Page  132

THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI.

THE FIFTH BOOKE.

THE Duke of Normandy was no sooner ad∣uertised that the King had promised by the Treaty of Peronne to giue him the Contries of Champaigne and Brie for his portion but hee presently besought him to giue him leaue to goe thither, and not to suf∣fer him to languish any longer, for the enioy∣ing of his rest and quiet, the cheefe part whereof consisted in not beeing troubled to seeke it.a

The King who had promised nothing freely, thought to discharge himselfe of his promises at a better rate. Hee wonne the Sig^r. of Lescun,b who was his Brothers whole Councell,* to perswade him to be conformable to his intentions, and to rest satisfied not with that which he desired, but with what should be offered him. Yet this practise was not so secret but the Duke of Bourgondy was aduerti∣sed by the Cardinall Bal•e, a double heart and a turbulent spirit full of passion, who wrate vnto him that the King treated with his Brother, that they made no mention of him, and that hee should looke to his busines. This letter being surprised, lodged him in a Cage of Ironc for a prison from the which hee was not freed but by the Popes intercession, and towards the end of this raigne. These Cages were of his inuention,d part wood, part iron, and couered with plates of Iron, so Perillus was rosted in the bull which he had inuented.

The King being returned into France, whereas they talked of his indiscretion and great credulity in trusting his enemie, set a good countenance of it, and made shew that what had beene done at Pe∣ronne had been as beneficiall vnto him as if it had beene resolued, in Paris,e but to put other fancies into the heads of the Parisiens and other discourses into their mouthes, hee caused a proclamati∣on to be made by the trumpet, that all birds which are kept in Ca∣ges, as Pyes, Iayes and such like, should bee brought vnto him to Page  133 Amboise. They that had the Charge of this commission, should informe themselues what euery Bird could say, and where it had been taken and taught.f An act of iudgement which did preuent many inconfiderate speeches,* which would haue been vsed against this Prince, for that he had thrust himselfe so rashly into his ene∣mies power, and brought himselfe to that estate, as he was like vn∣to the Elephant who paies his ransome with the Iuory of his teeth.

To repaire this error and to preuent his Brother, and the Duke of Bourgundy of their pretensions, he labours to breake the Trea∣tie, but he will doe all with solemnitie, and if hee must cast forth the Thunderbolts of warre, it shall not be done without the Coun∣cell of the Gods,h imitating the wisedome of his Predecessors, who did not vndertake any warre without the aduice of a Parlia∣ment. So Pepin past the Alpes to succour the Pope, so he armed a∣gainst the Saxons, so hee expelled Gaifre out of Aquitaine, so Charlemaine went against the King of the Lombards, and the Duke of Bauaria hauing first acquainted the Parliament with these de∣signes.*

To this end he assembled the Estates of the Realme at Tours, i the pretext was to preuent the ruines of the Realme, but the es∣sentiall cause was to resolue two things, a portion for Monsieur, and the restitution of the Townes vpon the riuer of Some, both depending vpon this Lawe which is one of the pillars of the E∣state. That the Lands of the Crowne are inalienable, and portions are not giuen but with condition to returne againe for want of heires masle.k

The tongue hath done great seruices to this Prince in diuers acti∣ons,* in this (yet without any Art or affection)l he strikes fire to inflame the coldest spirits, to what he will, and speakes to all the Deputies, and lets euery man know the importance of the Duchie of Normandie, and the preiudice which other Prouinces receiued when it was in the power of the English, with the incredible to ile which King Charles his Father had past to wrest it out of their hands. That although he did not hold his brother to be of so bad a disposition as to haue intelligence with them,* yet he knew well that they of his intelligence bad great practises in England, that he might haue children which should not bee of his humor, beeing most certaine that the Princes of the same bloud extend their thoughts farther then they should,m or may goe, aspire to great matters, and are not content with their condition. That for these reasons he could not leaue the Duchie of Normandie. That his promises in that regard should be soundly vnderstood, and that af∣faires Page  134 of State were not managed with such scrupulous considerati∣ons. That hee offered notwithstanding to giue him such a portion as the Estates should aduise, making them Iudges and Arbitrators therein, but aboue all he commanded that the lawes of the Realme should not be infringed.n

Hauing thus prepared their minds, he opens the Estates, & came thither with greater Maiesty then he did euer shew in any action du∣ring his raigne. A Prince cannot adde too much in such great oc∣casions, for besides that this light doth please, it dazels and trans∣ports mens mindes, he must allwayes hold himselfe in admiration, it is a toile which is neuer set but some one is taken. His throne was vpon a stage three foot high, & railed in, containing all the bredth of the vpper end of the hall, his chaire was of blew veluet pouldred with flowers-de-luce vnder a cloth of estate of the same, and vpon three steps. He was attired in a long robe of white Damask imbro∣dered thick with fine gold of Cypres, with buttons of gold, & furred with fables, a little black hat of his head, with a feather of gold. On either side of him were the Cardinall of St Susanne, Bishop of An∣gers, and Rene Duke of Anjou and King of Sicile.o

The Prince of Piedmont a yong Infant was vppon one of the steps,* and of either side stood the Earle of Foix, Prince of Nauarre and the Kings brother in law, with the Earles of Neuers and Eu, The Earle of Dunois, high Chamberlaine of France, was by rea∣son of his gowt set vpon a little stoole behinde the King of Sicile, with many other Noblemen.

There were two other places rayled in, the one in the middest of the Hall neere vnto the Kings for the Princes of the bloud, the Constable, the Chancellor, the Patriarke of Ierusalem, the Arch-bishop of Ierusalem, the Arch-bishop of Tours and other Bishops, p The other being great and spacious which did inuiron the first of either side, was for the Deputies of the three Estates. Betwixt the Kings Theater and that of the Princes, were two formes directly against the King, on the one were the Peeres of France, and on the other were the Officers of the Crowne.

Euery man being setq and all the greatest of the State humbled before the Prince, like vnto the rods and Maces of the ancient Ma∣gistrates of Rome,r the Chancellor rose from his place and pre∣sented himselfe vpon his kneee on the right side of the King, who told him in his eare what his intention was.* Hee made the Estates acquainted therewith in a long Oration the Deputies beeing pre∣pared vpon the Kings instructions finde that they neither could nor ought to grant vnto Charles of France the Duchie of Nor∣mandie for his portion. It was said that it should remaine vnto the Crowne, and the King was intreated to maintaine the auncient lawes of the Realme, concerning his Patrimonie, holy, sacred and Page  135 inalienable either by contracts, or by prescription of time, and against any whatsoeuer, and that the Princes of the bloud should not therein haue any more fauour nor priuiledge then priuate men,s the King himselfe being bound by oath at his Coronation not to alienate any thing, and in doing so, to giue vnto his Brother a portion with the title of a Dutchy or an Earledome the which should be worth twelue hundred poundes starling a yeare, and a yearely pension of foure thousand and eight hundred pounds star∣ling, without drawing it to consequence,t for the yonger brethren of the house of France.

The King gaue the Dutchy of Guienne, besides the riuer of Charante,* the countrie of Agenois, Perigort, Quercy, Xanictonge, the Gouernment of Rochell and the Bailewike of Auins, hee chan∣ged the Parliament of Guienne from Bourdeaux to Poitiers. This resolution was carried to Monsieur, and to the Dukes of Brittany and Bourgundy his confederates, Monsieur was so ill and so desi∣rous to change the ayre, as notwithstanding that hee found small profit in the change of his condition, yet would he not refuse it. the Lord of Lescun perswaded him to reconcile himselfe vnto the King, and to accept of what he should giue him.

The Estates did also resolue that the Duke of Bourgundy should be adiourned to appeare in person before the Parliament at Paris,* to doe right vnto the Earle of Eu,u for St. Valery and other lands which he detained. The King was well pleased with this resolution, for that he knew well that when the Duke should see himselfe char∣ged in this manner he would make an answer according to his hu∣morfull of contempt, and that some grose-headed fellow executing his commission indiscreetly for profit, would moue him, and pro∣uoke him to do somthing whereat the Court should bee offended and vrged to seeke reparation.

The same Court of Parliament sent Iohn Loyselier,*x and Iohn Henry Councellors of inquests, to represent vnto the King, & to the Estates the great preiudice which France had receiued by the abo∣lition of the Pragmaticke Sanction, that it was depriued of a rule which comprehended all the liberties and freedomes of the French Church approued in the Conciles of Basill and Constance: That by the cessation of such decrees, France must needs looke for some great confusion of the Ecclesiasticall Order, and a generall im∣pouerishment by the transport of gold and siluer beyond the Alpes. But the King hauing obtained what hee desired against his Brother and the Duke of Bourgundy, hee carried his thoughts to other things then to that which the Estates expected for the good of the publike,y and dismist them giuing order for the intelligences which hee had vpon Amiens, Abbeuille and St. Quentin.

