The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton

THE SIXT BOOKE. (Book 6)

How the Duchie of Burgundie was yeelded to the King. Chap. 1.

NOw to returne to the principal matter, and to proceede in this historie, written at your request, my Lorde of Vienna: while the King brought vnder his subiection the places and townes aboue named in the marches of Picardie, his armie lay in Burgundie, the generall wher∣of in apparance, was the Prince of Orenge ¹ that now is, who was borne in the countie of Burgundie, and a subiect thereof; but lately reuolted the second time from Duke Charles: wherefore the King vsed his helpe; for he was a great Lord, well friended, and well beloued both in the said countie, and also in the Duchie of Bur∣gundie. But the Lord of Cran was the Kings lieute∣nant, and he it was in truth that had the charge of the whole armie, and in whom the King reposed his principall trust, and sure he was a wise man and faithfull to his Master, but somwhat too greedie of his owne gaine. The said Lord of Cran when he drew neere the countrie of Burgundie, sent the Prince of Orenge before him with certaine others to Digeon, to perswade with the citizens to become the Kings sub∣iects: which enterprise so well they atchieued by the said Princes meanes, that the towne of Digeon, and all the other places of the Duchie of Burgundie yeelded to the King, Aussonne and certaine castels excepted, which held yet for the Ladie of Burgundie. The King had promised the Prince of Orenge many goodly estates, and to restore him to all his grandfathers inheritance in the countie of Burgundie: for the which he was in sute with the Lords of Chauuerguion his vncles ² , whom (as he said) Duke Charles had fauored to his preiudice. For this cause had been often plea∣ded before him with great solemnitie, and once the Duke being accompanied with a number of lawyers, gaue iudgement against the Prince, at the least thus he repor∣ted: wherefore he forsooke the Dukes seruice, and went to the King. But Monseur de Cran after he was entred into all these townes aboue mentioned, and had gotten into his hands all the best places that should descend to the said Prince by right of inheritance: refused to yeeld them to him, notwithstanding both the Kings promise, and the said Princes request. The King also wrote often to him about this matter without all collusion, knowing that he much misused the Prince: notwithstanding he feared to displease the said de Cran, bicause he had the charge of the whole coun∣trie, neither thought he that the Prince either would or could haue caused the coun∣trie of Burgundie to rebel, as afterward he did, at the lest the greatest part therof. But I will heere leaue these Burgundies affaires, till another conuenient place shall serue to speake further thereof.

The Notes.

1 This Prince of Orenge was Iohn de Chaslons: the Prince of Orenge that now is, is of the house of Nassaw.

2 The olde copie hath Chasteauguion. Annal. Burgund. Chaumergnon. Annal. Franc. Chauuerguion, and so vndoubtedly it is to be read: for Chasteauguion was bro∣ther to this Prince of Orenge. Gaguin.

How the King entertained the English men after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundie, to the end they should not hinder his conquest of the said Dukes dominions. Chap. 2.

THose that heerafter shall reade this historie, and happily vnder∣stand the affaires both of this realme and the countries borde∣ring vpon it better than my selfe, will maruell that since the death of Duke Charles, I haue hitherto by the space almost of one whole yeere made no mention of the English men, and will woonder that they suffered the King to take the townes borde∣ring so neere vpon them, namely Arras, Bolloin, Ardres, and Hedin, with diuers other castels, and to lie so long with his campe before Saint Omer ¹ . But you shall vnderstand that the reason thereof was, for that our King in wisedome and sense surmounted far Edward King of England then raigning: for not∣withstanding that the said King Edward were a most valiant Prince, and had woon in England eight or nine battels, wherein he fought alwaies himselfe on foote great∣ly to his renowme; yet were these troubles but by fits, so that his head was not con∣tinually busied in matters of state: for immediately after the victorie obtained, he returned to his former sports and pleasures, till another storme arose. For you shall vnderstand, that when war beginneth in England, in ten daies or lesse the one or the other getteth the garland. But our affaires in Fraunce passed not after that sort, for besides the war it selfe, the K. was forced to haue an eie continually vpon diuers pla∣ces as well of his owne realme as of his neighbors, but especially by all means possi∣ble to content the King of England, and to entertain him by ambassadors, presents, and smooth words, to the end he should not entermeddle with our affaires. For the K. knew well the English men as well Nobles and Commons as the Cleargie, to be naturally inclined to make war vpon this realme, aswell vnder colour of the title they pretende thereunto; as also in hope of gaine. For they trust to haue euer such successe heere as their predecessors haue had, whom God permitted to obtaine in this realme many great victories, and large dominion both in Normandie and in Guienne, the which they had possessed by the space of three hundred and fiftie yeeres ² , when King Charles the seuenth first recouered it. During the which time they inriched the realme of England with great spoiles and much treasure, that they got aswell of the Princes and noble men of Fraunce, a great number of whom they tooke prisoners; as also of the townes and places which they subdued. Notwith∣standing they should hardly haue had such successe in the King our Masters time: for he would neuer haue indangered his estate in battell as King Charles the sixt did at Agincourt, where all the nobility of Fraunce lighted on foote to fight with the English men; but would haue proceeded more warily if the matter had come to execution, as you may perceiue by the course he held in sending King Edvvard home. Wherefore the King well perceiued that he must in any wise keepe the King of England and his principall seruants his friends, whom he sawe altogither incli∣ned

to quietnes and very greedy of his money: for the which cause he paid duly at London the pension of fiftie thousand crownes, which they called tribute. And fur∣ther gaue yeerely sixteene thousand crownes to the said Kings principall seruants, whose names were these: the Lord Chauncellor; the Master of the Rols who now is Chauncellor; the Lord Hastings Lord great Chamberlaine, a man of singular wis∣dome and vertue, and in great authority with his Master, and not without cause, for he euer serued him faithfully; Sir Thomas Montgomery; the Lord Hovvard, after∣ward Duke of Norfolke & partaker with the wicked King Richard; the Master of the Horse called Master Cheiny; Master Challenger, and the Marques Dorset the Queene of Englands sonne by hir first husband. Further, he gaue goodly presents to all the ambassadors that came to him, were their messages neuer so sharpe and bitter, and sent them home with such goodly words & Princely rewards, that they returned well contented. And notwithstanding that some of them vnderstood that he did all this onely to win time, the better to atchieue his enterprise in the conquest of the Duke of Burgundies dominions: yet winked they at it bicause of the great riches they re∣ceiued at his hands. To all these aboue named he gaue besides their pensions many goodly presents, so largely that the Lord Hovvard ouer and aboue his pension re∣ceiued of him in lesse then two yeeres space in money and plate fower and twentie thousand crownes. To the Lord Hastings also L. great Chamberlaine of England, he gaue at one time a present of plate to the value of ten thousand marks. The acquit∣tances of all which great personages are yet to be seene in the chamber of accounts at Paris, saue of the Lord Hastings Lord great Chamberlaine of England, which is an high office, for there is neuer but one alone in it. This L. Chamberlaine was long labored before he would become the Kings pensioner, my selfe being the onely man that perswaded him thereunto. For I wan him first to Charles Duke of Burgundies friendship during the time I serued him, who gaue him yeerly a pension of a thousand crownes; whereof when I had aduertised the King, he would in like maner that I should be a meanes to make him his friend and pensioner: for in times past during Duke Charles his life, and after his death also in fauor of the Lady of Burgundy, he had alwaies beene the Kings extreme enimy, and trauelled once to perswade the King of England to aide the said Lady against the King our Master. I began this friendship by letters, and the King gaue him a pension of two thousand crownes, which was double the summe he receiued of the Duke. Further, the King sent to him one of the stewards of his house called Peter Cleret, charging him to bring with him the said Lord Chamberlains acquittance, to the end heereafter it might appeere that the great Chamberlaine, Chauncellor, Admirall, and Master of the Horse of England, besides diuers others, had beene the French Kings pensioners. The said Peter Cleret was a wise fellow, and communed priuily alone with the Lord Chamberlaine at his lodging in London; where, after he had declared his message from the King: he presented him his two thousand crownes in golde (for the King neuer gaue but gold to strangers) which money when the Lord Chamberlaine had receiued, Peter Cleret humbly besought him for his discharge, to giue him an ac∣quittance; wherein the said Lord Chamberlaine made difficultie. Then Cleret desi∣red him to giue him onely a letter of three lines to the King to testifie the receit of the money, least the King being a suspitious Prince should thinke that he had con∣uerted it to his owne vse. Which reasonable demand the Lord Chamberlaine hea∣ring, answered thus: Sir, you require but reason, but this gift proceedeth of the King your Masters liberality not of my request; if it please you that I shall receiue it put it heere into my sleeue, and other letter or testimoniall get you none of me. For I

will not for my part that any man shall say that the Lord great Chamberlaine of England hath beene pensioner to the French King; nor that my acquittances be found in his chamber of accounts. Whereunto the said Cleret replied not, but de∣parted leauing the money behinde him; and at his returne made report thereof to the King, who was not a little displeased with him for that he brought no acquit∣tance: but as touching the said Chamberlaine, he commended and esteemed him more than all the King of Englands other seruants, and his pension was euer after paied without acquittance.

After this sort liued the King with the English men. Notwithstanding the King of England was oftentimes earnestly pressed by this yoong Princes for aide, and therefore sent ambassadors often to negotiate with the King our Master about these affaires, desiring him to grant hir either peace or truce. Now you shall vnderstand that those that were at the debating of these matters in England, especially in their parlament, (which is an assembly of the three estates, where diuers wise men were present that smelt our dissimulation a far off, and receiued no pension of the King as the others did) were verie desirous; and yet the commons of the realme more desi∣rous, that the King of England should send aide without further delay to the saide Ladie: saying, that we heere did but abuse them, and that the marriage should neuer be accomplished: alleaging that at the treatie made at Picquigny betweene the two Kings, we had faithfully sworne and promised that the King of Englands daughter whom they had already called the Ladie Daulphinesse, should be sent for into Fraunce within a yeere; which terme was now long expired. But what reasons soeuer the subiects made, the King would giue no eare thereunto, but alleaged diuers excuses to the contrarie. And to say the truth, he was a verie corpulent man and much giuen to pleasures, neither could his body endure the toile of the wars. Fur∣ther, he had wound himselfe out of great troubles and was loth to enter into them againe. The couetousnes also of the 50000. crownes yeerly paid him in the tower of London qualified his minde. Besides all this, his ambassadors that came hither were so courteously entertained and so well rewarded, that they departed euer well con∣tented; but they neuer receiued any resolute answere: for the King sought onely to protract the time euer saying, that ere it were long he would send to the King their Master certain noble men with such assurance of those matters he stood in doubt of, as he knew well would content him. According to the which promise, within three weekes or a moneth after these ambassadors departure, sometime more, sometime lesse, (which was no small delaie in such a case) he vsed to send ambassadors to the K. of England: but at euery voiage sundrie men, to the end that if the former had made any ouerture not performed, the latter might plaid ignorance therin. They also that were sent, perswaded so well the King of England that we meant nothing but good faith, that he lay still, and neuer stirred: for both he and the Queen his wife so much desired this marriage, that partly for this cause, and partly for the other reasons aboue alleaged; he was content to winke at this war, which some of his Counsell tould him plainely to be verie preiudiciall to his realme. But he feared the breach of this marriage, bicause men began alreadie to scoffe at it in England, especially such as desired rebellion and ciuill war. Now to discourse a little vpon this point. You shall vnderstand that the King our Master neuer meant to accomplish this ma∣riage, bicause there was no equalitie betweene the age of the two parties: for King Edwards daughter at this present Queene of England, was much elder than the Daulphin now raigning. But by these dissimulations a moneth or two was gayned in running to and fro, by which meanes the King foded foorth his enimie one whole

sommer, wherein he might haue done him harme. For vndoubtedly if the King of England had not hoped vpon this marriage, he would neuer haue suffered the King to take the places bordering so neere vpon the English dominions, but haue sought to defend them: and if at the beginning he had declared himselfe for the Ladie of Burgundie, the King who was by nature timorous, and would put nothing in ad∣uenture, had neuer weakened this house of Burgundie as he hath. Thus much I write chiefly to shew how these affaires passed; and secondarily, to the end that if heerafter those that haue to manage great affaires happen to reade this historie, they may thereby learne how to helpe themselues in the like case: for be their wisedome neuer so great, yet a small aduertisement doth good many times. True it is, that if this Lady of Burgundy would haue consented to marrie the Lord Riuers the Queene of Englands brother, she should haue beene aided with great force: but this had been an vnequall match; for he was but a poore Earle, and she one of the greatest inheritors in hir time. Many practises were entertained betweene the Kings of Fraunce and England; and amongst others the King offered him, that if he would ioine with him, and passe ouer in person into the Lady of Burgundies countries, he would be contented that the King of England should hold the countrie of Flaun∣ders without homage, and also the Duchie of Brabant: offering further, to conquer for him at his proper costs and charges fower of the greatest townes in Brabant, and to put them into the King of Englands hands, to wage him 10000. English men for fower moneths, to the end he might the better sustaine the charge of the wars, and to lend him great store of artillerie, and men and carriage to conuey it, and at∣tend vpon it, with this condition, that the King of England should conquer the countrie of Flaunders, during the time the King our Master inuaded on the other side. Whereunto the King of England made answer that the townes of Flaunders were strong and great; and both that countrey, and also the countrey of Brabant hard to be kept if they were conquered: adding further, that this war liked not the English men bicause of their entercourse with those countries. But seeing it plea∣sed the King to make him partaker of his conquest, if he would giue him certaine townes he had alreadie conquered in Picardie, as Bolloin and diuers other which he named; he would then be contented to declare himselfe for him, and send men to serue him if he would pay them, which was a verie wise answer.

The Notes.

1 The King could not take Saint Omer, for the Lord of Chanteraine valiantly defen∣ded it. Reade De la Marche lib. 2. cap. 9. pag. 410.

2 Others write but 295. others 296. and others 299.

How the marriage betweene the Ladie of Burgundie and Maximilian Duke of Austrich, afterwards Emperor, was concluded and accomplished. Chap. 3.

DIuers practises were entertained (as before you haue heard) betweene these two Kings to delay time; but in the meane while the Ladie of Burgundies force still diminished: for of those few men that remained aliue after hir fathers death, diuers reuolted from hir to the King, espe∣cially after Monseur de Cordes was entred into his seruice; for he led

away a great troupe with him. Others necessitie forced to shrinke from hir, bicause they dwelt either within the townes the King had already conquered, or neere vnto them. Some also put themselues into his seruice to be enriched; for no Prince dealt so liberally with his men, as the King our Master did. Moreouer, ciuill dissentions and factions among themselues encreased daily in the great townes, especially in Gaunt, which bare the greatest sway in the countrie, as you haue heard. For the Lady of Burgundie diuers marriages were mentioned; for all men were of opinion, that either she must get hir a husband to defend that she yet held, or marrie the Daulphin, thereby quietly to possesse all. Some desired greatly that this marriage with the Daulphin might take effect, she hir selfe especially, before the King deliuered the letters aboue mentioned, sent vnto him by hir Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt: but others disallowed of this marriage, both bicause of the said Daulphins yoong age (for he was but nine yeeres olde) and also bicause of the marriage promised in England: and these labored for the Duke of Cleues sonne. Others there were that trauelled for the Emperors sonne Maximilian now King of Romans. The said Lady had conceiued extreme hatred against the King for the deliuerie of the letters aboue mentioned, which was the onely cause of the two noble mens death, and of the dishonor she receiued when hir letters were openly redeliuered hir before the assemblie, whereof you haue heard. Further, the deliuerie of the said letters seemed also to be the onely occasion that mooued them of Gaunt to banish so many of hir seruants from hir, to remooue from about hir, hir mother in lawe and the Lord of Rauastaine, and to put hir women in such feare, that they durst not open a letter before they of Gaunt had seene it, nor commune with their Mistres in hir eare. Wherefore she began now to remooue from about hir the Bishop of Liege, who was of the house of Bourbon, and an earnest suter for hir marriage with the Daulphin, which sure had been a very honorable match for hir, had not the said Daulphin been so yoong, notwithstanding the Bishop had no regarde thereof. To be short, the said Bishop departed to Liege, whereupon euery man gaue ouer that sute. It had been hard to deale in this busines to the contentation of all parties, and I thinke who so should haue intermedled in it, should haue had but small thanke for his labour in the end: wherfore euery man forbare to speake therin. Notwithstanding before hir marriage was fully concluded, there was an assemblie held about it, wherat the Lady of Halleuin the Princesse of Burgundies principall woman was present, who said (as I haue heard reported) that they had neede of a man not a child, and that hir Mistres was a woman growen and able to beare children, which should be the onely stay of the countrey. This opinion tooke place, notwithstanding some blamed this Lady for speaking thus frankly; but others commended hir, saying, that she had spoken but of such mariage as was most necessary for the estate of the countrey. There was now no more to do but to finde a fit man. And I thinke verily if it had so pleased the K. she would willingly haue married the Lord of Angoulesme that now is ¹ ; so much desired she to continue hir alliance with the house of France. But God was minded to make another match wherof peraduenture the sequel is yet vnknown. Notwithstanding this, we are able to say by that is already past, that of the said mar∣riage many great wars haue arisen both heere and there, which perchance had neuer happened if she had married the Lord of Angoulesme: wheras by reason of this other match both the countries of Flaunders and Brabant haue suffered great afflictions. The Duke of Cleues was at Gaunt with the said Lady, making friends there in hope to conclude a marriage betweene hir and his son: but she had no fansie therunto; for both she & those that were about hir, misliked much his sons conditions. Wherfore

some began to motion a marriage betweene hir and the Emperors sonne now King of Romans, the which in times past had been so far foorth treated of betweene the Emperor and Duke Charles, that it was concluded betweene them two. Further, the Emperor had a letter written with the Ladies owne hand by hir fathers commande∣ment, and a ring set with a diamond. The contents of the which letter were, that according to the pleasure of hir Lord and father, she promised to the said Duke of Austrich the Emperors sonne, to accomplish the marriage concluded betweene both their parents, in such manner and forme as hir said Lord and father should appoint.

From the Emperor came certaine ambassadors to the said Lady being at Gaunt, who receiued letters at Bruxels commanding them to stay there, bicause Commssi∣oners should be sent thither to treat with them, which was the Duke of Cleues do∣ing, who was loth of their comming, and sought to send them home discontented. But the said ambassadors passed foorth that notwithstanding, for they had good in∣telligence in the Ladies court, especially with the Dowager of Burgundy, who was remooued from the said Lady, as you haue heard, bicause of the letter aboue menti∣oned. She aduertised them (as it was reported) that they should not stay at Bruxels notwithstanding these letters, instructing them further what they should do at their comming to Gaunt, and assuring them that the said Lady and diuers about hir were well disposed to their sute. The Emperors ambassadors followed hir aduise, and rid straight to Gaunt, notwithstanding the message aboue mentioned. Wherewith the Duke of Cleues was not a little discontented, but he was not acquainted with the disposition of the said Lady and hir women. The Councell concluded that these am∣bassadors should haue audience, & their message being heard: the Princesse should bid them hartily welcome, & tell them that she would take aduise with hir Councel, which words being vttered, she should withdraw hirselfe without farther communi∣cation. Whereunto she agreed. The ambassadors when audience was giuen them, presented their letters and declared their message, which was, that hir mariage had been concluded betweene the Emperour and the Duke of Burgundy hir father with hir consent; as appeered both by hir letters written with hir owne hand which they there shewed, and also by the diamond which they said she had sent and giuen in token of marriage. Moreouer, the said ambassadors required hir on their Masters behalfe, that it would please hir to accomplish the said marriage according to the will and promise both of hir said Lord and father, and also of hirselfe. Further, de∣siring hir to declare before the assembly there present, whether she had written the said letter or not, and whether she minded to performe hir promise. Whereunto the said Ladie without further deliberation answered, that she had sent the saide diamond, and written the letter by the commandement of hir Lord and father, and would performe all that was conteined therein. Then the ambassadors gaue hir humble thanks, and returned with ioifull minds to their lodging. But the Duke of Cleues was highly displeased with this answer, being cleane contrary to hir councels resolution, and told hir that she had done vnaduisedly. Whereunto she answered that she could do no otherwise bicause hir promise was past, which she would not breake. Which words the Duke hearing, and knowing diuers about hir to be of the same opinion: determined soone after to returne home into his owne countrey and relinquish his sute. Thus was this marriage concluded, for the accomplishment whereof Duke Maximilian came to Colen, where certaine of the Ladies seruants met him, and brought him money, whereof I thinke they found him bare inough: for his father was the hardest man either Prince or priuate man that liued in his

time. The said Emperors son being accompanied with seuen or eight hundred horse was conueied to Gaunt, where the marriage was accomplished, which at the first was more vnprofitable than profitable to the Ladies subiects; for the Almains in steed of bringing money with them, had money giuen them. Their number was not sufficient to withstand the Kings forces, and their conditions agreed not with hir subiects maners: for they had liued vnder rich Princes which gaue goodly offices, kept honorable and pompous houses both in furniture and fare, and had sumptuous apparell, both for themselues and their seruants: but the Almains are of a cleane contrary disposition, for they are rude fellowes and liue grossely.

