The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton

THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOR TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF VIENNA in Fraunce.

TO satisfie your request so often mooued vnto me (right reuerend father in God) I send you heere a memoriall as agreeable to truth, as I can possibly call to minde, of all the acts and doings that I haue been priuy vnto, of king Levvis the eleuenth our master and benefactor, and a prince woorthy of perpetuall memory. Of his youth I can say nothing but by his owne report. But from the time I entred into his seruice, till the hower of his death whereat I was present, I was more continually resident with him than any man of my estate that serued him, being euer either of his priuy chamber, or employed in his weightie affaires. I found in him as in all other princes that I haue knowne or serued both good and bad. For men they are as we be, & per∣fection is proper to God onely. But sure that prince whose vertues and good parts surmount his vices, deserueth great commendation, the rather bicause commonly noble personages are more prone to al kind of wantonnes than other men: partly for that in their childhood they are brought vp without due chastisement & correction, & partly bicause when they are grown to mans estate, ech man seeketh to seed their humors & sooth them in all they say or do. But for mine own part bicause I loue not to flatter nor misreport the truth, somwhat may happily be found in this historie not tending altogither to the kings praise, but I trust the readers will weigh the rea∣sons aboue alledged. Sure thus much I dare boldly say in his commendation, that in mine opinion he was the prince in his age (all things considered) least subiect to vice. Yet haue I knowne and been conuersant with as many great princes, both spi∣rituall and temporall as any man in Fraunce of my time, as well the princes of this realme, as those also that haue liued in Britaine, Flaunders, Almayne, Englande, Spayne, Portugall, and Italy. Diuers others also whom I haue not seene: yet haue I knowne, partly by conference with their ambassadors, and partly by their letters and instructions which are meanes sufficient to enforme men of their natures and inclinations. Notwithstanding I minde not by setting foorth his commendation in this worke, to detract from the honor and good renowne of others, but send you, penned in haste all that I could call to minde, trusting that you haue required it of me to turne it into some worke that you purpose to publish in Latine (to the perfe∣ction of which toong you haue atteined) whereby may appeere both the woorthines of the prince I now write of, and also the excellencie of your owne wit. Farther sir, if I happen to faile in any point, you haue my L. of Bouchage, and others who are better able to enforme you of these affaires than my selfe, and to couch their words in much eloquenter language. Although to say the truth considering how honora∣blie the king entertained me, how great familiaritie it pleased him to vse towards me, and how liberally he bestowed vpon me, neuer intermitting one of the three till the houre of his death, no man hath iuster cause to remember those times then my selfe, whereunto I also adde the losses I haue susteined, and dangers I haue been in sithence his decease, which are sufficient I thinke, to put me in minde of the great benefits I receiued at his hands during his life. Notwithstanding that I know it to be a matter of course that after the death of great and mightie princes, great altera∣tions

ensue to the losse of some, and gain of others: for riches and honors folow not alwaies their expectation that hunt after them. To conclude sir, the better to en∣forme you of the time sithence I entred into the kings familiarity (which is your de∣sire) I am forced first to rehearse what hapned before I came to his seruice, and so orderly to proceede from the time I became his seruant, till the houre of his death.

The occasion of the wars betweene Lewis the 11. and the Earle of Charolois afterward Duke of Burgundie. Chapter 1.

AFter I was past my childehood and able to ride ¹ I was presented at Lisle to Charles then Earle of Charolois, and after his fathers death D. of Burgundie, who re∣ceiued me into his seruice the yeere 1464. About three daies after my comming thither, arriued at the saide towne of Lisle, the Earle of Eu, the Chauncellor of Fraunce named Moruillier, & the Archbishop of Nar∣bonne ² sent thither in ambassage from the king, who in presence of D. Philip of Burgundie, his sonne the Earle of Charolois, and their whole councill in open court had their audience. Moruilliers speech was very bitter, for he charged the Earle of Charolois there pre∣sent, that at his late being in Holland he had caused a little French ship of war of Diepe to be arrested, and therein a bastard of Rubempre, whom also he had impriso∣ned, charging him that he was come thither to take him prisoner, and causing this brute euery where to be published ³ (especially at Bruges whither strangers of all nations resort) by a knight of Burgundie named sir Oliuer de la Marche, ⁴ where∣fore the King finding himselfe wrongfully burdened heerewith (as he said) ⁵ requi∣red D. Philip to sende this sir Oliuer de la Marche prisoner to Paris, there to be pu∣nished according as the case required. Whereunto D. Philip answered that the said sir Oliuer was steward of his house, borne in the Countie of Burgundie, ⁶ and in no respect subiect to the crowne of Fraunce. Notwithstanding if it could be duly proued that he had said or done any thing preiudicial to the Kings honor, he would see him punished according as the fault should deserue. And as touching the ba∣stard of Rubempre, he said that true it was that he was apprehended for great causes of suspicion giuen, and strange behauior vsed by him and his men about the towne of Lahaye ⁷ in Holland, where at that present his sonne the Earle of Charolois re∣mained, adding that if the said Earle were suspicious he tooke it not of him, for he was neuer so, but of his mother who had been the most ielous Ladie that euer liued. But notwithstanding quoth he, that I my selfe neuer were suspicious: yet if I had bin in my sonnes place at the same time, that this bastard of Rubempre haunted those coasts: I would sure haue caused him to be apprehended as my sonne did. Lastly, he

promised that if this bastard were not guiltie of this fact, to waite a purpose to haue taken his sonne (as common report said he was) he would foorthwith deliuer him out of prison, and sende him to the King according to his ambassadors demands? The D. answer ended: Moruillier began againe, charging with great and heinous offences, Frances D. of Britaine, and alledging that at the Earle of Charolois late being at Tours (whither he went to visit the king) the said D. and he had giuen their faith ech to other in writing to become brethren in armes, which writings he said were enterchangeablie deliuered by the hands of master Tanneguy du Chastel, who since hath been gouernor of Roussillon, and borne some swaie in this realme: This fact Moruillier aggrauated in such sort, that nothing he omitted in setting foorth this offence that might tend to the disgrace and dishonor of a Prince. Whereunto the Earle of Charolois made offer eftsoones to answere, being maruellously out of patience to heare such reprochfull speeches vsed of his friend and confederate. But Moruillier euer cut him off saying: My Lord of Charolois, I am not come of ambassage to you but to my L. your Father. The said Earle besought his father diuers times to giue him leaue to answer, who in the end said thus vnto him: I haue answered for thee as me thinketh, the father should answer for the sonne, notwith∣standing if thou haue so great desire to speake, bethinke thy selfe to day, and to mor∣row speake and spare not. Then Moruillier to his former speech added, that he could not imagine what had mooued the Earle to enter into this league with the D. of Britaine, vnlesse it were bicause of a pension ⁸ the King had once giuen him, togither with the gouernment of Normandy, and afterward again taken from him.

The next day in presence of the selfe same audience, the Earle of Charolois kneeling vpon a veluetcushion, directed his speech to his father, and began with this bastard of Rubempre, affirming the causes of his imprisonment to be iust & law∣full, as the course of his arraignment should well declare. Notwithstanding I thinke nothing was euer prooued against him, though I confesse the presumptions to haue been great. Fiue yeeres after I my selfe saw him deliuered out of prison. This point thus answered, the Earle began to discharge the D. of Britaine and himselfe, saying, that true it was that the D. and he were entred into league and amitie, & had sworn themselues brethren in armes, but that this league tended in no respect to the pre∣iudice of the King or his realme, but rather to the seruice and defence thereof, if neede should so require. Lastly, as touching the pension taken from him, he answe∣red, that he neuer receiued but one quarters benefit thereof, to the value of nine thousand francks ⁹ , and that for his part he neuer made sute neither for it, nor the gouernment of Normandy: for so long as he enioied the fauor and good will of his father, he should not need to craue of any man. I thinke verily, had it not been for the reuerence he bare to his said father who was there present, and to whom he ad∣dressed his speech, that he would haue vsed much bitterer termes. In the end D. Phi∣lip very wisely and humbly besought the King lightly not to conceiue an euill opi∣nion of him or his sonne, but to continue his fauor towards them. Then the ban∣quet was brought in, and the ambassadors tooke their leaue both of the father and the sonne. But after the Earle of Eu, and the Chauncellor had taken their leaue of the Earle of Charolois, who stood a good way from his father, he said thus to the Archbishop of Narbonne that passed forth the last of the ambassadors: Remember my most humble dutie to the King, and tell him he hath made his Chauncellor to vse me very homely heere, but before a yeeres end he shall repent it: which message the Archbishop did to the King at his returne into Fraunce as heereafter you shall perceiue.

These Moruilliers words aboue rehearsed, caused the Earle of Charolois hatred against the King to take deepe roote, the seedes whereof were before sowne by the Kings late redeeming of the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme ¹⁰ , namely Amiens, Abbeuille, Saint Quintin, and the rest which king Charles the 7. had en∣gaged by the treatie of Arras to his father. D. Philip of Burgundie to haue and to holde to him and to his heires males, till they were redeemed for fower hundred thousand crownes ¹¹ : How these matters passed, I know not perfectly, but true it is that in the D. old age he was so gouerned by the Lords of Croy and Chimay, be∣ing brethren, and others of their house, that he agreed to take againe his money & restore the said territories to the King, greatly to the Earle his sons discontentation: for besides that they were the frontier townes of their dominions, they lost in them a number of able men for the wars. The Earle of Charolois charged the house of Croy with this fact, so far foorth that after extreeme age was growne vpon his fa∣ther (whereunto he euen then approched) he banished all the said house out of his dominions, and confiscated all their lands, estates and offices.

The Notes.

1 Commines vvhen he came to the Earle of Charolois seruice vvas 19. yeers of age.

2 Charles Earle of Eu, Peter of Moruillier, and Iohn de Harcour bishop of Nar∣bonne vvere the ambassadors heere mentioned, they arriued at Liste the 5. of Nouember, Annales Burgundiae.

3 VVhether the king ment to haue taken the Earle of Charolois prisoner by this Ru∣bempre, reade Annal. Burgund. lib. 3. pag. 880. and Meyer lib. 16. fol. 334. vvho flatly charge him vvith it.

4 Sir Oliuer de la Marche heere named vvrote a Cronicle of these times.

5 The cause vvhy the King sent Rubempre into Holland vvas not (as he said) to take the Earle of Charolois, but the Vicechauncellor of Britaine named in Meyer, Iohan∣nes Rociuilla, and by our author in the 3. Chapter of this first booke Rouuille, vvhom the Duke of Britaine had sent into England to make a league betvveene the realme of Eng∣land and him, and bicause the King supposed this Vicechauncellor vvould visit the Earle of Charolois in his returne: he sent this Rubempre into Holland to take him and bring him into Fraunce. Annal. Burgund. Meyer.

6 For the better vnderstanding of the Dukes ansvvere, I am forced to passe the bounds of a note. VVherefore it is to be vnderstood that in the declination of the Ro∣maine Empire, the Burgundians anno 408. being chased out of Almaine, vvhere they inhabited, the countries novv subiect to the Palsgraue of the Rhyne, inuaded Fraunce, and conquered the countries, novv knovvne by the names of the Countie and Duchie of Burgundy, togither vvith Sauoy, Daulphine, Prouince, and the greatest part of Svvit∣zerland, and anno 414. chose them a king named Gondiachus, vvith vvhom (after diuers battels fought vvith changeable fortune) Aetius the Emperour, Honorius his lieutenant in Fraunce, at the length made peace. And Gondiachus remained King of Burgundy, and ayded the Romaines against Attila. Soone after failed the male line of Gondiachus, and, by the mariage of Clotilde daughter to Chilperic, Gondiachus his sonne, vvith Clodoneus King of Fraunce: Burgundie fell to Clotarius sonne to the saide Clotilde and Clodoneus, and so continued in the house of Fraunce till the yeere 843. vvhen the sonnes of the Emperor Lodouicus Pius vvarring togither, Burgundy vvas deuided into Burgundiam Transiuranam, and Cisiuranam. Transiurana con∣taining Sauoy, Daulphine Prouince and Lyonnois, remained to Lotharius the Emperor, vvith the title of King of Burgundie. Cisiurana conteining the Countie and Duchie

of Burgundie, vvas also dismembred, for that part novv knovvne by the name of the Countie of Burgundie, fell also to Lotharius share: but that part novv knovvne by the name of the Dutchie of Burgundie, vvas togither vvith the Realme of Fraunce yeelded to Carolus Caluus: But after the death of the Emperor Lotharius, his tvvo sonnes Lodouicus and Lotharius made another partition of their part of Burgundie: for the realme of Austrasia vvith the Countie of Burgundie fell to Lotharius, after vvhose death his vncle Carolus Caluus King of Fraunce ambitiously through violence con∣quered also that part of Burgundie, and ioined it to the crovvne of Fraunce, so that the said Carolus Caluus possessed all Burgundie Cisiurana, that is, both the Countie and Dutchie of Burgundie. Loduicus the other sonne of the Emperor Lotharius possessed vvith the Empire all Burgundie Transiurana, togither vvith the title of King of Bur∣gundie, and left behinde him one onely daughter named Hermingarde, maried to Bo∣son brother to Richilde, Carolus Caluus his vvife, in respect of vvhich mariage the said Caluus gaue to Boson all Burgundie Cisiurana, vvhich he the said Caluus then held: And thus had Boson all the realme of Burgundie, viz. Transiurana in the right of his wife, and Cisiurana, by his brother in lawes gift. Farther the said Caluus being both Emperor and King of France, created the aboue named Boson King of Burgundie anno 879. to whom succeeded Lodouicus his sonne, from whom Ralph King of Fraunce (sonne to Richard that first intituled himselfe Duke of Burgundie) wan the greatest part of Burgundy Cisiurana. To this Lewis succeeded his sonne Ralph King of Burgun∣die, who not being able to defend his realme gaue it to the Emperor Conradus 2. who notwithstanding obteined the least part thereof: for as touching Transiurana, Beralde Duke of Saxe had before this gift woon from King Ralph Sauoy and a great peece of Swit∣zerland, Daulphine, Lyonnois, & Poruince, Guigue le gras the first Daulphine, had like∣wise conquered. And as touching Cisiurana by treatie made betweene the Emperour Conradus 2. and Henry King of Fraunce, onely the County remained to the Empire, and the Dutchie to the crowne of Fraunce. This I haue written, bicause some hold opinion that the County of Burgundy ought also to be held of the crowne of Fraunce, whereas in deede rather the Dutchy with all Transiurana (the greatest part whereof the French King at this day possesseth) ought to be held of the Empire, from whom the said French Kings haue pulled so many prouinces, that now (as one properly speaketh) the Eagle hath lost so many feathers, that hardly he can flie.

7 Lahaie in our author and in Annal. Burgund. where Rubempre should haue taken the Earle of Charolois, is named in Meyer Gorkem.

8 The pension the Earle of Charalois had of the King with the gouernment of Nor∣mandy was 36000. franks, Annal. Burgund. La Marche, Meyer.

9 A franke is two shillings and six pence sterling, after eight souse to an English shilling, so that the carles pension after that rate amounted to fower thousand fiue hundred pound sterling.

10 The townes and territories vpon the riuer of Somme engaged to Duke Philip by the treatie of Arras, which was in the yeere 1435. are named in the articles of the said trea∣tie rehearsed in Annal. Burgund. pag. 760. and 761. and in the first booke of La Marche, and in the 16. booke of Meyer and others.

11 They were engaged as our author and Annal. Burgund. write for 400000. crowns, but Meyer saith 450000. but they were redeemed for 400000. anno 1463. La Marche, Meyer. Annal. Burgund.

How the Earle of Charolois and diuers noble men of Fraunce leuied an army against king Lewis, vnder colour of the weale publique. Chap. 2.