Page  136 Then representing vnto himselfe how much the discontent∣ments of the great men of this Realme, had ruined his affaires hee inuented a meanes to vnite their mindes to his will and to keep them firme by new bonds of honor and fidelitie,* the which hee found in the order of S^t Michael making it not onely a recom∣pence for vertue, like to the Consulship of Rome, but a marke of the Nobilitie of bloud and extraction.z

Princes should haue things in their meere disposition which should be out of the commerce of their subiects,* and wherevnto they may not aspire but by the degrees of Vertue. Honors which may bee recouered for money, are no more honors, for the sale may make them fall vpon vnworthy heads.a It is a great disorder when as such as are aduanced, cannot say that they are bound vnto their vertue, although they haue glorious shewes, and that is not held rare which may be recouered for money.b

Fortune may impouerish the greatest houses of Christendome, but the honour which they hold from their Ancestors remaines for euer, and a branch of Laurell which remaines of their fathers Crownes, is more deere vnto them then any other thing. Wee see not any Prince reduced to that necessitie, as hee prefers siluer be∣fore honor. And that King hath no great power in a Realme wher∣as they obtaine all for coyne.

The King making himselfe Generall of this Order,* would also haue them that were neerest vnto him honored.c He gaue the first coller of the Order to Monsieur his Brother, the second to Charles Duke of Bourbon and Auuergne. Hee thought to draw in the Dukes of Bourgundy and Brittany, but they would not bee bound to appeare at the Chapter.

With this Order were also honored the chiefe Noblemen of the Realme.*d Lewis of Luxenbourg Earle of S^t Paul and Constable of France, Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Marshall of France, Iohn Earle of Sancerre Lord of Bueil, Lewis of Beaumont Lord of Forest and Plessis, Lewis of Estouteuille Lord of Torcy, Lewis of Laual Lord of Chastillon, Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Earle of Rous∣sillon, Admirall of France, Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dam∣martin, Lord Stuard of the Kings house, Iohn Bastard of Armag∣nac Earle of Comminges, Marshall of France and Gouernor of Dauphiné George of Tremouille Lord of Craon, Gilbert of Cha∣bannes Lord of Curton Seneshall of Guienne, Charles Lord of Crussol Seneshall of Poitou, Taneguy of Chastell Gouernor of the Country of Roussillon and Sardinia. The King reserued to make vp the number of six and thirty Knights to his Election at the first chapter.

The Duke of Bourgundy at the same time receiued the Order of England; and the Duke of Brittanie that of Bourgundie, the Page  137 one instituted by Edward the third:f the other by Philip Duke of Bourgundy. As this Order had one head, so had it one certaine and determinate place, one habite, one marke or Ensigne, of Of∣ficers, one forme of reception, one oath and one rule.

The place was the Church of Mont S^t Michel,* as well for that the place was then noted to haue neuer yeelded vnto that yoake of the ancient enemies of the Crowne of France, as also for the King Charles the seuenth, said, that beeing vpon the bridge of Orleans when he entred with the Virgin Ioan, he saw (not by any fantastical visions of Southsayers like to Caesarg but truely) that Arke-angell fighting on his right hand. Hee appointed seates for the cheefe of the Order and Knights in the Quier of the Church, with their Armes aboue their seates.

The habit was a long cloake of white Damaske downe to the ground,* with a border imbrodered with cockle shells of gold inter∣laced and furred with Ermines, all of one length and one fashion, with hoodes of Crimson vellet and long tippets, the hood of the chiefe of the order was of Murry Skarlet.h

The marke or enseigne was a coller of Golde,*i in the midest of which vpon a rocke was the Image of Saint Michael in gold, which hong downe vpon his brest, all amounting to the value of two hun∣dred Crownes in gould, without any enamell or inriching with stones, which coller should be carried daily about their necks vn∣couered, vpon paine to cause a masse to bee said and to giue seauen souz sixe deniers for Gods sake. In armies, voiages and in their priuat houses it was sufficient to weare the image of Saint Michel at a little chaine of gould or a silke ryband.

The officers were a chancellork to keep the seale of the order,* to carry messages, to make propositions in chapters and Assem∣blies, to informe of the Actions of Knights, to admonish and cor∣rect, to gather the voyces in elections, and the proofes of Nobility. A register to write and inrowle the acts of the Order, all the com∣mendable prowesses & worthy deeds of the head and knights their faults, Iustifications, corrections and punishments. A Treasorer l which shall haue in his custody the titles, Relicks, Iewells, Orna∣ments, Tapistry, and Lybrary of the Order. A King at armes called Mont Saint Michel who shall haue sixe score pound starling a yeare pension, to carry the letters and commandements of the Order, to informe of the prowesses of Knights and to make his report.

The reception and the oth; After the decease of a Knight verifi∣ed of his worthy deeds and merits. They proceed to the election of an other to supply his place, the voyces are giuen and receyued by writting in open chapter,m and the Chancellor declares who hath the greatest number, if the rigour of such informations had Page  138 lasted alwaies, time which blemisheth the goodliest actions, and weakens the strongest lawes, had not altered any thing of the beauty and integrity of this Order. They had not called it in con∣tempt a hood for all heads, for Nobility and vertue could not desier a quallity which brought them more honor and greatnesse, when as he that merits to be chosen is aduertised of his election, he pre∣sents him-selfe vnto the Chapter, and addressing him-selfe vnto the King, speakes these words. Sir, or my Lord, if he bee of the bloud.

I haue seene your letters that by your fauour and of your most honored Bretheren and Champions of the worthy and honorable order of my Lord Saint Michel,* I haue beene chosenn into the order and louing compa∣ny, where-with I thinke my, selfe much honored, and doe reuerently and thankefully accept it, and doe thanke you as much as I may, offering my selfe ready to obay and to doe all that I ought and may touching the said order. Where-vnto shalbe answered by the said Soueraigne, being accompanied by the greatest number of Knights that may be. Wee and our Bretheren, Companions of the order, for the good renown we haue heard of your worthy deeds, vertues and merits, hoping you will perseuere and augment them to the honour of the order and commendation of your selfe,* haue chosen you to be perpetually, (if it pleaseth God) a brother and companion of the said order and louing company, wherefore you must take the othe which followeth. That withall your loyall power you shall helpe to keepe, sustaine and defendo the dignity and rights of the crowne and royall Maiesty and the authority of the soueraigne of the order and of his successors Soueraignes so long as you shall liue and be of the order.

You shall imploy your selfe with all your power to maintain the said or∣der in state and honour and shall labour to augment it,* and not suffer it to decaie, so long as you may preuent it. If it should happen which God forbid, that any fault should be found in you, for the which according to the customes of the orderp you were to bee depriued, sommoned and re∣quired to yeeld vp the said coller, in that case you send it to the said Soue∣raigne, or to the treasuror of the Order,* and shall neuer after the said Somation carry the said Coller, and all other paines and corrections which may bee inioyned you for other lesse offences, you shall beare and fulfill patiently, and not beare (by reason of the said things) any hatred against the Soueraigne, Companions and Officers of the Order.

You shall come and appeare in all Chapters,q Conuentions, and Assem∣blies of the Orders,* or shall send according to the Statutes and Ordi∣nances of the said Order, and shall obey the Soueraigne and his Deputies in all reaso•able things concerning the duety and affaires of the same Order, and shall with your loyall power accomplish all the Statutes, Poynts, Articles, and Ordinances of the Order, which you haue seene in writting, and heard read, and doe promise and sweare in generall, as if you had taken an oath vppon euery poynt in particular.

Page  139 Which things the said Knight shall promise and sweare in the hands of the said Soueraigne vpon his faith and honor,* hauing his hands vpon the Crosse and the holy Euangill, which done the said Knight newly chosen, shall come reuerently before the Soueraigne,* who taking the Coller of the Order shall put it about his necke, saying or causing these words to bee said. The Order receaues you in∣to this amiable company, & 〈◊〉 token thereof giues you this present Coller God graunt you may carry it long to his glory and seruice, aduancement of the holy Church, and increase of the honor of the Order and of your merrits and good •ame: In the name of the Father, the Sonne and holy Ghost, whereunto the said Knight shall say Amen God giue mee the grace. After which the eldest Knight shall lead the said Knight new∣ly receiued vnto the Soueraigne, who shall kisse him in signe of per∣petuall loue, and in like maner all the Knights that are present shall doe the same in order.*

Besides this the knights are bound to certaine respects one to∣wards another: They did promise at their entrie into the Order to serue the King as their head in all occasions both within and with∣out the Realme, and the King did promise to maintaine them in their goods,* lands, and estates, as his Bretheren and companions, and not to attempt any warre without their aduise.

Hee thought to hold those hearts (which had been distracted) fast bound vnto him, but infidelity was so bold and so contagious, as all the respects of honor and conscience were too weake to re∣straine her from drawing them from their dueties, who say the lawes of their birth were most bound vnto it. It was a difficult thing for good men to bridle themselues from running into ill, so licentious was the time,* and so hard a matter it is to do well, when as euery man glories in doing ill, and that crimes become exam∣ples and customes.

