperity makes people proud. Lib. 4. Chap. 3. Example of them of Arras. Princes are proud and seek not the true remedies in their misfortunes, Lib. 5. Chap. 5. whereof the first is to return unto God, and to consider if they have offended him in any thing, and to humble themselves before him, and acknowledge their errors: For it is he that judges of such suits whereas no error can be propounded. After this, it will do him great good to confer with some private friend, and boldly to discover his griefs unto him, for it doth ease and comfort the heart, and the spirits recover their virtue, conferring thus with some one in private; or else he must seek another remedy by exercise and labour, for of necessity, seeing we be men, such griefs must pass with great passion, either in public or in private. In time of adversity every one murmurs and contemns all the actions of the afflicted. Lib. 5. Chap 7. Example in the Duke of Bourgundy after the loss of the battles of Granson and Morat. We must hold for certain that the great prosperities of Princes, Lib. 5. Chap. 6. or their great adversities, proceed from the Divine providence. If men were always wise, Lib. 1. Cham 15. they should be so temperate in their speeches in time of prosperity, as they should have no cause to change in time of adversity. The Flemings during the life and prosperity of their Duke, spoke not to the King, nor of the King with such reverence as they have done since. Affliction troubles the mind and altars the complexion. This was known in the Duke of Bourgundy after the Battle of Granson. He was never so wise as he had been, his choler and natural heat was so great before as he drank no wine, and after this they caused him to drink it pure. Division. ALl good things in this world are overthrown by division, Lib. 2. Cham 16. and it is almost impossible that many great Noblemen of like estate can long entertain themselves together, if there be not a head above them, and if it were necessary he should be wise and well esteemed to draw obedience from them all. A wise Prince having the command of ten thousand men, Lib. 1. Chap. 16. and means to entertain them, is more to be feared then ten having either of them six thousand, all allied and confederate together, for that they have so many things to decide among them, as half the time is spent before any thing can be conceived. The true sign of the ruin of a Country is when as they that should hold together are divided and abandon it. Lib. 2. Chap. 1. Example in the Town of Dinand, which left the alliance of them of Liege. Factions are much to be feared in a Realm when as they happen, Lib. 3. Chap. 7. and cause great ruins. Example of the divisions of England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and York. When as a faction gins, Lib. 3, Chap. 8. although there be but two or three Princes, or meaner men that deal in it, yet before the feast hath continued two years all the neighbours are invited. There was never any faction begun in the country but the end was prejudicial and hard to be quenched. Lib. 4. Chap. 9 Divisions are the springs of War from whence grow mortality and famine, Lib. 5. Cham 18 and all these miseries proceed for want of faith. We must confess (considering the wickedness of men, and especially of great men who know not, neither do believe that there is a God) that it is necessary that every Nobleman and Prince should have his contrary to keep him in fear and humility, else no man should be able to live under them or near them. Commotions and Seditions. IN tumults and Seditions the most wicked are most bold and hardy. In the Prologue. Liberality. RIches and Honours are not given at their pleasures that demand them. In the Apology. King Lewis the eleventh gave much to Churches. Lib. 5. Cham 18. In some things less had done better: ●or he took from the poor to give to them which had no need. To conclude, there is no perfect measure in this world. justice and Injustice. THere are Princes which punish under a colour of justice, and have Instruments fit for their humours, who of a venialll sin make it mortal. If they have no matter, they find means to delay the hearing of the parties and witnesses, to ruin them in expenses, expecting still if any one will complain of him which is in durance, and whom they hate. If this course will not serve