I doubt not but that by sage and wise aduise and by the speciall grace of God, the law Salicke was ordained in Fraunce which barreth women from the crowne, to the end the realme fall not into the hands of a strange Prince & nation. For neither the French men nor any other people can easily digest the gouernment of a stranger. And to saie the truth there is no great seniorie but in the end the dominion there∣of remaineth to the naturall countrey men, as appeereth by the realme of Fraunce, a great part whereof the English men possessed the space of fower hundred yeeres; and yet now hold nothing therein but Calice, and two little castels, the defence whereof costeth them yeerely a great summe of monie: the rest they lost much soo∣ner than they wan; for they lost more in a day, than they got in a yeere. The selfe∣same appeereth also by the realme of Naples, the yle of Sicilie, and the other pro∣uinces possessed by the French men many yeeres, where now is no memoriall of their being there, saue onely their ancestors graues. For notwithstanding that men may away with a strange Prince being wise, & accompanied with a small traine well disposed; yet can they hardly digest a great number of strangers: for if the Prince bring with him a great multitude, or send for great forces vpon occasion of wars, quarrels will arise betweene them and the subiects of the countrie, bicause of the diuersitie of their maners and conditions, and bicause they will not forbeare to offer the subiects wrong, and are not beloued as the naturall countrie men be: which in∣conuenience then happeneth especially, when strangers seeke to haue the highest offices and estates, and the gouernment of the affaires in the commonwelth. Wher∣fore a Prince that goeth into a strange countrie, had neede to be wise and carefull in setting all things in good order: for if he lacke this vertue of prudence, which pro∣ceedeth especially of the grace of God, whatsoeuer other good parts be in him, all is but lost; and if he liue a mans age both he and those that liue vnder him shall taste of great troubles, especially in his old age when his subiects and seruants despaire of amendment.

After this marriage aboue rehearsed was accomplished, their affaires amended not, for the Princes were both very yoong, and Duke Maximilian for his part sim∣ple and of small vnderstanding, aswell bicause of his yoong yeeres ² , as also for that he was in a strange countrey, and vtterly vnacquainted in his education with any matter of state. Lastly, he wanted force sufficient for any great exploit, so that for these causes these countries fell into great miseries, wherein they yet remaine and are like to remaine. Sure it is a greeuous plague when a Prouince is forced to seeke a strange Prince to gouerne it. Wherefore God hath shewed great grace to the realme of Fraunce by the lawe aboue mentioned, which barreth women from the crowne: for by such marriages with strangers a priuate house (I confesse) may be in∣riched, but to a great realme such as this, many inconueniences should therof insue. Soone after this marriage accomplished, or while they were treating thereof: the King wan the countrey of Artois. It sufficeth me to rehearse the substance of these

affaires, and if I faile otherwise in the exact computation of the time a moneth or two, I trust the Readers will hold me excused. The Kings good successe daily increa∣sed; for no man withstood him, by meanes whereof he wan euery day some place or other, vnlesse truce or some ouuerture of peace were made: which notwithstanding could neuer be brought to conclusion bicause both the parties were vnreasonable. Wherefore the war continued still. Duke Maximilian and the Lady of Burgundy had issue the first yeere Archduke Philip now liuing ³ . The second yeere they had a daughter called Margaret now our Queene ⁴ . The third yeere they had a sonne na∣med Francis of Francis Duke of Britaine ⁵ , who christned him. The fourth yeere she died ⁶ with a fall from hir horse ⁷ or of an ague: but true it is that she fell, & some said she was with childe. Hir death was a great losse to hir subiects, for she was a ver∣tuous and liberall Lady, welbeloued of hir people, & more reuerenced and feared of them than hir husband; and no maruell, for she was Lady of the land. She loued hir husband entirely well, and was well reported of all men. She died in the yeere 1482. The King held in Hainault the townes of Quesnoi-le Counte, and Bouchain, the which he restored againe, wherat diuers woondered, considering that he seamed not desirous of peace, but rather to take all and leaue this house of Burgundy nothing. And sure I thinke if he could easily haue dispersed and giuen away all the Seniories therof, he would vtterly haue destroied it indeed. But two causes there were, as he af∣terwards told me, that mooued him to render these places: the one, he said that a King ought to make more account of places of force and defence within his owne realme where he is annointed and sacred, than of those that are out of his realme, as these two were. The other was bicause of the solemne oth and league that is be∣tween the Kings of Fraunce and the Emperors, that they shall not incroche the one vpon the other, and these places aboue mentioned were situate in the Empire, and were restored the yeere 1477. The same cause mooued him to leaue Cambray also, and to restore it to neutrality, and to say the truth, they receiued him into the towne vnder that condition.

The Notes.

1 This was Charles Duke of Angoulesme father to King Frauncis the first.

2 Maximilian was borne the 22. of March 1459. and this mariage was accomplished in August 1477. Introduct. de la Marche, so that he was eighteen yeeres old and sixe moneths when he was married.

3 This is Philip father to the Emperors Charles the fift and Ferdinande, he was borne the 23. of Iune 1478. and died the 25. of September 1506.

4 This Margaret is she whom they of Gaunt against hir fathers will betrothed to King Charles the 8. as Commines writeth in this booke cap. 9. The said King Charles ne∣uer accomplished the mariage with hir, but being growen to mans estate, sent hir home to hir father, as Commines writeth, lib. 7. cap. 3. Afterward she married the Prince of Castile as is mentioned lib. 8. cap. 17. and lastly Philibert Duke of Sauoy. She was borne anno 1480. de la Marche.

5 This Frauncis was borne anno 1481. Introduct. de la Marche, he died a childe, and another sonne also, as other historiographers report, named George.

6 Or rather the fift, for she was married anno 1477. and died 1482. as our author in the 7. chapter of this booke reporteth. She was borne anno 1457. and King Lewis chri∣stened hir. Meyer. Annal. Burgund.

7 She died 2. of March an. 1482. by reason that through womanly bashfulnes she would

not suffer hir thigh vvhich vvas broken vvith the fall from hir horse to be cured, but chose rather to die.

How King Lewis by the conduct of Charles of Amboise his lieutenant, recouered diuers townes in Burgundie, which the Prince of Orenge had caused to reuolt from him. Chap. 4.

THe war endured still in Burgundy, where the King could not atchieue his enterprise, bicause the Prince of Orenge being re∣uolted from him was made lieutenant of the Burgundians, and had some aide of the Almaines for his money, but not in fauor of Duke Maximilian: for as touching him, there neuer came man into the countrey for his seruice, at the least during the time I now write of. But these Almains were certaine bands of Swissers that serued the Prince of Orenge as aduenturers, but not as Maximilians waged soldiers: for the Swissers are not friends nor well willers of the house of Au∣strich: other aide this countrey of Burgundy had little; notwithstanding inough it might haue had if their paiment had been good. And as touching aide, no man might better haue giuen it than Duke Sigismunde of Austriche, Duke Maximilians vncle ¹ , whose dominions bordered vpon these countries of Burgundy, especially the County of Ferrette, which a fewe yeeres before ² he sould for 100000. gildons, to Charles Duke of Burgundy, and tooke it afterwards againe without paying backe the money ³ , by the which title he yet possesseth it. He was a man of small wisdome, and little regarding his honor, and in such friends men finde small helpe. Further, he was one of those Princes aboue mentioned that vnderstand nothing of their owne affaires, further then it pleaseth their seruants to acquaint them with, who are euer plagued for their beastlines in their age as this Duke Sigismunde was. For his seruants during these wars, made him take part with whom them listed; so that for the most part he ioined with the King our Master against his nephew, and would haue giuen his inheritance being very large from his owne kindred to a strange house: for he neuer had childe, notwithstanding that he were twise married. But now within these three moneths by the perswasion of another faction of his ser∣uants, he hath conueied a present estate of his whole patrimony to the said Maximi∣liam his nephew King of Romaines, reseruing to himself a pension onely amounting to the third part of his reuenues, without any further power or authority in the countrey. But (as I haue heard) he hath often repented him thereof; and if I haue heard a lie, yet it is like inough to be true. Such is the end of all Princes that liue like beasts, against whom I inueigh thus vehemently, bicause of the great office and charge that God hath giuen them in this world. Notwithstanding those that are bereft of their wits ought to be free from all reproch; but sure those that haue good wits and healthfull bodies, and yet employ their time in nothing but folly and idle∣nes; are not to be moaned when any misfortune falleth vpon them: as on the other side those that spend their time according to their age, somtime in wisdome and councell, and somtime in honest' recreation, are greatly to be commended, and hap∣pie be the subiects that liue vnder such a Prince.

This war in Burgundie endured long, bicause of the Swissers small aide aboue mentioned; notwithstanding the Kings force was much too strong for them: besides

that the Burgundians lacked monie; for the which cause the garrisons that were in the strong places turned by intelligence. Monseur de Cran the Kings lieutenant there, laide the siege before Dolle the chiefe citie of the countie of Burgundie, the force within it being so small that he despised it, which turned to his losse: for they salied foorth and assaulted him on a sudden, and tooke part of his artillerie, and slue certaine of his men, which was a great dishonor to him, and put him also into the Kings disgrace; who being troubled with this accident determined to send a new gouernor into Burgundie, partly bicause of this misfortune, and partly bicause of the great pillings and pollings the said de Cran had vsed in the countrie, which were in deede too excessiue. Notwithstanding before his departure he ouerthrew a band of Almains and Burgundians, and tooke prisoner Monseur de Chasteauguion ⁴ , the grea∣test Lord in Burgundie. Other exploit none was done that I haue heard of, notwith∣standing the report went, that the said de Cran behaued himselfe there very valiantly as touching his owne person. The King; as before I said, determined for the reasons aboue alleaged, to place a new gouernor in Burgundie, not diminishing any whit of the said de Crans profits, offices, or estates, saue onely that he tooke from him all his men of armes, except halfe a dosen or a dosen archers, left to accompanie him home. This Monseur de Cran was a very grosse man, and willingly departed to his owne house, where he liued at ease. The King placed in his roome Master Charles of Am∣boise Lord of Chaumont a valiant, wise, and diligent gentleman. Moreouer, he pra∣ctised to win all the Almaines that made war against him in Burgundie, to his ser∣uice, not so much to vse their helpe, as thereby to conquer the easilier the rest of the countrie. The King sent also to the Swissers, whom he called the Lords of these Al∣maine leagues, making them many goodly offers; for he promised a yeerely pension of 20000. franks ⁵ to their townes, which be fower, Berne, Lucerne, Zurich, and I think Fribourg was the fourth. Their Cantons also, as I suppose, receiued part of this pension, which be three villages situate in the mountains, namely Swisse, whereof the whole countrie is named; Soleurre, and Ondreual: other 20000. franks he pro∣mised yeerely to the said Swissers gouernors, and to certaine particular men that should further his affaires. Moreouer, he enrolled himselfe one of their Burgesses, & desired to be their principall confederate, and to haue writings thereof; wherein though they made some difficultie at the first, bicause the Duke of Sauoy had euer been their chiefe confederate: yet in the end they granted him his demaunds, and promised to send continually to his seruice 6000. men vnder this condition, that their entertainment should be monethly fower gildons and a halfe, which band continued in pay till the Kings death ⁶ . A poore Prince had not been able to do this, but sure it turned greatly to the Kings profit, though in the end I thinke it will be their destruction. For now they flowe so with monie, especially with gold (wherewith before they were vnacquainted) that they are readie to fall at variance among them∣selues, otherwise no man should be able to annoy them. For their countrie is so poore, and so full of mountaines, and themselues so good soldiers, that few woulde seeke to inuade them. After these treaties were ended, and all the Almaines in Bur∣gundie woon to the Kings seruice, the Burgundians force was cleane broken. To be short, after diuers new enterprises atchieued by the gouernor the Lord of Chau∣mont, he besieged Rochfort a castell neere to Dolle, defended by Master Claude de Vauldray, and yeelded by composition. Afterward he besieged the towne of Dolle, from the siege whereof his predecessor in this office was raised (as before you haue heard) and tooke it by assault. The report was that some of these Almaines lately receiued into the Kings seruice, thought to haue entered the towne to defend it; but

so many franke archers thronged in with them, not vnderstanding their treason, but onely for desire of gaine, that after they were once entred, they fell all to the spoile, and burned and destroied the towne. A few daies after the taking whereof, the gouernor besieged Aussonne a very strong town, but he had good intelligence within it. And before he brought the siege thither, he writ to the King, desiring that the offices of the towne might be bestowed vpon certaine whom he named: which request was foorthwith granted. Although I were not present at these actions, yet vnderstood I of them, both by the reports made thereof to the King, and also by the letters written to him; the which oftentimes I my selfe perused to make answer ther∣unto by his commandement. The force within Aussonne was but small, and the cap∣taines had intelligence with the gouernor, by meanes whereof within fiue or sixe daies the place was yeelded. Thus was all Burgundie conquered, saue three or fower castels situate vpon mountaines, namely Ieu, and certaine others, and the towne of Bezanson which is imperiall, not subiect to the countie of Burgundie, but enuironed therewith; and therefore at the commandement of the Prince thereof. The gouernor entred into it for the King, and came foorth againe; they of the towne doing vnto him all such seruices as they were accustomed in times past to do to the Princes of Burgundie. Thus was all Burgundie subdued by the gouernors great diligence, whereunto the King earnestly pressed him, doubting that he would leaue some place vnconquered, to the end his helpe might be needed there still, and he not be called from thence to serue the King in some other place. For Burgundie is a fruitfull coun∣trie, whereof he disposed as of his owne; so that both the Lord of Cran before na∣med, and this gouernor also, filled their bags wel there. The countrie remained quiet awhile vnder the gouernment of the said Lord of Chaumont: notwithstanding cer∣taine places, namely Beaune, Verdun, and others ⁷ rebelled soone after: at the which time I my selfe was there, sent thither by the King, with the pensioners of his house, who neuer had captaine ouer them before, but sithence continually. The said places aboue rehearsed were soone recouered by the wisedome and conduct of the gouer∣nor, and by his enimies lacke of conduct and good order. Whereby you may per∣ceiue, what difference God of his goodnes hath set betweene man and man: for to that part which he meaneth to protect and defend, he giueth the wisest men, and likewise wisedome to those that are in authoritie to imploy the wisest. Further, he hath alwaies shewed and doth daily shew himselfe in all things a defender and pro∣tector of our Kings, not onely of our Master that dead is, but of the King like∣wise now raigning, notwithstanding that somtime they taste also of his scourges. They that lost againe these townes thus reuolted, were force sufficient to haue de∣fended them, if they had with speede put themselues into them: but through their negligence they gaue the gouernor leisure to leuie men, which was great follie; for they knew well ynough his estate, considering the great fauor all the countrie bare them. Wherefore they ought to haue entred with speed into Beaune, being a strong towne, and of defence, as the others were not. The selfesame day that the gouernor went to besiege a little beggerly towne called Verdun, being well informed of the state thereof: these Burgundians entered there, minding to put themselues into Beaune. They were sixe hundred choise men horsemen and footmen, partly Al∣maines, and partly of the countie of Ferrette, led by certaine expert gentlemen of Burgundie, of the which Simon of Quinchy was one. But they spent time at Verdun while they might haue entred into Beaune, which the gouernor could neuer haue recouered, if they had once been within it. But for lack of good counsell, they staied a night too long in Verdun, where they were besieged and taken by assault. After∣ward

Beaune was also besieged, and all that was lost recouered, since the which time our enimies were neuer of any force in Burgundie. I was at this present in the coun∣trie with the Kings pensioners (as you haue heard) from whence the King reuoked me, bicause of a certaine letter written to him, wherein he was aduertised that I for∣bare to lodge our men of armes in certaine Burgesses houses of Dyion. This with another small suspicion conceiued of me, caused him suddenly to send me to Flo∣rence: to which his commandement I obeied as reason was, and departed so soone as I had my dispatch.

The Notes.

1 This Sigismund was not vncle to Maximilian, as other histories report, but cosin ger∣mane to his father; for Ernestus father to the Emperor Friderick, and Fridericus Seinor this Duke Sigismunds father were brethren, sonnes to Leopold Duke of Austriche, slaine in battell by the Swissers anno 1386.

2 He sold it ann. 1469.

3 Others write that the monie was paied to a merchant of Basill to the Duke of Burgun∣dies vse, and the paiement signified to the said Duke, who would not accept it vnles it were paied at Bezanson.

4 This vvas the Prince of Orenges brother vvho came to leuie the siege that Monse∣ur de Cran held before Gy, vvhere he had besieged the said Prince of Orenge, vvith him vvere slaine 14. or 15. hundred.

5 Before lib. 5. cap. 2. he reporteth these 40000. franks to be florens, and so in mine opinion it should be read heere.

6 VVhen these Swissers began first to be entertained, then were the franck archers cassed, which was anno 1480.

7 The old copie raseth Verdun and hath Semur, which the Annales of Fraunce call Sennier: saying, that both this and Verdun also rebelled.

How Monseur d'Argenton during these wars of the conquest of Bur∣gundie, was sent to Florence, and how he receiued homage of the Duke of Milan in the Kings name for the Duchie of Genua. Chap. 5.

MY voiage into Italy was about a quarrell that arose between two great houses, very famous in those daies, the one the house of Medicis, the other the house of Pacis; the which Pacis by the supportation of the Pope and Ferrande King of Naples, thought to haue slaine Laurence of Medicis & al his adherents: notwithstanding of him they failed; but his brother Iulian they slew in the great church of Florence, and with him one called Francis Noly, a seruant of this house of Medicis, who stepped foorth before the said Iulian to saue him. Laurence de Medicis being sore hurt retired into the vestrie of the church, the doores whereof are of copper, & were made by his fathers commandement. A seruant whom he deliuered out of prison but two daies before, did him good seruice that day, and receiued many wounds for him. This murther was committed while hie masse was sung: for the time agreed vpon for the execution was when the Priest that sung masse began Sanctus. But the

successe of the enterprise answered not their expectation. For supposing all to haue been fully accomplished: certaine of them went vp to the pallace, minding there to haue slaine all the Lords of the towne being to the number of nine, which haue the whole gouernment of the citie, and change at euery three moneths end. But they that attempted this enterprise were euill followed by their companions, by meanes whereof when they came to the top of the palace staires, one shut a doore after them: whereupon they seeing themselues not past fower or fiue were astonished and wist not what to say, which the Lordes of the towne that were aboue and their seruants perceiuing, looked out at the windowes, and saw all the towne in an vprore and hard Master Iames of Pacis with his companions cry in the midst of the market place before the pallace, Liberta Liberta, and Popolo Popolo: which were words wher∣by they thought to allure the people to take part with them, which notwithstanding the people did not, but held themselues quiet. Whereupon Master Iames de Pacis and his companions seeing the euill successe of their enterprise, fled out of the place as men astonished. Which when the Lords and gouernors of the towne being within the pallace perceiued: they tooke immediately those fiue or sixe that were come vp euill accompanied, and euill followed, with intent to haue slaine them and taken the gouernment into their hands; and commanded them presently to be han∣ged at the bars of the pallace windowes, the archbishop of Pise ¹ being one of them. Further, the said gouernors perceiuing al the city to take part with them & the house of Medicis: gaue commandement foorthwith, that all found men flying should be staied at the passages and brought backe to the towne; at the which instant Master Iames of Pacis was taken, and with him one sent thither by Pope Sixtus, being a cap∣taine of certaine bands vnder the Earle Hieronimo, which Earle was also of the con∣spiracie. The said Pacis with his companions was in like maner immediately hanged at the bars of the pallace windowes: the Popes seruant was beheaded; and besides these diuers were taken in the towne, who were al hanged in this heate, of the which Francis de Pacis was one. There were as I gesse hanged in all fowerteene great per∣sonages, besides certaine seruants slaine in the towne. A few daies after this vprore, I arriued at Florence from the King, hauing vsed great diligence after my departure out of Burgundy, for I staied no where but two or three daies with the Duchesse of Sauoye the Kings sister, who entertained me very honorably. From thence I went to Milan, where I soiorned also two or three daies, and demanded aide of them to suc∣cor the Florentines, with whom at that time they were in league, which my request they willingly graunted, both bicause of the Kings demand, & also for their leagues sake: wherefore they sent foorth at that present three hundred men of armes, and soone after other bands. But to proceede, the Pope excommunicated the Floren∣tines immediately after this fact committed, and caused foorthwith his owne forces and the King of Naples forces to marche. Their army was strong and great, and they had in pay a number of good soldiers. They besieged first a lit∣tle forte neere to Senes called the Chastellennie, which they tooke with diuers other places so that the Florentines were in great distresse: for bicause they had liued long in peace, they were vnacquainted with the warres, neither vnderstoode the danger they were in. Laurence de Medicis their chiefe gouernor in the towne was but yoong, and ruled altogither by yoong men, yet the whole citie rested vpon his opinion. Moreouer, they had but few Captaines, and their force was very small: but the generall of the Popes and King Ferrand of Naples army was the Duke of Vrbin, a valiant and wise Prince, and a good captaine. In their campe were also the Lord Robert of Arimini, who since hath been a man of great estimation, the Lord

Constantine of Pesaro, and diuers others that accompanied the King of Naples two sonnes, the Duke of Calabria, and the Lord Dom Frederic, (who are al yet aliue;) be∣sides a great number of other valiant soldiers. Thus they tooke all the places that they besieged; but not so speedily as we would haue done in Fraunce, bicause they vnderstood not what appertained neither to the siege nor defence of a towne so well as we: but sure as touching the leading of an army, & giuing order both for victuals & al other things necessary for a campe, they passe vs far. The fauor the King shewed the Florentines stood them in some stead, though not so much as I wished; but I had no forces there to aide them with, saue onely my traine. I staied at Florence and in their dominions about a yeere, altogither vpon their charge: they vsed me very ho∣norably, and till the last day my entertainment rather amended then impaired. Then the King called me home, and as I passed through Milan, I receiued homage for the Duchy of Genua of the Duke of Milan, called Iohn Galeas, at the least of the Du∣chesse his mother, who did homage to me as the Kings deputie in hir sonnes name. From thence I returned to the King our Master, who receiued me gratiously and ac∣quainted me with his affaires more than euer before, and appointed me also to be his bedfellow, notwithstanding that I were vnwoorthy of that honor, and that di∣uers others were fitter for that place than my selfe: but he was so wise that no man could faile to please him if he executed his commandements, without adding ought thereto of his owne braine.

The Notes.

1 This Archbishops name was Francis Saluiat, and this vprore was the 27. of Aprill anno 1478.

Of Monseur d'Argentons returne out of Italie into Fraunce, and of the battell of Guinegate. Chap. 6.

