The theater of honour and knight-hood. Or A compendious chronicle and historie of the whole Christian vvorld Containing the originall of all monarchies, kingdomes, and estates, with their emperours, kings, princes, and gouernours; their beginnings, continuance, and successions, to this present time. The first institution of armes, emblazons, kings, heralds, and pursuiuants of armes: with all the ancient and moderne military orders of knight-hood in euery kingdome. Of duelloes or single combates ... Likewise of ioustes, tourneyes, and tournaments, and orders belonging to them. Lastly of funerall pompe, for emperours, kings, princes, and meaner persons, with all the rites and ceremonies fitting for them. VVritten in French, by Andrew Fauine, Parisian: and aduocate in the High Court of Parliament. M.DC.XX.

The History of the Dukedome of Millaine, acquired to the Crowne of France.

THe noble Romane Historian Cornelius Tacitus, and all they haue especi•••• remarked the Antiquity of the Romane Empire,* 1.1 doe agree with one cons•• That the Lombards were (in elder dayes) placed on the bounds and Confines 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Allemaigne or Germany, neere to Pannonia, and that vpon the declining of the E••¦pire, (as we learne by Iohn the Deacon, and Sigebert) they passed into that part 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Italy (heretofore obserued by Caesar, in the First Booke of his Memories of the G•• wars) which held a portion of the Gaules, acknowledged by the Appellation of ••¦lia Togata, & that the Germane People held Possession there in Title of a Kingdo•• which our King Charlemaigne abolished, by bringing Italy vnder his obey-sanc••

* 1.2The chiefe or Capitall City of Lombardy is Millaine, honoured by that b•• Beacon of the Church, Saint Ambrose, Bishop thereof, by whom it is called Me••¦num: in regard that the Gaules of Bourges, and of Autun, first founders thereof, in ••¦ing the foundation, did find there a wild Sow or Boare, halfe couered with S•• and the other halfe with Wooll. So saith the same S. Ambrose, agreeing with T•• Liuius, in the Fift Booke of his Romane History: whervpon said the Poet Cl••▪

—Ad moenia Gallus, Condita lanigerae Suis ostendentia pellem.

* 1.3Her Foundation is recorded (after the opinion of Titus Liuius) vnder the Re•• of Tarquinius Priscus, at such time as one part of the Gaules, to the number of Th•• Hundred Thousand, went to people Italy, vnder Conduct of their Leader ••¦zus, one of the Nephewes to Ambigat, King of the Gaules, as we haue formerly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 serued. Ausonius placeth this City, in the number of them best worthy of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the fertility of her grounds and Soyle.

Et Mediolani mira omnia copia rerum, Innumera cultaeque domas, facunda virorum Ingenia, antiqui mores.

Procopius, in his second Booke of the Gothes warres, nameth it, next to Rome, the ••iefest of Cities vnder the Westerne Empire: And wherein the Emperors pleased 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make their soiourning, which made it to grow rich, and wonderfully potent.

After the Conquest of Italie, and the Kingdome of Lombardie ruined,* 1.4 by the sur∣••izall of Didier their last King, confined at Lyons, but some say at Mont-Didier in ••cardie, in the yeare of Grace seauen hundred threescore and sixeteene: Charle∣••aigne established for Gouernour at Millaine, and the Iurisdiction of Lombardie, a ••dge and Seneschall or Steward. These Iudges and Seneschals were in (elder times) ••med Vice-Comites, Viscounts, and to the number of twelue vnder the Counts; who presented Gouernors, vnder the Lieutenants Generals of the great Prouinces, that ••ere called Dukes. And those Vicounts had Lieutenants vnder them, whom they en∣••led Vicarios, Vicars, & by another name, common in Gascoigne, Languedock, and Pro∣••••ce, Viguiers: as we haue said in the Tracts of the Officers of the Crown of France.

Italie in generall, and the Prouinces in perticuler, bounding on Pharos, and the ••raites of Messina in Sicilie, were by Charlemaigne annexed to the Crowne of ••rance, and rendred as Fiefes thereof, vntill the vnhappy partition made by the ••ebonnaire. After him, the Berengars cantonned themselues in Italie, and there sti∣••d themselues to be Kings.

