An epitome of all the lives of the kings of France from Pharamond the First, to the now most Christian King Levvis the thirteenth : with a relation of the famous battailes of the two kings of England, who were the first victorious princes that conquered France / translated out of the French coppy by R.B. Esq.

Lewis 12. the 57. King of France. Anno 1499.

[illustration] depiction of Lewis XII

THis Lewis the 12. succeeded ac∣cording to the Custome of France, to Charles the 8, who dyed without issue, and was crowned

the 27. of May. Hee repudiated the La∣dy Joane of France for her indisposition of conception, and marryed the Lady Anne of Bretagne, Widow to the late King. Afterwards having made sure of Milan, Genes, and Lombardy, by the taking of Ludovicus Sforza, hee made an accord with the King of Spaine, with whom hee conquered the Kingdome of Naples, which was after lost by the French through the infidelity and perfi∣dious treachery of the Spaniard. Where∣upon the King having yeelded his claime and part that he pretended to it, unto Ferdinand King of Aragon, in fa∣vour of the Marriage of Madame Ger∣maine de Foix, his owne Sisters Daugh∣ter, and makes an agreement with the Pope against the Venetians, against whom hee gained a battaile the 15. of May, Anno Dom. 1509, without any as∣sistance of the Truce. Hee withstood the Pope, who declared himselfe an E∣nemy to the French, and he tooke ma∣ny places in the Dutchy of Ferrara,

which gave an occasion to the Duke to recover what he had lost: as also Gaston de Foix raised the Popes Army from be∣fore Bologna, and relieved the City of Brescia, which the Venetians had now beleaguered; and having defeated their Army, from thence he went to hazard his life before Ravenna, having first wonne the field. The Lord of Palisse was substituted in his place as Comman∣mander, who sacked it. Whereupon the Emperour and the Pope joyning with the English, recovered many Townes upon the French, and the Spaniard re-entered into the kingdome of Naples. VVhereupon King Lewis being moved, sent the Duke of Longue∣ville with an Army to re-estate the King of Navarre into his Kingdome: but hee was constrained to returne without any effect, which was a cause that the King being desirous to re-enter his Dutchy of Milan, accorded with the Spaniard and the Venetian, and after sent the Lord of Tremoville with his Army into

Italy, whence he was beaten out by the Swisses. In the meane time the King of England besieged Therouenne, where was fought the battaile of Esperons, af∣ter which King Lewis being a widower, married with the Daughter of the King of England, with whom hee having peace, as he was in a preparation for an Army into Italy, hee was prevented by death, the first day of the yeare 1515. Hee was surnamed The Father of the people.

This King being instigated and per∣swaded by some of his familiars to take revenge on the Citizens of Orleance, be∣cause when hee was Duke of Orleance, and when Charles the 8. maintaining warres against him, had compelled him to flye into Brittaine, they had shut the gates of their City against him: But he forgetting their former injury, an∣swered; That being now King of France, hee would not revenge injuries done to the Duke of Orleance. Hee be∣ing told, making warre then in Italy for

the recovery of the Dutchy of Millaine, that Agnadell was taken by his Enemies, who had there taken up their lodging, answered: Then will I lodge upon their bellies, or else they shall lodge upon mine. Being advised to preserve his person from the shot of the great Ord∣nance, he answered, A rightfull King of France was never slaine with the shot of a Cannon: Therefore let him that is affraid, come behinde me. Hee lying in Campe, and a Souldier standing neare him, being slaine with a Cannon shot, and shewed unto the King, hee smild and said, He is but a little cold in his hands.

This King having commanded that a company of Foot-men should be levied of strong active men, and at the day ap∣pointed a company of old Souldiers, as appeared by scarres, being presented unto him, said; These men, as it seemes by their wounds, were more willing to take than to give blowes. Whereupon the Souldier replyed, They were not

valianter than we, for they wounded us, but we slew them. To a Gentle∣man that boasted of his scarres and wounds in his face, and desired the King to reward his service, hee said, Take heed hereafter of turning backe thy face when thou art flying from thy Enemy. He being disswaded from making Warres on the Venetians, being a wise and prudent people, said, Wee will set so many fooles upon them that shall beard them to the teeth, that they shall not know which way to turne. To cer∣taine Embassadours of Greece that de∣manded succours against the Turke, he objected this old Verse Barbara Graeca genus retinent quod habere solebant. The Lords of the Parliament refusing to ad∣mit a Councellour for his ignorance and insufficiency, though preferred by the King; he asked them how many Coun∣cellours there were? They replyed, an Hundred: Then said the King, cannot you many wise men make one become wise? A Courtier being wonder'd at

for his great stature, and accounted a Gyant, the King said, it is no wonder, for his Mother tooke paines to make him, and perhaps hee had many Fa∣thers. He told the Ladies of the Court, that Hinds had at first Hornes as well as Harts, but for their pride and rebelli∣on against the Harts, Nature offended therewith, deprived them of their Hornes, to shew that Wives should be obedient to their Husbands. Hee told the Duke of Angolesme his sonne in law, that a certaine Father and his son travelling towards a Towne, the sonne said, that now they were almost at the Towne; but yet they afterward travel∣led untill it was night before they could get to the Towne: whither being come, the Father said to the Sonne, Hence∣forth Sonne, never say I am at the Towne, till thou art past the Gates. He said also that Asses were happier than Horses, for Horses runne post to Rome to get those Benefices whereof Asses are

possessed. Being asked to marry his Daughter the Lady Claudia to a strange Prince, he said, I will make no alliance but with the Kats and Mice of my owne Kingdome.