Franco-Gallia Part 9

The Year 1356, furnishes us with another Example; at which Time King _John_ was defeated by the _English_ at _Poictiers_; taken Prisoner, and carried into _England_.--"After so great a Calamity, the only Hopes left were in the Authority of the _Great Council_; therefore immediately a Parliament was summon'd to meet at _Paris_. And altho' King _John_'s Three Sons, _Charles_, _Lewis_ and _John_, were at Hand, the eldest of which was of competent Age to govern; yet other Men were chosen, to wit, _twelve approved Persons_ out of each _Order_ of the _States_, to whom the Management of the Kingdom's Affairs was intrusted; and there it was decreed, that an Emba.s.sy shou'd be sent into _England_ to treat of Peace with the _English_." _Froissard_, Vol. I. cap. 170. _Joannes Buchettus_, lib. 4. fol. 118. _Nich. Gillius_ in Chron. _Regis Joannis_, are our Authors.

A third Instance we have _Anno_ 1375, when the last Will and Testament of _Charles_ the Fifth, Surnamed the _Wise_, was produced: By which Will he had appointed his Wife's Brother, _Philip_ Duke of _Bourbon_, to be Guardian to his Sons, and _Lewis_ Duke of _Anjou_ his own Brother, to be Administrator of the Kingdom till such Time as his Son _Charles_ shou'd come of Age. But notwithstanding this, a _Great Council_ was held at _Paris_, wherein (after declaring the Testament to be void and null) it was decreed, that the _Administration_ of the Kingdom shou'd be committed to _Lewis_, the Boy's Uncle: "_But upon this Condition, that he_ should be _ruled and governed_ in that _Administration, by the Advice of certain Persons named and approv'd by the_ Council." The Education and Tutelage of the Child was left to _Bourbon_; and at the same Time a Law was made, that the Heir of the Kingdom shou'd be crown'd as soon as he shou'd be full 14 Years old, and receive the Homage and Oath of Fidelity from his Subjects.--_Froissard_, Vol. 2. cap. 60.

_Buchett_, lib. 4. fol. 124. Chro. Brit. Cap.

A 4th Example we have in the Year 1392; at which Time the same _Charles_ the Sixth was taken with a sudden Distraction or Madness, and was convey'd first to _Mans_, and afterwards to _Paris_; and there a _General Council_ was held, wherein it was decreed by the _Authority of the States_, that the _Administration_ of the _Kingdom_ shou'd be committed to the Dukes of _Aquitain_ and _Burgundy_.--_Froissard_, Vol.

4. cap. 44. is our Author.

5. Neither must we omit what _Paponius_ (Arrest. lib. 5. t.i.t. 10. Art.

4.) testifies to have been declared by the _Parliament_ at _Paris_, within the Compa.s.s of almost our own Memories, when _Francis_ the First had a Mind to alienate Part of his Dominions; _viz._ "That all Alienations of that Kind made by any of his Predecessors, were void and null in themselves; upon this very Account, that they were done _without the Authority of the Great Council_, and of _the Three Estates_," as he calls them.

A 6th Example we have in the Year 1426, when _Philip_ Duke of _Burgundy_, and _Hanfred_ [Dux _Glocestriae_] were at mortal Enmity with each other, to the great Detriment of the Commonwealth and it was at last agreed between them to determine their Quarrel by single Combat: For in that Contention the _Great Council_ interposed its Authority, and decreed that both shou'd lay down their Arms, and submit to have their Controversies _judicially tryed_ before the _Council_, rather than _disputed_ with the _Sword_. Which History is related at large by _Paradinus_, in _Chron. Burgund. lib._ 3. _Anno_ 1426.

A 7th Example happned in the Year 1484, when _Lewis the Eleventh_ dying, and leaving his Son _Charles_, a Boy of 13 Years old; a _Council_ was held at _Tours_, wherein it was decreed, "The Education of the Boy shou'd be committed to _Anne_ the King's Sister;" but the Administration of the Kingdom shou'd be intrusted to certain Persons _Elected and approved by that Council_; notwithstanding _Lewis_, Duke of _Orleans_, the next Kinsman by the Father's Side, demanded it as his Right. A Testimony of which Transaction is extant in the Acts of that _Council_, printed at _Paris_; and in _Joannes Buchettus_ 4th Book, folio 167.

CHAP. XVIII.

_Of the Remarkable Authority of the_ Council _against_ Lewis _the_ Eleventh.

