The Historical Memoirs of Philip de Comines, etc

Front matter

THE HISTORICAL MEMOIRS 01 PHILIP DE COMINES; CONTAINING THE TRANSACTIONS OF LEWIS XI. AND OF CHARLES VIII. OF FRANCE; AND OF EDWARD IV. AND HENRY VII. OF ENGLAND. INCLUDING The History of Europe for almost the half of the Fifteenth Century. lonDcm: Printed by W. M'Dowall, Femberton Row, Gough-square, Fleet-street, for j. davis, military chronicle office, 14, charlotte street bloomsbury; and to be had of the booksellers. 1S17- WHOEVER has read or heard of this historian Philip de Comines, needs no further light into his character, he being one of the first of the moderns for his manner and veracity. His manner is easy, his reflections judicious, his facts true and impartial, and the whole so polite and natural, that he shews himself all along to be an accomplished courtier and politician. He conceals his learning as much as he thought convenient, to give himself the more room for his politics; and in them he proves himself to be a complete master of the cabinet, for which his own good sense, his breeding, and life, in the courts of the greatest princes in Europe sufficiently qualified him.

Indeed Sleidan and others have accused him of want of learning, but his knowledge in the world and mankind was infinitely preferable to all scholarship; in which, though he did not abound, he was not deficient. How ever, notwithstanding what Sleidan and some others have been pleased to say of our author, the learned Justus Lipsius highly extols him ; and in his notes upon the first book of politics says, that he has written with so much judgment and accuracy, that he may boldly venture to compare him with the most celebrated historians among the antient Greeks and Romans. In short, it would be endless to enumerate all the eulogies and encomiums both on the author and his history, that are to be found in the writings of Jacobus Marchantius, Aubertus Miræus, Valerius Andreas, Scevola Sammarthanus, Gerard Vossius, Guicciardini, Mariana, Thuanus, and several other persons of learning and merit; and therefore I shall here content myself with only giving the reader a character of him and his Memoirs, as it is admirably well drawn, in respect to his manner of writing, by Mr. Dryden in his life of Plutarch.

" Next to Thucydides," says he, " in this kind may be accounted Polybius among the Grecians : Livy, though not free from superstition, nor Tacitus from ill nature, amongst the Romans: amongst the modern Italians, Guicchiardine and d'Avilla, if not partial; but above all men, in my opinion, the plain, sincere, unaffected, and most instructive Philip de Comines among the French ; though he only gives his history the humble name of commentaries. I am sorry 1 cannot find in our own nation (though it has produced some commendable historians) any proper to be ranked with these." As to the subject of these memoirs, he gives us a prospect of all the most memorable occurrences in the reigns of Louis XL his son Charles VIII. Charles the last duke of Burgundy, and Mary his only daughter and heir, (who was married afterwards to Maximilian of Austria, the first emperor of that name); as like wise a description of the most remarkable passages in England, Flanders, Germany, Italy, Spain, and other neighbouring coun tries, which happened in the space of thirty-four years, from 1464 to 1498.

Preface

. 1643, in folio, with large politic observations upon it with this title " Las Memorias de Felipe de Comines, con Escolios propios de Don Juan Vitrian ;" and a new French edition printed at Ley den in duodecimo. As to the author Philip de Comines, Sleidan's account of his life is most faithful, and will give the reader the greatest satis faction. Some have charged him with too much flattery and complaisance to his master king Louis XL others, as John le Maire, have accused him of the other extreme, as having be spattered him too much ; be it which it will, it is not our business in this place to inquire, both of them are natural enough; yet the sincerity and probity of Comines secured him above all other historians, both then and since, if we believe the testimony of most people. As to the subject and body of his history, though Louis XL and Charles VIII. were the principal actors in it, and had the principal share in all tbe revolutions of their time; yet it was with so much difference and variety, that there scarce seems any resemblance between them.

