A Continuation of the History of France, from the death of Charles the eight where Comines endeth, till the death of Henry the second. Collected By Thomas Danett Gentleman. LONDON Printed by Thomas ●●st for Thomas Charred. 1600. To the Right honourable my very good Lord the Lord Buckhurst, Lord high Treasurer of England and knight of the most noble order of the Garter. AFter I had Right Honourable about three years sithence presented to the late LORD TREASURER of worthy memory your Lordship's predecessor the Commentaries of Comines, translated into our English tongue, I was earnestly pressed by some of my friends to continue the History of France, from Charles the eight where he endeth till this our present age, which a long time I utterly refused to do, knowing that to annex my poor collections to the works of so excellent a writer as Comines is, should be as arrogant a part and as much to my discredit as if a Painter should have attempted to finish the Image of Venus beegunne but not ended by Apelles, which was a work of so rare excellency that no Painter after him durst adventure to perfect it. Notwithstanding when I called to mind that others before me had attempted this that they required at my hands, and withal not being able to withstand the importunity of my friends I began though somewhat timorously to take pen in hand. And whereas there are in all learning's two kinds of methods, the one proceeding from the causes to the effects, and the other judging of the causes by the effects which is called judicium a posteriori: myself not being able to perform the former as Comines doth, who was privy to the hidden mysteries, of Prince's designs, and of Counsel with their secret cogitations: determined only to follow the second course, namely to set down the effects and the naked truth forbearing either to give grave advertisements as well to Princes themselves as to their servants as he doth, or to enter into deep discourses of high points of policy & government (as a matter far above my capacity) wherewith his works are singularly beautified. In the which course having waded in the History of France till the death of Henry the second and purposing to continue it further, both my heart & hand fainted, and my pen fell forth of my fingers of it own accord. For the actions of the civil wars of France are so bloody, cruel, and barbarous and so far I will not say from all Christianity, but from all humanity and military discipline used in former times, that for my own part I judge them worthy to be buried in the dungeon of eternal oblivion. Agreeable to the which actions were also the effects whereof myself have been an eye witness. For passing out of Spain through France in the year 77, in company of a Gentleman of good service not long sithence gone to God, whom her Majesty employed at that time to the King of Spain for her affairs: we found such a wilderness in all the country between Bayonne and Bourdeaux, that whole forests and woods were turned up and consumed, the towns utterly desolated, the people despearsed, the churches quite subverted, and the children (a lamentable thing to be recorded) remaining unchristened by the space of ten years, which bred in me such a commiseration, to see so noble a member of Christendom so miserably torn in pieces with her own teeth, that it did not only visibly as it were set before mine eyes the destruction of Sodoma & Gomorrha, and the rude Chaos wherein the world lay buried and hidden, before God placed all things in this goodly order which we now see them in: but also made me call to mind the example of Africanus Minor, who wept bitterly with a certain Sinpathie of sorrow, when he saw Carthage all on flaming fire, calling to mind that the like mought happen to his own country Rome in time to come. The vices that overflowed France at the beginning of their civil wars are noted to be these three, Magia, Atheismus, Libido, which I pray God England be free from at this day. But I will no longer dwell upon this argument, lest my Epistle become to your honourable Lordship odious, and my book become in itself monstrous by having to great a head to so small a body, wherefore to return to my principal purpose, having reduced the History of France, so far as for the reasons above alleged I determined to proceed in it, I was soon resolved to whom to dedicate these my simple labours, for having presented Comines to your Lordship's predecessor, to whom could I fitlier consecrate this my continuance of his History then to your Lordship, being his successor in office, in honour, in government, in Wisdom, and in all other virtues beelonging to a most worthy counsellor so that GOD hath raised you up under her most excellent Majesty, to be no less famous in matters of Council than others are in matters of war, which Cicero as your Lordship knowerh preserreth far before warly actions, because Council preserveth the common wealth without wars, but war cannot descend it without counsel. The handling of the work is mean I confess, and too▪ unworthy of so noble a patron: yet notwithstanding it containeth the principal matters of state that passed in th●se parts by the space of three score years. Wherefore if your Lordship shall vouchsafe to accept it as our Saviour in the Scripture did the poor widows Mite: I shall think myself a happy man in having obtained the fruit of my desire, and shall daily pray to Almighty GOD long to preserve your Lordship in all honour and felicity, as well for the advancement of her majesties service, as for the benefit of the whole common wealth. Your Lordship's most humble and obedient to command Thomas Dannett. In the Epistle in the first line last page for those read these. Page. 29. line. 18. for Navara read Novara. Page 34. line 6▪ for in battle, read in a battle. Page 46. line 12. for estate, read estates. Page 69. line 12. for charge, read great charge. Page 81. line 7. for predecessors, read predecessor. Page 87. line. 8. for us, read up. Page. 94. line 23. for Rossam, read Rosseim. Page 102. line 15. for Aughien, read Anghien. Page 121 line. 2. for duchy, read duchess. Page 139. line. 21. for 20000. read 10000 For Aluiana read in all places Aluiane. A Continuation of the History of France, from the death of Charles the eight where Comines endeth till the death of Henry the second, namely till the year 1559. LEWIS the twelfth of that name King of FRAVNCE. Cap. 1. Lewis the twelfth cometh to the crown, he is divorced from his wife, and marrieth the Lady Anne, King Charles his widow and heir of Bretaine, A brief discourse of the evils that ensued that marriage. AFter the death of King Charles 1498. the eight, Lewis Duke of Orleans as next male of the blood royal succeeded to the crown of France by the name of Lewis the twelfth, a Prince as well before as after his coming to the crown subject to great variety of fortune. The first thing he attempted after he had settled his estate, was to be divorced from his wife the Lady jane daughter to King Lewis the eleventh, pretending that he had married her by constraint, & never had any carnal knowledge of her. But because he doubted how his Realm would digest, so great an injury offered to this Lady, being a King's daughter and sister & a most virtuous Princess, who had also been his wife a great number of years, and had by excessive suit and many tears begged his life of king Charles her brother, after the wars of Bretaine ended, wherein the said Duke of Orleans (as before you have heard) was taken prisoner: he sought to the Pope for relief, hoping under colour of religion to cloak his ungodly purpose, and to justify by authority of the Church his ambitious desire, to join himself in marriage with Anne widow of the late King Charles and heir of Bretaine, thereby to hold still the said Duchy of Bretaine united to the crown of France, which otherwise must have been severed from it, if this Lady had been bestowed else where. Alexander the seventh so often mentioned in the wars of Charles the eight, a spaniard borne of the house of Borgia continued still Pope at this time, a man apt to embrace any wicked motion that mought tend either to the filling of his coffers, or to the advancement of his house. This Pope had a son named Valentinus Borgia, (a sink of all fillthinesse) the self same that had been hostage with king charles in his Italian wars being at that time a Church man and named Cardinal of Valence: & had escaped from him as in the said wars of Italy mention is already made. This Borgia having lately renounced his Cardinal's hat, had betaken himself to the wars, & was entered into the King's pay. And his father exchanging spiritual graces for temporal possessions, was contented to grant the king a Bull of divorce from the said Lady jane his wise with these conditions, that his said son Borgia mought be made Duke of Valence a City in Dauphin, have the charge of a company of men of arms under the king, marry with Charlotte daughter of Monsieur d'Alebret a great Prince in Guyenne, & receive a yearly pension of 20000. crowns and as much revenue of inheritance, all the which conditions were yielded unto, & by that means the Bull of divorce obtained, and the King married the said Queen Anne heir of Bretaine. I 1499. know not well who is most to be cried out of in this case, either the Pope for granting so wicked a Bull, or the king for his extreme ambition and ingratitude towards his wife, or his people for soothing him up & encouraging him to so detestable a fact, or the Queen Dowager herself in accepting so ungodly a marriage, especially considering that she having been married before to a king of France whom she could not enjoy but by dismission of his former wife to give her place: and being punished therefore as well by the sudden death of the said king her husband, as by the loss of all her children begotten in that unlawful marriage: durst now notwithstanding adventure upon a second husband after the same sort. But sure it well appeared that God was much offended with this match, for if we consider first the Pope's end & his sons, the one of the which poisoned himself with a flagon of wine, which his said son and he had prepared for the poisoning of certain Cardinals their enemies, and the other after all his great conquests in Italy, & his favours in France, was suddenly spoiled of all that he held in both those Countries, sent prisoner into Spain, and lastly slain being a miserable vagabond in the Realm of Navarra: secondarily if we behold the miseries that fell upon the king, and the great dishonours and losses he received even till the time of his death, being tossed and chased like a tennis ball, first clean out of Italy by a prince in power much inferior to himself, and afterwards almost clean out of his own Realm by a confederacy of most of the Princes and states of Christendom against him in the last period of his age: Thirdly if we way with ourselves the continual troubles the realm of France hath endured ever since this wicked marriage, under the government of this Lady's offspring even till this very day. Lastly if we observe how in this our age her descent is utterly dispossessed of her Duchy of Bretayne (which was the only occasion of this ungodly match) and the said Duchy fallen to the hands of a king a mere stranger to her & none of her line: we must of necessity confess that God is a just judge, and punisheth sharply such offences, howsoever flatterers that are about Princes soothe them up and encourage them to such wicked acts clean forgetting God and his commandments, if the breach thereof may further their affairs or enlarge their dominions. Examples hereof are plentiful both in sacred and profane Histories, so that it were but lost labour to spend much breath in this discourse. Cap. 2. The king conquereth the Duchy of Milan, Lodovic Sforce recovereth it, and presently after loseth it again, and both he and his brother Cardinal Ascanius are carried prisoners into France. THis matter of divorce having succeeded according to the King's desire, he made peace with all his neighbours round about him, namely with Ferdinand King of Arragon, Maximilian King of Romans' and Archduc Philip his son, and with Henry King of England, which being done he presently levied men, and made friends on all sides, purposing to invade the Duchy of Milan, held still as yet by Lodovic Sforce surnamed the Moor, the self same that called King Charles the eight into Italy as before you have heard: which also the King soon conquered, for you shall understand that the said Lodovic was hated of his own people, as well because of his great tyranny, as also for poisoning his Nephew right heir of Milan, at the least heir before him. Farther he was fallen out with his best friends the Venetians about Pisa, who also partly for extreme hatred that they bore against him: and partly for greediness of Cremona & the country of Guyradadda, which the king promised them for their part of the victory: did not only encourage the king to pass into Italy and invade Milan, but entered also into league with him, so that the said Lodovic was destitute of all help, the Pope and the Venetians being in league with the King, and the poor King of Naples Frederic unable to defend his own, much less to give Lodovic any aid. So that after the French army had taken La Roccad'Arazza, Anon, Valentia, Basignane, voghera, Chasteauneuf, Pontcorona, and Tortona: and that Galeas of Saint Severin to his great reproach, had through cowardice abandoned Alexandria and Dertona, and that Pavia had of their own accord received the French, the Venetians also invading the said Duchy of Milan on the other side: the said Lodovic astonished with the loss of so many towns, mistrusting his own people, and being abandoned of all his friends & principal servants: fled with his children and a great mass of money to the Emperor Maximilian into Germany, presently after whose departure the City of Milan yielded to the French, the Castle being also delivered unto them by the treason of Bernardin de Corte Captain thereof. Soon after the whole state of Genova submitted itself likewise to the King, and Cremona with the Country of Guyradadda were delivered to the Venetians according to the King's promise. In eight days Lodovic lost this rich and noble Duchy, so small assurance is in worldly honours. The king having settled the state of Milan, & abated the excessive exactions that they paid in Lodovics time, to the great though not to the full contentment of the people, for they looked to have had all payments clean abolished and taken away, and having given forces to the Duke of Valentinoy for the recovery of those towns in Romania that appertained to the Church: returned to Lions, where he was welcomed with new joys because of the birth of his Daughter claud. But 1500 this his good success was soon altered, for the Milanois being by nature variable and inconstant, and also misliking the rough government of Master james of Treuoul, whom the king had left behind him for his Lieutenant, who being of the Guelph faction, used to rudely those of the faction Guibeline: and farther the people not being able to endure the insolencies of the French soldiers: secretly solicited Lodovic to return, who not omitting this opportunity, but levying with speed 12000 Swyssers, by the favour of the Emperor Maximilian but with his own money, and 8000. Italians, entered into the Duchy of Milan with all diligence, and as suddenly recovered the whole country as before he had lost it, all save the Castle of Milan with some other few places, and the state of Genova which held still for the king, such mutability is not only in the people of this estate, but in all the vulgar sort throughout Italy. Besides all this d'Aubigny and Treuoul Governors of the French in the said Duchy were at great variance, which utterly subverted the king's afflicted affairs, in such sort that he was forced to remove them both and to commit the government of the army to Trimoville, who by his wisdom having reconciled them together, joined them in equal authority with himself, so that the army for two governors had three. But the king being exceedingly moved with this sudden loss of the Duchy of Milan levied 600 Lances and a great army of Swyssers and sent them with all diligence to Milan, which Lodovic understanding retired to Novara, where the French army besieged him. And notwithstanding that he were in state to fight with his enemies and meant also so to do: yet the Swyssers that served him being corrupted with French crowns by means of the Swyssers Captains that were in the French Camp, refused to fight against their country men and kinsmen, wherewith Lodovic being in utter despair, and doubting to be delivered by them into his enemy's hands, with great difficulty obtained of them that he might march among them as a common Swysser soldier till he should be conveyed to some place of safety. But the matter being discovered to Trimoville, whose money made every thing known unto him: he was apprehended as he marched like a common soldier among them, & presently sent into France, where he remained prisoner in the tower of Loches till his death, not once being admitted to the kings presence nor speech. And so this Prince whose ambitious desires caused him, first to poison his Nephew, and then to set all Italy on fire by calling in the French, and likewise to departed from his league with the Venetians (being his only safety) for greediness of having the town of Pisa, which he sought to draw out of their subjection to his obedience, and lastly who never held faith nor promise with any man longer than it served for his own profit, was now abandoned of all men, and betrayed by those whom he had brought into Italy for his principal succour and defence, and ended his days in a miserable dungeon, where all his extravagant thoughts were closed up within the compass of a narrow room, his brother the Cardinal Ascanius, found means to convey his brother's children safe into Germany, but was himself soon after his brother taken prisoner by the Venetians, and sent likewise by the King's commandment (though not without great dishonour to the Venetian estate) into France, where he was used with much more favour and liberty than his brother was (for he had the whole Realm of France for his prison) and in the end by the means or rather through the simplicity of the Cardinal of Amboyse returned again into Italy, where he was restored to his former estate and dignity. And thus the King soon recovered the Duchy of Milan. Cap. 3. By a confederacy between the kings of France and Spain, Frederick King of Naples looseth his realm. The two Kings▪ part it between them, the King of Spain in the end obtaineth the whole, Pope Alexauder dieth julius the second succeedeth. BUT this Ptinces' mind not being satisfied with one good 1501. success, but the more he conquered the more his ambition being inflamed, he determined to attempt the conquest of the Realm of NAPLES not long before revolted from his predecessor, as in KING CHARLES his wars of Italy ample mention is already made. And to the end he mought obtain the victory without any resistance, he determined to make the KING of SPAIN partaker with him of the booty, lest he being a neighbour in the I'll of SICILY to the Realm of NAPLES and a kinsman to the King thereof, and having also forces already entered into the Country for the said King's defence: should hinder his conquest of the said Realm. This offer was soon embraced by the KING of SPAIN, who being received into the strong places of the said Realm of NAPLES, under colour of defending them for KING FREDERIC, detained them for himself and utterly ruinated the said FREDERIC, notwithstanding both the trust that he had reposed in the KING of SPAIN, and the near kindred that was between them. Thus FREDERIC being at one instant invaded by the FRENCH and beetrayed by the SPANIARD, yielded his Realm in despite of the said KING of SPAIN into the hands of KING LEWIS, and went with him into FRAVNCE, where he lived in very honourable estate till his death. But his son Ferdinand Duke of Calabria, whom Consalue the king of Spain's general in the said Realm of Naples, had given his oath to set at liberty, so soon as he should be delivered into his hands: was notwithstanding the said oath sent into Spain to the king of ARRAGON, where (after many years imprisonment) he married in the year 1522. with the LADY GERMAN of FOIX, widow of the said KING of ARRAGON, a rich LADY but barren, which marriage was made by the EMPEROR CHARLES, who greatly favoured the said Duke of Calabria, because he had refused to be taken out of La Rocca Sciativa, which was the prison wherein he lay, and to be made head of a rebellion that happened in Spain called La Santa giunta whereof hereafter mention shall be made. This Ferdinand Duke of Calabria was the last of the race of the first Alfonse King of Naples, for two of his brethren died before him, one in Italy the other in France. But to return to the History, the treason of the King of Spain towards King Frederic was no greater in this action, than the error of the king of France, as the sequel well delared. For whereas the said Frederic offered King Lewis to hold the Realm of Naples of him, and to pay him for it yearly a great tribute, by means whereof no man should have commanded in the said Realm but his tributary king (who always must have depended upon him) and himself: he now called in a neighbour PRINCE, though not so mighty yet much more subtle than himself, and divided the kingdom with him being obtained by his own money and his own subjects blood, and soon after lost the whole to his own great dishonour and damage. For you shall understand that the very next year after the partition made of the said Realm between 1502. these two Princes, they fell at variance about the bounds of their territories, and because the French were at that instant the stronger, they took many places in the Country called the Capitanat (which was the province in controversy between them) from the Spaniards. But the next year after the Spaniards having renforced their companies not only recovered all their losses, but also wan divers places from the French, & namely 1503. RUBOS a town not far from BARLETTA, where also they took prisoner Monsieur de la Palisse. And notwithstanding that by the entermise of Archduc Philip son in law to the king of Spain (who this year came into France) a peace was concluded between the kings of France and Spain, upon the security whereof king Lewis wholly reposing himself, forbore to send new supplies to NAPLES: yet the king of Spain very cunningly delayed the confirmation of the said peace because he saw his affairs to prosper well in Italy through the French kings overgreat credulity and negligence, and in the end flatly disavowed all his son in laws actions. And Consalue his General in the said Realm of NAPLES notwithstanding the Archducs commandments often sent unto him to surcease all Hostility in those parts: not only refused so to do because he received no such commandment from his Master, but also proceeded still in his conquests, and wan from the French divers towns, defeated the Duke of ATRY who led certain French bands and took him prisoner, and afterward also overthrew Monsieur d'Aubigny and took him prisoner, and lastly at the battle of Cirignolles vanquished the whole power of france, and slew in the field with divers noble men the brave Duke of NEMOURS' general of the French forces. Farther the said Consalue using the benefit of this victory marched presently before Naples, and without resistance entered into the town and reduced it to the obedience of the King of Spain, and soon after took also the Castles, and conquered almost the whole Realm. In the mean time died Pope ALEXANDER the sixth, and PIUS the third was chosen Pope, who dying also at the end of six and twenty days, the Cardinal Petri ad Vincula (so often mentioned in the wars of Charles the eight) succeeded by the name of JULIUS the second. The King in the mean time made great preparation to recover his Realm of NAPLES so shamefully and dishonourably lost, and entered as far as the River GARILLIANO called LIRIS in ancient times, where divers attempts were made by the French to pass the said River, which all were overthrown and brought to nought by the wisdom and industry of Consalue. In the end, what through want of victuals and lack of money which the king's officers most shamefully detained from them, by means also whereof the companies that the King paid were not half complete: what