The _Power_ and _Authority_ of the _Council_ and the _Estates_ a.s.sembled, appears by the foregoing Testimonies to have been very great, and indeed (as it were) _Sacred_. But because we are now giving Examples of this Power, we will not omit a signal Instance of the _Authority_ of this _Council_, which interposed it self in the Memory of our Fathers against _Lewis the Eleventh_, who was reputed more crafty and cunning than any of the Kings that had ever been before him.

In the Year 1460, when this _Lewis_ governed the Kingdom in such a Manner, that in many Cases the Duty of a good Prince, and a Lover of his Country, was wanting; the People began to desire the a.s.sistance and _Authority_ of the Great _Council_, that some Care might therein be taken of the Publick Welfare; and because it was suspected the King wou'd not submit himself to it, the _Great Men_ of the Kingdom (stirred up by the daily Complaints and Solicitations of the _Commons_,) "resolv'd to gather Forces, and raise an _Army_; that (as _Philip de Comines_ expresses it) they might provide for the _Publick Good_, and expose the King's wicked Administration of the Commonwealth." They therefore agreed to be ready prepared with a good Army, that in Case the King should prove refractory, and refuse to follow good Advice, they might _compel him by Force_: For which Reason that War was said to have been undertaken for the Publick Good, and was commonly called the War _du bien public_. "_Comines_, _Gillius_, and _Lamarc_, have recorded the Names of those Great Men who were the princ.i.p.al Leaders, the _Duke of Bourbon_, the _Duke of Berry_, the King's Brother; the _Counts of Dunois_, _Nevers_, _Armagnac_, and _Albret_, and the _Duke_ of _Charalois_, who was the Person most concern'd in what related to the Government. Whereever they marched, they caused it to be proclaimed, that their Undertakings were only design'd for the _Publick_ Good; they published Freedom from Taxes and Tributes, and sent Amba.s.sadors with Letters to the _Parliament_ at _Paris_, to the Ecclesiasticks, and to the Rector of the University, desiring them not to suspect or imagine these Forces were rais'd for the King's Destruction, but only to reclaim him, and make him perform the _Office_ of a _Good King_, as the present Necessities of the _Publick_ required."--These are _Gillius_'s Words, lib. 4. fol. 152.

The Annals int.i.tuled the Chronicles of _Lewis the Eleventh_, printed at _Paris_ by _Galliottus_ fol. 27. have these Words.----"The first and chiefest of their Demands was, That a _Convention_ of the _Three States_ should be held; _because in all Ages it had been found to be the only proper Remedy for all Evils, and to have always had a Force sufficient to heal such sort of Mischiefs_."--Again, Pag. 28. "An a.s.sembly was called on Purpose to hear the Amba.s.sadors of the Great Men, and met on the 24th Day in the Town-House at _Paris_; at which were present some Chosen Men of the University, of the Parliament, and of the Magistrates. The Answer given the Amba.s.sadors, was, That _what they demanded was most just_; and accordingly a _Council_ of the _Three Estates_ was summon'd."--These are the Words of that Historian.--From whence the Old Saying of _Marcus Antoninus_ appears to be most true.--"Etsi omnes molestae semper seditiones sunt, justas tamen esse nonnullas, & prope necessarias: eas vero justissimas maximeque necessarias videri, c.u.m populus Tyranni saevitia oppressus auxilium a legitimo Civium conventu implorat. Altho' all Sorts of Seditions are troublesome, yet some of them are just, and in a Manner necessary; but those are extraordinary just and necessary, which are occasion'd when the People oppress'd by the Cruelty of a Tyrant, implores the a.s.sistance of a Lawful Convention."

_Gaguinus_, in his Life of _Lewis_ the _Eleventh_, pag. 265. gives us _Charles_, the Duke of _Burgundy's_ Answer to that King's Amba.s.sadors.

"_Charles_ (says he) heard the Amba.s.sadors patiently, but made Answer, That he knew no Method so proper to restore a firm Peace, at a Time when such great Animosities, and so many Disorders of the War were to be composed, as a _Convention of the Three Estates_. Which when the Amba.s.sadors had by Special Messengers communicated to King _Lewis_, he hoping to gain his Point by Delays, summon'd the _Great Council_ to meet at _Tours_, on the Kalends of _April_ 1467; and at the appointed Time for the _Convention_, they came from all Parts of the Kingdom, &c."

