An epitome of all the lives of the kings of France From Pharamond the first, to the now most Christian King Levvis the thirteenth. With a relation of the famous battailes of the two kings of England, who were the first victorious princes that conquered France. Translated out of the French coppy by R.B. Esq.

To the Generous Reader, the Translator presents his La∣bours, &c.

Courteous Reader,

HIstory hath been from all Antiqui∣ty as Noble as Notable, and as full of Pleasure as Profit. Poetry I must confesse to be the elder Sister of the two, and the first reducer of

Mankinde to Humanity and Civility: But what the Elder hath delivered unto us Fabulously, the other hath done faithfully.

Great is the Vtility which redounds to all men by History (of what function or quality soever:) First, to Princes, it is a mo∣dell, by which to paterne their Lives and Actions: And by reading the Heroi∣call deeds of others, to make their presidents, as well by

imitating their Vertues, as avoyding their Vices. To States-men how to establish politicke Lawes, and grave∣ly to manage the Affaires of a flourishing Common∣Weale. It instructs Sove∣raignes, how to governe with Justice, mixt with Le∣nity, and Subjects to o∣bey with duty, tempered with loyalty.

Historiographers have in all Times and Ages, and a∣mongst all Nations and

Languages bin held in great reputation and reverence. Amongst the Hebrewes Philo-Judeus, and Jose∣phus Bengorion, who flou∣risht in the time of Hierusa∣lems last subversion, and de∣population, &c. Amongst the Grecians Herodotus, Thucidides, &c. Amongst the Romans or Latins, Titus Livius, Cornelius Tacitus, Salust, Iustine, &c. Amongst the French, Philip Comi∣nes: The Author of the

French Inventory, the Com∣poser of this Epitome of Chronicle, &c. Of the Scotch, Hector Boetius, Geor∣gius Buconanus, &c. And of our English (to omit many) Holynshed, Fabi∣an, Speed, Mr. Samuel Daniel, &c.

But concerning the pre∣sent Argument now in a∣gitation, I have reade of one Spintherus Tarentinus, a man (for his knowne VVise∣dome) by the unanimous

voyce of Greece, adding an Eight to the Seven Sages, who when he was to deliver his Opinion of Epaminon∣das, prime Captaine of ab∣solute power, and command without limit; after he had studied io honour him with his best Expression, he ut∣tered of him onely these few Words: Hee was a man who knew much, and spake little. The like I may say of the Author of this present VVorke, who

writ it first in the French Language: who though hee were frequent in all the French Annalls, having read all their Voluminous re∣membrances at large, yet was so farre from troub∣ling the Purse, or tyring the Patience of the Rea∣der, that in his succinct∣nesse of stile, & contracted∣nesse of Circumstance, he hath strived to spare both: Imitating the old Adage, Frustra fit per plura, quod fieri

potest per pauciora: and my selfe who am the unworthi∣est of many in this Kingdom, for the Translation of this Worke, have undertaken to make the French History, which I found accidentally, to speake English: where, in the ensuing Booke thou shalt finde such mixture of Dis∣courses, both observeable, de∣lightfull, and worthy to bee had in memory, containing al the Kings that ever were of France, which in number are

sixty foure, with their Con∣ditions, Natures, chiefest Acts, and Deaths, as also of these∣verall places of their Jnter∣ment, with many of their ac∣cute and witty sayings: all which, noble and Courte∣ous Reader, I present unto thee, with a Table of all the Kings names at the latter end of the Book: and if thou pleasest to accept of my en∣deavours, and but cast a be∣nigne smile and a gentle cen∣sure, I shall take it a double

courtesie, and labour to a∣mend what hath beene done amisse. But least in com∣mending the Brevity used in his Discourse, I might (on the contrary) erre in the pro∣lixity of my Epistle, I thus (though abruptly) as com∣mit thee, so commend thee to thy gentle Interpretation:

Thine, R. B.