DC \0(o .3 C72 NOTES ON LOUIS XL " Each lucid interval of thought Recalls the woes of Nature's charter ; And he that acts as wise men ought, But lives, as saints have died, a martyr." Bybon. NOTES ON LOUIS XI WITH SOME SHORT EXTRACTS FROM COMMINES' "MEMOIRS." BY A. E. LONDON. 1878. ■ 3 LOUIS XI. REDIVIVUS. |N returning from seeing Mr. Irving's remarkable impersonation of Louis XL, we reached down our " Commines," and whilst perusing it found so much interesting matter bearing on the subject of the play that we have ventured to print a few extracts in the hope of affording pleasure to those who, like ourselvesf, delight in Mr. Irving's acting, but who have not a copy of the old chronicler on their shelves to refer to. Again and yet again have we gone to the Ml.88852 6 Notes on Louis XI. Lyceum to see this wonder of the town, and each time we have come away more and more imbued with admiration. The magnetic power exercised by Mr. Irving over his audience, which reaches its climax in the fourth act, makes us realize the Eastern simile of the soul leaving the body on experiencing intense emotion. The grasp he has on the minds following him whilst he is contemned, lonely and outraged, is so strong that when the curtain falls on the fainting king it is only with a great effort that we can return into ourselves. The actor's tragic force so carries away the spectator that the impres- sion is fully maintained that there is no crime to the intellect ; we feel all Louis's crimes are excused on that score, and his sufferings of mind and body make our hearts to ache, and us to truly believe that Louis himself is alive before us. Notes on Louis XI. 7 Was it ever before given us to see such a powerful picture of the wretchedness that a fine mind, when sick, can suffer ? It is unique. Those words, " Then they * are mine by right of misery," spoken as Irving speaks them, make us feel with Commines that Louis's sufferings " should have carried him into Paradise, and been part of his pur- gatory." Where all is admirable it seems impertinent to note any special beauty ; but how charming is the old man's courtesy to Marie, and how life-like the mingled pride, love, and dread of his son. In the scuffle at the shrine, the father's arm suddenly encircling the boy to shield him is a tender touch amongst many others which go to make Irving's Louis more the Louis of Commines than of Delavigne. '^ Pardons. Notes on Louis XT. Extract from the Preface icritten by Commines to the Archbishop of Vienne after the death of Louis XL ' O satisfy your request (right reve- rend) so often moved unto me, I send you here a memorial, as agreeable to truth as I can possibly call to mind, of all the acts and doings that I have been privy unto of King Louis XI., our master and benefactor, a prince worthy of perpetual memory. Of his youth I can say nothing but of his own report. But from the time that I entered into his ser- vice till the hour of his death, whereat my- self was present, I was more continually resident with him than any man of my estate B 10 Notes on Louis XI. that served him, being ever either of his privy chamber, or employed in his weighty affairs. I found in him, as in all other princes that I have known or served, both virtue and vice. For men they are as we be, and perfection is proper to God only. But sure that prince whose virtues and good parts surmount his vices deserves great commendation, the rather because commonly noble personages are more prone to all kind of wantonness than other men; partly for that in their childhood they are brought up without due chastisement and correction, and partly because when they are grown to man's estate each man seeketh to feed their humours and soothe them in all they say or do. But for mine own part, be- cause I love not to flatter nor misreport the truth, somewhat may happily be found in this history not tending altogether to the king's praise, but I trust the readers will weigh the Notes on Louis XI. 11 reasons above alleged. Sure thus much I dare boldly say in his commendation, that in mine ojainion he was the prince in his age (all things considered) least subject to vice. # * « # Notwithstanding I mind not by setting forth his commendation in this work to detract from the honour and renown of others, but send you, penned in haste, all that I could call to mind, trusting that you have required it of me to turn it into some work that you purpose to publish in Latin (to the perfection of which tongue you have attained), whereby may appear both the worthiness of the prince I now write of, and also the excellency of your own wit. Farther, sir, if I happen to fail in any points you have my Lord of Bouchage and others who are better able to inform you of these affairs than myself, and to couch their words in much eloquenter language. Al- 12 Notes on Louis XI. though, to say the truth, considering how honourably the king entertained me, how great familiarity it pleased him to use towards me, and how liberally he bestowed upon me, never intermitting one of the three