AT my returne the King our Master looked somwhat aged, and his body was disposed to sicknes, but his disease brake not foorth as yet. His affaires he gouerned with great wisedome, and the war endured still in Picardie, wherewith he was not a little dis∣contented, as were his enimies also in the said countrie: but they could not remedie it. The Duke of Austriche now King of Ro∣mans hauing the Flemmings this yeere at his deuotion, laid the siege before Therouenne: but Monseur de Cordes the Kings lieutenant in Picardie, leuied all the forces the King had in that countrie, and the frontiers thereabout, to the number of eight thousand franke archers, and went to succour the place. Whom when the Duke of Austriche perceiued to approch, he leuied his siege, and marched against him: the two armies met at a place called Guinegate. The Duke had of Flemmings to the number of twenty thousand or better, and certaine Almaines togither with three hundred English men, led by an English Knight that had serued Charles Duke of Burgundie, called sir Thomas Abrigan. The Kings horsemen being much stronger than their enimies, brake the Dukes horsemen, and pursued them and Master Philip of Rauastain their captaine as far as Ayre, whereupon the Duke ioined himselfe with his footemen. The King had in this armie at the least 1100. men of armes of his ordinarie retinue ¹ : all the which followed not the chase; but Monseur

de Cordes who was generall did, and Monseur de Torcy with him, which was a valiant deede, but against the law of armes; for the captaines of the vaward and rereward ought not to follow the chase. Some of the Dukes horsemen retired, vnder colour of defending the strong places; but others fled in good earnest. The Dukes footmen fled not, yet were they vpon the point so to do; but they had with them on foote two hundred valiant gentlemen their leaders, among whom were the Lord of Romont of the house of Sauoye, the Earle of Nassaw, and diuers others yet liuing. The courage of these gentlemen staied the footemen, which was a woonder, considering they saw their horsemen broken. The Kings franke archers fell to spoile the Dukes carriage, and the straglers that followed it, as victuallers, and such like: but certaine of the Dukes footmen set vpon them, discomfited them, and slue some of them. The Dukes losse was greater than ours; for more of his men were taken, and more slaine ² : but the honor of the field was his. And I thinke verily if he had returned to Therouenne, he had not found a man neither in it, nor in Arras; and it was greatly to his losse, that he durst not attempt so to do. But in such cases men are not alwaies informed of the best: and to say the truth, great cause he had to feare that enterprise. I speake of this battell but by hearsay; for I was not present at it: notwithstanding to continue the order of my historie, somwhat I was forced to write thereof. I was with the King when these newes were brought him, which vndoubtedly nipped him at the verie hart; for he was not accustomed to lose, but had such successe in all his attempts, that fortune seemed to be at his commandement, which vndoubtedly his wisedome greatly furthered. For he would hazard nothing, neither feared any thing more than a battel; and as touching this now mentioned, it was fought without his knowledge. His armies he made so strong, that few Princes were able to encounter them; he was better furnished of artillerie, than any King that euer raigned in Fraunce: he attemp∣ted alwaies to take places vpon a sudden, especially such as he perceiued to be euill fortified; which after he had once gotten, he furnished so well both of men and ar∣tillerie, that it was impossible for his enimies to recouer them. Further, if the cap∣tain of any strong place, or any other within it, would practise to yeeld it for monie, he was sure of a copes mate, neither would he shrinke were the summe neuer so great that was demanded, but liberally giue it. He was afeard at the first when newes was brought him of this battell, supposing the truth had not been told him, but that his whole force had beene ouerthrowen, knowing, if it were so, all to be lost that he had conquered ouer this house of Burgundie in those parts, and the rest in great danger: but when he vnderstood the truth, he tooke the matter patiently, and was well ynough contented with Monseur de Cordes. Notwithstanding he purposed to giue order, that no more such enterprises should be attempted without his knowledge. From this day forward he resolued to treate of peace with the Duke of Austriche, so that it might be wholy to his owne aduantage, and that he might thereby so bridle the said Duke, by meanes of his owne proper subiects (whom he knew to be inclined to practise against their Prince) that he should neuer be able to do him harme. More∣ouer, he was very desirous to redresse all disorders in his realme, especially the long delaies of processes and sutes in law: which thing the better to compas, he minded to bridle the Court of parlament, not by diminishing their number or authoritie, but many things were done there against his minde, for the which he hated it. He was also desirous to reduce his whole realme to one custome, and one kinde of waight and measure: and further, that all the lawes and customs should be written in the French toong, in a faire booke to auoid the pillings and pollings of the Coun∣sellors in law, which are more excessiue in this realme than in any other, as the nobi∣litie

hath good cause to knowe. And vndoubtedly if God had spared him life and health fiue or sixe yeeres longer, he would haue done much good in the realme, as great cause he had to do; for he had more oppressed it than euer had any of his pre∣decessors: but neither authoritie nor perswasions could haue woon him to vnbur∣den his people till it had come of himselfe, as in his latter daies sure it would if God had preserued him from sicknes. Wherefore it is requisite to do good while a man hath leisure, health, and vnderstanding. The treatie the King desired to make with the Duke and Duchesse of Austrich, and their dominions, was this: he meant by meanes of the citizens of Gaunt to treate of a marriage betweene the Daulphin his sonne now our King, and the daughter of the said Duke and Duchesse, vnder these conditions, that if the marriage were accomplished, they should permit him quietly to enioy the counties of Burgundie, Auxerrois, Masconnois, and Charolois; and he for his part would restore vnto them Artois, reseruing onely to himselfe the citie of Arras, in such sort as he had fortified it: for the towne was now nothing woorth, considering the fortification of the citie. For before the King tooke Arras, the towne was fortified with ditch and rampire against the citie; but now the citie was fortified against the towne, and held for the King by the Bishop: wherein the King did contrarie to the Princes of this house of Burgundie. For they alwaies at the least by the space of these hundred yeeres, made Bishop whom they listed, and pla∣ced a captaine in the towne besides: but the King to increase his authoritie did cleane contrarie, and caused also the towne wals to be beaten downe, and the citie to be fortified: so that now the citie shutteth vpon the towne, a great ditch being be∣tweene both. Wherefore the King indeed offered nothing; for whoso hath the citie, hath the towne at commandement. Of the Duchie of Burgundie, the countie of Bol∣loin, the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme, the territories of Peronne, Roye, & Montdidier no mention was made. After these ouuertures were once set on foot, they of Gaunt furthered them to the vttermost of their power, and vsed very rudely the Duke and Duchesse his wife, as did also diuers other great townes of Flaunders and Brabant, which were fully bent to follow the proceedings of them of Gaunt, especially Brucelles, which was growen so wealthie, bicause of the continuall resi∣dence that Duke Philip and Duke Charles of Burgundie had made there: (as did also at this present the Duke and Duchesse of Austriche) that the wealth ••nd quietnes wherein they had liued vnder these two Dukes aboue named, made them forget God and their dutie to their Prince: so that they procured themselues that misfortune, which afterward, as you haue seene, fell vpon them.

The Notes.

1 The old copie saith but 500. men of armes.

2 There were slaine at the battell of Guinegate 11000. Burgundians, and 5000. French men. Gaguin.

How King Lewis being visited with sicknes, lost his wits, and lay speechlesse, somtime recouering, and eftsoones falling into his disease againe: and how he be∣haued himselfe in his castell of Plessis les Tours. Chap. 7.

ABout this time in the yeere 1479. in the moneth of March truce was made betweene these two Princes. The King was verie de∣sirous of peace especially in those parts, so that it might be al∣togither for his aduentage. For he began now to waxe old and sickely; so far foorth that once being at dinner at Forges neere to Chinon, he was suddenly taken in all parts of his bodie and lost his speech: he was taken vp from the table and held to the fire, and the windowes shut; to the which notwithstanding that he desired to go, yet some of his freiends held him and would not suffer him so to do, meaning all for the best. This disease tooke him in the yeere of our Lord 1480. in the moneth of March: he laie altogither speechlesse, he knew no man, and his memorie was wholly taken away. At the which instant you (my Lord of Vienna) came thither, and serued him at that time in steed of a Phisition: for you gaue him a glister, and caused the win∣dowes to be opened, and the aire to be let in; whereupon immediately he recoue∣red his speech and his memorie after a sort, and tooke horse and returned to Forges: for this disease tooke him in a village a quarter of a league thence whither he went to heare masse. He was diligently tended & made signes what he would haue done: among other things he desired that the officiall of Tours might be called to shriue him, and made signes also that I should be sent for, for I was gone to Argenton be∣ing ten leagues thence: when I came, I found him at the table with Master Adam Fumee, (who sometime had beene King Charles the seauenths Phisition, and was at that present Master of the requests,) and another Phisition called Master Claude: he vnderstood little what any man saide, notwithstanding griefe he felt none, he spake plainely almost neuer a word, but made signes that I should be in his chamber. I waited vpon him the space of 15. daies ¹ at his table, & about his person as one of the groomes of his chamber, which I accounted great honor to me, and thought my self in dutie bound so to do. After two daies he recouered his speech & his memorie after a sort: and bicause he thought that no man vnderstood him so well as my selfe, his pleasure was that I should alwaies be by him, and he confessed himselfe to the offi∣ciall in my presence, otherwise they would neuer haue vnderstood one an other. He had not much to say, for he was shriuen not long before, bicause the Kings of Fraunce vse alwaies to confesse themselues when they touch those that be sicke of the Kings euill, which he neuer failed to do once a weeke. If other Princes do not the like, they are to blame, for continually a great number are troubled with that disease. After he was somewhat recouered, he began to enquire who they were that held him by force from going to the windowes, whose names when he heard, foorthwith he banished them the Court; so that they neuer came afterward to his presence, & some of them also he put out of office. From others, namely the Lord of Segre and Gilbert de Grasse Lord of Champeroux he tooke nothing, but com∣manded them to depart. Many woondered at this toie, blaming him for so vsing

them, considering that all that they did was for the best, and they said truth: but Princes imaginations are strange, and a number are bold to prattle of them that vnderstand them not. The King feared nothing so much as the diminishing of his authoritie being maruellous great, for the which cause he would not be disobeied in any point. Further, he remembred that when King Charles his father fell into the disease whereof he died, he entred into suspition that his seruants sought to poison him at his sonnes request ² : which phansie sanke so deepely into his head that he refused his meate. Wherefore it was concluded by the aduise of his Phisitions, and of his chiefest and trustiest seruants, that he should be forced to eate: the which was executed verie orderly and aduisedly by those that serued him, for cooliz was powred into his mouth, but soone after this force he died. The King our Master who had euer misliked this ordering of his father, stomacked maruellously that he had been held thus perforce; but yet made shew of much greater displeasure than indeed he had conceiued therof. The chiefe cause that mooued him so to do was feare, least they should Master him in all other things, especially in the expedition of his waightie affaires, vnder colour of the imperfection of his wits.

After he had dealt thus roughly with these aboue named, he inquired what his Councell had done during the time of his sicknes, and what dispatches they had made, whereof the Bishop of Alby, his brother the gouernor of Burgundy, the Mar∣shall of Gié, and the Lord of Lude had the whole charge: for these were present when his sicknes tooke him, and lodged all in two little chambers vnderneath him. Further, he would needs see the letters and packets that had been brought and came howerly. The principall whereof were shewed him, and I read them before him: he made a countenance as though he vnderstood them, and tooke them into his hands, faining that he read them, notwithstanding that indeed he vnderstood neuer a word. Somtime also he spake a word or two, or made signes what should be the an∣swer to these letters; but little or no thing was dispatched, for we expected an end of his disease, bicause he was a Master with whom it stood vs vpon to deale circum∣spectly. This sicknes held him about fifteene daies, and then his wits and speech he recouered perfectly, but his body was maruellous weake; for the which cause we feared greatly a relapse, the rather bicause naturally he was inclined to giue but smal credit to Phisitions. Immediately after he was well recouered, he restored Cardinall Ballue (whom he had held in prison fowerteene yeeres) to liberty. Whereunto not∣withstanding that he had been required oftentimes before, both by the Sea Aposto∣like and others, and all in vaine: yet now he purchased the absolution of that fault himselfe, by a bull sent from our holy father the Pope by his owne procurement. When his disease first tooke him, they that at that present were about him held him for dead, and sent foorth diuers commandements for the reuoking of an excessiue and cruell subsidie lately laid vpon his subiects, by the aduise of the Lord of Cordes his lieutenant in Picardy, wherewith were waged ten thousand footemen, to be al∣waies in a readines, & 2500. pioners, the which were called the Soldiers of the campe. Moreouer, he appointed fifteene hundred of his ordinary men of armes to accom∣pany them, and to fight on foote when need so required. He caused also a great num∣ber of cartes to be made to inclose them, and tents and pauilions, imitating therein the D. of Burgundies campe. The charge of this army amounted yeerly to 1500000. franks ³ . When these soldiers were in a readines, and furnished of all things neces∣sarie, he went to see them muster in a valley neere to Pont de l'Arche in Normandy, where the band of the sixe thousand Swissers aboue mentioned mustered also, the which neuer sawe the King but at this time onely. After all was ended, the King re∣mooued

to Tours, where he fell againe into his former disease, and lost his speech as before, and was by the space of two houres in such case that all men held him for dead. He lay in a gallery vpon a mattresse of straw, diuers standing about him. Mon∣seur de Bouchage and I vowed him to Saint Claude, and all the rest that were present vowed him also. Immediately whereupon he recouered his speech, and soone after arose and walked vp and downe the house, but his body was maruellous feeble. The second fit of sicknes tooke him in the yeere 1481. notwithstanding he rode vp and downe the countrie as before, and went to Argenton to my house, where he lay a moneth maruellous sicke. From thence he went to Tours, where (notwithstanding that he still remained sicke) he tooke vpon him his voiage to Saint Claude, to whom as you haue heard he was vowed, and at his departure thence commanded me to go into Sauoye against the Lords of Chambre, Miolant, and Bresse, bicause they had taken prisoner the Lord of Lins in Daulphine, whom he had appointed gouernor of Duke Philibert his nephew. Yet notwithstanding couertly he aided these Lords against whom I went. He sent also a great band of soldiers after me, whom I led to Mascon against the Lord of Bresse, but he and I agreed well ynough secretly. Fur∣ther, the Lord of Chambre made a composition with the Duke of Sauoye at Thurin in Piedmont where he lay, whereof he aduertised me; and immediately thereupon I caused my forces to retire. He led the said Duke to Grenoble, whither the Marshall of Burgundie, the Marquesse of Rothelin, and my selfe went to receiue him. The King commanded me to returne home, and to meete him at Beauieu in Beauiolois, where when I arriued, I woondered to see him so leane and bare, much more to ride vp and downe the countrie, but his noble hart carried him. At Beauieu he receiued letters, that the Duchesse of Austriche was dead of a fall from hir horse; for she rid a fierce hobby that threw hir vpon a blocke, notwithstanding some say she died not of the fall, but of an ague: but howsoeuer it were, she died soone after the fall, to the great dammage of hir subiects & friends, who since hir death neuer had quietnes nor good successe. For this people of Gaunt and the other towns bare much more reuerence to hir than to hir husband, bicause she was Lady of the country. She died in the yeer 1482. The K. told me these newes in great ioy, adding, that the two childrē remained in the citizens of Gaunts custodie, whom he knew to be inclined to sedition & rebel∣lion against this house of Burgundie. Further, he thought the time now come when he might do some great exploit, seeing the D. of Austriche was but yoong, his father yet liuing, his countries troubled on euerie side with wars, and himselfe a stranger and weakly accompanied. For the Emperor his father was too extremely couetous, for the which cause his sonne found the lesse fauour. The King immediately after the Duchesse death, began to practise with the gouernors of Gaunt, by meanes of Mon∣seur de Cordes, and to treate of a marriage betweene the Daulphin his sonne, and the said Dukes daughter called Margaret, at this present our Queene. The said de Cordes addressed himselfe wholy to two men, the one a pensioner of the towne called VVil∣liam Riue, a subtill craftie fellow; the other the clarke of their Senate named Coupe Nole, who was a hosier, but in great credit with the people: for such men of occupa∣tion, when they are most vnruly, are there best esteemed. The King returned to Tours, and kept himselfe very close, so that few saw him: for he waxed iealous of all men, searing that they would take the gouernment from him, or diminish his authoritie; for the which cause he remooued all those from him, that he had most fauoured, and had been neerest about him, not diminishing their estates in any respect: but he sent them away some to their offices and charges, and some to their houses, but this en∣dured not long, for soone after he died. He did diuers strange things which caused

as many as saw them to thinke him out of his wits; but they were not throughly ac∣quainted with his conditions. As touching suspicious, all great Princes are suspici∣ous, especially those that be wise, and haue had many enimies, and haue offended many as the King our Master had. Further, he knew himselfe not to be beloued of the nobilitie of his realme, nor of a great number of the commonalty. Besides this, he had more charged his people than euer had any of his predecessors: notwith∣standing he was desirous now in his latter daies (as before I said) to haue eased them, but he should haue begun sooner. King Charles the seuenth by the perswasion of di∣uers wise and valiant Knights that had serued him in the conquest of Normandie and Guyenne (which the Englishmen held,) was the first that began to leuy subsi∣dies at his pleasure, without the consent of the States of his realme; and to say the truth, cause there was then so to do: for the charges were maruellous great, as well for the manning of the countries newly conquered, as also for the defeating of the companies of robbers, which went about spoiling the realme. For the which cause the nobility of Fraunce consented to the King, and had certaine pensions promised them in consideration of the summes of money that should be leuied vpon their lands. If this King had alwaies liued and those of his councel that were about him, he would sure greatly haue enlarged his realme. But considering what hapned after his death, & is like further to happen, he charged maruellously his soule, and the soules of his successors by this fact: for he gaue his realme a cruell wound, which will bleed this many a yeere, by entertaining in continuall pay a terrible band of men of armes, after the maner of the Italian Princes. The said King Charles leuied in his realme at the hower of his death but 1800000. franks all maner of waies, and had in ordinary about seuenteene hundred men of armes, the which he kept in good order, and so placed in diuers prouinces for the defence of his realme, that many yeeres be∣fore his death they rid not spoiling vp and downe the countrey, to the great qui∣etnes & comfort of his people. But the King our Master leuied at his death 4700000. franks, he had in pay fower or fiue thousand men of armes, and of footemen for the campe and in garrison, aboue fiue and twenty thousand: wherefore it is not to be maruelled if he had many phansies and imaginations in his head, and thought himselfe not welbeloued. But sure as these matters caused him greatly to feare some; so had he a sure confidence in many of those whom he had brought vp and highly aduanced, of the which I thinke there were a number, whom death it selfe could ne∣uer haue withdrawen from dooing their duty. There came into Plessis du Parc, (which was the place where he lay) very few besides his household seruants, and the archers of his guarde being fower hundred, of whom a great number all the day long kept watch and warde at the gate, walking vp and downe the place. No no∣ble man or great personage lodged within the castell, neither might be suffered to enter in, saue onely the Lord of Beauieu Duke of Bourbon his sonne in law. The said stell of Plessis he had made to be enuironed with a grate of great iron bars, & at the entrie into the ditches thereof had caused sharpe speares of iron, euery one of them hauing many heads, to be masoned into the wall. He caused also fower strong watch houses of iron to be built, and a place to be made in them where men might stande and shoote at ease, which was a sumptuous thing to behold, and cost aboue 20000. franks. In the end he put into these houses fortie crossebowe men, which were day and night in the ditches, & had commission to shoote at euery man that approched neere the castell after the shutting of the gates, til they opened in the morning. Fur∣ther, he had an imagination that his subiects would be very ready to take the go∣uernment into their owne hands when they should see conuenient time. And sure

some there were that consulted to enter into Plessis and dispatch the affaires at their pleasure, bicause nothing was dispatched; but they durst not attempt it, wherein they did wisely, for the K. had giuen good order for that matter. He changed often both the groomes of his chamber and al his other seruants, saying, that nature delighteth in varietie; and he had with him to beare him company one or two very meane men and of euill report, who might well haue thought if they had been wise, that imme∣diately after his death they should at the least be put out of office and spoiled of all they had, as also it hapned. These informed him of no message that was sent him, not of any matter that was written to him, were it neuer so important, vnlesse it touched the preseruation of the State, or the defence of his realme: for that was his onely care to be in truce and peace with all men. He gaue to his Phisition ordinarily euery moneth ten thousand crownes, and in fiue moneths he receiued of him 54000. He gaue also goodly lands to churches; but this gift was made voide, and not with∣out cause, for the clergie men had too much.

The Notes.

1 It was fortie daies: but bicause the old copie hath 15. daies, and that himselfe also afterward in this very chapter saith thus; This sicknes held him about fifteene daies, I haue been bold to amend it.

2 King Lewis was suspected to haue poisoned his father by Adam Fumée his fathers physition, who was imprisoned by King Charles, but soone after aduaunced to honor by King Lewis, who so maruellously reioiced at the first newes of his fathers death (being the selfe same day that his father died, which was strange, King Lewis being then at Ge∣nappe in Brabant) that in the selfe same place he built a chappell to our Lady.

3 It was 15000. but the olde copie had 1500000. and so vndoubtedly it is to be read: for for 15000. franks will hardly maintaine 100. soldiers a yeere.

How the King caused the holy man of Calabria to come to Tours, thinking that he could heale him: and what strange things the said King did to maintaine his authoritie during his sicknes. Chap. 8.