Iohn Duke of Bourbon continued his intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy, and aduertised him of what the King practised vp∣pon the Townes in Picardy. The Constable vsed all his practises betwixt the two Princes,* fearing that if the Kings Choller found not some subiect to worke vppon abroad, it would fall vppon the neerest that were about him: That a long peace would cut off the entertainment of his soldiers, making him vnproffitable to the King and without reputation in the realme promising vnto himselfe that whilst the warre continued hee should gouerne all. The perpetuity of his charge which could haue no other end but with his life, held him not in those apprehensions, wherewith their mindes are trou∣bled which hold them as a Wolfe by the eare,u Peace alone makes a ciuill warre in his soule, wherefore he assures the King, that when he pleased hee would recouer him St. Quentin, by the meanes of some places which he held about it▪ and would speedily execute the intelligences which he had in Flanders and Brabant.

Page  140 Warre beeing concluded by the Estates at Tours,* it was as soone begun as proclaimed. The Duke being at Gand receiued the Citation to appeare in person at the Court of Parliament who caused the Vsher of the Court to be imprisoned, hauing adiourned him as hee was going to Masse, and beeing madde to see himselfe made equall to the meanest of the Realme, he resolued to appeare with his sword in his hand, and to transport the warre as neere his Iudges as hee could.

The Kings practises began then to breake forth, many declared themselues French. Baldwine Bastard of Bourgundy retired himselfe vnto the Kings seruice.* The Duke of Brittanie had made an accord with him.x The Duke of Guienne was satisfied, and if hee could not haue all that hee desired, hee was content with that which did suffice him.y The Constable sent word to the Duke of Bourgundy that all was lost; that there was no reliefe for him in England, being fallen into the same convulsions which had in a manner smothered it in the yeare 1461.

Edward being bound to the Earle of Warwicks vertue for his for∣tune made him a sharer,* and gaue him goodly peeces depending of the Crowne, and the continuation of the gouernment of Calice, with fourescore thousand Crownes rent to increase his reuenues. Yet the Earle of Warwick did not hold these recompences pro∣portionable to his great seruices, beeing moreouer discontented for that the King hauing sent him into France to seeke the Kings Alliance by the marriage of Bonna of Sauoyz had mockt him in marrying with Grayes widdow, the which Lewis made sensible to the Earle of Warwicke to the end this complaint might bee as a thorne of discontent in his heart.

And as Princes take delight to pull them downe whom they haue raised and aduanced, and doe not willingly suffer such high heads of Poppie to grow in their gardens. Edward grew iealous and an enemie to this great authority which had cherished & made speed vnder the shadow of his. He brake quite with him, and some say that hauing attempted against the honour of a Kinswoman of his,a the Earle of Warwick being wounded in so sensible and ten∣der a part began to distaste the seruice which he did him, and re∣penting him of that which he had formerly done, hee retired from Court into his Earldome of Warwicke,* whereas his hard fortune made him know the difference of his friends,b and where he shews that a great courage had rather die reuenged, then liue with the re∣proch of a wrong or an affront.

The Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother, the Archbishop of Yorke, and the Marquis of Montague came vnto him. Euery one brought his complaint with him, and the vlcer he had in his heart against Edward. The Earle of Warwick represented vnto them the miserable estate they ranne into, if they did not labour to re∣store King Henry to his Fathers throne, and themselues to libertie. To binde the Duke of Clarence to this designe, hee giues him his Page  141 Daughter.* Proximitie of bloud did sufficiently binde the other two, being his Brethren, whose friendship he might account among the sweet fruits of his felicitie.c The partie was made and the reso∣lution taken vpon the consideration of things present & to come, was that he should goe to Calice, and in his absence they should make some stirres in the Prouince of Yorke, to the end hee might haue a subiect to come thither and to arme. The pretext of rising was for the deniall of some Corne which they of the Earle of Warwicks faction refused to pay for the entertainment of St Leo∣nards Hospitall in Yorke, and there were others which did mur∣mure, giuing it out that what should serue the poore was spent by great men.d

This refusall did so incense the people,* as in a short time there were fifteene thousand men in armes which marched directly to Yorke, to haue reason of them which refused to pay what they ought vnto the Hospitall. But when as they found themselues too weake,* being a multitude of seditious and mutenous fellowes, who are naturally cowards, and hauing no Canon to force an entrie, they past to London to demand Iustice of the King, with torches of rebellion in their fists.e

The Earle of Warwick was no sooner aduertised of these broiles, but he parted from Calice with the Duke of Clarence, and came and ioined with this multitude, who wanted not any thing but a head. King Henries presence and the Earles did countenance the faction, and increase it with a greater number, with the which he resolued to giue Battell, to recompence the errors, ruines and oc∣casion past.f The Earle of Pembroke, whom the King of Eng∣land had sent, not to fight but to punish those rebels was put to route and they had the victory. Richard Lord Riuers father to Queene Elizabeth, and his sonne Iohn Wooduille, with some other Gentlemen lost their heads.

The King sought to make some accord with the Earle of War∣wicke, and vpon the assurance which he gaue him, neglected to keep good gard in his Campe, the which should not bee omitted euen among friends. Loue goes naked by day and armed by night, g The Earle of Warwicke hauing obserued this carelesse guard by his spies he vndertooke to charge him by night,* with so great ad∣uantage, as killing all he found in the trenches hee came without any resistance to the place where the King was, whom he tooke pri∣soner and led away. But for that they could not make good vse of this fortune, they ruined themselues and vndid King Henry, for whom they had taken Armes: God, who hath a speciall care of Kings, depriued them of Iudgement, for although they knew well that it was impossible to settle King Henry peaceably in the Realme during Edwards life, yet could they not keep him so well but hee e∣scaped, hauing corrupted his gards with hopes, and goodly pro∣mises, whereof great men are no nigards when they haue need of their inferiors.

Page  142 Edward being at libertie, recouers Yorke, where he was recei∣ued with ioy, which was as great as it was vnexpected. From thence he went to London to confirme their wils whom his cap∣tiuitie had made to wauer, and considering that victory doth al∣waies fauour them which haue the aduantage both of Councell and force,h he raised a might Armie, and went to seeke out the Earle of Warwicke,* whom he put to rout, and returned trium∣phantly, the victorie was made famous by the death of ten thou∣sand men.

Queene Margaret, Prince Edward her Sonne, the Duke of Cla∣rence and his wife, the Earle of Warwick with their children and friends were forced to flye. They came to Calice, but the Earle of Warwicks Lieutenant would not receiue them, nor scarce suffer them to carrie two bottels of Wine for the Duchesse of Clarence, who was deliuered of a Sonne whilest the ship rode at an Anchor. This rudenes and indiscretion did so please King Edward and the Duke of Bourgundy, as the one sent him authoritie to com∣mand as Gouernor of Calais, and the other a good pension to in∣crease his entertainement.

The Earle of Warwicke, who was much esteemed in France, and in great credit with the King, for his worthy deeds which had made his reputation great and not easie to bee shaken,i sent vnto the King to receiue him. The King seemed to haue a great desire to see him and succour him. He landed at Diepe, and was conduc∣ted with all his troupe to Amboise. The people flockt vppon the high-wayes to see those mournefull relikes of Troy. Euery man had heard speake of the desolation of the house of Lancaster, they did regard them as Prodigies of fortune whom she had chosen to be pittifull examples of her inconstancie.

Within six monethes the King gaue them meanes to returne into England,* with such forces as Edward durst not affront them. Hee was forced to quit the partie, and seeing how dangerous it was to stay vntill the Earle of Warwick came vnto the gates of London, hee retired into Holland to the Duke of Bourgundie, carrying nothing with him but a hope to returne.k

Behold Henry the sixt drawne out of prison and set in the royall throne,* but he continued but six monethes, for Edward being re∣lieued with ships and men from the Duke of Bourgundy, retur∣ned into England, and presented himselfe before the gates of London, where he entred victorious. The Duke of Clarence left the Earle of VVarwickl King Henry was murthered in the Tower, his sonne was detained prisoner,* and soone after slaine. The Earle of VVarwicke was slaine vpon the place, and the Queen• was a prisoner. Thus the Realme which Edward had lost in eleuen dayes, was recouered in one, so true it is that Estates change in a moment,m & that it is hard to make good vse of things ill 〈◊〉.

Page  143 During these Tragedies, the King who wisht they had con∣tinued longer, the more to weaken the Dukes designes, and to humble his thoughts, continued the warre which he had begun in Picardie. The Constable who would needs be a necessarie euill n to these two Princes was glad to let the Duke vnderstand what he could doe.* He took S^t Quentin, Amiens opened her gates vnto him, Abbeuille (the Cittadell of Picardy) had entred into the same partie, if Philip of Creuecaeur, Lord of Cordes, had not entred. The Duke not holding himselfe safe in the middest of the Constables friends, retyred to Dourlans, and from thence to Arras.

