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AFter the decease of Iohn the first, this Charles 5. surnamed the Wise, was crowned the 19. of March, Anno Dom. 1364. At the comming to the Crowne, hee gained a∣gainst those of Navarre a very memo∣rable victory under the Conduct of the
Lord Bertrand du Guesclin, in favour whereof he gave him the Dukedome of Longueville. From thence the said Guesclin went to aide Charles of Blois, against whom Iohn of Monfort relying upon the English, had begun warres for the Dutchy of Bretagne, where he was taken fighting valiantly before the Castle of Aulroy, against Iohn Lord Chandos, High Marshall of England: but a peace being made betweene the Duke of Monfort and the Countesse of Blois, the King likewise made a peace with those of Navarre, and after sent Guesclin to ayde Peter King of Arragon, against Peter King of Castile in favour of Henry, Sancho and Telco his naturall brothers; and also in revenge of the death of his Wife Blanche, the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon, whom hee had caused to be slaine. Peter of Castile be∣ing deposed of his kingdome, and Henry substituted, hee retired to the Prince of Wales, who restored him to his former estate.
After returning into Guienne, he im∣posed upon his Subjects unaccustomed taxations and imposts, which caused the Lords of Armaignac and of Albert to appeale to the King of France, as to their Soveraigne Lord, which was a cause that moved Charles to give an eare to Henry, who offered to hold his king∣dome of Castile from him, so that hee would ayde him in the re-conquest thereof. Whereupon the King sent him Guesclin, who gained fixe bat∣tells against his Enemy, and in the fixt Peter of Castile was taken by the Lord de Villaines, a French Knight, of whom Henry ransomed him, and put him to death, enjoying by that meanes the kingdome of Castile.
In the meane time, because the King embraced the appeale of the Lords of Gascogne, the Prince of Wales denoun∣ced warre against him, which the King managed so well by the assistance of his brothers, that repairing the losses of his Father and Grandfather received by
the English, hee reconquered Guienne, Poictou, and Bretagne, and deceased in September, Anno Dom. 1380, leaving Charles and Lewis under the tuition of their Unkles.
This King had many vertues, shining in all estates, both in happinesse and adversity, and when the Realme was in the heate of troubles, he saved it from ruine, so that his fame was spred a∣broad, leaving an honourable remem∣brance to his posterity. Hee favoured Learning and the learned, preferring the Schoolemaster Nicholas Oresme: He caused the Bible to be translated, imi∣tating therein St. Lewis, and tooke great delight to read the Scripture and Philosophy, and he made Aristotles E∣thicks and Politicks, and many places of Tully to be translated into French; and his favour shewed to learned men, cherished their fancies, and made them seeke unto the forsaken Muses for witty inventions. Hee would heare Suits in open Court, and redresse the wrongs
of the oppressed, and tooke pleasure to advance his houshold servants, and gave them meanes for bringing up their sons, and marrying their daughters: And as he was a favourer of Learning, so Bar∣tholl, Baldus, Petrarch, Bociac, Plorindes, Bonaventure, and John Wickliffe of Ox∣ford in England lived in his Reigne. But Vertues are not hereditary, for Charles sonne to this King, degenerated from his Father, and the Kingdome of France was afterward punished in the weaknesse of the succeeding Kings, so that the confused government brought forth sad effects, such as are to bee ex∣pected where the rabble multitude have a power unrestrained by Authority, and doe swarme and rove about like unruly Bees.