SOone after the abouenamed Ambassadors departure, Iohn Duke of Bourbon that last died, arriued at the town of Lisle, pretending that he came to visit his vncle Duke Philip of Burgundie, who aboue all houses loued especi∣ally this house of Bourbon, and no maruell: for this Duke of Bourbons mother was Duke Philips sister. She had li∣ued a widow many yeeres, and soiourned there at that time with hir brother, both hir selfe and diuers of hir children, to wit, three daughters and one sonne, not∣withstanding this was not indeed the cause of the Duke of Bourbons arriuall, but his comming was to perswade the Duke of Burgundie to suffer an armie to be leuied in his dominions, assuring him that all the Princes of Fraunce would do the like: meaning thereby to giue the King to vnderstand how euill and vniust gouernment he vsed in his realme, & purposing to make themselues so strong, that they might constraine him by force to redresse this inconuenience, if praiers could not preuaile. This war was afterward called THE WEALE PVBLIQVE, bicause the authors thereof vsed the common wealth for colour of their enterprise. The said good Duke Philip (for so is he surnamed since his death) agreed that an armie should be leuied in his dominions, but the bottom of the enterprise was neuer discouered to him: for he thought not that the matter shoulde haue come to hand strokes as after it did. Immediately began the musters through all the Dukes domi∣nions, and the Earle of Saint Paule afterward Constable of Fraunce, accompanied with the Marshall of Burgundie, being of the house of Neuf-chastell, repaired to Cambray (where D. Philip then lay) to the Earle of Charolois, who immediatly after their arriuall assembled his fathers Councill, and a great number of his subiects in the Bishops palace at Cambray, where he proclaimed all the house of Croy traitors to his father and him. And notwithstanding that the Earle of S. Paule alleaged, that by this proclamation he should be greatly indamaged, bicause long before this, he had giuen his daughter in mariage ¹ to the L. of Croies sonne: yet was the said house of Croy (al that notwithstanding) forced to abandon the Dukes dominions ² , where they lost great riches. With the which dooing, Duke Philip was much disconten∣ted, especially bicause his chiefe chamberlaine (afterward Lord of Chimay) a yoong man well disposed, and nephew to the Lord of Croy, was forced for feare of his life, to depart without leaue taken of his master, being aduertised that if he did otherwise he should either be slaine or apprehended: but the Dukes old age caused him to beare this matter more patiently than otherwise he would. All this trouble hap∣ned in his house bicause of the restitution of the territories aboue mentioned, si∣tuate vpon the riuer of Somme, which the Duke had restored to King Lewis for the sum of 400000. crownes, by the perswasion of this house of Croy, as the Earle of Charolois laide to their charge.

The said Earle after he had pacified his father, and reconciled himselfe to him the best that mought be, put his whole force incontinent into the field, being ac∣companied

with the Earle of S. Paule, the principall gouernor of his affaires, and he that had the greatest charge in his armie, for he had vnder him by the Earle of Charolois commandement 300. men of armes, and 4000. archers, besides a number of valiant knights and esquires of Artois, Haynalt, and Flaunders. Like bands and as great were also vnder the leading of the L. of Rauastin the D. of Cleues brother, and the L. Anthony bastard of Burgundie, other captaines for breuitie I passe ouer, but aboue all the rest, two knights there were especially, in great credit with the Earle of Charolois, the one named the L. of Hault-bordin an ancient knight, ba∣stard brother to the Earle of S. Paule, the other the L. of Contay. They had both been trained vp in the long wars betweene Fraunce and England, at the same time that Henry the 5. of that name King of England, raigned in Fraunce, being confede∣rate with this Duke Philip of Burgundie. They were two valiant and wise knights, and had the principall charge of the whole armie of yoong gentlemen: there were a number, but one especially very famous, called master Philip of Lalain, issued of a race that hath euer been so valiant and couragious, that they haue in maner all died in the wars in their princes seruice. The Earles force was great: for his men of armes were to the number of 1400. but euill armed, and vntrained, bicause of the long peace these Princes of Burgundie had liued in. For since the treatie of Arras by the space of 36. yeeres and more, they neuer had war that indured nor almost taste of war, saue a few broyles against the citie of Gaunt, which were soone pacified. Notwithstanding his men of armes were well mounted, and well accompanied, for few or none should you haue seene without fiue or sixe great horses of his retinue. ³ The archers ⁴ were eight or nine thousand, and when they mustred they were more vnwilling to depart then to giue their names, but the ablest were chosen and the rest dismissed ⁵ .

The subiects of this house of Burgundie liued then in great prosperitie, partly bi∣cause of their long peace, and partly bicause of their Princes goodnes, who leuied but few subsidies vpon them, so that these Seniors seemed comparable to the land of promise in those daies: for they flowed in wealth, and had continued in great quiet∣nes the space of 23. yeeres, to wit, till the beginning of these wars now mentioned, which till this day endure vnended: their expenses in apparell both of men and wo∣men were great and superfluous ⁶ , their feasts and banquets more sumptuous and prodigall than in any countrey that euer I sawe, their bathes and other pastimes with women wanton and dissolute, yea somwhat too shameles, I meame of women of low estate. To be short, the subiects of this house, thought at that time, no Prince able to withstand them, at the least none too mightie for them, but at this present, I know no countrey in the world in so great miserie and desolation as theirs, and I doubt me the sins they committed in their prosperitie, cause them now to suffer this aduersitie, bicause they acknowledged not all these gifts and benefits to proceede from God who disposeth and bestoweth them as to his heauenly wisdome seemeth best.

The Earles armie thus furnished euen in a moment, of all things necessarie, mar∣ched forward, ⁷ the whole force being on horseback, saue those that conueied the artillerie, which was mighty and strong for that time, and the straglers appointed for the cariage, the which was so great, that the Earles owne cariage inclosed the greatest part of his campe: he marched first towards Noyon, and besieged a little castell called Nesle, which was soone taken, notwithstanding the resistance made by the garrison that was within it. The Marshall Ioachin (one of the fower Marshals of Fraunce) issuing out of Peronne coasted continually along by the Earles campe,

but could not endamage him, for his force was so small, that when the Earle drew neare to Paris he retired thither. All the way as the Earle passed he made no war, but what his men took they paid for: wherfore the towns vpon the riuer of Somme & all other townes that he passed by, receiued his men in small troupes, and sold them for their money whatsoeuer they would buy, as men resting in suspence whether the king or the princes should haue the vpper hand ⁸ . So far marched the Earle that he came to S. Dennis neare to Paris, where all the Lords of the realme had promi∣sed to meete him but none came, notwithstanding that the Vicechauncellor of Britaine, the D. and Ambassadorresident in the Earles campe, forged newes of their comming from time to time, at his owne pleasure vpon certaine blanks that he had, signed with his masters hand: he was a Norman borne, and a very wise and suffici∣ent man, and so it behooued him to be, for the whole campe murmured against him. The Earle of Charolois shewed himselfe before Paris ⁹ , where was a hot skir∣mish, hard at the towne gates, but to the Citizens disaduantage. Men of war within the towne were none, saue onely the Marshall Ioachin with his compa∣nie, and the Lord of Nantoillet, afterward Lord great Master, who did the King as good seruice in these wars as euer did subiect King of Fraunce at his neede, and yet in the ende was euill recompensed, rather by his enimies malice, than the Kings fault, though neither of both are cleerely to be excused. The poore people of the citie were in so great feare the day of the skirmish, that they cried often (as I was afterwards credibly enformed) that we were entred the towne, but without cause. Notwithstanding the L. of Hault-bourdin aboue mentioned (who had been brought vp in the towne, when it was nothing so strong as now it is) gaue aduise to assault it, and the soldiers desired nothing more, contemning the townes men bicause the skirmishes were hard at their gates, yet the contrary opinion tooke place, whereupon the Earle retired to S. Denis. The next day in the morning he debated with his Councill whether he should go to meet with the Dukes of Berry and Britaine or not, who were at hand as the Vicechauncellor of Britaine said, shew∣ing also their letters testifying the same, but he had forged them vpon his blanks, and other newes knew he none. In the end the Earle resolued to passe the riuer of Seine, notwithstanding that the most part of his Councill gaue aduise to returne home, seeing the rest of the confederates had broken day, alledging it to be suffici∣ent to haue passed the riuers of Somme and Marne, and more than needed to passe this riuer of Seine. Some also put foorth great doubts, bicause we had no places on our backe to retire into if we should be distressed. But all this notwithstanding the Earle passed the riuer and encamped at Pont S. Clou ¹⁰ , wherefore the whole army murmured much against the Earle of S. Paule and this Vicechauncellor, who were the principall perswaders of him thereunto. The next day after his arriuall there, he receiued letters from a Lady of this land written with hir owne hand, wherein she aduertised him that the King was departed out of Bourbonnois, and came downe with all speede to fight with him.

I must heere declare the occasion of the Kings voyage into Bourbonnois, which was this: So soone as he vnderstood that all the princes of his realme had conspired against him (at the least against his gouernment) he determined to preuent them, and before they were assembled, to inuade the D. of Bourbon, who was the first that openly discouered himselfe to be of the confederacie ¹¹ : and bicause his countrey was weake he hoped soone to subdue it, as in deede diuers places he tooke, and would easily haue taken all, had not succours come thither out of Burgundie vnder the leading of the L. Coulches, the Marquesse of Rottelin, the L. of Montague, and

others, with whom Master VVilliam of Rochefort Chauncellor of Fraunce (a man at this day of great estimation) was also in armes. This force was leuied in Bur∣gundie by the sollicitation of the Earle of Beauieu, and the Gardinall of Bourbon, ¹² brethren to D. Iohn of Bourbon, and by them receiued into Molines. Aide came also of another side to the D. of Bourbon, vnder the leading of the D. of Nemours, the Earle of Armignac, and the L. of Albert, being accompanied with a great band of soldiers, some of the which were good men of armes of their countries, who lately had forsaken the Kings pay, and put themselus into their seruice. But the greatest part of their men were vtterly vnfurnished of all things, and forced for lacke of pay to liue vpon the poore people. The King notwithstanding these their great forces gaue themynough to do: wherefore in the end they fell to treate of peace, especially the D. of Nemours, who solemnly promised and sware to take part with him, and yet did afterwards the contrary: whereupon the King conceiued so great displea∣sure against him, that afterward he could neuer brooke him, as eftsoones he hath told me. To be short, the King perceiuing that he could not atchieue his enterprise in Bourbonnois so speedily as at the first he hoped, and fearing if the Earle of Cha∣rolois forces which approched neare to Paris, and the forces of the Duke of Berry his owne brother, and of the D. of Britaine which were comming out of Britaine, should ioine togither: that the Parisians would receiue them into their towne, bi∣cause they all pretended the common wealth for colour of their enterprise: & know∣ing also that as the towne of Paris did, so all the other townes in his realme would follow; for these causes I say, he resolued with all speed possible to put himselfe into Paris, meaning to keepe these two great armies asunder: but his purpose was not to fight, as he hath himselfe diuers times told me in communing of these affaires,

The Notes.

1. The Earle of S. Paul had betrothed his daughter to the L. of Croys sonne, but seeing the Earle of Charalois hatred against the said Croy, he would haue broken off the mariage againe, but Croy in whose house the said daughter remained, contrarie to hir fathers wil made vp the match, for the which cause the Earle of S. Paul hated the said Croy to the death, Annal. Burgund.

2. The Earle of Charolois besides this matter heere alleaged charged Iohn L. of Croy, that he had called him great diuell, threatned him, and sought to poison him. Meyer.

3. Euery French man of armes is allowed three men to accompanie him in the wars, one to beare his headpeece, called in Latin Ferentarius, and two archers. La Marche. but the Burgundians had heere some 5. some 6.

4 These archers were bow-men mounted on horsebacke, as harquebusiers on horsebacke are now.

5 He that maketh such offer of himselfe, secketh pray not seruice, wherefore this re∣iecting of so many, was done according to the rules of the art of war.

6 Of the excesse of this house of Burgundie, Annal. Burgund. write thus, lib. 3. pa. 917. and 918. All fashions of apparell were growne in vse among the subiects of this house of Burgundie, and those so indecent and dissolute, that none could be more. The Ladies and gentle women ware vpon their head a strange kinde of attire, fashioned in pyramidal form, the top thereof halfe an ell good from the crowne of their head, and thereupon a carchef of lawne or some other fine linnen hanging downe to the very ground: a fond attire and vvoorthy to be derided. The men disguised themselues no lesse than the vvomen, some vvare their clothes so short, that they hardly couered those parts that nature hir selfe sha∣meth to discouer: their haire vvas curled and of such length that it hindred their sight:

vpon their heads they ware felt-hats copletanked, a quarter of an ell high or more: they stuffed their dublets about the shouldens and brest maruellous full of bombast, to the end they might seeme square and broad brested, a thing greatly displeasing God: their clokes were not so short but their gownes were as long, for they trained after them vpon the ground. To be short, the whole world could not deuise stranger kinds of disguising than they had, and that was woorst of all is this, that euery rascall and euery woman in beggers estate would be apparelled princelike, and imitate the fashion of Court, without regarde either of cost or calling. Compare this with the excesse of England at these daies, and we shall see in a glasse our owne vanities, and haue iust cause to looke for the same miseries that fell vpon this house of Burgundy after this excesse.

7 The 15. of May saith Meyer, but the 25. Annal. Burgund. the Earle departed from his father.

8 The Earle of Charolois as he passed named himselfe the Duke of Berries lieutenant, for the which cause the townes heere mentioned the willinglyer receiued him. Annales Burgund.

9 The Earles armie shewed it selfe before Paris about the 12. or 13. of Iuly, at which time all the princes should haue met him there. Meyer.

10 The Earle of S. Paule tooke a great bote vpon the riuer of Seine, in the which he pas∣sed the riuer, and tooke Pont S. Clou. Annal. Burgund.

11 Reade a letter written by the King to the Duke of Bourbon and his answere therunto. Annal. Burgund. pag. 889.

12 This Cardinall of Bourbon was Archbishop of Lyons, and brother to the Duke of Bourbon, Annal. Burgund. for the which cause I thinke it best in the French to reade freres for frere, bicause the Earle of Beauieu and this Cardinall were both brethren to the Duke of Bourbon.

How the Earle of Charolois encamped neere to Montl'hery, and of the battell fought there betweene the King of Fraunce and him. Chap. 3.

THe Earle of Charolois supposing that the King (being departed out of Burbonnois (as before you haue heard) came downe pur∣posely to fight with him: resolued likewise to set forward against the King, and then read openly the contents of the letter sent him by the Lady aboue mentioned, (not vttering hir name) and required his soldiers to play the men, saying, that he was fullie resolued to hazard the battell, wherefore he marched and en∣camped at a village neere to Paris called Longiumeau, and the Earle of S. Paule with the vawarde lodged at Montl'hery, two leagues beyond Longiumeau, from whence he sent foreriders and scoutes abroad, to vnderstand of the Kings comming, and what way he tooke: farther in the presence of the Earle of S. Paule, the Lord of Hault-bourdin, and the Lord of Contay, Longiumeau was assigned for the place of the battell, and thither it was agreed that the Earle of S. Paule should retire with the vawarde if the King hapned to come.

Now you shall vnderstand that the Earle of Maine with seuen or eight hundred men of armes lay continually in face of the Dukes of Berry and Britaine, who were accompanied with a number of wise and valiant knights, that King Lewis had put

out of pension at his first comming to the state, (notwithstanding the great seruices that they had done his father, in the recouering and pacifying of the realme:) wher∣of afterward full often he repented him. Among these knights was the Earle of Dunois, a man of great experience in al matters ¹ , the marshall of Loheac, the Earle of Dampmartin, the Lord of Bueil and diuers others, accompanied with the num∣ber of fiue hundred men of armes, who lately had forsaken the Kings paie, and reti∣red themselues to the Duke of Britaine, of whose onely subiects this whole force consisted. The Earle of Maine who lay continually in face of the two Dukes campe, (as you haue heard) finding himselfe too weake to encounter with them, dislodged continually before them, approching neerer and neerer to the King, in like maner the Dukes of Berrie and Britaine endeuored to ioine with the Burgundians. Some haue helde opinion that the Earle of Maine had secret intelligence with the Prin∣ces, but I could neuer vnderstand any such thing, neither do I beleeue it, ² .

The Earle of Charolois lying in campe at Longiumeau (as you haue heard) and his vawarde at Montl'hery, was aduertised by a prisoner, that the Earle of Maine with his whole force, all the men of armes of the Kings ordinary retinue, being to the number of two an twenty hundreth, and the arriereban ³ . of Daulphine togither with fortie or fiftie gentlemen of Sauoy, excellent good soldiers, were al ioined with the King.

The King in the meane time consulted with the Earle of Maine, the high Senes∣chall of Normandie called De Brezey, the Admiral of Fraunce who was of the house of Montauban, and others, what was to be don, & in the end whatsoeuer was said or aduised to the contrary, resolued not to fight, neither approch neere to the Burgun∣dians campe, but onely to enter into Paris, ⁴ which in mine opinion was the best & safest course. He stood in great doubt of his high Seneschall of Normandy, and ther∣fore desired him to tell him truely whether he had giuen his faith in writing to the Princes that came against him: whereunto the Seneschall answered after his merrie ieasting maner, that he had, & that the writing should remaine with him, but the bo∣die should serue him, which his answere the King tooke in good part, & gaue him the leading of his vaward, and put also vnder his charge, the guides whose help he vsed bicause he ment to shun the battle as you haue heard. But the Seneschall being wed∣ded to his owne will, saide priuily to certaine of his familiar friends, that he would that day ioine the two armies so nere togither, that he had need to be a good man of war that should seuer them without battel, which his promise he performed, though to his owne cost, for the first man that was slaine was himselfe ⁵ , and his band with him. These his words, the King hath often since rehearsed to me, for I serued then the Earle of Charolois.