Being there he receiued a letter from the Duke of Guienne con∣taining these wordes. Labour to content your subiects and then care not for you shall find friendes. The Duke seeing himselfe thus surprised and dispossest of the Townes which he did so much esteeme, intrea∣ted the Constable not to presse this warre so hotly, nor to doe the worst he could, and to consider that the King without any prece∣dent offence had taken armes, and broken the treaty of Peronne, before that he had disclaimed his friendship.o

The Constable beeing glad to see the pride of his first maister humbled,* makes the danger greater then it was: hee threatens him with an ineuitable ruine, if he did not open his eyes to those expedi∣ments which he propounded vnto him, letting him know that in the darknes of his infidelity he did alwaies reserue a good day for his seruice.p

Yet will he not declare himselfe to be other then a good French∣man, for to mannage his busines with honour, the leape was too dangerous from S^t. Quintin to Brussels. The passage from one con∣trary to another is neuer made without violence,q there must be a meane betwixt both to vnite the two extreames. He promiseth to serue the Duke in effect, in seruing the King in shew, and to make knowne the fruites of his seruice by the bad intelligence and diui∣sion which hee would still entertaine and was already framed be∣twixt the two brethren the King and Mounsire, the only means for him to be in safety and his estate in peace.r

But to end this war which was begun, and would continue with such cruell effects,* against him, there was no other help but to win Monsieur in giuing him his daughter in marriage: that all his de∣sires should ayme at this marke as the true end of his contentment, from the which he might wander by many waies,s and could not attaine vnto it but by this Allyance, that if he were so resolued hee would follow his party, and bring his head to his seruice, with the Towne of S^t Quentin and a good number of his seruants, In a word that he would doe any thing, yea set fire of the Temple of peace,t if he pleased.

Page  144 He should not haue perswaded the Duke of Bourgondy to this marriage with reasons of feare and amazement. A great courage doth neuer any thing to shew that he feares. This course was odious vnto the Duke, but much more vnto the King, being offended that the Constable would make such an alliance, and not acquaint them with it, for the same fault a Nobleman, of the same quality & dig∣nity, lost his head in Spaine.u

The Duke had other thoughtes then to marry his Daughter. Ma∣ny beleeued that he would not do it whilst hee liued, contenting himselfe to leaue her pleased in this liberty,* to hold many hopes in seruitude, for he entertained them that might assist him or anoy him with goodly discourses of this allyance. The Daughters of Soue∣raigne houses are not married to all them they are made sure vnto. x Princes in marrying do not regard their pleasure, but the necessi∣ty and profit of their affaires.

But seeing the Constable propound no other remedy but this marriage of Monsieur and his daughter, and that yeelding vnto it hee should fill the world with a beleefe that hee had consented for feare of his enemies,y he beganne then to hate him deadly and to sweare his ruine.

The King who iudged of the future by the knowledge of things pastz trusted him no more, for he had discouered that in this war he regarded his own priuate interest more then the good of his ser∣uice: that hee had made himselfe the instrument of an allyance, which was so much the more vnpleasing vnto him, for that hee ment to keepe him in Iealousie with his brother and to hold his greatnesse suspect.

Although the Duke of Brittany did still intertaine the Duke with feares and amazements, sending him word, that the King had desseins vpon Amiens, Bruges and Brussells, that hee was resolued to beseege him,a where hee should find himselfe deceaued, euen in Gand,* yet hee went to field with his Armie, beeing resolute to passe the riuer of Somme vppon a bridge which hee had made at Piqueny, and to fight with the King if hee sought to hinder him.

Hee remained sixe weekes before Amiens saying that hee at∣tended vntill the King (who was then at Beauuais) should come and force him to dislodge: But the King, by his temporizing, let him know that hee did not fight by the fortune of his enemies, but by his owne.b

The Towne was fortified with the presence of the chiefe men of Page  145 the realme, the Constable, the Lord Steward, the Admirall and Marshall were within it with one thousand and foure hundred men at Armes, and foure thousand franke Archers: They had resolued to sally foorth vppon the Duke, and to ingage him betwixt the king and them,* but the King would not: his mind was so resolute to end or to continue the warre, as any wauering might cause his will tend to the one side or the other.c

When as a mighty Prince doth not all he can vnto his inferiours, it argues, that eyther hee hath some great desseine to circumuent him, or that warre is vnpleasing vnto him: Wherefore the Duke (beeing aduertised that the King had not allowed of this desseine) sent Simon of Quingey with a letter of six lines written with his owne hand, in tearmes of great humility and exceeding greefe to see that warre begun vnder coullor of his seruice to satisfie another mans passions, adding that he beleeued, if the King had beene well informed of all things hee would not haue done it. The King who would not doe all hee could (for oftentimes hee that would haue all looseth all)d tooke delight in this letter, hauing discouered the practises of his Brother, of the Duke of Brittany and the Con∣stable; wherefore hee sent backe Simon of Quingey with good words and granted a truce to the Duke of Bourgondy which sent euery man home,* the King into Touraine, Monsieur into Guienne the Duke into Flanders, and the Constable to Saint Quentin, where he still continued his practises, and not onely tormented himselfe with his owne discommodities, but with that which succeeded hap∣pily to either of these two Princes.e

The King who knew well that the Duke of Bourgondy made his Brother the packhorse of his passions, sought to put him out of hope to marry his daughter,* and perswaded him to seeke the mar∣riage of the King of Castiles daughter.f Monsieur submitted his will to the Kings, and Deputies were sent into Castille to King Hen∣ry the fourth. The King had for his part the Cardinall of Alby and the Lord of Torcy: The Duke of Guienne gaue his procuration to the Earle of Bolloigne, and to the Lord of Malicorne, to consent vnto this marriage and had neuer beheld the Bride, Princes drinke these waters without seeing them.

This poursute was pleasing to the King of Castile, who was of∣fended that his Sister D. Isabella had married to Ferdinand of Ar∣ragon without his consent,* and tooke it for a great honor that shee whom the Grandes of Spaine held, and who in effect was the sup∣posed Daughter of Castile, should bee wife vnto the French Kings brother, hauing no meanes to lodge her in a better house.

Hee commanded the Archbishop of Seuill, the Bishop of Sig∣uenç and the master of the order of S. Iames, to treat the marriage with the Embassadors of France. All being concluded, the King would haue the promises made in a great Plaine,g neere vnto the Page  146 Monasterie of Paular enual de Locoia in the view of an incredible multitude which came thither.

The K. hauing renued his declarations against his sister D. Isabella, and confirmed to his Daughter D. Ioane the title of Princesse and heire of Castille, the Cardinall of Alby addressing himselfe to the Queene her mother, besought her to sweare whether D. Ioane were the Kings daughter or not. She sweare that she was. He made the like adiuration vnto the King, who affirmed the same. They had not any need to seeke for the Iewes waters of probationh nor to make this Virgin swim vpon the Riuer to know the truth of her birth. And yet vpon this affirmation all the Grandes at that time kist her hands, and she was againe sworne Princesse of Castille. In this qualitie the Cardinall of Alby made her sure to the Duke of Guienne, the Earle of Boulongue promising and receiuing the pro∣mises for him.

Whilest the King laboured to prouide a wife for his Brother,* God sent the King a Sonne,i Charles of Bourbon Archbishop of Lion was Godfather, and gaue him his name. This birth reuiued the King, who began to grow old, his Maiestie was more respected, factions were weakened, Monsieurs hopes recoyled, and France wholly preserued by these two great and speciall fauours of heauen, valor and prosperitie, or vertue and fortune, which haue made her reputation to passe through so many ages.k

The Constable seeing that by Monsieurs marriage with the Daughter of Castille,* all his designes vanished into smoke, labors with all the capacitie of his iudgement to disswade him from this alliance, letting him know that it was dishonorable by reason of the vnlawfull birth of Bertraiamina, (for so they called her) and dangerous for the hatred which he should purchase of D. Ferdi∣nand, and D. Isabella declared Kings of Castille, with the like Art he represented vnto him the greatnes he should expect by the mar∣riage of the Princesse of Bourgundy.* Pope Paul the second died l during this poursuite, and after that he had yeelded vnto it, hee was sodainly surprised by death hauing held a Consistorie and ea∣ten two melons at his dinner. His election was as vnexpected as his death. Cardinall Scarampi who was his enemie,m did in the beginning of the Conclaue breake off the proposition which was made, and yet contrarie to the ordinance of elections, the suffra∣ges agreed vpon the same subiect which they had reiected, and the contention which had begunne, the Conclaue ended. This Pope shewed a great generosite, for beeing chosen, and seeing that the gowt, or rather shame and discontentment hindred this Cardi∣nall from comming to the adoration, hee went to meete him, imbraced him, assured him of his loue, and to forget all mat∣ters past.