to compass their intention, they have others more sudden; saying that it were necessary to make him an example, making his case as they think good. To others that hold of them and are somewhat stronger, they proceed by way of fact, and say: Thou disobaiest or dost contrary to the homage which thou owest me, and so by force they take from him that which he hath, if they can, (at the least they do their best) and make him to live miserably. He that is but their Neighbour (if he be strong and resolute) they suffer him not to live: but if he be weak, he knows not what course to take. They will say unto him, he hath supported their enemies, or they will send their men at Arms to live in his Country, or will buy quarrels, or find occasions to ruin him, or will maintain his Neighbour against him, and will lend them men. Of their Subjects, they will disgrace such as have served their Predecessors well, to raise new men. Punishment. TO see the things which God hath done in the World, Lib. 4. Chap. 13. and doth daily, it seems that he will leave nothing unpunished, and we may see plainly that these strange works come from him: for they are beyond the works of nature, and his punishments are so sudden, especially against them that use violence and cruelty; who commonly are no mean persons, but great, either in Signeurie, or the Prince's Authority. Injuries, Offences, and Outrages. PRinces and they that are in great Authority, should fear to do or speak outrageously, and have a care to whom they speak them: For the greater they are, the more sensible and distasteful are the outrages they do; for it seems that outrages will be mor● noted for the greatness and authority of the person that commits them, and if he be their Master or Lord, they will despair ever to receive honour or favour from him, and more men serve for the hope of future good, then for that which they have received. Example of the lie which the Constable gave to the Lord of Imbercourt at the conference of Roy. Prudence, Experience, and Occasion. I Have seen few men that could fly time, Lib. ●. Chap. 3. and avoid their misfortunes, neither here, nor in any place else: For the one hath no experience, having not seen their neighbour Countries, which is a great error in all men of worth, for it gives a great judgement & resolution to have seen things by experience. Others have to great a love to their Goods, Wives, and Children. And these reasons have been the causes of the ruin of many good men. Men which have no experience, Lib. 1. Chap. 3. maintain many ill grounded arguments, and with sm●ll reason. Wherefore it is good to follow the opinion of him which saith, That no man reputes himself of speaking little, but oftentimes for speaking to much. Secrecy. AS soon as Princes depart one from another, Lib. 11. Cham 8. they secretly whisper whatsoever hath been observed in them, and then through indiscretion speak of it openly at dinner and supper, and then it is reported of both sides, for few things are kept secret in this world, especially of those which are spoken. Knowledge. A Prince, Lib. 5. Cham 18. or man of any Estate whatsoever, if he have force and authority where he lives over others, if he be learned and hath seen or read, it will either amend him or impair him: For the bad impair with much knowledge, and the good amend. Yet it is credible, that knowledge doth rather amend him then impair him, were there nothing but the shame to know his own evil, it were sufficient to●keepe him from doing ill, at the least not to wrong any man, whereof I have seen many experiences among great personages, whom knowledge hath drawn from many bad designs, and also the fear of God's punishment, whereof they have greater knowledge then ignorant men, who have neither seen nor read. History. IT is a great advantage for Princes to have read Histories in their youth, Lib. 2. Chap. 6. where they may plainly read of such assemblies, and of the great frauds, deceits and perjuries, which some of the ancients have used one against another, having taken and slain them that have relied upon such assurances. It is not said that all have used it, but the example of one is sufficient to make many wise, and to give them a will to stand upon their guard: And in my opinion one of the greatest means to make a man wise is to have read ancient Histories and