through foul weather and what through the industry and diligence of Consalue who took advantage of all these their disorders: the French were forced to abandon their forts upon the said River, and to retire to CAIETTA which they yet held, whether not only the said inconveniences accompanied them, but also Consalue with all speed pursued them and there besieged them. But they not being able to defend the town 1504 yielded it by composition and returned into France, and thus Consalue obtained the Realm of NAPLES without bloodshed, and had ever after the Title of great Captain, because of his noble exploits given unto him. Cap. 4. Frederic King of Naples and Elizabeth Queen of Spain both die, by a marriage between the King of Arragon and the Lady Germany Foix, peace is made between France and Spain. Archduc Philip dieth. Bolonia is restored to the pope, Genova rebelleth and is soon reduced to the King's obedience. IN this year died FREDERIC king of Naples, and likewise ELIZABETH 1504 Queen of Castille wife to king Ferdinand, whose death caused the said king Ferdinand the rather to desire peace with France, because he doubted that the government of Castille (notwithstanding his wives testament whereby he was appointed Governor thereof during his life) should be taken from him, and delivered to Archduc Philip his son in law, whose wife was heir thereof. The year 1505 was a year subject to great Famine and Pestilence, and in this year a secret 1505. confederacy between the greatest Princes in Christendom against the Venetians began covertly to be treated of, which afterwards also took effect. And the better to bring that matter to pass, by practice of the Pope who was a deadly enemy to the Venetians, as was also the King of France, because for want of their help he lost the Realm of Naples as he said: peace was concluded between France and Spain, the French king inclining thereunto, to the end he mought have his revenge of the said venetians, & the spaniard by that means to have a rampart against his son in law the Archduc Philip, wherefore in consideration of a marriage between the said King of Spain and the Lady German of Foix sister's daughter to the king of France, the said King yielded up to the king of Spain all his title & interest to the Realm of Naples, by the which means these two Princes that so long had continued in deadly wars, concluded peace and became friends & allies▪ And the king of Spain hereby also fortified himself mightily against his son in law the Archduc Philip who in the beginning of the year 1506 sailed into Spain 1506. with a purpose to take the government of Castille in to his own hands. But by the entermise of the NObles of the realm, an accord was made between his father in law & him, and the king of Arragon departed into his realm of Naples with very honourable conditions. But not long after died the Archduc, & because his wife daughter of the said King Ferdinand was distracted of her wits, both herself (being mad in all points but in this) & likewise her whole realm of Castille revoqued king Ferdinand out of Italy & re-established him in the government of Castille, till such time as Charles the said Archducs son & nephew of the said Ferdinand being very young should be of age to govern the Realm himself. About this time also the Pope by aid of the French king, recovered Bolonia from the Bentivoli though little to the king's honour who had received the said city of Bolonia, & the Bentivoli into his protection in the year 1500, & yet now betrayed them to the Pope, more regarding the Pope's pleasure, than his own honour and faith, for the which fact the Pope well requited him as hereafter you shall hear. But to return to the french affairs. The Genuoys 1507. seeing the Kings greatness so mightily to decline in Italy by loss of the realm of Naples, and being also desirous to recover their liberty; determined to rebel, and to withdraw their obedience from him, which also they did, and began first to chase away his officers, & afterwards to spoil the noble men's houses in the town. But the king being advertised thereof, passed in person with a mighty army into Italy, & soon reduced them to their former obedience, which being done he presently dismissed his army and returned into France, thereby delivering all the states of Italy from the jealousy they had conceived of him, that he meant to make some farther attempt. Cap. 5. A confederacy is made at Cambray against the venetians, the french overthrow them at the battle of Guyradadda. Soon after this, the practice above mentioned 1508. against the Venetians, which had been long treated off under hand, & had long ere this been concluded, but that so many strings could not so soon be tuned (for the Pope & the kings of Romans, France & Arragon were concurring in the action): broke openly forth. For you shall understand that Pope julius hating the Venetians extremely, because they detained from him certain towns in Romania belonging to the Church, & received into their protection the church rebels, namely, the Bentivoli & others: laboured to make peace among these Princes, and to convert their arms not against the Infidels but against the said Venetians, which also he effected in the end, the rather because every one of these Princes had private quarrels to them. The Pope's quarrel you have already heard, and the cause of the french king's displeasure towards them I have in part touched also before, & said it was for that they refused to aid him in his wars of Naples according to their league, which was the only loss of the said realm as he said. But in very deed his principal hatred against them, was because they held Cremona & the country of Guiradadda members of the Duchy of Milan which notwithstanding that they were delivered to them by his own agreement, at such time as they aided him to chase Lodovic Sforce out of the said duchy: yet now considering their ingratitude towards him, & withal how necessary those countries were for the strength & defence of the said Duchy of Milan: he determined to recover them again into his own hands. Maximilian and the Archduc Charles his Nephew had an ancient quarrel to them, first for Verona, Padova, vinc●nse and divers other towns with held from the Empire, and secondarily for the countries of Friull and Treuisa, which they withhold from the house of Austria. Besides that Maximillians quarrel was lately greatly increased, for even in this very year 1508, they had not only denied him passage through their countries for his soldiers, whose passage he pretended to be only because he meant to go to take the crown imperial at Rome, though they knew well the contrary: but had also defeated his companies being entered into their dominions by force. And notwithstanding that they had reason so to do knowing his purpose to be no thing less than that which he pretended, & that he came with a resolution to surprise those places which he claimed to be his: yet this defeat of his men exasperated him not a little against them, for few Princes can endure the contrarying of their wills be it never so justly done. The king of Spain likewise hated them because they held in the realm of Naples certain towns engaged to them by Ferdinand King of Naples in the wars of Charles the eight, which by no means they would restore. Thus all these princes being animated against them, a generalleague was concluded among them against the said Venetians at Cambray. The Pope 1509. began first with spiritual arms, and sent forth a terrible bull against them, from the which they appealed to the next general Counsel. But of all the other Princes the king of France was first in a readiness and with an army of 24000 men invaded their dominions. And they encountered him with no less forces, and under the conduct of Aluiane & the Earl of Petillian gave him battle, in the which they were overthrown, Petillian said through Alviana's temerity and overgreat heat, and Aluiana said through Petillians cowardice or malice, who would not aid him with his troops because the battle was fought against his advice. But howsoever it were, certain it is that the Venetians lost in this battle 10000 men, and Aluiana himself was taken prisoner therein. This battle is called the battle of Guiradadda or de la Vail. After this victory almost all the towns that the Venetians held in Italy, yielded to the king, who restored to the king of Romans' those that he pretended Title to, & to the Pope those that he quarreled, which being done he returned to Milan. This year died Henry king of England the two and twentieth of April to whom succeeded Henry his son, a young Prince eighteen years of age, of whom hereafter ample mention shall be made, and this year also the seventeenth of October died Philip de Commines Lord of Argenton, a worthy counselor and no less worthy writer. Cap. 6. The Venetians are reconciled to the Pope and the King of Arragon, all they three toyne together against the King. The Swyssers also become the King's enemies, the quarrel between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrare, the Pope loseth Bolonia. The King withdraweth himself from the Pope's obedience. The Pope excommunicateth the whole Realm of France. The battle of Ravenna wherein the Pope and his confederates are overthrown. THE Venetians being thus low brought and seeing so many princes against them, determined to take some course to dissolve this confederacy, wherefore they humbled themselves first unto the Pope, and found means to be reconciled unto him, for you shall understand that after this victory above mentioned, partly commiseration of the venetians moved him to favour them, but especially the king's greatness in Italy became very odious & terrible unto him, in such sort that he also secretly withdrew the king of Arragon from the king's friendship, & joined him in league with the Venetians: they restoring unto him the ports in Poville above mentioned which they held: and the Pope himself putting him into a continual jealousy that if the french affairs prospered in Italy, he should be constrained again to fight for the realm of Naples, notwithstanding his marriage with the king's niece. But in very truth the thing that most troubled the Pope, & most caused him to envy the kings good success, was jealousy of his own estate, because many cardinals hated him, and objected many crimes against him, all the which had intelligence with the king, wherefore the said Pope to the end he mought omit no thing that tended to the overthrow of the kings proceed & these cardinals practices, hired the Swyssers 1510. to invade the Duchy of Milan and to abandon their league with the french, which being begun by Lewis the xi. expired at this very instant, & could not be renewed, because the Swyssers demanded proudly greater pensions than they had before, which the king partly through disdain & partly through covetousness would not condescend unto, whereupon they entered into league with the Pope against the king, & invaded the duchy of Milan, but for want of victuals & money they were forced at this time to return home, without any exploit done. Farther the said Pope now showing himself openly to be the king's enemy, together with the Venetians prepared a navy to surprise Genova, and so this Pope that was the first kindler of this war against the Venetians, & the principal author of the league of Cambray: was also himself the first that broke it, notwithstanding all the kindness that he had received at the king's hands. But the navy above mentioned appointed to invade Genova was overthrown and dispersed by the French navy, and so all the Pope's enterprises against the king failed and came to nought, farther you shall understand that the Pope had a quarrel to the Duke of Ferrara, as well for certain towns which he withheld from the Church: as also for selling of salt at Comache without the Pope's permission, which thing being his vassal he mought not do as the Pope said, for the which cause he invaded his countries, but the king to requite the Pope's disloyalty and ingratitude towards him, received the Duke into his protection and defended him against the Pope, which not a little increased their evil will. The king also to cry quittance with the Pope, 1511. took Bolonia from him, which not long before he had delivered to him, and restored it to the Bentivoli, whom also he received into his protection, by means whereof extreme hatred grew between the Pope and the King, so far forth that the King withdrew his Realm from his obedience, and celebrated a council at Pisa against him, which was afterward transported to Milan. And the Pope on the otherside excommunicated the whole Realm of France, and celebrated a counsel at Lateran against the king. But not only spiritual but also temporal arms were exercised between them, for the Pope hired the Swyssers to invade the Duchy of Milan the second time, but they being corrupted with French crowns, soon returned bome & deluded the Pope's hope, which he perceiving waged a great army of Spaniards and Italians against the king and against the Counsel (or as he termed it the Conventicle) of Pisa, and the king on the other side in the name of the said counsel of Pisa sent a mighty army against the pope, as a Simoniac, a troubler of Christendom, a drunkard; and a perjure. And after divers skirmishes between the two armies, and surprises of towns, and such like feats of war achieved, ensued the great battle of Ravenna, which was fought upon Easter day. It is written by divers that Pope julius seeing his forces issue out of Rome, 1512. took Peter's keys and threw them into the River, and withal girt himself with a sword, adding these words, that since Peter's keys could do him no more service, he would see if Paul's sword could stand him in any better steed, which action of his the learned Melanthon hath properly expressed by these verses following. In Gallum ut fama est bellum gesturus a▪ cerbum, armatam educit julius urbe manum, accinctus gladio claves in Tibridis amnem proijcit, & saews talia verba facit: Cum Petri nihil efficiant ad prelia claves auxilio Pauli for sitan ensis erit: Which may be thus Englished. When julius against the force of France sent forth his troops armed with pike & lance this fury fell inflamed with ire and mood the sacred keys into the famous flood of Tiber flang, and though with might and main wayving his glaive thus spoke in great disdain, sith Peter's keys avail nought in this case the sword of Paul shall now supply their place. But to return to the History. In the battle of Ravenna above mentioned, the Pope with his confederates namely the king of Arragon & the Venetians were overthrown. But Monsieur de Foix the king's nephew & general of his forces, through his own to great hardiness or rather rashness, pursuing his enemies with a small troop was entrapped and slain, whose death the king took so grievously that he wished he had redeemed his life with the loss of all that he held in Italy. The said de Foix his death so astonished the French army though victorious, that for want of a general sufficient to supply his place, they pursued not the victory as they ought to havedone, but gave their enemy's liberty to breath & repair their forces, which if they had not done, the king mought not only have recovered the realm of NAPLES, but also have disposed of all the rest of Italy as it had pleased himself. Ravenna was sacked in revenge of Monsieur de Foix his death. Cap. 7. The king celebrateth the counsel of Pisa against the Pope, and the Pope the counsel of Later an against him. The Pope stirreth up Maximilian the Emperor, the kings of England & Spain, the venetians, & the swissers against the king. The king loseth Milan and Genova. The king of Spain conquereth Navarra. Aeter this victory the king returned to celebrate the counsel of Pisa, and by authority thereof to deposse the Pope, having the Emperor Maximilian in appearance concurring with him, and as some report affecting the Papacy for himself, & meaning to resign the empire to his nephew Charles though as yet but a child. Notwithstanding soon after secretly he reconciled himself to the Pope, & utterly abandoned the French. But the Pope by the overthrow which he had received at Ravenna, and the great charges he had sustained in these wars the burden whereof had lain upon his shoulders, being brought to great poverty, and doubting also what would be the isheu of the schism in the Church: sought for peace with the king, only craving at his hands that he would relinquish the protection of the duke of Ferrara, which the king utterly refusing, the Pope fell farther out of patience with him then ever he was before. And so happily it came to pass at that very instant for the Pope's affairs, that the king of Arragon sent him a secret message to persuade him to continue the wars against the French, assuring him of his aid which thing the king of Arragon did, thereby to distract the king's forces, while he invaded the Realm of Navarra, which he was fully resolved to attempt. And farther Monsieur de la Palisse general of the King's forces after Monsieur de Foix his death, was constrained to departed out of Romania with his victorious army to the defence of the Duchy of Milan fearing that the Swyssers would invade it as indeed they did, wherefore the Pope by these occasions having recovered his spirits, and being now more animated against the king then ever, first continued his spiritual arms by celebrating the counsel of Lateran against him, and afterwards stirred up not only the Venetians, but also Maximilian the Emperor, the King of England & Spain, and the Swyssers to be his enemies. These Swyssers as before you have heard had abandoned the king's service because through covetousness he would not augment their wages, and were entered into the Pope's pay, which his error the king would willingly have reform afterwards, and have recovered them to his service again, but never could till his dying day. The king seeing all the Princes his neighbours in arms against him by the Pope's practices, was constrained to withdraw his forces out of Italy for the defence of his own Realm by means whereof the Pope and the Venetians prevailed so mightily in Italy, that they recovered all the towns that were held by the French namely Bolonia, Cremona, and divers other, Parma also and Placentia yielded themselves to the Pope, yea and the King lost his Duchy of Milan, which was delivered to Maximilian Sforce (son of Lodovic that died prisoner in France) under the protection and defence of the Swyssers. The state of Genova likewise revolted from the king, by means of janus Fregose who was made duke thereof, & the Duke of Ferrara was forced to make his submission to the Pope and to abandon the French, so that the king held nothing at all in Italy save a few castles namely that of Milan & the castle of Cremona, which continued French still till the next year after the battle of Novara, when for want of victuals they were forced to yield themselves into the Duke of Milan's hands, but all the rest the King lost almost in a moment and withal all his friends, a strange conversion of Fortune that the King being conqueror lost all, and the Pope and the Venetians being conquered wan all. But in truth they sailed not with their own wind but with other men's, for the Realm of France had at that time to many enemies by the Pope's practices and to few friends. Now to leave a while the affairs of Italy and to come to the wars in France, you shall understand that the kings of England and Spain determined to invade Guyenne. But the king of Spain pretending the Realm of Navarra to be of great importance for the defence of the said Country of Guyenne: persuaded the english men first to assault that, & from thence to enter into Guyenne, according whereunto they did, & soon took it being void of defence & not expecting any war, which conquest being achieved, and the said Realm of Navarra delivered into the king of Spain's hands, the said king with fair words dismissed the English men, giving his son in law the king of England leave to invade Guyenne with his own forces if he would, For he had already obtained his prey, by means whereof the English men being disappointed of his aid, were forced to return home. And notwithstanding that the king of France after the English men's departure, attempted to recover the said realm of Navarra: yet could he not do it because of his great affairs else where. Cap. 8. Pope julius dieth, Leo the tenth succeedeth, the King maketh truce with the King of Spain, & being confederated with the Venetians recovereth Milan & Genova, which notwithstanding presently after the battle of Novarahee loseth again. The Venetians are overthrown near to Vincense. ABout this time died Pope julius, to whom succeeded Leo the tenth of the house of Medici's, 1513. which fell out well for the king's affairs, for Pope julius while he lived, so animated all the Princes of Christendom against the King, that none of them would incline to make peace or truce with him, but after his death the King's affairs began to have a better course, for notwithstanding that Pope Leo were not friend to the French, but had just cause to hate them, first because of the schism in the Church maintained by them, secondarily because by them Peter of Medici's his brother and their whole house was overthrown and chased out of Florence, as in the wars of Charles the eight mention is already made, and lastly because himself was taken prisoner by them at the battle of Ravenna being than Pope julius Legate: yet proved he not so deadly an enemy to them, nor such an annimater of Christian Princes against them as his predecessor had been, all the which proceeded of the Popes own disposition, who was a Prince by nature more inclined to pleasures than to wars, by means whereof the King, burning with a desire to recover his Duchy of Milan (the rather because the Castles of Milan and Cremona held yet for him as before you have heard) sought first to make truce with the King of Spain, which the said King easily inclined to, to the end that in the mean time without any impediment of France he mought settle his late conquest of the Realm of Navarra. Farther the king entered also into league with the Venetians who promised to aid him with 800 men of arms, 1500 light horse, and 10000 foot men, for the recovery of Ast, Genova, & the Duchy of Milan, and he promised to aid them till they had recovered all that they held in Lombardie, and in the Marca Trevisana before the league of Cambray. Thus the king being joined with the Venetians, & in truce with the king of Arragon, invaded the Duchy of Milan with a mighty army, and first recovered Genova, and then all the Duchy of Milan save Novara and Coma, which held yet for Maximilian Sforce, Farther the French army under the leading of Trimoville went and besieged Novara, but this their good success in the beginning was overthrown in the twinkling of an eye, for you shall understand that the Swyssers who had bound themselves to the defence of the said Duchy of Milan as before you have heard, came to levy the siege of Novara, & had the french in so great contempt that they assaulted them upon a sudden, and defeated them in their own camp, which was one of the noblest victories that ever any nation obtained. This battle is called the battle of Novara. After this victory all the Duchy of Milan revolted in a moment, chased away the French, and returned to the obedience of Maximilian Sforce, and the king by this overthrow, lost his honour, his treasure, and all that he held in Italy as well Genova as the whole Duchy of Milan, yea and the Castles of Milan & Cremona which in all these troubles had still continued French seeing themselves now in utter despair of succours and being in extreme distress of victuals were yielded into the Duke of Milan's hands, and the King's army in great fear and distress returned into Piedmont. The Venetian forces under the leading of Aluiana were coming to join with the French, but hearing of the overthrow they retired to Padova, whether the Viceroy of NAPLES and PROSPERO COULONNE being in pay with the Pope and the duke of Milan went to besiege them, but not being able to take the town, they levied their siege, and then ALVIANA issewing out of the town pursued them and charged them, which charge they valiantly received, & through the virtue of the Spanish footmen and cowardice of the Italian footmen the Venetian army was overthrown, and lost all their artillery & cariagde, and ALVIANA retired to Treuisa. This battle was fought near