This Pope augmented the pompe of the Court of Rome, hee gaue Scarlet foot-clothes to the Cardinals Mules. Platina saith that he loued not learned men, and called all them hereticks that made Page  147 profession; and therefore he supprest the Colledge of Abreuiators which was full of great excellent spirits. The feeling which Platina seemed to haue of this iniury did wholly ruine his fortune, in the affliction whereof he wrote a letter vnto the Pope,n full of bitter∣nes and without respect.

This Pope was also taxed to be very greedy of money,* and not to haue held the iustest meanes to get it, and yet his magnificence in the sumptuous building of the Pallace of St. Mark, and in the reparation of that of S. Peter freed him from blame with such as know that magnificence is the daughter of liberalitie.

The promises beeing broken in the Castille the poursuite of the marriage with the Duke of Bourgundies Daughter was followed by the Constable with great vehemencie, who could not endure that any other should deale in it. Hee represented vnto him the greatnes and commoditie of the Estates which this marriage would bring him after the death of his brother and father in law, & makes him to apprehend it in such sort, as this yong Prince, who filled not his fantasie with small imaginations, continued his first poursuite of an alliance with duke Charles, assuring him that it would produce great effects for their common fortunes and profit.o

The Duke of Brittanie promised vnto himselfe the honour of the mediation for a matter which did profit few men and offended many. The King had no desire his brother should be so great.p The King of England sent often to the Duke of Bourgundy to di∣swade him from this alliance, entreating him to consider that the Duke of Guienne,* succeeding the King who had no children, and holding the countries belonging to the house of Bourgundy, Eng∣land did foresee her ruine and destruction.

The Duke of Bourgundy would haue no such sonne in Lawe, he gaue a desire and appetite to all men with one hand, and tooke all hope from them with the other, he promised her to all & gaue her not to any; he made vse of his daughter to entertaine the loue of Princes, and to passe ouer his affaires with more successe, to re∣paire by pollicy the defects he found in his owne strength, thinking that his weaknes did dispence him of his word, and that fraud was glorious against his enemies.q

But he had no desire to marry her, propounding vnto himselfe in this marriage more the aduancement of his owne designe, then the contentment of his daughter, hee promised her to Maximilian sonne to the Emperour Frederic,* and inclined much to that party, to doe his busines in Germany, where he desired to purchase some credit, for at the same time Sigismond ArchDuke of Austria had in∣gaged vnto him for fourescore thousand florins, the Country of Alsatia and Brisgaeu with the County of Ferette.r Hee promised Page  148 her in like manner to Nicholas sonne to the Duke of Calabria, to draw him from the Kings allyance, who had promised him his eldest daughter, To the Duke of Guienne to trouble the Kings of France, and England, and to Phillip Duke of Sauoy, for an other designe: Yet the practise was so followed by the Duke of Brittaine and the Constable, who promised in regard of that marriage to draw him into Amiens, and S. Quintin as he gaue his word to consent vnto it, and at the same instant hee assured the King of England that hee would not doe it, his words vppon this subiect were neuer of one tune,s and did not accord with his heart.

The Dukes of Guienne and Brittanie, being well aduertised that their hopes were crost by the King of England, gaue the Duke of Bourgundy to vnderstand by their Ministers that without the assis∣tance of the English, they were strong inough, and had sufficient intelligence to force the King to doe him right, and that the prin∣cipal end of their Armes, being for the publike good of the realme, they could not haue that successe which they expected imploying their ancient enemies, and that so long as they had forces and meanes in France, it was not needfull to seek them in England.t

These words were deliuered vnto him by Vrfe in the behalfe of Monsieur, Wherevpon the Duke said, to Philip de Commines, Behold the Lord of Vrfe presseth me to make mine armies as great as I can, and tels me that we shall doe great good vnto the Realme, doe you thinke if I enter with the company that I shall lead that I shall doe any good? Philip de Commines answered smiling. In my opinion no: Then the Duke said, I loue the good of France better then my Lord of Vrfe thinkes, for whereas there is but one King I would there were six. He would glad∣ly haue had the whole peece,u but knowing the impossibilitie, that the ascent was too steepe, and the top too slipperie hee had no care but to breake that which he could not wholly enioy.x

He prepared great forces, and the King sent his into Guienne, be∣ing incensed that his Brother had restored the Earle of Armagnac to his lands, which had been confiscate, and hee spoyles both the one and the other. He wins his cheife seruants the more easely to chase him out of Guienne. The Duke of Guienne prest the Duke of Bourgondy to succor him, the Duke sent vnto the King to intreat him to suffer Monsieur to liue in peace, The King answered that hee had no intent to alter any thing of his brothers portion, but to keepe him from attempting beyond his bounds. And behold a remar∣kable poynt of wisedome in this Prince, whilest the Duke prepared his army he sent Peter D'oriole Chancellor of France vnto him, and the Lord of Craon to make an ouerture of an accord.* A peace was treated, and the King promised to restore Amiens and Saint Quen∣tin, the duke was so much greeued for the losse of these two townes, and had so great a desire to recouer them, as in regard thereof hee granted whatsoeuer they would.

The hearts of men lie on the left side, they are full of deceit▪ y Truth, freedome and loyalty are rare, vnknowne and exiled qua∣lities. Page  149 It were basenesse not to dare to be lie his promises, nor to ac∣commodate his words to profit rather then to Iustice, These two Princes sought to deceiue one another,z the King had no will to res∣tore any thing, promising vnto himselfe that an infallible accident would preserue him that which a peace tooke from him. The duke of Bourgondy wrote vnder-hand to the dukes of Guienne and Brit∣tanie, that the abandoning of their protection, and friendship, which he had promised was but fayned, that his affection was alwaies pure and firme to maintaine them. Neither of them held himself bound to keepe his word but to effect his businesse, and in this bargaine they spake not all they thought.

Simon of Quingey, who had commandement to goe vnto the Duke of Brittaine to renew the hopes and protestations as soone as the peace should be effected prest the king much to sweare it.* The king, who had made profit of the time, deferred it from day to day, he lick't and fashon'd this little beare at leasure. Quingey who knew his Maisters mind durst not importune him. The king went slowly, hee tooke not halfe the winde hee might haue taken to arriue at a prefixed time at the port of his desseigns, thinking the winning of time very necessary for him that will effect his businesse, that it cannot be bought to deere nor too long attended.a Hee temporized so cunningly as he at tayned to what he desired. And behold a post which brings newes that the Duke of Guienne is dead: a death which changed the face of affaires, and depriued the Duke of all that he promised vnto himselfe.

It happened the twelfe of May 1471. and the manner so violent as his members turning contrary to their propper motion by strange convulsions,* wholy disfigured his body, his teeth, haire and nayles fell off before his death. It was thought to bee by poyson. Being on a sommers day at Saint Seuere with the Lady of Montso∣reau, the Abbot of Saint Iohn d' Angely (who was one of the Dukes fauorites) at his after-noones drinking presented a goodly Peache vnto his Lady, she tooke the one halfe and steeped it in wine, and gaue the other to Monsieur. Shee dyed soone after, but the Duke contynued longer, yet so sicke, as his death was bruted the very day that he had taken this deadly morcell.

If the King were pleased with this death we may gather by the words which he spake a little before, when as newes was brought him of the King of Castilles brothers death. He is but too happy to haue lost his brother. It was Al•onsob who had beene chosen King by the Castillans and by the League made against king Henry. This word of Brother was vnto him as a goodly name to signifie a bad thing, if he wept they were teares of ioy, and if they were not fayned they were presently dryed vp.

The little care hee seemed to haue to punish such as were accu∣sed to haue poysoned him, confirmed an opinion that he was con∣tent, and made many beleeue that this death came by his comman∣dement, Page  150 to assure the quiet of many by the death of one alone. c Hee commanded the Bishop of Angers Secretary to bringe him the proceedings taken before his Maister and Lewis of Amboise vp∣on this death, Claude of Seysel in that which hee hath written of the History of Lewis the twelfth saies vpon this occasion. Many there are which said, but yet I dare not affirme it, that he caused his said bro∣ther to die of poison, but it is most certaine that he neuer had any confi∣dence in him whilest he liued, and was not greeued at his death.

The course of his life was so short as fortune had not time to poursue him long:* shee followed him betimes and neuer ceased vn∣till he was daunted and deiected finding that misery is the proper portion of a mans life, yea of the greatest.d Hee had noe constant spirit to defend him-selfe from these affronts, he was as tractable to all perswations, as the King his brother was cunning and stayed. The History of Brittaine saith that for a truth he had noe courrage, and that inconstancy did properly belong vnto him. He did dictate soudenly what he had receiued and allowed.e He was not like to his Father in fortune, nor to his Grand-father in courrage, nor to his Brother in wisdome. It is a wonder to see how children degene∣rate, & how nature delights in these contrary productions, making cowards, ignorant men, & wicked proceed from the bloud of Prin∣ces which are valiant, wise & good. So vineger comes from wine.f

Impressions were very easie in this lightnesse. The rigor which King Lewis the eleuenth shewed vnto him, made him giue eare to such as sought to finde their owne contentments in his discontents. It is Iniustice in a Soueraigne brother not to prouide for the enter∣tainment of his yonger, whom he should put in the number of his forces and felicities. They are of the same bloud and grounded vp∣pon part and portion of the successiue rights, but they haue neuer prospered which haue troubled the house for this, and conspired with the members against the head.