AMong men famous for deuotion, he sent into Calabria for one Frier Robert, whom he called the holy man, bicause of his holy life, and in whose honor the King that now is, caused a Church to be built at Plessis du Parc, in place of the chappell neere to Plessis at the bridge foote. This heremite being twelue yeeres of age entred into a rocke, where he remained till he was fortie three yeeres old, or there about, to wit, euen till this present that the King sent for him by one of the stewards of his house, whom the Prince of Ta∣rente the King of Naples sonne accompanied thither. For the said heremite would not depart thence, without permission both of the Pope and of his Prince; which was great wisedome in so simple a man. He builded in the place where he liued two Churches, and neuer ate since the time he entred into this strait kinde of life, either fish, flesh, egs, any kinde of whitmeate, or of fat. I neuer saw in my time a man of so holy life, nor by whose mouth the holy Ghost seemed rather to speake; for he neuer had been scholler, but was vtterly vnlearned: true it is that his Italian toong caused

somwhat the greater admiration of him. This heremite passed through Naples, be∣ing honored and receiued, as if he had been a great Legate sent from the Sea Apo∣stolike; both by the King and by his children, with whom he communed of the affaires of the Court, as if he had beene a Courtier all the daies of his life. From thence he went to Rome, where he was visited by al the Cardinals, and had audience giuen him thrise of the Pope, communing with him alone, and sitting each time hard by him in a goodly chaire three or fower howers togither; which was great honor to so simple a person. His answers were so wise, that all men woondered at them; so far foorth that our holy Father gaue him leaue to erect a new order, called the heremites of Saint Francis. From thence he came to the King, who honored him as if he had been the Pope himselfe, falling downe before him, and desiring him to prolong his life: whereunto he answered as a wise man should. I haue often heard him talke with the King that now is, in presence of all the nobilitie of the realme, and that within these two moneths, and sure he seemed by his words, to be inspired with the holy Ghost, otherwise he could neuer haue communed of such matters as he did. He is yet liuing, and may change either to better or woorse: wherefore I will speake no further of him. Some mocked at this heremites comming, whom they called the holy man; but they knew not the deepe cogitations of this wise King, neither had seene the occasions that mooued him to send for him.

The King lay in his castle of Plessis accompanied with few besides the archers of his gard, and troubled with these suspitions aboue rehearsed. Notwithstanding he had giuen good order for this inconuenience, for he left none of those whom he sus∣pected either in towne or countrey, but made his archers to cause them to depart and to conueigh them away. No man debated any matter with him, vnlesse it were of some great importance that concerned himselfe: he seemed rather a dead corps then a liuing creature, for he was leaner then a man would beleeue: he ap∣pare lled himselfe sumptuously, yea more sumptuously then in all his life before; for he ware no gowne but of crimsin sattin furred with good marterns: he gaue gifts to whom it pleased him without any sute; for no man durst mooue any sute to him, nor debate any matter with him: he punished faults sharpely to the end he might be feared, and not lose his authoritie as himselfe tould me: he changed officers, cassed companies of men of armes, diminished pensions, or tooke them cleane away, and told me but a few daies before his death that he passed away the time in making & vndoing of men. To be short, he caused himselfe to be more spoken of within his realme then euer was any King, and all for feare lest men should thinke him dead. For as I said, few saw him but when they hard of his doings; all men stood in feare of him, so far foorth that they hardly beleeued him to be sicke. Out of the realme he had men in all places, as for example in England he had some to feede K. Edward still with hope of his daughters marriage, & he paied truely both him and his seruants all that was due vnto them. Out of Spaine he receiued goodly words and faire promises of perfect freindship and amitie, and great presents from all places: he made a good horse or a good mule to be bought for him whatsoeuer it cost; but this he did not in this realme, but in some strange countrey to perswade men that he was in health. Dogs he sent for round about, into Spaine for a kinde of Spanish greyhound, called in French Allans; into Britaine for little beagles, grey∣hounds and spaniels, which he paied deere for; into Valence for little rugged dogs, which he made to be bought aboue the owners own price; into Sicily he sēt for good mules, especially to some officer of the countrey, for the which he paied double the value; to Naples for horses, & for diuers strange beasts into diuers countries, as into

Barbarie for a kind of little lions, no greater then litle foxes, which he called Adites; into Denmarke and Sweden for two kinde of strange beasts, one of the which were called Helles ¹ , being of shape like a Hart, and of the greatnes of a buffe, with horns short and thicke; the other Rengiers ² , being of the bignes and colour of a bucke, saue that their hornes be much greater: for each of the which two beasts he gaue to the merchants that solde them 4500. guildons. But when all these strange things were brought him he made no account of them, no, very seldome spake with those that brought them. To be short, he did so many such like strange things that he was more feared now both of his neighbors and subiects than euer before, which was his onely desire, for to that end did he all this.

The Notes.

1 Gesnerus de Quadrupedibus lib. 1. fol. 1. and Munster in the third booke of his Cos∣mographie in his treatise of Prussia (where this beast is found) name this beast in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Alces, in Dutch Elch, Ellend, Hellend, and Ellent: which is not far from the name heere giuen. The Moscouites name it Lozzos.

2 This beast, saith Munster Cosmog. lib. 4. is found in Lapponia or Lappenland, a coun∣trie in Sweden. The Lapponians call it Reen, as he writeth in the same place, and Gesner also de Quadrup. lib. 1. fol. 950. The Romans, saith Gesner, name it Rangiferus, the Ger∣mans Rein (and Reinen, saith Munster) Reiner, Rainger, Renschieron: the French men Rangier (as he is heere named) or Ranglier.

How the marriage betweene the Daulphin and the Lady Margaret of Flaunders was concluded, and how she was brought into Fraunce: whereupon Edward King of England died for sorrow. Chap. 9.

BVt to returne to the principall matter, namely, the perfect con∣clusion of this our historie of King Lewis, and of the affaires of all those great Princes that liued in his time: we must shew how the treatie of marriage was concluded betweene the King that now is, then Daulphin, and the daughter of the Duke and Duchesse of Austriche, by meanes of the citizens of Gaunt, to the King of Englands great greefe, who then well perceiued the hope to be frustrate, which he had conceiued of the mar∣riage betweene his daughter and the said Daulphin now King of Fraunce: which he and the Queene his wife had so greatly desired, that they would neuer credit any man that aduertised them to the contrarie, were he English man or stranger. For the Councell of England had debated this matter with him, at the same time that the King conquered that part of Picardie that ioineth to Calice, alleaging, that after he had subdued that, he might easily attempt to take Calice and Guisnes. The like was also told him, by the ambassadors resident in England for the Duke and Duchesse of Austriche, and by the Britons, and diuers others: but he beleeued no whit of all this, which incredulitie turned much to his losse. Notwithstanding I suppose, it pro∣ceeded rather of couetousnes than ignorance: for he feared the losse of the fiftie thousand crownes the King paid him: besides that, he was loth to leaue his ease and pleasures, whereunto he was maruellously addicted. About the conclusion of this

marriage, an assembly was held at Halots in Flaunders, whereat the Duke of Au∣striche now King of Romans, was present, togither with certaine deputies for the three estates of Flaunders, Brabant, and the other countries belonging to the saide Duke and his children. The citizens of Gaunt did many things there contrarie to the Dukes minde; for some they banished, and some they remooued from about his sonne: in the end they told him how great desire they had to see this marriage ac∣complished, therby to obtaine peace, & forced him to consent therunto. The Duke was very yoong, and accompanied with few noble men: for all the subiects of this house of Burgundie (very few excepted, I meane of great personages, that could haue giuen him counsell or aide in these affaires) were, as you haue heard, either dead, or reuolted to the King. As touching himselfe, he was come thither very slenderly ac∣companied, and now hauing lost his wife, being Lady of the countrie, he durst not giue them so stout language, as before he was accustomed. To be short, the King being aduertised of all these actions by Monseur de Cordes, reioiced much thereat, and a day was appointed when this Lady should be brought to Hedin.

Not long before the conclusion of this marriage, to wit, in the yeere 1481. the towne of Ayre was yeelded for a summe of monie to Monseur de Cordes, by the Lord of Croy of the countrie of Artois, who held it for the Duke of Austriche, and the Lord of Beures his captaine. The towne is very strong, situate in the countrie of Artois, and the deliuerie thereof increased the Flemmings desire to further this marriage, bicause it standeth vpon the very entrance into Flaunders. For notwith∣standing that they wished the weakening of their Prince, yet were they not willing to haue the King so neere a neighbor to their frontiers. After these matters aboue mentioned were fully concluded, ambassadors came to the King out of Flaunders and Brabant, but all depended vpon them of Gaunt; both bicause of their force, bi∣cause the children were in their hands, and for that they were alwaies the ringlea∣ders of all tumults. There came also from the King of Romanes for the pacifying of his dominions certaine Knights, yoong men like himselfe, and of small experience, whose names were Master Iohn de Bergues and Master Baudouin de Launoy, and cer∣taine Secretaries. The King was brought maruellous low with sicknes, so that hardly he suffered himselfe to be seene, and made great difficultie to sweare the treatie, bi∣cause he was loth to come abrode in sight: notwithstanding in the end he sware it. It was very auantageous for him; for in all assemblies that had beene held heere∣tofore about this marriage, he neuer required but the countie of Artois or Burgun∣die, one of the two: but now the Lords of Gaunt (as he termed them) caused them both to be yeelded vnto him, togither with the counties of Masconnois, Charolois, and Auxerrois; yea and if it had lien in them to haue put into his hands, Hainault and Namur, and all the seniories of this house of Burgundie, being of the French language, they would willingly haue done it, thereby to affeeble their Prince. The King our Master being a wise Prince vnderstood well, that no account was to be made of Flaunders, nor the Earle thereof, without he had the countrie of Artois, which lying betweene the King of Fraunce and the Flemmings, is as it were a bridle to them. For in the countrie of Artois are leuied very good soldiers, to scourge the Flemmings when they play the fooles. Wherefore by taking away from the Earle of Flaunders the countrie of Artois, he left him the poorest Prince in the world, and without all obedience of his subiects, saue onely at the pleasure of them of Gaunt. After this ambassage was returned home, the said Lady was led to Hedin, and deli∣uered into the hands of Monseur de Cordes in the yeere 1483. She was conueied thi∣ther by the Lady of Rauastain, bastard daughter to Duke Philip of Burgundie, and

was receiued there by the Duke and Duchesse of Bourbon that now are, and by the Lord of Albret, and diuers others sent thither by the King; who led hir to Amboise where the Daulphin lay. If the Duke of Austriche could haue rescued hir before she was passed out of his dominions from them that conueied hir, he would willingly haue done it: but they of Gaunt had sent hir well accompanied. And as touching the said Duke, all his subiects began to disobey him, so far foorth that a great number tooke part with them of Gaunt, bicause they had his sonne in their hands, and re∣mooued from him, and placed about him such as pleased them: and among the rest that were resident at Gaunt, was the Lord of Rauastain brother to the Duke of Cleues, principall gouernor of the said yoong infant called Duke Philip, who is yet liuing, and like to be a great Prince, if God spare him life. Whosoeuer reioiced at this marriage, the King of England was highly displeased therewith; for he accoun∣ted it great reproch and dishonor to be thus deluded, and feared both the losse of the pension the King paid him, which the English men called Tribute; and also that the contempt heereof would stir his subiects to rebellion against him, bicause he would giue no eare to good aduice. Further, he saw the King with great force neere to his dominions: for the which causes he conceiued such inward griefe when he heard these newes, that soone after he ended his life, some say of a catarrhe. But what∣soeuer his disease were, the report goeth, that the sorrow conceiued of this marriage caused the disease, whereof he died soone after in the moneth of Aprill, anno 1483. It is a foule fault in a Prince, to trust more to his owne braine, than to the aduice of a great number: for it causeth oftentimes both great sorrow, and also losse irre∣couerable.

Immediately after King Edvvards death, the King our Master was aduertised ther∣of, and seemed nothing ioifull of the newes: but soone after receiued letters from the D. of Glocester, who had vsurped the crowne of England (signing his letters by the name of Richard,) & cruelly murthered the King his brothers two children. This King Richard sought the Kings friendship, & was desirous, as I suppose, to haue this pension paid also vnto him. But the K. would make no answer to his letters, neither giue his messenger audience, but esteemed him a wicked & cruell tyrant. For after K. Edvvards death, the said Duke of Glocester had done homage to his nephew as to his soueraigne Lord and King, and yet immediately thereupon committed this mur∣ther, and caused in open parlament the said King Edvvards two daughters to be de∣graded & proclaimed bastards, vnder colour of a certaine matter which he prooued by the testimonie of a bishop of Bathe, who somtime had been in great credit with King Edvvard, but afterward fell into his disgrace, and was laid in prison, and made to fine for his deliuerance. This Bishop affirmed that King Edvvard being in loue with a certaine gentlewoman in England (whom he named) promised hir marriage to haue his pleasure of hir, which promise he said was made in his presence, and thereupon the King lay with hir, minding onely to abuse hir. Such pastimes are very dangerous, especially when such poofe may be brought foorth: But I haue knowne many a courtier that would not haue lost a good aduenture that liked him in such a case for want of promise. This wicked Bishop buried reuenge in his hart the space of twenty yeeres. But God plagued him for his wickednes: for he had a sonne whom he loued entirely, and whom King Richard so much fauored, that he meant to giue him to wife one of these two daughters, degraded from their dignitie, at this present Queene of England and mother of two goodly children. The said sonne being in a ship of war by King Richard his Masters commandement, was taken vpon the coast of Normandie, and bicause of the contention that fell betweene those that tooke

him: led to the court parlament of Paris, and there put in prison in the petit Cha∣stellet, where in the end he starued for hunger and pouertie. As touching King Ri∣chard he liued not long vnpunished: for God raised vp an enimy against him euen at * 1.1 that very instant being poore, hauing no right to the crowne of England, as I sup∣pose, and of no estimation, saue that as touching his owne person he was well condi∣tioned, and had endured many troubles. For the greatest part of his life he had been prisoner in Britaine to Duke Francis, who entertained him well for a prisoner from the eighteenth yeere of his age. This Earle of Richmond being furnished by the King with a small summe of money, and three thousand men leuied in Normandie, of the vnthriftiest persons in the countrey: passed ouer into Wales, where his father in lawe the Lord Stanley met him with sixe and twenty thousand men at the least. And within three or fower daies after he encountred this cruell King Richard, who was slaine in the field, and the Earle crowned King, and raigneth yet at this day in England. Of this matter I haue made mention before, but it was not amisse to re∣hearse it heere againe, to shew thereby how God hath plagued in our time such cru∣eltie almost immediately after the fault committed. Diuers other such like punish∣ments hath he shewed also in this our age, if a man would stand to rehearse them all.

How the King behaued himselfe towards his neighbors and subiects during the time of his sicknes, and how diuers things were sent him from diuers places for the re∣couerie of his health. Chap. 10.

THis mariage of Flaunders so much desired by the King was thus accomplished, as you haue heard, by meanes wherof he had the Flemmings at his commandement. Britaine which he so much hated was in peace with him, but liued in continuall ielousie bi∣cause of the great number of soldiers he had in garrison vpon their frontiers. Spaine was quiet, and the King and Queene thereof desired nothing more then his amity and friendship: for he kept them in feare and continuall charge, bicause of the countrey of Roussil∣lon which he held from the house of Arragon, being engaged to him by Iohn King of Arragon, father to the King of Castile now raigning, vnder certaine conditions yet vnperformed. As touching the Princes & Seniories of Italy, they desired to haue him their friend, and were in league with him, and sent often their ambassadors to him. In Almaine he had the Swissers as obedient to him as his owne subiects. The King of Scotland and Portugale were his confederates: part of the realme of Na∣uarre was wholie at his deuotion: his subiects trembled before him, and his com∣mandements were executed incontinent without delay or excuse. As touching those things that were thought necessarie for his health, they were sent him out of all parts of the world. Pope Sixtus that last died, being informed that the King of deuotion desired to haue the corporall vpon the which Saint Peter song masse, sent it him incontinent, with diuers other relickes, which were conueied backe againe to Rome. The holie viole which is at Reims and neuer had been remooued thence, was brought into his chamber to Plessis, and stood vpon his cupboord at the hower of his death: he was determined to be annointed therwith as at his coronation. But many supposed that he wold haue anointed all his body with it, which is vnlikely, for

the said holy viole is very small, and containeth not much oile. I saw it both at the time I now speake of, and also when the King was buried at Nostre-dame-de-Clery. The Turke that now raigneth sent an ambassador to him, who came as far as Rhiue in Prouence ¹ : but the King would not heare his message, neither permit him to passe any further. The said ambassador brought him a great role of relickes remain∣ing yet at Constantinople in the Turks hands, all the which he offered him togither with a great summe of money, if he would keepe in safe custodie the said Turks brother, who was then in this realme in the hands of the knights of the Rhodes, and is now at Rome in the Popes keeping. By all this aboue rehearsed a man may per∣ceiue how great the King our Masters wisdome and authority was, how he was estee∣med through the whole world, and how all things ² as well spirituall of deuotion and religion; as also temporall, were imploied for the prolonging of his life. But all would not helpe, there was no remedy, needes he must go the way his predecessors went before him, one great grace God shewed him, that as he created him wiser, li∣beraller, and more vertuous in all things than the Princes that raigned in his time, being his enimies and neighbors; and as he surmounted them in all good things: so did he also passe them in long life though not much. For Duke Charles of Burgundy, the Duchesse his daughter, King Edvvard, Duke Galeas of Milan, King Iohn of Arragon, were all dead a fewe yeeres before him: but betweene the death of the said Duches of Austrich, of King Edvvard, and of him, there was no space to speake of. In all these Princes there was both good and euill, for they were all men; but to speake vprightly, there were in him many mo vertues & ornaments appertaining to the office of a King, than in any of the rest. I haue seene them in maner all, and knew what was in them, and therefore I speake not at randon.

The Notes.

1 It was Reims in the French, but that vndoubtedly was false: the old copie hath Rhine or Rhine: others Rins: the Italian Ries.

2 King Lewis dranke childrens blood to recouer his health. Gaguin.

How King Lewis the 11. caused Charles the Daulphin his sonne to come to him a little before his death, and of the com∣mandements and precepts he gaue both him and certaine others. Chap. 11.

IN this yeere 1483. the King desired to see the Daulphine his sonne, whom he had not seene of long time; for he kept him close and permitted no man to come to him, both bicause of the childes health, and also for feare least he should be taken from the place where he remained, and vnder colour of him some re∣bellion arise in the realme. For so had certaine noble men in times past by meanes of himselfe made an assembly against King Charles the seuenth his father, he being then but eleuen yeeres of age ¹ : which war was called la Praguerie, but it soone ended, for it was rather a broile of court than a warre.

Aboue all things, he recommended vnto his said sonne the Daulphine certaine of his seruants, and commanded him expressely not to change certaine officers:

rehearsing to him how after King Charles his fathers death, he comming to the State, put out of office all the valiant and woorthie knights of this realme that had serued his father in the conquest of Normandy and Guienne, in chasing the English men out of Fraunce, and restoring the realme to peace and quietnes, (for himselfe found it both quiet and rich:) which his hard dealing with the said knights, turned greatly to his preiudice, for thereof sprang the war called THE WEALE PVBLIKE in this storie aboue mentioned, which had almost set him besides his crowne. Soone after his communication with the Daulphine his sonne, and the accomplishment of this marriage aboue mentioned; he fell vpon a monday into the disease whereof he died: his sicknes endured til the saturday after being the 30. of August, in the yeer 1483. And bicause I was present at his death, I minde to speake somwhat thereof. When this disease tooke him he lost his speech as before, which being recouered he felt his body weaker than euer it was, notwithstanding that he were so lowe brought before that he could hardly lift his hand to his mouth, and looked so poorely and miserably, that it pitied euery mans hart that sawe him: he accounted himselfe now as dead. Wherefore he sent incontinent for the Lord of Beauieu now Duke of Bourbon his sonne in law, commanding him to go to Amboise to the King his son, (for so he termed him:) he recommended also vnto him diuers of his seruants, and gaue him the whole charge and gouernment of the yoong King, and commanded expressely that certaine whom he named should not come neere his sonne, alleaging diuers good reasons on that behalfe. And if the said Lord of Beauieu had obserued his commandements, at the least part of them (for some were vnreasonable and not to be obserued) I thinke he should thereby haue benefited both the realme and him∣selfe, considering what hath hapned since in Fraunce. Soone after he sent also the Chauncellor, and all the officers of the law to the said King his sonne, and in like maner part of the archers of his guarde, and his Captaines, and all his haukes and hounds with all that appertained thereunto. Further, as many as came to visit him, he commanded to go to Amboise to the King (for so he termed him) desiring them to serue him faithfully, and by euery one of them he sent him some message or other; but especially by Steuen de Vers, who brought vp the said yoong King, and was the first groome of his chamber, and already aduanced to the bailiwicke of Meaux, by the King our Master. His speech neuer failed him after he recouered it, neither were his wits so fresh at any time as then: for he purged continually, by meanes whereof all fumes voided that troubled his head. In all the time of his sick∣nesse he neuer complained as other men do when they feele paine: at the least I my selfe am of that nature, and so haue I knowne diuers others, and men say, that complaining asswageth greefe.

The Notes.

1 Others write that he was 16. yeeres olde: this was was anno 1439. and King Lewis was borne anno 1423. so that he was 16. yeeres old when the Praguerie began, and so vn∣doubtedly it should be read heere.

A comparison betweene the sorrowes and troubles that King Lewis suffered, and those he caused diuers others to suffer: with a rehearsall of all that he did, and all that was done to him, till his death. Chap. 12.