to Vincense and the Venetians lost in it 400. men of arms, and 4000 sootemen. Cap. 9 The king of England owerthroweth the french, winneth Therouenne and Tournay. The Swyssers invade Burgundy, Queen Anne dieth, The Pope maketh peace between all these Princes. The king marrieth the King of England's sister and dieth. THE same year also Henry King of England with a mighty army which the Italians report to have been to the number of 80000 men invaded the Realm of France, & overthrew the French in a battle called la journey des esperons, wherein the Duke of Longueville with divers noble men of France were taken prisoners, the Emperor Maximilian being at that time in person in the king of England's camp, & being allowed daily by the said king 100 crowns for his diet. The English men after this battle took Therovanne the two and twentieth of August, and from thence by the Emperor Maximilians' persuasion went before Tournay which was yielded to them the nine and twentieth of September, and having defcated in an other battle in England the Scots, the ninth of September, & slain their King in the field, who by the persuasion of the French had invaded the Realm of England during the King's absence in France: the said king of England triumphantly returned home. Farther the Swyssers being secretly hired with the Pope's money, who loved not the French for the reasons above rehearsed, invaded France also on the other side, and besieged Dijon in Burgundy, into the which Monsieur de la Trimoville had put himself, who doubting the utter ruin of the Realm of France so many enemies invading it on all sides, without any commission from the king made a composition with the said Swyssers, more necessary than honourable for the Realm, which was this, that the King should renounce all his right to the Duchy of Milan, and pay them at a day agreed upon six hundredth thousand Crowns, for the which also he delivered them Hostages, and they bound themselves only to return home into their Country for that tyme. The Pope was not a little offended with this their return, but they excused the matter because they received not out of England the money that was promised them, but in truth their greediness of the six hundredth thousand Crowns above mentioned was the principal cause of their return, whereof notwithstanding their hope was frustrate, for the King would not ratify this disshonorable treaty made by Trimoville notwithstanding that it were the safety of his Realm, but sought to content those Swyssers with other conditions, which they would not accept, but threatened if the treaty were not accomplished by a certain day to strike of the hostages heads. About the beginning of the year 1514. died 1514. Queen Anne of France: Farther you shall understand that the Pope being by nature an enemy to the wars and wholly given to delights and pleasures, namely to Music, to hearing of Plays, and to beholding of Masks, bouffons, and jesters, yea somewhat more than was seemly for his estate: Laboured earnestly to reconcile these Princes and to end the wars. But the Swyssers would in no wise be reconciled to the king. Notwithstanding the truce between him & the King of Spain was continued, in the which also the Emperor Maximilian contrary to his promise to the king of England was included, and ratified the said truce, which unprincely dealing of the said Maximilian caused also the king of England to incline to peace, which soon after namely the seventh of August by means of the Duke of Longueville being prisoner in England was concluded between king Lewis and him, and afterward in October following more strongly confirmed by the marriage of the Lady Marie the King of England's sister with the said King. Thus the king having made peace with all his neighbours, and being assured of quietness on this side the mountains, turned his thoughts to the recovery of that which he had lost in Italy, namely the Duchy of Milan and the estate of Genova. But being in the midst of his preparation, and incited thereunto by the Pope (though not sincerely as some thought:) sudden death which cutteth of all worldly cogitations seized upon him, for while he took to extreme pleasure in the excellent beauty of his young wife, without regard either of his age or the weakness of his complexion, he was assaulted by a fever, whereunto a flux being joined, he departed almost suddenly out of this present life the first day of januarie in the year 1515. after the Ducche and Italian computation who begin the year at newyerstide, but 1514. according to the French, who begin it not till Easter. This king lived 55. years, and reigned 17. Cha. 10. A discourse of certain virtues and vices of King Lewis the twelfth. Between this King Lewis and Pope julius the 2. above mentioned was deadly hatred, as by the History above written easily you may perceive, so far forth that they pursued one an other not only with arms but also with gibes & scoffs. The Pope accused the king of sacrilege whereunto the king answered that it was most absurd for him to accuse an other of sacrilige that miantained his estate only by sale of holy things, for the Pope made money of all ecclesiastical livings & dignities, again when the king heard that the Pope had extremely cursed him he answered that this was a Pope made to curse but not to pray, sarther the Pope called the french Micturi vinos, that is to say winepissers, noting thereby their immoderate drinking of wine, which (as he said) issued as it entered, but this gibe evil beseemed the Pope being himself more given to drink then any man in his time. But the French partly to requite this scoff, & partly to content the king, made these verses of the Pope. Patria cui Genua est, genitricem Graecia, partum Pontus & unda dedit, qui bonus esse potest? sunt vani Ligures, mendax est Graecia, ponto nulla fides, malus est haec tria quis quis hahet. Which you may thus English. Whose country is liguria, whose dam of Greekish blood whose cradle is the sourging seas, can aught in him be good? Ligurians are counted vain, Greekes liars so I find, the sea inconstant, all these three hath julius by kind. But these verses are answered thus on the Pope's behalf. Est venus orta mari, Graium sapientia, solers ingenium est ligurum, qui malus esse potest? cui genus ut veneri, a Graijs sapientia, solers ingenium a Genua est? Mome proter●e tace. Which you may thus English. Out of the sea dame Venus sprang, with learning grece is clad Ligurians are full of wit, how can he then be bad? whose birth is like a Goddesses, whose learning is of Grece, whose wit is of Liguria, jack gyber hold thy peace. But to return to king Lewis, he was a prince subject to great variety of Fortune through the whole course of his life, both before he was King & after, but especially towards his later end she most frouned upon him, as in this brief discourse of his actions is plainly to be seen, his vices were, in his youth love of women, and in his age covetousness, which caused him to lose many opportunities, besides that he was a prince wholly governed by others, but his good fortune was to fall into the hands of honourable personages, and such as governed his Realm well. Farther he was also charged with ingratitude, both towards his wife who had saved his life, and also towards some with whom he had lived familiarly before his coming to the crown, namely the Marshal Gyé, whom also he banished the court, notwithstanding the great service that he had done the Realm. But herein he is partly to be excused, for the said Marshals banishment proceeded principally from the Queen who hated him extremely, because the said marshal had oncc stayed her carriage upon the River of Loire, wherein she had packed up all the kings principal juells, Plate, and other things of great price, and the which she was conveying down the said River to Nantes, the King being at that time very sick and in great danger of death. This king was also given to suspicions, but that is a fault all princes are subject to, especially all those that be wise, on the other side this king was beautified with many goodly virtues, first he was so loving and careful of his people, that in all his foreign wars he could never be induced to increase his impositions upon his subjects, true it is that when he was invaded in his own Realm, he was forced to levy of them somewhat more than ordinary, for the which his mild government he was called Pater patriae, so justa Prince he was (where the necessity of his affairs enforced him not to the contrary) that the Archduc Philip committed to him at his death the government of his son Charles, omitting both his own father and his father in law, being both grandfathers to the said Child, which charge king Lewis most princely performed as well in the education of the said Charles afterwards Emperor, as also in the preservation of all his estate. Farther he was a prince void of all pride, affable, and courteous to all men, and living in great quietness & mildness, with those that were familiar with him, and the soonest forgetting all injuries past, so that I cannot better compare him to any prince then to the Emperor ADRIAN, whose pleasant answers and Apothegms being void of all scurrility he was also much addicted unto, some of the which because they be worthy of memory I will be bold to rehearse. He had in king Charles his time been evil used by divers, of whom he was advised to take revenge at his coming to the crown, whereunto he answered that it became not a king of France to revenge the injuries done to a Duke of Orleans. Likewise looking upon the roll of King Charles his servants, he found two that had been his deadly enemies in King Charles his time, upon each of whose names he made a cross, wherewith they being in a wonderful perplexity, supposed the gallows to be prepared for them, which their fear being discovered to the king: he sent them word to be of good cheer, for he had crossed all their evil deeds out of his remembrance, he used to say that the condition of horses was much worse than Asses, for Horses were killed up in running post to Rome to fetch living for Asses, meaning unlearned prelates, when the Queen his wife by importunity thought to bring to pass a marriage between her daughter claud & Archduc Charles afterwards Emperor, the king told her that she sought to make a marriage between Cats and Mice. Again when a certain courtier complained grievously of his wives unchasteness, the king hearing thereof bade him be of good cheer, for he that respected his wives incontinency or the Pope's curse should never sleep quiet night. divers other such like sayings of his I could rehearse which for brevity I overpass. FRANCIS THE FIRST OF that name King of France. Cap. 1. King Francis cometh to the crown, surpriseth Prospero Colonna, vanquisheth the Swyssers, recovereth Milan. The Pope and he meet at Bolonia. TO Lewis the twelfth succeeded King Francis the first, being both his son 1515. in law and the next of his blood, a Prince of young years, but of goodly parsonage & great magnanimity, who finding a mighty army in a readiness, that his predecessor had levied to invade the Duchy of Milan, & burning with no less desire to recover the said duchy than his predecessor had done, determined to lose no time but having renewed the league made by the late king with Henry king of England and with the self same conditions, & likewise with the Venetians, and received homage at Paris by the Earl of Nassau of the Archduc Charles afterwards Eemperor for Flaunders, and having also made peace with him with promise of marriage between the said Charles and the Lady Renee daughter to king Lewis & sister to the Queen, and withal Genova being reduced to his obedience by the means of Octavian Fregose Duke thereof, who stood in continual fear of the Duke of Milan and the Swyssers: he presently marched with his army towards the mountains. Maximilian duke of Milan seeing the tempest that hung over his head, sent to the Swyssers and to Pope Leo for aid. The Pope sent to his aid Prospero Coulonna with 1500. horse, whom the french upon a sudden (as they passed the Alps by a secret way never passed before by horsemen) surprised & took prisoner at villa francha, and defeated all his troops. Fron thence the king marched & besieged Novara which yielded unto him, as did also Alexandria, Tortona & Pavia with divers other towns: Farther to make his conquest the easier, he practised to pacify with money the Swiffers who were bound to the defence of the duchy of Milan as before you have heard, & to cause them to return home, whereunto they agreed, and rceaved some small part of the king's money in such sort that the king accounted his conquest to be at an end. But the Cardinal of Zion so preached unto them their league made with the Duke of Milan, that they altered their minds. And when the king thought they had been telling their money, they came in a great fury and invaded his army, which valiantly received their charge. And what with force of canon shot, and valour of the gendarmery of France (who made a 1515. mends this day for their cowardice at the battle of Novara) but especially through the great magnanimity of the king himself, they were repulsed, and so hewed in pieces two days together (for so long the battle endured) that in the end they were put to flight, & slain at the least 16000 of them, & their courages so daunted, that after this they reigned not over princes as before times they had done. This battle is called the battle of Marignian, which was fought the thirteenth of September in the year 1515. and was so bloody on both sides, that Master james of Treuoul who had been in nineteen battles, reported this to have been a battle of Giants, and all the other eighteen that he had been in, in comparison of this to have been but battles of boys. These Swyssers purpose was if they had overthrown the king, to have disposed at their pleasure of the Duchy of Milan which wholly depended upon them. But their hope was frustrate, and being thus vanquished they returned home, whereupon Maximilian Sforce Duke of Milan, and the whole Country yielded to the king. The said Maximilian was sent into France, where he was so honourably entertained of the King, that notwithstanding that he mought afterwards have returned home, yet would he never so do, alleging that he was delivered from the servitude of the Swyssers, the evil usage of the Emperor, and the treachery of the Spaniards, wherefore he chose rather to remain in France, where he continued till his death, which happened in the year 1530. After this victory the Pope and all the Princes of Italy sought the king's amity, so far forth that the Pope met with him at Bolonia, & yielded unto him Parma and Placencia as members of the Duchy of Milan, which julius his predecessor had taken before as the possessions of the Church. About the end of this year died the valiant Captain Aluiane, having done great service at the battle of Marignian above mentioned, and was very honourably buried at Venice in the Church of Saint Stephan. Cha. 2. The King returneth into France, recovereth the Swissers to his service, Ferdinand King of Spain dieth. Maximilian the Emperor invadeth the Duchy of Milan. The Venetians recover Bressa & Verona, a treaty between the king and Charles king of Castille at Noyon. The wars of Urbine, Luther preacheth against the Pope. THE King at his return into France lest the 1516. Duke of Bourbon governor of Milan, and so soon as he was come into his Realm practised to recover the Swyssers to his service, and to make a new league with them, which also was brought to pass, and they promised from time to time to aid him in his wars against all men, the Pope and the Empire only excepted. But five of their Cantons would not agree to this accord at this time. Notwithstanding about the end of this year these five also were contented to enter into league with him, but not so far forth as the other eight, for they entered into a league offensive with the King, but these five only for the defence of his own estates. In this year died Ferdinand king of Arragon, and Consalue otherwise surnamed the great Captain, about a month before him. The Duke of Borbon governor of Milan for the King, according to the king's league with the Venetians, sent unto them under the leading of Monsieur de Lautrech 3000. footmen and 1000 horse to recover Bressa & Verona. But because the Emperor Maximilian envying the kings great success (as did also the king of England) levied men of the five Swysser Cantons that were as yet not in league with the king, and having received 50000. angels of the king of England, and being confederated with Francis Sforce brother to Maximilian above mentioned: invaded the Duchy of Milan with a mighty army of Swyssers, Lanceknights, and Spaniards: the said Lautrech was constrained to return again with his forces to Milan. The said Maximilian came before Milan with this mighty army, but being by nature very inconstant, and having received out of England a new supply of money, he suddenly gave forth that he was advertised of the king of Hungaries death, which occasion revoked him of necessity into Allemayne, whereupon presently he dismissed his army without doing any matter of moment and departed home having filled his gabs with the king of England's angels. After his departure Lautrech returned again to aid the Venetians, who recovered Bressa and Verona. Farther Charles Duke of Ostrich, & by his grandfathers death king of Castille, seeing the kings great success, & doubting that he would invade the realm of Naples which easily at that time he mought have done and was also purposed to have done, if the Emperor Maximilians' descent into Italy had not stayed him, concluded peace with the king at Noyon, where were great demonstrations of amity between these two princes, & promise of marriage between the said king of Castille & Louyse the king's daughter, & divers other articles agreed upon which never were performed, for the said king of Castille meant only by this dissimulation to preserve his realm of Naples, which if the king would have invaded he was not at that time in case to defend, by reason he was not as yet settled in his kingdom of Spain, the people whereof seemed better affected to Ferdinand his brother (because he had been bred up among them) then to him. You have heard before how the King and the Pope met at Bolonia after the battle of Marignian, 1517. where also the Pope restored to the king Parma and Placentia, but with this condition that the king should aid him to chase Francis Maria de la Rovere Nephew to Pope julius out of the Duchy of Urbin, which also the king did in the year 1516. And the Pope gave the said Duchy of Urbin to Laurens of Medici's his nephew, to whom also the king the more to content the Pope gave in marriage the lady Magdelaine heir of the Earldom of Bouloyne in France, of the which marriage issued Catherine of Medici's queen of france. Notwithstanding in the year 1517. the said Francis Maria recovered his Duchy again out of the Pope's hands, & notwithstanding that afterwards by aid of the French the Pope drove the said Francis Maria to a hard composition whereby he left the said duchy to the Pope, & was constrained to take a Pension in regard thereof: yet continued he not long in this estate, for so soon as pope Adrian was chosen Pope he restored Francis Maria to his Duchy of Urbin again, who quietly enjoyed it to his dying day which happened in the year 1538. Thus much I thought good to write in this place of the success of this war of Urbin, because hereafter I mean not to make farther mention thereof. This year also Martin Luther began openly to preach against the Pope's pardons in Germany. Cap. 3. Maximilian the Emperor dieth, Charles king of Castille succeed him. The King confederateth himself with the King of England, who restoreth Tournay to him. The two Kings meet between Ardres and Calais. The King of England and the Emperor meet also together at Calais and Gravelin, a rebellion in Spain. THE King perceiving by divers apparent 1518. reasons that the King of Castille meant to perform nothing of that which was promised at Noyon, and farther understanding that the Emperor Maximilian laboured the electors of the Empire to choose king of Romans' the said king of Castille his Nephew, a thing greatly displeasing the king, because the Empire being joined to his Patrimonial signories, the said king of Castille should be so mighty, that no Prince in Christendom should be able to withstand his power: did both with his money and by his ministers dissuade the electors from that election, and stayed it during Maximilians life. Notwithstanding after the said Maximilians death which happened the twelfth of january 1519 after the Dutch and Italian account, who begin the year at Newyerstide, but 1518. after the French who begin it not till Easter, the said Charles king of Castille was elected Emperor, notwithstanding all the impediments of the king, and the great suit both he and his friends had made to obtain the Empire for himself, but god had otherwise disposed of it. Wherefore the king having failed of his hope for the obtaining of the Empire, and seeing the power of the Emperor elect so greatly to increase: determined to enter into a strait confederacy & alliance with the king of England, to whom he sent Ambassadors to treat of a marriage between 1519. their children, which was concluded and as well performed as the other treatise of marriage with the king of Castille had been. Farther the king laboured the king of England to restore Tourney unto him because it was a town that served the English men to small purpose, being far from their dominions, and the defence thereof being yearly to the King of England a great charge, but stood very commodiously for the king to offend at his pleasure the Emperor in his low countries, which matter was so earnestly pursued that for the sum of 400000. crowns the town was delivered into the king's hands, and a strait league concluded between the king of England and him, and it was agreed that the next year an interview should be of the two kings between Calais and Ardres, which also was accomplished accordingly, with so great 1520. triumph & bravery on both sides, that the French called the place of the interview Le Camp de drape d'or: and with so great demonstrations of love between the two Princes, that the like was not seen in many hundred years before. For besides the royal & sumptuous entertainment that they gave each to other, such brotherly love and assurance was between them, that in one day the two kings went & dined each with others Queen, and farther one morning very early the king of France came with a small train to Guysnes before the king of England was stirring, and told him that he was come to yield himself his prisoner in his Castle of Guysnes, whereunto the King of England answered that he was come to take his heart his prisoner which was a very ready & an apt answer. To conclude such signs of perfect love & amity passed between these two princes by the space of 15. or 16. days (for so long they were together) that all men thought their friendship to be indissoluble, & that war could never arise between them, but it happened otherwise afterwards, whereby it appeareth that he spoke truth that said Prince's amity to be no inheritance. Not long after this interview above mentioned, the new Emperor elect arrived in England, where contrary to the king of France his expectation, he was most honourably received, in such sort that the King of England accompanied him to Calais & afterwards to Gravelin, where they were together a certain space in great friendship and fraternity, and where divers things were concluded between them no whit to the contentation of the King of France. Among other articles this was one, that what controversy soever happened between the Emperor and the King, the King of England should be the judge thereof; which article because the king would not agree unto, the king of England took occasion to become his enemy thereupon. Notwithstanding the wars broke not out between them this year, as well because they had no apparent quarrel on either side, as also because they had not as yet made their provisions for the wars, besides that Spain was troubled with a great rebellion which the Spaniards called La Santa giunta which could not be appeased till the next year, that fear of the foreign enemy namely the French invading Spain, caused the Spaniards to forget all the domestical dissensions, and to attend to the defence of their