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JOHN the first, or second of that Name, succeeded to the Crown, and was consecrated at Rheims the 26. of Septem. An Dom. 1350. In the beginning of his reigne hee caused the Lord Ralph of Nesle, Cōstable of France, to be beheaded for Treason, and in his
place hee justituted Charles of Spaine, Count of Angolesme. The Truce being broken betweene him and England, he betooke him to S. John d' Angely, and in his returne he instituted the Order of the Starre in the Noble and Royall House or S. Owen. Afterwards Charles King of Navarre, caused the Constable to be massacred upon a jealousie which hee had conceived against him, on the sixt of Ianuary, 1353, and the Lord Iames de Bourbon was substituted in his place. In the meane time the King of Navarre, whom the King of France had pardoned, instead of acknowledging his fault, complotted against the State of the said King, which being discove∣red, he entred into an Amity with the King of England. By meanes whereof King Iohn having surprised him, sent him prisoner to Paris. Hereupon Philip of Navarre, his brother, in an indigna∣tion caused the English to come into Normandy, against whom the King in∣tending an opposition, was enforced
to turne it upon the Prince of Wales in Poicton, where having lost the field through his temerity, hee was taken Prisoner. In the meane time the Pari∣sians at the perswasion of Stephen Mar∣tel, mutinyed against the Dauphin, who tooke upon him the Regency of the Realme, and appeased the tumult, ha∣ving first restored the places of Norman∣dy to the King of Navarre, who had escaped out of prison.
Afterwards upon a treaty made at Bretigny the eight of May, 1360, a peace was concluded with the English, and ra∣tified at Calais the 24. of October. In the meane time Philip, Duke of Bur∣gundy, deceased at Roucere neere Dijon without issue, by reason whereof Iohn the King declared himselfe to be his Heire. After that he making a prepa∣ration for a beyond-sea voyage, first came to London, intending to make a strong peace with England, and dyed there the eighth or ninth of April, 1364, leaving Charles the Dauphin, Lewis
Duke of Aniou, John Duke of Berry, and Philip Hardy Duke of Burgundy.
This King shewed magnanimity in his most adverse fortune; for Apparet virtus arguitur{que} malis:
Vertue will apparent be In the depth of adversity.which was verified in this King John, who sitting in the English Campe at a Supper, prepared for him by the Prince of Wales, who had taken him prisoner in the Battell of Poitiers, said, I purpo∣sed to have bestowed a Supper on you this night, but the fortune of the War hath made me your Guest. The Eng∣lishmen for a summe of money having got by composition the Castle and Towne of Gwines, King Iohn complai∣ning to the King of England, that the Truce was broken, contrary to their compact and agreement, King Edward answered, That Trafficke or Merchan∣dise, the surrender of the Castle being by money procured, did not breake the former Truce.
This King, when King Edward requi∣red homage for the Realme of France, as held of England, answered, that hee could not justly alienate a right inalie∣nable, received from his Ancestors, and therefore he resolved to leave it entire to his children, for affliction might engage his person, but not the Crowne of France, while hee was King, who would sacrifice his life for the preserva∣tion of France. Hee dyed in England Anno 1364, being a good Prince, but infortunate; wise in ordinary matters, but not in great affaires; just, but too confident in trusting others; temperate in his private life, but violent in the publicke government. For great ver∣tues meeting with Wisdome, doe on the Theater of this life give unto Kings a Crowne of applause and commenda∣tion.