We shall see here how every one has driven on his particular interest and design, under the pretence of reason of state, title of right, magnanimity of person, duty of office, neighbourhood, alliance, honour, or any particular obligation; and yet the true business and aim of them all was nothing but to benefit and advance themselves by the detriment and diminution of their neighbour; which shews the natural injustice of mankind, and too often in those whose office it is to repress and correct those exorbitances in the people that are under them. Who can imagine the solicitude and trouble of mind in which Louis XL lived all his time, and died at last; the first part of his reign being, as Comines tells us, taken up in an active and vigorous prosecution of his designs, never lying still, though with never so much detriment to his kingdom; and in the latter part he was as busy and industrious to settle it.

In short, he was the occasion of very much mischief, first to other people, and then to himself. Charles his brother having embarked himself against the king his sovereign lord in the first troubles during his reign, could never disentangle himself, but continued the subject and amuse ment of the confederates whilst he lived; and his sudden and unfortunate end discovered, as some thought, the practices and conspiracies against his life. Charles dukcof Burgundy, a great and magnanimous prince, and eminent for all honourable qualities, could he have been satisfied with his condition, and Phcaton-like, not have ruined himself. King Edward IV. of England having passed through a variety of fortunes, and being at length fixed on the throne, devoted himself to his pleasures, and minding nothing but the glory and vanities of this world, he invaded the kingdom of France without any particular provocation, only to try what he could get for himself, by the means of him who set him to work: but he met with too cunning a merchant to prosper in his designs.

Francis duke of Bretagne (if you will believe the history of those times) the best humoured person in the world, was the only prince that finished his course with some kind of repose and satisfaction both to himself and his people. Yet he was so watched by his neighbour the king of France, that it is a miracle how he preserved his estate; yet he did, and gained upon him at the latter end of his days. Lewis de Luxembourg, count de St. Paul, was advanced by the king of France to the highest degree of honour in that kingdom; but he behaved himself so ill towards his master, that at length he brought himself to the scaffold. John de Bourbon, bishop of Liege, was the cause of all the troubles and commotions in that city, as having neither age nor discretion suitable to his charge. The Leigeois, according to their natural giddiness and inconstancy, pulled their own ruin upon their heads.

But he escaped not the hand of God; forhewas killed basely, and thrown into the water by one la Marche, called le Sanglier d'Ardain, whom he had entrusted and preferred. Adolphus, son of Arnold duke of Gueldres, a mere Absalom to his father, finding, as he thought, nobody that could do him justice in this world, fled in disguise; and being discovered as he was passing a river, was taken prisoner unawares; but at length having put himself at the head of some troops to repel the French, he was defeated and slain, which was a destiny he had deserved a long time before. The Gantois having taken upon themselves the absolute go vernment both of the dominion and person of their princess, she was doubly an orphan under their tuition; and they behaved themselves so unworthily towards her, that they left it to be revenged afterwards upon their children and successors by Charles of Austria the emperor, who called them to a severe account.

Mary of Burgundy, a princess of great reputation whilst she lived, was daughter and sole heiress to that illustrious family, but left destitute of all kind of support after the death of her father; nevertheless she subsisted, and bore up against the oppression of her neighbour the king of France, whose designs were bent wholly upon the destruction of her family. As to the other partof ourhistory under the reign of Charles VIII. whatever might be observed in an enterprise of great consequence, resolved and executed with as much rashness, indiscretion, and disorder, as was ever known of that nature, is most accurately presented by our author. The house of Arragon, which was a long time settled in the government of Naples and Sicily, received an extraordinary con cussion, yet greater in its effect than duration; for growing to an excess of oppression, it became grievous and burdensome to the people.