to learn to govern himself wisely thereby, and by the example of our predecessors. For our life is so short as it sufficeth not to have experience of so many things. Besides we are decayed in age and the life of man is not so long as it was wont to be, nor their bodies so strong, All the Books that are written were to no use, if it were not to reduce things past to memory, where we see more in one book in three months, than twenty men living successively one after another, can see by the eye or learn by experience. Although that enemies nor Princes be not always alike (notwithstanding that the subject be) yet is it good to be informed of things past. Nourishment. ALl men that have been great, Lib. 1. Chap. 9 and done great matters, have begun very young. And it consists in the education, or comes from the grace of God. This is spoken by the Author upon the good education of Lewis the eleventh, without the which it had been impossible for him to have surmounted those great difficulties which he had in the beginning of his reign, and to blame that of the noblemen of his time, who were not bred up but to show their folly in their speech and apparel. They have no knowledge of any learning, and there is not a wise man among them. They have Governors to whom they talk of their affairs, and not to themselves, and they dispose thereof, and there are such Lords which have not sixscore and ten pounds' starling yearly rent which take a glory in saying, speak unto my officers, thinking by these words to seem great men. In like manner I have often seen such servants make their profit of their masters, giving them to understand that they were beasts. And if happily any one returns and desires to know his own, it is so late as it serves him to small purpose. A Prince's subjects have cause to grieve, when they see his Children ill bred up, and in the hands of bad conditioned men. Nature. A Natural wit, perfectly good excels all other sciences, that may be learned in the world. Example of Lewis the eleventh who without any knowledge of learning had the reputation and the effects of the wisest Prince of his age. Hope. ALL well considered our only hope must be in God, In the end of the first Book. for in him lies all our assurance and all bounty, which cannot be found in any worldly thing, But every man knows it too late, and after that he hath need, yet it is better late than never. Age. THe father's old Age makes him to endure the Insolences of his son patiently. Lib. 1. Chap. 2. Example of Philip Duke of Bourgondy, who dissembled the bad usage of his son the Earl of Charolois to them of th● house of Croy. Foresight. WIsemen discern so far off as their life is not sufficient to see half of those things which they have foreseen. Lib. 3. Chap. ●. Carelessness and vigilancy. MAd and distracted Princes are not to be blamed if they govern their affairs ill: Lib. 6. Cham 4. but they that have their judgements sound and are well disposed of their persons, if they spend their whole time in idleness, and folly, they are not to be pitied if they fall into misfortunes: But they which divide their times according to their age, sometimes seriously and in Council, and sometimes in feasts and pleasure, are much to be commended, and the subjects are happy to have such a master. An Alphabetical Table of the principal matters contained in the first seven Books of this History. A ACcord betwixt the King of Castille & Portugal. fol. 220. Affairs of a Prince are then effected with most safety and advantage, when he hath won that person, who is most in credit and authority with the other, with whom he Treats. 166. Affection of Masters to bad servants is the cause of much disorder. 14. Alphonso King of Portugal, comes to demand succours in France. 215. But is refused by the French King. 218. Alphonso proclaimed King of Castille. 217. His death. Ibid. Amazement breeds strange effects. 80. Ambition hath no other law, than the fancy of the Ambitious. 77. Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death, 120. & grows fearful of Scanderbegs valour. Ibid. Army of the Earl of Charolois. 79. Articles of a peace between France and England. 165. Attempt against the Duke of Bourgundies' life, discovered by the King. 206. B Balue the Cardinal, imprisoned in a cage of his own invention. 132. Basile besieged by Lewis the Dauphin. 