But to proceede, the 27. of Iuly, ⁶ the yeere 1465. the Kings vawarde came to Montl'hery, where the Earle of Saint Paul lodged, who incontinent aduertised the Earle of Charolois lying two leagues thence (namely at Longiumeau, the place as∣signed for the battel) of their arriuall, desiring him of aide with all speed, and alledg∣ing that bicause all his men of armes and archers were lighted on foote, and inclo∣sed with their cariage, he could not possiblie retire to Longiumeau, according to the order agreed on, without seeming to flie, whereby he should both discourage and endanger the whole armie. Which message receiued: the Earle of Charolois sent foorthwith the bastard of Burgundy called Anthony with a great band of men to ioine with the Earle of S. Paule, and debated with himselfe whether he should go thither in person or not, and in the end marched forward with the rest, and came to the place about seauen of the clocke in the morning: but before his arriuall fiue or

sixe of the Kings ensignes were displaied along vpon a great ditch side betweene the two armies.

The Vicechauncellor of Britaine called Rouuille was yet in the Earle of Charo∣lois campe, and with him an ancient man of armes named Maderey, the selfesame that deliuered Pont S. Maxence to the Burgundians: against these two the whole armie murmured, bicause the battell being now ready to be giuen: the forces they had so much vaunted of were yet vncome. Wherefore they were both in great feare, and fled before the two armies ioined, taking the way to the Britaines campe. The Earle of Charolois company set themselues in order of battell as they marched, and at their arriuall found the Earle of S. Paul on foot, & all the archers dismounted, ech man hauing a pale pitched before him. Farther, they beat out the heads of diuers pipes of wine to drink: & sure for those few battels I haue been in, I neuer saw men in my life more desirous to fight, which me thought was a good signe and a great com∣fort. Order was giuen at the first that we should all light on foote none excepted, but that order was afterward altered. For almost all the men of armes mounted againe on horseback, saue certaine valiant Knights and Esquiers appointed to fight among the footemen, namely, Monseur de Cordes, and Master Philip of Lalain, with diuers others: for at that time among the Burgundians the honorablest personages fought on foote among the archers, to the end the infanterie might be the better assured and fight the more couragiously, which order they learned of the English men, with whom Duke Philip (being confederate in his youth) made war vpon the realme of Fraunce the space of two and thirty yeeres without truce ⁷ . But the bur∣then of those wars lay vpon the English mens shoulders, who were at that time rich and mightie, and had a wise, goodly and valiant King called Henry, accompanied with sage, hardy, and expert captains, namely, the Earle of Salisburie, Talbot and others, whom I passe ouer, bicause those wars were before my time, notwithstanding I haue seene the reliques of them. For when God ment to withdraw his goodnes from the English men, this wise King died at Bois de Vincennes, and his sonne who prooued but a simple man, was crowned King of Fraunce and England at Paris. Soone after, all was turned topsie turuie in England. For ciuill wars arose among them which haue endured almost till this present, by reason that the house of Yorke vsurped the crowne, or held it by good title, I wot not wel whether, for the lot of kingdomes is giuen from heauen.

But to returne to the historie, this dismounting and remounting of the Burgundi∣ans, caused both great delaie of time, and losse of men, for at this instant, that yoong valiant knight master Philip of Lalain, being but slenderly armed was slaine ⁸ . The Kings forces marched scatteringly along by the forrest of Torfou, being hardly 400. men of armes at our first arriuall, so that if we had then charged them, in mine opini∣on we had found no resistance, for they that were behinde, could not haue aided the former, bicause they could not march forward vpon a front, but one by one after an other. Notwithstanding, their number continually increased, which this wise knight Monseigneur de Contay perceiuing, came and told his master the Earle of Charo∣lois, that if he would obteine the victorie it was time to giue the charge, confirming his opinion by diuers good reasons, and adding that if he had assailed his enimies at his first arriuall, they had already been discomfited, for then their number was smal, but now greatly increased as easie it was to be discerned, & sure he said true ⁹ . Then was euery mans aduise asked, and the former order cleane altered, but in the meane time a great & hot skirmish was alreadie begun, at the very entrie into the village of Montl'hery, all of shot on both sides, the Kings bands were lead by Poncet of Riuiere,

being all archers of his ordinary retinue, glistering in gilt and very well appointed. But the Earles shot was out of order, obedient to no man, and doing all things of their owne braine. Thus began the skirmishes in the which the Lord Philip of Lalain ¹⁰ , and Iames of Mas a valiant gentleman, afterward master of the horse to Duke Charles of Burgundie, fought on foote among the archers. The Burgundians being the greater number, tooke a house, and bare two or three doores before them, wherewith they couered themselues in steede of targates, and after they were en∣tred the streete, set fire on a house, the winde was with them, and blew the flame in their enimies faces, who thereupon retired, and afterward tooke horse and fled, with the which hue and crie, the Earle of Charolois began to march, leauing the or∣der first deuised. For order was first giuen that the bands should rest twise by the way, bicause the Earles vawarde and his battle were far asunder ¹¹ . The Kings army stood neere to the castle of Montl'hery, a great hedge and a ditch being betweene them and vs. The fields beyond them bare that yeere wheate, beanes, and other graine, growne maruellous high and thicke: for the soile there is verie good. All the Earles shot marched on foote before him in very euill order, notwith∣standing that in mine opinion in a battel the principall hope of victorie consi∣steth in the shot, I meane if the force of shot be great (for small force serueth to small purpose) and either euill mounted (to the end they be not vnwilling to forsake their horses) or not mounted at all. Farther the day of a battle, those that are igno∣rant of the wars will do a greater exploit, than those that haue been long trained vp therein, this is the Englishmens opinion, who are best shot in the world: order was first giuen (as you haue heard) that the Earles battle should rest twise vpon the way, to the end the foote men mought breath them, bicause the vaward and it were far asunder, and the corne high and thicke which troubled their going, yet notwith∣standing the cleane contrarie was done, as though men would purposely haue lost all. Wherfore heerby, God manifestly declared that he is the Lord of hostes, and disposeth of the victorie as seemeth best to him, and sure for my part, I cannot be perswaded that the wisdome of one man is sufficient to gouerne such a number of men, nor that an enterprise can be executed in the field, as it is deuised in the cham∣ber: and farther I verily beleeue, that who so ableth himselfe by his own wit and ca∣pacitie to giue order in so waightie a matter, misbehaueth himselfe towards God. Notwithstanding euery man ought to do his endeuour therein, acknowledging the wars to be one of the accomplishments of Gods iudgements, which oftentimes he beginneth vpon small occasions, to the end that by giuing victorie now to one, and now to another, some great realmes and seniories may fall to ruine and desolation, and other some increase and florish with large empire and dominion, for farther proofe whereof marke this that foloweth. The Earle of Charolois marched with∣out any breathing giuen to his shot and footemen vpon the way. The Kings men of armes passed through the hedge aboue mentioned at two seuerall places, and when they approched so neere their enimies, that they began to charge their staues, the Burgundian men of armes brake their owne shot, and passed through it, not giuing them leaue to let one arrow flie, notwithstanding that the shot were the principall force and onely hope of their armie, for of the men of armes (being to the number of twelue hundred) I thinke hardly fifty knew how to charge a launce, there were not foure hundred of them armed with quiracies, and of their retinue not one armed, all the which inconueniences grew partly bicause they had rested so long in peace, and partly bicause this house of Burgundie for ease of their subiects, entertained no sol∣diers in ordinarie. But since that day, these Seniors of Burgundie haue continued in

troubles, which euen at this present rather increase than diminish. Thus the Bur∣gundian men of armes (as you haue heard) brake themselues the chiefe force and onely hope of their armie, yet notwithstanding, so it pleased God to dispose of this matter, that on the right side of the castle, where the Earle himselfe stoode no resi∣stance was found. All this day I my selfe neuer departed from the Earle, being lesse afraide than in any other battell that euer I was at since, for I was yoong and knew not what perill ment, but wondred how any man durst resist the Prince I serued, sup∣posing none to be comparable to him. Such are the cogitations of men lacking ex∣perience, which causeth them oftentimes to maintaine fond arguments, grounded vpon small reason. Wherefore it is good to follow his aduise that saith, A man sel∣dome repenteth him of too little speech, but often of too much. On the lefthand stood the Lord of Rauastin, and master Iames of S. Paul, with diuers others, who well perceiued their force too weake to encounter with the enimie that came to charge them, but they were now so neere ioined togither, that it was too late to deuise any new order. To be short, these were vtterly ouerthrowne, and persued euen hard to our carriage, where certaine of the footemen relied themselues, but the greatest part tooke the forrest, being but halfe a league thence. The principall that folowed the chase were the gentlemen of Daulphine and Sauoy, with certeine companies of men of armes, who supposed the victorie to haue been theirs, and not without cause, for sure the Burgundians flight was great on that side, yea and of great personages. The most part fled toward Pont S. Maxence, ¹² supposing it had held yet for the Earle. In the forrest also a great number staied, among whom was the Earle of S. Paul well accompanied, for he stood neere to the forrest side, and declared afterward that he held not the battell as lost.

The Notes.

1 This Iohn Earle of Dunois was bastard to Lewis Duke of Orleans. Meyer.

2 Yet La Marche saith, that the Earle of Maine was of the Princes confederacie.

3 The Arriereban is an edict neuer proclaimed but in cases of great extremitie: for all as well nobles as others are thereupon bound to repaire to the King, diuers of the which before the proclamation therof are not bound by their tenure to mooue. The Arri∣ereban of Daulphine heere named, were all those of the countrie of Daulphine, that held by this tenure. Reade the edict made by King Francis anno 1543. and Girarde of the state of Fraunce, lib. 2. fol. 113.

4 The King by the perswasion of the Earle of Maine and the Seneschall Brezey resolued at the last to fight. Annal. Burgund.

5 Brezey had changed armor with the King, which caused his death: for those that slue him supposed it had been the King, Annal. Aquitan. but Meyer saith he was reported to be slaine by the Kings procurement, vvhich I knovve not vvhere he findeth.

6 Of the day of the battell Annal. Franc. agree vvith our author, but Annal. Burg. & Annal. Aquit. say 17. Meyer hath 17. Cal. Augusti, that is the 16. day of Iuly, & vvith him agreeth Gaguin La Marche, vvho vvas present at the battell and knighted in it.

7 The Duke vvas ioined vvith the English men but 15. or 16. yeeres, as saith also In∣troduction de la Marche, for the league began anno 1419. and ended anno 1435.

8 The Burgundians dismounted so suddenly, that laying dovvne their complete armor they had not leasure to buckle their lighter armor about them, vvhich vvas the cause of Lalains death, Annal. Burgund.

9 Contay vsed another reason to persvvade the Earle to assaile his enimies heere not expressed, to vvit, to preuent the Parisians, vvho if they issued foorth should inclose him

betvveene them and the King, Annal. Burgund.

10 This Lalain seemeth to be the father of him that vvas slaine.

11 Betvveene Longiumeau vvhere the Earles battell lay, and Montl'hery vvhere his vavvard ledged are fovver English miles.

12 Pont S. Clou, and Pont S. Maxence vvere yeelded by the Burgundians, bicause the rumor was that the Earle of Charolois was slaine in the battell. Meyer.

Of the danger the Earle of Charolois was in, and how he was rescued. Chap. 4.

THe Earle of Charolois pursued his enimies on that side him∣selfe stood, halfe a league beyond Montl'hery, and found no resistance, notwithstanding that he were but slenderly accom∣panied and met with maine enimies, wherefore he held the vi∣ctorie for his: but suddenly an old gentleman of Luxembourg called Anthony le Breton, came to him and aduertised him that the French were relied vpon the field, so that if he followed the chase any further, he should cast away himselfe. But the Earle regarded not his speech, notwithstanding that he repeated it twise or thrise. But euen in that instant arriued Monseur de Contay, who told him the selfesame tale the old gentleman of Luxembourg had done, and that in so stout and bold termes, that he gaue credit to his words and experience, and presently returned. And I thinke verily if he had passed but two bow shot farther, he had been taken as diuers were that followed the chase before him. As he returned, hard by the village he met with a band of footemen flying, whom he pursued being accompanied hardly with an hundred horse: none of these footemen made resistance but one, who gaue the Earle such a blowe on the brest with a iauelin, that the marke thereof appeered at night: the greatest part of the rest escaped through the gardens, but he that strake the Earle was slaine. And as we passed hard by the castell, we found the archers of the Kings garde before the gate, who neuer abandoned their place for our comming: whereat the Earle much maruelled, for he thought the battell had beene at an end, but he found it otherwise: for as he turned about to enter into the field (part of his compa∣nie being scattered from him) suddenly 15. or 16. men of armes gaue a charge vpon him, and at the very first slue his caruer named Philip D'orgues bearing a gydon of his armes. The Earle was there in great danger and receiued many hurts, especially one in the throte with a sword (the marke whereof stack by him as long as he liued) by reason that his beauer being euill fastened in the morning was fallen away, and I my selfe saw when it fell. The enimies laid hands vpon him, saying, My Lord yeeld, we know you well ynough, be not wilfully slaine: but he manfully defended himselfe. And at that instant a physitions sonne of Paris that serued the Earle, named Iohn Cadet being a great lubberly fellow, mounted vpon a strong iade like himselfe, ran through the enimies, and brake them ¹ , wherewith they retired to the ditch side, (the place they had taken in the morning) the rather for that they discouered one of our ensignes marching in the midst of the field, and approching neere to vs, being the bastard of Burgundies ensigne, all to totterd and torne, to the which the Earle all embrewed in his owne blood retired, leauing at his archers ensigne not aboue fortie men, with whom we being hardly thirtie, ioined in great feare. The Earle in∣continent

changed his horse, hauing a fresh horse brought him by Symon of Quingy then his page, and since a man well knowne: and rode about the field to relie his men, leauing vs that taried behinde him in such feare, that by the space of an houre we were all fully resolued to flie, if but a hundred enimies had marched against vs: notwithstanding our men came to vs by ten and twentie in a troupe, as well horse∣men as footemen, but of the footemen many were hurt, and all very wearie, partly bicause of the battell, and partly bicause of their vnreasonable iourney in the mor∣ning. Soone after returned the Earle himselfe, hardly accompanied with an hun∣dred men, but by litle and litle our number increased. The corne which but halfe an houre before had been so high, was now troden flat downe, by meanes whereof, arose a terrible dust, all the fields lay strawed with dead bodies of men an horses, but bicause of the dust none could be knowne.

Immediately after this, we discouered the Earle of S. Paul issuing out of the for∣rest, accompanied with fortie men of armes, and his ensigne marched straight tow∣ards vs, and continually increased in number, but bicause he was far from vs, we sent twise or thrise to him desiring him to make haste, which notwithstanding he did not, neither altred his pace, but caused his men to take vp the launces that lay vpon the ground, and came in very good order, which sight much comforted vs. With him a great number relied themselues, and in the end came and ioined with vs, so that we were then to the number of eight hundred men of armes, but footemen fewe or none, which was the onely let the Earle obteined not perfect victory, for there was a great ditch and a thicke hedge betweene his battell and the Kings.

Of the Kings part fled the Earle of Maine with diuers others, to the number of eight hundred men of armes. Some haue helde opinion that the said Earle of Maine had intelligence with the Burgundians, but for mine owne part I beleeue it not. Ne∣uer was in any battell so great flight on both sides, but the two Princes kept the field: of the Kings part there was a man of honor that fled as far as Luzignan without staie, and of the Earles part a noble personage to Quesnoy le Comte, these two had no great desire to bite one another ² .

While the two armies stood thus in order of battell, the one in face of the other, the artillerie shot terribly, which slue men on both sides, but neither partie desired a new field. Notwithstanding our band was greater then the Kings, but his presence and the curteous language he vsed to his soldiers, was a great stay to his people, so far foorth, that I am throughly perswaded both by mine owne knowledge and that I haue since heard, that had it not been for him alone they had all fled. Some of our company desired a new battell, especially the L. of Haultbourdin, alledging that he discouered a troupe of our enimies flying, and vndoubtedly if he could haue recoue∣red but a hundred archers to haue shot through the hedge aboue mentioned, all had been ours.

