House of Bourgundie, her greatnesse and fall.
AFter along felicitie and great riches,* 1.1 and three great Princes good and wise going before this, who had continued sixescore yeares or more, and liued well and vertuously; God gaue this duke Charles, who contin••ally held his Subiects in great warres, toyle, and expence, and in •• manner in Winter as much as in Sommer, so as many rich men were slain or ruined by imprisonment in these warres. The greatlosses began before Nuz, and were continued by three or foure batels, euen vnto his death, so as in this last bat∣tell all the force of ••is Country was consumed, and his men either slaine or taken pris••ners, who might and would ha••e defended the State and honour if his house. And so (as I haue said) it seemes that this losse hat•• beene equall to the time that they were in felici∣tie: for (as I haue said to haue seene it great, rich and honoured) so I may say to ha•• seene it all in his Subiects; for I thinke that I haue seene and knowne the best part of Europe, yet haue I not knowne any State or Country, so much for so much, nor of larger limits, that did so much abound in riches, moueables, and buildings, nor in prodigaliti, expence, feasting, and good cheare, as I haue seene during the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I was there. And if it seeme to any one (who was not there in ••ose times) that I speake too much, others that were then prese••, will happily say that I speake but little.