The same Pa.s.sage, and in almost the same Words, is recorded in the Book of Annals, _fol. 64._ and in the Great Chronicle, _Vol. 4. fol. 242._ where these very remarkable Words are further added.--"In that Council it was appointed, that certain approved Men shou'd be chosen out of each of the _Estates_, who shou'd establish the Commonwealth, and take care that Right and Justice shou'd be done." But _Gillius_ in the Place above-mention'd says: "After the Battel at _Montlebery_, many well-affected and prudent Men were elected to be _Guardians_ of the _Publick Good_, according as it had been _agreed_ upon between the _King_ and the _n.o.bles_; among whom the Count of _Dunois_ was the Princ.i.p.al, as having been the chief Promoter of that Rising."--For it had grown into Custom after the Wealth of the _Ecclesiasticks_ was _excessively_ increas'd, to divide the People into Three _Orders_ or _Cla.s.ses_, whereof the _Ecclesiasticks_ made one; and when those _Curators_ of the _Commonwealth_ were chosen, Twelve Persons were taken out of each Order. So that it was enacted in that _Council_, that 36 Guardians of the Republick shou'd be created, with Power, by common Consent, to redress all the Abuses of the Publick. Concerning which Thing, _Monstrellettus_, Vol. 4. fol. 150 writes thus: "In the first Place (says he) it was decreed, that for the re-establishing the State of the Commonwealth, and the easing the People of the Burthen of their Taxes, and to compensate their Losses, 36 Men shou'd be elected, who shou'd have _Regal Authority_; viz. 12 out of the _Clergy_, 12 out of the _Knights_, and 12 _skilful_ in the Laws of the Land; to whom Power should be given of inspecting and enquiring into the Grievances and Mischiefs under which the Kingdom laboured, and to apply Remedies to all: And the King gave his Promise _in Verbo Regis_, That whatsoever those 36 Men shou'd appoint to be done, he wou'd ratify and confirm."

_Oliver de la Marck_, a _Flemming_, in his History, _cap. 35._ writes the same Thing, and mentions the same Number of 36 _Guardians_ or _Curators_ of the _Commonwealth_. And he farther adds; "That because the King did not stand to his Promise, but _violated_ his _Faith_, and the _Solemn Oath_ which he had publickly sworn, a most _cruel War_ was kindled in _Francogallia_, which set it all in a Flame, and continued near 13 Years. Thus that King's Perjury was punish'd both by his own Infamy, and the People's Destruction."

Upon the whole Matter 'tis plain, that 'tis not yet a hundred Years compleat, since the Liberties of _Francogallia_, and the _Authority_ of its _annual General Council_, flourished in full Vigor, and exerted themselves against a King of ripe Years, and great Understanding; for he was above 40 Years old, and of such great Parts, as none of our Kings have equall'd him. So that we may easily perceive that our _Commonwealth_, which at first was _founded_ and _establish'd_ upon the _Principles of Liberty_, maintained it self in the same free and sacred State, (even by Force and Arms) against all the Power of Tyrants for more then Eleven Hundred Years.

I cannot omit the great Commendation which that most n.o.ble Gentleman and accomplish'd Historian, _Philip de Comines_, gives of this Transaction; who in his 5th Book and 18th Chapter, gives this Account of it, which we will transcribe Word for Word.--"But to proceed: Is there in all the World any King or Prince, who has a Right of imposing a Tax upon his People (tho' it were but to the Value of one Farthing) without their own Will and Consent? Unless he will make use of Violence, and a Tyrannical Power, he cannot. But some will say there may happen an Exigence, when the Great _Council of the People_ cannot be waited for, the Business admitting of no Delay. I am sure, in the Undertaking of a War, there is no need of such hast; one has sufficient Leisure to think leisurely of that Matter. And this I dare affirm, that when Kings and Princes undertake a War with the Consent of their Subjects, they are both much more powerful, and more formidable to their Enemies.--It becomes a King of _France_ least of any King in the World, to make use of such expressions as this.--_I have a Power of raising as great Taxes as I please on my Subjects_;--for neither he, nor any other, has such a Power; and those Courtiers who use such Expressions, do their King no Honour, nor increase his Reputation with Foreign Nations; but on the contrary, create a Fear and Dread of him among all his Neighbours, who will not upon any Terms subject themselves to such a Sort of Government.