But above all, Lodowick Sforza was the principal motive of the king's voyage into Italy, to secure himself of his nephew's estate, which he thought would be much easier by that expedition. And indeed it not only answering, but exceeding his expectation, the same Lodowick made but an ill return to his most Christian majesty, whose passage into those parts secured Lodowick in his usurpation ; till afterwards Lewis XII. who succeeded Charles, executed the judgment of Heaven upon Lodowick, and it is well that the son, and by consequence the race of the said Lodowick, felt the effects of his father's transgression under the reign of Francis I. John Sleidan, who translated the memoirs of Philip de Co mines into Latin, has divided his translation into two partSj before each of which he has put epistles or prefaces in praise of the author, and recommendation of his history; to the first of which the reader, if more than ordinarily curious, is referred.

Those, says that author in his second preface, who are desirous to make themselves known to the world by their writings, are by no means to shew themselves affected or ambitious, but to con sider which way they may make the reader better or more knowing ; in which method few authors have proceeded as they ought. But we may put Philip de Comines in another rank, and indeed he deserves it. It is true, his excellence was not great in the Latin tongue, otherwise he was a man of great dexterity, and a genteel wit. He has written the history of Lewis XL and his son Charles VIII. in French, and has done it so well, he ought to be imitated by any man that expects to gain credit by writing of history. He had all the advantages of doing it that could be desired ; for first, he served both the said princes in the quality of ambassador to several courts, and managed most part of the affairs which he mentions in his memoirs, so that he had no need of assistance from any body.

He was a person of singular saga city, and excellent natural parts; aud France being in great troubles in his time, he had a curiosity of transmitting what he had experienced and seen, to those who should come aster, and have the charge and care of such public affairs; to whose benefit and improvement having a particular respect, he made a diligent collection of all the enterprises and counsels which occurred in his time, without the least regard to any man's favour or displeasure. He commends no man the more for being of his own family or country; nor the kings themselves in whose court he had been raised, unless the goodness of their actions could justify his relations ; and where they were faulty he never fails to shew it. In a word> he is all over like himself, honest, entire, and faithful, as he ought to be; what he says is graceful, and his relations are intermixed with many wise sayings.

When he falls upon any thing more than ordinarily remarkable, there is an advertisement to the reader; and particularly to young princes, to consider it seriously, to have a care of what has proved dishonourable or prejudicial to other people; and when he has done, shews them frankly and generously what is their duty. 1 would not be thought to have insisted too long upon his praise; what I have said is true, and his excellence will be better discovered by reading his history, in which it is not to be doubted, but that those who peruse it, will find in it several important and memorable occurrences; and one may venture to recommend him with the greater confidence, because we find but few that imitate him. But besides this character that Sleidan gives him, he has ano ther qualification to recommend him to the favour of an Eng lishman; and that is, that whenever he has an occasion of men tioning the English in his history, he always does it after an ho nourable manner; and though indeed he will not allow us to be as cunning politicians as his own countrymen, yet he gives us the character of being a generous bold spirited people, highly com mends our constitution, and never conceals the grandeur and magnificence of the English nation.

Nothing more can be said after all this, with reference to the author's design, and his execution of it; but something maybe added as to his extraordinary merit and mastery in politics. Let a man have never so great a genius for conquest, says he, ifhe wants good sense, his other qualities will avail him nothing. How just is that observation of his I and yet a brutal courage, a fierce ness which is founded on stupidity, is enough now to form a hero. No. 34. c X Could we not give instances of this in our times, and of that ex cellent remark of his, that a prince who has ten thousand men, and is able to maintain them, is more to be feared than ten princes, allies and confederates, of six thousand men each? Yet, had he ever known an alliance which had so solid a foundation, as the mutual interest of each, the security of public liberty, con firmed by many glorious victories and conquests, and just at the point of accomplishing the great work for which it was formed, what would he have said of the weakness of all confederacies, had he seen the last great one in Europe broken in such a manner?