HE discoursed continually of some matter or other, and that very grauely, and his disease endured from monday till saturday night. Wherefore I will now make comparison betweene the troubles and sorrowes he caused others to suffer, and those he suffered himselfe before his death, bicause I trust they haue ca∣ried him into paradise, and been part of his purgatorie. For notwithstanding that they were not so grieuous, neither en∣dured so long, as those which he caused diuers others to suffer; yet bicause his vocation in this world was higher then theirs, by meanes whereof he had neuer beene contraried, but so well obeied that he seemed a Prince able to haue gouerned all Europe: this little trouble that he endured contrarie to his accostomed nature, was to him a great torment. He hoped euer in this good heremite that was at Plessis whom he had caused to come to him out of Calabria, and continually sent to him: saying, that if it pleased him he could prolong his life. For notwithstanding all these commandements giuen to those whom he sent to the Daulphine his sonne, yet came his spirits againe to him, in such sort that he was in hope to recouer: and if it had so happened, he would easily haue disparckled the assembly sent to this new King. But bicause of the vaine hope he had in this heremite, a Doctor of diui∣nitie and certaine others thought good to aduertise him that his onely hope must be in the mercie of God: and they deuised that Master Iames Cothier his Phisition, in whom he had reposed his whole confidence, and to whom he gaue monethly ten thousand crownes in hope he would prolong his life: should be present when this speech should be vsed to him. This was Master Oliuer his barbars deuise, to the end he might wholie thinke vpon his conscience, and leaue all his other imaginations conceiued of this holie man, and of the said Master Iames his Phisition. But euen like as he had aduanced the said Master Oliuer and others too suddenly without any desert, to a higher estate than was fit for them: euen so they tooke vpon them bold∣lie to do such a message to so great a Prince otherwise than became them, not vsing that reuerence and humilitie that was to be vsed in such a case, and such as they would haue vsed whom he had brought vp of long time, and lately commanded out of his presence for the suspicions conceiued of them. And againe, like as vnto two great personages whom he had put to death in his time, (to wit the Duke of Ne∣mours, and the Earle of Saint Paule: for one of the which he repented him at his death, and for the other not;) he had sent a sharpe message of death by Commissio∣ners appointed thereunto; the which briefly pronounced their sentence vnto them, and foorthwith gaue them confessors and but a verie short space to dispose of their consciences: euen so the aboue named signified his death vnto him rudely and in fewe words saying; Sir it is reason we do our duties, hope no more in this holie man, nor any other thing, for sure you are but dead: therefore thinke vpon your consci∣ence, for your hower is come, and euery one of them said somwhat briefly to him to that effect. But he answered, I trust God will helpe me, and peraduenture I am

not so sicke as you suppose. What a sharpe corosife was it to him to heare these newes and this cruell sentence? for neuer man feared death more than he, nor sought so many waies to auoide it as he did. Moreouer, in all his life time he had giuen com∣mandement to all his seruants, as well my selfe as others, that when we should see him in danger of death, we should onely mooue him to confesse himselfe & dispose of his conscience, not sounding in his eares this dreadfull word Death, knowing that he should not be able patiently to heare that cruel sentence: notwithstanding he en∣dured both that and diuers other punishments till the verie hower of death more patiently than euer I sawe any man. To his sonne whom he called King, he sent ma∣ny messages and confessed himselfe verie deuoutly, and said diuers praiers answera∣ble to the Sacraments he receiued, which also he himselfe demanded. He spake as hartily as if he had not beene sicke, and talked of all matters touching the King his sonnes estate; and among other things gaue commandement that the Lord of Cordes should not depart from his sonne by the space of halfe a yeere after his death: and further, that he should be entreated to attempt nothing against Calice nor elsewhere; saying, that notwithstanding he had deuised these enterprises for the Kings profit, and the benefit of the realme: yet were they verie dangerous, especial∣ly that of Calice, for feare of moouing the English men thereby to war Further, he willed especially that after his death the realme should rest in peace the space of fiue or sixe yeeres, a matter which he would neuer yeeld vnto during his life though ve∣rie needfull: for notwithstanding that it were great and large, yet was it in poore & miserable estate, especially bicause of the passing to and fro of the men of armes, who continually remooued from one countrey to an other. He gaue order also that no quarrell should be picked in Britaine, but that Duke Francis should be suffered to liue in quiet, and not be put in any doubt or feare of warre, neither yet any other neighbour bordering vpon the realme, to the end the King and the realme might rest in peace till the King were of yeeres to dispose thereof at his owne pleasure.

Thus you see how vndiscreetly his death was signified to him, which I haue re∣hearsed bicause I began to make a comparison betweene those euils which he had caused diuers of his subiects to suffer, and those he himselfe suffered before his death, to the end you may perceiue that notwithstanding they were not so greeuous, nor so long (as I haue said:) yet were they greeuous to him considering his nature, which demanded obedience, & had been better obeied than any Prince in his time; so that one halfe word contrarying his minde was to him a greeuous punishment. Fiue or sixe daies before his death he had al men in suspition, especially all that were woorthie of credit and authoritie, yea, he grew iealous of his owne sonne, and caused him to be straightly guarded, neither did any man see him or speake with him but by his commandement: at the length he began to stand in doubt also of his daughter, and of his sonne in law now Duke of Bourbon, and would needs know what men en∣tred into Plessis with them, and in the end brake off an assembly that the Duke of Bourbon his sonne in law held there by his commandement. Moreouer, at the same time that his said sonne in law and the Earle of Dunois (returning from the conuoie of the ambassage that came to Amboise to the marriage of the King his sonne and the Queene) entred into the castle of Plessis, with a great bande of men: the King who caused the gates to be straightly kept, being in the gallerie that looketh into the court of the said castle; caused one of the captaines of his guard to come to him, whom he commanded to feele as he talked with the said noble mens seruants whe∣ther they wore any brigandines vnder their cloakes, not making shewe as though he came purposely for that intent. Heereby you may perceiue if he caused diuers

others to liue in feare and suspicion vnder him: whether he were paid now with the like himselfe; for of whom could he be assured, mistrusting his sonne, his daugh∣ter, and his sonne in lawe? Wherefore thus much I will say not onely of him, but of all other Princes that desire to be feared: that they neuer feele the reuenge thereof till their age, and then their penance is to feare all men. What great greefe thinke you was it to this poore King to be troubled with these passions? He had a Phisiti∣on called Master Iames Cothier, to whom he gaue in fiue moneths 54000. crownes, after the rate of 10000. the moneth, and 4000. ouer, besides the Bishopricke of Ami∣ens for his nephew, and other offices and lands for him and his friends. The said Phisition vsed him so roughly, that a man would not giue his seruant so sharpe lan∣guage as he gaue the King; and yet the King so much feared him, that he durst not command him out of his presence: for notwithstanding that he complained to di∣uers of him, yet durst he not change him as he did all his other seruants, bicause this Phisition once said thus boldly vnto him; I know that one day you will commaund me away as you do all your other seruants, but you shall not liue eight daies after, binding it with a great oath. Which words put the King in such feare, that euer after he flattered him, and bestowed gifts vpon him, which was a maruellous pur∣gatorie to him in this world, considering of how many noble men and gentlemen he had been obeied.

Moreouer, he had caused diuers cruell prisons to be made, as for example, cages being eight foote square, and one foote more than a mans height, some of iron, and some of wood, plated with iron both within and without with horrible iron works. He that first deuised them was the Bishop of Verdun, who incontinent was himselfe put into the first that was made, where he remained fowerteene yeeres. Many haue cursed him for his deuise, and among others my selfe, for I lay in one of them vnder the King that now reigneth the space of eight moneths. He had also caused cer∣taine Almains to make terrible heauie irons to lay men in, among the which there was a fetter to put on their feete very hard to be opened like to a carquan, with a waightie chaine, and a great iron ball at the end thereof, heauy beyong all measure. These irons were called the Kings nets. Notwithstanding I haue seene diuers gen∣tlemen lie in them as prisoners, who came foorth afterward with great honor, and were aduanced by him to great estates: as for example, a sonne of the Lord of Gru∣tuze of Flaunders taken prisoner in the wars, whom the King afterward richely ma∣ried, and made one of his chamber, & Seneschall of Aniou, and gaue him charge of a hundred launces; and in like maner the Lord of Piennes and the Lord of Vergy taken prisoners also in the wars, who both had charge of men of armes vnder the King and other goodly offices, and were of the priuie chamber either to him or his sonne. The like happened also to the Lord of Richbourg the Constables bro∣ther, and to one Roquebertin of the country of Cathelonie being likewise taken pri∣soners in the wars, whom he afterward highly aduanced with diuers others of diuers countries too long to reherse. But now to returne to the matter. As in his time these diuers and sundrie cruell prisons were deuised: euen so he before his death laie in the like, yea in a much crueller prison than any of them, and was in greater feare than they that stood in feare of him, which I account as a great grace towards him, and as part of his purgatorie, and rehearse it onely to shew that euery man of what estate or condition soeuer he be, is punished either secretly or openly, especially those that punish others. Further, the King a little before his death enclosed his castel of Ples∣sis with a grate of iron bars, and at the fower corners of the said castell caused fower strong-watch houses of iron to be built. The said grate was made directly ouer

against the castell wall round about the castell on the outer side of the ditch, which was very steepe. He caused also to be masoned into the wall a great number of iron speares, each of them hauing diuers heads set close togither. Moreouer, he appoin∣ted ten crossebowe men to be continually in the said ditches, and to lie in the fower iron houses built in the bottome of the said ditches, and gaue them commandement to shoote at euery man that approched neere to the grate, before the gate opened. He knew well that this fortification was to no purpose against a great force or an armie, but that he doubted not: his onely feare was, that certaine noble men of his realme hauing intelligence in the castell, would attempt to enter into it in the night, partly by loue and partly by force, and take the gouernment vpon them, and make him liue as a man bereft of his wits, and vnwoorthie to rule. The castell gate neuer opened before eight of the clocke in the morning, neither was the drawe bridge let downe till that hower, and then entred his officers, and the captaines of his garde placed the ordinarie warders, and appointed archers to the watch both at the gate and within the court, as if it had beene a frontire towne straightly kept: neither en∣tred any man without the Kings commandement but by the wicket, saue the stew∣ards of his house, and such like officers that went not to him. Is it possible then to hold a King (I meane vsing him like a Prince) in a straiter prison than he held him∣selfe? The cages wherein he held others were about eight foote square, and he be∣ing so great a Prince had but a little court in the castell to walke in, yea and seldome came he into that: for vsually he kept himselfe in the gallerie, from whence he neuer stirred but when he went to masse, at which time he passed through the chambers, and not through the Court. Thinke you that he was not in feare as well as others, seeing he locked himselfe in after this sort, kept himselfe thus close, stood in such feare of his children and neerest kinsmen, and changed and remooued his seruants from day to day, whom he had brought vp and whose good estate depended wholy vpon him, in such sort that he durst trust none of them, but bound himselfe in these strange chaines and bands? The place I confesse was larger than a common prison, so was his estate greater than a common prisoners. But a man will say peraduenture, that other Princes haue been more suspicious than he, whereunto I agree: but none sure in our time, neither any so wise as he, nor that had so good subiects as he had: & as touching them, peraduenture they were cruell tyrants, but he neuer punished any without desert. All this aboue written I haue rehearsed, not so much to publish the suspicions of the King our Master: as partly to prooue that the patient enduring of these passions, being equall with those he had caused others to endure; and of this sicknes being sharpe and troublesome to him, and the which he feared greatly be∣fore he fell into it; is to be accounted as a punishment God gaue him in this world, to ease him in the world to come: and partly to giue an example to those that shall come after him, to haue some more compassion on their people than he had, and to be lesse rigorous in punishing than he was. Notwithstanding for my part I am not able to accuse him, neither saw I euer a better Prince; for though himselfe pressed his subiects, yet would he suffer none other so to do friend or foe.

After all these feares, sorrowes, and suspicions, God (according to his accusto∣med goodnes) wrought a miracle vpon him, healing him both in soule and bodie: for he tooke him out of this miserable world, being perfect of sense, vnderstanding, and memorie, hauing receiued all his sacraments without all griefe to mans iudge∣ment, and talking continually euen within a Pater noster while of his death; so that he gaue order for his funerall, and named those that should accompanie his bodie to the graue; saying euer, that he trusted to die on no day but saturday, and that our

Lady, in whom he had euer put his confidence, and alwaies deuoutly serued, had purchased him this grace, and sure so it happened: for he ended his life vpon satur∣day the 30. of August in the yeere 1483. at eight of the clocke at night, in the said castell of Plessis, where he fell sicke the monday before. His soule, I trust, is with God, and resteth in his blessed realme of paradise.

A discourse vpon the miserie of mans life, by the examples of those Princes that liued in the authors time, and first of King Lewis. Chap. 13.

SMall hope may meane and poore men haue in worldly honors, seeing this mightie King, after so long trouble and trauell about them, forsooke them al, & could not prolong his life one hower for all that he could do. I knew him & serued him in the flower of his age, & in his great prosperitie; yet neuer saw I himfree from toile of body and trouble of minde. Aboue al pastimes he loued hunting & hauking in their seasons, hunting especially. As tou∣ching women, he was free from that vice all the time that I ser∣ued him: for a little before my comming to him, he lost one of his sonnes, whose death he much lamented; and soone after made a solemne vow to God in my pre∣sence, neuer to accompanie with any woman but the Queene his wife. Whereunto notwithstanding that he were bound by the lawes of marriage; yet was it much that he had such stay of himselfe, especially the Queene being none of those in whose beautie a man could take great delight, but otherwise a very vertuous Lady. In this pastime of hunting he tooke almost as much paine as pleasure; for the toile was great, bicause he ran the Hart to death by force. Besides that, he arose very early in the morning, and oftentimes went far, neither could any weather make him leaue his sport. Somtime also he returned very wearie and in maner euer displeased with one or other: for this game is not alwaies made as they wish that haue the orde∣ring thereof: notwithstanding in all mens opinions, he for his part vnderstood it better than any man in his time. In this pastime he exercised himselfe continually, lodging about in the villages till wars began. For almost euery sommer there was somewhat to do betweene Duke Charles of Burgundie and him: but when win∣ter approched they vsed to make truce. He had great wars also for the countie of Roussillion with King Iohn of Arragon, the King of Spaines father that now li∣ueth. For notwithstanding that they were very poore, and in war with their subiects, namely them of Barselonne and others, and that the sonne were of no force: (for he expected the inheritance of King Friderike ¹ of Castile his wiues brother, which afterward fell to him) yet bicause they had the harts of the subiects of the saide countrie of Roussillion, they made great resistance against him, which cost the King and his realme full deere: for many a good man died and was slaine there, and infi∣nite treasure was consumed in those wars; for they endured long.

Thus you see that the pleasure the King had was but one small time in the yeere, and that ioined with great toile and trauell of his person: when his body was at rest, his minde was occupied, for he had to do in many places, and busied himselfe as much with his neighbors affaires as with his own, seeking to place men in their hou∣ses ² , and to bestow the offices therin at his pleasure. When he was in war he desired

peace or truce, which notwithstanding when he had obtained, he could not long away with. He medled with many trifling matters in his realme, which he might well haue passed ouer: but such was his disposition and life. And to say the truth, his memory was so excellent that he forgat nothing, but knew all the world, all coun∣tries, and all men of estimation round about him; so that he seemed a Prince woor∣thier to gouern the whole world than one realm alone. Of his youth I am able to say nothing, for I was not with him at that time; notwithstanding what I haue heard, that I will report. Being but eleuen yeeres of age he was busied by certaine Princes and others of the realme, in a war against K. Charles his father, called la Praguerie, which endured not long. And when he was growen to mans estate he married the King of Scotlands daughter ³ , and during hir life neuer ioied with hir ⁴ : after hir death bicause of the factions and troubles that were in the King his fathers court, he retired into his owne countrey of Daulphine, whither a great number of gentlemen accompanied him, yea many mo than he was able to maintaine. While he was in Daulphine he married the Duke of Sauoies daughter, and soone after fel at variance with his father in law, so that sharpe war arose betweene them. King Charles seeing his sonne so well accompanied with gentlemen and men of armes, determined to go against him in person with great force, and to chase him out of the countrey by strong hand: wherefore he put himselfe vpon the way, and endeuored to withdraw his sonnes men from him, commanding them as his subiects vnder paine of his dis∣pleasure to repaire vnto him. Whereunto diuers obeied, to the King our Masters great griefe; who seeing his fathers indignation against him, determined (notwith∣standing that his force were great) to depart thence, and leaue the countrey to his fathers disposing. And in this estate trauelled he through Burgundy with a small traine to Duke Philip, who receiued him very honorably, furnished him with money to maintaine his estate, and gaue yeerely pensions to his principall seruants, namely to the Earle of Cominges, the Lord of Montauban & others, and bestowed also du∣ring his being there diuers large gifts vpon his other seruants. Notwithstanding, bi∣cause he entertained such a number, his mony failed often to his great griefe, so that he was forced to borow som where or other, otherwise his men would haue forsaken him; which vndoubtedly is a great trouble to a Prince vnaccustomed thereunto. Thus you see that he was not without vexation and anguish of minde during his abode in this house of Burgundy: for he was forced to faune both vpon the Duke and his principall seruants, least they should waxe weary of him, for he was there a long time, to wit, the space of sixe yeeres. Besides that, his father sent ambassadors continually to the Duke, requiring him either to put him foorth of his dominions or send him backe to him. Wherefore it is to be thought that he was not idle nor with∣out great vexation of minde. All these things considered: when may a man say that he liued in ioy and pleasure? Sure in mine opinion from his childhood till his death he was in continuall toile and trouble, so that if all his pleasant and ioyfull daies were numbred, I thinke they should be found but fewe: yea I am fully perswa∣ded, that for one pleasant there should be found twenty displeasant. He liued about threescore and one yeeres; notwithstanding that he had conceiued an imagination that he should neuer passe threescore, saying, that no King of Fraunce of long time passed that age, some saie none since Charles the great. Notwithstanding the King our Master when he died was well forward in the threescore and one yeere.

Duke Charles of Burgundie what rest or quietnes had he more than the King our Master? True it is that in his youth he was not much troubled, for he attempted no∣thing til the two & twenty yeere of his age, but liued till that time in helth and at his

ease. But then he began to busie himselfe with his fathers officers, whom his father maintained against him: for the which cause he absented himselfe and went into Holland, where he was well receiued and had intelligence with them of Gaunt, and sometime also went thither himselfe. He had not one peny of his father, but this countrey of Holland was maruellous rich and gaue him goodly presents, as did also diuers great townes of his other Seniories, hoping thereby to winne his fauour in time to come. For it is a common thing, especially among the vulgare sort, to loue better, and seeke rather to him whose power is growing, than to him who is already so great that he can be no greater ⁵ . For the which cause Duke Philip, when men told him that they of Gaunt loued his sonne maruellous wel, & that he could skill of their humor: was woont to answer, that their Prince in expectation they euer loued deerly; but their Prince in possession they hated euer extremely, which saying proo∣ued true. For after D. Charles began to reigne ouer them they neuer loued him, and that they well declared as before I haue rehearsed: he also for his part bare them as little good will, notwithstanding they did his posteritie more harme than they could do him. But proceed, after the time that Duke Charles mooued war for the townes in Picardie, which the King our Master had redeemed of Duke Philip his father, and ioined himselfe with the Princes of this realme, in the war called THE WEALE PVBLIKE: he neuer was quiet, but in continuall trauell both of bodie and minde. For his hart was so inflamed with desire of glorie, that he attempted to conquer all that lay about him. All sommer he kept the field with great danger of his person, and tooke vpon himselfe the charge and care of the whole armie: all which trouble seemed yet not sufficient to him. He was the first vp and the last downe, as if he had beene the poorest soldier in his campe. If he rested from wars at any time in winter, yet was he busied all day long from sixe of the clocke in the morning, either in leuy∣ing of money, or receiuing ambassadors, or giuing them audience. In this trauell and miserie ended he his daies, and was slaine of the Swissers before Nancy, as you haue heard; so that a man may iustly say, that he neuer had good day from the time that ambition first entred into his minde, till the hower of his death. And what got he by all this trauell? what needed he thus to haue toiled himselfe, being so rich a Prince, and hauing so many goodly townes and seniories vnder his subiection, where he might haue liued in great ioy and prosperitie, if it had so pleased him? I must now speake of Edward K. of England, who was so great & mighty a Prince. In his youth he sawe the Duke of Yorke his father discomfited and slaine in battell, & with him the Earle of Warwicks father ⁶ , the which Earle of Warwicke gouerned King Edward in his youth, and all his affaires; yea to say the truth made him King, and was the onely man that defeated his enimie King Henry, who had raigned many yeeres in England, and was lawfull King both in mine opinion, and in the iudge∣ment of the whole world. But as touching great realmes and seniories God holdeth them in his hand, and disposeth of them at his pleasure; for all proceedeth of him. The cause that mooued the Earle of Warwick to serue the house of Yorke against King Henry, who was of the house of Lancaster, was this. The Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Sommerset fell at variance in King Henries court, who was a very simple man: the Queene his wife being of the house of Aniou, daughter to Rene King of Sicilie, tooke part with the Duke of Sommerset against the Earle. But conside∣ring that they had all acknowledged both King Henry and his father and grandfa∣ther for their lawfull Princes: the said Lady should haue done much better to haue taken vpon hir the office of Iudge or mediator betweene them, than to take part with either of them, as the sequele well declared. For heereupon arose war, which

continued nine and twenty yeeres: during the which space many bloodie battels were fought, and in the end, all in maner both of the one partie and the other slaine. Now to speake a word or two of factions: surely they are maruellous dangerous, especially among great men, who are naturally inclined to nourish and maintaine them. But you will say peraduenture, that by this meanes the Prince shall haue in∣telligence of all things that passe, and thereby hold both the parties in the greater feare. In truth I can well agree that a yoong Prince vse this order among Ladies: for by this meanes he shall haue pleasure and sport ynough, and vnderstand of all their newes: but to nourish factions among men, yea among Princes and men of vertue and courage, nothing can be more dangerous, bicause by that meanes he shall kindle an vnquenchable fire in his house: for foorthwith one of the parties will suppose the King to be against them, and then to fortifie themselues take intel∣ligence with his enimies. The factions of Orleans and Burgundie prooue this point sufficiently; for the wars that sprang therof continued threescore and twelue yeeres, the English men being parties in them, who thought to haue conquered the whole realme. But to returne to King Edward, he was very yoong when his father was slaine, and the beautifullest Prince in the world: but after he had vanquished all his enimies, he gaue himselfe wholy to pleasures, as to dames, feasting, banketting, and hunting; in the which delicacies he continued about sixteene yeeres ⁷ , to wit, till the Earle of Warwicke and he fell at variance, in the which wars notwithstanding that the King were chased out of his realme; yet continued he not long in that estate: for he soone returned, and hauing obtained the victorie, more abandoned himselfe to all pleasures than before. He feared no man, but fed himselfe maruel∣lous fat, by meanes whereof in the flower of his age diseases grew vpon him, so that he died in a maner suddenly, of an Apoplexie, and his heires males lost the crowne, as before you haue heard.