These Berengars were descended of Boson, made and created King of Prouence,* 1.5 by ••r King of France Charles the Bauld. So Berengarius, first of the name, comman∣••d as Maister ouer Italie foure yeares: And Berengarius the second, seauen yeares. ••ugh Duke of Bourgongne, Prince of the Bloud of France, sent him roundly thence, ••d Regented Italie ten yeares: Lotharius his Sonne, two yeares onely. This man ••uing giuen his daughter Alix in marriage to Berengarius the third, possessed him∣••fe of Italie, against his Father in Law, & committed his wife Alix of Bourgongne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liue as a prisoner.

Against him went into Italie Otho of Saxonie,* 1.6 whom the Germaines sirnamed the ••reat; & who vanquished Berengarius in a ranged Battaile neere to Pa••ia, deliuered ••••ix out of prison, made her his wife, and brought her with him into Germanie. ••uring the time of his absence, Berengarius bestirred himselfe to recouer his losse, ••d compelled Otho to passe againe into Italie the second time, in the yeare of Grace ••iue hundred fiftie and seauen; when he stiled himselfe not onely King of Germa∣••e, but likewise Emperor of the Romans. A Title which should appertaine to none, but ••ely to the Kings of France.

Otho was fauoured in this his enterprise by Pope Stephen,* 1.7 eight of the name a Ger∣••ine by Nation, and his neere Kinseman, against the vnanimate consent of the ••ople of Italie: as is written by Palmerius Florentinus in his Chronicle, vnder the ••re nine hundred fiftie fiue, by these words. Post Arnulphum (this Arnoule was ••e Bastard of Carloman, the Bastard Sonne of Lewes the Stammerer, Emperour and ••ng of France, second of the name) Imperium confunditur, dolentibus Romanis, atque ••iuersis Italiae Populis, quod A Francia in Germaniam translatum esset. Quamobrem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 à Romanis, Pontificeque insigniti sunt Trans-Alpini Imperatores, vsque ad primum ••bonem; & in Italia quidem Berengarij Imperium per id temporis vsurparunt.

After the death of Lewes the Fourth,* 1.8 who was the last Emperour of the Bloud of ••ance, Sonne to the Bastard Arnoule: Conrard Duke of Franconia, made vsurpa∣••n of Germanie then being deceased without children Henry, sirnamed the Bird∣••cher, Duke of Saxonie) continuing his wandrings, which were brought to ••d by his Sonne Otho, who (at a sudden) vsurped ouer Germanie, which had bin a ••se to the Crowne of France euer since Great Clouis, who subdued it in the yeare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hūdred after the Battle of Tolbiac, as we haue before declared in the second Book. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is that deliuered by Beatus Rhenanus, writing vpon Cornelius Tacitus, his Germa∣•• in these words. Post ingentem illam cladem ad Tolbiacum Vicum Vbiorum (neere C••logne one the Rhine) acceptam, ita pressêre nos Franci, vt respirare non ••••••uerit, do¦nec

exoletâ stirpe Veterum Francorum, auspicii•• primum Othonis Saxonia Ducis, C••••∣rardi Osto-Franci, atque Henrici Saxonis, mox magni illius Othonis, qui inter Imperature Germanicos primum obtinet locum, in pristinam libertatem, nos ipsi vindicauimus.

* 1.9Pope Stephen hauing (long before) caused Otho to come to Rome, he crowned him himselfe Emperor, so saith Palmerius. Otho à Romanis Ecclesiae Patribus, Vrbisque Prin∣cipibus euocatus, Romam proficiscitur, in quâ Vrbe amplissimis honoribus vsus, Cor•••••• suscepit. Et fuit primus qui post translatum in Germaniam Imperium, Imperiales tit••••••¦ritè susciperet; quod postea obseruatum est, vsqe in praesens tempus.