Twenty yeares before this death France had seene a notable ex∣ample in Brittaine.* There is no danger to lay the History a little a∣side. Gilesg sonne to Iohn the fifth Duke of Brittaine, and Brother to Francis the first, being not well pleased with his portion retired himselfe to Guildo a Castle neere vnto the sea by Matignon.

The Duke his Brother makes King Charles the seuenth be∣leeue that he was there to fauour the English with aduice and in∣telligence. h A beliefe which might easily bee setled in the soule of a iealous King, for that this Prince had beene bred vp in Eng∣land, and the king had giuen him the Order of the Garter, and the office of Constable.* Vppon this first impression the king sends to take him, and deliuers him into the Dukes hands, who sends him prisoner to Chasteau Briant, commanding his Attourney Ge∣nerall i to make his processe for treason, but there was no crime nor any accuser.

Page  151 The hand which had hurt him sought to cure him. The king beeing informed of his innocencie, laboured for his deliuerance. The Duke durst not refuse him, but being ready to be set a liber∣tie, his enemies suppose letters from the king of England, where∣vpon the king changeth his aduice, and causeth him to bee kept more straightly in the Castle of Touffort. There he is made to lan∣guish and endure greater extremities then those of the Quarries of Siracusa,k for they refused him water, and if he had bread, they were the scraps of a poore woman who hearing him cry for hun∣ger put them in at a window, which was vpon the ditch side. His gardes who had vndertaken to starue him, seeing it continue to long,* strangled him. They gaue him leysure to thinke of his con∣science, hee charged a Friar to adiourne his Brother to heauen, seeing there was no Iustice on earth for his innocencie.l The Duke appeared.

Death pulling this thorne out of the kings heart, gaue him meanes of more rest, if his spirit had been capable of rest. It car∣ried him into many places,m and thrust him into sundry designes, medling with his neighbours affaires as with his owne. True it is he had great crosses by them that were neerest vnto him.* Iohn the second Duke of Alençon, the first Prince of the bloud, was sent pri∣soner to the Louure, for conspiring with the Kings enemies, and at the same time they saw other Princes afflicted with the like Do∣mesticke diseases. Lewis was nothing sorrie to disquiet them, he did what he could to fill vp the measure of their cares, hauing no respect to make enemies, so as they came to his Mill.

Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon had prosperities and aduersities,* both publike and priuate, so variable and diuers, as it could not be said whether he had more of the one then the o∣ther, his youth was tost, and his age was not quiet, but still his courage remained inuincible in the greatest fury of the storme.n

Charles the onely Sonne and presumptiue heyre of the Crowne of Nauarre tooke Armes against him to bee King.* Henry the fourth King of Castille who had married his eldest Daughter fa∣uored his rebels of Barcelona, and Gaston Earle of Foix, husband to Elenor his second daughter, seeing him busied against the Castillans sought to dispossesse him of the Crowne of Nauarre. D. Pedro of Portugall was chosen King & dyed at the siege of Tortosa.o Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Earle of Prouence, being desirous to recouer the Title of a king which he had lost at Naples, accep∣ted the same election by the aduice of King Lewis the eleuenth, and sent the Duke of Calabria his Sonne into Spaine with French troupes, which ioyning with them of the countie of Roussillon be∣sieged Girone.*

The Arragonois were beaten and defeated, and the Prince D. Page  152 Ferdinand sonne to the King of Nauarre in danger to be taken pri∣soner. p Winter came on, the Duke of Calabria retired his troupes to Perpignan, hee made a voyage into France to haue new forces, and returned with ten thousand men with the which he forced king Iohn to raise the siege from before Peralta, the which was wonder∣fully prest with their Ordinance, and hauing made a great breach, the assaylants assured themselues to force it at the firt assault. The night before it should be giuen, the Duke of Calabria entred with such furie into their quarters without discouerie, the Sentinels be∣ing a sleepe,q as euery man sought how to saue themselues. In com∣bats by night the amazement is so great as he that begins first wins. The King fled away bare headed towards Figueres. France made bonfires for this victorie the which was seconded by the taking of Girona,* but within few daies after they lamented the death of the Duke of Calabria, who dyed at Perpignan of a pestilent burning Feuer.

When as the King of Arragon had ended a Ciuill warre against his subiects, he found himselfe ingaged in warre against the French. King Lewis the eleuenth being often importuned with the ordinarie complaints which were made of the insolencies of the French, r which were at Roussillon, and that the inhabitants of Perpignan being reuolted against the garrison, had forced them to retire into the Castle, he sent the King word that he should pay him his three hundred thousand crownes & retire his countrie, or that he should make him an absolute sale, or giue him caution for the paiment. The King of Arragon finding either of these conditions verie harsh, answered that he could not yet vngage the country, and that it would bee no honour to him to alienate it, being a part of the Crowne of Arragon, and that it was a matter neuer heard of to presse a King to gaue Caution, the pawne being sufficient.

The King taking this answere for a refusall, prepared to warre, and made his preparation slowly, to haue a more speedy victories. With the like care as he armed for an offensiue warre against the King of Arragon, he gaue order for a defensiue, and to furnish the Towne of Perpignan with victuals and necessary commodities to maintaine a siege, and gaue the command thereof to the Lord of Lude. The Letter which he wrote vnto him vpon that subiect de∣serues well to be considered of, beeing drawne from the originall and full of passages which discouer the humor of this Prince, the order and conduct of his affaires, and the manner of writing of those times.

My Lord Gouernor,t the Earle of Cardonna and the Castellan of Emposta are arriued at Paris.* I haue sent Monsieur Daire and the Sieg^r of Bouffille vnto them, to know and vnderstand of them if they came to make any good appointment, or whether they came to deceiue mee and to dissemble. The said Bouffille is returned vnto me, and as farre as they Page  153 can finde they bring not any good newes, and their intention is onely to entertaine mee with words, vntill they haue gathered in their coine. And therefore I must play M^r Lewis, and you Mr Iohn, and whereas they seeke to deceiue vs let vs shew our selues more politick then they. In regard of my selfe I will entertaine them heere vntill the first weeke of May, and in the meane time you shall part with all the speed you can, and shall draw together a hundred Lances in Dauphine to lead with you, and cause them to be led by Monsieur de S. Priet, or by Pouillalier, or by them both together, that is to say, fourescore Lances by S. Priet, and twen∣tie by Pouillalier, or all to him alone or to both together, as you shal think the matter may be best conducted for my profit, for I referre this Article to you.

I send you a Letter which I write vnto them by Beauuoisin, whom I charged to tell them and to doe what you shall thinke fit. And for the paiment of the said hundred Lances,* you must speedilie finde a thousand Liuers to giue them at their departure, for they shall make but a roade to spoile and burne the corne and then returne, which is ten francks a month for euerie Lance: And seeing they haue no Archers, and conti∣nue but eight or ten daies, it must suffice them, it is fit to finde a meanes to recouer the said thousand Francks either by confiscation of Corne or otherwise. And if it should come to the extremitie that you could not finde it before you want, take it vppon the accounts of the Treasurer of Dauphin•, to whom I write expressely: but vse such diligence as the said men at Armes may part the 25. day of this month, and if you take any money vp in Dauphin• I will repay it. My Lord Gouernor, the greatest seruice you can doe me is to vse such speed as you may burne all their Corne betimes, for thereby they shall be forced to speake plainely.

I haue spoken vnto Captaine Odet Daidre, who is well content to goe thither, I send him vnto you with his hundred Lances to assist you to make the spoile, in my opinion when you are all together you are i∣nough.

I send Yuon Diliers vnto Monsieur de Charluz to raise an hundred Lances in Lanquedoc. I doe also write vnto de Charluz to gather toge∣ther of his Franc Archers the neerest to those marches, to the num∣ber of three thousand, and that he cause them to march into Roussillon with you, and that all be readie to part the 25. of this month of Aprill. And for the paiment of the hundred Lances of Lanquedoc, and of the said Franc Archers, I write vnto the Generall and Treasurer of Lan∣quedoc that they cause foure thousand Francs to be deliuered vnto them, that is to say a thousand Francs to the hundred Lances; and to the said Franc Archers 3000. Francs.

I doe also send Destueille to Monsieur Dalby, who carries a com∣mission directed to him, to Monsieur Charluz, and to the said Destue∣ille, and to euery of them, to cause great store of victuals to be carried to Narbona and other places of the fronter, to the end the men at Armes may haue no want: but you must haue a care that vnder co•llor thereof none be carried to Perpignan.