In this our age raigned also two valiant and wise Princes, namely Mathias King of Hungarie, and Mahomet Ottoman Emperor of Turkie. This King Mathias was sonne to a valiant knight called the white knight of Vallachie ⁸ , a gentleman of great wisdome and vertue, who gouerned long the realme of Hungarie, and obtai∣ned many goodly victories against the Turks ⁹ , who border vpon the said realme, by reason of the Seniories they haue vsurped in Greece and Slauonie ¹⁰ . Soone after his death King Lancelot came to mans estate ¹¹ , who was right heire not one∣ly of the realme of Hungary, but also of Bohemia and Polonia. He by the counsell of certaine caused the white knights two sonnes to be apprehended, alleaging that their father had vsurped too great rule and authoritie in the realme, and that the sonnes being gentlemen of great courage might peraduenture attempt the like. Wherefore the said King Launcelot resolued to lay them both in prison, and inconti∣nent put the elder to death ¹² , and sent the said Mathias prisoner to Bude the chiefe towne of Hungary, where he remained not long. And I suppose that God tooke in good part the great seruices his father had done. For soone after King Launcelot was poisoned at Prage in Bohemia ¹³ , by a gentlewoman of a good house (whose brother my selfe haue seene) of whom he was enamored, & she likewise of him; so far foorth that she being displeased with his mariage with the daughter of Charles the seuenth King of Fraunce now called Princesse of Vienna (against his promise made to hir) poisoned him in a bathe, as she gaue him a peece of apple to eate, hauing con∣ueighed the poison into the haft of hir knife. Incontinently after King Lancelots death, the Barons and Nobles of the realme assembled to choose a new King: for the custome of the countrey is, when the King dieth without issue, that the Nobles

may proceed to an election. And while they were there in great diuision about their chose; the white Knights widow mother to Mathias came into the towne with a goodly traine: for bicause she had great treasure left hir by hir husband; she was soone able to leuie great forces: and further, I thinke she had good intelligence both in the towne and also among the Nobilitie, bicause of the great sway hir husband had borne in the realme. She rode straight to the prison and tooke hir sonne out of it ¹⁴ . Whereupon part of the Barons and Prelats there assembled for the election, fled for feare, the rest chose the said Mathias King, who raigned in the realme with as great prosperitie as any King these many yeeres, and hath been as highly praised and commended, yea more in some points than any of his predecessors. He was one of the valiantest men that liued in his time, and obtained great victories against the Turks, without all damage to his owne realme, the which he inlarged on all sides, aswell towards Bohemia the greatest part whereof he held, as also towards Valachie where he was borne, and towards Sclauonie. In like maner vpon the fron∣tiers of Almaine he wan the greatest part of Austrich from the Emperor Frederic now raigning, and possessed it till his death, which hapned in the yeere 1491. in Vi∣enna the chiefe towne of Austrich. This King gouerned his affaires with great wis∣dome, aswell in peace as war: but a little before his death perceiuing himselfe to be feared of his enimies, he grew maruellous pompous and sumptuous in his Court, and amassed an infinite quantitie of goodly stuffe, iewels and plate, for the furniture of his house. All his affaires were dispatched by himselfe or by his direction. Before his death his subiects stood in great feare of him, for he waxed cruell, and soone after fell into a greeuous and vncurable disease being but yoong, to wit, eight and twenty yeeres of age ¹⁵ , or thereabout. He died hauing spent his life in much more labor and trauell than pleasure. The Turke aboue mentioned ¹⁶ was a wise and noble Prince, but vsing wiles and subtiltie more than courage and valor. True it is that his father left him great, for he had been a hardy Prince, and wan Adrianople ¹⁷ , which is as much to say, as the citie of Adrian. This Turke that I now write of, tooke in the three and twentith yeere of his age the citie of Constantinople ¹⁸ . I haue seene his pourtraiture when he was of those yeeres, the lineaments whereof made shew of an excellent wit. It was a shame for all Christendome to suffer the towne so to be lost: for he tooke it by assault, and the Emperor of the East whom we call Emperor of Constantinople, was slaine himselfe at the breach ¹⁹ , with a number of valiant men, & diuers women of great estate and noble houses rauished: to be short, no cru∣eltie was omitted. This was his first exploit, but not his last, for he continued till his death in atchieuing great enterprises: so that I heard once an ambassador of Ve∣nice tell Duke Charles of Burgundy that he had conquered two Empires, fower realmes, and two hundred cities. He meant the Empires of Constantinople & Tra∣pezonde ²⁰ ; the realmes of Bosne ²¹ , Syria, Armenia, and I thinke Morea ²² was the fowerth, in the which the Venetians held two places. He conquered also diuers goodly Iles in the sea, called Archipell ²³ , neere to the said Morea, with the Iles of Nigrepont ²⁴ and Mitilene: he subdued in like maner the greatest part of Albanie and Sclauonie. And as his conquests were great against the Christians, so were they also against them of his owne law, of whom he destroied many a great Prince, as the Caraman ²⁵ and diuers others. The greatest part of his affaires he gouerned by his owne wisdome, as did our King and the King of Hungarie also: who were three of the greatest Princes that raigned these hundred yeers. But the curtesie and course of life of the King our Master, and his good vsage both of his owne seruants and stran∣gers, far passed both the others; and no maruell, for he was the most Christian King.

As touching worldly pleasures this Turke had his fill; for he spent the greatest part of his life in them, and had he not been so much addicted to them, vndoubtedly he would haue done much more mischiefe. There was no fleshly vice that he was free from, but in gluttony he passed, and according to his diet, diseases fell vpon him: for euery spring (as I haue heard those report that haue seene him) his legs swelled as big as a mans body, notwithstanding they brake not, but the swelling asswaged of it self. No surgeon could tell the cause of this disease saue onely that it proceeded of glut∣tonie, and it may be that it was some speciall punishment of God. His said disease was the cause he came so seldome abroad, and kept himselfe so close in his chariot, fearing that the miserable estate he was in, would cause his subiects to despise him. He died being two and fifty yeeres of age ²⁶ or there about, in maner suddenly: not∣withstanding, he made his Testament, which I my selfe haue seene, wherin he made conscience of a subsidie lately leuied vpon his subiects, if the said Testament be true. Let Christian Princes then weigh well what they ought to do, considering that they haue no authoritie in right and reason to leuy any thing vpon their subiects without their permission and consent.

The conclusion of the Author.

YOw see heere a great number of great personages dead in short space, who trauelled so mightily, and indured so many anguishes and sor∣rowes to purchase honor and renoume, whereby they abridged their liues, yea and peraduenture charged their soules. I speake not this of the Turke, for I make account he is lodged with his predecessors; but our King and the rest, I trust, God hath taken to his mercy. Now to speake of this point as a man vnlearned, but hauing some experience: had it not been better both for these great Princes themselues and all their subiects that liued vnder them, and shall liue vnder their successors, to haue held a meane in all things, that is to say, to haue attempted fewer enterprises, to haue feared more to offend God, and perse∣cute their subiects and neighbors so many sundry waies aboue rehearsed, and to haue vsed honest pleasures and recreation? Yes sure. For by that meanes their liues should haue been prolonged, diseases should not so soone haue assailed them, their death should haue been more lamented, and lesse desired; yea, and they should haue had lesse cause to feare death. What goodlier examples can we finde to teach vs that man is but a shadowe, that our life is miserable and short, and that we are nothing, neither great nor small? For immediately after our death, all men abhorre and loath our bodies, and so soone as the soule is seuered from the body, it goeth to receiue iudgement; yea vndoubtedly at the very instant that the soule and body part, the iudgement of God is giuen according to our merits and deserts, which is the particular iudgement of God.

The Notes.

1 For ought I can reade in any historie, this Frederike should be Henry, and so appee∣reth by our author himselfe, lib. 5. cap. 7. & cap. 18.

2 Asin Britaine, Sauoye, and Prouence vnder King Rene.

3 Others write that he was but 14. yeeres olde when he married hir; which was in the yeere 1437. and she died ann. 1445.

4 This Ladies name was Margaret, she was sister to Iames the second King of Scot∣land:

she was of a lothsome complexion, and had an vnsauorie breth; wherefore the King loued hir not.

5 This is agreeable with Pompeies saying to Sylla, that the Romanes did Orientem potius quàm occidentem solem venerari.

6 The Earle of VVarwicks father was Richard Neuill Earle of Salisburie, who was not slaine at the battell of VVakefield with Richard Duke of Yorke, but taken, and within a day or two after beheaded, and his head sent to Yorke, as the said Dukes had beene.

7 Commines saith heere, that King Edward had liued sixteene yeeres in delicacies when the Earle of VVarwicke chased him out of his realme: yet before lib. 3. he saith twelue or thirteene yeeres, somwhat neerer to the truth; for indeede he was chased the 10. yeere of his raigne.

8 This white knight is named Iohannes Huniades Coruinus, his fathers name was Buth, of the countrie of Valachie, corruptly printed in the French Vallagine.

9 To wit, 20. and fought in one day against Amurathes and his Bashaes sixe great bat∣tels, and obtained victorie in them all.

10 Sclauonie is the countrie of Illyria.

11 Some write that this Launcelot called in Latin stories Ladislaus came to full yeeres before Huniades death, and gaue him in recompence of his seruice the Earledome of Bristrich, and yet afterward sought to kill him by the perswasion of Vlrich Earle of Cilie the said Ladislaus vncle: but Huniades valiantly defended himselfe, and soone after died. But indeede the truth is, that Ladislaus was borne the 21. of February 1440. and Huniades died the 10. of September 1456. so that at Huniades death Ladislaus was almost 17. yeeres of age, and by the perswasion of this Earle Vlrich had taken the go∣uernment vpon himselfe.

12 The elder brothers name was Ladislaus. The cause of his death was, for that in defence of himselfe he had slaine the Earle Vlrich, who assaulted him, as before he had done his father, and continually sought both his blood and his brothers. VVherefore the King caused both the brethren deceitfully to be taken, and beheaded the elder being fiue or sixe and twenty yeeres of age. It is written, that the hangman gaue him three strokes with the sword, before he could pearse his skin.

13 King Ladislaus died of poison the 21. of Nouember 1457.

14 Other histories varie much in this point from Commines: for they make no men∣tion of Mathias deliuerie by his mothers meanes, but say that King Ladislaus being ha∣ted in Hungarie for Huniades elder sonnes death, departedinto Bohemia, leading Ma∣thias with him as prisoner, where soone after this Ladislaus died of poison, as heere be∣fo•••• ••ention is made. After his death George Boiebrac vsurped the realme of Bohemia, this Mathias being still prisoner at Prague: but the nobles of Hungarie, bicause of his fathers great seruices, chose him their King, and sent to the said Boiebrac requiring his deliuerie: who not onely accomplished their request on that behalfe, but also gaue the said Mathias his daughter in mariage, and sent him into Hungarie nobly accompanied.

15 This place is maruellously corrupted; for King Mathias was borne the 24. of Fe∣bruarie 1443. and died the fift of Aprill at Vienna of an Apoplexie the yeere 1490. or as our author saith 1491. so that by this computation he liued about 48. yeeres, and so vndoub∣tedly this 28. must be read 48.

16 This Turke is Mahomet the second.

17 Others write that Amurathes the third Emperor of Turkie wan Adrianople, and it may be that the name deceiued our author: for this Turks fathers name was also Amu∣rathes; but this was Amurathes the second, and he that wan Adrianople Amurathes the first.

18 Constantinople vvas taken ann. 1453. the 29. of May.

19 This Emperor vvas named Constantinus Paleologus: but as others vvrite he vvas not slaine at the breach, but thronged to death in the gate as he would haue fled.

20 Hovv he conquered Trapezonde, Syria, Armenia, appeereth after in the figure ²⁵.

21 It is corruptly in the French Bressanne. This realme of Bosne he conquered ouer Stephen King of that countrie ann. 1463. but Mathias King of Hungarie soone after recouered it againe.

22 Morea vvas in times past Peloponnesus.

23 This Archipell is Mare Aegeum, in the vvhich the yles called Cyclades lie.

24 Nigrepont in times past vvas Euboea.

25 The French bookes haue some of them the Carnian, some the Carmanian, and some (bicause they vvill be sure not to erre) nothing. But vndoubtedly it is to be read as I haue heere translated it. For further declaration vvhereof vve must vnderstand, that about the yeere 1250. fovver noble houses came out of Persia vvith their captaines and armies, the Otthomans, Assembecs, Scandelors or Candelors, and the Caramans. All these fovver houses subdued euery one of them some region: the Otthomans vvan Bi∣thynia, Phrygia, Galatia. The Assembecs Syria, Armenia, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia. The Scandelors held the greatest part of Pontus: and the Caramans Cilicia, Lycia, Lycaonia, Pamphylia. But the house of Otthoman in the end deuoured all the other three. The Assembecs vvere vanquished by this Mahomet ann. 1459. For you shall vn∣derstand, that Vsumcassanes King of the Assembecs fought three great battels vvith this Mahomet. In the tvvo first he ouerthrevv him, but in the third he vvas vtterly ouerthrovven, by reason that Mahomet had great artillerie in his campe, vvhich nouel∣tie (vnknovven before to the easterly nations) discomfited Vsumcassanes armie, vvho in this battell lost also his sonne Zeinalde. After this battell Mahomet vvan all Cappado∣cia, Paphlagonia, and tooke Trapezonde the seate of the Assembecs empire, vvith the greatest part of Armenia and Syria, as mention is heere made. Further, after this battell Mahomet tooke from Pyramitus Prince of the Caramans, the greatest part of Cilicia: and after this Mahomets death Baiazet his sonne slue in battell Abraham the last Prince of the Caramans, and vtterly destroied that house. As touching the Scandelors, after the Assembecs and Caramans vvere destroied, the Prince of the Scandelors yeelded his countrie to Baiazet, and in exchange thereof had certaine reuenues giuen him in Natolia. And thus vvere all the three houses subdued by the house of Otthoman: vvhich discourse for the better vnderstanding of this place, I haue been forced to vvrite somvvhat at large.

26 Others vvrite 58. and others 56. but sure our author reporteth his age truli••••••: for he vvas borne ann. 1430. the 24. of March, and died of the collicke 1481. the thirde of May, so that he vvas entred into his tvvo and fiftith yeere.

A SVPPLY OF THE HISTORIE OF PHILIP DE COMMINES FROM THE death of King LEWIS the II. till the beginning of the wars of Naples, to wit, from 1483. till 1493. of all the vvhich time Commines vvri∣teth nothing.

Of King Charles his comming to the crowne, of the death of Oliuer King Lewis his Barber and others, and of the reuoking of King Lewis his superfluous gifts. Chap. 1.

AFter the death of Lewis the eleuenth, Charles the 8. his onely sonne being 13. yeeres of age and two moneths, succeeded to the crowne: notwithstanding his coro∣nation was deferred till the moneth of Iune in the next yeere, to the end he might be full fowerteen when he should be crowned. The King his father had brought him vp at Amboise in such solitarines, that none besides his ordinarie seruants could haue accesse vnto him; nei∣ther permitted he him to learne any more Latine than this one sentence: He that cannot dissemble cannot raigne: which he did not for that he hated learning, but bicause he feared that studie would hurt the tender and delicate complexion of the childe. Notwithstanding King Charles after he was come to the crowne, grew verie studious of learning, aod gaue himseife to the rea∣ding of stories and bookes of humanitie written in the French toong, and attemp∣ted to vnderstand Latine.

Before the Kings coronation, the Princes of the blood and the nobles of the realme, who so often had beene iniuried in the late King Levvis his time by Oliuer le Dain his barber, by Daniell a Flemming the said Oliuers seruant, and by Iohn D'oyac; (which three had wholie gouerned the said King Levvis,) caused informations se∣cretly to be exhibited against them for diuers murthers, rapines, and other heinous crimes that they had committed in King Levvis his time, yea and some of them by his commandement: the which informations being seene by the court Parlament, they were foorthwith apprehended, their processe made, and in the end all three condemned: and the next yeere being 1484. the said Oliuer and Daniell his man were hanged at Paris, and D'oyac had his eares cut off, and his toong bored through with a hot iron. One of the crimes committed by Oliuer and Daniell, for the which they were executed was this: A gentleman was committed to prison by King Levvis his commandement, whose wife being yoong and beutifull, was contented to aban∣don hir selfe to the lust of this Oliuer, vpon promise that he should deliuer hir hus∣band out of prison to hir; but the next day he caused Daniell his man to put him into a sacke, and to throwe him into the riuer, where he was miserably drowned. This Oliuer was a Flemming borne, and had been barber to King Levvis, and of greater credit with him than any man in all Fraunce, which his credit grew by vile and sla∣uish offices that he did about the King, so far foorth that he ordinarily sucked the

Kings hemorrhoides; wherewith he was often troubled, which base seruice he did, not for good will that he bare the King, but onely for couetousnes and to maintaine his credit, which ended soone after the King his Masters death as you haue heard: notwithstanding the great charge that the King vpon his death-bed had giuen his sonne to loue the said Oliuer, and not to suffer him to be spoiled of that which he had bestowed vpon him, bicause his seruice had long preserued his life. But howsoe∣uer Princes maintaine such lewd ministers in their liues, and how ready soeuer such seruants be to execute their Masters vnlawfull and wilfull commandements, suppo∣sing that they shall neuer be called to account therefore: yet in the end they finde that credit in Court is no inheritance, and that God who leaueth nothing vnpuni∣shed, findeth a time to reward them according to their deserts. Further, soone after King Lewis his death, consultation was had of the superfluous & superstitious gifts made by him in his life, all the which were reuoked, and all that was giuen reunited to the crowne.

Of the assemblie of the States held at Touars, of the Duke of Orleance pursute for the regencie, of the mad war raised by him, and of his departure into Britaine. Chap. 2.

THe King in the moneth of Iuly after his coronation, being the yeere 1484. held a generall and free assembly of the States of * 1.2 his realme at Touars, far otherwise than had beene vsed in his fathers daies: for none came to these generall assemblies in his time, but such as were of his owne denomination, neither durst any man speake his minde freely, but was forced in all matters to yeeld to the Kings will, which was for the most part vnrea∣sonable and violent. But at this assemblie the presence was great, the voices free, the complaints lamentable: the Nobilitie, Commons and Clergie, euery one of them presented their griefes, complaining of the burdens that the late King (contrary to the lawes of the realme, and customes of their ancestors) had laid vpon them. In this assembly it was enacted that there should be no Regent in Fraunce; but that Anne Lady of Beauieu the Kings eldest sister should haue the go∣uernment of his roiall person, according to the testament of King Levvis the 11. that the priuy Councell should consist of twelue chosen out of the body of the Nobility, by whose aduise all matters should be gouerned and dispatched; but all in the Kings name, and vnder the signature of his hand. Further, Iohn Duke of Bourbon was crea∣ted Constable. But by little and little the whole gouernment was deriued to the said Lady of Beauieu, bicause the King hir brothers person was in hir hands.