till the hour of his death, no man has juster cause to remember those times than myself. Where-- unto I also add the losses I have sustained and the dangers I have been in since his decease, which are sufficient, I think, to put me in mind of the great benefits I received at his hands during his life. Notes on Louis XL 13 BOOK I. CHAPTER X. A DISCOUESE UPON CEETAIN VICES AND VIRTUES OF KING LOUIS XI. AM entered into this discourse be- cause I have seen much treachery in the world, and many servants deceive their masters, oftentimes through their masters' own fault ; for this I dare boldly avow, that proud and disdainful princes, and such as will give audience but to few, are oftener abused than those that are courteous, and ready to give ear to every man : wherein sure King Louis our master surmounted far all the princes of his time, for he was the wisest prince in winding him- 14 Notes on Louis XI. self out of trouble and adversity, the humblest in words, the plainest in apparel, and the greatest traveller to Avin a man that might do him service or harm that ever I knew. Neither used he to relinquish his suit for the first refusal, but laboured the party continu- ally by large promises, and liberal 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 withdrawn his favour from, in peace and prosperity ; he bought them dearly again when he needed them, and employed them in his service, clean forgetting all offences past. He loved naturally men of mean estate, and was enemy to all such as needed not to depend upon him ; never prince gave audience to so many men ; never prince was so inquisitive of so many matters, nor desirous to be acquainted with so many / Notes on Louis XL 15 strangers as he, whereby he knew as well all that were in authority or estimation in England, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the seniories of Burgundy and Britaine as his own subjects. And by these virtues preserved he his estate, which stood in great danger at his first coming to the crown, because of the enemies himself had procured to himself. But his great liberality especially served him to good purpose, for as in adversity he wisely behaved himself, so contrariwise in time of peace or truce he lightly fell out with his servants, by picking trifling quarrels to them, and such was his disposition, that he could hardly away with peace or quietness. In his talk he spared no man, neither absent nor present, save such as he feared, which were many, for naturally he was very fearful. Farther, when his talk had either turned him to displeasure, or was like so to do, he would 16 Notes on Louis XI. endeavour himself to amend the matter, by using these or such like words to the party offended : " I know well my tongue has wrought me much displeasure, but it hath also oftentimes stood me in great stead, notwithstanding reason it is that I should repair the injury done." And when he used this familiar speech, he ever gave withal some great present to the party grieved. Sure the knowledge of good and evil is a great gift of God to a prince, I mean when the good surmounteth the evil, 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 sojourned with Duke Philip of Burgundy for the space of six years ; for he was constrained there to frame himself to the humour of those of whom he stood in need of, which singular virtue adversity had taught him. But after Notes on Louis XI. 17 his father's death when he came first to the state, he thought only upon revenge, but soon felt the smart thereof, and therefore forthwith altered his mind, acknowledged his error, repaired the harms done, and sought to recover by large benefits those whom he had offended, as hereafter you shall perceive, and I think verily he should never have wound himself out of those troubles, had not his education been better than noblemen's com- monly in this realm. y Notes on Louis XI. 19 BOOK VI. CHAPTER VII. ^^".E began now to wax old (57) ^^ and sickly so far forth that once being at dinner at Forges, near to Chinon, he was suddenly taken in all parts of his body and lost his speech : he was lifted up from the table and held to the fire, and the windows shut, to the which, notwith- standing that he desired to go, yet some of his friends held him and would not suffer him so to do, meaning all for the best. This disease took him in the year of our Lord 1480, in the month of March : he lay altogether speech- less, he knew no man, and his memory was wholly taken away. At the which instant you (my Lord of Vienne) came thither, and served 20 Notes on Louis XI. him at the time instead of a physician ; for you ministered to him, and caused the windows to be opened and the air to be let in, whereupon immediately he recovered his speech and his memory after a sort, and took horse and re- turned to Forges ; for this disease took him in a village a quarter of a league thence, whither he went to hear mass. He was dili- gently tended, and made signs of what he would have done ; among other things he desired that the official of Tours might