I haue giuen charge to the said Beauuoisien to be gouerned by you, Page  154 and in case that Mousieur de S. Priet lead the hundred Lances of Dau∣phin•, the said Beauuoisien shall bring vnto me Hardouin de la Iaille, whom I haue written to S. Priet to send me.

I haue sent vnto you Raoulet of Balparque, and Claux the Canonier to assist you, imploy them well, and spare nothing. The Seig^r of Bouffille shall part within two or three daies, and in my opinion with those hun∣dred Lances, with yours, those of Dauphinè, Lanquedoc, and of Captaine Odet, with the three thousand Franc of Archers, you shall haue forces suf∣ficient to spoile and burne their whole Country, and to take and beate downe their paltry places, or ruine and burne such as you cannot beat downe.

I doe also write vnto the Generall, Treasurer and Officers of Langue∣doc, that they doe whatsoeuer Monsi^r Dalby and you shall commaund them. Beauuoisien shall tell you the rest. Farewell my Lord Gouernor, I pray you let mee vnderstand of your newes. Written at Senlis the 9. of Aprill V. Lewis, and vnderneath: N. Tilhart.

The Kings armie besieged Parpignan* D. Iohn King of Arragon maintained the siege, the Prince D. Ferdinand came to succor him, and forced the French to retire; Lewis hearing of this shamefull re∣treat, commanded his Captaines to returne speedily•, and to take the place or to die there. The siege continued eight monthes, the besieged were wonderfully prest with famine, for when as they had eaten horses, dogs, Cats, and Rats, they deuoured their flesh that were slaine at assaults, chosing rather to dye after this manner, then to returne vnder the command of the French.* Yet their obstina∣cy was no hinderance from letting the K. suffer them to feele the ef∣fects of his Clemencie, receiuing them vpon composition, euen when as they could no more.u So the Cont•e of Roussillon remai∣ned to France all the raigne of King Lewis. King Charles his Sonne restored it to King Ferdinand.x It had cost the King his Father ma∣ny men and much money. His Chronicle relates that it was said in those times, that the Contrie of Arragon was a Church-yard vnto the French. Philip de Commines saith that in the Contie of Roussillon there died many good men, for this warre continued long▪

A Peace was mas made betwixt Lewis and D. Iohn King of Arra∣gon and Nauarre,* whose Embassadors being come into France, were well receiued and graciously vsed by the King, who gaue them two cups of gold waying fortie markes,y and esteemed worth three thousand two hundred crownes of gold, and to the end they might iudge of the whole peece by a patterne, he caused them to see the Inhabitants of Paris in Armes, they did muster a hundred & foure thousand men, the Originall saith they were all in one liuerie in red Casacks and white Crosses.

The fortune of the house of Armagnac was intangled in that of Arragon.* Iohn Earle of Armagnac had married Ioane of Foix Daughter to Gaston Earle of Foix and D. Leonora of Arragon. This alliance could not defend him from the indignation of King Lewis Page  155 the eleuenth in the furie whereof he found first the losse of his liber∣tie, then of his goods, and lastly of his life.

The King could not forget with what vehemency he had follow∣ed the Bourguignon party in the war of the Common weale, after that he had promised to retire himselfe from all Leagues and asso∣ciations, contrary to the Kings intentions, nor with what affection he had followed the youthfull follies of the Duke of Guienne his brother, who had restored him to his lands, contrary to his com∣mandement.

In the yeare 1469. one called Iohn Bon of Wales in England brought letters vnto the King, which King Edward had writen to the Earle of Armagnac,* and the answer which the Earle made him. The King reading them with the passion where-with he was pos∣sest, and easily beleeuing one man alonea to ruine one who was worth many, and who would cost him much, thought that Infidel∣lity was noe new thing in a spirit who had already shewed the proofes, and without further inquisition sends the Earle of Dam∣marting with twelue or thirteene hundreth Lances, and with ten or twelue thousand Franc Archers to seaze vpon the Earles per∣son, lands and estate.

Being come into the Towne of Rhodets, he put the whole Coun∣try into the Kings hands,* changed the officers, and caused a Pro∣clamation to be made by the sound of a Trumpet, that noe man of what estate or condition whatsoeuer should advowe himselfe ser∣uant nor officer to the Earle of Armagnac, nor make any pour∣sute for him, vpon paine of confiscation of body and goods.b In these extremities there is not any man that will willingly loose himselfe for another. Good men are loth to drawe their friends in∣to danger. As it is an office of frendshippe to runne into danger for ones friends, and rashnes to goe into perils without occasion, so it is cruelty to bring others into danger.

The Earle of Dammartin made booty of all the places and Sieg∣neuries which did belong vnto the Earle of Armagnac. If he tooke his part, as some taxed him he did contrary to the duty of a Gene∣rall, who should content himselfe with the glory of the command and executionc and leaue vnto the soldier that which concernes profit.

The Earle of Armagnac seeing that hee must haue time to cleere these brutes,* and that oftentimes Innocency is forced to yeeld vnto a sodaine euent,d was aduised to goe out of the Realme and to re∣tire to Fonteraby with his wife, being loth that his person should be at the Earle of Dammartins discretion, who beeing aduertised of his flight, past on, and seazed vppon the towne of Lestoré. The Court Parliament of Paris vppon the informations of the In∣telligences which the Earle of Armaignac had with the enemies of the Realme decreed a personall adiournment against him. His Page  156 processe was made by reason of his contumacy,e and by a sentence giuen the 7. of September 1470. he was condemned to loose his head. But he was in a place of safety, whereas the sentence could not be executed, hauing an intent to let them know, which had condem∣ned him, that he was aliue.

After that he had for two yeares space indured the miseries and discommodities which they suffer which are expelled from their owne houses and liue in a strange country, hauing tryed that the wandring starres were as vnfortunate as the fixed,f and sought by all meanes to returne into the Kings fauour:* when as he saw that by the resolution of the Estates, held at Tours, the Kings brother left Normandy, and tooke Guyenne for his portion, and that hee was arriued at Bourdeaux, he thought that he could not find a better re∣fuge nor portion then with him, he acquaints him with the misery of his life, which was such, as liuing, his life was nothing but a liuing death,g and the power which his enemies had against his inno∣cency. The Duke of Guienne pittied his estate, and gaue him proui∣sion to be restored to all his lands.

This displeased the King, who saw that the Duke of Guienne ioy∣ning with them whom hee held enemies to the Crowne, aud conti∣nuing his poursute of marriage with the Duke of Bourgondies daughter,* might reuiue the League which he had smothered. This feareh caused him to send 500. Lances with Foot-men and Ca∣non vnto the fronter of Guienne, deferring a more priuate reuenge against the Earle of Armagnac vntill another time.

He felt it cruelly after the death of the Duke of Guienne, when as the King sent the Lord of Beaujeu, Brother to to the Duke of Bourbon,* the Cardinal of Alby, Bishop of Aras, the Seneshals of Tholousa and Beaucaire, the Lord of Lude, with many other Cap∣taines, and a great nomber of Soldiers with Artillery, who laid siege to Lestoré and conti••ed it sixe or seauen monthes.

The Earle of Armagnac sent them his Chancellor being Abbot of Pessanti to tell them that it was not needfull to imploy such great forces against him,* that the Kings commandements should find no resistance in his contry, that all was vnder his obedience and disposition, yea his person, so as it would please the King to giue him good security, that he might go vnto him to iustifie his life and loyalty.

The offers were not accepted,k the Capitulations of an Inferiour beeing then more odious then they haue been since with Kings. Al the Contry was ouerrunne, spoiled and ruined, and yet the Earle would not suffer his people to defend themselues, declaring al∣waies that he was the Kings seruant, desiring nothing more then to iustifie himselfe, offering to deliuer vp the Towne of Lestoré, and Page  157 for a greater declaration of his will, hee caused the white Crosse and the Armes of France, to be set vpon the Towers and Walles.

The Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinall of Alby seing that with∣out hazarding the Kinges forces they might enter the place,* by an accord which the King was not bound to keepe,l they entred in∣to treaty with the Earle of Armagnac, and it was agreed: That the said Lord of Beaujeu, as Lieutenant to the King, hauing speciall power soe to doe, did pardon all crimes and delicts which he might haue committed against the King, as wel in adhering vnto the Duke of Guiennem as otherwise. That noe trouble nor hinderance should be giuen to himnor his seruāts going nor comming. That he might goe safely vnto the King with a hundred or sixe-score Horses, with∣out Armes to iustifie himselfe of those crimes wherewith he was charged, according to the offers made by him. That the Lord of Beaujeu and the Cardinall of Alby should obtaine all Letters and expeditions necessary for his better assurance. That in the meane time he might remaine in his Countrey of Gascoine in what place he should thinke good, except the Towne of Lestoré, the which should be deliuered into the hands of the Lord of Beaujeu.