But Levvis Duke of Orleance being the neerest Prince of the blood royall, by the perswasion of those that were about him, who gaped for great preferment if the go∣uernment were committed to his charge, and especially by the instigation of the Earle of Dunois named Francis, sonne to Iohn commonly called the Bastard of Or∣leance, (a man of a subtile spirit, and of great enterprise) abode still at Paris, and en∣tered daily into the councell, (notwithstanding the decree of the three estates,) as one that would vnderstand of all that was done there. Wherewith the Lady of Beauieu was not a little discontented: which when the Prince of Orenge, the Mar∣shall of Rieux, and the rest of the Barons of Britaine that were at that time fugitiues

in Fraunce (as heerafter shall be declared) vnderstood; they came to the said Lady of Beauieu, and offered hir and the King their seruice, which the Duke of Orleance greatly stomached. Further, the said Duke sought by all meanes possible to discredit the womanish gouernment of the said Lady; but his perswasions little preuailed, bi∣cause the Duke himselfe being not as yet fower and twenty yeeres old, was vnder the gouernment of his mother, and it seemed no reason to commit the managing of the common wealth to him that was vnable to gouerne his owne priuate estate: so that the same reason barred him from the gouernment now, that excluded his grandfather in times past, during the phrensie of King Charles the sixt. But this rea∣son satisfied not the Duke nor his friends. Wherefore the Lady of Beauieu seeing that the Duke of Orleance remaining in Paris, wan daily those that were in authori∣tie to his side: seeking by that meanes to obtaine the regencie of the realme: sent by the resolution of the Kings councell, certaine to Paris to arrest the body of the said Duke. Who being aduertised therof as he was at tenice, withdrew himselfe, and (pretending that he went to his lodging) departed in the company of Guyot Pot, and Iohn of Louen (one of the gentlemen of his chamber whom he greatly fauoured) & lodged that night at Pontoise. The next day he went to Vernueil, and from thence to Alençon, where he remained a certaine space: during the which, he practised to draw to his partie the Earle of Angoulesme, the Duke of Bourbon, and the Lord of Alebret, who in the end declared themselues to be his friends and assistants in this enterprise. But all these bicause of this their confederacie with him, were foorth∣with remooued from all their offices and estates, and lost al their pensions, and their charge of men of armes: yet notwithstanding, they leuied a great army of the peo∣ple of their countries, and found meanes to win to their side the Duke of Lorraine, the Prince of Orenge, and the Earle of Foix. Vnder the assurance of all the which Princes, the D. of Orleance assembled his army at Blois, to marche therewith to Or∣leance: but the citizens of the towne perceiuing that their Duke came thither with a purpose to supprise it, and to make it the seate of the wars, shut their gates vpon him, and would not suffer him to enter in. Wherefore with an army of fower hun∣dred launces, and a great number of footemen, he went to Bougencie, accompa∣nied with the Earles of Dunois and Foix, an with Carqueleuant, and other French captaines, where they remained a certaine space, and thither the King sent to besiege them. But bicause they sawe the place not to be of defence; and further, that the Malcontents of the realme flocked not to them as they supposed they would: they made a sudden peace with the King, whereby it was agreed, that the Duke of Orleance should repaire to the King, and so he did, and that the Earle of Dunois the contriuer of all this enterprise should depart the realme, which also he did and retired himselfe to Ast. But this notwithstanding, the Duke of Bourbon and the Earle of Angoulesme, who had leuied their armies to succor the Duke of Orleance, marched toward Bourges, whither the King went with a great army, accompa∣nied with the Duke of Orleance, who was constrained to arme himselfe against his allies and confederates. Notwithstanding by the wisedome of the Marshall of Gie and the Lord of Grauille (which two had great authoritie in the Court vnder the Lady of Beauieu,) peace was concluded betweene the King and his nobles, wherein the Lord of Albret was also comprehended; and thus departed all these ar∣mies without any bloodshed, and the K. went to Amboise; the Duke of Orleance to Orleance; and the Earle of Foix and the Cardinall his brother to Nantes to the Duke of Britaine who had married their sister. This tumult was called the mad war, and hapned in the yeere 1485. * 1.3

After al this, the Earle of Dunois returned from Ast, and went to his owne towne of Partenay in Poitou, which was then a strong towne with a double ditch, and a triple wall. Heerof the King being aduertised, and withall that he fortified him∣selfe in the said towne, and knowing the said Earle of Dunois to be full of practise, and a man of great enterprise: he sent to the Duke of Orleans (who was at Orleans holding solemne iusts and turneies) to come to him to Amboise. And after three or fower messengers, the last whereof was the Marshall of Gié, the Duke of Orleans went to Blois, and the next day being twelfe euen in the said yeere 1485. he departed out of Blois early in the morning with his haukes, faining that he went to flie in the * 1.4 field, and without any bait rode that night to Fronteraulx, whereof his sister was then Abbesse: from thence he went to Clisson, and from Clisson to Nantes, where he was very honorably receiued of the Duke. This was the Duke of Orleans second comming into Britaine, as by that which followeth heerafter shall more plainly appeere. The King being aduertised of his departure, determined to besiege the Earle of Dunois in his towne of Partenay, and found meanes (before any brute was made thereof) to drawe to his seruice the Marshall of Rieux, and the other Barons of Bri∣taine that were then retired to Chasteaubrian to the Lady of Laual, who was Lady thereof, bicause the Duke of Britaine by aide of the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Dunois sought to auenge himselfe of the said Barons, for the death of Peter Lan∣dois Treasurer of Britaine, whereof I will now begin to speake.

Of the troubles that happened in Britaine betweene the Duke and his Nobles, and of Peter Landois death. Chap. 3.

ABout the same time, or somewhat before, that the mad tumult aboue mentioned happened in Fraunce: a like stur chanced also in Britaine, though not with the like euent; the seedes of the which were priuily sowen in the life of Levvis the 11. but sprang not vp for feare of forren war (with the which the saide King Lewis continually threatened the Britaines) till after his death. But then all forren feare, which had hitherto preserued their peace, being remooued: the fire flamed out, which vpon this occasion was first kindled. Chauuin Chauncellor of Britaine (a very woorthy man) died miserably in p••ison in the castell of L'hermite, where the Duke had imprisoned him at the request of his Treasurer Peter Landois a hosiers sonne of Touars, who after the said Chauuins death wholy possessed the Duke. But the nobilitie, namely the Prince of Orenge, and the Marshall of Rieux (who were then at Nantes, and hated this Landois, as author of the others death) conspired togither to his destruction: for the executing of which their purpose, they watched a time when they thought to surprise him either in the castell of Nantes with the Duke, or in a house of his owne called Pabotiere a mile from the towne. Wherefore they diuided their companie, and part they sent to besiege the said house, and with the rest entred into the castell: and to the end he should by no meanes escape, they shut vp the castell gates, they searched euery cor∣ner of the castell, yea they rushed into the Dukes chamber, supposing that the saide Landois might happily haue retired himselfe thither, in hope to make the D. presence the buckler of his defence. But he being a mile from Nantes in his own house aboue

mentioned, escaped at a backe gate before the house was thoroughly beset, and so saued himselfe. But presently a great vprore began in the towne: for one of the Dukes seruants, at the noble mens first entrie into the castell, being let downe the castell wall by a rope, made a great outcrie in the towne, aggrauating the hainous∣nes of the fact, and affirming that the castell was forced, the Duke assaulted, and his life in great danger vnles he were speedily succoured. The citizens (ignorant that this attempt was made onely for the surprising of Peter Landois) armed themselues, and ran to the castell threatning all the nobilitie with death, of whom not one durst shew himselfe vpon the wall to speake to the furious multitude, bicause the people had planted shot against the castell, meaning to spare no man so soone as he should appeere, but the Duke alone. The Duke being in the hands of his nobles, shewed himselfe vnto his people, who presently kneeled downe before him, congratulating with him for his safetie, and so the tumult ceased.

But the nobilitie for this bold attempt were banished, though their liues were pardoned, who presently retired themselues into Fraunce to King Charles, as before you haue heard. Then Peter recouered his former credit with the Duke, and caused him to write to the Duke of Orleans his cosin germaine, that it would please him to come to him into Britaine; which the Duke of Orleans did by the perswasion of the Earle of Dunois, who sought to diuorce him from the Kings sister, and to marrie him with Anne the Duke of Britaines eldest daughter and heire, which also happe∣ned after the said Duke of Orleans was King, though it were not now accompli∣shed. The Duke of Orleans accompanied with the Duke of Alençon arriued at Nantes, in the moneth of Aprill after this tumult, being the yeere 1484. where they were honorably receiued of the Duke of Britaine, who complained to them of the outrage done vnto him by the Prince of Orenge and the Marshall of Rieux, for the reuenge whereof he desired their aide, which they promised him in generall termes, and then departed to go to Reimes to the coronation of King Charles. After the which the Duke of Orleans fell at variance with the King, and yet in the end peace was concluded betweene them in the yeere 1485. as before you haue heard.

Then Peter Landois seeing the Duke his Master in league with the Duke of Orle∣ans, * 1.5 and the said Duke of Orleans and his faction in peace with the King: determi∣ned to be reuenged of his enimies: wherefore the Duke of Britaine, by his perswa∣sion made an edict, that all the noble mens houses that had beene of the conspiracie aboue mentioned, should be rased. For the execution whereof an armie was leuied in the Dukes name to rase Ancenix, where the Prince of Orenge and the Earle of Comminges then remained, who being aduertised therof, by the aide of their friends and of the banished Barons that were returned out of exile to defend their patrimo∣nies, leuied likewise an armie to withstand Landois attempts: but when those two armies were come the one in face of the other, the remembrance and loue to their common countrie altered their mindes in such sort, that they disarmed themselues, and each imbraced other as friends. Then went the Prince of Orenge and the Earle of Comminges to the Duke, and recouered his fauour and the gouernment: by meanes whereof all the storme fell vpon Peter Landois alone, whom when the nobles knew to be within the castell, with one consent they went thither, being fully resol∣ued to seize vpon him, though he were in the Dukes armes. Then one whom both the nobilitie and commons had by common consent chosen their new Chauncel∣lor, by their constraint spake to the Duke, and aduertised him that without the deli∣uerie of Peter the tumult could not be appeased, against whom they would proceede onely by order of lawe, without executing any thing vpon him before his cause were

heard and throughly examined. Thus was he yeelded into their hands, and presently imprisoned, and for fashions sake examined: many hainous crimes were obiected against him. To conclude, he was condemned and hanged before the Duke knew his cause to be tried, who was purposed to haue granted him his pardon, howsoeuer law proceeded against him: for the preuenting whereof the execution was hastened. But this fact of the nobilitie (which the Duke accounted as a most hainous iniurie done to himselfe) made them ten times more odious to the Duke than they were before. The Duke created a new Chauncellor, and to make head against his nobles receiued very curteously the Duke of Orleans, who about this present fled to him out of Fraunce with a great company of his partakers: which when the said nobles of Britaine sawe, they were greatly astonied, and fled for feare the second time into Fraunce, where the King (meaning to make war vpon the Duke of Britaine, for recei∣uing the Duke of Orleans being fled from him) welcommed them, and entred into league with them, as in the end of the last chapter you haue heard. The report went that the Duke of Orleans had a plot in his head to diuorce himselfe from the Ladie Iane the Kings sister, as forced vpon him against his will by King Levvis the 11. and to marrie with Anne the Duke of Britains eldest daughter and heire, the hope wher∣of was the cause of this his voiage into Britaine: but the selfesame hope entertained also Monseur d' Alebret, and drew him to the Duke of Britains part, the rather bicause he had receiued assurance of the marriage in writing, vnder the hands of all the noble men that were about the said D. of Britaine, saue of the D. of Orleans alone.

Of the war the King made in Britaine, and of the Earle of Dunois ambassage to the King for peace. Chap. 4.

THe onely care of the banished nobles of Britaine was to returne and remaine in safetie in their countrie, and the Kings onely desire was to be reuenged of the Duke of Britaine for receiuing the Duke of Orleans. Wherefore the King, as before is said, entred into league with these nobles, and in their fauour leuied an armie, and began war vpon the Duke of Britaine in the yeere 1486. This armie inuaded Britaine three seuerall waies; for the * 1.6 Lord of Saint André with fower hundred launces, and fiue or sixe thousand foote∣men entred on one side; the Earle of Montpensier with a great band vpon another side, and Lewis of Trimouille Vicount of Touars, (who had married Gabriell of Bour∣bon the said Earle of Montpensiers sister) vpon the third, in such sort that the coun∣trie of Britaine was couered with French soldiers, with whom also the barons of Bri∣taine aboue mentioned, were ioined, who caused diuers castels in Britaine to be yeel∣ded to the Kings armie by those that were of their faction: whereat the Duke of Bri∣taine was greatly astonied. But the Duke of Orleans, the Earle of Dunois, and the Earle of Comminges being with him, comforted him, and vnder colour of a mar∣riage to be made betweene the Lady Anne the Duke of Britaines eldest daughter and the Lord of Alebret, who had a hundred launces vnder his charge, and was able to leuie great forces of footemen in Gascoine and Guienne, where he was mightie and of goodly reuenues, the Earle of Dunois wan the said Lord of Alebret to ioine with them: who presently forsooke the Kings seruice, and tooke part with them ac∣cordingly:

yet that notwithstanding the Duke of Britaine leauing Nantes in the hands of his cosin the Prince of Orenge, retired himselfe to the castell of Malestroit, being a strong place, where he leuied an armie of sixe hundred launces, and 16000. footemen to succour Ploermel (distant three or fower leagues from Malestroit) which the Kings armie then besieged. But as this Britaine armie marched thither∣ward, one of the company brake foorth into these speeches, and asked what this war meant, and what was the end thereof, alleaging that their Duke was wholy gouerned by the French, and that the French made the Britaines at their pleasure to reuenge French quarrels vpon the French: wherefore he perswaded them to returne home to their wiues and children, and not to spend their liues for other mens quarrels. Whereupon all the armie disparkled, and returned home: by meanes whereof Plo∣ermel seeing no hope of succours yeelded by composition, and yet notwithstanding was spoiled, and the rich men taken prisoners, and put to raunsome. The Dukes of Britaine and Orleans, and the other Lords that were with them at Malestroit, being aduertised of the departure of their armie, and of the taking of Ploermel, went to Vennes vpon Whitson euen being the yeere 1487. whither the Kings armie so spee∣dily followed them, that hardly they escaped by sea, and went to Croisick, and from thence by the riuer of Loire to Nantes, being constrained to leaue part of their car∣riage * 1.7 in the said towne of Vennes, which presently after their departure yeelded without any resistance. Further, not long after the taking of this towne, the French in a skirmish at a place called Ioue betweene Chasteaubrian and Nantes, defeated a great band of Britaines, led by Amaulry of la Mossay towards Nantes, at the which time the King in person lay at Ancenix. After the taking of Vennes the Kings armie marched to Nantes, and laid the siege before the towne the 19. day of Iune in the said yeere 1487. Within the towne were the Duke of Britaine and his two daughters Anne and Isabell, the Duke of Orleans, the Prince of Orenge, the Lady of Lauall and of Chasteaubrian, the Bishop of Nantes called du Chaffault, a man of holy life, the Earle of Comminges, and diuers other Lords: all the which dislodged out of the castell, and lodged in the towne. And bicause the companie had some ielousie of the said bishop of Nantes, and the Lady of Lauall that they were not thoroughly to be trusted: they were put in garde into certaine of the townes mens hands. At this siege were ten thousand French men, and great store of artillerie, wherewith the wals, towers, and vaumures of the castell and towne were throughly battered; but they without were as well plied by them within, both with shot and with salies of valiant men, where many a goodly feate of armes was done, both on the one side and the other. Further, you shall vnderstand, that the Earle of Dunois being in base Britaine there to embarke towards England to haue aide from thence, and percei∣uing that the winde would not suffer him so to do, brought with him to succour the towne of Nantes aboue fiftie thousand of the commons of Britaine, which the French suffered to passe, supposing them not to be men of seruice. But the King see∣ing the extreme heate of the weather, and perceiuing that he could do no good be∣fore the towne, leuied his siege the sixt day of August, and departed. Then marched the Kings armie before the towne of Dolle, which they tooke without resistance and spoiled, and all the Britaines and soldiers that were within it were taken prisoners. Further, the Kings armie spoiled all the countrie, slue the people, and draue away their cattell. But the Marshall of Rieux and the greatest part of the banished nobles of Britaine that were in the Kings seruice, lamenting the miserable estate of their country, waxed wearie of the wars, and alleaged that their league with the King was onely to this end, that they might recouer their countrie, and the French that liued

in Britaine be constrained to returne home into theirs. Wherfore seeing the French nobles being in Britaine protested, that they would willingly returne home if the King would pardon their departure to the Duke; and that the Duke on the other side, with the consent of all his subiects, had offered these banished nobles of Bri∣taine pardon, and restitution to all their goods and lands, they sawe no cause why the wars should endure, but that each partie should returne home in peace: but the French, and diuers also of the Britaines themselues were little mooued with these allegations. Wherefore the said Marshal being Lord of Ancenix, a towne very com∣modious for the maintenance of the Kings wars, and the which (notwithstanding that he held it for the King) he had manned with his owne tenants and seruants: yeelded the place to the Duke of Britaine, and sware the townes men to be true to him. And further, before the fame of his reuolt was spred abrode, he went with a great companie to Chasteaubrian, which was also held for the King, and being re∣ceiued into the towne as a friend, he placed a garrison of his owne soldiers in it, and banished all that refused to returne to the obedience of the Duke. From thence he went and laid the siege before Vennes the 25. day of Februarie, which was held by * 1.8 the French vnder the gouernment of Gilbert of Grassay, and Philip of Moulins va∣liant captaines, who yeelded the place by composition the third day of March fol∣lowing.

On the other side the Kings army slept not: for Ancenix they tooke by assault, and rased the wals, towers, and houses by the Kings commandement, so that one stone was not left vpon another, which the King did in spite of the Marshall of Rieux, whose the towne was, and who was newly reuolted from him as you haue heard. Chasteaubrian was also recouered by the Kings forces, and the castell rased. From thence the Kings army marched to Frougiers, being a frontier towne stronge and of good resistance, and laid the siege before the place, whereupon the Duke of Britaine being stroken with a new feare, determined to send the Earle of Dunois in ambassage to the King, whereof heereafter you shall heare.

About this time being the beginning of the yeere 1488. the Lord of Albret who long had been resident in the Court of Spaine, came by sea and landed in base Bri∣taine with fower thousand men of war: his men went to Rennes, but himselfe to Nantes to the Duke of Britaine, where at his first comming he demanded to haue the marriage between him and the Lady Anne the Dukes eldest daughter accomplished. But the said Lady would not consent thereunto, greatly to hir fathers discontenta∣tion, who knew nothing that she had cast hir phansie vpon the Duke of Orleans, by the practise and perswasion of the Earle of Dunois. For the which cause the said Earle of Dunois (to saue his honor) endeuored to withdraw his seale giuen for the accomplishment of the said marriage, being in the hands of the Lady Lauall sister to the said Alebert, among the seales of all the other Britaine Lords: which also in the end very cunningly he brought to passe. For he gaue the said Lady to vnderstand that this marriage could neuer be accomplished without the Duke of Britaines seale could be obtained, wherunto he (as he said) had mooued the Duke, whose answer was that he would willingly giue his seale, prouided that the instrument that he should seale, were written word for word by that which the Earle of Dunois had alreadie sealed: wherefore if she would cause his writing to be deliuered to him, he would make his secretarie to write that which should be presented to the Duke, word for word by his, and so get the Dukes seale to it. The Lady of Lauall supposing that he had ment good faith, deliuered him the writing, which afterward he neuer restored: for presently after (as you shall now heare) he was sent with certaine lawyers in am∣bassage

to Angiers to the King, to vnderstand what the King demanded in the Du∣chy of Britaine, and why he destroied the castels and townes thereof.

The Duke of Britaine as aboue is mentioned, being in great feare when he sawe the Kings army before Fougieres, sent the Earle of Dunois with the consent of his nobles in ambassage to Angiers to the K. The said Earle in his iourney thitherward, so preached in all places the great commodities that concord and peace bring with them, that all mens eies were fixed vpon him. When he came to the K. being then eighteene yeeres of age, he very eloquently pleaded the cause of the Duke of Bri∣taine, and of the other French noble men that were retired to him, alleaging that the Duke being worne with yeeres, consumed with diseases, hauing buried his wife, being destitute of issue male, his eldest daughter being hardly twelue yeeres of age, and his yoonger lesse; and lastly, being forsaken of his nobilitie for the hatred they bare to Peter Landois, and not for any euill desert of his owne, began to languish in sorow and griefe: for the which cause the noble men of Fraunce that were of kin & alied to him, being mooued with very naturall affection, were retired to him to com∣fort him in this distresse. Among whom, none were neerer to him (his owne children excepted) than the Duke of Orleans, and the Prince of Orenge, the one being his vncles sonne, the other his sisters, and that these and others his neere kinsemen were yet with him, onely to this end; adding that the Duke was not to be accused bicause he forbad them not his countries, when they came to comfort him in his miseries, or they for comming to relieue him in his distresse. But quoth he, it will be obiected that there are besides these, diuers others with him of the nobilitie of Fraunce, that haue leuied war against the King: but what war? Forsooth, as the Britaines marched with force to leuy the siege of Ploermel, being aduertised that they could not so do without a battell with the French: the reuerence they bare to the Kings Maiestie was such, that willingly they gaue place, and forbare to fight, and rather suffered their townes to be taken and spoiled, than they would encounter with the Kings troupes. Further so soone as the D. vnderstood the K. desire to be, that the banished Nobles of Britain should return home, he foorthwith receiued them into his fauor, and restored them to their former estate. What offence then (said he) hath the Duke made? What cause of war against him? Truly none. But on the contrary side many causes of commiseration, and many causes why the King should grant the Duke of Britaine peace. This was the effect of the speech he was commanded (as he said) to deliuer to the K. which charge he would not haue taken vpon him, but that he knew the D. of Britaine to carie a minde singularly well affected to the Kings Maiestie, and the French nobles that were in Britaine to be the Kings deuout seruants & subiects, and ready to shed their blood for the defence of him and his estate. This the Earles speech mooued the King to incline to peace, whereof the treatie was already begun, when the sudden report of a batel wherof you shal now heare as suddenly brak it off.

Of the battell of S. Albin, wherein the Duke of Orleance was taken priso∣ner, of the treatie of peace betweene the King and the Duke of Britaine, and of the said Duke of Bri∣taines death. Chap. 5.

YOu haue heard of the siege of Fougieres, which endured still, notwithstan∣ding the Earle of Dunois ambassage in such sort, that the towne began to be greatly distressed: wherefore the Duke of Orleans and the rest of the

noble men of Britaine fearing the losse of the towne, departed from Nantes and went to Rennes, where they assembled their forces to leuy the siege. Their men of armes were fower hundred, and their footemen of their owne coun∣tries twelue thousande, as some write; as others, but eight thousand, besides three hundred English men, and eight hundred Swissers, and of artillerie they had great plentie. Then in very good order they encamped abroad in the fields. The names of the noble men of the armie were these: the D. of Orleans, the Lord of Ale∣bret, the Marshall of Rieux, the Lord of Chasteaubrian, the Lord of Scales an Englishman, the Lord of Leon, the Lord of Rohans eldest sonne, the Lord of Crenettes, the Lord of Pont l'Abbe, the Lord of Plessis, the Lord of Balynes, the Lord of Montigny, the Lord of Montuet: all the which Lords with their compa∣nies & whole forces encamped at a village called Andouille, the wednesday being the 23. of Iuly, the yeere 1488. aboue mentioned: in the night there was an alarme among the Gascoins, whereof it was feared some quarrell would haue growen be∣tweene the Duke of Orleans and the Lord of Alebret, but the matter was soone pacified. In the mean time came newes to these Lords at the said village of Ando∣uille the saterday the sixe and twenty of the said moneth of Iuly, that the French had taken Fongieres by composition, with these conditions, that the soldiers should de∣part in safety with bag and baggage: vpon which newes the Britains army determi∣ned to march to Saint Albin, hoping easily to take the towne bicause the French garrison within it was but small, and that in the meane time the soldiers that were de∣parted out of Fongieres, should ioine with them and increase their forces. On the other side the French army marched also towards Saint Albin meaning to be there before the Britains; but it so fell out that neither of them entered the towne, bicause before they came thither they met & fought. For you shall vnderstand that the same saterday that the Britains receiued newes of the taking of Fongieres, they marched to a village called Orenge two leagues from Saint Albin, where they were aduertised that the Kings army marched against them with a ful resolution to fight with them.