country. Cha. 4. Wars between the king & the Emperor. The French conquer Navarre and presently lose it again. The Imperials win many places from the French in the Duchy of Milan. The French win Fontarabia. Nassau invadeth Picardy. The Emperor recovereth Tournay. But to proceed, the long dissembled evil will 1521. between these two mighty Princes could no longer be hidden, but like a fire that had long been smothered broke suddenly forth into a great flame, partly by the solicitation of the King of England & Francis Sforce, and partly by a quarrel that happened between Robert de la March and Monsieur d'Emeriez about a Castle called Hiergie. This la March being in league with the King & in his protection, invaded his enemy with certain french forces, and destroyed certain villages within the emperors dominions, wherewith the Emperor being much grieved, took upon him the defence of d'ye Emeriez his subject, and upon this occasion began the wars in those parts the flames whereof in a moment spread over all these princes dominions, for the king perceiving the Emperors & the king of England's evil disposition towards him, determined while the Emperor was troubled with the above mentioned rebellion in Spain which as yet was unpacefed, to invade the realm of Navarra, and to restore it to Henry the true king thereof, from whose father, Ferdinand king of Spain had wrongfully taken it as before you have heard. The French army at the first had good success, & recovered in effect the whole Realm. But the French Captains puffed up with pride because of this conquest, & moved also with covetousness, hoping to obtain some goodly booty in Spain, because of the great division the country was in, entered into the Realm as far as the Groin, which their invasion united the Spaniards together that before were in division, in such sort that they set upon the French, and not only chased them out of Spain, but also pursuing them farther entered into Navarra, from whence the King's army being in distress both of victuals & money was forced to retire, & lost all the places which before they had taken in the said realm as easily as they had won them: Farther the emperors forces incited by this victory passed farther into France, and spoiled many places in the country, and then in safety returned home. In Italy also the Emperor and his confederates, took divers places in the Duchy of Milan, and made sharp wars upon the king there, wherewith the king being greatly irritated, and purposing to draw the Emperor from the wars in Italy, to look nearer home, namely into Spain, sent an army into Biscay, & took Fontarabia, and fortified it and held it till the year 1523. when the Spaniards recovered it again as hereafter you shall hear. And on an other side also the said emperors sources under the leading of the Earl of Nassau invaded Picardy, razed Musancourt, took Moson, and besieged Meziers which Captain Bayarde valiantly defended against him. Then the King with a mighty army came down in person into Picardy, purposing to fight with the said Earl of Nassau, but when he saw that he would by no means be drawn to the battle, the King departed leaving his army under the charge of the Duke of Bourbon▪ who took Hesdin & divers other towns. But the king himself after his departure out of Picardy entered into Burgundy, where he took and spoiled divers towns, while the Emperor on the other side recovered Tournay which had continued French till this time, ever since it was restored to them by the king of England who took it in the time of King LEWIS the twelfth as before you have heard, and thus proceeded the wars in these parts. Cap. 5. Pope Leo falleth from the King to the Emperor. The Imperials win Milan and soon after also Genova. Pope Leo dieth, Adrian the sixth succeedeth. The Swyssers furiously invading the Imperials camp are vanquished. The King of England defieth the King by the emperors procurement. The Turk winneth the I'll of Rhodes. NOw to return to the wars of Italy, Pope Leo seeing the emperors great success, began to strange his mind from the king, and secretly entered into league with the said Emperor, pretending divers injuries done unto him by the king's Ministers in the Duchy of Milan, but indeed burning with a desire to recover Parma and Placentia, which himself as you have heard had after the battle of Marignian yielded to the king. So the Pope, the Emperor, and Francis Sforce joined together against the king, and took Milan (which Monsieur de Lautrech defended against them as long as he could) and afterwards also Come, Cremona, Alexandria, and Pavia. Notwithstanding Cremona the said Lautrech recovered soon after again and the Castle of Milan held still for the king. While these wars in the Duchy of Milan endured died Pope Leo, and in favour of the Emperor, Adrian the sixth a Holander & the said emperors schoolmaster, notwithstanding that he were at that time absent in Spain was chosen Pope. The French being renforced with new 1522. supplies namely with 10000 Swyssers entered again into the Duchy of Milan, and came before Milan & Pavia, which were so defended against them by Prospero Colonna, that they were forced to departed and abandon their siege. Whereupon the Swyssers that served in the king's army, being weary of the wars came to Monsieur de Lautrech and told him that except he would fight with the enemy the next day they would departed home, which the said Lautrech at the first refused to do, alleging the great disadvantage they should fight with, because they must of force assault the enemies in their camp, where Prospero Colonna and the Marquis of Pescara were so strongly fortified that he could not but utterly despair of the victory. But notwithstanding all these reasons fight he must with all these disaduauntages, the Swyssers hoping of as good success here as they had against the French, when they assaulted them in their camp at Novara. But the issue fell out clean contrary, for notwithstanding that these Swyssers furiously assaulted the enemy's camp, yet were they repulsed and a great number of them slain, the French in very good order retiring themselves. This battle is called the battle of Bicocque. The Swissers after the battle returned home not once taking their leave of Lautrech, who also having lost the whole Duchy of Milan through this mutinous rashness of the Swyssers returned into France to the king, leaving at his departure Monsieur de Lescun his brother governor in Italy of those Pieces that held yet for the king, but for want both of men and money, service he could do none, so that the Imperials took Cremona and soon after also Genova, and lastly the Castle of Milan was also yielded to them. The Emperor whose affairs fell out according to his desire passed into Spain, & by the way landed in England and so prevailed with king Henry that he declared himself Imperial, and sent a Herrault to defy the king. Farther they both sent Ambassadors to Venice to dissuade them from the king's friendship and to persuade them to enter into league with them, which also they obtained in the end. But you shall understand that while these Christian Princes warred thus one upon an other, the Turk to the reproach of them all won the I'll of Rhodes being as it were the bulwark of all Christendom. And notwithstanding that the great master of the Rhodes sent to all these Princes for aid: yet were they so inflamed one against another, that they preferred their own private quarrels before the public defence. Cha. 6. The Venetians forsake the King, The Duke of Bourbon falleth also from him, The Emperor invadeth Biscay, recovereth Fontarabia, The King of England invadeth Picardy. Bourbon invadeth Burgundy. Bonivet invadeth Milan for the king but with evil success. Pope Adrian dieth, Clement the seventh succeedeth. The Emperor invadeth France but with evil success. THE treaty above mentioned with the Venetians was so earnestly pursued 1523. that in the end they forsook the king, & entered into league with the Emperor, with the Archduc Ferdinand his brother, and with Francis Sforce invested by the Emperor Duke of Milan, so that it was thought the king would now attempt no thing in Italy, having so many enemies, & his especial friends namely the Venetians being become his foes, but it fell otherwise out as hereafter you shall hear. In the mean time Pope Adrian being come out of Spain into Italy compounded the controversy between the Duke of Ferrare and the Church, and endeavoured to reconcile all those Princes together and to convert their Arms against the Turk, but all in vain. About this time also Charles Duke of Bourbon Constable of France and the greatest prince in the Realm revolted from the king to the Emperor. divers causes are alleged by divers men of his revolt. But I think ambition to have been the only cause thereof, For he being a Prince of great courage, and greatly beloved in the Realm, was persuaded that he could have drawn the greatest part of the Realm after him, and was promised in marriage Elinor the emperors sister widow of Emanuel king of Portugal, and to have the earldom of Province conquered by the arms of the Emperor and the King of England, and erected into a Kingdom delivered to him. And he for his part promised if the Emperor would give him the leading of twelve thousand Lancknights to conquer all Burgundy from the king, and to restore it to the said Emperor who claimed it as heir to Charles the last Duke of Burgundy slain by the Swyssers at the battle of Naucy in the year 1476. Thus oftentime are the noblest wits so drowned with an overgreat opinion of themselves, that they hold those enterprises for easy which are indeed impossible to be achieved. Notwithstanding the Emperor used his help in the wars, and he showed extreme hatred against the king and his country all the time of his life, for the which most men blame him and few commend him. The Emperor having stirred up almost all the Princes of Christendom against the king, meant to assault him on all sides, and so to destract his forces that he should have enough to do to defend his own, and by that means not be able to offend him in Italy. Wherefore first he sent an army to invade Biscay which besieged Bayonne but could not take it, but Fontarabia they recovered from the French, God so disposing of this matter that each party should hold their own and no more: on the other side the king of England sent the Duke of Suffolk with a mighty army to invade Picardy. But God having commiseration as it is to be thought of the poor Realm of France, caused the said English army for want of victuals and money to return home without any matter of moment done. The Duke of Bourbon likewise invading Burgundy had no better success, for being entered with his twelve thousand Lance-knights into the country, both his money and his intelligences failed him, and his soldiers wanting pay left him, and the most part of them went to serve the king. Thus God fought for the king as long as he stood upon the defence of his own Realm, but out of his own Realm his success was far otherwise. God as it is to be thought punishing his ambition in moving unnecessary wars abroad to trouble the state of Italy, and not being contented with his large, rich, and flourishing Realm at home. For you shall understand that at this time he was himself passing with a mighty army into Italy to recover the Duchy of Milan, as though without Milan the king of France were not worthy the name of king. And notwithstanding that Bourbons revolt and the invasions above mentioned stayed his own person in France: yet his army consisting of 34000. men, he sent into Italy under the leading of the Admiral Bonivet, to recover the said Duchy of Milan. Prospero Colonna being governor of Milan for the Emperor and Francis Sforce met with this French army at the River of Th●sin with purpose to stop their passage, but that notwithstanding they passed the river and Prospero was forced to retire to Milan, whether if Bonivet had presently followed him and given him no leisure to fortify the town, it is thought he mought have taken it without any resistance. But the actions of great soldiers are not to be censured by the judgement of the vulgar sort many reasons & great dangers mought move him to forbear to give Prospero the chase & attempt to take the town by force, which he being general concealed to himself, and delivered not to the notice of men. About this time died Pope Adrian & to him succeeded julius Cardinal of M●dices by the name of Clement the seventh. The French army above mentioned under the leading of Bonivet besieged Milan during the which siege Prospero Coulonne died in his bed, & to the relief of the town came the Marquis of Pescara with new supplies, and likewise the Duke of Bourbon (having failed of his enterprise in Burgundy) with 7000. Landsknights levied in Allmaigne by Ferdinand the emperors brother, by means whereof (the Venetians also joining with the Imperials, and the Swyssers that came to the succour of the French, traitorously refusing to pass the river of Seuze & to join with the Admiral's army) the French were forced not only to abandon the siege, but also with great loss of men, & especially of the noble captain Bayarde to retire into France, Bourbon and the Imperials continually charging them on the back as they marched. This success had the king in Italy, and no better had the Emperor in France, who about the end of this year invaded in person with a mighty army the Realm of France from the frontiers of Spain, supposing the small exploit done before Bayonne to have proceeded from the negligence of his Captains, & Saweterre he took a place of small importance, which being done, his courage being greater than his ability to entertain so mighty an army & lacking both money & victuals which could hardly follow him in those strait passages, besides that the hard weather coming on which is very terrible in that rocky, and mountain country: he was forced to dismiss his army & return home, & to abandon this enterprise, which he had attempted against the advice of all his best soldiers and Captains. Cap. 7. Queen claud of France dieth, Bourbon invadeth Province, but is soon forced to retire, The king invadeth Milan, and is taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia. IN julie in the year 1524. died Queen claud 1524. at Bloys greatly to the king's grief, for she was a most wise and virtuous Lady. The Imperials having chased the French army clean out of the Duchy of Milan as before you have heard, but knowing the king's magnanimity to be such that he would not fail to attempt the recovery thereof, determined to invade him first in his own Country, thereby to cause him to attend to the defence of his own Realm, & to stay him from trobling the Emperor on the other side of the mountains. Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon with a mighty army entered into Province promising the Emperor to work wonders there for his service, and besieged Marseilles. But the king in person with a great army came to secure the town, whereupon Bourbon for all his great brags and the Imperials, were forced to levic their siege, and in great haste retired to Milan, whether the king with his whole army followed them, & soon recovered Milan and in a manner the whole country, except Pavia, before the which he went and laid his siege. Whereupon the Pope entered into league with him, and the Swyssers who the last year had traitorously refused to join with the Admiral Bonivet's army and had abandoned the French as before you have heard, returned to the king's service again. But while the king lay before the siege of Pavia and had brought it to extreme necessity. Bourbon went into Germany, and brought with him 6000. footmen and 2000 horse: Farther 6000. Rhetians being corrupted by the Imperials abandoned the king's camp and returned home, leading also certain bands of Swyssers away with them. The king also by the Pope's persuasion had sent the Duke of Albany from the siege of Pavia with 10000 footmen and 600. horse to invade the Realm of Naples, supposing to draw the imperials thither for the defence of that Realm, which notwithstanding wisely they forbore to do, knowing the Realm of Naples to be in sufficient safety if they overthrew the king. Thus the king's camp being by the departure of those above mentioned greatly weakened, and the forces that remained with him, through the corruption of his officers not being the one half of the number that he paid, which was a wonderful thing that such an abuse should be offered to a Prince being with his army in person himself: the imperials being ignorant of none of these disorders, determined to invade him in his own Camp, where through the defect of courage in the Swyssers he was taken prisoner, himself fight more valiantly than any man in his army: many of the nobility were slain and many taken, and the Swyssers were in manner all cut in pieces by the Landsknights, in revenge of the ancient hatred between the said Swyssers and them. This battle is called the battle of Pavia, and was fought upon Saint Mathias day, being the day of the emperors Nativity in the year 1525. according to the Italians but 1524. according to the French, which variance ariseth as before I have mentioned because the one begin the year upon the first of Januarie and the other not before Easter. The Duke of Albany after the king's captivity by the Pope's means passed by sea with his army safely into France. Thus was this noble King through the disorders principally proceeding from his own officers and Captains taken prisoner as you have heard, who not being dismayed with this sudden blow of fortune, behaved himself with such princely magnanimity, that he was honoured & had in admiration even of his enemies in such sort that his captivity blemished not, but rather caused his noble virtues the more to shine, as by this one example which I will rehearse shall well appear. So soon as he was brought to his lodging he sent for the leaders of the Imperial army, and told them that he had a suit unto them which he trusted they would not deny him. Whereunto when they seemed doubtful what answer to make, supposing it to be some great matter of difficulty that they mought not adventure to grant without the emperors privity, he perceiving their imagination, told them it was no such important suit that required any such doubt, only his desire was that the young French boys taken in the battle mought not remain with the Italians, but in exchange of other prisoners be delivered to the Spaniards, which was presently granted and executed accordingly, though not without great admiration of the imperials, who wondered that the king forgetting his own misfortune being of a Prince made a prisoner in one day, could remember to be so careful of the chastity of these young boys. Cha. 8. The King of England confederateth himself with the estate of France, and the Princes and states of Italy themselves against the Emperor. The imperials seize upon the Duchy of Milan. The King saileth into Spain. The treaty of Madrid. The king is delivered, The Children of France go in hostage into Spain. T The Emperor having received the 1525. news of the king's captivity, seemed to take it very modestly, forbidding all signs of joy to be used, & alleging that we ought to rejoice at the overthrow of Turks and infidels but not of any Christian Prince, which his modest behaviour put the world in great hope that he would deliver the king with such honourable conditions as mought establish a quiet peace in Christendom & perpetual amity between them twain. But his rigour to the king afterwards declared his spirit to be far from any such moderation as his external beehaviour made show of. Farther you shall understand that the king of England upon the receipt of these news, levied amighty army purposing in person to invade France, but he continued not long in that mind upon these occasions following. First certain difficulties arose between the Emperor and him, the king demanding, bearing but equal charges with the Emperor, an unequal part of the conquest of France, and the Emperor hoping to obtain better conditions of the King of France by making peace, than he should do if he joined with the king of England by making war. secondarily the Cardinal of YORK being altogether French, and enemy to the Emperor dissuaded the king of England from farther joining with the Emperor, who was already so mighty, that his greatness was become terrible to all his neighbours round about him. Thirdly after the battle of Pavia the Emperor seemed not to make so great account of the king of England as before he had done, for first he refused to marry the Lady Mary the king of England's daughter being very young, and married the sister of John king of Portugal, as hereafter you shall hear, with whom he received a great mass of money whereof he stood in great need. Farther whereas before the battle of Pavia, he never wroat letter to the king of England but with his own hand and with this subscrption Your son and Cousin Charles, after the battle he never wroat letter with his own hand nor with other subscription than his simple name Charles, all the which reasons caused the king of England by little and little to strange himself from the emperors friendship. But the thing that most wrought the alteration of his mind was that the Lady Regent of France the king's mother sent unto him a gentleman with letters very humbly wrtiten, wherein she signified unto him, that it was not honourable for so noble a Prince as he was, to invade a king being Captive, & a Christian Realm afflicted with the captivity of their Prince, which submission pierced so deeply into the breast of this courageous king, that presently he not only dismissed his army which he had levied to his charge, not demanding one penny in regard thereof: but also from that day forward became the greatest friend that the Realm of France had, and entered into league with the Regent for the delivery of the king her son, for the accomplishment also whereof, the said king of England so earenestly travailed with all the states of Christendom, that in the end he effected it, in such sort that so soon as king Francis had set foot in France, the first thing he did was, that presently he wroat a letter of thanks to king Henry advertising him of his liberty, for the which he acknowledged himself more beehoulding to him then to all the Princes of Christendom beside. Such true nobility reigned in Princes being in hostility, at those days, whereas now this age is so far degenerated from the magnanimity of their fathers, that one Prince seeketh to take away an others life by treason, murder, poison and such like villainous attempts, which the heathen themselves detested and abhorred. But to return to our History. The king's captivity astonished not only France but also all Italy, because all the Princes and states thereof seemed now wholly to depend upon the emperors clemency, none of them being able to stand upon his own strength. The Pope especially was not a little grieved with this accident, who notwithstanding that for his present safety he made an accord with the Imperials as did also the Venetians: yet their heart was far from it, as the sequel well declared: for secretly & under hand they practised to make a league between the state of France, the Pope, the Venetians, and the duke of Milan, against the Emperor, which confederacy the imperials having discovered, presently seized all the Duchy of Milan to the emperors use, save the Castle of Milan into the which the Duke put himself and endured the siege, and the Castle of Cremona, both the which notwithstanding the imperials environed with trenches on all sides. But this seizing of the said Duchy caused the league to discover itself sooner than otherwise it would. The king to the end he mought the sooner recover his liberty went into Spain, hoping by present conference with the Emperor, the sooner to compound all their controversies. But the emperors rigour was such in rude handling him, never once vouchsafing to come to see him, and propounding such unreasonable conditions as the king without the ruin of his Realm could not accept: that the King fell into a most dangerous and almost desperate disease for very grief of mind. Wherefore the Emperor doubting to lose the fruits of his victory by the king's death, came & visited him, & so in the end peace was concluded between them at Madrid, the 14 of February 1525. after the French, but after the Italians 1526. being just a year lacking but 10. days since