He, who from his own penetrating judgment, without any such convincing example, had so well described the impotence of all alliances. Besides his being such a finished politician, he was au admirable orator; and having a process issued out in parliament against him, he was his own advocate, and pleaded his cause him self. Though he was by birth a Fleming, he was one of the greatest masters of the French tongue in his days; which to learn, he read their best historians and poets, and became himself the best pattern of style for the age he lived in ; there being many authors much more modern than Philip de Comines, whose language is not so new and elegant as his, which in a great measure is owing to his court life and conversation. There have been two editions of these memoirs in English be fore; but both of them imperfect, and capable of great improve ments, as well with respect to the facts as the expression, which has varied so much of late, that it is with pain one reads so fine an author in such rude language as is the old obsolete version especially.

To this edition are added in their proper places, all the treaties at large that have relation to these memoirs, pieces which are very curious and instructive to such as are conversant in history. The Scandalous Chronicle was added to the late French edition, and though not written by this author, nor of equal value with the memoirs, yet touching on some parts of his period, this edition could not have been as perfect as the French without it. There is so much said of England in these memoirs, that it is hoped the illustrations in this edition relating to our history, will not be the least acceptable part of this work. THE AUTHORS

PREFACE.

. ADDRESSED TO SEIGNIOR ANGELO CATTO. IT was your request, my good lord archbishop of Vienna, that I should give you in writing the memoirs of what I knew, and had heard of the transactions of the late king Lewis XL our master and benefactor; a prince indeed whose actions deserve to be transmitted to posterity. In compliance to your lordship's desire I have done it, and as near the truth as my memory would permit me. Of the occurrences that happened in his youth, I shall say little besides what his majesty was pleased to communicate to me; but from the time of my first being entertained in his service, to his death, I shall be more particular; for I was pre sent when he died, and as constantly attending him as any about the court, being always of his bed-chamber, and em ployed in the most important affairs of the kingdom.

In him, and in all the rest of the princes that I have had the honour either to serve, or to be known to, there was always a mixture of good and bad, which I plainly discerned; and no wonder, for they are men like us, and perfection only belongs to God himself. How ever, that prince, whose virtues and good qualities outweigh his vices, is certainly worthy of more than ordinary commendation and applause. Because persons of their rank and dignity are more obstinate and inclinable to exorbitancy in their actions than other people, by reason their education in their younger years is with less strictness and discipline; and when they are grown up, the generality of those who are about them, make it their study and business to conform themselves to their humours. I have been unwilling to dissemble the matter, and perhaps in several places may have said something that seems to lessen the character of my master; but I hope the reader will consider the reasons that induced me to do it.

Yet this I dare affirm in his favour, that I never knew any prince less faulty in the main, though 1 have been as conversant among them as any minister of state in my time in France; and not only in this kingdom, but in Bretagne, Flanders, Germany, England, Spain, Portugal, aud Italy, spiritual THE AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. princes as well as temporal, besides several whom I never saw, but understood their natures and conditions from their letters, instructions, and my conferences with their ambassadors, which gave me no imperfect character of them. However, it is not my intention in the least to detract from the rest, by making encomiums upon, and praising my master. What 1 have written was only what readily occurred to my mind, to assist, as I conceive, your design of publishing it in Latin, a language which your lordship understands to perfection; and I question not but when it appears in the world, it will shew the learning and abilities of the author, as well as the magnificence and grandeur of the prince. Where I am defective, you have the lord de Bouchage and others to apply to, who can give you a better account, and in better language; though, considering the honour king Lewis XL did me, the possessions he gave me, the privacies he admitted me to, and his never discontinuing any of his favours to his dying day, no person ought to remember him better than myself; and if 1 could be guilty of so much ingratitude as to forget his good actions, then my misfortunes and sufferings since would be sufficient to remind me of them ; though it is not unusual upon the death of great princes to see confusion among their officers, and some of them advanced, whilst others are laid aside: for honours and preferments are not always distributed according to the incli nation of every one that desires them.

