CHAP. XXXVII.
THE DEATH OF POPE SIXTUS IV.—HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE INNOCENT VIII.—OF THE VICTORIOUS WAR OF KING CHARLES IN BRITTANY.—HE MARRIES THE PRINCESS ANNE DAUGHTER TO THE NOBLE DUKE FRANCIS OF BRITTANY.—OTHER EVENTS.
THE DEATH OF POPE SIXTUS IV.—HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE INNOCENT VIII.—OF THE VICTORIOUS WAR OF KING CHARLES IN BRITTANY.—HE MARRIES THE PRINCESS ANNE DAUGHTER TO THE NOBLE DUKE FRANCIS OF BRITTANY.—OTHER EVENTS.
Inthe course of the latter end of this year pope Sixtus IV. died at Rome: he had been general of the Franciscans, and had well and catholicly ruled the holy see during the space of nearly thirteen years. He had been very solicitous about the public welfare, in the reparation of churches, and in embellishing the city of Rome, without sparing his private purse where he thought the honour of God was any way interested.[108]
On the 13th of August, he was succeeded in the papal dignity by Innocent VIII.[109]He was from Genoa, of parents in the middle ranks, but much respected and beloved. His father's name was Aaron, but his own was John Baptista,—and he was a cardinal-priest, under the title of Cardinal of St Cecilia, but commonly called the cardinal of Melfe. He was the poorest and most humane of the whole college of cardinals, and was deserving of his election to the papal chair for his benignity and humility.
He was magnanimous, and very prudent in all his actions,—and from his conduct during his legation at Sienna, he gave a good example to his brother-cardinals, and of what might be expected from him if raised to the popedom. On that eventtaking place, he opened the treasures of the church to all faithful Christians for the remission of their sins. He lived in good union with the Romans and all other people in Christendom.
At this period, king Charles, with the advice of his council, made arrangements for the war in Picardy. The command of that army was given to sir Philip de Crevecoeur, lord des Cordes; for Maximilian duke of Austria, who had married the heiress of the late duke of Burgundy, had raised a powerful army, to enable him to demand with success the country of Artoise, and other parts in Burgundy, although they had been occupied by the late king, Louis XI. and were since peaceably possessed by his son, the present king.
The lord des Cordes was therefore ordered into Picardy, to resist any hostile attempts that should be there made, and to oppose Maximilian. According to the chronicle of master Robert Gaguin, a severe war broke out in the year 1485, in Brittany, which was so prudently conducted on the part of king Charles that he victoriously gained almost the whole of that duchy.During this war, duke Francis of Brittany died, leaving two daughters: the one called Anne succeeded shortly after to the duchy, on the death of her sister. The king now took the field in person, and attended by many great lords and valiant captains, made several attacks on the town of Nantes, to prevent these daughters of the late duke of Brittany from marrying without his consent. This campaign, however, was not very successful: for king Henry VII. of England had sent a large force to the assistance of the Bretons, although, a short time before this, Henry had fled from that country as a fugitive, and sought an asylum with king Charles. He remained with him some time, as he was liberally aided with money and men, with whom he crossed the sea to England, where, after the death of king Richard, he peaceably enjoyed that kingdom, by means of the aid he had received from king Charles, which clearly shows the ingratitude of the english monarch[110].
The before-mentioned master Robert
Gaguin was sent on an embassy on this subject to England, in company with the lord Francis de Luxembourg and Charles de Marigny[111]. However, after all, the french army, under their king, was victorious, more especially at the battle of St Aubin[112], while the king was at Laval, when the Bretons and English were totally routed, with very great slaughter. The French gained the field of battle,—and for two leagues around, nothing was to be seen but dead bodies. Near to where the battle was fought was a wood in which the Bretons had lodged a great deal of gunpowder; and thinking that the French would attempt posting an ambuscade therein they played their artillery, which set fire to this powder, and it blew up, to the great astonishment of the French, who, by Divine Providence (the true Protector of the French blood) had not entered this wood. The explosion alarmed a stag, who ran out of thewood, with eyes full of tears, and made for the french army as for a place of refuge.
It should be noticed, that prior to the engagement, large flecks of pies and jays were seen to fight with such obstinacy in the air, at a place called La Croix de Malere, that when victory declared for one party, the roads and fields were covered with the vanquished, which seemed to the French a very extraordinary circumstance.
After the battle of St Aubin, a pursuit took place, when many prisoners were made, and others driven to seek shelter in some of their strong places, to save their lives. The French in consequence of their victory, conquered the greater part of Brittany.
The principal lords of Brittany now began to consider on the means of establishing a lasting peace with the king of France; and as they thought his projected union with the lady Margaret of Flanders was not agreeable to him, since war with Maximilian her father had hitherto been the only fruits of it, they proposed thathe should marry the duchess Anne of Brittany,—and by this means that duchy would be firmly united to the crown of France, and would form an alliance of the utmost utility to all parties.
FOOTNOTES:[108]In a note, p. 135 of Mr Andrews' History of Great Britain, a very different character is given of this pope: 'As ignorant as turbulent.' 'He received without respect, or hospitality, the learned Greeks who fled from the Constantinople, and gave so trifling a reward to Theo. Gaza for a translation that the angry sage flung it away, and, leaving the audience, repeated a greek proverb, that thistles only could delight the palate of an ass.' Luckily the pope did not understand the language of the sarcasm.[109]Innocent VIII.—John Baptista Cibo, a noble genoese, but originally of greek extraction. He was called, prior to his elevation to the papacy, the Cardinal of Melfe. He had several children before he entered holy orders, and did not neglect them during his reign.[110]See the english historians.[111]Their passport is, in the Fœdera, dated 10th December 1490, for themselves and four score horses.[112]See l'Histoire de la Bretagne.
[108]In a note, p. 135 of Mr Andrews' History of Great Britain, a very different character is given of this pope: 'As ignorant as turbulent.' 'He received without respect, or hospitality, the learned Greeks who fled from the Constantinople, and gave so trifling a reward to Theo. Gaza for a translation that the angry sage flung it away, and, leaving the audience, repeated a greek proverb, that thistles only could delight the palate of an ass.' Luckily the pope did not understand the language of the sarcasm.
[108]In a note, p. 135 of Mr Andrews' History of Great Britain, a very different character is given of this pope: 'As ignorant as turbulent.' 'He received without respect, or hospitality, the learned Greeks who fled from the Constantinople, and gave so trifling a reward to Theo. Gaza for a translation that the angry sage flung it away, and, leaving the audience, repeated a greek proverb, that thistles only could delight the palate of an ass.' Luckily the pope did not understand the language of the sarcasm.
[109]Innocent VIII.—John Baptista Cibo, a noble genoese, but originally of greek extraction. He was called, prior to his elevation to the papacy, the Cardinal of Melfe. He had several children before he entered holy orders, and did not neglect them during his reign.
[109]Innocent VIII.—John Baptista Cibo, a noble genoese, but originally of greek extraction. He was called, prior to his elevation to the papacy, the Cardinal of Melfe. He had several children before he entered holy orders, and did not neglect them during his reign.
[110]See the english historians.
[110]See the english historians.
[111]Their passport is, in the FÅ“dera, dated 10th December 1490, for themselves and four score horses.
[111]Their passport is, in the FÅ“dera, dated 10th December 1490, for themselves and four score horses.
[112]See l'Histoire de la Bretagne.
[112]See l'Histoire de la Bretagne.