the kings captiutie. But you shall understand that the conditions of this treaty were so unreasonable that (as it is reported) the King protested he would not observe them, when he should be returned into his Realm, especially the articles for the restitution of Burgundy to the Emperor, and the releasing of his sovereignty over Flaunders Notwithstanding for the performance of this treaty Francis and Henry the king's Children were delivered in hostage to the Emperor, and for farther continuance of amity between these two Princes it was agreed that the king should marry Elinor the emperors sister, promised as before you have heard to the Duke of Bourbon, but never with any meaning to perform it. And thus was the King delivered, with promise that if he would not perform the treaty, he should return prisoner into Spain. Cap. 9 The Emperor marrieth, France refuseth the treaty of Madrid. The king's confederates in Italy, beesiege Milan twice, but in vain. The Pope is twice taken prisoner by the imperials, Rome is sacked. Bourbon is slain at the asault. The King of England and France defy the Emperor. The Pope is restored to liberty. Genova returneth to the King's obedience. The King invadeth Milan and the Realm of Naples, but by reason of the revolt of Andre D'oria to the Emperor, and the plague that entered into the French camp, his enterprise was overthrown. ABout the beginning of this year 1526. the Emperor having refused 1526. the king of England's daughter as before you have heard, married Isabella Daughter of Emanuel and sister to John King of Portugal. The king being returned into his Realm complained greatly of the emperors great inhumanity towards him, and his unprincely usage of him, being far different from the entertainment that Edward the third king of England gave to king John of France taken prisoner by the Prince of Wales at the battle of Poicters. Farther he assembled the estates of his Realm, who according to the King's mind utterly condemned the treaty of Madrid, as forced upon a prisoner by violence and not being in the king's power to perform, and thus was the treaty broken and the Emperor deluded, and so his own council told him he should be, before the King's delivery, unless he altered some points of the treaty. Notwithstanding the King offered him two millions of crowns for the delivery of his children, and divers other honourable conditions in consideration of the articles for the restitution of Burgundy, and the release of the sovereignty of Flaunders, which the Emperor utterly rejected, charging the king with perjury, because not performing the treaty, he returned not prisoner again according to his promise. But the Pope vountarily without entreaty had assoiled him of that oath. The king perceiving the emperors obstinacy, renewed his league with the king of England, and farther confederated himself in Italy with the Pope, the Venetians, the Duke of Milan and divers other states against the Emperor, who all jointly sent unto him for the delivery of the king's children, offering him very honourable conditions in consideration thereof if he would accept of them, but finding him to stand stiffly upon the treaty of Madrid, and that he would admit no other conditions they jointly began war upon him & invaded his dominions in Italic, & came with their army before Milan hoping to take it & to deliver the duke of Milan who held the Castle as yet, but they failed of their purpose, & were constrained with dishonour to levy their siege notwithstanding that their army came twice to the relief of the said castle of Milan, which the duke considering, despairing of succours, & being almost starved in the castle for victuals, he made a composition with the duke of Bourbon governor of Milan for the Emperor, whereby he yielded the castle into his hands, and it was agreed that Coma being held by the Imperials should be delivered to the duke of Milan, & that there he should reside till the Emperor had heard his justification. The Emperor sent against the confederates a mighty army under the leading of the said duke of Bourbon, and sought also to stir up a rebellion against the Pope in Rome itself by means of the Coulonnois, who by cunning took him prisoner in the vatican, & made him yield to such conditions of peace as pleased them, and constrained him to abandon his league with the confederates and to enter into league with the Imperials, & with these conditions he was delivered by them. But that notwithstanding, the duke 1527. of Bourbon whose army wanting pay desired no thing more than to be enriched with the spoil of Rome, marched directly against the city, took it, & sacked it though with the loss of his own life. The Pope with many of his Cardinals was imprisoned in the castle of Saint Angelo, & put to their ransom, & constrained to yield to such conditions of peace as it pleased the Imperials to propound unto them. The Emperor hearing these news, seemed in outward show to sorrow greatly for the Pope's imprisonment, & the sacking of Rome, but the truth is he was glad of it at his very heart, which also well appeared, because that notwithstanding, he ceased not the pastimes & triumphs that he had appointed for the birth of his son. But the king of France and England sent their Ambassadors to the Emperor demanding the Pope's delivery. And being entered into a strait league together by means of the Cardinal of York, who came this year with wondered pomp to Amiens to the king, they both sent their Heralds to defy the Emperor, & farther the king gave the Emperor the lie, & sent unto him a cartel of defiance, wherein he challenged the combat of him. But the Emperor seeing so many Princes and states against him, restored the Pope to his liberty, and about this time Genova by means of Andre D'oria being then in service with the King returned to the King's obedience. Whereupon forth with 1528. the king levying a mighty army, sent it under the leading of Monsieur de Lautrech into Italy, which recovered divers towns in the Duchy of Milan, and besieged & took Pavia, & sacked it in revenge of the king's captivity, & had so good success there that it is thought the French mought have recovered not only Milan, but also the whole country. But the Pope being set at liberty, either to be revenged of the Emperor, or in hope to have the Realm of Naples for himself, according to the agreement in his confederacy with the King, persuaded the king to withdraw his army out of the Duchy of Milan where his affairs prospered well, and to send Lautrech to invade the said Realm of Naples, which the king to gratify the Pope was contented to do. Lautrech recovered all the said Realm save Naples itself, which he also besieged. But during that siege Anáre D'oria who with the French navy held the town enclosed by sea, suddenly left the king, and went to the emperors service, by means whereof the imperials were masters of the Sea which before the French commanded. Farther the said D'oria revolted Genova also from the king, & did much mischief to the French by sea. But their greatest misfortune, and the very ruin of this enterprise was the plague which entered into the French camp, whereof Lautrech himself died, and whereby his army was so extenuated that the siege was abandoned, and the French forced to return home having lost all that they had before taken as well in the said Realm as in the Duchy of Milan. Cap. 10. Peace is concluded at Cambray. The Children of France are delivered, the King marrieth the emperors sister. The Emperor is crowned, Florence is besieged and yielded to the Pope, Ferdinand is chosen king of Romans'. BUT in the end peace was concluded 1529. between these princes at Cambray, for all parts were weary of the wars, and the king's children were restored unto him for the sum of two millions of crowns, which were presently to be paid in this sort. First the king was presently to pay to the king of England for the Emperor 400000. crowns of debt which the Emperor heretofore had borrowed of the said King. Farther he was likewise to pay to the said king of England for the Emperor 500000. crowns forfeited by the Emperor to the said king, for refusing to marry the La die Marie the king of England's daughter, and marrying the princess of Portugal, upon payment of the which sums the king was to redeem all the emperors obligations out of the king of England's hands, and to deliver them to the Emperor. Thirdly he was to redeem out of the said king of England's hands a jewel engaged to the said kings father by the Archduc Philip father to the Emperor for 50000 crowns, being a flower deluce set with stones, which because it had been a jewel of Philip surnamed Le bon duke of Burgundy the Emperor made no small account of, the rest of the two millions was presently to be paid to the Emperor himself, & these conditions being performed the Children of France to be delivered otherwise not. T The emperors purpose in turning the king of England's debt upon the king was this. First he hoped that the king, his Realm being impoverished and consumed with the long wars that it had endured, should not be able to make present payment of so huge a mass of money as was to be paid, first to the Emperor himself, and secondarily to the king of England, for the redeeming of the emperors bonds and jewels out of his hands, without present payment whereof, he assured himself that the king of England would not deliver the foresaid bonds and jewels, and by that means the children of France should remain his prisoners still. Neither was he out of hope that happily some variance would arise between these two kings about payment of the money, and so their friendship be dissolved, which was the principal mark he shot at, and as also partly it fell out in the end as hereafter you shall hear. But the king of England perceiving the emperors cunning, and not being ignorant of the poor estate the Realm of France was fallen into, having sustained such a continual tempest of wars against so many mighty enemies, ever since the beginning of the reign of king LEWIS the twelfth till this very time as by the course of this History above written you may easily perceive of a noble and heroical mind, sent Sir Francis Brian, with all the emperors obligations and the said jewel to king Francis, willing him on his part to signify unto the king, first for the 400000. crowns of debt dew unto the said king of England by the Emperor, the king his master would give the King liberty to pay them in five years. The 500000. crowns forfeited to him by the Emperor for not marrying the Lady Mary the said king of England's Daughter he would frankly give him, and the flower de luce he would likewise give to his Godson Henry Duke of ORLEANS the king's second son, and thus was the said flower de luce and all the emperors obligations by the king of England's commandment delivered contrary to the emperors expectation into the king's hands, and the said Emperor satisfied in all his demands, & thereupon the king's children set at liberty, the article for the restitution of Burgundy released, and the amity between the two kings continued. And the next year 1530. the king married Elinor 1530. the emperors sister, and the said Emperor received the crown Imperial of the Pope at Bolonia upon Saint Mathias day being his birth day where the peace between the king & him was sworn anew. All the states of Italy were reconciled to the Emperor, Francis Sforce was restored to his duchy of Milan, and the Emperor was invested by the Pope of the Realm of Naples, who also at the Pope's request sent an army to besiege Florence, because the Florentines during the time of the Pope's imprisonment in the hands of the Imperials, had chased all the house of Medici's out of Florence and spoiled all their goods. In this siege the Prince of Orange general of the emperors army was slain. But the said City was so distressed that in the end it yielded, & was delivered into the Pope's hands, who punished them with great severity, suppressed their liberties and clean altered their state. This year also Ferdinand the emperors brother was chosen King of Romans', and the Realm of France for certain years remained in peace. Cap. II. The Practices of the kings of France and England against the Emperor. The Turk invadeth Hungary. The Pope and the Emperor meet at Bolonia, and the Pope and the king at Marseilles. Henry the king's son marrieth the Pope's niece. The King of England falleth from the Pope, Pope Clement dieth, Paulus the third succeedeth. The Duke of Wirtemberg recovereth his Duchy. NOtwithstanding both the KING'S 1531. mind & likewise the king of England's were exulcerated against the Emperor, the one because he saw himself dispossed of the Duchy of Milan, the conquest whereof had been so chargeable both to his predecessor and to him, & the other because the Emperor defended against him, the cause of his Aunt, wife to the said king of England, & dissuaded the Pope from granting any Bull of divorce between him and the said Lady, whom the king was desirous to put away because she had been first his brother's wife, and by the laws of God could not be lawful wife to him. But the king of France was so impourished, and wearied with long wars, that he thought it not time to attempt aught against the Emperor as yet. Notwithstanding he laboured to draw the Pope to his party, by offering a marriage between the second son of France & Catherine niece to the said Pope, which afterward also took effect. And not content therewith, he sought also to stir up the Turk against the Emperor, and farther both he and the king of England practised a confederacy with such of the Princes of Germany as they knew to be evil affected to him. In this year also the king's mother died, and the duchy of Britain was incorporated to the crown of France. In the year 1532. the Turk by the king's persuasion as the Emperor said invaded Hungary, & having 1532. spoiled and rob all the Country returned suddenly to Constantinople, contrary to the expectation of the king of England and France, both the which hating the Emperor most deadly, met together about this time at Bouloyne, and after went both together to Calais, where they were agreed to have proclaimed war against the Emperor during the Turks invasion of Hungary. But the Turks sudden departure out of the said Realm, and his return to Constantinople caused them to alter their minds, and to defer the war till a more convenient time. Notwithstanding wisely they gave forth, that their meeting was to confer together how to make resistance against the Turck, & the better to colour their pretence, they sent Ambassadors to divers Princes of Germany, & other potentates of christendom, to persuade than to enter into league with them against the said Turck. But the Emperor 1533. on the otherside not being ignorant of these their practices came into Italy, and the Pope and he met together at Bolonia, where in outward demonstrations were great signs of love and amity. But it well appeared that their hearts were far asunder, for the Emperor obtained no thing of that he desired. For first he persuaded the Pope to bestow his niece Catherine of Medici's upon Francis Sforce Duke of Milan, and secondarily that he would assemble a general council both the which were denied him, only the Pope at the emperors earnest solicitation, and because he would not altogether discontent him, agreed to enter into league with the Emperor, with the king of Romans his brother, and the other potentates of Italy (all save the Venetians who refused to be comprehended in the said league) for the defence of their estates in Italy, and each man was rated what charges he should bear in those wars. But with what mind this league was made soon after well appeared, for the Emperor was no sooner departed into Spain, but the Pope & the king met at Marseilles, where the marriage between the second son of France and the Pope's niece was accomplished, & farther the king moved the Pope for the Bull of divorce between the king of Engand and his wife the emperors Aunt, which had before been granted in the year 1529. and sent into England to Cardinal Campegius, in whose hands it remained till the Pope for fear of the Emperor commanded it to be burned, and at this time also notwithstanding the king's solicitation for the same reason it could not be obtained. Wherefore the king of England withdrew himself and 1534. his Realm from the Pope's obedience, and proclaimed himself supreme head of the Church within his own dominions. Soon after this meeting the Pope died, and Alexander Farnese succeeded him by the name of Paul, the third. Farther the Duke of Wirtemberg joining unto him the landgrave of Hesse, by the kings solicitation & with his money invaded the Duchy of Wirtemberg, whereof the said Duke had before been dispossessed by the king of Romans', and recovered it little to the said king of Romans' contentment, who notwithstanding fearing farther troubles in the absence of his brother the Emperor in Spain, was forced to wink thereat. This year also Solyman the great Turck was overthrown and put to flight in Persia by the Sophy. Cha. 12. The Emperor winneth Tunis and Gouletta in Afric. The king establisheth legions of footmen in France. Wars between the Emperor & the King about Savoy. The Emperor invadeth Province with evil success. Nassau beesiegeth Perona in vain. The King invadeth Picardy and Artoys. The wars of Picmont and Salusses, truce for three months. THE Emperor being in peace with the king made a journey into Africa 1535. and conquered Thunis and Gouletta, and so victoriously returned into Italy. The king in the mean time established divers laws for the good government of his Realm, and withal made also great provision for the wars, for he levied in his Realm an army of 50000. footmen which were in continual pay, and were divided into Legions after the ancient Roman discipline, and these were always in a readiness to offend or defend as occasion required. In the mean time died the Duke of Milan, and the whole country was yielded to the Emperor, who seeing the king in a readiness with so mighty an army, and doubting that he would upon a sudden invade the said Duchy of Milan, being utterly unfurnished at that time of all things necessary for defence: thought good to temporize with the king, and to entertain him with communication of marriage between the Dauphin and the princess of Portugal daughter to Queen Elinor, and likewise between Monsieur d'ye Angoulesme the kings third son & the Princess of Spain the emperors daughter, but notwithstanding all this temporizing, the hatred these two princes bore the one to the other could no longer be smothered, but broke out into a bloody war upon this occasion which I will now rehearse. The king claimed the duchy of Savoy as appertaining to him in the right of his mother, 1536. for the which cause he invaded it with his army and conquered the whole country. The duke was entered into league with the Emperor and prayed aid of him, who sent Anthony Leva to his relief. But the King's army being first in a readiness chased the Savoyan clean out of his Country before the emperors aid could come unto him. The Emperor came to Rome where in the consistory, he made a most bitter invective against the king, whereunto the King answered by writing at large. Farther the said Emperor seeing his confederate the Duke of Savoy thus 1537. spoiled of his country, in a great fury entered with a mighty army into Province, persuading himself soon to be Lord of all France. But after he had remained in Province a while, and saw the preparation that the king made against him, his army also being in great penury and distress, because the king had so stopped all the passages that no victuals could come to his camp, he soon returned into stalie without doing any thing worthy of remembrance, finding the Realm of France a morsel not so easy to be swallowed v●, as he imagined, on the other side the Earl of Nassau at the same time invaded Picardy and besieged Perone, but after he had lain two months before the town, he was forced to levy his siege and departed, the self same day that the Emperor retired out of Province. Then the King on the other side invaded the emperors dominions in Picardy and Artoys, where he spoiled many towns and villages, and took Hesdin both town and castle, and likewise Saint Pol which he strongly fortified. Notwithstanding the army Imperial under the leading of the Earl of Buren, soon after recovered Saint Pol, and entered into France, and took Montrevil and spoiled many other towns, and there truce was concluded between these two Prince's dominions only in those parts, for ten months. But the wars in Piedmont endured still, for you shall understand that about this time Francis Marquis of Salusses most traitorously and without any occasion left the King and went to the emperors service, for the which cause the king's army in Piedmont entered into the said Marquisate and before any aid could come to the Marquis from the Imperials, seized all the country into the king's hands. Notwithstanding soon after the army Imperial 1538. under the leading of the Marquis du Guast recovered in manner the whole country again, and restored it to the said Marquis, all save the castles of Verculo & Carmagnolla, the later also whereof they went and besieged, & there the said Marquis os Salusses was slain with a musket shot. But notwithstanding that accident, the Marquis of Guast took the said Castle of Carmagnolla, and entered into Piedmont where he recovered many places, which the King seeing, sent a mighty army into Piedmont under the leading of Henry the Dauphin his son, who presented battle to the said Marquis of Guast, which he being far inferior in forces refused. The Dauphin recovered in a manner all the places that the said Marquis had before taken. The king also himself passed in person into Piedmont. Whereupon by the mediation of the Queen of Hungary the emperors sister a general truce was concluded for three months as well for these parts as before it had been for Picardy. Cap. 13. The Pope, the Emperor, and the king, meet at Nice in Province, a truce is there concluded for ten years. The Emperor and the King meet at Aiguesmortes. The Empress dieth. Gaunt rebelleth. The Emperor passeth through France and represseth the rebellion of Gaunt. The King's Ambassadors are slain. The emperors unfortunate voyage to Argier. The Turk iwadeth Hungary. BUT the Pope seeing the miserable state Christendom was brought into, through the continual wars of these two great Princes, travailed all that he could to establish a firm peace between them, wherefore he entreated them both to meet him at Nice in Province. Whereunto they both condescended, and accordingly in june they all three met at the said place of Nice, where the Pope endeavoured to make a final peace between them, but when he perceived that could by no means be brought to pass, he concluded a truce for ten years, which being done they all departed, the Pope to go to Rome, the Emperor into Spain, and the king by avignon to return into France. But so soon as the king was arrived at avignon, he received news that the Emperor being at Villa Francha, would gladly again speak with him, and that if it pleased him to come to Aiguesmortes he would there meet him. The king sent the Queen to Villa Francha to visit her brother the Emperor, and himself followed after to Aiguesmortes, where the Emperor came on land, and dined with the King, and lodged with him all night in great demonstration of love and fraternity. Afterward also the king went with the Emperor into his galley, where they were together a long time, & so in great amity departed the Emperor into Spain and the king home. In the year 1539. died the Empress, and the town of Gaunt rebelled against the Emperor, & sent 1539. to submit themselves to the king, who not only refused them, but also advertised the Emperor thereof, who meaning in person to suppress their rebellion, and knowing the journey by sea to be long, and dangerous, because tempest mought cast him upon the coast of England, (the king whereof was his enemy) as it had done his father in times past: sent to the king, desiring him that he mought pass the next way through France, promising him the restitution of Milan for one of his sons, but he besought him not to demand any assurance thereof in writing, till he should be come into the low countries, lest he should seem to yield the said duchy not of his own accord, but by constraint to obtain his passage through France. The king agreed to all his demands, & received