be called to shrive him, and made signs also that I should be sent for, for I was gone to Argenton, being ten leagues thence. When I came, I found him at the table with Master Adam Fumee (who sometime had been King Charles the VII's physician, and was at that present Master of the Requests), and another physician called Master Claude : he under- stood little what any man said, notwithstand- Notes on Louis XL 21 ing grief he felt none, he spake plainly almost never a word, but made signs that I should be in his chamber. I waited upon him the space of fifteen days at his table, and about his person as one of the grooms of his chamber, which I accounted great honour to me, and thought myself in duty bound so to do. After two days he recovered his speech and his memory after a sort : and because he thought no man under- stood him so well as myself, his pleasure was that I should always be by him, and he con- fessed himself to the official in my presence, otherwise they would never have understood one another. He had not much to say, for he was shriven not long before, because the kings of France use always to confess themselves when they touch those that be sick of the king's evil, which he never failed to do once a week.(<\If other princes do not the like, they 22 Notes on Louis XI. are to blame, for continual a great number are troubled with that disease. >y After he was somewhat recovered, he began to inquire who they were that held him by force from going to the windows, whose name when he heard, forthwith he banished them the court ; so that they never came afterward to his presence, and some of them also he put out of office. From others, namely the Lord of Segre and Gilbert de Grasse, Lord of Champeroux, he took nothing, but commanded them to depart. KMany wondered at this toie,* blaming him for so using them, considering that all that they did was for the best, and they said truth ; -^but prince's imaginations are strange, and a number are bold to prattle of them that understand them not. The King feared nothing so much as the diminishing of his authority being marvellous great, for the * Whim. Notes on Louis XL 23 which cause he would not be disobeyed in any point. Further, he remembered that when King Charles, his father, fell into the disease whereof he died, he entered into the suspicion that his servants sought to poison him at his son's request, which fancy sank so deep into his head that he refused his meat. Wherefore it was concluded by the advice of his physicians, and of his chiefest and trustiest servants, that he should be forced to eat : the which was executed very orderly and advisedly by those that served him, for cooliz was poured into his mouth, but soon after this force he died. The King our master, who had ever misliked this ordering of his father, t stomached marvellously that he had been held thus perforce, but yet made show of much greater displeasure than indeed he had con- ceived thereof. The chief cause that moved him so to do was fear, lest they should 24 Notes on Louis XI. master him in all other things, especially in the expedition of his weighty affairs, under colour of the imperfection of his wits. After he had dealt thus roughly with these above-named, he inquired what his council had done during the time of his sickness, and what despatches they had made, whereof the Bishop of Alby, his brother the Governor of Bur- gundy, the Marshal of Gie, and the Lord of Lude had the whole charge ; for these were present when his sickness took him and lodged all in two little chambers under- neath him. Further, he would needs see the letters and packets that had been brought and came hourly. The principal whereof were showed him, and I read them before him ; he made a countenance as though he understood them, and took them into his hand, feigning that he read them, notwithstanding that indeed Notes on Louis XI. 25 he understood never a word. Sometime, also, he spake a word or two, or made signs what should be the answer to these letters ; but little or nothing was despatched, for we ex- pected an end of his disease, because he was a master before whom it behoved us not to tread awry. This sickness held him about fifteen days, and then his wits and speech he recovered perfectly, but his body was mar- vellous weak, for the which cause we feared greatly a relapse, the rather because naturally he was inclined to give but small credit to physicians. Immediately after he was well recovered he restored Cardinal Balne (whom he had held in prison fourteen years) to liberty. Whereunto, notwithstanding that he had been required oftentimes before, both by the See Apostolic and others, and all in vain : yet now he purchased the absolution of that fault himself, by a bull sent from our Holy D 26 Notes on Louis XL Father the Pope by his own procurement. When his disease first took him, they that at that present were about him held him for dead, and sent forth divers commandments for the revoking of an excessive and cruel subsidy lately laid upon his subjects by the advice