The sunday morning the Britaines consulted of the order of their battell, and bi∣cause the footemen were iealous of the French horsemen that were in their campe, and namely of the Duke of Orleans himselfe: it was thought good that he and the Prince of Orenge should leaue their horses, and put themselues on foote in the bat∣tell among the Swissers, and so they did. The vaward was lead by the Marshall of Rieux, the battel by the Lord of Alebret, and the rereward by the Lord of Chasteau∣brian: vpon one of their wings was placed their artillerie and their carriage. And the more to terrifie the French with the great number of English men, whereas there were in truth but three hundred English men lead by the Lord Talbot, seauen∣teen hundred Britain footemen were ioined to them, armed with iacks and red cros∣s••s English like: and the monday morning they raunged themselues in battell in this order aboue rehearsed, hard by a groue of wood attending the French army. The Kings army (whereof Master Lewis of Trimouille Vicount of Touars, being fiue or sixe and twenty yeeres of age, was generall,) departed out of Fongieres with a full resolution to fight with the Britains. The vaward was lead by Adrian de l'hospi∣tall, and Gabriell of Montfalzoys: before the which, ten or twelue valiant French knights aduanced themselues to discouer the Britains actions, whose good order when they had viewed, they retired to their company, & thē being in troupe al close ioined togither approched the Britaines army, the artillerie in the meane time play∣ing on both sides, and greatly endammaging both the parties. The French marched very couragiously, and charged the Britaines vawarde, where the Marshall of Rieux

valiantly receiued them, and acquit himselfe so well both he and his companie, that the French left the vaward, & marched straight vpon the Britaines battell, where the Britaine horsemen recoiled, by meanes whereof their rereward being discouraged fled. Then the French pursued them, and slue all the footemen they could ouertake: which disorder when the Britaine vaward perceiued, they also disparkled and sought to saue themselues. To conclude, the French obtained the victorie, and slue all those that bare the red crosse, supposing they had beene all English men, togither with twelue or thirteene hundred Britaines as well horsemen as footemen. The Duke of Orleans was taken by the footemen, and likewise the Prince of Orenge, who had pulled away his blacke crosse from him, and had laid himselfe flat vpon the ground among the dead bodies, faining himselfe to be slaine; but he was knowen by a French archer, and both he and the Duke of Orleans led prisoners to Saint Albin vnder sure garde. The Lord of Alebret seeing all ouerthrowen, fled away and escaped. The Marshall of Rieux also saued himselfe, and retired to Dinan. The Lord of Leon, the Lord du Pont l'Abbe, the Lord of Montfort, and diuers other noble men of Britaine were slaine; and of other soldiers to the number of sixe thousand: of the Kings part was slaine Iames Galeot a valiant and a renowmed captaine, and to the number of a thousand or twelue hundred common soldiers. This battell was fought vpon mon∣day the 28. of Iuly the yeere 1488. Soone after the Duke of Orleans was led to the castell of Luzignen, and from thence to Poictiers, where he remained a certaine space, and lastly to the great tower of Bourges.

The second day after the battell, the Lord of Trimouille sent certaine heraults to Reims to summon the towne to yeeld to the King: who after consultation had an∣swered the said heraults, that the King had no right to the towne, and that wrong∣fully and without cause he made war vpon the countrie of Britaine, and that not∣withstanding his great armie, he could not ouerrun the countrie as he hoped: for God who defended the Britaines right, was able to do as much to him as he did to King Iohn before Poictiers, and to King Philip of Valois at Crecy: adding further, that they would not yeeld the towne, and that if Monseur de la Trimouille came thi∣ther, he should finde fortie thousand men in the towne, whereof twenty thousand were men of defence. This answer was reported to the said Trimouille, who staied a long time without replying one word thereunto, and afterwards by the same he∣raults aduertised the King thereof being at Angiers. Whereupon the King assem∣bled his Councell to determine what was to be done in this case. Some, yea almost all were of opinion that the towne should be besieged: but Master VVilliam of Roch∣fort Chauncellor of Fraunce held the contrarie opinion, grounding himselfe vpon the Kings title to the said Duchie of Britaine, which was said to grow by means of a certaine conueiance that Master Iohn of Brosse Lord of Boussac husband to dame Nicole of Britaine, daughter and heire to Charles of Blois Earle of Ponthieure, had made to the Kings ancestors, togither with diuers other titles, which were not yet prooued good: adding; that if the King had no right thereunto, it should be a dam∣nable and a tyrannous act to vsurpe another mans countrie that appertained not to him. Wherefore his aduice was, that according to the request of the ambassadors of Britaine being at Angiers, certaine graue and learned men should be appointed to examine the right of both sides. This opinion tooke place, and according thereunto the King agreed with the ambassadors of Britaine, that both he and the Duke would appoint some graue men of their Councell, who should meete in some indifferent towne, with the charters and writings of both sides, to determine in conscience to whom the said Duchie did appertaine; and that in the meane time the King should

hold all the places in the said Duchie that alreadie he possessed. The Duke of Bri∣taine liked this agreement well, and bicause the plague was vehement at Nantes, he departed thence with his two daughters, the Ladie of Laval, the Lord of Alebret, the Earle of Dunoys, the Marshall of Rieux, the Earle of Comminges, and diuers other Lords, to Coiron vpon the riuer of Loyer three leagues beneath Nantes; where soone after namely vpon wednesday the seauenth of September in the same yeere 1488. he ended his life thorow a sicknes which he got by a fall, leauing the go∣uernment both of his Duchie of Britaine, and of his two daughters to the Marshall of Rieux, to whom he appointed the Earle of Comminges for assistant. His body was carried to Nantes and buried in the Church of the Carmelites.

Of the Kings mariage with the Ladie Anne of Britaine, whereby Britaine was vnited to the crowne of Fraunce. Chap. 6.

Soone after the Duke of Britaines death, died also Isabell his * 1.9 yoonger daughter, by reason whereof the Ladie Anne remained his sole heire: about whose mariage the nobles of Britaine fell at great variance, for part of them inclined to the Lord of Ale∣bret a great Lord in Guienne, who also as it was reported, (but falsely) was contracted to this yoong Princes with the Duke hir fathers consent, but the daie before the Duke died; but this faction was soone daunted, bicause the yoong Ladie hir selfe vt∣terly refused this match: part openly fauored & furthered Maximilian the Empe∣ror Fridericks sonne, alleaging that he would not onely be a protector of the liber∣tie of their countrey, but also a strong rampier against all French attempts. Neither was the King of Fraunce ignorant of this treatie, but knew right well that ambassa∣dors had passed to and fro betweene Maximilian and them, so far foorth that the said Maximilian supposing al matters to be throughly concluded and agreed on, be∣gan to imbrace al Britaine in his minde, and thought no enterprise too high for him if to his low countries obtained by his first marriage, he could now ioine the Duchy of Britaine by his second. Great consultation was had in Fraunce how to repulse this terrible storme, but Maximilians owne slacknes most furthered their deuises. The K. councell in the end resolued that the King should refuse his wife being Maximilians daughter, and seeke with all expedition the marriage of the Lady Anne of Britaine, alleaging that the neighborhood of so mightie a Prince as Maximilian was, could not be but dangerous to his estate, of whom he could hope for nothing but dissem∣bled friendship presently, and assured war in time to come, considering that the said Maximilian forgetting already his league and affinitie with the King, stirred vp con∣tinually one war after another against him, and by that meanes professed himselfe an open enimy to him and his realme. Wherefore ambassadors were presently sent to treate of this marriage with the Lady Anne. She at the first woondered at the mat∣ter, and alleaged that she had giuen hir faith to Maximilian, which she might not breake: and further, that she had beene solemnly married to him (according to the accustomed maner of Princes) by VVolfgangus Poleme of Austrich his proctor, pur∣posely sent by him into Britaine to that end. But the Lady of Lauat and other noble women of Britaine, whose company and familiarity this yoong Princes vsed and

greatly delighted in, being corrupted with French rewards and promises, perswaded hir that this French match should be most for hir safety and auancement; alleaging that if she married with Maximilian he should hardly be able to defend Britaine, whereof already they had good proofe, considering that he had euer disappointed them of the succors he had promised to send them. And as touching hir scruple of conscience, they said that the Pope who had power ouer all lawes Ecclesiasticall, would easily be brought to dispence therwith, the rather bicause this match should be best for hir safety, and for the preseruation of hir estate. The yoong Princesse though she were of a singular wit and rare vertues, yet being vanquished by these perswasions, yeelded to their request, and deliuered both hirselfe and hir countrey into the Kings hands, and soone after was the marriage solemnly accomplished to the great reioicing of the French. And thus receiued Britaine the French yoake, to the great griefe of all the subiects, who desired to be gouerned by a particular Duke of their owne, as they had euer been in times past.

Not long after this marriage, the Earle of Dunois who had been the principall in∣strument of the peace, & a great furtherer of the mariage, & therby throughly recon∣ciled to the K. suddenly died as he was on horsebacke for want of meat as it was said. When the K. had set all things in good order in Britaine, he returned into Fraunce and appointed that the Ladie Margaret of Flanders should remaine, accompanied with the Princes of Tarent in the castell of Melun vpon the riuer of Seine.

Maximilian was forewarned of al these French practises, and seemed to make no account of them; but when he perceiued this marriage to be accomplished, it dou∣bled his hatred against the King, so far foorth, that he openly railed vpon him and vowed himselfe to destroy France with fire and sword, and presently inuaded Pi∣cardie. But the Lord of Cordes gouernor thereof, made head against him, and vali∣antly defended the countrey, to his owne honor and the profit of Fraunce. Further, Maximilian meaning a thorow reuenge vpon this realme, stirred vp the English men the ancient enimies of the crowne to passe into Fraunce, promising them great aide both of men and money out of his dominions. Wherefore I wil heere speake a word or two of the affaires of England, bicause the Englishmen are our next neigh∣bors, and both in peace and war haue euer to do with vs, and we with them.

Of the troubles in England, and how the King of England passed the sea and besieged Bolloin, and of the peace betweene the King and him, and of the surprising of Arras and Saint Omers by the King of Romains men. Chap. 7.

KIng Edvvard the fourth, the same that met with King Levvis the eleuenth at Picquigny dying in the yeere 1483, left behinde him two sonnes being very yoong, and diuers daughters, the go∣uernment of the which sonnes togither with the realme was committed to the Duke of Glocester King Edvvaras brother: but he most ••nnaturally murthered his two nephewes, slewe those of the nobilitie that he thought would impugne his pro∣ceeding, and vsurped the crowne. In the end the Duke of Buc∣kingham (who had takerpart with the Duke of Glocester, who intituled himselfe King Richard) in all his actions, fell at variance with him, and sollicited Henry Earle

of Richmond that had liued many yeeres in Britaine as a banished man; to passe ouer into England, promising him a great armie to ioine with him so soone as he should be landed. The Earle communicated this matter with Peter Landois, who wholie at that time gouerned the Duke of Britaine. The said Landois hoping that the Earle if by his meanes he obtained the realme of England, would giue him aide to re∣uenge him of his enimies; perswaded the Duke of Britaine to succour him in his en∣terprise, who furnished him of three great ships well manned with soldiers, which tooke sea and sailed towards England: but when they were readie to land, the Earle was aduertised that the Duke of Buckingham was beheaded, his army defeated, and all his faction ouerthrowen, and that King Richard lay with a great army vpon the sea coast attending his landing. Vpon which news the Earle of Richmond returned, thinking to recouer the coast of Britaine from whence he was departed, but tempest draue him vpon the coast of Normandy, where he was forced to take land. The La∣die of Beauieu being aduertised thereof, sent vnto him, desiring him to come to speake with the King, and so he did. The King curteously receiued him, and entertai∣ned him well. Afterward he returned to Vannes in Britaine there to remaine as be∣fore, attending some better opportunitie. But Peter Laudois seeing himselfe disap∣pointed of his purpose, altered his minde, and practised with King Richard to deliuer the Earle of Richmond into his hands: who being aduertised thereof, vnder colour of going a hauking one morning with ten or twelue horses fled into France to King Charles, who not long after furnished the Earle of ships, and a good number of soldi∣ers to accompany him into England, where by the helpe of the French and of diuers of his owne kinsmen, who had called him into England and tooke part with him, he slew King Richard in the field, & was himselfe crowned King in his place. This good turne of King Charles, togither with the desire the King of England had to liue quiet∣ly at home in his countrey, and to gather wealth, was the cause that King Henry du∣ring al the wars and troubles in Britain aboue mentioned, had not passed his forces into Fraunce: notwithstanding that he had been often earnestly sollicited thereun∣to, both by the Duke of Britaine, and the Earle of Dunois and others of that faction. For ordinarily when any troubles arise in Fraunce, our neighbors, especially the En∣glishmen, within a yeere are bidden to the banquet, and so was King Henry inuited, and had come long ago, if the reasons aboue rehearsed togither with some other re∣spects, namely feare of domesticall troubles had not staied him at home.

But notwithstanding the K. of Englāds backwardnes heertofore to inuade France: yet in the yeere 1490. partly by the earnest sollicitation of Maximilian, who promi∣sed * 1.10 him great aide in his wars, and yet performed nothing: partly to content his owne people, who began to account him as too much affectionate to the French in that he had suffered them to the great preiudice of the realme of England, to vnite to the crowne of Fraunce the Duchie of Britaine: he passed ouer his armie to Ca∣lice, and from thence marched and laide his siege before Boloyne, whither the Lord of Cordes and the bastard of Cardonne Captaine of Arras, with a small army went to make resistance. Further, the King leuied his forces to succour the place, but bi∣cause his armie proceeded but slowlie forward: the saide de Cordes and Cardonne tooke vpon them the defence of the tovne. The siege was nothing whot, for the which cause a heraultsent into the English came to treat of peace; from the which King Henry seemed nothing strange as well for the affection that he bare to the King, who had aided him to obtaine the realme of England; as also for that he feared sedition at home, & durst not long be absent out of his r••alme, bicause Maximilian had broken promise with him, and lastly bicause he hoped by this peace to receiue of

the King a great summe of money, which he loued as well as any Prince in his time. De Cordes finding the King of Englands inclination to peace, went and communed with him in his campe: his demands were, first a great summe of money that he said he had lent the late Duke of Britaine: and secondarily, that the King should desraie al the charges that he had been at in these wars. All the which the King yeelded vn∣to, and order was giuen that the King of England should yeerely receiue a certaine summe of money, till all the summes by him demanded were cleerely paid and dis∣charged, and thus returned the King of England home.

In the meane time while de Cordes and Cardonne were at Bolloin treating with the K. of England: the citizens of Arras knowing the garrison within the town to be but weake, practised to yeeld it into Maximilians hands, who sent certaine bands thi∣ther, the which in great diligence approched neere to the towne. When all things were in a readines, and the gates being so negligently guarded, that the traitors with their counterfaited keies had opened them, they began a song, whereby they willed the enimies to make haste, who presently repaired to the gates, and were receiued into the towne. Paul Carqueleuant a Briton, gouernor of the townein the absence of the bastard of Cardonne, at the enimies first entrie retired himselfe with his soldiers into the castel; but fearing least it should be taken by assault, he soone abandoned it, greatly to his reproch: for if he had held it but till the next day, diuers French bands had come thither to his reliefe. The towne was spoiled, and many slaine, neither were the churches spared nor the traitors houses. The author of this treason was a poore smith that dwelled vpon the towne wall, and had beene the onely man that was suf∣fered to remaine in the towne by Levvis the eleuenth, when he transported the townes men as a colonie into Fraunce. Carqueleuant the gouernor, when the towne was surprised lay fast a sleepe, drowned in drinke and good cheere as it is said. The towne was spoiled by the soldiers bicause Maximilian was behinde with them for certaine moneths paie. Saint Omers was also taken at the same time, though some refer it to an other time, but whensoeuer it was taken, this is most certaine that the negligence of the watch was the losse thereof. For the enimies being led by George Deberfin made shew at their first comming before the towne, as though they would haue scaled it, at which time the French soldiers were ready to withstand them vpon the wals, being strong and very defensible both by nature and by Arte: whereupon the enimies vnder pretence of feare, retired into their campe; yea and further, when the French issued foorth to skirmish with them, they euer retired faining the like feare, which dissimulation they vsed by the space of eight daies, and by this their pol∣licie, caused the French to remit much of their accustomed industry and diligence: which when the Burgundians and Almaines perceiued, they with great expedition reared ladders against the wals and bulwarks of the town, which they easily entered, the watch being fast a sleepe, and in some place no watch at all. Then brake they open the gates, slew the French soldiers and the citizens, and so became Masters of the towne.

At the same time was Amiens also attempted by the Burgundians in the night, and like to haue been surprised by the like negligence of the watch: but Katherine de Liques (a woman of a manlike courage) awaked the watch out of their dead sleepe, by meanes whereof the alarme was sounded, and all the towne arose in armes, and part went to defend the wals, and the rest issued foorth and skirmished, and put to flight Maximilians bands, who plainly confessed that the diligence and industrie of one woman had wrong the victory out of their hands.

Of the restitution of the Counties of Roussillon & Parpignan to the King of Spaine, of the Emperor Fridericks death, of the peace between the King of Romaines and the King, and of the Duke of Orleans de∣liuery out of prison. Chap. 8.

FErdinand King of Arragon desired nothing more than to reco∣uer * 1.11 out of the Kings hands the counties of Roussillon and Par∣pignan, engaged by him (as he said) to King Lewis the eleuenth for fiftie thousand crownes. But the nobles of Fraunce would not condescend to this restitution, bicause the two Counties were a rampier for the realme on that side towards Spaine: ad∣ding that they were not engaged to King Lewis, but absoulutely solde. And notwithstanding that the King of Spaine alleaged that King Lewis by his last will and Testament had commanded the said Counties to be restored, know∣ing that they were wrongfully withheld: yet his perswasions and allegations little auailed. Wherefore he perceiuing that this way no good would be done, fell to practise with men of religion, hoping by their preaching of conscience to King Charles to win that of him that otherwise he saw no meanes to obtaine. Wherefore he corrupted with a great summe of mony Oliuer Maillard, or as others write Iohn de Mauleon, a frier Franciscane, confessor to the Lady of Beauieu the Kings sister, who vnder his coule of religion cloking his hypocrisie and couetousnes, perswaded hir, that except restitution were made of these territories to the King of Spaine, the King hir brothers gouerment could not prosper nor please God. She being mooued in conscience by this friers perswasions, brake this matter to Lewis of Amboise bishop of Alby, the Kings schoolmaster, who togither with hir so terrified the Kings con∣science, that he did not onely make restitution of the said territories by the hands of the said bishop, whom he sent thither to deliuer them: but also freely released to the King of Arragon all the money that King Levvis his father had paid for them; with these conditions, that the said King of Arragon and his successors, should euer after loue and honor the realme of Fraunce, that he should make no war against it, nor aide with money, victuals, or councell any of the enimies thereof, nor permit them to haue passage through his dominions. And thus were these countries restored, greatly to the French mens griefe and dammage; but in truth the King the rather inclined to restore them, bicause hee began already by the perswasion of those that were about him to phansie a voiage into Italie, for the recouerie of the realme of Naples, which afterward tooke effect, though the King both now & long after this, kept his purpose secret to himselfe, and one or two more, which voiage I thinke was the principall cause that induced him to restore the foresaid countries, thereby to tie the King of Spaine to him, that he should not trouble him in his en∣terprise; but he misreckoned himselfe, for he was no sooner past the mountaines, but the King of Spaine forgot all his kindnes, and fell to practise a league with his enimies.

While these matters passed thus in Fraunce, Friderick the Emperor died, to * 1.12 whom his sonne Maximilian succeeded, who notwithstanding was neuer crowned neither greatly desired so to be, although with a small request he might haue obtai∣ed

it. The Emperor Maximilian purposing to quiet the state of the Empire trou∣bled by his fathers death, seemed more enclined to peace with the King than heer∣tofore he had beene, which happened verie fortunately for the Kings affaires: for without Maximilian were pacified, his voiage into Italie must of force haue staide; but both the parties by this meanes inclining to concord, the peace was soone concluded: the Emperors daughter was restored vnto him, and the countie of Ar∣tois togither with all the townes he quarrelled. And thus the King being in peace with all his neighbours: namely, with the Emperor and the Kings of England and Spaine, and possessing the Duchie of Britaine quietly by his mariage, and by that meanes hauing no body to feare, began wholie to dispose himselfe to his voiage in∣to Italie, whereupon his minde was altogither fixed.

Further, about this verie time the King at the earnest sute and continuall teares of his sister Iane a Ladie of singular pietie and chastitie, restored not onely to liberty, but also to his fauor and familiaritie, Lewis Duke of Orleans (husband to the saide Ladie,) taken prisoner at the battell of Saint Albin in Britaine, as before you haue heard: whereby as the King deserued great commendations for his clemencie in preseruing his enimie taken in battell and restoring him to his former dignitie and honor: so did he also thereby prouide that no discontented subiect at home should trouble his estate in his absence in his voiage to Naples: whereunto the historie of Commines now calleth vs, which from the death of King Lewis the eleuenth till this present, I haue supplied out of other good authors, bicause the said Commines being imprisoned, or in disgrace almost euer sithence King Lewis his death till the saide voiage of Naples, (whereat he was present) was silent and left nothing in writing to the posteritie of all those yeeres.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This error you are admonished of before.
• * 1.2

  1484
• * 1.3

  1485.
• * 1.4

  If you begin the yeere at Newyeeres day, it was 1486.
• * 1.5

  This hapned 1485.
• * 1.6

  1486
• * 1.7

  1487
• * 1.8

  If you begin the yeere at Newe∣yeeres day heere beginneth 1488.
• * 1.9

  1489.
• * 1.10

  1490.
• * 1.11

  1492
• * 1.12

  The Emperor Frederick died 19. of August 1493.