him into his realm, and conveyed him through it into his own dominions with all the honour that possibly mought be imagined. But after he was passed out of the realm of France, first he began to temporize about the restitution of the said Duchy of Milan till he had spoken with his brother the king of Romans', and afterwards flatly denied that he had made any such promise at all, and thus was the king deluded, agreeable whereunto certain words much used by the Emperor in his passage through France, were better understood after his said passage by the sequel that followed, than when they were uttered, for you shall understand that Monsieur de Sanssac was appointed to attend upon him with all sorts of Hawks, wherein the said Emperor seemed to take great delight, especially with flying at the Kite, which the French call Voler le Milan, in so much that he used often to ask the said Sanssac whether they should Voler le Milan. Which after his departure out of France and his deluding of the king for the restitution of the Duchy of Milan, was interpreted not to be meant of flying at the Kite, but as a jest the Emperor in his own conceit made at the King's simplicity, in beeleeving that for his passage through France he would restore the said Duchy. The said Emperor under colour and promise of pardoning the Gantoys all their offences entered 1540 with his army into Gaunt, where he made a bloody and cruel execution of all the offenders, took away their weapons, seized all their privileges, & built a Castle of the Abbey of Saint Bauon to command the town & hold it in awe in the nature of a citadelle. This dissimulation of the Emperors above mentioned touching the restitution of Milan so faithfully promised, gave the king just cause to be jealous of all his actions, and to fortify himself against him with as many friends as he could make, wherefore he sent Caesar Fregose & Ricon his Ambassadors the one to the Venetians, the other to negotiate 1541. with the Turk, who passing peaceably through the dominions of the Emperor as the kings good brother, friend and confederate, were both slain upon the River of Poe by the Marquis of Guast, and that by the emperors commandment as the King said, whose meaning was to have found their instructions about them, and so to have discovered all the king's secrets. But the said Ambassadors for the better assurance, had sent their packets an other way to Venice, & so the said Marquis failed of his purpose. The king demanded justice at the emperors hands for this wicked fact, naming unto him the men that had committed this villainous murder, & directly proving the said Marquis to have been author thereof. But because the Emperor refused to do justice herein, as reason was he should have done, it is manifest that the fact was not committed but by his commandment. In this year also the Emperor made his journey by sea into afric purposing to besiege Argier but his navy was so tossed with tempest, that with great danger of his person, and infinite loss both of treasure, munition, ships, & men, he was forced to return home. But it had been much more honourable for him to have gone to aid his brother, whom the Turk spoiled at this very time of the greatest part of Hungary, then to have attempted this voyage into afric, which the king charged the Emperor to proceed of covardise, alleging that because he durst not go against the Turk who was in person in Hungary, he chose the other enterprise as easier and of less danger: But to proceed. Cap. 14. Wars renewed between the Emperor and the king. The king invadeth the Emperor with four armies. The Emperor invadeth the Duke of Cleves. The king winneth Landersey, invadeth Luxembourg the second time. The Emperor joined with the king of England, besieged Landersey, but in vain. The causes why the king of England left the king's friendship. THe king seeing the Emperor returned from his voyage in afric, (during the which like a Christian Prince he forbore to attempt any war against him) solicited him earnestly to do justice for the murder of his two Ambassadors, and farther sent to Marie Queen of Hungary the emperors sister & regent of the low countries to have the town of S. Pol delivered to him according to the Articles of the late truce concluded between the Emperor and him. But receiving upon both these points an answer that liked him not, he determined to recover by war that which he could not obtain by reason. Wherefore he invaded the emperors 1542. dominions with four several armies. First he sent one army under the leading of the Dauphin his son to besiege Perpignian in the county of Roussilion in Spain, supposing the town to be worse provided for defence than in deed it was, and this army did him no service, but was forced to return home & relinquish the enterprise. The second army under the leading of the Duke of Orleans the king's second son, invaded the Duchy of Luxembourg, & took almost all the strong places thereof, even Luxembourg itself. Farther during the abode of the King's army before Luxembourg, certain bands were delivered to the Duke of Longueville and Martin van Rossam, who met with the prince of Orange coming to relieve the said town of Luxembourg and overthrew him, and pursued him even to Andwerpe gates, the suburbs also whereof they took & spoiled & burned them, but the town they could ●ot take, wherefore they returned to the Duke of 〈…〉 lying still at the siege of Luxembourg, and joined themselves with him. But Luxembourg being taken the king revoqued home his son, whose back was no sooner turned, but the imperials presently recovered all the said Duchy from the French. The third army under the leading of the Duke of Vendosme invaded Artoys and spoiled all the country, and took divers small places, and that being done, the said Duke lodged his army all the winter in the garrison towns. The fourth army was sent into Piedmont with a purpose to have entered into the Duchy of Milan. But the Emperor had provided well for the defence thereof, besides that to stay the French from attempting aught against the said Duchy of Milan, the Marquis of Guast was sent into Piedmont to make head against the French, where between him and Monsieur de Langey general of the French forces, who died during these wars, and afterward between him and the Marshaled Annebault many feats of arms but no great exploit was done, & thus these four armies stood the king in an excessive charge and turned him neither to honour nor profit. Notwithstanding the army that was in Picardy under the leading of the Duke of Vendosme, winter being past, put itself again into the field and took divers places in Artoys, and namely Lilliers a little 1543. but a strong town & likewise Bapaulme, & burned them both, finding almost no resistance in the country, because the Emperor had withdrawn all his forces out of the strong places, and sent for them to aid him against the Duke of Cleves, upon whom he made war, and whose country he conquered and subdued at this present. But the King in the mean time to withdraw the Emperor from invading the said Duke of Cleves being the kings confederate, entered with a mighty army into the emperors dominions & took Landersey and fortified it, and afterward also sent the Duke of Orleans again to invade the Duchy of Luxembourg, who won divers towns in that Country and namely recovered Luxembourg itself, which was now the second time taken by the French. The Emperor on the other side being aided by the king of England besieged Landersey fortified by the French as you have heard, whether the King came in person with a mighty army to relieve the town, in such sort that the two armies joined so near together that the battle was assuredly looked for. But the king having sufficiently victualled and relieved the town which was the only cause of his coming, retired safely with his army into France, and the Emperor soon after, for want of victuals, and because of the continual rain that fell, & the winter that approached, about the seventh or eighth of November levied his siege. A man may marvel here how it shoule come to pass that the King of England, between whom and the King had been so strait a league, and from whom so many courtesies had proceeded towards the king and his Realm in their most troubles and greatest adversities, should now become his foe and join with the Emperor (whom he had so deadly hated) in the invasion of the king's dominions. But you shall understand that this proceeded partly of the king of England's own disposition, partly through the king's fault, and partly through the emperors cunning. First as touching the King of England, true it is that as himself was a Prince of a noble and a frank mind and one that would endeavour to pleasure his friend to his uttermost power: so if himself likewise were not satisfied in all his demands at his friends hands, he was by nature apt to strange himself from his friend, not always so deeply considering as was requisite his friend's ability to accomplish that which he desired. And because he had showed himself a firm, yea almost an only friend to the realm of France during the time of the king's captivity, and afterwards at the delivery of the Children of France as before mention is made, he took it very unkindly at the king's hand. First that he paid not his money dew unto him, for the which he had given the king five years day of payment, and the payment whereof the Emperor had turned over upon the king of purpose to set these two Princes at variance as before you have heard. secondarily he was grieved that the king obtained not for him the Bull of divorce at the Pope's hands, which he was persuaded the king by his authority mought have procured, if he had dealt so earnestly in that business as friendship required that he should. Now as touching the king he failed towards the king of England in the first point that is the payment of his money, through want of ability, for the Emperor held him in such continual wars, that he was forced to levy extremely of his subjects, & never could be in case to pay debts, & as touching the second point namely the Bull of divorce, true it is that the king after the restitution of his children travailed not so earnestly in the business as before he had done, either because he held somewhat of the disposition of his country men, who are said to remember good turns no longer than they be in doing, or because he was loath to offend the Emperor, with whom he had concluded peace & whose sister he had married, or because he found the Pope obstinate, or a feared to grant the Bull in respect of the Emperor's greatness in Italy, or lastly because he held the case desperate, especially after the king of England's revolt from the Pope. Whether any of these reasons, or all of them, or some other unknown to us caused him to deal cowldly in the king of England's business we can but divine, but certain it is that the king's remissness in this cause mightily grieved the King of England, and diminished a great part of his love towards the king. Lastly as touching the Emperor, he used exceeding cunning to sever these two Princes, whose amity he saw to be the countermine of all his practices and proceedings. For first he turned over his own debt to the king of England, upon the king of France, of purpose to cast a bone between them to set them at variance as before you have heard: Farther so soon as he perceived the king of England's mind to be a little alienated from the king, he failed not to do his endeavour to aggravate every small unkindness, and to make a mountain of every moulehill. Besides this he wroate passing kind letters to the king of England, desiring him to remember the old friendship that had ever been between the house of Burgundy and the Realm of England, and likewise not to forget the ancient enmity and the many quarrels that were yet depending between England and France, adding that if any unkindness had passed between them two in regard of his Aunt's cause, it was now clean forgotten on his part by his Aunt's death, intimating farther unto him, that if he the said Emperor would embrace the king of France his friendship: the king offered to enter into league with him, and to abandon his league with the said king of England, or any other prince in Christendom that the said Emperor should mislike of. And at such times as the Emperor had these purposes in his head, he would in appearance make so much of the king of France, and have such conference with him and his Ambassadors, and seem so wholly in all matters to depend upon his direction and advise, that he made not only the king of England, but all the kings other confederates in Christendom to doubt that he meant to do as the emperors letters reported, namely to enter into league with him, and to forsake all his other friends, and thus underhand the Emperor made the king himself the instrument to cut his own throat, and to sever from him all his friends. Whereunto I also add that to draw the king of England to his party & to join arms with him, he offered him of the conquest of France what portion he would desire himself, and by these means was the King of England won from the King's friendship, and sent a Herrault to defy the King, and presently passed over his forces to join with the Emperor before Landercy as already you have heard. But to return to the matter. Cap. 15. The Turk joined with the king's forces, take Nice in Province, the Emperor entereth into Cambray. Furstembergs success in the duchy of Luxembourg. The English spoil the Country of Bouloynoys. The wars in Piedmont, and the battle of Serizoles. The Emperor recovereth Luxembourg, he and the King of England invade France. The King of England winneth Boloyn, peace between all these Princes. The death of the Kings of England and France. THe King seeing himself thus invaded by the Emperor and the King of England, was forced to pray in aid of the Turk, who sent his navy to join with the Kings in the siege of Nice in Province, and the town they took & therein executed great cruelty, but the Castle they could not take, wherefore they retired themselves. The Emperor on the other side by cunning entered into the town of Cambray, and in appearance left them in their ancient liberty, but indeed so bridled them, by a citadelle which he caused the Citizen's themselves at their own charge to build, and into the which he put a garrison of his own soldiers, that he brought them to plain slavery and bondage. Farther the said Emperor sent also William Eatle of Furstemberg with an army to recover Luxembourg, who recovered divers places in the country, & went and laid his siege before Luxembourg itself, but hearing of the prince of Melphes coming to secure the town, he levied his siege & retired into Allemayne, & the French recovered all the places that before they had lost. But the English on the other side spoiled and foraged all the country of Boulonoys. The king having succoured Luxembourg, sent an army into Pie mont under the leading of the Earl of Anghien a most valiant young prince, who won divers towns there & in the Marquisat of Salusses from the Marquis of Guast general of the emperors forces, & went and besieged Carignan, whether the said Marques 1544. with the army imperial came to levy the siege, but the French at a place called Serizoles, gave him battle and overthrew him, & slew 7000. of his army and took 2000 prisoners. After the which battle the said Monsieur d'Anghien took Carignan and divers other towns in Piedmont & in the Marquisat of Montferrat. But on the other side the Emperor with a huge army invaded the Duchy of Luxembourg, and recovered Luxembourg the chief City thereof, and divers other towns, and namely S. Disier, which last was taken with great difficulty, & long defended itself against the Imperial army. This year also the Emperor & the king of England being confederated together, invaded France with so great forces, that it is reported above 80000. men to have been in both their armies. Their purpose was to have sacked Paris, as undoubtedly they had done, if the king of England had marched forward according to his promise to the Emperor, & had not stayed at the siege of Bouloyne, by means whereof the Emperor seeing his army to be in distress of victuals, & that the English army marched not forward to his succour according to their agreement, concluded peace with the king and retired his forces out of France. In the mean time the king of England won Boloyne which was yielded to him by Monsieur de Veruins the fourth of September, which being done the king of England returned home and landed at Dover the first of October. Notwithstanding the next year after many skirmishes and feats of arms done between the french 1545. and English as well by sea as land, peace was treated off between these two Kings, and in the end after many difficulties concluded, but not proclaimed before Whitsonday being the thirteenth of june 1546. & thus God miraculously preserved the Realm of France, which undoubtedly had stood in great danger, if God had not put into the king of England's head to stay at the siege of Boulonie and not to march forward to join with the Emperor as he ought to have done, which his error in all appearance was the preservation of the Realm of France. The Emperor having made peace with the king entered into war against the Protestants of 1546. Germany, and both he & they sent to king Frances for aid, but he refused to give aid to either of them, promising to be an indifferent friend to both. The eight and twentieth of januarie following died Henry king of England, which news the king took grievously when he heard it, as well because of the great good will that had been between them, as also because the king was in hope to have made a firm league with him, & lastly because they two having been almost of one years and of one complexion, he foresaw his own end to draw near. Notwithstanding after the said king of England's death, he renewed the league lately made between them twain, with king Edward king Henry's son, and not long after died also himself at Rambollet the last day of March in the year 1546. after the French account, who begin not the year till Easter, having lived 53. years & reigned two and thirty and three months, and six days. This was a Prince endued with many excellent parts, especially magnanimity, courtesy and liberality, and farther so great a patron, lover, and advancer of learning, that he may justly be called the father & sounder of good letters. What his fortune was in this world may easily be gathered out of his History, wherein it doth appear that she was more froward than favourable unto him, but one great grace of God he had, that no adversity was able to diminish the magnanimity of his mind, besides that he was of an excellent memory and exceeding eloquent in his own tongue. HENRY THE SEcond of that name King of France. Cap. 1. King Henry cometh to the Crown, The emperors wars in Germany. The English invade Scotland. The rebellion of Guyenne. TO King Francis the first succeeded his only son Henry the second being eight & twenty years of age, in the very beginning of whose reign the Emperor (as before you have heard in the end of king Francis his reign) was entered into a war in Germany against the Protestants 1547. namely the Duke of Saxony, and the landgrave of Hessen, and divers other Princes and towns confederated with them against him, persuading the Pope (who sent him aid in these wars) that his quarrel was Religion, but to the princes Protestant's of Germany, many of the which were in his Camp & aided him, he pretended that he made war upon them for their rebellion, although in truth neither of both these were the cause motife of this war, but his own ambition, for his purpose was by using the Germanies help against the Germans, so to weaken both parts, and in the mean time so to plant garrisons of Spaniards in the strong places of the country, that in the end he mought make the easier conquest of the whole. And such success he had at the beginning of these wars, that he took the Duke of Saxony prisoner, & made the landgrave come & yield himself to his mercy, but with this condition that he should not be detained in prison, which article the Emperor so gloased with a Spanish exposition, that, that notwithstanding he imprisoned him, alleging that the article mentioned only perpetual imprisonment. The Palfzgrave also and the Duke of Wirtemberg and divers other Princes and free Towns submitted themselves to him and with their money bought their peace. You have heard before how Henry the eight king of England died a little before king Francis, and left behind him Prince Edward his son, a child about ten years of age, the said King Henry before his death had practised a marriage in Scotland between the said prince his son afterward called Edward the uj▪ and the heir of Scotland being about four years of age, and so far this matter was proceeded in, that the greatest part of the states of Scotland had given their consent thereunto, but after king Henrys death, by the persuasion of the Queen mother being of the house of Guise, and by the practice of the French faction (who could not endure this uniting of these two Realms by the said marriage) the treaty made with king Henry was disavowed, and a practice set on foot to bestow this young Princes upon the Dauphin of France, for the which cause, the English men entered into Scotland with a mighty army, & spoilt all the country, whom the Scots encountering with all their forces at a place called Muscleborow, were overthrown and a great number of them slain, in September this year 1547. after the which victory the English men took many Castles and strong places, and entered as far as Edemborough the chief City of the Country, and fortified Hedington a strong Town, where what happened & what issue these wars had, hereafter you shall hear. The Emperor having ended his wars above mentioned in Germany, and established the 1548. Interim which was a form of Religion to be observed till the assembly of a general counsel came down into the low countries, leading the Duke of Saxony and the landgrave with him as it were in triumph, to the no small grief of divers Princes of the Empire, especially of Duke MAURICH son in law to the said landgrave, as the sequel shall well declare. About this time also the Prince of Spain the emperors son came out of Spain into Italy, and from thence to Bruxelles to his father being honourably received in all places through which he passed. But the Realm of France being delivered from foreign wars, beeganne to be vexed with domestical seditions, for a great rebellion was raised at BOURDEAUX and through all GVIENNE and XAINTOIGNE, for a new imposition increased upon Sault, for the appeasing whereof the Constable and Monsieur d'Aumalle were sent into those parts, who punished very sharply them of BOURDEAUX because they had slain the king's officers and committed many disorders, and took from them all their privileges, and condemned both them and other towns that had offended in great sums of money, and so appeased the tumult. Cap. 2. The King aideth the Scots against the English, he invadeth the Country of Boulonoys. The Queen of Scots is carried into France. Paul the third dieth. julius the third succeedeth, peace between England and France. YOu have heard how the last year the English men were entered into Scotland, as far as Edingbourg and had overthrown the Scots at Muscleborow, for the which cause the Scots sent into France for aid, and the King knowing how prejudicial it should be for him and his Realm to suffer the English men to nestle in Scotland, sent thither an army of 6000. men under the leading of Monsieur d'Esse, Strozzi, the Rhingrave, and others, who made head against the English men and much endamaged them, & wan Hedington which they had fortified from them, while in the mean time their navy conveyed the young Queen into France, notwithstanding the English navy that lay upon the Sea to stop their passage, purposely to have surprised the said young Queen and to have brought her into England, but the French navy escaped them and arrived safely in France. After the conveying away of the young Queen the king revoqued d'Esse, and sent de Thermes a valiant soldier and a wise man to take the charge of his army in Scotland, willing him to busy the English men on that side, while the French forces entered into the Country of Boulonoys, for notwithstanding that peace had been concluded (as before you have heard) between king Francis and king Henry before their death, and