of the Lord of Cordes, his lieutenant in Picardy, wherewith were waged ten thousand footmen to be always in a readiness, and twenty-five hundred pioneers, the which were called the soldiers of the camp. Moreover, he appointed fifteen hundred of his ordinary men- of-arms to accompany them, and to fight on foot when need so required. He caused also a great number of carts to be made to enclose them, and tents and pavilions, imitating therein the Duke of Burgundy's camp. The charge of this army amounted yearly to 1,500,000 francs. When these soldiers were in a readi- ness and furnished with all things necessary Notes on Louis XI. 27 he went to see the muster in a valley near to Pont de I'Arche in Normandy, where the band of the six thousand Switzers above-men- tioned mustered also, the which never saw the King but at this time only. After all was ended the King removed to Tours, where he fell again into his former disease, and lost his speech as before, and was by the space of two hours in such case that all men held him for dead. He lay in a gallery upon a mattress of straw, divers standing about him. M. de Bouchage and I vowed him to St. Claude, and all the rest that were present vowed him also. Immediately whereupon he recovered his speech, and soon after arose and walked up and down the house, but his body was marvellous feeble. This second fit of sickness took him in the year 1481, not- withstanding he rode up and down the country as before, and went to Argenton to my house. 28 Notes on Louis XI. where he lay a month marvellous sick. From thence he went to Tom'S, where (notwithstand- ing that he still remained sick) he took upon him his voyage to St. Claude, to whom as you have heard he was vowed. * * * * The King returned to Tours and kept him- self very close, so that few saw him, for he waxed jealous of all men, fearing that they would take the government from him or diminish his authority ; for the which cause he removed all those from him that he had most favoured, not diminishing their estates in any respect ; but he sent them away, some to their offices and charges, and some to their houses, but this endured not long, for soon after he died. He did divers strange things, which caused as many as saw them to think him out of his wits; but they were not thoroughly ac- quainted with his conditions. As touching Notes on Louis XI. 29 suspicions all great princes are suspicious, especially those thatbe wise, and have had many enemies, and have offended many as the King our master had. Further, he knew himself not to be beloved by the nobility of his realm, nor of a great number of the commonalty. Besides this he had more charged his people than ever any of his predecessors ; notwith- standing he was desirous now in his latter days (as before I said) to have eased them, [j^ but he should have begun sooner. > ^ # * * * The King our master levied at his death 4,700,000 francs; he had in pay four or five thousand men-of-arms, and of footmen for the camp and in garrison above five and twenty thousand : therefore it is not to be marvelled if he had many fancies and imaginations in his head, and thought himself not well beloved. j)| But sure as these matters caused him greatly 30 Notes on Louis XL to fear some, so had he a sure confidence in many of those whom he had brought up and highly advanced, of the which I think there were a number whom death itself could never have withdrawn from doing their duty. There came into Plessis du Pare (which was the place where he lay) very few beside his household servants and the archers of his guard, being four hundred, of whom a great number all the day long kept watch and ward at the gate, walking up and down the place. No nobleman or great personage lodged with- in the castle, neither might be suffered to enter in, save only the Lord of Beaujeu, Duke of Bourbon, his son-in-law. The said Castle of Plessis he made to be environed with a grate of great iron bars, and at the entry into the ditches thereof had caused sharp spears of iron, every one of them having many heads, to be masoned into the wall ; he caused also four Notes on Louis XI. 31 strong watch-houses of iron to be built, and a place to be made in them where men might stand and shoot at ease, which was a sump- tuous thing to behold, and cost above 20,000 francs. In the end he put into these houses forty crossbow men, which were day and night in the ditches, and had commission to shoot at every man that approached near the castle after the shutting of the gates, till they opened in the morning. Further, he had an imagi- nation that his subjects would be very ready to take the government into their own hands when they should see convenient time. And sure some there were that consulted to enter into Plessis, and despatch the affairs at their pleasure, because nothing was despatched ; but they durst not attempt it, wherein they did wisely for the King had given good order, for the matter he changed often both the grooms of his chamber and all his other 32 Notes on Louis XI. servants, saying, that "nature delighteth in variety ;" and lie had with him to bear him company one or two very mean men, and of evil report, who might well have thought if they had been wise that immediately after his death they should at the least be put out of office, and spoiled of all they had, as also happened. These informed him of no message that was sent him, nor of any matter that was written to him, were it never so important, unless it touched the preservation of the State, or the defence of his realm : for that was his only care to be in truce and peace with all men. He gave to his physician ordinarily every month 10,000 crowns, and in five months he received of him 54,000 crowns. Notes on Louis XL 33 BOOK VI. CHAPTER VIII. [MONG men famous for devotion, he sent into Calabria for one Friar Robert, whom he called the holy man, because of his holy life, and in whose honour the King that now is (Charles VIII.) caused a Church to be built at Plessis du Pare. He came to the King, who honoured him as if he had been the Pope himself, falling down before him, and desiring him to prolong his life ; whereunto he answered as a wise man should. * « * * Some mocked at this Hermit's coming, E 34 Notes on Louis XI. whom they called the holy man ; but they knew not the deep cogitations of this wise King, neither had seen the occasions that moved him to send for him. The King lay in his Castle of Plessis, accom- panied with few besides the archers of his guard, and troubled with these suspicions above rehearsed. Notwithstanding he had given good order for this inconvenience, for he left none of those whom he suspected either in the town or country, but made his archers to cause them to depart, and to convey them away. No man debated any matter with him, unless it were of some great importance that concerned himself, he seemed rather a dead corpse than a living creature, for he was leaner than a man would believe : he apparel- led himself more sumptuously than in all his life before, for he wore no gown but of crimson satin furred with good martens ; he gave gifts Notes on Louis XI. 35 to whom it pleased him without any suit, for no man durst move any suit to him, nor debate any matter with him ; he punished faults sharply to the end he might be feared, and not lose his authority, as himself told me ; he changed officers, cassed companies of men- of-arms, diminished pensions, or took them clean away, and told me but a few days before his death, that he passed away the time in making and marring of men. To be short, he caused himself to be more spoken of within his realm than ever was any king, and all for fear lest men should think him dead. For as I said, few saw him, but when they heard of his doings all men stood in fear of him, so far forth, that they hardly believed him to be sick. Notes on Louis XI. 37 BOOK VI. CHAPTER X. [Y all this above rehearsed a man may perceive how great the King our master's wisdom and authority was, how he was esteemed through the world, and how all things, as well spiritual of devotion and religion as also temporal, were employed for the prolonging of his life. But all would not help, there was no remedy, needs must he go the way his predecessors went before him ;' one great grace God showed him, that as he created him wiser, liberaller, and more virtuous in all things than the princes that reigned in his time, being his enemies and neighbours, and as he surmounted them in all good things, so did he also pass them in 38 Notes on Louis XI. long life, though not much. For Duke Charles of Burgundy, the Duchess his daugh- ter. King Edward, Duke Galeas of Milan, King John of Arragon, were all dead a few years before him ; but between the death of the said Duchess of Austria, of King Edward, and of him, there was no space to speak of. Cxin all these princes there was both good and evil, for they were all men ; but to speak up- rightly, there were in him many more virtues and ornaments appertaining to the office of a king than in any of the rest. I have seen them in manner all, and knew what was in them, and therefore speak not at random. Notes on Louis XT. 39 BOOK VI. CHAPTER XI. [N this year, 1483, the king desired to see the Dauphin his son, whom he had not seen of long time, for he kept him close and permitted no man to come to him, both because of the child's health, and also for fear lest he should be taken from the place where he remained, and under colour of him some rebellion arise in the realm. For so had certain noblemen in times past by means of himself made an assembly against King Charles VII. his father, he being then but eleven years of age,* which war was called "la Praguerie," but * This is Commines' error ; he was really sixteen, being born in 1423. 