22. Battle of Firmigny, 30. Battle at Montlehery. 81. Battle at Wakefield. 56. Battle of Varna. 121. Battle of Morat. 213. Battle of Nancy. 224. Beawais besieged. 164. Birth of Charles the eight. 146. Boldness after danger past. 86. Bothwell in great favour with the King of Scotland. 232. C Cadet rescueth the Earl of Charolois. 83. Challenge sent to the Duke of Bourgundy. 3 Charles the seventh disinherited by his father Charles the sixth. 1. He arms against his son Lewis the Dauphin. 12. He takes the Castle of S. Maxiant. 13. His reprehension of the Duke of Bourbon. 14. His fragility. 26. His Death. 27 Charles Duke of Orleans led prisoner into England. 3. He dieth for sorrow. 69. Charles of Navarre poisoned by his Mother in Law. 61. Charles Duke of Berry retires into Britain. 70. His solicitation of the Duke of Bourgundy to assist him for reformation of disorders in France. Ibid. Campobasse his treason against the Duke of Bourgundy. 223. Charles, Earl of Charolois, afterwards Duke of Bourgundy; his negligence in training his Army. 82. Is in danger to be slain or taken. 83. His repast among dead bodies. 84. Runs into unseen danger. 94. His Humour & disposition. 105. Is constrained to grant the Gantois their demand. 107. Is forced to raise the siege of Nuz, and comes to Calais to the King of England. 180. His profit and blame by the death of the Constable. 205. His journey against the Swisses. 207. etc. He looseth the battle, but not his courage. 211. He seizeth upon the Duchess of Savoy and her children. 214. His affliction after the Battle of Morat. 220. His defeat and death. 224. An example of his justice▪ 227. 227. Charles Prince of Navarre makes war against his father. 151. Chastity and Beauty are rare companions. 27. Choler and Precipitation are two blind guides. 67. Combustions in England. 53. Complaints against Lewis the Dauphin. 30. Complaints for the Pragmatical Sanction. 135. Confidence is the true cement of friendship. 187. Considerations of the King to have a peace. 179. Conspiracy against King Henry the sixth. 54. Constantinople taken. 123. Consultation taken to put the Hostages of Liege to death. 108. Contention in Scotland for the Regency. 230. Contentment of privatemen makes them forget the public. 96. Council of Basile seeks an accord with the Dauphin. 24. Counsels in perplexity. 85. counsels savour of the passions of counsellors. 173. counsel contemned draws on destiny. 223. Courage of the women at the siege of Beawais. 165. Courtesy proffered but not meant. 189. Cross of S. Laud. 179. Croysado published against the Turk. 64. Cruelties makes Princes odious. 125. cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle. 163. cruelty base and villainous. 227. D Death of Charles Duke of Orleans. 2. Death of the signor of Contay. 108. Death is sweet, when it is the end, and not the punishment, of life. 204. Declaration of the house of Bourgundy. 36. Delight in public miseries for profit sake. 24. Desire of rule sets father and son at variance. 60. Desire to have things as we would, makes us oftentimes accept appearances for the things themselves. 87. Dignities change the Maxims of conscience. 48. Disability supplied by Deputy. 216. Disobedience rightly punished. 81 Displeasure of the Duke of Bourgundy against his son. 34. Disposition of the Earl of Charolois. 33. Distraction of Charles the sixth. 1. Duchess of Bourgundy drawsher husband to the treaty of Arras. 8 Duke of Bourgundy flies into Flanders. 2. and is slain by Taneguy Du Chastel. 4. E Earl of S. Paul is made constable of France. 97. His natural affection. Ibid. His bad conduct. 98. His policy. 143. His dissimulation to creep again into the King's favour. 168. the manner of his coming to the King. 169. His double dealing with the King of England. 181 Is abandoned of all his friends. 196. His grievous perplexities. 198. Is delivered prisoner to the King. 200. His confessions, Arraignment, sentence, and execution. 201. 202. etc. Ease found in conference of troubles and afflictions. 27. Education is as another nature. 16 Edward 4. proclaimed King of England. 57 He declares himself for the Bourgundian. 77. He sends the Garter to the Earl of Charolois. 88 Is defeated, & taken prisoner. 141. His passage into France. 177. His repentance for his passage. 182. Eloquence, natural in Lewis the eleventh. 