Skirmishes at the Barriers A Remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne intending to return to the Siege before Paris at a better season The Great Miseries of France whereby the Dauphin finds himself obliged to make certain Offers to King Edward for Peace The King being moved by a strange Tempest accepts the French Offers A Treaty ensues A Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny The two Eldest Sons of England and France sworn to uphold the Peace King Edward returns for England and sends King John over to Calais The Pope quickens him to finish the Peace which he does The Copies of both the Kings Letters The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides Other things relating to the Consummation of the Peace Endeavours to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne The Mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John goes to Boulogne King Edward returns to England The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton also of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Kent of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of the King of Cyprus From p. 575. to p. 607. Chap. VII The Methods of the two Kings to establish the Peace King John's Reception at Paris The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of the English Government King Edward makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in Aquitaine The said Lord's Praise and Character The Disbanded Souldiers turn Robbers and overthrow the Lord James of Bourbon The Pope gets them to be drawn off into Italy A second Plague in England The Death of the Good Duke of Lancaster of the Lord John Moubray and others with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh The Black-Prince Marries the Countess of Kent Prince Lionel made Lieutenant of Ireland with his behaviour there King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign From p. 608. to p. 619. Chap. VIII Ambassadors from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus entertain'd by the King with Justs and Tourneaments King Edward Creates his Son the Black-Prince Prince of Aquitaine The Copy of his Charter The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophesie concerning King Edward's immediate Successor The Prince his Reception in Aquitaine He settles his Court at Bourdeaux A Parliament at Westminster The Jubilee of King Edward's Age. He Creates his Son Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge His Acts of Grace to all his Subjects He holds a Solemn Hunting The Lord Fauconberg dies Sr. John Copland Murther'd From p. 620. to p. 626. Chap. IX King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of that County and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dies Urban V succeeds The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed The King of France being the Head thereof The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour The Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War. The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes The Duke of Anjou being one of the French Hostages makes an Escape The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edward's answer to the King of Cyprus when he ask'd his Company to the Holy War. A Parliament at Westminster A Convocation which retrenches the Excessive Number of Holy Days The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells A Man who after Execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. The King of Cyprus rob'd King David of Scotland comes into England A long and hard Frost From p. 626. to p. 633. Chap. X. King John comes into England King Edward welcomes Him. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at once The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitaine King John sickens and dies in England The King of Navarre stirs again Sr. Bertram of Clequin sent for to oppose him A Story of his Original He takes Mante and Meulan by stratagem The King of Navarre sends the Captal of Busche against Him. Sr. Bertram reinforced The Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville King John's Funeral Rights performed in England His Body buried in France A Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy The Famous Battle of COCHEREL wherein the Captal of Busche is overthrown and taken Prisoner by Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Guy of Granville redeems his Father by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims He makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Sr. Bertram of Clequin buys the Castle of Rolebois The Duke of Burgundy sent to reduce the rest The Army divided Acts separately Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois A Party of his surprises la Charité The Duke takes in several Places Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do as they please The Duke of Burgundy goes to oppose the Earl of Monbelliard La Charité besieged and taken From p. 634. to p. 650. Chap. XI The King of France helps Charles of Blois and the King of England John of Monford both who prepare for Battle The French Order their Men. The Lord John Chandos orders the English and gives a Reserve to Sr. Hugh Calverley The Lord of Beaumanoir obtains a short Truce in order to an Agreement The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty The Famous Battle of AURAY in Bretagne with the Death of Charles of Blois and the Number of the slain and Prisoners on both sides Earl Monford weeps over Charles his Body the Character and Praise of the said Charles Earl Monford gives a Truce to the Country and returns to the Siege of Auray which he soon takes A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge is dash'd by the French King's subtlety The Christians obtain a Cadmaean Victory against the Turks From p. 651. to p. 661. Chap. XII John of Monford reduces all Bretagne With King Edward's leave he holds the Dukedom of the French King. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre The Captal of Busche set at Liberty Is tempted to renounce the English Interest in vain The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre A Parliament at Westminster King Edward's Buildings and Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity-College The Pope demands King John's Fee-Farm Rent King Edward refers the Matter to his Parliament The Lady Isabella Daughter to the King given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy The King punishes sundry of his Judges for Male-Administration The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but leaves it again Dr. Thoroton twice corrected The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuaniâ—'s Son to