While this matter was in communication, and both the armies standing thus in order of battell without fight, the night approched, and the King retired to Corbeil, but we thought he had encamped in the field, bicause fire falling by chance into a barrell of powder, and certaine carts laden with munition in the place where the King had stoode, tooke in the end the great hedge aboue mentioned, which we sup∣posed to haue been the French mens fiers there encamped, whereupon the Earle of S. Paul and the Lord of Haultbourdin, who seemed to be the men of greatest expe∣rience in our army, commanded our cariage to be brought to the place where we were, and our campe to be enclosed therewith, and so it was. And as we stood there relied togither in order of battell, diuers French men returnng from the chase, and

supposing the victory to be theirs, and our campe the Kings, passed through the midst of vs, some of them escaped, but the most were slaine. The men of name that died on the Kings part were these, master Geffrey of S. Belin, the high Seneschall of Normandy, and captaine Floquet, and of the Burgundians, master Philip of Lalain: of footemen and common soldiers we lost more than the King, but of horsemen the King more than we: of prisoners the French tooke the best of those that fled. There were slaine of both sides two thousand at the least ³ . The field was well fought, and there were of both parties that did their endeuor, some in fighting, and some in fly∣but sure in mine opinion it was a woorthy feat of armes to relie themselues togither vpon the field, and to stand three or foure houers in order of battell, the one in face of the other, and vndoubtedly both the Princes had good cause to make account of their subiects that stood so well by them at their need. But they did heerin like men not like angels, for some lost their offices for flying, which were bestowed vpon others that fled ten leagues beyond them: one of our part lost his credit, and was commanded out of his masters presence, but within one month he was in greater fauor than before.

When we were inclosed with our cariage, euery man lodged himselfe as commo∣diously as he could, a great number of vs were hurt, and the whole armie almost dis∣couraged, fearing that the Parisians with two hundred men of armes that were within the citie, and the Marshall Ioachin the Kings lieutenant there would issue foorth and assaile vs on the other side. After it was darke night fiftie launces were commanded to go foorth to vnderstand where the King lodged, but hardly twenty of them went, notwithstanding that our campe were not aboue three bowe shot from the place where we supposed the King had encamped. In the meane time the Earle of Charolois ate and dranke a little, as did all the rest of the company, each man in his owne lodging, and the wound in his necke was dressed: but we were forced to remooue out of the place where he refreshed himselfe, three or fower dead bodies to make him roome, and to bring two bottles of straw, vpon the which he sat downe. And as they remooued these dead bodies, one of the poore naked soules began to call for drinke, into whose mouth was powred a little of the tysan the Earle had drunke of, wherewith his spirits reuiued, and then he was knowen to be an ar∣cher of the Earles garde named Sauaric a valiant fellow, and he was dressed and healed.

The Earle debated with his Councill what was to be done, the first that spake was the Earle of Saint Paule, who said we stood in great danger, and gaue aduise by breake of day to retire homeward, to burne part of our cariage, to saue onely the artillerie, and to giue order that none should lead backe any cariage, but such as had aboue ten launces vnder their charge, adding that it was impossible to lie there without victuals between Paris and the King. After him spake Mounseur de Hault∣bourdin almost to the same effect, saue that he aduised vs to stay till we vnderstood what newes our scoutes that were abroad would bring vs, to the which purpose spake also three or fower others. But the last that spake was Mounseur de Contay, who said that so soone as the armie should vnderstand of this resolution rhey would al flie, and by that means be taken and spoiled before they had gone twenty leagues: which his opinion he confirmed by diuers very good reasons. Wherefore he gaue aduise that euery man should lodge himselfe as commodiously as he could that night, and the next morning by breake of day begin a new field with determination either to liue or die vpon the place, which he said to be a safer course than to flie. The Earle of Charolois followed the said Contaies aduise, and gaue euery man com∣mandement

to take his rest for two howers, and at the sound of the trumpet to be in a readines: farther he willed diuers by name to send to comfort his soldiers.

About midnight our scoutes that were abroad returned, and it well appeered they had not beene far: for they brought word that the King lodged at the fires aboue mentioned. Incontinent others were sent foorth, and within an hower after euery man put himselfe in a readines to fight, but the most part had rather haue fled. About breake of day our scoutes last sent foorh met one of our Carters whom the enimies had taken prisoner that morning as he brought a pot of wine from Montl'hery. This Carter told them that the French were all fled, whereof they sent word incontinent to the campe, and went themselues to the place, and found the Carters report true, whereupon they returned with this newes to the great comfort of the whole armie, and then a number cried to pursue them, that made but small haste after them. Not an hower before my selfe had an old horse halfe tired, who by chaunce thrust his head into a paile of wine and drunke it off, which made him lustier and fresher that day than euer before.

When it was broad day euery man mounted on horseback, and the squadrons made a goodly shew in the field, notwithstanding all our companies were not yet come togither, but a number returned at that present which had lien hidden in the woods all night. The Earle of Charolois suborned a Frier Franciscan, who brought worde to the campe that he came from the Britains, who would be there the selfe∣same day, which newes comforted not a little the whole armie, but all men beleeued it not.

Immediately after, to wit, about ten of the clocke in the morning, arriued the Vicechancellor of Britaine, called Rouuille, and Maderey aboue mentioned with him, accompanied with two archers of the D. of Britaines garde in their liuery coates, which comforted maruellously the whole army, and the said Vicechancellor was asked where he had been, and was commended for his departure (considering the great murmuring that was risen against him) but much more for his returne, and euery man welcomed them and made them good cheere.

All this day the Earle of Charolois kept still the field, reioicing greatly and wholy attributing the honor of the victory to himselfe alone, which glory cost him deere, for after this he neuer followed any mans deuise but his owne, and whereas before he had hated the wars, and loued nothing that appertained thereunto: his thoughts were after this so cleane altred that he continued in the wars till his death, in them ended his life, & by them desolated his house, at the least brought it maruel∣lously vnderfoote, though not altogither destroied it. Three noble and wise Princes his predecessors had so highly aduanced it, that few Kings except the K. of Fraunce were mightier than he, and in rich and strong townes none passed him: but no man, especially no Prince ought to attribute too much to himselfe, but to acknowledge all prosperitie and good successe to proceed from God. Sure these two things I dare boldly say in his commendation, first that I thinke neuer man endured more trauell than he in all points of bodily labour and exercise, and secondarily that in mine opinion, I neuer knew hardier gentleman: for I neuer heard him complaine of wea∣rines, I neuer saw him shew any countenance of feare, yet was I with him seuen yeeres togither in the wars: euery sommer without faile, and somtime both winter and sommer his attempts and enterprises were so high and difficult, that onely God by his absolute power could haue atchiued them, for they passed far mans reach.

The Notes.

1 De la Marche calleth him that deliuered the Earle, Robert Couterel, or Coutereau a horseman of Bruxels, his Phisitions sonne, whom for that fact immediately he made knight and feudarie of Brabant. Gaghin writeth that the Earle was twice in danger, once in the hands of Geffery De S. Bealin, and againe in the hands of Gilbert Grassaie.

2 For the two places heere named be aboue three hundred English miles asunder.

3 There were slaine at the battell of Montl'hery, 2000. Annal. Burgund. Meyer saith 3000. Gaguin 3600.

How the Duke of Berry the Kings brother, and the Duke of Britaine ioined with the Earle of Charo∣lois against the King. Chap. 5.

THe next day being the third after the battell, we remooued our campe and lodged at Montl'hery, out of the which the people fled, part into the Church steeple, and part into the Castell, but the Earle caused them to returne to their houses, neither lost they the value of one penie, for euery man paid his shot as truly as if he had been in Flaunders. The castell helde for the King, and was not assaulted by vs. The third day being passed, the Earle of Charalois by the Lord of Contais aduise departed to Estampes (a good and commodious lodging, and a fruitfull soile) meaning to preuent the Britains, who came that way, and before their ariuall to lodge his men that were sicke and hurt in the towne, and the rest abroad in the fields. This good lodging and the Earles long abode there saued many a mans life. At the said town of Estampes arriued the Lord Charles of Fraunce then Duke of Berry, and the Kings onely brother, accompanied with the Duke of Britaine, the Earle of Dunois, the Lord of Dampmartin, the Lord of Loheac, the L. of Beueil, the Lord of Chaumount, and master Charles of Amboise his sonne (who since hath caried great credit in this realme) all the which the King at his first comming to the crown had displaced and put out of office, notwithstanding the great seruices they had done the King his father and the realme, both in the con∣quest of Normandie and in diuers other wars. The Earle of Charolois and all the noble men that were with him went foorth to receiue them, and lodged their per∣sons in the towne, where their lodgings were already made, but their forces lay abroad in the fields. They had with them eight hundred men of armes very well ap∣pointed, a great number of the which were Britons, who lately had forsaken the Kings pay, and these made a gallant shew in their campe: of archers and other soldi∣ers armed with good Brigandines they had great force, so that I suppose they were six thousand men on horsebacke, all in very good order, and sure this army shewed the Duke of Britaine to be a great Prince, for they were all paid out of his coffer ¹ .

The King being retired to Corbeil (as you haue heard) was not idle, neither forgat what he had to do, but went straight into Normandy partly to leuy men, and partly bicause he feared rebellion in the countrey, but a great part of his forces he left about Paris in those places that had most need of defence.

The first euening that all these Princes met at Estamps, they told newes each to other, the Britons had taken prisoners certaine of the Kings part that fled, and if

they had been but a litle neerer the place of the battell, they had either taken or dis∣comfited the third part of his army. They had first giuen order to sende foorth cer∣taine bands before them, to vnderstand how neere the Kings army and the Earles were togither, but they altered their mindes. Notwithstanding master Charles of Amboise and certiane with him scoured the countrey before their army, to see if they could meete any of their enimies, and certaine prisoners as you haue heard they tooke, and part also of the Kings artillerie. These prisoners made report vnto them, that vndoubtedly the King was slaine (for so they supposed bicause they fled at the very beginning of the battell,) which newes the abouenamed master Charles of Am∣boise and they that were with him brought to the Britaines campe, who reioiced maruellously thereat, supposing it had been true, and hoping for great rewards if the Lord Charles were King. Further they debated in councell (as a man of credit there present, afterward aduertised me) how they might rid the countrey of the Burgun∣dians, and send them home in the diuels name, and were in maner all agreed to cut their throtes if they could, but this their ioy soone ended, wherby you may perceaue what sodaine alterations are in a realme in such troubles.

But to returne to the campe lying at Estampes, when euery man had supped and a great number being walking in the streetes: The Lord Charles of Fraunce, and the Earle of Charolois withdrew themselues to a window, where they entred into very earnest communication. Now you shall vnderstand that there was among the Bri∣taines one that tooke great pleasure in throwing squibs into the aire, which when they fall to the ground run flaming among men, his name was master Iohn Boutefeu, or master Iohn de Serpens, I wot not well whether. This mery companion being se∣cretly hidden in a house, threw two or three squibs into the aire from a high place where he stood, one of the which by chance strake against the bar of the window where these two Princes communed togither, wherewithall both of them started so∣dainly vp, being astonished at this accident, and each beholding other, suspecting this to be purposely done to hurt them: then came the Lord of Contay to his ma∣ster the Earle of Charolois, and after he had told him a word or two in his eare, went downe, and caused all the men of armes of the Earles house, and all the archers of his garde, and a number of other to arme themselues. Incontinent also the Earle of Charolois mooued the Duke of Berry to command the archers of his garde to do the like, whereupon immediatly two or three hundred men of armes, stood on foote in harneis before the gate, with a great number of archers, the which sought round about from whence this fire might come: in the end the poore fellow that had done the deed fell downe vpon his knees before them confessing the fact, and threw three or foure other squibs into the aire, whereby he put diuers out of suspicion each of other, thus the matter turned to a iest, and euery man vnarmed himselfe and went to bed. The next day in the morning they sat in councell to debate what was to be done, all the Princes with their principall seruants being there present, and as they were of diuers parts and not obedient to one head: so were they also of diuers opi∣nions as in such assemblies it cannot be otherwise chosen. But among the rest of their talke, certaine words that passed the Duke of Berry (who was yoong and vn∣acquainted with such exploits) were especially marked: for he seemed already to be weary of this enterprise, alledging the great number of the Earle of Charolois men that he had seene in the towne hurt and maimed, of whom to shew that he had pitie and compassion he brake foorth into this speech and said, that he had rather the matter had neuer been begun, than that so much mischiefe should arise by his oc∣casion and for his cause, which words displeased greatly the Earle of Charolois

and his men as heerafter you shall heare: Notwithstanding they concluded in this assembly to go before Paris, to prooue whether the towne would enter into league with them for the benefit of the common wealth (which they al pretended to be the onely cause of their assembly) being fully perswaded that all the townes in the realm would follow the example thereof. The words aboue mentioned vttered by the D. of Berry in this assembly, put the Earle of Charolois and his men into such a dumpe, that they said thus one to another, heard you this man speake? he is discouraged for seuen or eight hundred hurt persons that he seeth in the towne, who are none of his but meer strangers to him, he would be otherwise troubled than if the matter should touch himselfe in any point, and easely be won to agree with his brother and leaue vs in the mire, and bicause of the long wars that haue been in times past betweene King Charles his father and the D. of Burgundie my father, both the parties would soone consent to turne their forces against vs, wherefore it is good to prouide vs of friends in time. And vpon this suspicion onely, VVilliam of Cluny Prenotarie, who died Bishop of Poictiers was sent to England to King Edward the 4. then raigning, to whom the Earle of Charolois had euer before been mortall enimie, supporting the house of Lancaster against him, of the which he was issued by his mother ² . And the said Clunies instructions were to treat with King Edward of a mariage betweene the Kings sister called Margaret, and the Earle of Charolois, not to conculde the matter, but onely to put the King in hope thereof: for the Earle knowing how great∣ly the King desired this mariage, supposed by this meanes to win him to take his part if he needed his helpe, at the least to staie him from attempting ought against him. And notwithstanding that he ment nothing lesse then the accomplishment thereof, bicause as feruently as he loued the house of Lancaster, as extreemly hated he the house of Yorke: yet was the matter so labored, that many yeeres after the ma∣riage was accomplished ³ , and the Earle receaued also the order of the Garter, and ware it till his dying day. Many a such deed is often done vpon suspicion onely, espe∣cially among great Princes, who are much more suspicious then other men, bicause of the doubts and reports that are daily brought vnto them oftentimes by flatte∣rers vpon no occasion.

The Notes.

1 The Britaines army was of 10600. men Anna. Aqui. and the archers here men∣tioned were all mounted one horsebacke, otherwise the men of armes could not arise to sixe thousand.

2 Charles D. of Burgundie was of the house of Lancaster after this sort. Iohn of Gaunt D. of Lancaster had issue by Blaunche his first wife, daughter and heire to Henry D. of Darby and Lancaster, Philip which married with Iohn King of Portugall bastard of Ferraude, by whom she had issue Isabell married to Philip D. of Burgundie, by whom she had issue this D. Charles.

3 Margaret king Edwards sister, arriued in the Lowe countries, 25. Iunij Ann. 1468. Meyer.

How the Earle of Charolois and his confederates with their whole army, passed the riuer of Seine vpon a bridge made of botes, how Iohn D. of Calabria ioined with them, and how they all encamped before Paris. Chap. 6.

ALl these Princes according to their determination departed from Estampes, hauing soiourned there certaine daies and mar∣ched to Saint Maturin of Larchant, and Moret in Gastinois, in the which two little townes the Lord Charles of Fraunce, and the Britaines lodged, but the Earle of Charolois encamped in a great medow vpon the riuer of Seine, and made proclamation that euery man should bring a hooke with him to fasten his horse therewith, he caried also with him seauen or eight small boates in cartes, and great store of pipeboorde, meaning therewith to make a bridge ouer the riuer of Seine, bicause these Princes had no passage there. The Earle of Dunois accompa∣nied him riding in a litter, for bicause of the goute he could not sit on horsebacke, notwithstanding his ensigne was borne with him. When they came to the riuer they launched foorth the boates they brought with them, and tooke an Iland in the midst of the streame, where certaine of our archers landed and skirmished with a compa∣nie of horsemen that defended the passage on the other side vnder the leading of the Marshall Ioachin and Sallezard. The place was much to their disaduantage, bi∣cause it was high and in a goodly vine country, besides that the Burgundians had great store of artillerie vnder the charge of a notable gunner named Master Girald, whom they tooke prisoner at the battell of Montl'hery, being then in the Kings ser∣uice. To be short, the aboue mentioned horsemen were forced to abandon the pas∣sage and retire to Paris. The selfesame night the bridge was made from the side of the riuer where we lay to the Iland, where incontinent the Earle of Charolois cau∣sed his pauilion to be pitched, and lodged there all night with fiftie men of armes of his house: by day breake a great number of Coopers were set on work to make casks of the pipe boord we brought with vs, who so bestirred themselues, that before noon the bridge was made from the Iland to the other side of the riuer. Incontinent passed the Earle of Charolois, and caused his tents whereof he was well furnished, to be pitched: ouer the same bridge passed also his whole armie and artillerie, and lodged vpon the side of a hill hanging towards the riuer, by means whereof his campe made a goodly shew to those that came after.