40 Notes on Louis XI. it soon ended, for it was rather a broil of court than a war. Above all things he recommended unto his said son, the Dauphin, certain of his servants, and commanded him expressly not to change certain officers ; rehearsing how after King Charles his father's death, he coming to the state put out of office all the valiant and worthy knights of this realm that had served his father in the conquest of Normandy and Guienne, in chasing the Englishmen out of France, and restoring the realm to peace and quietness (for himself found it both quiet and rich) ; which his hard dealing with the said knights turned greatly to his prejudice, for thereof sprang the war called the "Weale Publique," in this story above mentioned, which had almost set him besides his crown. Soon after his communication with the Dau- phin his son, and the accomplishment of this Notes on Lords XL 41 marriage* above mentioned, he fell upon a Monday into the disease whereof he died ; his sickness endured until the Saturday after, being the 30th August in the year 1483. And because I was present at his death I mind to speak somewhat thereof. When this disease took him he lost his speech, as heretofore he had done, which being recovered, he felt his body weaker than ever it was, notwithstanding that he was so low brought before that he could hardly lift his hand to his mouth, and looked so poorly and miserably that it pitied every man's heart that saw him ; he accounted himself now as dead. Wherefore he sent them incontinent for the Lord of Beaujeu, now Duke of Bourbon, his SQn-in-law, commanding him to go to Amboise to the king his son (for so he termed him) ; he * The Dauphin married the Lady Margaret of Flanders. 42 Notes on Louis XL recommended also unto him divers of his servants, and gave him the whole charge and government of the young king, and com- manded expressly that certain whom he named should not come near his son, alleging divers good reasons on that behalf, and if the said Lord of Beaujeu had observed his command- ments, at the least part of them (for some were unreasonable, and not to be observed), I think he should thereby have benefited both the realm and himself, considering what has hap- pened since in France. Soon after he sent also the Chancellor and all the officers of the law to the said king his son, and in like manner part of the archers of his guard, and his captains, and all his hawks and hounds, with all that appertained there- unto. Further, as many as came to visit him he commanded to go to Amboise to the king (for so he termed him), desiring them to serve Notes on Louis XI. 43 him faithfully, and by every one of them he sent him some message or other. His speech never failed after he recovered it, neither were his wits so fresh at any time as then In all the time of his sickness he never complained as other men do when they feel pain ; at the least myself am of that nature, and so have I known divers others, and men say that complaining assuages grief. Notes on Louis XI. 45 BOOK VI. CHAPTER XII. ,E discoursed continually of some matter or other, and that very gravely, and his disease endured from Monday to Saturday night He hoped ever in this good hermit that was at Plessis, and continually sent to him saying if it pleased him he could prolong his life. For notwithstanding all these com- mandments given to those whom he sent to the Dauphin his son, yet came his spirits again to him in such sort that he was in hopes to recover But because of the vain hope he had in this hermit, a doctor of divinity and certain others thought good to advertise him that his only hope must be ' in 46 Notes on Louis XI. the mercy of God ; and they devised that Master James Coitier, his physician should be present when this speech should be used to him. * * * * The above-named signified his death unto him rudely and in few words, saying, " Sir, it is reason we do our duties ; hope no more in this holy man, nor any other thing, for sure you are but dead ; therefore think upon your conscience, for your hour has come," and every one of them said somewhat briefly to him to that effect. But he answered, " I trust God Avill help me ; and peradventure I am not so sick as you suppose." After all these fears God wrought a miracle upon him, healing him both in soul and body, for he took him out of this miserable world, being perfect of sense, understanding, and memory, having received all his sacraments, without any grief Notes on Louis XI. 47 to man's judgment, and talking continually, even within a Paternoster while of his death; so that he gave orders for his funeral, and named those that should accompany his body to the grave, saying ever that he trusted to die on no day but Saturday, and that our Lady, in whom he had ever put his confidence and always devoutly served, had purchased him this grace, and sure so it happened. PRINTED BY JOHN C. WILKINS, Q, CASTLE STREET, CHANCERY LANE. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OP 25 CENTS WIUL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. MAY 16 194, 30ec'57LS RECD LU HARlfc*68-j2Aiyi NOV 19 1957 b'^^^^rs ^^ ^ ^ X^ U> ^ n mx IK. can CT ' * ^ 5ft^ ^ tgyOtR tt^- i-^'^ D-4=a m 6 1353 1DiaiT6iJi.V« REC D LD JAN30'64-4 FM ^ 1 4 1968 1 6 LD 21-100m-12,'43 (8796s) '(. Ml8885i C7^ THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY