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.

Charles the 9. and 61. King of France. Anno 1560.

[illustration] portrait

THis Charles the ninth, at the Age of thirteene, succeeded his Brother Francis. Hee pursu'd the enterprises of his Predecessor, for his State affaires, which

were begunne the eighth of December' Anno Domini 1560. at Orleans, and and afterward finished at Pontoise, An∣gust and September following, Anno Domini 1561. At that time hee assem∣bled the Prelates of France at Possi to a Nationall Counsell. The January following it was permitted to the Hu∣gnenots to make their exercises and Sermons out of the Cities. Where∣upon ensued great troubles, warres, and slaughters of great Lords and person∣ages, as of the King of Navarre, who was slaine before Rouen; and in the bat∣taile of Dreux, which was given the 19. of March, Anno Domini 1562. the Martiall of St. Andrew, and the Duke of Guise were slaine before Orleans. A while after, the Towne of Haure de Grace was recovered, which had beene before yeelded to the English. The King at the Parliament at Rouen, being declared Mayor, after an Edict of Paci∣fication made, went to visit his King∣dome,

Anno domini 1564. and went to meet his sister, the Queene of Spaine, at▪ Bayonne, where great magnificences were parformfd. After having visited the Gascogne. Guienne, and Poitou, he came to Moulins, where he made many excellent Ordinances. The second civill warre sprung up, wherein, after that the King had made an escape out of Meaux, the battaile of St. Denis was fought, wherein the Constable was wounded, which was a cause of another Pacification, by reason of the siege of Chartres, which was broken by the third intestine warre, which continu∣two yeares space; during which, the ed battaile of Iarnac was fought, wherein the Prince of Conde was slaine; and another battaile at Montcontour. After which, another Edict of Pacifica∣tion was made, Anno Domini 1570. Afterwards the King marryed the Lady Elizabeth of Austria, daughter to the Emperour Maximilian. Also the mar∣riage

of the King of Navarre was cele∣brated Anno Domini 1573. and the 24. of August, the same yeare the Admirall was slaine in Paris, with a great number of the Hugoueotes and Rochelle was be∣sieged. Then a fourth pacification by the election in Poland of the Duke of Aniou, brother to the King, was made: he being gone in his Kingdome of Poland, was certified of his brother, the Kings, death on the 30. of May, at the Bois de Vincennes, 1574. having one daughter who dyed an Infant. He lyes at St. Denis.

Hee was a Prince that had excellent naturall gifts, but blended and mingled with vices, wherewith his Governours and Schoolemasters had corrupted his young minde, which at the first was more vertuously inclined, delighting in Musick and Poetry. But as he was a great Hunter, that lov'd to shed the blood of wilde beasts, so hee suffered also (during his reigne) the Protestants

blood to be shed, and in revenge there∣of in his sicknesse before his death great store of blood issued out by vomiting, and by other passages of his body, in the two last weekes of his sicknesse, wherein he endured as much paine and torment, as the strength of youth could suffer in the last pangs of death. And this judgement shewed that God loves not the Prince that thirsts after his sub∣jects blood, which is the very blood of the Prince. Some few houres before his death he said: It was a great comfort un∣to him that he left no heire Male law∣fully begotten; for leaving him young, he must endure many crosses, and France had neede of a man.