133. Embassage from the French King to the Emperor Frederick. 176. Enemies that are ambitious must have more work made than then they can compass. 173. English, well entertained at Amiens. 187. Interview of the Kings of France and Cistile. 62. Interview of the French King, and Earl of Charolois. 93. Enter view of the French King and King of England. ●89. Estates assembled at Cl●rmont. 13 Exploits done by captain Salezard at the siege of Beawais. 165. F Faction of the Orleano●s, and Bourgonians. 1. Famine extreme in Nancy. 222. Fatality of names. 6. Fear, and the strange operation thereof. 93. Ferdinand King of Naples, seeks the alliance of the Queen of Cyprus. 127. Fidelity & devotion of the French towards their Kings. 5. France the Sanctuary of Popes. 47 G Galeas Duke of Milan, his death, 229. His cruelties and whooredomes. 230. Gantois profit by the Ligeois. 110 George Castriot circumcised, & called Scanderbeg. 120. He leaves the Turk, & joins with john Huniades. 121. He demands succours of the Pope. 123 his death. 124. His force and dexterity. Ibid. Gyles of Britain his Tragical end. 151. Good of a peace, and necessity of affairs, respect not formalities. 9 Government of Venice commended. 129, Guienne given to the King's brother. 135. H Heirs tears are soon dried up. 41 Henry the sixth, King of England, is crowned King of France at Paris. 4. He flies into Scotland. 57 Is imprisoned in the Tower of London. 58. Is set at liberty again. 143. Henry King of Castille degraded. 217. I james the first, King of Scotland, murdered. 7. jests should end, when they begin to move laughter. 28. jews probation●waters. 146. Impatience of the Earl of Charolois. 67. Importance of the Office of the Constable of France. 205. Indignities and insolences of people revolted. 103. Inequality of recompense after the battle of Montlehery. 84. Inhumanity of the Duke of Bourgundy. 164. Injuries done to faith and reputation, are not easily repaired, nor recompensed. 100 Insolence in victory punished. 23. Institution of the order of Saint Michael. 136. Intelligences continued betwixt Bourgundy & Bourbon. 139. Intelligences of the Constable with the Duke of Bourgundy. 177. john Earl of Armagnac expelled his Country. 154. accused by a Welshman. 155. Desires a safe conduct to justify himself. 156 Is reconciled to the King. 157. And is afterwards slain, under the assurance of a Treaty. 158. His incest 159. His superstition, in holding it a bad presage to meet an Englishman with a Red Crosse. 160. Isabel of Cstaile marries Ferdinand of Arragon. 218. K Katherine Cornari adopted by the Venetians. 126. King Lewis in danger to be taken or slain. 116. His letters to the Lord of Lude. 152. King and Queen of Cyprus driven out of their own Realm. 126. King of Scotland given to Sorcery. 234. and is slain in fight by his Nobility. 235. Knight's habit of the Order of St. Michael, and the mark of the Order. 137. Knowledge better how to die then to kill, is the best and only part of valour. 17. L League of Armagnac. 2. Learning is silent when war speaks. 26. Letters from Amurath to Scanderbeg. 121. And the answer ot it. 122. Letters of the Solda● to the King of Cyprus. 125. Letters of defiance from Edward 4. to the French King. 178 Lewis excited against his father by bad counsel. 10. He soliciteth the good Towns of France to join with him. 12. Is reconciled to his father. 14. He desireth rather to be held a bad son, than a bad master. 15. He takes Deipe. 20. Is too true in his threats, & promises of revenge. 29. avoiding one danger he falls into another. 31. Is dispossessed of his revenues in Dauphiné. 32 His wandering being in Hunting. 34. His coronation. 42. His voyage into Britain. 52. Is made Arbitrator between the Kings of Castille and Arragon. 62. Is received with great pomp into Tournay. 64. His message to the Duke of Britain. 65. He separates the heads of the League. 107. Two errors which he committed in the assurance of his person. 111. 112▪ His politic dissimulation with the Constable. 170. His judgement to distinguish spirits. 183 His message to the King of England. Ibid. He discovers the Constable's double dealing to the Bourgundian. 186. His jests upon the peace made with Edward 4th. and his fear to have them related again. 191. Learning disallowed by the Turk. 219. Liberty, the ancient colour for innovation. 