afterward confirmed also between the two Realms: yet that notwithstanding the French perceiving the Realm of England to be vexed with seditions because of the alteration of Religion: used that opportunity, and besieged Bouloyne but could not take it, notwithstanding divers other small pieces held by the English in the country of Boulonoys namely Boulonberg, Hambletow, and Montlambert, and divers other they took. This year also the tenth of November died Pope Paul the third, to whom after three months dissension in the Consistory succeeded julius the third, and this year also in December died Margaret Queen of Navarra sister to king Francis, a Lady of an excellent spirit. But after these wars above mentioned had thus passed as you have hard since the beginning of this king's 1550. reign between the French & English nations as well in Scotland as in Boulonoys: both parts disposed themselves to peace. England was afflicted not only with sorraine wars, but also with domestical seditions of the commons, and dissensions among the nobles, & the French king was entered into practice against the Emperor, both in Italy with Octavio Prince of Parma, and in Germany with duke Maurice and divers other Princes, who hated the Emperor deadly for his extreme tryanny used against the liberties of their country. Wherefore the King meaning to attempt somewhat against the Emperor was the more inclined to make peace with England, thereby to have all clear on that side of France. Both the Realms therefore being thus disposed to concord, their commissioners met & concluded peace with these conditions. Boloyne was restored to the French, for the which they paid to the king of England 400000. crowns. The king of England promised to marry Elizabeth the eldest daughter of France, afterward wife to Philip king of Spain. Both English and French departed Scotland which was ordained to be governed by one of their own nation, and both the Kings were made knights each of others order. Cha. 3. The wars of Parma and Mirandula. The king's navy spoileth divers Holandish ships. The Turk winneth Tripoli. THe king having thus established peace on that side of his realm began to attend to his foreign practices against the Emperor as well in Italy as in Germany. The first attempt that he made against the Emperor was the war of Parma in Italy, which began 1551. upon this occasion: Petrus Aloisius Franesius son to Pope Paul the third had given him by his father with the consent of the consistory of Cardinals Parma and Placencia in exchange of other lands, and was created Duke thereof. This Peter the tenth of September in the year 1547. was slain in his own house not without the consent of Ferdinando Gonzaga governor of Milan for the Emperor as it was thought. For presently upon his death the said Ferdinando came to Placencia, and entered into it, and placed a garrison in it to the emperors use, and farther allowed Giovanni Aguzzolo who killed the said Peter, with his own hands, twenty soldiers for his guard. Octavius Peter's son and son in law to the Emperor (for he had married the emperors base daughter widow of Alexander Medici's duke of Florence) demanded of the Emperor against Gonzaga justice of his father's death, and that Placentia mought be restored to him again, but receiving from him no thing but dilatory answers, & fearing to be spoiled of Parma as already he was of Placentia: he sought for secure at the hands of julius tertius newly chosen Pope, who misliking the emperors greatness in Italy, persuaded Octavius to put himself under the protection of France, not so much regarding octavius good thereby as hoping by this means to set these two Princes at variance, which he accounted the only preservation of his own estate. But the Emperor on the other side being exceedingly offended with this revolt of Octavio to the French, practised with the Pope to claim Parma as the right of the Church, and to excommunicate Octavio as the Church rebel, promising him if he would so do, that he would enter into these wars and besiege Parma, and restore it to the Church if it were recovered. Whereupon the Pope respecting his own profit more than his credit or the goodness of the cause: utterly abandoned Octavio and joined with the Emperor in this war. But the king having received Octavio into his protection and that by the Pope's own persuasion, promised to defend him both against the Emperor's ambition and violence, and likewise against the Pope's treacherous inconstancy, who as you have heard being revolted from Octavio, joined with the Emperor in this war in hope to recover Parma for the Church, wherefore the king fortified Parma and manned it, and likewise Mirandula, the Earl whereof fearing continually to be surprised by Gonzague, joined with the French, and received into the town certain French bands sent thither out of Piedmont by the marshal Brissac. Gonzague on the other side by the emperors commandment went and besieged Parma but all in the Pope's name, for neither would the Emperor seem to attempt any thing against the King, but only to aid the Pope in a just cause, neither would the King seem to attempt any thing against the Emperor, but only to aid Octavio being under his protection in his just cause. But this dissimulation between these two Princes held not long, for as Monsieur d'Andelot passed through the emperors dominions in Lombardie with certain bands of men, to put himself into Parma by the King's commandment, notwithstanding that they passed quietly without harm doing as in their friends country, yet was the said d'Andelot stayed prisoner by the imperials and justified for a good przse, whereupon the King charged the Emperor with breach of the truce and began to make war upon him on all sides. A man may think the King was not well advised to enter into this war for Octavios' cause, in whom being the emperors son in law he could repose no assured trust, and who he mought assure himself upon the restitution of Placentia would always be ready to give him the slip, & so in deed he did being restored thereunto in the year 1556. But you must know that the king used this matter but as a colour to provoke an open war between the Emperor and him, as he was sure it would in the end, and the which thing he principally desired, both because he was young and naturally inclined to martial affairs, and also because he hoped while the Emperor was busied with the Princes of Allemaine, with whom the king had good intelligence, to recover the duchy of Milan, in the which as also in divers other parts of Italy he had many good friends. But the wars of Germany had a speedier end than he expected, after the which the Emperor held him play in so many places, that he had no leisure to look over the mountains in a good many years after this, and sped but evil when he took that enterprise in hand as hereafter you shall here. And so it appeareth that whatsoever man purposeth God disposeth afterwards thereof as it pleaseth him. Gonzague as you have heard besieged Parma, & the Pope on the other side, to distract the king's forces besieged Mirandula. But the King avowing the truce to be broken, because of Monsieur d'Andelots imprisonment above mentioned, sent to Brissac new supplies into Piedmont, commanding him not only to secure Parma and Mirandula, but also to endamage the emperors dominions in those parts by all the means he mought. Whereupon the said Brissac wan divers towns in Piedmont & in the Marquisate of Montferrate from the imperials, and put the whole Duchy of Milan into so great fear that Gonzague was forced for the defence thereof to abandon the siege of Parma & retire thither. The Pope also prevailed no better before Mirandula, but lost many of his men before the town, and among the rest his Nephew Giovanni Battista de Monte. Wherefore seeing his hope frustrate for the recovery of Parma and Mirandula, and being consumed with the charges of the wars, and farther perceiving a new tempest ready to arise against the Emperor from Duke Maurice, and other princes of Germany, with whom while the Emperor was busied, himself by the French mought be utterly ruinated: Whereunto I also add that the king had already forbidden any cause whatsoever to be removed out of his realm to Rome, which was no small blow to the Pope's purse, and farther had utterly refused to send any of the Clergy of his Realm to the counsel of Trent or to accept that as a general counsel, and had also persuaded the Swyssers to do the like, greatly to the derogation of his authority pontifical: for these reasons I say the Pope ended the wars of Parma and Mirandula, and not only forsook the Emperor, but also delivered into the hands of the Earl of Mirandula all those forts that during the siege thereof had bene built at the emperors charge, so that by the Pope's treason the French held Mirandula made impregnable by the emperors purse. The king's navy also upon the sea took divers Flemish and Holandish ships of great price, and the Turk likewise about this time wan Tripoli in afric from the Emperor, which the said Emperor took very grievously and attributed the loss thereof to the king by whose persuasion the Turk converted his forces thither as the Emperor said. Cap. 4. Wars between the Emperor and the Princes of Germany. the king entereth into Germany, he carrieth away the duke of Lorraine, invadeth Luxembourg, Haynault and Picardy, YOu have heard before how the Princes of Germany were evil affected towards the Emperor for tyrannizing over their Country, and especially Duke MAVRICE because the landgrave his father in law was still held prisoner by the Emperor, for whose delivery duke MAURICE had laid his honour to pawn, wherefore seeing they could have no reason at the Emperor's hands, they purposed to obtain it by the sword, & having made a firm league with the king they levied a mighty army, and assaulted the Emperor upon such a sudden, 1552. that he was forced for fear of his life to fly from jusburg through the mountains in the night by torchlight with a small company, where in his passage he had almost broken his neck. A strange change of Fortune, that so mighty and glorious an Emperor, the like of whom Christendom had not seen in many hundred years before, should be thus pursued and that by his own subject, yea and such a subject as himself not long before had highly advanced. Notwithstanding soon after by the mediation of the king of Romans' the emperors brother, peace was concluded between the Emperor and his Princes, and the landgrave and the Duke of Saxony were restored to their liberty, notwithstanding that the later of them would not departed from the Emperor, but followed him in all these troublesome broils, because he would not receive his liberty by Duke Maurice his means. The King on the other side during these troubles between the Emperor and these Allemaine Princes, accordingly as was agreed between him and the said Princes, entered into Germany, with the title of Protector of the liberty thereof, and took Metz in Lorraine an Imperial town, and likewise Thoul, Verdun, and Nancy, and carried away the young Duke of Lorraine with him, farther he marched as far as Strausbourg & Hagenau near to Spire, where the Ambassadors of the Princes of the Empire came to him and gave him thanks for his ready succour in the defence of the liberty of Germany, and signified also unto him that they being now reconciled to the Emperor should have no occasion farther to crave his aid. Whereupon the king withdrew his forces out of Germany, the rather because he was given to understand that Martin van Rossem had entered and spoiled some part of Campaine, and that the queen of Hungary had taken Astenay a small town upon the Meuze belonging to the Duke of Lorraine. Wherefore the king entered into the Duchy of Luxembourg, and wan divers towns there, he took prisoner also there the Earl of Mansfelde and restored Bovillon to the house of La March. The Constable likewise by the king's commandment entered into Haynault and Picardy and made great spoil there, which being done, the king because of the foul wether dismissed his army and in great triumph returned to Paris. Cap. 5. The Emperor besiegeth Metz. The Prince of Salerna revolteth from the Emperor, and likewise the town of Syena. The army imperial invadeth Picardy, Brissac in Piedmont winneth Alba. Therovenna is razed by the Imperials. THe Emperor having pacified the Princes of Germany, levied a mighty army, purposing at one instant both to recover Metz, and to invade France. But the king sent to the defence of the town Francis duke of Guise accompanied with so many noble men, and valiant soldiers, that the Emperor with great loss both of honour, men, munition & money was forced in the end to abandon the siege, which he began in October a very unseasonable time of the year, upon his own obstinate will, and contrary to the advice of all the Captains that were in his camp. When the Emperor made his approaches to the town, two skirmishes worthy of remembrance happened, one made by the French issewing out of the town upon the Duke of Alva, in the which the said Duke lost 150. men with loss only of 5. on the French part. But to requite this overthrow you shall understand that Albert Marquis of Brandembourg, who had been against the Emperor in the wars of Germany above mentioned, being then in pay with the king, & had ever sithence those wars ended, run with his troops all over Germany, spoiling, robbing, and ransoming all those that he became master of, especially, Abbeys, Nunneries, Bushoprikes, and all whosoever of the ecclesiastical state? now seeing the wars open between the Emperor and the king, and meaning to recover the emperors favour: came with his army being to the number of 12000 towards the siege of Metz, and so hovered up and down between the emperors camp and the places held by the French that he put the King in hope that he came to his service. But the Duke d'Aumale discovering his practices with the Emperor, set upon him with certain troops of horsemen being under his leading, but to his own cost, for the Marquis overthrew him and took him prisoner & received 50000. crowns for his ransom, which the duchess of Valentinoy the king's Minion and mother in law to the said Duke caused the king to pay. After this the said Marquis overthrew also a great convoy of victuals coming to the relief of the town of Met●… and that being done retired himself with all his Troops into the emperors camp. Farther you shall understand that during this siege of Metz, the Prince of Salerne in the Realm of Naples, because of the extreme tyranny and cruelty that Don Piedro de Toledo uncle to the Duke of Alva used in the Country whereof the said Prince could have no redress at the emperors hands turned French, as did also the town of Sienna having first razed the citadelle built by the Emperor to oppress their liberty, and chased all the Spaniards out of their town. another army of the Emperors under the leading of Monsieur de Reux entered into Picardy, and burned many towns and villages, and namely the Castle of Foulenbray a place wherein the king took great delight, they wan also Hesdin both town and Castle and many other places, notwithstanding the nineteenth of December in this very year Monsieur de Vendosme recovered Hesdin and afterward all the other towns, and on the other side the Marshal of Brissac in Piemom w●n from the Emperor the town of Alba. But to return to the siege of Metz. Notwithstanding that the Emperor used all warlike attempts, for the taking of the town, and so continually beat it with artillery, that it is reported by some his battery to have been heard as far as Strausbourg, and by othersome above 22. Dutch miles from the town: yet was the industry of those within the town, and the misery of his soldiers without the town such, his camp being most grievously afflicted with the plague, famine, bloody flux, and cold, the siege continuing in the midst of an extreme winter as before you have heard: that he was forced to levy his siege & return into Flaunders, the second day of januarie 1553. after the Dutch & Italian account who begin the year the first of januarie, but 1552. after the French who begin it not till Easter. At his departure to the end he mought return with the more speed, he cast into the River a great part of his artillery, and munition for the wars, farther he lost in this siege 40000. men, & the ignominy thereof so much afflicted him, that he forbore all communication with men, and soon after resigned the Empire to his brother and his other states to his son, and put himself into an Abbey in Spain where he ended his days. Such misfortunes Princes often fall into, when they are wedded to their own wills and reject all good advise or rather when GOD is purposed to punish them, and to change their good fortune into bad. It is reported that the emperors army sustained so extreme misery in this siege, that one day as he road thorough his Camp, a poor soldier being miserably afflicted with the bloody flux cried out thus to him as he passed by, Thou son of a mad woman how much misery do I and many a thousand more endure here through thy ambition and wilful obstinancy. If thou wert not tainted with thy mother's humour, thou wouldst never have brought us to this siege, at this time of the year, which words the Emperor hearing gave no evil answer thereunto, but only said good words soldier this matter shall be remedied ere long be, and with that gave the poor soul money wherewith to comfort himself, and soon after raised his siege, leaving a great number behind him sick, whom the enemies of very pity succoured and relieved. But notwithstanding the emperors evil fortune here before Metz, his army in Picardy under the leading of Monsieur de Reux besieged Therouenne, in the which siege the said de Reux died, after whose death Monsieur de Lalain continued the siege, & with a mine overthrew the fortifications, whereupon Montmorency the Constable's son Governor of the town, yielded the place, and withal himself and divers other noble men of France prisoners. Cap. 6. The imperials raze Hesdin. The Duke of Arscot is taken prisoner. The death of Edward the sixth King of England, and of Duke Maurice. The king invadeth the Emperor with three armies, the battle of Renty. THe Emperor because of the variance that was among his Captains, made the Duke of Savoy general of his army, who in julie recovered also Hesdin from the French, in the which the duke of Bovillon was taken prisoner, and razed the Castle, as the Imperials before had done the Castle of Therouenne, & built a new Hesdin in a more convenient place upon the River of Cauche, which they called Hesdinfiert. From thence the Duke of Savoy marched towards dourlan's and Amiens, where the Constable with part of the King's army, met with certain of his troops upon the fifteenth of August, and having laid divers ambushes to entrap them, charged them and overthrew them and took prisoner the Duke of Arscot, who was led to Boys de Vincennes near to Paris, whence he escaped in the year 1556, whereupon the Emperor jested of him saying, that he was taken like a beggar and scaped away like a thief. Farther the king in person with a mighty army entered into Artoys, and came before Cambray, where the Imperial army lay, in such sort that the battle was looked for there, but it fell otherwise out, whereupon the king returned to Paris, leaving the Marshal of Saint Andre to spoil the Country. In this year the sixth of julie died Edward king of England a young Prince of rare expectation, and to him succeeded Marie his sister Cousin germane to the Emperor, who about Saint james tied the nezt year married with the Prince of Spain the emperors son. And the ninth of julie was a cruel battle fought in Germany between Duke MAVRICE, and Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg, in the which the said Albert was vanquished and Duke MAVRICE lost his lise. You have heard how the king returned to Paris leaving the Marshal of Saint Andre behind him 1554. to spoil the Country of Artoys. But the next summer the king levied three armies, one under the leading of the Prince of Roche sur Yonne was sent into Artoys where it spoiled many towns & villages. The Constable with an other army entered into Haynault, and the Duke of Nevers, with a third into the country of Ardennes and Liege, where he burned and spoiled all the country before him. The Constable likewise in Haynault burned Cymay, a town appertaining to the Duke of Ars●ot, Trelon, and Glayon, and took Mariembourg through the cowardice of him that defended it, with the fame of the which victory the king being incited, came in person into his army, and took Bouuines in Brabant and burned it, and sacked Dinand. But the Emperor levied a mighty power to encounter him under the leading of the Duke of Savoy. Whereupon the King returned again into Haynault and destroyed Bins and Mariemount the Queen of Hungaries places of pleasure, in revenge of Folenbray in Picardy, which the imperials burned in the year 1552. as before you have heard, & thus having burned and spoiled all Haynault, the King with his army entered into Artoys and besieged Renty. But the Emperor with his whole force came to levy the siege in such sort that a battle was there fought between the king and him, in the which the success on both sides was so equal that the victory can justly be attributed to neither part, some call it but a half battle. Notwithstanding this was the battle in the which it was first found by experience, that the rutters with their pistols are not able to abide the force of the Lance, if they be roughly and resolutely charged. The next day as the King was returning to the siege of the town, he received news that his forces were overthrown in Italy, whereupon he retired and returned to Montrueil and the Emperor likewise to Bruxelles. Cap. 7. The wars of Sienna. brissac's success in Piedmont. Pope julius dieth. Paul the fourth succeedeth. The French in Piedmont take Vulpian. The Fight between the French and Flemish Navies before Dover. The Emperor resigneth the Empire and all his other estates. THe overthrow the French received in Italy happened thus. You have heard before how while the Emperor lay at the siege of Metz, the town of Sienne in Italy revolted from him, & razed the citadel built by him, chased the Spaniards out of the town, and put themselves into the protection of France. Wherewith he being not a little offended, after the said siege was ended commanded the Viceroy of Naples to spoil all the country of Sienne, which he did accordingly purposing also to besige the town, which Mouluc, Termes, & divers others sent therher by the king for defence thereof, fortified against the imperials. The Viceroy because of the revolt that happened also at this very instant in the realm of Naples by means of the Prince of Salerna whereof we have spoken a word or two also in the said siege of Metz, was forced to return into the said realm of Naples, leaving the charge of the Imperial forces in the country of Sienna to the Marquis of Marignan, who being aided by Cosmus Duke of Florence, and the Pope wenr and besieged Sienna. But understanding that Strozzi with great forces was sent by the king into Italy, and that he had already invaded the Duke of Florence his dominions, taken divers places from him, and was gone to batter Civitelle; the said Marquis raised his siege from before Syena, and went with his whole power to secure the Duke of Florence, whereupon Strozzi levied his siege held before Civitelle and marched to encounter the Marquis and give him battle, in the which the said Strozzi was overthrown and put to flight and all his forces dispersed. The Marquis after this victory returned to the siege of Sienna, & never departed thence till he had reduced it to the emperors obedience, by whose commandment it was delivered to the duke of Florence. The said siege endured till the twentieth of April in the year 1555. But in December in the said year 1554. Brissac to repair this misfortune of Strozzi entered into Piedmont, and took divers towns of great importance and fortified them against the imperials This year also 1554. the 23. of March after the French account who begin not the year till Easter, died Pope julius tertius, to whom succeeded Marcellus, who lived but a few days, and to him succeeded Cardinal Caraffa being four score years of age by the name of Paul the fourth. The French army above mentioned under the 1555. leading of Brissac took Cassal, & divers other towns in the Marquisat of Montferrat, and went to besiege Vulpian