But if our King, of such as have a Mind to magnify his Power; wou'd say thus; I have such obedient and loving Subjects, that they will deny me nothing in Reason; or, there is no Prince that has a People more willing to forget the Hardships they undergo; this indeed wou'd be a Speech that wou'd do him Honour, and give him Reputation. But such Words as these do not become a King; _I tax as much as I have a mind to; and I have a Power of taking it, which I intend to keep_. _Charles_ the Fifth never used such Expressions, neither indeed did I ever hear any of our Kings speak such a Word; but only some of their Ministers and Companions, who thought thereby they did their Masters Service: But, in my Opinion, they did them a great deal of Injury, and spoke those Words purely out of Flattery, not considering what they said. And as a further Argument of the gentle Disposition of the _French_, let us but consider that _Convention_ of the _Three Estates_ held at _Tours_, Anno 1484, after the Decease of our King _Lewis_ the _Eleventh_: About that time the wholsome Inst.i.tution of the _Convention_ of the _Three Estates_ began to be thought a dangerous Thing; and there were some inconsiderable Fellows who said then, and often since, that it was High-Treason to make so much as mention of Convocating the _States_, because it tended to lessen and diminish the King's Authority; but it was they themselves who were _guilty of High-Treason against G.o.d, the King, and the Commonwealth_.

Neither do such-like Sayings turn to the Benefit of any Persons, but such as have got great Honours or Employments without any Merit of their own; and have learnt how to flatter and sooth, and talk impertinently; and who fear all great a.s.semblies, lest there they shou'd appear in their proper Colours, and have all evil Actions condemned."

CHAP. XIX.

_Of the Authority, of the a.s.sembly of the States concerning the most important Affairs of Religion._

We have hitherto demonstrated, that the a.s.sembly of the States had a very great Power in all Matters of Importance relating to our Kingdom of _France_. Let us now consider, what its Authority has been, in Things that concern Religion. Of this our Annals will inform us under the Year MCCC. when Pope _Boniface_ the Eighth sent Amba.s.sadors to King _Philip the Fair_, demanding of him, whether he did not hold and repute himself to be subject to the Pope in all Things temporal as well as spiritual; and whether the Pope was not Lord over all the Kingdoms and States of _Christendom_? In Consequence of these Principles, he required of _Philip_ to acknowledge him for his Sovereign Lord and Prince, and to confess that he held his Kingdom of _France_ from the Pope's Liberality; or that if he refused to do this, he should be forthwith excommunicated, and declar'd a Heretick. After the King had given Audience to these Amba.s.sadors, he summon'd the States to meet at _Paris_, and in that a.s.sembly the Pope's Letters were read, to the Purport following.

_Boniface, universal Bishop, the Servant of the Servants of G.o.d, to_ Philip _King of_ France. _Fear G.o.d and keep his Commandments. It is our Pleasure thou shouldst know, that thou art our Subject, as well in things temporal as Spiritual, and that it belongs not to thee to bestow Prebends or collate Benefices, in any Manner whatever. If thou hast the Custody of any such that may be now vacant, thou must reserve the Profits of them for the Use of such as shall succeed therein: and if thou hast already collated any of them, we decree by these Presents such Collation to be_ ipso facto _void, and do revoke whatever may have been transacted relating thereunto; esteeming all those to be Fools and Madmen, who believe the contrary. From our Palace of the_ Lateran _in the Month of December, and in the Sixth Year of our Pontificate_. These Letters being read, and the Deputies of the States having severally deliver'd their Opinions about them, after the Affair was maturely deliberated, it was ordain'd; first, that the Pope's Letters should be burnt in the Presence of his Amba.s.sador, in the great Yard of the Palace: Then, that these Amba.s.sadors with Mitres upon their Heads, and their Faces bedaub'd with Dirt, should be drawn in a Tumbrel by the common Hangman into the said Yard, and there be exposed to the Mockery and Maledictions of the People: finally, that Letters in the King's Name should be dispatched to the Pope, according to the Tenor following.

Philip _by the Grace of G.o.d, King of_ France, _to_ Boniface, _who stiles himself universal Bishop, little or no greeting. Be it known to thy great Folly and extravagant Temerity, that in things temporal we have no Superior but G.o.d; and that the Disposal of the Vacancies of certain Churches and Prebends belong to us of Regal Right; that it is our due to receive the profits of them, and our Intention to defend our selves by the Edge of the Sword, against all such, as would any way go about to disturb us in the Possession of the same; esteeming those to be Fools and Brainless, who think otherwise_. For Witnesses of this History, we have the Author of the _Chronicle of Bretayne_, lib. 4. chap. 14. and _Nicholas Gilles_ in the _Annals of France_, to whom ought to be join'd _Papon._ in the first Book of his Arrests t.i.t. 5. art. 27.