It was that whole daies worke to conuey ouer the Earles owne forces, but the next morning by day breake passed also the Dukes of Berry and Britaine with their whole armie, commending this bridge to be very commodiously and speedily made, and marched when they were passed, a little beyond the Earle, and encamped also vpon the hill. When it was darke night we discouered a great number of fires as far from vs as we could well discerne, which diuers supposed to be the Kings forces, but bofore midnight we were aduertised that it was Iohn Duke of Calabria ¹ onely sonne to King Rene of Sicilie ² with nine hundred men of armes of the Duchie and Coun∣tie of Burgundie. The said Duke had with him few footmen, but was well accompa∣nied with horsemen, and those in so good order, that for their number I neuer sawe a goodlier company nor a more warlike: for he had with him six score men of armes

barded, all Italians or trained vp in the Italian wars, among whom were Iames Ga∣liot, the Earle of Campobache, the L. of Baudricourt now gouernor of Burgundie, and diuers others: his men of armes were very expert soldiers, and to say the truth, the flower of our armie, I meane number for number. With him were also fower hundred crossebow men that the Palsgraue had lent him, all very well mounted and very good soldiers. Besides whom he had also in pay fiue hundred Switzers foote∣men, which were the first that euer came into this realme, and these so valiantly be∣haued themselues in all places where they came, that they purchased great renowme to their whole nation, which their countreymen that haue serned heere since, haue well maintained. This companie the next morning approached neer to vs, and passed that day ouer our bridge, which a man may boldly say conuaied ouer all the power of Fraunce saue onely the Kings armie. And I assure you the force was so great of valiant men well appointed, and in very good order, that I wish all the friends and welwillers of the realme had seen it, and likewise the enimies: for by that meanes the former would haue esteemed of the realme as it deserueth, and the later euer after the more haue feared it. The Burgundians that accompanied the Duke of Calabria were led by the L. of Neuf-chastell Marshall of Burgundie, who had with him his brother the L. of Montagu, the Marquesse of Rotelin, and a great number of knights and esquiers: some of the which had been in Bourbonnois, as I haue made mention in the beginning of this historie ³ , but they all ioined for their more safetie with the Duke of Calabria, who shewed himselfe to be as noble a Prince, and as good a sol∣dier as any in the companie, whereupon great loue and amitie grew betweene him and the Earle of Charolois.

After this whole force (being as I suppose to the number of an hundred thousand horse good & bad) was passed the riuer, the Princes determined to shew themselues before Paris, wherfore they put all their vawards togither. The Burgundians vaward was led by the Earle of S. Paule, and the vaward of the Dukes of Berry and Britaine by Oudet of Rie ⁴ afterward Earle of Comminges, and the Marshall Loheac as I re∣member, and in this order marched they, but all the Princes remained in the battell. The Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria were very diligent in comman∣ding and giuing good order in the armie, and rode very well armed, and shewed that they meant to do their dutie, but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine were mounted vpon small ambling nags, and armed with slight brigandines, light and thin, yea and some said they were not plated, but studded onely with a few gilt nailes vpon the sattin for the lesse waight, but I will not affirme it for a truth. Thus marched this armie to Pont de Charenton two little leagues from Paris, which was taken incon∣tinent, notwithstanding the resistance of certaine franke archers ⁵ that were within it: ouer the said bridge of Charenton passed the whole force. The Earle of Charo∣lois lodged in his owne house called Conflans, situate vpon the riuer not far from thence, and inclosed a great peece of ground, with his cariage and artillerie, and lodged his campe within it, and with him lay the Duke of Calabria: but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine, with part of their forces lodged at S. Mor-des-fosses, and the rest they sent to S. Denis being also two leagues from Paris, in the which places this whole companie lay eleuen weekes, during the which space these things happened that now I will rehearse.

The next day in the morning began the skirmishes hard at Paris gates, within the towne was the Lord of Nantoillet, L. great Master of Fraunce (who did the King good seruice there as before I haue said) and the Marshal Ioachin. The poore people of the towne were in great feare, but of the better sort some wished the Burgundians

and the other Princes within the towne, bicause this enterprise seemed vnto them good and profitable for the realme: others there were borne in the said Princes dominions, wherefore they furthered their affaires, hoping by their meanes to ob∣taine some good offices in the towne, which are more hunted after there than in any other place, and no maruell: for those that are in office make of their offices what they can, not what they ought, which is the cause that some offices in the towne of no fee at all are sold for eight hundred crownes, and other some of very small fee, for more than the fee will amount to in fifteene yeeres. Seldome is any man put out of office: for the Court of parlament alloweth these sales of offices as lawfull, the reason whereof is bicause it is a generall case. Among the Councillors are alwaies a number both of vertuous and woorthy personages, and also of lewd and euill con∣ditioned persons, as are also in all other estates.

The Notes.

1 It is requisite that I should here set downe the particular quarrell that euery one of these princes had to the King, some are mentioned by our author, and others in other au∣thors. The D. of Berries quarell was for a larger partage. The Earle of Charaloys deman∣ded the restitution of the territories vpon the riuer of Somme. The D. of Britaine had cause to be offended and afearde, because the King had picked a quarell to him by deman∣ding of him three things, neuer before demanded of any D. of Britaine: The first, that he should no more write in his stile Dei gratia Britanniae Dux: The second, that he should pay to the King a yeerly tribute: The third, that all the spirituall liuings in Britaine should be left to the Kings disposing. For these causes the D. of Britaine ioyned with the princes: the D. of Calabria had cause of offence, because being entred into Italy to reco∣uer the Realme of Naples, and the King hauing promised him aide: after the said D. of Calabria was ouerthrowne at Troia in Apulia: the King refused to send him the aide promised, so that he was forced vtterly to abandon his enterprise. The D. of Bourbon had maried the Kings sister, and could not get hir mariage monie: the Duke of Nemours, Earles of Dunois, Dalebret, and the rest of the noble men and gentlemen were against the King, some bicause they were put out of pension and office, many bicause the King sought to depriue them of the roialties they had in their seniories touching Hunting and Haw∣king, and sought to draw all to himselfe, but all in generall were offended because he contemned his nobility, and entertained none but men of base estate about him. Thus much I have set downe bicause it might otherwise seeme strange, that all these Princes should thus conspire against the King for zeale of the common wealth, if other particular greifes had not more mooued them than the misgouernment of the estate.

2 To the ende the reader finde it not strange that Rene is here called King of Sicily, sith the house of Arragon possessed the same Realme at that time: it is to be vnderstood that the race of the Normans (who about the yeere 1060. subdued Sicily, Calabria and Apulia: and about the yeere 1102. tooke vpon them the title of Kings of Sicily,) being extinct in Roger the last King of Sicily of that race about the yeere 1195. the said Realme fell to the issue of the Emperor Fridericus Barbarossa by the marriage of Constantia daughter to Roger the first King of Sicill, and aunt to Roger the last King of Sicill of this race, with Henry the said Barbarossas sonne, in which race it continuedtily Manfridus bastard sonne to Fridericus the Emperor, sonne to the aboue named Henry obteined the crowne of Sicill & Naples by dispossessing Conradinus his nephew the true heir therof. Against this Manfridus Pope Vrbanus the 4. called into Italie Charles of Amon bro∣ther to S. Lewis King of Fraunce who slew Manfridus in battell, and afterward execu∣ted also Conradinus the true heire of the crowne, being taken in battell, comming with

an armie to conquer the said realmes of Naples and Sicily as his true inheritance: and thus obteined this Charles of Aniou the crowne both of Naples and Sicily, till not long after by the comming of Peter king of Arragon, who had married Constantia daughter and heire to Manfridus: the Sicilians arose suddenly against the French, slew them all in one euening, and yeelded the Realme of Sicily to the saide Peter, whose posteritie euer sithens euen till this day haue continued in possession thereof. Notwithstanding the posteritie of Charles of Aniou held still the Realme of Naples with the title of the Realme of Sicily, till the time that the later Iane Queene of Naples, to fortifie hir selfe against Pope Vrbanus Sextus adopted Alfonse of Arragon, sonne to Ferrande King of Arragon, which Ferrandes mother named Elenor was daughter to King Peter: but af∣ter the saide Iane for displeasure conceiued against the saide Alfonse adopted secondari∣lie Lewis D. of Aniou, brother to Charles the 5. King of Fraunce, descended of the race of the first Charles King of Sicily, against whom and his sonne Lewis Alfonse long war∣red, and in the end after Queene Ianes death chased them both out of Italy, and left the Realmes of Arragon and Sicily to Iohn his brother: but the Realme of Naples to Fer∣rande his base sonne, with whom Rene heere mentioned (brother to Lewis the 2. of that name D. of Aniou and king of Sicily, and by him with Ianes consent adopted) long vvar∣red, but preuailed not: so that Rene had onely the title of Sicily and Naples by the adopti∣on aforesaid, but no possession thereof: for Sicily the kings of Arragon held euer since the conquest of Peter, and the realme of Naples Ferrande the bastard held of his fathers gift, from vvhose posterity hovv in the end after many alterations it fell to the house of Arragon that novv possesseth it, shall be set dovvne at large in the vvars of Naples made by King Charles the 8. vvho had the house of Anious title, vvhereof our author treateth in the 7. and 8. booke of this historie.

3 This force led by the Marshall of Burgundie vvas of 4000. men. Meyer.

4 This Oudet is he that acquainted the Duke of Berry vvith this confederacie, and conueighed him into Britaine. Meyer. La Marche.

5 Franck archers were these: King Charles the 7. in the yeere 1449. being destitute of footemen, appointed that euery threescore houses in his realme should arme a man, vvho in time of vvar receiued paie of the King, and vvere exempt from all subsidies and pay∣ments: for the which cause they vvere all called franck, that is free, but King Lewis the 11. anno 1480. abolished these franck archers and waged Switzers in their place.

A discourse vpon ambitious hunting after offices and estates, by the example of the English men. Chap. 7.

I Speake of these offices and estates, bicause in changes they are so greedily desired, and are also cause thereof, as appeereth by that which hath happened not onely in this our age, but also in the time of King Charles the sixt, vnder whom the wars began that endured till the treatie of Arras, during the which wars the English men entred into the realme, and conquered so far that at the time of the saide treatie (which continued ¹ the space of two moneths) the Duke of Bedford brother to Henry the fift King of England, being maried to Duke Philip of Burgundies sister, was regent in Fraunce for the English men, whose monethly allowance in that office amounted to 20000. crownes at the

least. At the said treatie were present for the King of Fraunce, fower or fiue Dukes or Earles, fiue or sixe Prelates, and ten or twelue Councellers of the Parliament. For Duke Philip likewise diuers Noble men ² in much greater number, for the Pope 2. Cardinals as mediators, and for the English men diuers noble personages. Duke Philip greatly desired to acquite himselfe honorably towards the English men be∣fore he would abandon them, bicause of the ancient league that had been betweene them: wherefore the Duchies of Normandie and Guien were offered to the King of England, with condition that he should do homage for them to the crowne of Fraunce, as his predecessors had done, and restore all the places he held in the Realme out of the said Duchies: which condition the English men bicause of the homage, refused, but to their great losse: for being abandoned of this house of Bur∣gundie, their good successe altered, and all their intelligences within the realme failed, whereby their power daily so diminished, that in short space they lost Paris, and by little and little all that they held in this realme. After their returne into Eng∣land, none of them would diminish his estate, but the offices within the realme suffi∣ced not for maintenance of them all, wherupon long ciuil wars arose among them, in the which King Henry the sixt, who had been crowned King of England & Fraunce at Paris, was proclaimed traitor, and imprisoned in the tower of London, where he remained the greatest part of his life, and in the end was there murthered. The Duke of Yorke father to King Edward that last died, intituled himselfe right heire to the crowne, & soone after was slaine in the battell, and had his head smitten off, as had also the Earle of Warwick ³ that last died, whose credit was so great in England, and all the rest that were slaine in those wars. The said Earle of Warwick led the Earle of Marche afterward named Edward the fourth, by sea to Calais with a small companie escaped out of battell ⁴ , for the Earle of Warwick tooke part with the house of Yorke, as the Duke of Sommerset did with the house of Lancaster. To be short, these wars indured so long, that all they of the houses of Warwick and Som∣merset were either slaine or beheaded in them. King Edward caused afterward his owne brother the Duke of Clarence to be drowned in a Butt of malmesey, charging him that he ment to make himselfe King: but after King Edwards death, his other brother the Duke of Glocester murthered the said Kings two sonnes, proclaimed his daughters bastards, and vsurped the crowne. Immediately after the which cruell deed, the Earle of Richmond now King (who had been prisoner many yeeres in Bri∣taine) passed into England, and discomfited and slew in battell this bloody King Richard, late murtherer of his two nephewes. Thus haue there died in England in these ciuill wars since my remembrance, aboue fowerscore persons of the blood Royall, part of the which I my selfe knew, & part vnderstood of by the English men resident with the Duke of Burgundie at the same time that I serued him. Wherfore you see it is not at Paris onely, nor in Fraunce alone that men fall at variance for worldly goods and honors. But sure all Kings and great Princes ought to take heed that they suffer not factions to arise in their courts: for thereof kindleth the fire that consumeth their whole countrey in the end. Notwithstanding such alterations happen not in mine opinion, but by Gods disposition, for when Princes and realmes haue long florished in great wealth and prosperitie, and forget from whence all these benefits proceede: God raiseth vp an enimie against them, whom they neuer feared nor stood in doubt of, as appeereth by the Kings mentioned in the Bible, and by that also which hath hapned and daily doth happen, not onely in England, and in these countries of Burgundie, but in diuers other places also.

The Notes.

1 The last of Iuly arriued the French Kings ambassadors at the treaty of Arras Annal. Burg. so that the treaty began in the beginning of August, and the English men departed discontented the 6. of December. Annal. Bur. and the treatie ended the 21. of September, but De la Marche saith the 10. of December. Meyer. 11. Calen. Octob. which agreeth with Annal. Burg.

2 At the treatie vvas present Philip D. of Burgundie himselfe. La Marche. Meyer.

3 Our Chronicles report that the Duke of Yorke vvith diuers others slaine in the bat∣tell, and the Earle of Salisbury father to the Earle of VVarvvick, vvho vvas taken pri∣soner in the battell vvere behedded, and their heds sent to Yorke in derision: but I re∣member not that the Earle of VVarvvick vvas behedded after he vvas slaine, and I suppose the vnskilfull corrector hath here omitted a vvord or tvvo, and that vve must read in place of Luy & le Comte de Warwic. Luy & le pere du Comte de Warwic.

4 The Earles of Marche and VVarvvick vvent to Calice before the Duke of Yorke vvas slaine, or ouerthrowen in battell: for they fled from Ludlovv lying in campe there against the kings force, bicause they found themselues too vveake, and their counsels be∣trayed by Andrew Trowlop vvho fled from them to the King.

How King Lewis entred into Paris, while the Princes of Fraunce practised with the citizens. Chap. 8.