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
were forsworn throughout the Land. Then they shew'd how several of the Clergy were imprison'd by the Kings Officers without due Process and that therefore they may be deliver'd To which the King answer'd That he intended not any Clergyman should be attached against Law and that he would be ready to hear if any was in that Manner Imprison'd either against Magna Charta or the Statute of Northampton They complain'd further that several of the Kings Officers had entred divers Religious Houses and have by Oath extorted a Confession of things deposited in those Houses and them so found have carried away The King answer'd that he would not his Officers should do thus But that if Laymen to defraud Him do conceal their Goods in such places then the Privilege should not avail For so the King is wronged On Saturday following the King thus answer'd the Petition of the Lords which Petition was That Magna Charta might in all points be observed so as such Persons who are neither appealed nor indited nor presented at the Suit of any and yet have their Goods Lands or Possessions taken away may be restored thereto again R. The King granteth for Him and his Heirs for ever that if any Person commit any Act contrary to the form of Magna Charta or any other Good Law he shall be lyable to answer it in Parliament or else where he ought by Law. The same answer he gave the Commons whose further Petitions with their Respective Answers follow Com. That the Chancellor and other Officers of State there named in the Records may upon their Entrance into the said Offices be sworn to observe the Laws of the Land and Magna Charta K. The King willeth the same Com. That every Man for Debts due to the Kings Ancestors may have therefore Charters of Pardon of Course out of the Chancery K. The King granteth Com. That Certain by Commission may hear the Accounts of those who have received Woolls Monies or other Aid for the King and that the same may be enrolled in the Chancery K. It pleaseth the King so as the Treasurer and Lord Chief Baron may be joyned in the Commission Com. That the Ordinance made at Northampton That Men of evil Life and Conversation should be attached may be repealed Because on Pretence thereof many Honest Men have been arrested K. The King doth revoke it Com. That many Commissions whereby sundry Men have been fined outragiously by the Commissioners may be revoked and New ones granted to Others K. The King is pleased that the same shall be done in the Presence of Him of the Lords and certain of the Commons Com. That the Chancellor and all other Officers there named may be chosen in open Parliament they at the same time to be openly sworn to observe the Laws aforesaid K. The King yieldeth onely thus much that if any such Office by the Death or other Failure of the Incumbent become void the Choice to remain solely in the King he taking therein the Assent of his Council but that every such Officer shall be sworn at the next Parliament according to the Petition and that every Parliament following the King shall resume into his Hands all such Offices so as the said Officers shall be left liable to answer all Objections Hereupon at the request of the whole Three Estates made unto the King these Articles were Statutes as on the Back of the Roll doth appear Which Statutes with the Conditions were after read before the King his Officers being present as the Chancellor Treasurer Justices of both Benches Steward of the King's Chamber and Others all which Officers were sworn on the Cross of Canterbury to perform the same Only the Chancellor Treasurer and certain of the Justices refused the said Oath as being repugnant to their former Oath and the Laws of the Realm However for that time the Statutes and Conditions aforesaid together with the Commissions to enquire after Oppressions were exemplified under the Great Seal and deliver'd to the Lords and Commons Althô afterwards the King judging them to entrench upon his Prerogative Royal and consequently to be in themselves illegal did absolutely revoke and annull them declaring them void and of no force Because the King before Michaelmas then next ensuing was to transport 20000 Sacks of Wooll it was at this time provided that no Subject should before that time pass over any Wooll on peril of treble Loss viz. of Wooll Life and Member Also that during the War with France the King may charge Religious Aliens Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester the Lord Robert Wake and Sr. Robert Sodington were appointed to proportion the Wooll according to the Assesment of the Fifteenth lately made by the direction of such as had perfect Knowledge of each County Which particular Rates being accordingly made were deliver'd and enter'd upon Roll in Chancery and thereupon Commissions issued out for Collecting the same And this is all I thought fit to observe of this Parliament they that would know more may have recourse to the Printed Books of Statutes which in this Year agree exactly with the Record except in one Point touching the Revocation of the Statute aforesaid to which some Officers would not agree thô in the n Statute Book 15 Ed. 3. p. 85. Print it is set here there is no mention in the Record Nor is it likely that it was Revoked till two Years after as the o