CHAP. XX.

_Whether_ Women _are not as much debarr'd_ (_by the_ Francogallican Law) _from the_ Administration, _as from the_ Inheritance _of the Kingdom_.

The present Dispute being about the _Government_ of the Kingdom, and the chief _Administration_ of Publick Affairs, we have thought fit not to omit this Question: Whether _Women_ are not as much debarr'd from the _Administration_, as from the _Inheritance_ of the Kingdom? And in the first Place we openly declare, that 'tis none of our Intention to argue for or against the _Roman_ Customs or Laws, or those of any other Nation, but only of the Inst.i.tutions of this our own _Francogallia_. For as on the one Hand 'tis notorious to all the World, that by the _Roman_ Inst.i.tutions, _Women_ were always under _Guardianship_, and excluded from intermeddling, either in publick or private Affairs, by Reason of the _Weakness_ of their Judgment: So on the other, _Women_ (by ancient Custom) obtain the _Supreme Command_ in _Some_ Countries. "The (_Britains_ says _Tacitus_ in his Life of _Agricola_) make _no Distinction of s.e.xes_ in _Government_." Thus much being premised, and our Protestation being clearly and plainly proposed, we will now return to the Question. And as the Examples of some former Times seem to make for the affirmative, wherein the Kingdom of _Francogallia_ has been administered by _Queens_, especially by _Widows_ and _Queen-Mothers_: So on the contrary, the Reason of the Argument used in Disputations, is clearly against it. For she, who cannot be Queen in her _own Right_, can never have any Power of Governing in another's Right: But here a Woman cannot reign in her own Right, nor can the Inheritance of the Crown fall to her, or any of her Descendants; and if they be stiled _Queens_ 'tis only accidentally; as they are _Wives_ to the _Kings_ their _Husbands_.

Which we have prov'd out of Records for twelve hundred Years together.

To this may be added (which we have likewise prov'd) that nor only the sole Power of _Creating_ and _Abdicating_ their Kings, but also the Right of electing _Guardians_ and _Administrators_ of the Commonwealth, was lodged in the same _Publick Council_. Nay, and after the Kings were created, the supreme Power of the Administration was retained still by the same _Council_. And 'tis not yet full a hundred Years since 36 Guardians of the Commonwealth were const.i.tuted by the same _Council_, like so many _Ephori_: and this during the Reign of _Lewis_ the _Eleventh_, as crafty and cunning as he was. If we seek for Authorities and Examples from our Ancestors, we may find several; there is a remarkable one in _Aimoinus_, lib. 4. cap. 1. where speaking of Queen _Brunechild_, Mother to young _Childebert_; "The n.o.bility of _France_ (says he) understanding that _Brunechild_ designed to keep the chief Management of the Kingdom in her own Hands; and having always. .h.i.therto, for so long a Time disdained to be subject to a Female Domination, did, &c." And indeed it has so happned in the Days of our Ancestors, that whenever Women got into their Hands the Procuration of the Kingdom, they have been always the Occasion of wonderful Tragedies: Of which it will not be amiss to give some Examples. Queen _Crotildis_, Mother of the two Kings, _Childebert_ and _Clotarius_, got once the Power into her Hands; and being extravagantly fond of the Sons of _Clodomer_, (another of her Sons then dead) occasion'd a great deal of Contention, by her endeavouring to exclude her Sons, and promote these Grandsons to the Regal Dignity; and upon that Score she nourished their _large Heads of Hair_ with the greatest Care and Diligence imaginable, according to that ancient Custom of the Kings of the _Franks_, which we have before given an Account of. The two Kings (as soon as they understood it) presently sent one _Archadius_, who presenting her with a naked Sword and a Pair of Shears, gave her Choice which of the two She had rather shou'd be applied to the Boys Heads. But She (says _Gregory_ of _Tours_) being enraged with Choler, especially when She beheld the naked Sword and the Scissars, anwer'd with a great deal of Bitterness--"Since they cannot be advanced to the Kingdom, I had rather see them dead than shaven"--And thereupon both her Grandsons were beheaded in her Presence. The same _Gregory_, lib. 3. cap. 18. subjoyns--"This Queen, by her Liberalities and Gifts conferr'd upon Monasteries, got the Affections, _Plebis & vulgi_ of the common People and Mob: _Date frenos_ (says Cato) _impotenti naturae, & indomito animali, & sperate ipsas modum licentiae facturas_. Give Bridles to their unruly Natures, and curb the untamed Animal; and then, you may hope they shall see some Bounds to their Licentiousness." What an unbridled Animal and profligate Wretch was that Daughter of King _Theodorick_, by Birth an _Italian_; who being mad in Love with one of her Domesticks, and knowing him to have been kill'd by her Mother's Orders, feigned a thorough Reconciliation, and desir'd in Token of it to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper with her Mother; but Privately mixing some Poyson in the Chalice, She at once gave the strangest Instance both of Impiety and Cruelty in thus murdering her own Mother. The Account given of it by _Gregory_ of _Tours_ is this: "They were (says he) of the _Arrian Sect_, and because it was their Custom that the Royal Family shou'd communicate at the Altar out of one Chalice, and People of Inferior Quality out of another.