I Haue been long in this discourse, and it is now time to returne to the historie. After the Princes were come before Paris, they began to practise with the citizens, promising offices and great rewards to diuers, and omit∣ting nothing that might further their purpose. At three daies end the citizens assembled togither in the towne hall, where when they had long debated these matters, and heard the Princes requests & demands made openly to them for the benefit of the whole realme (as they pre∣tended:) they determined to send ambassadors to them to treate of peace, according to the which determination a great number of the best citizens came to Saint Mor where the Princes lay, and Master VVilliam Chartier then Bishop of Paris, a notable prelate, declared the citizens embassage, and for the Princes the Earle of Dunois was appointed to be mouth. The Duke of Berry the Kings brother was president of this Councill sitting in a chaire, and all the other Princes standing about him. On the one side stood the Dukes of Britaine and Cala∣bria, and on the other the Earle of Charolois armed at all peeces saue the head peece and vantbrases, and wearing vpon his quirage a short cloke maruellous rich: for he came from Conflans: and Bois-de-Vincennes being well manned was held for the King: wherefore it stood him vpon to come armed and well accompanied. The Princes request was to enter into Paris to confer with the citizens about the reformation of the state, which they said was euill gouerned, charging the King with diuers disorders. The citizens gaue them very lowly and humble language, desiring respite before they could make any resolute answer: yet (notwithstanding this de∣lay) the King was afterward discontented both with the Bishop and the rest that

accompanied him. Thus returned these ambassadors into the towne, continuing still their former practise: for euery one of the Princes talked with them apart, and I am of opinion that some of them had agreed secretly to suffer the Princes in their owne persons to enter the towne, and their men also (if they so thought good) by small troupes: which practise if it had taken effect, had not onely been the winning of the towne, but the atchieuing of the whole enterprise. For the citizens would easily haue been brought for diuers considerations to reuolt to them, and so consequently all the other townes in the realme. But God put wise counsell into the Kings head, which also he executed accordingly, being alreadie aduertised of all these pra∣ctises.

Before the ambassadors that were returned from the Princes had made their re∣port, the King in person entred the towne of Paris, accompanied like a prince that commeth to relieue his people: for he brought with him into the towne two thou∣sand men of armes, all the nobles of Normandie, a great number of franke archers, and all his owne seruants, pensioners and others that vse to accompanie the King in such affaires. Thus this practise was broken off, and all the people altered their mindes, neither durst any of them that had been with vs make farther mention of the Princes demaunds. Some of them also sped but euill for that they had alreadie done, notwithstanding the King vsed no extremitie towards them ¹ , but some lost their offices, and others were sent to dwell in other places: for the which easie re∣uenge the King vndoubtedly deserued great commendation, considering that if this practise begun had taken effect, the best that could haue happened to him had been to forsake his realme, which also was his resolution. For as himselfe hath often told me, if he could not haue entred into Paris, but had found the towne reuolted, he would haue retired to the Switzers, or to Francis Duke of Milan, whom he ac∣counted his especiall friend, and so also the Duke shewed himselfe, as well by the aide he sent him being fiue hundred men of armes and three thousand footemen vnder the leading of his eldest sonne Galeas afterward Duke of Milan (who came as far as the countrey of Forrestz in Auuergne, where he made war vpon the Duke of Bour∣bon, and afterward returned home bicause of his fathers death:) as also by the counsell he gaue him at the treatie of peace held at Conflans, where he sent him word to refuse no condition of peace, but to seuer his companie, and retain his owne forces still about him.

We had hardly been three daies before Paris when the King entred the towne, immediately after whose arriuall sharpe war was made vpon vs, especially vpon our forragers, whom we were constrained to garde with great forces, bicause they went far from our campe. Now to speake somwhat of the towne of Paris, we must needes confesse that it is maruellous well situate in the Ile of Fraunce, seeing the countrey about it was able to victuall two such huge armies: for as touching vs we neuer lac∣ked, and they within the towne found nothing enhaunced, saue onely a denier ² vp∣on euery loafe of bread, the reason wherof was, bicause we held not the riuers aboue the towne, being these three, Marne, Yonne, and Seine, besides diuers small streames that run into them. Wherefore all things considered this towne is situate in the best and fruitfullest soile that euer I sawe, yea it is almost incredible how great the prouision is that commeth thither. I my selfe was resident there since the time I now write of, halfe a yeere togither with K. Levvis being lodged at the Tournelles, and ordinarily eating and lodging in the court. Since his death also by the space of twentie moneths, full sore against my will I was held prisoner in his pallace, where I saw daily out of my windowe the prouision that came vp the streame out of Nor∣mandie,

and likewise downe the streame, which was so great that I would neuer haue beleeued it, had I not seene it.

Diuers bands as you haue heard issued daily out of Paris, & the skirmishes were great, our watch being of fiftie launces, stood neere to la Grange aux Merciers, but our escouts rode as neere Paris as was possible, the which were often beaten backe to our watch, and eftsoones (the enimie on their backe) as far as our cariage, retirng somtime a softpace, and somtime a fast trot. Then vsed we to renforce them with new supplies, which beat backe the enimies hard to the towne gates, and this was daily and howerly done, for within the towne were aboue 2500. men of armes in ve∣rie good order, and a great number of gentlemen of Normandy, and franke archers, besides that they sawe daily their Ladies which encouraged them to put foorth themselues. Our force was also verie great, but in horsemen we were not so strong as they, for we had with vs onely the Burgundians being about two thousand launces good and bad, nothing so well armed as they within Paris, bicause of the long peace wherein they had liued as before is mentioned, of the which number also two hundred men of armes were at Laigny with the Duke of Calabria, but of footemen we had great force, and those very good. The Britains armie laie at Saint Denys, making war on that side the towne of Paris all the waies they could, and the other noblemen were disparkled some heere some there, to make prouision of victuals. In the end the Duke of Nemours, the Earle of Armignac, & the Lord of Albret came to vs, but their forces lodged a good way from our campe bicause they had no pay, and should haue famished our armie, if they had taken ought without money. This I am sure of, that the Earle of Charolois gaue them fiue or sixe thousand franckes, and tooke order that they should come no neerer vs. They were at the least fiue or sixe thousand horse that did maruellous much harme in the countrey.

The Notes.

1 Yet Meyer vvriteth that the King aftervvard poisoned the Bishop, but Meyers vvords are no Gospell.

2 A Denier is the tvvelfth part of threehalfepence starling.

How the Earle of Charolois artillerie and the Kings artillerie shot the one against the other neere to Charenton, and how the Earle of Charolois caused another bridge to be built vpon boates ouer the riuer of Seine. Chap. 9.

NOw to returne to the campe before Paris, you may be sure that no day passed without losse on both sides, but no great exploit was done, for the King would suffer no great force to issue out of the towne, neither ment to hazard the battel, but desired peace, and wisely to disparkle this assemblie. Notwithstanding, one morning very early 4000. archers came and encamped along by the riuer side vpon the very banke, directly ouer against Con∣flans. The gentlemen of Normandie and certaine of the Kings ordinarie men of armes laie in a village but a quarter of a league from them, and be∣tweene

them and their footemen was onely a faire plaine. The riuer of Seine ran betweene them and vs, and they began to dig a trench hard by Charenton, which ran in length to the very end of our campe, directly ouer against the which, (the riuer being betweene vs and them as you haue heard) they built a bulwarke of wood and earth, and thereon mounted greatstore of artilirie, which at the verie first shot cha∣sed the Duke of Calabrias men out of the village of Charenton, and forced them in great haste to come and lodge with vs with losse both of men and horses. But the Duke of Calabria himselfe laie in a litle house betweene the riuer and the Earle of Charolois lodging, directly ouer against the enimies.

This artilerie shot also into our campe, and put the whole armie in great feare, for the verie first shot slew certaine of our men, and twise it strake through the Earle of Charolois chamber as he sat at dinner, and slew a trumpetter vpon the staires, bearing vp a dish of meate. Wherefore after dinner the Earle remooued into a low parlor resoluing not to depart thence. The next morning the Princes met at his lod∣ging to consult what was to be done: for they euer sate in counsell there, and at their rising dined also there togither. The Dukes of Berry and Britaine sate next to the wall vpon the bench, and the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria ouer against them. The said Earle placed euery one of them aboue himselfe, as reason was he should some of them, yea all of them seeing they were in his lodging. There they deuised to countermount all the artillerie in their armie against the Kings, wherof the Earle of Charolois had great store, as had also the Dukes of Calabria & Britaine: for accomplishment of which their purpose, they pearced the wals along the riuer side behinde Conflans, and there mounted all the best peeces of their artil∣lery, saue the Bombards and the other great peeces which shot not: the rest also they planted in other places where they might do best seruice, and by this meanes the Princes had much more artillerie on their side than the King on his.

The trench that the French had made was of great length, and they wrought con∣tinually vpon it, aduancing it towards Paris, and casting the earth towards vs, there∣by to saue themselues from our shot: for they lay all in their trench, neither durst one of them peepe out, bicause the medow where they lodged was as plaine as a mans hand. To conclude I neuer heard in so short space such a number of Canon shot, for we on our side ment to remooue them thence by force of artillerie, but vnto them ordinance came daily from Paris, and they plied the matter diligently and spa∣red no powder. A great number in our army digged pits in the ground before their lodging, many also were made to their hands, for it was a place where men wrought for stone. Thus euery man shifted for himselfe the best he could, and three or fower daies we passed in this estate, but the feare was greater on both sides than the losse, for not one man of name was slaine.

But when the Princes sawe that their enimies dislodged not, they accounted it a thing tending greatly to their dishonor, and also very dangerous: for the Parisians were thereby so greatly encouraged, that one day of truce it seemed all the towne was come foorth to the trenches. Wherefore the Princes concluded as they sate in councel, to make a large bridge of great botes, the noses whereof were coupled ¹ to∣gither, and the rest couered with planks, and the last couple nearest to the shore fastened to the ground with great anchors: besides these, a number of other great botes vpon the riuer of Seine were brought thither, wherein they meant to passe ouer certaine bands to assaile the Kings forces. The charge of this worke was com∣mitted to Master Giralde the Master gunner who said, that our bands that passed the riuer should haue great aduantage ouer their enimies, bicause their trenches would

be far vnderneath vs, considering that they had throwen the earth on the side toward vs, alleaging farther that they durst not issue foorth of their trenches, for feare of our shot, which reasons much encouraged our men, and made them the willinger to passe ouer. Thus the bridge being finished all saue the last couple of botes, which also were vpon the point to be fastened to the rest, and all the other botes appointed for conueiance ouer of our men being likewise in a readines: suddenly one of the Kings heralds arriued there, who said to Monseur de Bonillet and others there pre∣sent, that we had broken the truce. For bicause that day and the day before were daies of truce, euery man that listed came to see what we did, but that night the truce ended, our bridge was so large that three men of armes with their staues readie to charge, might haue passed ouer it vpon a front. Farther there were fiue or sixe great boates, euery one of the which would haue conueied ouer a thousand men at a time, besides a number of lesse boates to passe ouer the artilerie that should serue in this enterprise. The bands were also named, and their names enroled that should go, and the Earle of S. Paul, and the Lord of Haultbourdin ordained to leade them. After midnight they that were appointed to this enterprise began to arme themselues, and before day were al in a readines. Some also went & heard masse, and did as good Christians ought to do in such a case. The same night I was my selfe in a great tent in the middest of the armie where the watch stood, being also one of the watch: for no man was excused. The captaine of the watch was Monseur de Chastell Guyon ² , slaine afterward at the battell of Granson ³ . And as we stood there waiting when this pastime should begin, suddenly we heard the French as they lodged in their trenches cry alowd: Farewell neighbors, farewell, immediately whereupon they set fire on their lodgings and retired their artillerie. The day began to breake, and they that were appointed to this enterprise were alreadie vpon the riuer, at the least part of them when they saw the enimies afar off retiring to Paris, whereupon they retur∣ned all, and vnarmed themselues, reioicing much bicause of their departure. But you shall vnderstand that the King sent them thither onely to beate our campe with artillerie, not to fight: for he would put nothing in aduenture, as before I haue said, notwithstanding that his force were sufficient to haue encountred with all these Princes ioined togither, but his onely desire was, as he well declared, to treate of peace, and to seuer this company without hazarding his estate and the state of this large and noble realme of Fraunce in battell, than the which nothing can be more vncertaine nor dangerous.

Euery day they practised on both sides to with draw men ech from other, & diuers daies of truce were made, during the which Commissioners sat on both sides to treat of peace at La Grange aux Merciers hard by our campe. For the King, the Earle of Maine with diuers others came thither, and for the Princes, the Earle of S. Paul accompanied with diuers others in like maner. These Commissioners met often, but no good was done: notwithstanding all that time the truce endured, and a num∣ber of both the armies met and communed togither at a great ditch in the midway: the one, on the one side: and the others, on the other: for neither partie might passe the ditch. Notwitstanding the truce, no day escaped by reason of this meeting and communication, but that ten or twelue, and somtime more, came and yeelded to the Princes, and another day as many went from vs to the King: wherefore this place was afterward called the market place, bicause such marchandise was bought and sold there. Now to shew you mine opinion in this case, me thinketh that such mee∣ting and communing togither at such times, and in such sort is very dangerous, espe∣cially for him that is likest to take the foile: for naturally most men desire to aduance

themselues, at the least to saue themselues: wherefore they will easilie be wonne to turne to the strongest. Some there are I confesse so faithfull and constant, that none of these respects can alter them, but few such are to be found. Farther this danger is then specially to be feared, when we deale with a Prince that will endeuor him selfe to winne men: which sure is a great grace of God in any Prince that can frame him selfe thereunto, for it is a token that he is not infected with the foule vice and sinne of pride, which all men detest and abhor. But to conclude this discourse, when a Prince mindeth to treat of peace, he ought to employ therein the faithfullest and trustiest seruants he hath, being men of ripe yeeres, lest their lacke of expe∣rience cause them either to conclude some dishonorable treaty, or put their master in greater feare at their returne than there is cause why. Farther a Prince ought to com∣mit such affaires rather to those that haue receaued benefit at his hands than to such as neuer were benefited by him, but especially to wise men, for he shall neuer make profit by imploying a foole. Besides this, such treaties ought to be held rather far from his campe than neere vnto it, and when the Commissioners returne, the Prince must giue them audience, himselfe alone or in presence of verie fewe, to the end that if their newes be discomfortable, they may be instructed how to answer those that will be inquisitiue, for all men will desire to vnderstand newes of them, yea and some of their familiars will thinke that they wil hide nothing from them, notwithstanding if they be such men as I haue heere described, and know their master to be wise, they will reueale nothing to any man whosoeuer.

The Notes.

1 Couperoit in the French is vndoubtedly to be read Coupleroit as I haue heere tran∣slated it, for to read it Couperoit is senselesse, for the better vnderstanding of this place peruse Valturius de re militari lib. 11. pag. 313. where you shall se the right description of this bridge.

2 This Chastel Guyon Chasteau Guyen, and Chasteau Guyon as our author also afterward nameth him was the Prince of Orenges sonne, La Marche.

3 The old copie saith he was slaine at Morat but De la Marche, who was at the battell sayeth at Granson: but heere is to be noted that the Chasteau Guyon mentioned by our author, lib. 5. cap. 2. and by Annal. Burgund. that went into Piemont after the battell of Granson was not this, but sonne or brother to this which is prooued by Commines owne vvords, for in that place he calleth him Mounseor De Chasteau Guyon qui est de pre∣sent, and vvhether this Chasteau Guyon vvere slaine at Granson or Morat, he cold not be aliue in Charles the 8 time, vvhen our author writ. Thus much I haue said lest Com∣mines should seeme to vary from La Marche or rather from himselfe.

A discourse vpon certaine vices and vertues of King Lewis the 11. Chap. 10.