Your lordship seems only to demand of me an account of such occurrences as happened during the time that I was near the king's person; but 1 am obliged to begin a little higher, and having de duced them from the time of my being first entertained in his service, shall continue them in a regular manner to his death.

ADVERTISEMENT.

AS our next publication in this Series (and which will be comprehended in four Numbers at most) is the invaluable work of the Memoirs of Philip de Comines, in which that incomparable writer, relates the domestic life and principal actions and exploits of Lewis XL Charles nil. and Fran cis I. of France, we add his life here, that the Reader may form some judgment of the value of the personal journal or memoirs of this accomplished courtier and gentleman. THE LIFE OF PHILIP DE COMINES, LORD OF ARGENTON. Written in Latin by the learned Sleidan. PHILIP DE COMINES, the author of the following me moirs, was by birth a Fleming, of a noble extraction, and allied to the most illustrious familes in Flanders. His surname was de la Clite, his father and his uncle had been chief governors of Flanders under Philip duke of Burgundy, and are called by John le Maire author of the annals of Flanders, " Summi Prætores Flandriæ."

He had large possessions both in Hainault and Flanders. He was tall, fair, well-shaped, and of a comely personage. He spoke Italian, Dutch, and Spanish, incomparably well, but his excellence consisted in the French; in which he had read all the histories that were extant in that language, especially that of the Romans. His conversation was chiefly among foreigners, being desirous to inform himself of all things and places, and very careful of employing his time well; so that he was never known to be idle. He had a prodigious memory, and such a wonderful facility in expressing his THE LIFE OF thoughts, that he would at the same time dictate to four secretaries different things, all of them of great importance, and with the same ease and dexterity as if there had been but one. As he grew in years, he extremely lamented his deficiency in the Latin tongue; and complained of the little care that had been taken of his education in that respect.

He was in great favour with Lewis XL and during that monarch's reign was extremely beloved and respected in France; where at last he married Helen of Montsoreau, which is upon the frontiers of Anjou. After the death of Lewis XL he fell into great troubles; for being a foreigner, the envy of his adversaries prevailed so far, that he was im prisoned at Loches in the county of Berry, a place where such persons that are accused of High Treason are usually committed. In his imprisonment there (as he says him self in his memoirs) he was used very severely; but the diligence of his wife removed him to Paris, where not long after he was convened before the parliament. He had great factions against him, and his enemies were so very great and powerful, that no advocate durst undertake his defence; being forced to do it himself, he pleaded his own cause so well, that after a speech of two hours in full court, he convinced them of his innocence, and was discharged.

He insisted much upon what he had done both for the king and kingdom, and the favour and bounty of his master Lewis XL He remonstrated to them, that he had done nothing either through avarice or ambition; and that if his designs had been only to have enriched himself, he had as fair an opportunity of doing it, as any man of his con dition in France. He lay three years in prison ; the next after his releasement his wife was brought to bed of a daugh- PHILIP DE COMINES. ter, who was christened Joan, and married afterwards to Rene count of Penthieure, of the house of Bretagne; by whom she had amongother children a son called John, who is at this time governor of Bretagne, knight of the king's order, and duke of Estampes, and enjoys several other dignities and preferments besides. Philip de Comines was sixty-four years old, and died in a house of his own called Argenton, October 17, 1519, and his body being carried to Paris, was interred in the church belonging to the Augustins, in a chapel which he had built himself.

In his prosperity, he had the following saying fre quently in his mouth against such persons as were idle — " He that will not work, let him not eat." In his adversity, he used to say " I committed myself to the sea, and the tem pest has overtaken me." This I write not of myself, but by the dictates of Matthew of Arras, a man of great probity and knowledge, who is still living at Chartres in France, knew Philip de Comines extremely well, had served him, and was afterwards tutor to his grand-son the duke of Es tampes. This Matthew of Arras having seen the memoirs of Philip de Comines concerning the affairs of Lewis XL and Charles duke of Burgundy, (which not long before I had translated into Latin) and being (as he was pleased to say), delighted with the subject, for the better commemora tion of his master, he sent me this character by a friend 0f mine; which being soberly presented, was credibly received by me, and the rather, because it agreed exactly with what I had heard of this great man in France.