This was consented vnto by the Romanes, because they had so sollemnly swor••▪ vnder paine fo eternall curse (Sub Anathemate Maranatha) to our Charlemaigne, when hee was crowned Emperour by Pope Leo, Thirteenth of the Name, in the Yeare of Grace, Eight Hundred and One, incurring by their violated faiths, the ••∣minatory Censures, sent out by this Pope against the Romanes, and People of the West, who would not acknowledge any other for Emperours, but onely the King•• of France, to whom alone the Title of Emperour appertained by successiue right▪ without either consent of the Romane people, or the Crowning of Popes, though necessary or requisite thereto, these being not of the essence of the Imperiall digni∣ty, nor depending thereon. For concerning the matter of Coronation, the Empe∣rour Maximilian the first, spake very well to the Popes Legate, and to the States of the Empire, assembled at the Dyet, held at Constance in the Yeare, One Thou∣sand.* 1.10 Fiue Hundred and Seauen. That it was but a Ceremony, to take and receiue the Imperiall Crowne at the Popes hand: In regard (quoth he) that the dignity and power of the Emperour, dependeth vpon none, but on the Estates of the Empire.

And as for that which respecteth or concerneth consent of the Romane People▪ which Palmerius would haue to bee an essentiall cause: they neuer had any such right or authority,* 1.11 either of voyces or suffrages, although he would arrogate it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their power. And therefore the Emperour Fredericke, First of the name, Sirnamed Barba Rossa, making his entrance into the City of Rome, brauely answered to the principall persons among them that came forth to meete him, and thought highly to content him,* 1.12 by saying in their Oration. That the Empire was come to the A••••¦maignes or Germaines, by the concession of Popes; and consent of the Romane people: And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consequently, that he was greatly beholding to them. But the Emperour presently reply∣ed. Ego Romanum Imperium Maiorum meorum Francorum sanguine emptum, eisdem q••••¦bus accepi manibus, tueri conabor. Sic vanam Itallorum contudit arrogantiam. That 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right of the Empire was come to him by the Kings of France, his most noble Grand-fathers and not by the Italians, whose arrogancie he made a mockery of. So saith Otho, Bishop 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Frisinghen, and the Poet Ligurine, in the Life of this noble and famous Emperour.

Italy, then vnder Charlemaigne (which he wan with his blood) was gouerned by Counts and Vicounts.* 1.13 But the negligence of his Sonnes & Descendants gaue wa•• and leysure to these Gouernours to impatronize themselues of their Gouernments and Benches of Iustice, and to become Lords domineering ouer their Counties 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vicounties: the right of Baise le maine, only reserud to the Emperours, with some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 small Rights for their Inuestiture.

* 1.14Among these then were the Vicounts of Millaine, bearing the Sirname of A••g∣ria (which is a small little Towne in the Estate of Millaine, from whence those V••¦counts were issued and descended) who maintained themselues in the Possession 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Gouernment of Lombardy, very neere the continuance of Fiue Hundred yeare and vntill the time of Philip Maria, Brother to Valentina of Millaine, Dutchesse of Or¦leans, ouer whom the Sforzaes vsurped by power.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The ancient scituation of the Lombards.
• * 1.2

  Saint Ambrose Bishop of Mil∣laine.
• * 1.3

  The peo••ling of Italy by the Gaules.
• * 1.4

  Gouernors ap¦pointed for Millaine and Lombardie.
• * 1.5

  The descent of the Berengars and their rule in Italie.
• * 1.6

  Otho of Saxo∣nie his voyage into Italy a∣gainst Beren∣garius.
• * 1.7

  Pope Stephen the eight, a friend to Otho in his attempt.
• * 1.8

  The last Em∣perour of the bloud of Frāce
• * 1.9

  Pope Stephen his Crowning Otho for Em∣perour.
• * 1.10

  The words of Maximilian Emperour, to the Popes Le∣gate at Con∣stans.
• * 1.11

  The Emperor Fredericke Barba-Rossa, his entrance into Rome.
• * 1.12

  The Emperors bold & wor∣thy Answere.
• * 1.13

  The right of kissing the Hand.
• * 1.14

  The place of the Vicounts descent.