I Am entred into this discourse bicause I haue seene much false∣hood in the world, and many seruants deceaue their masters, of∣tentimes through their masters owne fault: for this I dare bold∣ly auowe, that proud and disdainfull Princes, and such as will giue audience but to fewe, are oftner abused then those that are curteous, and readie to giue eare to euery man: wherein sure King Levvis our master surmounted far all the Princes of his

time, for he was the wisest Prince in winding himselfe out of trouble and aduersitie, the humblest in words, the plainest in apparell, and the greatest traueller to win a man that might do him seruice or harme that euer I knew. Neither vsed he to relin∣quish his sute for the first refusal, but labored the party continually by large promises and liberall gifts, as well of great sums of money as also of such estates and offices as he knew would content him. And as touching those whom he had banished and withdrawne his fauor from in peace and prosperitie: he bought them deerely againe when he needed them, and imploied them in his seruice, cleane forgetting all offen∣ces passed. He loued naturally men of meane estate, and was enimie to all such as needed not to depende vpon him: neuer Prince gaue audience to so many men, neuer Prince was inquisitiue of so many matters, nor desirous to be acquainted with so many strangers as he, whereby he knew aswell all that were in authoritie and estimation in England, Spaine, Portugale, Italie, and the Seniories of Burgundie and Britaine, as his owne subiects. And by these vertues preserued he his estate, which stood in great danger at his first comming to the crowne, bicause of the eni∣mies himselfe had procured to himselfe. But his great liberalitie especially serued him to good purpose, for as in aduersitie he wisely behaued himselfe, so contrariwise in time of peace or truce, he lightlie fell out with his seruants, by picking trifling quarels to them, and such was his disposition, that he could hardly away with peace or quietnes. In his talke he spared no man, neither absent nor present, saue such as he feared, which were many, for naturally he was very fearfull. Farther, when his talke had either turned him to displeasure, or was like so to do, he would endeuor himselfe to amend the matter, by vsing these or such like words to the partie offended: I know well that my toong hath wrought me much displeasure, but it hath also oftentimes stood me in great stead, notwithstanding reason it is that I should repaire the iniurie done, and when he vsed this familiar speech, he euer gaue withall some great present to the partie greeued. Sure the knowledge of good and euill is a great gift of God to a Prince, I meane when the good surmounteth the euill, as it did in the King our Master, who in mine opinion was much bettered by the trouble he sustained in his youth, when he fled from his father and soiourned with Duke Philip of Burgundy the space of sixe yeeres ¹ : for he was constrained there to frame himselfe to the hu∣mor of those whom he stood in neede of, which singular vertue aduersitie taught him. But after his fathers death, when he came first to the state he thought onely vpon reuenge, but soone felt the smart thereof, and therefore foorthwith changed his minde, acknowledged his error, repaired the harmes done, and sought to recouer by large benefits those whom he had offended, as heerafter you shall perceiue. And I thinke verily he should neuer haue wound himselfe out of those troubles had not his education been better than noble mens commonly is in this realme, who are brought vp altogither in wantonnes and dissolutenes, as well in apparell as in talke, they are vtterly vnlearned, there is not one wise man about them: they haue gouer∣nors that dispose of all their affaires, but they themselues do nothing: yea some no∣ble men there are hardly of fower nobles rent that glorie in saying, Speake to my seruants, thinking thereby to imitate great Princes. But I haue oftentimes seene their seruants so make their profit of them, that their folly hath thereby appeered to the whole world. And if any of them happen at the length to looke about him, and to attend to his owne busines, it is so late that it seemeth almost to no purpose: for all those that haue been great or done great things began in their tender age, which vertue proceedeth either of their bringing vp, or of the grace of God.

The Notes.

1 King Lewis departed from his father into Daulphin anno 1447. and there remained till the yeere 1456. at the which time bicause of the force his father sent thither against him, he was constrained to flie to the Duke of Burgundy where he remained till the yeere of his coronation, which was in the yeere 1461. Annal. Burgund. De la Marche. Meyer.

How the Burgundians lying neere to Paris, and looking for the battell, supposed great thistles to haue been launces held vpright. Chap. 11.

I Haue been long in this discourse, but it serueth to so good pur∣pose that sooner I could not end it. Now to returne to the wars, you haue heard how these archers that lay in the trench along vpon the riuer of Seine, dislodged at the very instant that we should haue assailed them. The truce neuer endured past a day or two, and when it ended sharpe war began againe, and the skirmishes continued from morning till night, but no great force issued foorth of the towne, notwithstanding they beat backe our scoutes often∣times whom we euer releeued with new supplies. There passed no day without some skirmish great or small, and I thinke the King would haue had them greater, had it not been bicause he was ielous of diuers though needlesly. I haue heard him say that one night he found the posterne of Saint Anthonies bastile towards the fields wide open, which put him in suspicion of Master Charles of Melun, whose father kept the place, yet sure a faithfuller seruant than the said Charles that yeere the King had none.

One day they within Paris determined to issue foorth to fight with vs, of the which enterprise I suppose the King vnderstood nothing, but it was onely his captaines resolution, they meant to assaile vs three seuerall waies, their greatest band should haue come from Paris, another from Pont de Charenton, which two could not greatly haue endamaged vs, and the third appointed to be two hundred men of armes from Bois-de-Vincennes. Of this resolution we were aduertised about mid∣night by a Page that told vs this newes as lowd as he could crie from the other side of the riuer by the commandement of the Princes friends within the towne, some of the which also he named and so departed. By breake of day issued foorth Master Poncet of Riuiere before Pont de Charenton, and the Lord of Lauon the other side from Bois-de-Vincennes euen hard to our artillerie, where they slue one of our gun∣ners. The alarme was great in our campe: for we supposed this to be the enterprise, whereof the Page aduertised vs ouer night. The Earle of Charolois was soone ar∣med, yet not so soone as Iohn Duke of Calabria, for at all alarmes he was the first man armed, and that at all points, and his horse euer barded. Moreouer he ware such a garment as the famous men of war vse in Italy, and shewed himselfe both a noble Prince, and a woorthy Captaine: he rode straight to the barriars of our campe to staie our men fom issuing foorth, where he was as well obeyed as the Earle of Charolois him selfe: yea the whole armie obeied him more willingly than any man in the companie, of the which honor vndoubtedly he was woorthie. Incontinent our whole force was in armes & stood in order of battell within our cariage, all saue

two hundred horse that kept our watch abroad. To be short, this day we looked as∣suredly for the battell, but neuer before nor neuer after. Soone after the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria, arriued the Dukes of Berry and Britaine, whom I neuer saw armed but this day onely. The Duke of Berry was armed at all points: notwithstanding they were but weakely accompanied, in the which estate they passed through the campe, and rode foorth to the Lords of Charolois and Ca∣labria where they communed togither. Our scoutes being renforced, rode as neere Paris as they could, and discouered a great number of our enimies scouts, comming to learne what noise this was in our army. Our artillerie shot terriblie when Monseur De Lau approched so neere vs: the King also had good peeces vpon Paris wals, that shot into our campe which was strange: for we lay two leagues from the town, but I thinke the peeces were mounted to the most aduantage. This thundering of the artillerie, caused both the parties to thinke some great enterprise to be towards: The day was very darke and cloudy, and our scouts approching neer to Paris, disco∣uered many enimies abroad in the field, and a good way beyond them, a number of launces held vpright (as they supposed,) which they iudged to be the Kings whole force, and all the people of Paris issued foorth of the towne in order of battel: which imagination the darknes of the heauens put into their head. They returned foorth∣with to the Princes being yet without our campe, & aduertised them of this news, assuring them of the battell. The scoutes that were issued foorth of Paris approched still neerer and neerer to our campe, bicause they saw ours retire: which thing so much the more increased in our scoutes their former imagination. Then came the Duke of Calabria to the place where a great number of the Earle of Charolois houshold seruants stood to accompanie his standard and his banner readie to be displaied, and the guidon of his armes according to the custome of the house of Burgundy, and there the said Duke of Calabria spake thus to vs all: We haue now our desire, for the King is issued foorth with his whole force, and marcheth forward as our scouts tell vs. Wherefore let vs determine to play the men. So soone as they be out of the towne we will enter, and measure with the long ell ¹ , and with such like words rode he about encouraging the companie: our scouts at the length per∣ceiuing the enimies to be but weake recouered their spirits, & rode againe towards Paris, where they discouered these battels in the selfe-same place they left them: whereupon they entred into a new cogitation what they might be, but when they approched neere to them (the day being broken vp and cleere) they perceiued them to be high thistles, whereupon they rode hard to the towne gates, and found not a man abroad, whereof incontinent they aduertised the Princes, who vpon this newes went to masse and afterward to dinner: but our scoutes were ashamed of their first aduertisement, notwithstanding the darknes of the day, togither with the message of the Page brought vnto vs ouernight, somwhat excused them.

The Notes.

1 By the long ell he meaneth the pike, wherewith souldiers at the sacke of a towne vse to measure veluets, silks, and cloths.

How the King and the Earle of Charolois met togither to treat of peace. Chap. 12.

THe treatie of peace continued still, betweene the King and the Earle of Charolois especially, bicause the principall force of both the armies was theirs. The Princes demands were great: namely the Duke of Berries, who required all Normandy for his partage, which the King would by no means condescend vnto. The Earle of Charolois demanded the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme: namely, Abbeuille, Amiens, Saint Quintin, Pe∣ronne, and the rest that King Charles the 7. had engaged by the treatie of Arras to D. Philip of Burgundy, of whom King Lewis had redeemed them for the summe of fower hundred thousand crownes, not past three moneths before: but the Earle of Charolois alleaged that during his life, the King could not redeeme them, ¹ putting him alwaies in remembrance how much he was beholding to the house of Burgun∣die, which receiued him when he fled from King Charles his father, furnished him of money to maintaine his estate, the space of sixe yeeres ² and accompanied him at his coronation to Reimes and Paris ³ , wherefore the Earle of Charolois tooke the redeeming of these townes in very euill part. This treatie of peace was so followed, that one morning the King came by water directly ouer against our campe, leauing his horsemen that accompanied him vpon the riuer side, and hauing in the barge with him besides the water men that rowed, onely fower or fiue persons, namely Monseur Du Lau, Monseur De Montauban then admirall of Fraunce, and Monseur De Nantouillet, with one or two more. The Earles of Charolois and Saint Paul stood on the other side of the riuer to receiue the King, who said thus to the Earle of Cha∣rolois, Brother, do you assure me in the word of a Prince, (for the Earles first wife was the Kings sister ⁴ :) whereunto the Earle answered, Yea sir as one brother should assure another. Then the King & his company landed, the two Earles receiuing him honorablie according to his estate, and he hauing words at will, began thus & said: Brother, I know you to be a gentleman & of the house of Fraunce: why, sir, quoth the Earle? bicause said the K. when I sent of late mine Ambassadors to mine vncle your father, & you to Lisle, where my foolish chancellor Moruillier so much misbehaued himselfe toward you: you sent me word by the Archbishop of Narbonne (who is a gentleman as his behauiour there well declared,) that before a yeere expired I should repent me of the proud language the said Moruillier there vsed. You haue kept promise indeed, and that long before your daie: which words the King spake with a merrie cheerefull countenance, knowing his nature with whom he talked to be such that they would please him wel, as vndoubtedly they did. Then the King pro∣ceeded further saying, I loue to deale with men that keepe promise. Afterward he disauowed Moruilliers words, saying that he had spoken beyond his commission. To be short, the King walked a long time between these two Earles, a great number of the Earle of Charolois souldiers in armes standing by, and marking diligently their behauiour. At this meeting the Earles required the Duchie of Normandie, and the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme, with diuers other particular de∣mands for themselues, and certaine ouertures lately treated of for the common wealth of the realme, but vpon those they stood lest: for the weale publique was now turned into wealth priuate. As touching Normandie the King would hardly

heare thereof, but he granted the Earle of Charolois demaunds, and for his sake offered the Earle of Saint Paule the office of Constable: which communication ended, the King tooke barge and returned to Paris, and the Earles to Conflans, de∣parting each from other in very courteous and louing manner.

Thus passed we the time, somtime in peace and somtime in war, but notwithstan∣ding that the treatie of peace at la Grange aux Merciers where the Commissioners vsed to sit, were cleane broken off on both sides: yet continued still the communi∣cation aboue mentioned betweene the King and the Earle of Charolois, and mes∣sengers went betweene them notwithstanding the war: for the Earle sent to the King VVilliam of Bische and Guillot Diusie, being both his owne seruants, but yet beholding to the King: for when Duke Philip had banished them, the King at the Earle of Charolois request entertained them. Many misliked these sendings to and fro, so far foorth that the Princes began now to mistrust and abandon each other, in such sort that had not one thing happened soone after ⁵ , they had all departed with great dishonor. Twise I sawe them hold three seuerall assemblies in one chamber where they were togither, wherewith the Earle of Charolois was maruellously offended: for he thought, seeing the greatest force of this armie was his, that they did him wrong to sit in counsell in his chamber, he being present, without calling him to it: wherefore he debated this matter with the Lord of Contay a very wise gentleman, who aduised him to take it patiently, bicause if he should alienate their mindes from him they could better make their peace than he, adding that as he was the strongest, so ought he to be the wisest, and farther counselling him to do his en∣deuor by all meanes possible for their continuance togither in friendship, and in no wise to fall at variance with them, but to digest and winke at all these disorders. Lastly he told him that all men woondered, yea his owne seruants, that so meane persona∣ges as the two aboue named were imploied in so weighty affaires: alleaging great danger to be therein, considering how liberall a Prince he was whom he had to deale with. True it is that this Contay hated VVilliam of Bische, notwithstanding heerin he spake but as others did, and I thinke verily not vpon malice but as the case required. The Earle of Charolois followed his aduise, and began to sport & pastime with the Princes otherwise than he had been accustomed, to shew them a cheerfull counte∣nance, & to commune oftener both with them & their seruants, and sure so was it re∣quisite: for they stood euen vpon the point to seuer themselues. A wise man doth good seruice in such a companie, if he may be credited, neither can he be valued too deere, but I neuer knew Prince in my life that could finde the difference betweene man and man till he stood in need of men: and if any happily do, yet make they no account of a wise man, but place in authoritie about them those whom they fauor better, either bicause they are of equall yeeres with them, or seeke in all things to feede their hu∣mors, wherein they are often nuzled by the furtherers of their wanton pleasures. But wise Princes will soone reforme themselues when neede requireth, such as were the King our master, the Earle of Charolois at that time, King Edward of England, and diuers others: but these three especially I haue seene at so lowe an ebbe, that they haue stood in great neede of those whom before they despised. Notwithstan∣ding as touching the Earle of Charolois, after he was Duke of Burgundie, and high∣lier aduaunced by fortunes fauor than euer was any of his predecessors, and growen so great that he feared no Prince of his estate, God ouerthrew him in all his glorie: and so bereaued him of his wits, that he contemned all mens counsell but his owne, wherby he miserably ended his life, with a great number of his seruants and subiects, leauing his house desolate as you see.

The Notes.

1 The Earles meaning was, that the King could not redeeme them during the said Earles life, bicause they were engaged to Duke Philip and his heires males.

2 The Duke of Burgundie allowed the Dolphin being in his countries monethly 3000. florences for his entertainment. Meyer.

3 King Lewis was crowned anno 1461. Augusti 14.

4 The Kings sister that married the Earle was named Catherine, but he had no issue by hir. Annal. Burgund. Meyer. His second wife was Isabell daughter to Charles Duke of Bourbon, by whom he had issue a daughter named Marie, which also was his heire. His third wife was Margaret sister to Edward the fourth King of England, by whom also he had no issue.

5 He meaneth the taking of Roan mentioned in the next chapter.

How the towne of Roan by practise was put into the Duke of Bour∣bons hands, for the D. of Berry, and how the treatie of Conflans was fully concluded. Chap. 13.

YOu shall now vnderstand what mooued me to discourse so long of the dangers depending vpon these treaties, and why I adui∣sed Princes to be wise and circumspect whom they employ in them, especially him that hath the woorse end of the staffe. For while the commissioners sat to treat of peace, by means wherof men met & communed togither: in steede of treating of peace some practised to yeeld the Duchie of Normandie to the Kings onely brother the Duke of Berry, to the end he might there take his partage, and restore Berry to the King, which enterprise was also executed ac∣cording: for the Lady of Brezey, the late Seneschall of Normandies widow, and cer∣taine of hir kins folkes and seruants by hir perswasion, receiued Iohn Duke of Bour∣bon into the castell of Roan, and finally into the towne, the which willingly consen∣ted to this mutation, as did also all the other townes and places in the countrey, a few excepted. For the Normans haue euer been and yet are of opinion, that it is re∣quisite for them (their countrie being so large) to haue their Prince resident among them, neither desire they any thing more: and sure it is a goodly thing and a rich: for I my selfe haue knowen the reuenues thereof nine hundred and fiftie thousand frankes, ¹ and some say they are greater.