in Piedmont, which the Duke of Alva with a mighty army came to relieve as also he did. And having put victuals and munition sufficient into the town, he departed and besieged Saint jac. But the town was so notably defended by the French (for the king had sent thither great forces to secure the place) that the Duke of Alva was forced to abandon the siege & retire himself, presently whereupon the French with their whole forces returned to the siege of Vulpian, and took it and razed both town and castle, because it maintained none but soldiers that rob and spoiled all the country. About this time also the French and Flemish Navy met upon the Sea, near to Dover a haven town in England, where was a most bloody fight between them, in the which the French being put to the worse, fired their ships, thinking thereby to cause the flemings too ungraple from them, but the fire was so vehement that they had no power to do it, by means whereof both the Navies were fired, and many ships on both sides burnt. Notwithstanding the French being entered into the flemish ships that remained, & seeing the small number of Flemings that were in them, took five of their ships, and led them away with them. This year also upon the five and twentieth of October, the Emperor in great solemnity in the great hall of Bruxelles, yielded up all his estates and dominions patrimonial to his son king Philip, and the Empire to the king of Romans' his brother. Cap. 8. A truce for five years between the King of France and Spain. The Emperor saileth into Spain, and putteth himself into an abbey where he dieth. AFter the Emperor had resigned all his estates to his son King Philip, 1556. the said King by the persuasion of the Queen of England his wife, and as some also writ by the Emperors own persuasion, inclined to make peace with France, by means whereof both the Princes sent their commissioners to meet & treat thereof, who not being able because of the sundry difficulties to conclude a final peace, made notwithstanding a truce for five years, each part holding that which they had taken in the former wars. And in this year the Emperor with his two sisters Elinor Queen of France, & Marie Queen of Hungary sailed into Spain, and put himself into an Abbey, where he remained till his death, which happened the one and twentieth of September in the year 1558. One notable thing is to be remembered of this noble Emperor, whereby we may perceive how vain a thing the glory of this world is. While the Emperor stayed at Vlushing for wind to carry him his last journey into Spain, he conferred on a time with Seldius his brother Ferdinand's Ambassador till the deep of the night, and when Seldius should departed, the Emperor calling for some of his servants, and no body answering him, for those that attended upon him were some gone to their lodgings and all the rest a sleep: the Emperor took up the candle himself, and went before Seldius to light him down the stairs, and so did notwithstanding all the resistance that Seldius could make. And when he was come to the stairs foot, he said thus unto him. Seldius remember this of Charles the Emperor when he shallbe dead and gone that him whom thou hast known in thy time environed with so many mighty armies and guards of soldiers, thou hast also seen alone, abandoned, & forsaken yea even of his own domestical servants, and that he whom thou hast served so many years hath also served thee and borne the candle down before thee, I acknowledge this change of fortune to proceed from the mighty hand of God, which I will by no means go about to withstand. Cap. 9 The truce for five years is broken by the Pope's practice. The Duke of Alva invadeth the Church Dominions. The Duke of Guise entereth into Italy, and the King invadeth the King of Spain in divers other places. The Queen of England proclaimeth war against the French. YOu have heard how a truce for five years was concluded between the 1557. Kings of France and Spain, but it was broken before the expiration of one year, upon this occasion which you shall now hear. The Pope being an enemy to the Spaniard, gave forth whether falsely or truly it is uncertain, that the Colonnesi who always have been and yet are Imperial, made secret assemblies against him in Rome, for the which cause some of them he imprisoned, some he banished, and seized all their lands and goods into his own hands. The Imperials say that this was but a quarrel picked to them by the Pope, because he had secret intelligence with the king of France, & persuaded him to attempt the recovery of the Realm of Naples, as well thereby to abate the Spaniards greatness in Italy, who held Naples, Milan, & Sienna, & disposed of the states of Genova & Florence as of his own: as also hoping if the French had good success in Italy, that some part of the booty would fall to his share, which he was the more desirous of, because he was a Neapolitaine borne himself. But howsoever it were, the Colonnesi being thus injuried complained to king Philip and desired his succour, who sent the Duke Alva to their aid, yet offering the Pope any reasonable conditions of peace, which he utterly refused, and sent to the king and the duke of Ferrara being his confederates for succours, but before they could arrive, the duke of Alva invaded the Church dominions, and took Ostia & Palestrina and much distressed Rome. But the King with all speed sent the Duke of Guise with a mighty army into Italy, who entering into Lombardie took Valentia in the duchy of Milan & put a garrison into it, on an other side also the French invaded Artoys and spoiled all the Country, they besieged Dovay but could not take it. Notwithstanding Lens they took and burned it. Farther the king's forces in Piedmont took Valfiniere and Cairas, and thus the five years truce concluded the year before held not one year, great controversy is between the French and Spanish, which of the two Princes first broke the truce. The French say the Spaniard first broke it by invading the Pope, whom the king as an obedient son to the Church was bound to defend. But the answer hereunto is easy, for besides that the invading of the Pope being an indifferent friend to both the Princes could not be a breach of the truce towards the French king: it is also most certain that the first injury proceeded from the Pope, towards the king of Spain's friends and confederates, and therefore the French were not to aid him in an evil cause. But admit the aiding of the Pope were no breach of the truce: yet the King ought not to have proceeded farther than to send the Pope aid, but he invaded king Philip before he took weapon in hand, in Milan, in Piedmont, in Artoys, and in Flaunders, which could not be other than a flat breach of the truce. But to return to the wars of Italy. The Duke of Guise by the Pope's persuasion, and upon promise of aid from him, was passing with his army towards the realm of Naples with purpose to invade it. But seeing the Duke of Alva to make head against him, and being also disappointed of the aid promised him by the Pope, he was forced to retire with his army, being in very poor estate and cursing the Pope and all his treacheries. While these matters thus passed in Italy, the Queen of England by her husband's persuasion entered into an unnecessary war with France, for she should have done much better to have continued as she began a mediater for peace th●n upon no occasion to become the French kings enemy, but she sped accordingly. Cha. 10. The King of Spain taketh Saint Quentin. The battle of Saint Laurens in the which the Constable is overthrown and taken prisoner. The duke of Guise is revoqued out of Italy. The Pope maketh peace with the king of Spain. The French take Calais. The marriage of the Dauphin. The French take Theonuille. But to proceed the king of Spain, seeing himself thus invaded upon a sudden, levied a mighty army of Dutch Flemish and English, and went and besieged Saint Quentin a strong town in Vermandoys, for the defence whereof the Admiral of France Gasper Chastillon, with divers bands of men put himself into the town. But his brother d'Andelot issewing out of Perona with 15. ensigns of footmen, purposing to do the like, was defeated. Notwithstanding the king tendering greatly the safety of the town, sent the Constable to secure it with an army of 16000 foot, and 4000 horse, who upon Saint Laurence day very early in the morning, by certain boats which he had brought with him upon carts, put Mon sieur d'Andelot by the river with certain bands of footmen into the town. But King Phillip's army as the said Constable retired, charged him, broke him, defeated his forces, slew 2500 of his men with the loss only of 50. on their part, and took him prisoner with two of his sons, and likewise the Dukes of Montpensier and Longueville, the Marshal of Saint Andre, the Rheingrave, and divers other great personages. Whereupon the King presently revoqued the Duke of Guise with his forces out of Italy, & commanded the Duke of Nevers to levy a new army. In the mean time King Philip took Saint Quentin by assault, and took prisoners therein the Admiral, and d'Andelot his brother, but d'Andelot soon after escaped away. The King of Spain won also Catelet and Han and divers other places. The Duke of Alva on the other side in Italy took divers places from the Pope, who in the end seeing the Duke's forces so great that he came without resistance even to Rome gates, and that the Duke of Guise in very poor estate was revoqued home into France: made peace at Cavi with King Philip (contraty to his promise made to the French King) and obtained better conditions of him than he deserved, and among the rest of the conditions this was one that the Duke of Guise should return home in safety, and he & his army be well entreated wheresoever they passed through king Philip's dominions, which was all the recompense the French received at the Pope's hands, for the great losses they had received in Italy by his means, such commonly is the end of all unnecessary wars. The King being much grieved with these his manifold losses, and supposing his honour to be stained if he achieved not some enterprise that might countervail these his misfortunes, so soon as the Duke of Guise and Strozzi were returned with his forces out of Italy by sea, and Monsieur d'Aumalle by land, joined to them a great army of Swissers and Almains who under the leading of the said Duke of Guise were sent to besiege Calais in the very midst of winter. Strozzi not long before the coming of the army thither, had been brought in disguised apparel into the town by a French man an inhabitant thereof, and had viewed all the fortifications both within the town and without, and the garrison within it for the defence thereof, which was very weak, and to say the truth the said Strozzi was the only author of this enterprise They began the siege the first day of januarie, and took the town the morrow after twelfth day, and soon after also Hams and Guysnes, and all that the English held on that side the sea. In April following Francis the Dauphin married Marie daughter and heir of james the fift King of Scotland, & in june following the French besieged Theonuille, held for an impregnable town in the Duchy of Luxembourg. Yet notwithstanding they took it, but in that siege was Peter Strozzi slain to the King's great grief, for he had been a most valiant and expert Captain. Cap. II. The French invade Flaunders and sack Dunkirk, they are overthrown in their retreat to Calais. The English Navy taketh Conquer. Peace between the Kings of Spain and France and Elizabeth Queen of England. Bourg and other councillors of the law are sent to the Bastile. The King's daughter is married to the King of Spain. The King is slain at the justs. But the King supposing this revenge of his losses not to be sufficient as yet, determined to attempt farther. Wherefore in the beginning of julie he sent Monsieur de Terms to invade Flaunders, who took Dunkirk and burned it. But the Earl of Egmont levying an army of 12000. foot and 3000 horse, met with the French as they retired towards Calais upon the sands between Dunkirk and Gravelin, where he charged them, and by the help of the English Navy, which by chance sailed at that time close by the shore, and discharged their great shot into the midst of the French troops, they were defeated and Terms himself taken prisoner, to the great astonishment of all France, which in sour years space had received three great overthrows, the first in Italy, the second at Saint Quentin, and the third this here mentioned. And thus the King not being contented with a reasonable revenge, but seeking to recover all his honour, lost even that which he had in part recovered before, and put both himself and his Realm into greater dangers than ever heretofore they had been in. Terms had left behind him three ensigns of footmen to spoil and fire Dunkirk, who being in the midst of their bloody execution, were all surprised by the Burgundians and cut in pieces. The Duke of Guise hearing of this overthrow retired into Picardy, and held himself in places of safety. After this victory the English Navy consisting of 100 sail of ships and 10000 men, and 20. great hulks joined with them, invaded Bretaine and took Conquer, but partly by the force of the country that came down upon them, & partly by tempest, they were forced to return home with speed. King Philip being encouraged by this his good success and many victories, levied a mighty army, and encamped near to dourlan's in Picardy being a French town, his whole force was 30000. foot, & 15000. horse, all his soldiers being well paid. The king on the other side near to Amiens, levied a great army, but seemed not willing to hazerd an other battle, considering the losses he had already received. Notwithstanding in the end both the Princes to avoid the effusion of Christian blood inclined their minds to peace. The two and twentieth of januarie Charles Duke of LORRAINE married the Lady claud the king's younger Daughter, and the February after, peace was treated of at Cambresis between the two Kings and ELIZABETH Queen of England lately succeeded to the Crown of that Realm by the death of her Sister MARIE, who died the seventeenth of November 1558. The Commissioners agreed reasonably well about every thing save CALAIS, which King Philip would have in any case restored to the English again, and the French would by no means part with, which matter was so whotlie debated between them, that all the treaty had assuredly broken of, if news had not been brought from the Queen of England, that she was contented to accept of the peace, with these conditions, that at eight years end Calais should be restored to her again or five hunfiftie thousand crowns in am thereof, for assurance whereof she should have delivered unto her four hostages of the nobility of Fraune such as she would demand. This article being agreed upon peace was concluded between these Princes the third of April, and solemnly proclaimed with great joy: 1559. And King Philip married ELIZABETH the King's eldest Daughter promised before to CHARLES Prince of Spain King Philip's son, and the Duke of SAVOY Philibert married MARGARET the King's sister. Thus the king having concluded peace to his great comfort with all his enemies, and beetrauthed his Daughter to the king of Spain, by means of the which alliance he assured himself of an everlasting amity with that Prince: began to imbrue his hands in the blood of the LUTHERANS, and committed BOURG and four other judges of the Law to MONTGOMERIE Captain of his Guard, who sent them prisoners to the Bastile, where they were laid in irons. The only cause of their imprisonment was, for that they had delivered out of prison certain Lutherans, and had forborn to publish the kings bloody edicts till a general or a national council should take order in so weighty a cause. This being done, the king in great triumph departed to his Daughter's marriage, who was married to king Philip by his Deputy the Duke of Alva, who represented the king his Master's person in this case: which being accomplished the king gave himself to sports and pastimes, and the eight and twentieth of june entered into the Lists to just, and continued so long therein, and ran so many courses three days together, that with excessive travail his whole body was become stiff, whereupon divers of the nobility and especially the Queen his wife besought him to run no more, the rather because that night the Queen had dreamt that she saw him wounded to death, & divers other prognostications of his death are also written which I overpass. But he refusing all persuasions, & despising his wives dream, & all the other prognostications, entered again into the lists, & ran divers courses excellently well, for he was a perfect man at arms. At the last he called forth Montgomerie, the self same that had carried BOURG and the other four councillors to prison, as before you have heard. Montgomerie had run divers courses the day before, & had sailed in them all, for the which cause he was loath to come forth. But being constrained by the king, in the end forth he came being reserved by God to give one sound blow at the last, to countervail all his failings before: For as the king and he met together with great violence a splenter of Montgomeries staff which broke all to shevers, struck the king's headpiece full upon the vizard, which being unbuckled either through negligence, or because the king would have it so, meaning to make this his last course, flew up, in such sort that one of the splenters struck the king full in the right eye and entered into his very brain, which put this poor Prince to extreme pain. Upon the ninth of julie he caused the marriage of his sister & the duke of Savoy to be accomplished without any pomp, which should not have been solempnisated till eight days after, and the next day he died of the said hurt. The wound soon made an end of his own life, but his realm hath bled of that wound ever since, & the blood is hardly stenched as yet. This king lived one & forty years, and reigned twelve years and 3. months, and ten days. Thus have I continued as compendiously as I could, the History of France from Charles the eighth till the death of Henry the second, namely till the beginning of their own civil broils and dissensions which because they contain nothing but murders, massacres, treacheries, treasons, and no orderly disciplined wars, are nothing pleasant for me to write, nor I think acceptable to any man to read, & much less fit to be annexed to the martial acts of those Princes, whom I have here before in this History treated of. Notwithstanding if any man shall take pleasure in writing them, I had rather he handled such a bucherly argument than myself. Cap. 12. The conclusion of the History. NOw to conclude this History, can we have any more notable examples than these here above mentioned to prove that man's cogitations are vain, and all his thoughts wicked, for if you consider how all these Princes tossed and turmoiled themselves with continual wars, what infinite treasures they consumed, what slaughters they made of their subjects, what sacking and burning of towns, defiling of young Maidens and Virgins, murdering of women and Children, with all such like mischiefs as be appendent to the wars, and that is worst of all, charging their own souls with many promises and oaths which they never meant to perform when they swore them, neither performed at all when they had sworn them. And if we farther consider how little they have effected and brought to pass of their own desires by all these their bloody Martial actions, with the which they troubled the world by the space of many years: we cannot but confess and say with the Psalmist. He that dwelleth in the Heaven shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. For first of all consider well the example of Lodovic Sforce surnamed the More Duke of Milan, he poisoned his nephew to obtain thereby the said Duchy, and set all Italy on fire by calling in the French to establish him therein, but himself was within 5. years after taken prisoner by the French, and put into a dungeon where he miserably ended his life, his eldest son Maximilian being restored to the said Duchy of Milan by means of the Swissers, the Pope, and the Venetians, was within three years after likewise taken prisoner by the French, and in France ended his days. Afterward his other son Francis was established in the said Duchy by the Emperor Charles, but with such slavish conditions that he rather deserved the name of a noble slave than an honourable Prince, and in the end died of poison as it was thought, and was the last of this wicked race of Sforces, & after his death the Emperor seized all the Duchy of Milan into his own hands whose race holdeth it yet, and shall do so long as it pleaseth God: And all these miseries fell upon the said Lodovic and his sons within the space of 34. years. Now way likewise the example of Pope Alexander the sixth, and Valentinus Borgia his son. The said Valentine in his father's life time obtained so many conquests in Italy, some by arms, some by cruelty, some by treason and treacheries, some by perjury, and by all other wicked means that may be imagined, that all Italy stood in fear of him, and he was grown to such a pride in himself, that he gave Aut Caesar aut nullus for his devise. The Father poisoned himself with the same wine that he had prepared for the poisoning of divers cardinals his enemies, and so fell himself into the pit which he had digged for others, and the son after his father's death was spoiled by Pope julius of all that he had conquered in Italy, and the King of France took from him all his estates that he held in France. Wherefore he fled to Consalue under his safe-conduct, and remained with him a while at Naples in great kindness in outward appearance. But soon after by King Ferdinand's commandment, he was sent prisoner into Spain by the said Consalue, who also took from him, the safe-conduct that he had given him. In Spain he was imprisoned in the Rocque of Medina del Campo, from whence by cunning he escaped, and went into Navarre, where he lived a while in very base and miserable estate, and in the end was there slain. The Venetians likewise for hatred they bore against Lodovic Duke of Milan above mentioned, called Lewis the twelfth into Italy to conquer the said Duchy, and had for their part of the booty the country of Guiradadda delivered unto them by the King. But soon after the same king took it from them again, & became their deadly enemy, so that notwithstanding all their charges employed in those wars and divers other since: yet hold they not at this day one foot of ground in Lombardie more than they did before those wars began, and in other parts of Italy less. Again four kings of France successively, namely CHARLES the eight, LEWIS the twelfth, FRANCIS the first, & HENRY the second, by the space of three score years and better, made continual wars in Italy, with infinite expenses of money, toil of themselves, and the death not of so few as a hundred thousand of their subjects, for the duchy of Milan & the realm of Naples, and what have they gotten in recompense thereof, only this that they hold not at this day one foot of Land in neither of both those countries. Likewise Charles the Emperor who was so ambitious a Prince that he thought to have swallowed up both France and Germany, was chased out of both those countries with great ignominy, and was never able to hold no not one poor town in either of both those realms, & in the end through moodiness of his evil success, gave a deffiance to all the world, and died in an Abbey among a company of Monks. Lastly king Henry the eight who was so noble a Prince, and obtained so many conquests in France both in his youth and in his age, what hath he lest to his posterity in that Country, for his infinite charges employed in those wars? not one town, no nor one foot of French land. These examples I think may suffice to teach Princes to be wise, and not to attempt ambitiously unnecessary wars, seeing the sequel that ensueth thereof, but to live peaceably at home, to entertain the good will of their neighbours by all the good means they may, to see justice done among their subjects which is their principal charge, and especially to ground all their actions upon God, who is the guider of all their enterprises, and the giver of all good success. Happy is the Prince that thus governeth his subjects and happy are the subjects that live under such a Prince. FINIS.