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.

Lewis the 11. and 55. King of France. Anno 1461.

[illustration] portrait

LEwis the 11. departing out of Brabant, being accompanyed with the Duke, Philip of Bur∣gundy, and the Count of Charolois his

sonne, caused himselfe to be crowned King of France▪ the fifteenth of Au∣gust 1461. The Princes seeing them∣selves in contempt, especially Mounsier Charles his brother, who rose up in Armes against him, under a pretensive colour for the common good, giving him the famous battaile of Montlehery, the fifteenth of Iuly, Anno Domini 1463. The King for the dissipating of their forces, following the advise of the Duke of Milan, gave Normandy to his brother, which afterwards by subtil∣ties he withdrew from him againe. But in the end hee was enforced by the Duke of Burgundy to give unto his bro∣ther Mounsier Charles the Counties of Champagne and Brie, which hee after∣ward exchanged for the Dutchy of Gui∣enne, by this meanes to weane him from the Duke of Burgundy, recalling all the Townes upon this side the River Somme; and afterwards against his bro∣ther Charles, for the withdrawing of the Dutchy of Guienne, who immedi∣ately

dyed, not without suspition of poyson. Afterwards he made a treaty of peace at Bouvines, with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundy for the ensna∣ring of the High Constable S. Paul, who had beene the prime sparke of all the dissentions after the battaile of Montle∣hery. In the meane time the King works the Duke of Burgundy quite out with the Emperour Fredericke, and with the Duke of Loraine, working his ruine at the siege of Mus. Then he takes in many Townes of the Burgundion, who had appealed to the English for aide, with whom the King had already made a treaty of Piquigny, by which Charles the Kings sonne was to marry with the daughter of England, when they came to be of age; which constrained the Bur∣gundion to make his peace with the King, and to deliver the High Con∣stable into his power. The Duke of Burgundy was slaine before Nancy, lea∣ving one sole Daughter Mary, who was marryed to Maximilian, the onely son

of the Emperour Fredericke; by reason whereof the King recovered all the Countrey upon the Somme, together with the Dutchy and County of Bur∣gundy. But afterwards the Prince of Orange caused the Franch-Conite to re∣volt. After this the King allyed himselfe to the Swisses, and recovered the County of Provence, from Renatus Duke of A∣niou, by way of Donation. The K. after∣wards having marryed his son Charles to the Lady Marguerite of Flanders, hee surrendered his life the 30 of Aug. 1483.

Hee said that Charles the sage might be a wise man in his Tiring-Chamber, or Closet, but in giving his youngest brother the Dutchy of Burgundy, hee played the fooles part. Being told af∣ter a battaile, that his enemy Count Charolois did lodge in the field: He re∣plyed, That he having neither Towne nor Castle must needes lodge in a field∣bed. It was his usuall saying: That when pride walketh, or rideth afore, shame and dishonour, like servingmen,

attend behind. Being told that one of the Canons of the Church where hee had heard Masse was dead, he gave the Prebendship to a Priest which lay slee∣ping in an adjoyning Chappell, that hee should say afterward, that his good for∣tune came unto him sleeping. To a Gentleman that was ready to handle a rich Chaine of gold, which a Captaine wore about his neck, and was suspected to be made of the reliques of a Church, he said: Take heede how you touch that Chaine, for it is a holy thing.

He said also, that, in regard of his trou∣bles at the beginning of his reigne, if by the expression of courage and experi∣ence he had not procured feare and re∣verence, he might have beene ranked a∣mongst the unfortunate Princes in the last Chapter of Boccace. A rich Noble∣man having builded a faire Hospitall, he said, That having made many poore for the Hospitall, hee might justly make an Hospitall for the poore, and so con∣vert his sinnes into Almes-houses. Hee

would often say to his Noblemen, that his sonne should learne no more Latine, than Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit reg∣nare; and that the government of the Kingdome and Common-wealth was his best study, for other studies would too much soften his minde, and Histo∣ricall examples, unfortunate in their e∣vent, and successe, would discourage him from attempting brave Actions. He said also that the Genowayes should not long remaine under his protection, for he would bequeath them to the Divell. Being advised to send an Embassadour, that had many Dignities and Titles: he said he is like a peece of Brachigraphy, that hath many a Title but Learning very little. Being told that the Gout haunted rich men that fared delicious∣ly, and wore fine cloathing; he said, hee would alwaies afterward weare cloath∣cloathes, because the Gout should not take him for a rich man. He could finde all things he said in his Kingdome, and his Court, except truth, which was sicke

in his fathers time, and was now starke dead, having before her death made no Confession to a Priest. The Realme of France he said was a meddow which he did cut every yeere, and as often as he listed. He asking a meane fellow, which knew not the King when he saw him, what he gained by following the Court? The fellow answered, I get as much as the King, that is, maintenance while I live, and a sheete when I dye.

He said that a curious ignorant man, having a Library of faire Bookes, was like a crooke-backt man having a Bunch on his backe, whereby the defor∣mity of the one, & the ignorance of the other was more discerned. He made gold the engine of his actions, saying, that an Army of silver Launces doth usually winne the victory. Great services (he said) through the arrogancy of the par∣ties performing them, or the neglect of Princes regarding them, were often re∣compenced with hatred or ingratitude▪ and therefore the bounty of Princes ex∣ceeding

desert was more fortunate and happy than desert exceeding the bounty of Princes, not enduring to be indebted or obliged. Having felt the smart of the English warres, he said the King of England was his Brother in his owne Countrey, but hee did not like his company in France.

Having caused a faire goodly Tombe to bee made for the faire Lady Agnes, the love of his late Father, the Cannons of the Church desiring that the Monu∣ment might bee removed out of the heart of the Church into a side Ile, or Chappell, he answered, that their re∣quest was neither just nor reasonable, neither would he suffer her Tombe (whom his father loved) to be vio∣lated.

After Monsieur Bussi was beheaded and buryed, he caused the head to be digged up againe, and placed on a wooden pole in the Market place, and so being covered with a scarlet Cappe, furred with Minivere, in regard he had

beene a Counsellour of the Parliament. A suiter to the King for an Office, be∣in denyed, humbly thanked his Maje∣stie, who wondring at his moderate, yet man-like spirit, asked if he concei∣ved a right of his answer? yes, said the Suiter, and I thanke your Maje∣sty for giving me a dispatching denyall, rather than feeding delayes: with which Answer the King was so contented, that he had his Office immediatly granted.

A Noble-man seeing this King ride a Hunting on a very little Horse, said he had gotten a goodly stout Horse; for though he seemed but weake and little, yet he must needes be very strong, because he carryed him with all his Counsell: Thereby taxing the King, preferring the wisedome of his owne conceite before all other Counsell.

Hee demanding what present he might bestow on the English Embassa∣dors that might not cost him much, was answered; That he might pre∣sent

them with his Musitians, that so they might not cost him much, as for∣merly they had done.

Before the joyning of a Battaile, this King said hastily unto a Noble-man, that he had no affiance in his service: who for proofe thereof, having desired to exchange Armes and Ensignes with the King, charged bravely on the ene∣my, and being supposed to be the King, was slaine: wherein the King with wee∣ping teares sayd, he had lost his life to expresse his love and loyalty. Being in∣formed that the Saracens were misreck∣ned 10000 Francks, in the payment of 200000 thousand pounds for a ran∣some, he would not embarke or set saile untill the aforesaid Francks were paid: such was his fidelity to those Infidells. This King having appoynted a Bishop to goe take a Muster of the Souldiers in Paris, a great Noble-man desired a Commission to reforme the Bishops Church, saying that employment was as fit for him, as the other was for the

Bishop. When this King was Daul∣phin of France, he taking great pleasure in hunting, often resorted to a poore Forresters Cottage, where he did use to eate Radishes, he comming to be King, the Forrester perswaded by his Wife, & in hope of reward, presented to the King a faire Radish, which his Majesty accepted, and rewarded the Forrester with a thousand Crownes. After∣ward a Courtier presented the King with a faire goodly Horse, expecting a greater reward, because he had beene so bountifull to the Forrester. But the King contrary to his expectation, gave the Courtier his Radish, wrapped up in white paper; the Courtier returning to his lodging, opening the packet, found nothing but a Radish, whereup∣on he informed the King of the mis∣take, as he supposed: The King said, I have paide thee well for thy horse: for the present which I gave thee cost mee a thousand Crownes; thus the poore mans good affection was wel rewarded,

and the Courtiers audaciousnesse slight∣ly regarded.

This Lewis sends an Embassadour to the Emperour, to excuse him for not sending an army, promised by treaty, en∣treating him not to make a greement with the Duke of Burgogne; but that he should confiscate all the Dukes Signo∣nories that held of the Emperour, as hee would doe those that held of the Crowne of France: The Emperour an∣swered, that they must not divide the Beares skinne before the Beast be dead. This King commming to an interview of the King of Castile, unto whom hee was formerly strickly allyed, conceived a contempt and disdaine each of other: The French of the Castilians sumptu∣ousnesse and pride, in their words, coun∣tenance and apparrell: The Castilians of the plainnesse of the French attire: So as from that day these Kings did never love, and the French did ever since hate the Spaniard.