It was also agreed that in case they gaue him not this assurance,n or that the thinges promised were not effected, the Towne of Lestoré should be restored vnto him. The Lord of Beaujeu hauing receiued the Kings commaūdement vpon this accord, & the assurance demā∣ded,* he sent it vnto Barran, whereas he then was, by the which it was granted him to goe vnto the King with threescore horse. But in steed of going thither, he executed an enterprise, which he had vpon Lest∣oré, by the meanes of Iohn D. Aymier. The younger brother of Albert surprised it,o and tooke the Lord of Beaujeu with the Noble-men and Gentle-men that were with him prisoners. D' Aymier was quar∣tred at Tours, and the younger brother of Albert, being Lord of St. Basile, lost his head at Poitiers.

Hereupon new forces ar sent to the Cardinall of Alby and to the Seneshals of Toulouza and Beaucaire to beesiege Lestoré. The siege continued three months, and the Cardinall seeing that force would not preuale,p he added policy, for Townes and Common-weales loose their liberties and are made subiect by the one or the other. They propounded againe the precedent condition of the ac∣cord.* The Abbot of Pessans, Bishop of Lombes & Chancelor to the Earle comes on his part to treat; they granted the assurāce which he desired to go vnto the King; a bolition of all thinges past, & of the seruices which he had done in the Duchie of Guienne against the King, pardon for the Noble-men & Gentle-men of his party, & of al that had bene done in the surprise of the Town of Lestoré.q In con∣sideration of this he deliuered vp Lestoré vnto the King. The articles were signed by the Cardinal Ranfort, Balsac, Gaston of Lyon, & Iohn Daillon Lord of Lude, on Thursday the fourth of March 1472.

Page  158 In execution of the treaty the Earle of Armagnac deliuered vnto the Cardinall the Castell of Lestoré, caused his men to disarme, and retired his Cannon, making all the ports to be sett open to the Kings men.r At this entry there was a great disorder, the treaty was broken,* the Earle of Armagnac was slaine in his house, and cast naked into the streets, the Townespoiled, the Countesse of Armag∣nac carried prisoner into the Castell, and within fewe dayes after was deliuered of a Sonne before her time, the Castell and walles of the Towne were razed, and it was fiered in euery place, and in the end all were intreated with that liberty which the rigor of war per∣mits against Townes and people that rebell.s

Charles of Armagnac the Earles Brother was caried prisoner to the Bastille.* This Imprisonment which continued foureteen yeares bred him wonderfull sorrowes and griefe, and as the passage is not great from melancolly to madnes, his spirit grew weake, and made him incapable to rouse the enemies of his howse. They gaue him certaine Noble-men of the Countrey to be his gouernors.

Many haue written the Taking of Lestoré, and the death of the Earle of Armagnac after an other manner, and such, as if they which had vndertaken to iustifie his memory had held it true, it had not beene forgotten in their Apology.t They say therefore, that the Cardinall of Alby entred into some treaty with the Earle of Armagnac for the assurance whereof he vsed a damnable polli∣cy,* for seeing that the Earle feared to fall into the Kings hands, he sware his promises by the most sollemne misteries of his Religion, giuing halfe a consecrated Hoste vnto the Earle and himself ta∣king the other halfe. That in the meane time the soldiers slipt in∣to the Towne, and that the Earle, meaning to charge them, fea∣ring a surprise,u they cryed out for succors, the Kings Armie en∣tred by the breaches which the cannon had made, the Towne was spoiled and ruined, all were put to the sword, and the Earle slaine. The Lord of Beaujeu with the other Gentle-men prisoners were deliuered.

Such was the Tragicall and fatall end of the Earle of Armagnac. Fortune, who desired to ouerthrow the greatnes of his house, blin∣ded his eyes that hee could not apprehend the dangers which did threaten it. She had not a more powerfull instrument then the ha∣tred which the King bare him. A hatred conceiued long before, nou∣rished and augmented, by many free & hardy actions. He was ther∣fore inuironed with so many perplexities and perturbations as hee needed no more to let him know her constancy, and to •make her not as straw which smoakesx but as a precious mettall which shines and is purified in the fire. They were so extreame as if in the begin∣ning Page  159 they had let him see the least part, or the choise of a cruell death, with what a resolution would hee haue imbraced this, to a∣uoid the miseries of the other? The most violent torments which a body can suffer are but light scratchings in respect of the burning wounds of the hearts greefe. His Conscience gaue him deepe ones, for they write that he had offended not onely the Kings Maiestie by this third reuolt, but also that of the liuing God by a notable vil∣lanie,* marrying with his owne Sister vnder a false dispensation.y A coniunction as abominable now by religion, as it was in former times to be desired by the reason of necessitie.z

Presently after the death of King Lewis the eleuenth Charles of Armagnac his brother besought King Charles the eight to restore him to the lands and estats of the house of Armagnac, and to bee admitted to answer the accusations layed against his brother shew∣ing that by the seuerity of King Lewis the eleuenth and by the great credit which his enemi•s had,* hee could neuer obtaine a safe con∣duct to come and iustifie himselfe. King Charles by the aduice of the Princes, Prelats and other Noblemen of the Realme graunted it, the third of Aprill 1483. and he was restored to the possessions of the house of Armagnac. After whose death many pretended the succession.a Afterwards the Court of Parlament by a decree of the seuenth of September 1510.b receiued them to iustifie the Earles memory.

Charles Duke of Alençon, whose Grandfather had married the Earle of Armagnac's Sister, drew his iustificacion from the same reasons by which he was accused. They said he had receiued Let∣ters from the King of England, and that Iohn Bon had brought them vnto the King, with the answere. His innocencie therein was very apparant, for if he had receiued his letters and would haue made a∣ny answere he would not haue giuen them back vnto the bearer. They were cunning practises, said the Duke of Alençon, of such as haue gouerned Lewis the eleuenth to tempt the fidelity of the Earle of Armagnac and to haue a share in his spoile. That if Iohn Bon had been a true messenger to the King of England, as he made shew to be, he had not carried the Letters vnto the king.

That the Earle of Armagnac was naturally an enemy to the Eng∣lish,* and being at Font arabic, he carried himselfe in such sort to∣wards them, as men wondred how he could be banished for fauo∣ring them.c He would not suffer his seruants to conferre or con∣uerse with the English which did trafficke in that Contrie: and it hapened one day as the yong men of Bayonne were come to dance before the Countesse of Armagnac, his wife, an English man ha∣uing a red crosse vpon his brest slipt into the hall, with the people who are accustomed to follow dances. The Earle who held the meeting of an English man with a red Crosse for as bad a presage, Page  160 as the ancients did a Moore with a crowne of Cypres,d com∣manded his Gentlemen, namely Carbon and pettie Santignem to driue him out, and as they ranne after him with their naked dag∣gers, Mauleon his Stuard stept betwixt them, saying that they were in a strange countrie, and that the Townes-men might rise against such an act, which the Earle of Armagnac seeing, he tooke his Stu∣ards staffe and chased the English man out of his lodging, making him to leape downe the stayres.

That being parted from Fontarabie, to goe vnto the Duke of Guienne, by chance he found an English man at the Sea side, whom he caused to be taken and carried him prisoner to Lestoré, onely for that he was an Englishman.

King Francis the first,*e the first yeare of his raigne, by his letters pattents giuen at Compeigne in February 1514. resigned vnto the Duke of Alençon and to the Lady Margaret his wife and their children, all his interest, vpon certaine conditions, the which hap∣pening, it fell to the house of Albret.

Iohn Duke of Alençon was so wonderfully grieued at the misera∣ble fortune of the Earle of Armagnac, as all his affections grew cold to the Kings seruice, and carrying alwaies from that time this vlcer in his brest he sought the Duke of Bourgondies pro∣tection. All which did but hasten his miserie and the losse of his libertie.

We must end this discourse with these words, that the reputati∣on of the seruices of the Lords of the house of Armagnac done to France against the English, freed him from all suspition of intel∣ligence with them, being most certaine that they were neuer no good English men, they haue alwaies resisted them, they haue spent their liues and goods to expell them out of the realme, and had detested them, hauing slaine their Predecessors cruelly and inhu∣mainly. f But such was the misery of the Age as they must aduow that which was beleeued more by coniecture then by assistance. He that is held of all men to be wicked, is forced to doe wickedly.

All waters returne into the sea from whence they flow. This goodly Prouince of Armagnac consisting in the lands which are called the Counties of Armagnac and Falensac, base Armagnac, Perdiac, Biran and Baran in the Viconties of Lomagne, Auuillar, Fesensaguet and Brouliois. In the Siegneuries of Lectoure, Au∣zan, the base riuer whereas Castellnau stands, and Malbourquet, Aure, Magnoac, Barrouce & Nestes is wholly come to the crowne of Nauarre, vnder the raigne of Henry of Albret King of Nauarre, Earle of Foix and Armagnac.