Ed. 3.17 n. 23. Revocation of a Statute Record places it As to what Sr. Robert Cotton observes immediately before that there is no mention of the Revocation of the Statutes aforesaid in the Record of this Year but for that he refers Us to the Seventeenth of this King it is to be noted that indeed the Statutes aforesaid were not revoked during this Session for then they were made and that in a Parliamentary way they were not revoked till the time fixed by him viz. the 17 of Ed. 3. But that shortly after according to the Printed Book of Statutes the King of his meer Prerogative without any Parliament only by Advice of his Council did abrogate what formerly he had as he judg'd unadvisedly Enacted and this being done this Year was two Years after confirmed by Act of Parliament But for the Rarity of the Case I shall subjoyn the Form of the Kings Revocation which is this EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to N. N. Sheriff of Lincoln Greeting Whereas at Our Parliament Summoned at Westminster in the XV of Easter last past Certain Articles expresly contrary to the Laws and Customs of our Realm of England and to our Prerogatives and Rights Royal were pretended to be granted by Us by the manner of a Statute We considering how that by the Bond of our Oath We be bound to the Observance and Defence of such Laws Customs Rights and Prerogatives and Providently Willing to Revoke those things which be so improvidently done to
Prisoner and at that time had the Custody of him to deliver him up to the Bishops of Durham and Caerlile to William Earl of Northampton the Lords Henry Piercy and Ralph Nevill or to any Four Three or Two of them and at the same time another Command was issued out to them to deliver him under the form and upon the Conditions agreed on And so toward the latter end of October King David being at liberty upon Parole went into Scotland in hopes by his Presence to quicken his Subjects to come to a Composition with King Edward but not being able to accomplish his intention so soon as he had design'd x Knighton p. 2603. n. 1â— c. the Scots refusing also to redeem him on such Conditions as King Edward propounded he return'd into England about half a Year after at which time a Command bearing date y Râ—t Scâ—tâ—â— 26. Ed. 3. n. 3. 28 March an 26. Ed. 3. was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages of Scotland to Barwick they to be there in Quindena z Pasha 17. Aprâ—s B. Dom. Lit. Paschae it being the Day fixed for King Davids return to that Town And so he remain'd a Prisoner still in England CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1351. An. Regni Angliae XXV Franciae XII wherein the King advances several Great Men to Honour II. The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle His Acts a Truce III. A Truce with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner before the Truce with France IV. Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldane of Babylon V. King John renews the Order of the Star. VI. The Manner how the Castle of Guisnes was taken by the English of Calais VII King John of France endeavours to recover it in vain VIII The Lord Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole IX The Lord Guy de Nesle slain in Battle by Sr. Walter Bentley X. The Earl of Stafford created Lieutenant of Gascogne wins a Victory over the French the Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the Garter XI King Edward provides for Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries the Eldest Daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster XII The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick XIII King Edward prepares to resist the French. XIV Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London I. ON the a M.S. Record Parl. p. 71. c. Sr. Rob. Cottâ—n's Abridgment p. 73. c. Seventh of February being the Monday in the Vtas of the Purification of our Lady at the Opening of this Year King Edward held his High-Court of Parliament at Westminster Over which at first Prince Lionel the Kings Third Son was commission'd to preside because the King and his Eldest Son Prince Edward were then preparing to cross the Seas thô afterwards that Voyage being defer'd we shall find them both present at this Sessions Thô the Parliament began so early to sit yet by reason of several Continuations from Day to Day because many of the Lords were not yet come it was not open'd till Tuesday the 15 of February At which time Receivers being appointed to gather and Tryers to consider of the several Petitions from England Wales Gascogne Scotland Ireland Bretagne and other Foreign Isles and Places the Reasons for the Calling of the Parliament were declared in Presence of the King and his Nobles As first because the King having in the Twenty second Year of his Reign summon'd a Parliament was both hindred to continue that Session and also to b From hence it appears that the Printed Statutes pretended to be made anno 23 Fd. 3. are falsly dated call them to another by reason of the late dreadfull Plague untill this time Also that the Business of his Wars required their Concurrence because the Peace was not punctually observed and Domestick Matters were likewise to be taken into Consideration for that Labourers refused to do their Service at reasonable and usual Rates and lastly because the Treasure of the Realm was exported For these Considerations was the Parliament convened and hereupon to consult the King did especially command and require them and Sr. William Shareshull Knight the Kings Chief Justice repeated the Substance of all this to the Commons willing them to weigh all things well and provide for them effectually The whole Process and Matter following as it is to be seen at large in the Record was deliver'd by Dr. John Thoresby Bishop of c Ita emendo Winchester in M. S. Sr. Bob. Câ—ttâ—n ea I hâ—lpets Catal Chaccell Worcester then Lord Chancellour to John Codington Clerk of the Parliament at the Kings Command to be entred into the Rolls of the same Parliament In this d Godw. Catal. Bâ—sin Câ—nter §. 