(_By the way, pray take notice of the Custom of Communicating in both kinds by the People._) She dropped Poyson into that Chalice out of which her Mother was to communicate; which as soon as she had tasted of it, kill'd her presently."--_Fredegunda, Queen-Mother_, and Widow of _Chilperick the First_, got the Government into her Hands; She, in her Husband's Time, lived in Adultery with one _Lander_; and as soon as she found out that her Husband _Chilperick_ had got Wind of it, she had him murdered, and presently seiz'd upon the Administration of the Kingdom as Queen-Mother, and Guardian of her Son _Clotharius_, and kept Possession of it for 13 Years; in the first Place she poyson'd her Son's Uncle _Childebert_, together with his Wife; afterwards she stirred up the _Hunns_ against his Sons, and raised a Civil War in the Republick. And lastly, She was the Firebrand of all those Commotions which wasted and burnt all _Francogallia_, during many Years, as _Aimoinus_ tells us, [lib. 3. cap. 36. & lib. 8. cap. 29.]

There ruled once in _France_, _Brunechild_, Widow of King _Sigebert_, and Mother of _Childebert_. This woman had for her Adulterer a certain _Italian_, called _Protadius_, whom She advanced to great Honours: She bred up her two Sons, _Theodebert_ and _Theodorick_, in such a wicked and profligate Course of Life, that at last they became at mortal Enmity with each other: And after having had long Wars, fought a cruel single Combat. She kill'd with her own Hands her Grandson _Meroveus_, the Son of _Theodebert:_ She poysoned her Son _Theodorick_. What need we say more? _Date fraenos_ (as _Cato_ says) _impotenti naturae, & indomito animali; & sperate illas modum licentiae facturas_. She was the Occasion of the Death of Ten of the Royal Family: And when a certain Bishop reproved her, and exhorted her to mend her Life, She caused him to be thrown into the River. At last, a _Great Council_ of the _Franks_ being summoned, She was judged, and condemned, and drawn in Pieces by wild horses, being torn Limb from Limb. The Relators of this Story are, _Greg. Turonensis_, [lib. 5. cap. 39.] and [lib. 8. cap. 29.] And _Ado_ [aetat. 6.] _Otto Frising._ [Chron. 5. Cap. 7.] _G.o.dfridus Viterbiensis_ [Chron. parte 16.] & _Aimoinus_ [lib. 4. cap. 1.] Also the Appendix of _Gregory of Tours_, [lib. 11.] whose Words are these: "_Having convicted her of being the Occasion of the Death of Ten Kings of the_ Franks; _to wit, of_ Sigebert, Meroveus, _and his Father_ Chilperick; Theodebert, _and his Son_ Clothair; Meroveus, _the Son of_ Clothair, Theodorick, _and his three Children, which had been newly killed, they order'd her to be placed upon a Camel, and to be tortured with divers sorts of Torments, and so to be carried about all the Army; afterwards to be tied by the Hair of the Head, one Leg and one Arm to a Wild Horse's Tail; by which being kick'd, and swiftly dragg'd about, She was torn Limb from Limb._"