After the towne was reuolted, all the inhabitants gaue their oth to the Duke of Bourbon as the Duke of Berries lieutenant, saue the bailiffe of the towne named Onaste (who had been a groome of the Kings chamber in Flaunders and neere about him) and another called VVilliam Piquart, afterward generall of Normandie, and the high Seneschall of Normandie that now is, who also departed to the King against his mothers will, who (as you haue heard) was the chiefe author of the citizens re∣uolt. When the King heard this newes he resolued to make peace, seeing he could not vndoo that was already done. Wherefore incontinent he sent word to the Earle of Charolois being in his campe, that he would gladly speake with him, and appoin∣ted the hower when he would meete him in the fields by Conflans, neere to the said campe, at which hower he came, accompanied with an hundred horse, all in manner

Scottish men of his garde. The Earle of Charolois met him with a small traine without any ceremonie, notwithstanding many of his seruants went after him, so that in the end his company was greater than the Kings, but he caused them to stay a pretie way off, and when the King and he had walked togither a while, the King told him that the peace was already made, and aduertised him of al that was hapned at Roan (whereof the Earle as yet vnderstood nothing) adding that notwithstanding he would neuer willingly haue granted his brother so large a partage: yet now seeing the Normans themselues had made this mutation, he would agree thereunto, and passe the treatie in maner and forme, as before at diuers meetings was deuised, for as touching the other articles they had to agree vpon, they were but trifles. The Earle of Charolois was glad of these newes, for his army lay in great distresse of vittailes, but more of money, and had not this hapned, all these Princes had been forced to depart with great dishonor. Notwithstanding to the Earle of Charolois the same day, or within two or three daies after came a new releefe both of men and money, sent him by Duke Philip his father out of Burgundy, vnder the leading of the Lord of Sauenses, being six score men of armes, and fifteene hundred archers, and six score thousand crownes vpon ten sumpter horses, with great store of bowes and ar∣rowes, which furnished reasonably well the Burgundians army, who stood in great doubt that the other Princes would make peace without them.

This communication of peace pleased so well both the King and the Earle of Charolois, and so desirous they were (as I haue heard the Earle himselfe say,) to con∣clude the treatie, that they marked not which way they walked, but rode straight to∣ward Paris, so far foorth, that they entred into a great bulwarke of wood and earth, that the King had caused to be made a good way without the towne, at the end of a trench, by the which laie a way into the towne. The Earle was accompanied but with foure or fiue persons who were much abased when they saw themselues within the bullwarck: notwithstanding he himselfe set a good face on the matter. But when this newes came to the campe the whole army began to mutter, and the Earle of S. Paul, the marshal of Burgundie, the Lord of Contay, the Lord of Hault-bourdin, & diuers others assembled togither, blaming greatly both the Earle, and those that accompanied with him, of this follie, and alleadging the inconuenience that hape∣ned to his grandfather at Montereau-faut-Yonne in the presence of King Charles the 7. Wherefore incontinent they commanded all the soldiers that were walking abroad in the fields to retire into their campe. And the marshall of Burgundie sur∣named Neuf-chastel said thus: though this foolish harebrained yoong Prince be gone to cast awaie himselfe: yet let vs prouide that his house, his fathers estate, and we our selues fall not into danger: wherefore mine aduise is that euerie man repaire to his lodging, and be in a readines, banishing al feare whatsoeuer hapen. For we are strong inough if we seuer not, to retire to the marches of Henaut, or Picardie, or into Burgundie. When he had thus said, he and the Earle of Saint Paul mounted on horsebacke, and walked out of the campe to see if they coulde descrie any body com∣ming from Paris: where after they had stoode a while, they discouered forty or fiftie horses being certeine of the Kings seruants, as well archers as others that waited backe vpon the Earle of Charolois: who so soone as he perceiued these two ap∣proch, caused the French men to return: he stood in awe of the marshall, bicause he vsed to giue him verie sharpe language, neither feared sometimes to tell him that he was but lent him during his fathers life. Wherfore minding now to preuent him, he said thus, Chide me not, I acknowledge my great follie, but I was hard by the bul∣warke before I wist. But this notwithstanding the marshal said more to his face, then

he had spoken behinde his backe, and sure he was a faithfull and a trustie knight. The Earle answered nothing but held downe his hed, and entred into this campe where they were all glad of his returne, and commended the Kings faith: and sure it is to be thought that both the King and the Earle had great regard of their honor, considering that each of them putting himselfe into others hands: Yet neither of them receiued harme, notwithstanding the Earle neuer after returned vnder the Kings power.

The Notes.

1 That is 118750. pounds sterling.

How the treatie of peace was concluded betweene the the King and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates. Chap. 14.

IN the end all matters were fully concluded, and the next day as the E. of Charolois was making his musters to know what num∣ber he had lost: suddenly the King accompanied with thirty or forty horse, came thither without warning giuen, and rid about to view all the bandes one after another, saue the marshals of Burgundy who loued him not: bicause not long before the King hauing once giuen him Pinal in Loraine, tooke it afterward again from him to bestow vpon Iohn Duke of Calabria greatlie to the said marshals damage. The King (acknowledging his error) by little and little reconciled him selfe to the wise and valiant knights that serued the King his father, whom he at his first comming to the crowne displaced, wherefore they were with the Princes in armes against him. Farther it was agreed that the next day the King should come to the Castell of Vincennes, and likewise al the Princes that were to do him homage: for whose safety the said Castell should be put into the Earle of Charolois hands, according to which agreement the next morning thither came the King, and like∣wise all the princes none being absent, the porche and the gate being manned with Burgundians well armed: there the treatie of peace was concluded. ¹ The Lord Charles did the King homage for the Duchie of Normandie, and the Earle of Cha∣rolois for the townes in Picardie aboue mentioned, as did also all the rest that had homage to do, and the Earle of Saint Paul tooke his othe for the office of Consta∣ble: but according to the common prouerbe, neuer was so plentifull a marriage feast, but some departed vndined, for heere some had what them lusted, and others nothing. The King receiued into his seruice certaine gentlemen that were with his brother, and also certaine meane persons, but the greatest part remained still with his said brother the new Duke of Normandie & the D. of Britain, who went to Roan to take possession. At their departure from the castell of Vincennes they tooke their leaue each of other, and returned to their lodgings: farther, all letters, pardons, and other writings seruing for the confirmation of the peace were made. On one day departed all these three Princes, the Duke of Normandy and Britaine first into Nor∣mandy, and the Duke of Britaine from thence into his owne countrie, and the Earle of Charolois into Flaunders. But when the Earle was ready to take horse, the King meaning effectually to shew how greatly he desired his friendship, came to him and

accompanied him to Villiers-le-bell a village fower leagues from Paris, where both these Princes lodged that night. The Kings traine was very small, but he comman∣ded two hundred men of armes to follow him to conuey him backe: whereof the Earle of Charolois being aduertised as he went to bed, fell into great suspicion ther∣of, and commanded a great number of his seruants to be in armes. Thus you see how impossible it is for two great Princes to agree, bicause of the suspicious tales and reports that are daily and howerly beaten into their heads. Wherefore two Princes that desire to continue in friendship ought neuer to come togither, but to imploy vertuous and wise men betweene them, who will encrease their amitie, and repaire all such breaches as shall happen.

The next morning the two Princes tooke their leaue each of other with much courteous and wise talke, and the King returned to Paris accompanied with the men of armes aboue mentioned, called thither for that purpose, whereby he remooued all suspicion the Earle had conceiued of their comming. The said Earle rode towards Compiengne and Noyon, being receiued by the Kings commandement into all the townes he passed by. From thence he marched to Amiens where they did him ho∣mage, as did also all the other townes vpon the riuer of Somme, & the territories in Picardy restored to him by this treaty, which the King not past nine moneths before had redeemed for the summe of fower hundred thousand crownes, as before you haue heard. This done, he marched incontinent into the countrie of Liege, bicause they had by the space of fiue or sixe moneths made war vpon his father in his ab∣sence, in the countries of Namur & Brabant, where also they had slain certaine of his subiects ² : but bicause the winter approched he could do no great exploit, notwith∣standing a number of villages were burnt, and diuers small ouerthrowes giuen to the said Liegeois, whereupon they made a treatie with the Duke of Burgundie, and for performance thereof stood bound to him in a great summe of mony. This done, the Earle of Charolois returned into Brabant.

The Notes.

1 The treatie was sworne the fift of October, the conditions whereof reade in Meyer fol. 337. where he saith, that by this treatie Flaunders was exempt from the Kings soue∣raigntie, which saith Degrassalius cap. 1. pag. 6. the King could not grant, Quia vltimus resortus alienari aut remitti non potest: which also may well appeere to be lawe, bicause we reade lib. 5. cap. 17. of our author, that notwithstanding this treatie, the Chauncellor of Burgundie and Himbercourt being imprisoned and condemned by the citizens of Gaunt, appealed to the Parlament of Paris, vvhich appeale notvvithstanding vvhether it vvere lavvfull or vnlavvfull, or vvhether they appealed to delay the time for safetie of their liues, hoping their friends vvould deliuer them, or the King happily, thereby to re∣couer his former soueraigntie: I leaue heere to discusse. Notvvithstanding if any such condition vvere in the treatie of Conflans, as Meyer reporteth, in my simple iudgement these tvvo vvise men vvould not haue appealed contrary to it, and thereby haue made the cause of their death iust though before vniust, by violating this priuilege, and so in∣fringing the liberties of the state of Flaunders obtained by this treatie of the King.

2 The King persvvaded the Liegeois to rebell in Iune 1465. vvhich vvas the same sommer the Earle of Charolois vvas in Fraunce, thereby to vvithdravv the Earle of Charolois out of Fraunce home, vvhereupon the Liegeois about mid August defied the Duke of Burgundie, and hung his sons image on a gibbet vvith vile reprochfull vvords. Reade Annal. Burgund. fol. 900. and Meyer fol. 337. pag. 2. but soone after, namely 19. Octob. the same yeere the Duke of Burgundy by the conduct of the Earle of Nassau the

Seneschall of Hainault, the Lords of Grutuse, Gasebecque, and Rubempre gaue them an ouerthrovv at Montenac vvhere they lost 2200 men: vvherefore seeing their forces broken, and the Earle of Charolois returned home, they desired peace vvhich they obtained 22. Ianuarij anno 1466. as our author in this chapter maketh mention, and likevvise Meyer fol. 338. and Annal. Burgund. fol. 909. vvhere also reade the conditions of the peace, but this peace the same yeere about Iune they brake againe, by aiding them of Di∣nand, as in the second booke our author setteth foorth at large.

How by the deuision that hapned betweene the Dukes of Britaine and Normandie, the King recouered the saide Duchie which he had giuen his brother. Chap. 15.

NOw to returne to the Dukes of Normandie and Britaine, who after their departure from Bois-de-Vincennes, went togither as you haue heard to take possession of Normandie. You shall vn∣derstand that immediately after their entrey into Roan, they fell at variance about partition of the bootie ¹ , for the knights aboue mentioned were yet with them, who being accustomed vnder King Charles the seuenth, to liue in great authoritie, and enioy goodly offices: thought now, seeing this enterprise at an end, and themselues vnrestored to the Kings fauor, to be aduanced by the new Duke of Normandie, wherefore they gaped for the best offices in the countrey as due to them. On the otherside the Duke of Britaine thought it reason that part of them should be at his disposition, bicause the greatest burden of these wars had lien vpon his shoulders. To be short, the fire so kindled betweene them, that the Duke of Bri∣taine for safety of his person was forced to retire to mont S. Katherine neer to Roan, where also the Duke of Normandies men with the citizens of Roan were about to besiege him, so that in the end he was forced to retire the high way to Britaine. Of this deuision the King being aducrtised, furthered it I warrant you to the vttermost of his power (for he was master in this Arte) and in the meane time approched with his army neere to the countrey, whereupon those that held the strong places began to yeeld them to him, thereby to recouer his fauor. I speake of these matters vpon the Kings owne report, for I my selfe was not present at them. But to proceed, the King practised with the Duke of Britaine (who held certaine of the strong places in base Normandie ² ) vtterly to abandon his brother, for conclusion whereof they were togither a certeine space at Caen, where they made a treatie, by the which, the said towne of Caen & diuers other places remained in the L. of Lescuts hands, with a cer∣taine number of soldiers in pay, but this treatie was so confused, that I thinke neither party vnderstood it throughly well. Thus returned the D. of Britaine into his owne countrey, and the King bent his whole force against his brother the Duke of Nor∣mandie, who seeing himselfe vnable to withstand him, and that the King had alrea∣dy taken Pont de l'Arche and diuers other places in the countrey, determined to flie into Flaunders. The Earle of Charolois was yet at Sainctron 3 , a litle towne in the countrey of Liege, where he was maruellously busied, for his army was all broken and out of order, and part thereof, notwithstanding the winter, in war against the Liegeois. This variance betweene the two Dukes aboue mentioned much troubled him, for he desired nothing more than to see a Duke of Normandie, bicause thereby

the King should lose the third foote of his realme? wherfore he leuied men in Picar∣die to put into Dieppe, but before they were readie, he that held the towne yeelded it by composition to the King, who by this meanes recouered al the Dutchie of Nor∣mandie saue those places that the Lord of Lescut held by the treatie of Caen.

The Notes.

1 He meaneth by the bootie, the offices in Normandie.

2 The places the Duke of Britaine helde, vvere Caen, Auaranches, Licieux, &c.

3 Some copies haue Saint Oen, but the old copie and de la Marche Sainctron, some call it Centron, and Saint Truden, as saith Guicci. Hubertus nameth it in latin Centrones. Berlandus, fanum Trudonis, but corruptly saith Hubertus: the ancient name in deede is Centrones, wherefore it is to be read Centronor Sainctron, but not Saint Oen.

How the newe Duke of Normandie returned into Britaine in very poore estate, and vtterly discouraged, bicause he had failed of his enterprise. Chap. 16.

THe Duke of Normandie was once determined (as you haue heard) to flie into Flaunders, but at that very instant the Duke of Britaine and he reconciled themselues, acknowledging both of them their errors, and well perceauing all good things by diui∣sion to perish and come to naught. And sure in mine opinion it is almost impossible, that many Princes of equall estate being togither should long continue in friendship and amitie, vnlesse they haue a superior ouer them, who also must be wise and well esteemed, to the end he may hold them in due obedience. I haue my selfe seene many examples heereof, and therfore speake not vpon hearesay. Besides that, common experience prooueth that we are naturally enclined to fall at variance to our owne harme, not regarding the inconueniences that ensue thereof, which is a generall fault through the whole worlde. Wherefore in mine opinion a wise Prince hauing ten thousand men at his commandement, and knowing how to gouerne them, is more to be feared and esteemed than six Princes confederate togither, with each of them ten thousand, bicause so many matters fall in question betweene them, that all good occasions are lost, before they can resolue vpon any thing.

Thus returned the Duke of Normandie into Britaine in very poore estate, and vtterly abandoned of all the Knights aboue mentioned that had serued the King his father. for they made their peace with the King, and were better entertained by him than euer they had beene in his fathers time. These two Dukes were wise after the hurt receiued (as the common prouerbe saith) of the Brittons, and liued togither in Britaine, being gouerned by the Lord of Lescut their principall seruant. And diuers ambassadors ran betweene the King and them, and betweene them and the Earle of Charolois, and likewise between the King and the Duke of Burgundy, some to learne newes, some to corrupt one anothers seruants and subiects, and some for diuers other euill purposes, and all vnder colour of good faith. Some also went with good intent trusting to pacifie these troubles, which sure was great simplicitie in them to thinke themselues wise & sufficient ynough by their presence to appease Princes so great, so subtill, & so well acquainted with all sorts of fine practises as these were, especially

neither party inclining to reason. But some there are so blinded with vaine glorie, that they thinke themselues able to deale in matters that oftentimes they vnder∣stand not: for their Masters do not alwaies discouer to them the bottom of their thoughts. To such it often happeneth that they go but to furnish the feast, yea many times to their owne cost: for euer one by-fellow or other accompanieth them, that hath some secret practise apart, at the least thus haue I seene the matter ordered at all times and in all places where I haue been. Wherefore as I said before, that Prin∣ces ought to be circumspect whom they imploy in their affaires: so say I now, that those that are imploied ought to take heede how they negotiate in Princes busi∣nesses. And who so can shift off the charge, vnlesse he vnderstand it throughly well, and perceiue his Master to be well affected thereunto, is to be accounted wise: for I haue knowen many a good man in a pecke of troubles with such affaires. Princes also I haue seene of two contrarie dispositions, the one so subtill and suspicious, that a man can neuer be acquainted with their humor, for they thinke all the world bent to deceiue them: the other trust their seruants well ynough, but they themselues are so grosse and vnderstand so little of their owne affaires, that they know not who doth them good seruice or bad, whereby they alter their mindes in a moment from loue to hatred, and from hatred to loue. And notwithstanding that of either sort few are good and constant: yet I for my part had rather liue vnder the wise than the foolish: bicause there are more waies to auoid their displeasure, and recouer their fauour lost: but with the ignorant a man can deuise no shift, for no man dealeth with themselues in any matter, but altogither with their seruants, whom also they change as oft as the winde. Notwithstanding in those countries where such Princes raigne, all men are of dutie bound to serue and obey them. Wherfore all things considered, our onely hope ought to be in God: for he alone is con∣stant, he onely is good: but this lesson we learne too late: yea neuer before we neede his helpe, not∣withstanding it is better late than neuer.