I'HILIP DE COMINES. 7 Some particular annotations and remarks upon the Author's life, serving to sheiv what important places and considerable rewards he had in the reigns of Lewis XI. and Charles VIII. Extracted from the seventh account of M. John de Brisonnet Receiver-general of the Finances, from the first of Oct. 1472, to the last of Sept. 1473. TO Philip de Comines, knight, lord of Ravestures, counsellor and chamberlain to the king, the sum of forty-one thousand two hun dred livres, besides the thirty thousand crowns of gold which the king presented him in consideration of several services that he has done his majesty; to aid and assist him in buying and purchas ing of the lord deMontsoreau, the land and seigniory of Argenton. To him more, the sum of four hundred livres, which the king has given him, besides other gifts, pensions, and revenues, to fur nish the castle of Berry, which belongs to him.

Extracted from the record O. in the Register-office of the chamber of accounts, beginning in Jan. 1470, and ending in Aug. 1474. — P. Ixx. LETTERS of king Lewis XL by which he gives to his trusty and well-beloved counsellor and chamberlain Philip de Comines, knight, and lord of Ravestures, a pension of six thousand livres, (this was upon his first coming into the king's service) which he is to receive as well out of the additional tax of threescore pence upon each measure of salt that is carried to Pont de Cee, as out of the corn-house and excise of Chinon. These letters were granted or written at Amboise the 28th of October 1472. In the same record, page cl. are the deeds of gift of the princi pality, lands, and seigniory of Talmont sur Tonne-Boutonue, Cbateau-Gontier, Curson, la Chevres Bcrre, and other lordships given by Lewis XL to Philip de Comines, lord of Ravestures: And there are also letters, importing, that it was for some singu lar services that he did the king during his imprisonment in the castle of Peronne, and in his expedition against the Liegeois, in which he was forced to accompany the duke of Burgundy.

These PHILIP DE COMINES. are the words " Who by his good advice, and other services that he did us, was the chief means of preserving our royal per son from danger.'' And at the bottom of these letters is written with the king's own hand "You know how desirous I am that this affair should be dispatched immediately according to my in tentions, and the causes that have induced me to do it; therefore pray take care not to make any difficulty about it, but dispateh it presently without any manner of delay." Signed Lewis. Tilhart. By letters patent granted at Plessis du Pare near Tours the 12th of January 1473, King Lewis XI. gives to Philip de Comines lord of Argenton and Ravestures, the money arising from the free fiefs and new acquisitions that were raised in the bailiwicks of Tournay and Tournesis, in consideration of the great and important services he had done him in the most secret and weighty af fairs.

These deeds of gist are transcribed in the beginning of the account of free fiefs and new acquisitions in the bailiwicks of Tournayand Tournesis, which was made up by M. James de Bailleux, from the first of March 1475, to the last day of Febru ary 1476. At the foot of this account, in the chapter of grants given by the king, there is a disbursement under the name of the lord de Comines, of four thousand eight hundred and fourscore livres, being the sum to which the money arising from the free fiefs amounted. An extract of a record which is in the Register-office of the chamber of accounts in Paris, and endorsed P. beginning in 1475, and ending in 1478. PHILIP de Comines, lord of Argenton, was admitted into the chamber of accounts at Paris, and having taken the usual oaths at the bar of that court, was advanced to the office of seneschal of Poictou by the resignation of the lord de Chaumont, and by the king's letters patent, given at Plessis du Pare near Tours, the 24th of November 1476. Signed by the king in the presence of the lords du Lude, Bouchage, and several others. HISTORICAL MEMOIRS, (Sec. <Sfc. 8$c.