Let us instance in some others: _Plectrudis_ got the Government into her Hands; a Widow not of the King, but of _Pipin_, who ruled the Kingdom whilst _Dagobert_ the Second bore the empty t.i.tle of King. This _Plectrudis_ having been divorced by her Husband _Pipin_, because of her many Adulteries and flagitious Course of Life; as soon as her Husband was dead, proved the Incendiary of many Seditions in France. She compell'd that gallant Man _Charles Martel_, Mayor of the Palace, to quit his Employment, and in his Place put one _Theobald_, a most vile and wicked Wretch; and at last She raised a most grievous Civil War among the _Franks_, who in divers Battels discomfited each other with most terrible Slaughters. Thus, says _Aimoinus_, [lib 4. cap. 50. & cap sequen.] Also the Author of a Book called, The State of the Kingdom of _France_ under _Dagobert_ the Second, has these Words: _"When the_ Franks _were no longer able to hear the Fury and Madness of_ Plectrude, _and saw no Hopes of Redress from King_ Dagobert, _they elected one_ Daniel _for their King, (who formerly had been a Monk) and called him_ Chilperick." Which Story we have once before told you.

But let us proceed. The Queen-Mother of _Charles_ the _Bald_, (whose Name was _Judith_) and Wife of _Lewis the Pious_, who had not only been King of _Francogallia_, but Emperor of _Italy_ and _Germany_, got the Government into her Hands. This Woman stirred up a most terrible and fatal War between King _Lewis_ and his Sons, (her Sons in Law) from whence arose so great a Conspiracy, that they constrained their Father to abdicate the Government, and give up the Power into their Hands, to the great Detriment of almost all _Europe_: The Rise of which Mischiefs, our Historians do unanimously attribute, for the most Part, to _Queen Judith_ in a particular Manner: The Authors of this History are the _Abbot_ of _Ursperg_, _Michael Ritius_ and _Otto Frising._ [Chron. 5.

cap. 34.] "_Lewis_ (says this last) _by reason of the Evil Deeds of his Wife_ Judith, _was driven out of his Kingdom_." Also _Rhegino_ [in Chron.

ann. 1338.] "_Lewis_ (says he) _was deprived of the Kingdom by his Subjects, and being reduced to the Condition of a private Man, was put into Prison, and the Sole Government of the Kingdom, by the Election of the_ Franks, _was conferr'd upon_ Lotharius _his Son. And this Deprivation of_ Lewis _was occasioned princ.i.p.ally through the many Wh.o.r.edoms of his Wife_ Judith."

Some Ages after, Queen _Blanch_, a _Spanish_ Woman, and Mother to St.

_Lewis_, ruled the Land. As soon as She had seized the Helm of Government, the n.o.bility of _France_ began to take up Arms under the Conduct of _Philip_ Earl of _Bologn_, the King's Uncle, crying out (as that excellent Author _Joannes Joinvillaeus_ writes) [cap. histor. 4.]

"_That it was not to be endured that so great a Kingdom shou'd be governed by a Woman, and She a Stranger._" Whereupon those n.o.bles rejecting _Blanch_, chose Earl _Philip_ to be Administrator of the Kingdom: But _Blanch_ persisting in her Purpose, sollicited Succours from all Parts, and at last determined to conclude a League with _Ferdinand_ King of _Spain_. With _Philip_ joyned the Duke of _Brittany_, and the _Count de Eureux_ his Brother. These, on a sudden, seiz'd on some Towns, and put good Garisons into them. And thus a grievous War was begun in _France_, because the Administration of the Government had been seized by the Queen-Mother: It hapned that the King went (about that Time) to _Estampes_, being sent thither by his Mother upon Account of the War: To that Place the n.o.bles from all Parts hastily got together, and began to surround the King not with an Intention (as _Joinville_ says) to do him any Harm, but to withdraw him from the Power of his Mother. Which She hearing, with all Speed armed the People of _Paris_, and commanded them to march towards _Estampes_. Scarce were these Forces got as far as _Montlebery_, when the King (getting from the n.o.bles) joyned them, and returned along with them to _Paris_. As soon as _Philip_ found that he was not provided with a sufficient force of Domestick Troops, he sent for Succours to the Queen of _Cyprus_, (who at the fame Time had some Controversy depending in the Kingdom) She entring with a great Army into _Champagn_, plunder'd that Country far and near; _Blanch_ however continues in her Resolution. This constrains the n.o.bility to call in the _English_ Auxiliaries, who waste _Aquitain_ and all the Maritime Regions; which Mischiefs arose thro' the Ambition and unbridled l.u.s.t of Rule of the Queen-Mother, as Joinvillaeus tells us at large, [cap. 7, 8, 9, 10.]