80. Lie, especially in a Gentleman how to be punished. 169. Liege revolts against the Duke of Bourgundy. 103. Is supported by the French king. 107. Submits itself, and demands pardon. 109 Hath her walls beaten down. 110. Is again besieged by the Bourgundian. 114. Love, without regard of honour or profit. 58. love continued towards children for their father's sake. 76. M Marriage of Lewis the 11th. 6. Misery of imprisonment, mitigated by kind usage. 177. miseries of France for 70. years. 5. Modesty of Blanch, daughter to john King of Navarre. 6. Money levied under the pretext of war, and ill employed. 46. Multiplicity of Popes. 38. Murder justified by the Duke of Bourgundy. 2. N Navigation contemned by the French. 180. Neutrality in a subject is mere Treason. 98. Normandy yielded to the King. 99 O Obedience in a Soldier is as much commendable as courage. 177. Observations of the Duke of Guiennes life. 150. Occasion which caused an overture of peace betwixt the French and English. 182. Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soul. 15. Opportunity of fight neglected. 81 Ostentation of Majesty not suitable with misery. 6. P Paris reduced to the French Kings obedience. 9 Famisheth the Army which would have famished it. 91. Almost unpeopled. 99 Parpignan besieged, and won by famine. 154. Parts which frame a Prince. 16. Peace of Bourges. 3. Peter Hagembach his crimes, injustice, and death. 174. Philip Duke of Bourgundy wins Dinan by force, and ruins it. 104. His death; & the greatness of his house. Ibid. His bounty, courage, and moderation. 105. Pius 2 presseth the abolition of the Pragmatical sanction. 44. His affection to the house of Arragon, and his threat against France. 45. He disavows his own writings. 48. His death, birth, fortune, and dignities. 72. plurality of chiefs is for the most part ruinous & unprofitable. 88 Pontoise taken by assault. 18. Power which is not feared by strangers is not well obeyed by Subjects. 32. Pragmatic Sanction abolished, and dragged through the streets of Rome. 51. Precipitation is a shelf, covered with the shipwrecks which she hath caused in great occasions. 78. Princes are especially to provide, that great houses under their government, alley not themselves against their liking. 19 Princes seem very weak, or very fearful, which give an Enemy-army leisure to make a bridge. 89 Princes, in marrying, regard not their pleasure, but the necessity and profit of their affairs. 144. They are no less bound by simple words, then private persons are by Oaths. 163 Q Quality of Cardinals. 50 R Reasons which persuaded the English to peace. 184 Reformations of the disorders of the Realm. 95 Reception of the King of Portugal into Paris. 219 Representations ridiculous. 43 Reputation of a generous Father, makes a valiant son less remarkable. 20 Rigour of Lewis in the beginning of his reign. 53 Royalty endures no equal. 8 Rubempre stayed at the Hage by the Earl of Charalois. 66 Ruin and desolation of the Legeois. 118 S Sedition ought to be smothered in the beginning. 76 Sedition cloaked by Religion. 106 Siege of Pontoise. 17 Siege of Saintron. 109 Siege of Nancy. 221 Severity of discipline is hardly observable in civil wars. 80 Son-in-law against father-in-law 3 Succours of Men and Money sent to the Earl of Charalois. 94 Swisses before Zurich, 21. defeated. 23. they send succours to the Duke of Lorraine. 222 Sum of the Pragmatic Sanction. 49 T Talbot relieves Pontoise. 17 Temporizing profitable. 149 Thorns and Roses of Marriage. 44 Treachery most damnable. 158 Treaty made without Liberty, binds not. 119 Treaty of peace between the French King and the Bourgondian. 192 Trifles want not their moment, and serve many times to drive weightier matters out of the heads of the people. 132 Troubles in England. 140 Truce between France and England prolonged. 24 Truth not to be found in an enemy's tongue. 25 Tumults in Cyprus. 127 Turks make their profit of the division of Christendom. 46 V Valour and bounty of Lewis the Dauphin. 9 Valour and fidelity of the Scottishmen. 117 W Water not to be digged for in a neighbour's house before we have sought for it in our own. 148 Wisdom and temporizing surmount all difficulties. Words of S. Bernard. 49 Words of the Duke of Bourgondy. 79 Words of K. Lewis at his departure from the Duke of Bourgondy. 119 Words betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Bourgondy. 187 Y Youth and Inconstancy are Sisters of one Mother. 78 A Table of the principal Matters contained in the last four Books. ADmonition made by the king to the Dauphin. 70 Age becomes covetous when it hath not any need of goods. 64 Alponso King of Castille, his death. 87 Anaxagoras his speech of the Sun. 11 Andrew, Archbishop of Krane, preacheth against the Pope, 58. and persisteth in his proposition. 60 Armies are not to be entertained without tribute. 42. Arras yielded to the French King by composition 14 Artillery invented. 43 Audiences of Henry the third at his return from Poland. 159 Authority of the King is an Ocean. 135 B Balue the Cardinal his policy to get out of prison. 66 Barbarism in the time of Lewis the eleventh. 190 baseness advanced, forgets itself & the favour which raised it. 10. Basill excommunicated by the Pope. 58 Beginnings of the diminution of Flanders. 76. Bishop of Liege treacherously slain, being abandoned of his own people. 37. & 38 Boulogne under the virgin Maries homage. 13 Bosio's error in the History of Malta. 137 C Changes of government at Florence. 2 Charlemagne founder of the University at Paris. 124 Chauvin Chancellor of Brittany his lamentable end. 10 Chronicles often follow toys, and leave out most famous actions. 88 Claudius Seissel his hard judgement. 121. commandments extraordinary of the King. 110 Confession of the fault is the best rhetoric to appease just choler. 9 Conspiracy against the life of the French King miraculously discovered. 31. 32. etc. Contempt is the fore-runer of sedition. 65 Contempt of discipline in Soldiers. 184 Controversy for the Lands of Berne, Foix, and Bigorre. 84 Cosmo de Medicis his great riches and bounty. 167. his exile and return. 168 Credit of Astrologians. 188 Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople. 46 Curing of the kings evil. 123 D Danger in employing foreign Soldiers. 39 Death of the Lord of Nantoillet. 199 Desolation is the house of Bourgondy. 161 Discourse of a powerful charm. 127 Discommodities of provision for Horsemen. 39 Disposition of Charles the 8th. 117 Dispute of the Authority of the Pope and Council. 61 Dissimulation of the Duke of Brittany. 9 E Edict to reform Soldiers. 185 Edward the fourth his death. 81 Ambassadors of France make Overture for a peace. 5 Embassages ambitiously affected, never succeed happily. 185. Error of learned men not to communicate. 194 Estate of Lorraine. 49 Estate of the Low-countries at the discretion of the Gantois. 75 Estates that are popular, have always some one private man more eminent than all the rest. 2 Estates unhappy which are forced to seek strange Masters. 30 Example is a clear light in doubtful things. 154 Examples of divers disorders. 114 Excess esteems nothing but what is rare and chargeable. 158 Expenses ruled by occasions. 176 F Favours of Princes last not. 148 Ferdinando, base son to Alphonso of Arragon, crowned King of Naples by Pope Pius the 2d. 52. is overthrown by john Duke of Calabria. Ibid. and restored by Scanderbag. 53 Flatterers pleasing to Princes. 106 Florence in one hundred years, changed estate seven times. 3 Forms of war changed. 43 France cannot be disarmed of footmen. 40. it sends Spain to the Indies. 177 Francisco de Paulo an Hermit of admirable holiness. 105 G Garniers Oak. 178 Generosity of a young Boy of Sparta. 47 God the judge of hearts. 122 Gravity ridiculous. 133 Grief of Pope Sixtus for the peace between the Venetians and Ferrarois. 57 H Henry the fourth, the last French King, his worthy commendations. 143 Heralds creation. 137 History should be free from love or hatred. 89 Huguenot and Imbercourt condemned to die. 15 I james of Luxemburg, his generous answer to the King. 172 Ignorance and Weakness fear any encounter. 67 Impiety overtaken by justice. 10 Ingratitude and Impiety of Adolph of gelders. 16 Inhumanity of Mahomet. 45 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discovered. 8 Inventions are not perfect in the beginning. 44 judgement transported with choler is like a ship without a Pilot. 67 judgements are free after death. 120 judgement upon the recompense of services. 187 justice is the felicity of Empires. 154 K Katherine of Foix, Queen of Navarre. 84 Kings have long hands, and many snares to entrap their enemies. 51 L Lewis counseled to make his profit of the division in Italy. 1. He declares himself for the Florentines. 3. He seeketh a peace of Maximilian. 38. His designs upon Lorraine and Provence. 48 Hetakes possession of Provence. 54 He neglects the calling of a council. 57 His waywardness and melancholy. 69. his visitation of his son at Ambois. 70. he falls into new apprehensions of death 95. his distrust. 104. his devotion. 107. his curiosity. 108. his last actions. 109. he could not endure to hear of death. 111. his superstition. Ibid. his death. 112. his children 115. his pilgrimages. 122. the Latin which he would have his son to learn. 130. his custom at Ceremonies. 134. his contempt of the marks of Majesty. 136. he knew not how to pardon. 144. his rigorous prisons 145. his fear of the revenge of women. 150. he was neither liberal nor covetous. 171. his mean borrow. 175. his proper Science. 185. his letters patents whereby he gave Arms to his base daughter 193. his great popularity. 196. his delight in hunting. 197. his favourites and Contemporaries. Ibid. etc. Lightness, Choler and Facility do not well become a Prince. 37 Loyalty of the Earl of Vandosme. 89 Love of God, and contempt of the world. 106 M Magistrates should not quit their charge for any respect. 153 Magnificence of the house of Burgundy. 137 Magnificence of Lewis 11th 140 Magnificence how far it extends. 141. Religious Magnificence. 142 Mahomet dies for grief after the loss at Belgrade. 48 Majesty compared to Moses rod. 133 Marriages of France & Savoy. 164 Mathias corvinus his resolute answer to the Turks Ambassadors. 28. his commendation. 98. is chosen king of Hungary. 100 his valour and conduct with other worthy acts. 101. his war against the Emperor 103. his death. Ib. Maxim of Machivel. 122 Miscounting in the History. 74 Misery of the Duke of Brittany. 11 N Necessity of Horsemen. 41 Neighbour-estates have always some disputes. 38 New discipline for Soldiers. Ib. Nobility of Hungary discontented. 102 O Oath of the government of Florence. 3. an Oath should have three conditions. Truth, judgement and justice. 32 Obedience is the Science of Princes. 130 Observations of the advantages of footmen over horsemen. 39 Offers of Bajazet to the King. 95 Office of Heralds at Arms. 137 Offices that are great should not be hereditary. 138 Offices are to be maintained if they be good. 139 Oppression of the people. 68 P Philip Earl of Bresse, his marriages and children. 165 Policy to bring an enemy into suspicion of his own people. 2 Policy in England for the Titles of families. 135 Popes bound to the Crown of France. 125 Poverty of France in the time of King john. 176 Practice against the life of an enemy, by any other means then by Arms, is unworthy of of a Prince. 35 Predictions upon the Life of Lewis the eleventh. 189 Presumption of Oliver le Deign. 12 Pride trodden under foot. 47 Princes rely upon their Ministers 157 Privileges of the Parisians. 170 R Relapse of the King's sickness at Tours. 69 René of Anjou his commmendation. 53 Reputation grounded upon great and eminent virtues. 155 Revenge taken by a woman. 46 Rhodes besieged by Mahomet. 25 S Sack and desolation of Dole. 166 Science of Treasure. 179 Sentence against the Duke of Alencon. 146 Sentence very rigorous. 150 Sermons of sedition. 126 Silence the soul of great actions. 163 Simplicity of the eloquence in old time. 129 Sleeping for a Benefice. 173 Establishment of Posts. 169 Sterrility of Suisserland. 180 Suspension of Arms not always necessary to make a peace. 7 T Temperance, wherein it consists, 193. the fruits thereof. 195 Treaty of peace and marriage between France & Bourgondy. 75 Tributes, by which the means to make war are maintained, may not be touched. 42 Tristan his barbarous behaviour. 145 V Valour is natural to the French Kings. 183 Vanity of iuditiary Astrology. 189 Venetians contempt of the Pope's fulminations. 4. their Accord with the great Turk. 6. They proclaim war against the Duke of Ferrara, and soon after conclude a peace with him. 56 Virtue envied for the lustre thereof. 10 Vision miraculous. 27 W Wisdom of the Lord Hastings. 167 Witnesses of our faults and imperfections we seldom desire to see. 65. Works of vanity and ostentation. Z Zizimi revolts against Bajazet. 95. his letter to Bajazet. 96. he repaireth to Rhodes, and is conducted into France. 97 FINIS.