And because many of our Countrymen have a far different Opinion of the Life and Manners of Queen _Blanch_, occasioned (as 'tis probable) by the Flattery of the Writers of those Times; (For all Writers either thro'

Fear of Punishment, or, by Reason of the Esteem which the Kings their Sons have in the World, are cautious how they write of Queen-Mothers:) I think it not amiss to relate what _Joinville_ himself records [cap 76.]

_viz._ That She had so great a Command over her Son, and had reduced him to that Degree of Timidity and Lowness of Spirit, that She would very seldom suffer the King to converse with his Wife _Margaret_, (her Daughter-in-Law) whom She hated. And therefore whenever the King went a Journey, She ordered the Purveyors to mark out different Lodgings, that the Queen might lie separate from the King. So that the poor King was forced to place Waiters and Doorkeepers in Ambush whenever He went near his Queen; Ordering them, that when they heard his Mother _Blanch_ approach the Lodgings, they shou'd beat some Dogs, by whose Cry he might have Warning to hide himself: And one Day (says _Joinville_) when Queen _Margaret_ was in Labour, and the King in Kindness was come to visit her, on a sudden Queen _Blanch_ surprized him in her Lodgings: For altho' he had been warned by the howling of the Dogs, and had hid himself (wrapp'd up in the Curtains) behind the Bed; yet She found him out, and in the Presence of all the Company laid Hands on him, and drew him out of the Chamber: You have nothing to do here (said She) get out.

The poor Queen, in the mean Time, being not able to bear the Disgrace of such a Reproof, fell into a Swoon for Grief; so that the Attendants were forced to call back the King to bring her to her self again, by whose Return She was comforted and recover'd. _Joinville_ tells this Story [_cap. hist. 76._] in almost these same Words.

Again, Some Years after this, _Isabella_, Widow of _Charles_ the 6th, (Sirnamed the _Simple_) got Possession of the Government: For before the Administration of the Publick Affairs cou'd be taken care of by the _Great Council_, or committed by them to the Management of chosen and approved Men, many ambitious Courtiers had stirr'd up Contentions: Six Times these Controversies were renewed, and as often composed by Agreement. At last _Isabella_ being driven out of _Paris_ betook her self to _Chartres_: There, having taken into her Service a subtle Knave, one _Philip de Morvilliers_, She made up a Council of her own, with a President, and appointed this _Morvilliers_ her Chancellor; by whose Advice She order'd a Broad-Seal, commonly called, a Chancery-Seal, to be engraven: On which her own Image was cut, holding her Arms down by her Sides: and in her Patents She made use of this Preamble. "Isabella, _by the Grace of G.o.d, Queen of_ France: _who, by Reason of the King's Infirmity, has the Administration of the Government in her Hands, &c._"--But when the Affairs of the Commonwealth were reduced to that desperate Future, that all Things went to Rack and Ruin, She was by the _Publick Council_ banished to _Tours_, and committed to the Charge of Four Tutors, who had Orders to keep her lock'd up at Home, and to watch her so narrowly, that She shou'd be able to do nothing; not so much as to write a Letter without their Knowledge. A large Account of all this Transaction we have in _Monstrellet's_; History. [_cap._ 161 & _cap._ 168.]

CHAP. XXI.

_Of the_ Juridical Parliaments _in_ France.

Under the _Capevingian_ Family there sprung up in _Francogallia_ a Kind of Judicial Reign, [_Regnum Judiciale_] of which (by Reason of the incredible Industry of the Builders up and Promoters of it, and their unconceivable Subtilty in all subsequent Ages), we think it necessary to say something. A Sort of Men now rule every-where in _France_, which are called _Lawyers_ by some, and _Pleaders_ or _Pettyfoggers_ by others: These Men, about 300 Years ago, managed their Business with so great Craft and Diligence, that they not only subjected to their Domination the Authority of the _General Council_, (which we spoke of before) but also all the _Princes_ and _n.o.bles_, and even the _Regal Majesty_ it self: So that in whatever Towns the Seats of this same _Judicial Kingdom_ have been fix'd, very near the third Part of the Citizens and Inhabitants have applied themselves to the Study and Discipline of this wrangling Trade, induced thereunto by the vast Profits and Rewards which attend it. Which every one may take Notice of, even in the City of _Paris_, the Capital of the Kingdom: For who can be three Days in that City without observing, that the third Part of the Citizens are taken up with the Practice of that _litigious_ and _Pettyfogging_ Trade?