54. p. 14. Parliament the old Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York concerning Bearing their Crosiers began to be renew'd with the usual Heat but at last it was wholly referred to the King 's Hearing Who set down this final Rule to be observed for the future That the Archbishop of York might bear his Cross in the others Province saving the Preeminence to Canterbury but that in token of Subjection every Archbishop of York at his Entrance into that Bishopâ—â—ck should offer an Image of Gold to the value of Fourty Pounds at the Shrine of Thomas of Canterbury The same Image to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two Months after his Inthronization In this Parliament Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel by his Petition prayeth that his Restitution granted in the e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 6. p. 52. 53. Fourth of Edward the Third may be now better declared and confirmed Which the King in Consideration of the Equity of his Request and also of his many worthy Services done to the Crown most ready granted Whereupon the said Act made in the Fourth of Edward the Third Tit. 14 touching this Earl was read over and afterwards this Clause thereto adjoyned That it is by the King and Parliament Agreed that the said Restitution be Confirmed and shall remain of such full Force and Effect that John now Earl of Kent and his Heirs shall neither Challenge nor Obtain against the said Richard Earl of Arundel in any Court of England or in Wales by Writ or otherwise by any Petition in Parliament any of the Possessions or Titles that the said John or Edmund his Eldest Brother long since deceased ever had in or to the said Castle of Arundel or of any Part or Parcel thereof So as by this Restitution the said Earl Richard shall have the like Estate and Title as he should have had by Descent of Inheritance as well to all other Hereditaments whereof
c. 236. Caxton c. that not long before the King had sent the Ambassadors aforesaid to Avignon to require of Pope Gregory that as to the Reservation of Benefices of England made in his Court he would supersede Medling for the future that Clergymen might freely enjoy their Elections to Episcopal Dignities and that it might be sufficient for them to be confirmed by their Metropolitans as was the Antient Custom Upon these and the like Abuses they required Remedy of the Pope concerning all which Articles the said Ambassadors had certain Answers from his Holiness touching which the Pope enjoyned them upon their Return into England to certifie him by their Letters of the King's Will and of his Realm and also that they would press the King to let him first know what he and his Council design'd to do before they proceeded to determine any thing as to the Premises The Result whereof we shall refer to the next Year However in this Parliament it was Enacted That Cathedral Churches should enjoy their own Elections and that for the future the King should not write against the Persons so Elected but rather by his Letters endeavour their Confirmation if need were But this Statute availed not much afterward The o M.S. Ret. Par. ut ante Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Burgesses of Bristow in this Parliament require that the said Town with the Suburbs thereof may be a County of it self and that the Perambulation of the same with the Bounds thereof returned into the Chancery with all the Liberties and Charters thereto granted may be confirmed by Act of Parliament The King is content to grant that the Charters Liberties and Perambulation aforesaid may be confirmed under the Great Seal That no French Prior Alien be permitted to dwell within twenty Miles of the Sea-Coast for several Reasons there specified The King by his Council will provide therefore That Remedy may be had that Men be not called into the Exchequer upon Suggestion without Process contrary to the Statute made in the 42 Year of the King. Let any particular Man complain and he shall find Remedy After this the Lord Chancellor in the Kings Name gave great Thanks to the Lords and Commons and so this Session ended It is to be observed that the Printed Statute touching the Assize of Broad Cloath Cap. 1. agreeth with the Record As also that Cap. 2. touching Scottish Silver Coin. XVIII This Year it is reported p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 92. Odor Rainal ad an 1374. §. 13. ex Chron. Belg. Job Leyd c. that there happen'd in Italy France and England especially in the Lower Countries a certain Maniack Passion or Frenzy unknown to former Ages for those who were tormented therewith which for the most part were the Scum of the People stript themselves stark naked put Garlands of Flowers on their Heads and taking one another by the Hands went about in the streets and into the Churches dancing singing and turning round with such vehemence that they would fall down to the ground quite out of Breath This Agitation made them swell so prodigiously that within an Hours time they would burst unless some-body took care to bind their Bellies about with strong Swathing-bands Those who looked on them too earnestly were often tainted with the same Malady It was thought to have come by some Diabolical Operation and that Exorcisms did much prevail against it The Vulgar called it St. John's Dance XIX There died q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. b. about this time a valiant Baron of England named the Lord Miles Stapleton one * Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 7. p. 298. of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind Thomas his Son and Heir then of full Age who yet died also this same Year without Issue leaving his Sister Elizabeth his next Heir she being then married to Sr. Thomas Metham Which Sr. Thomas having at that time Issue by her and doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance There died r Walsing hist p. 183. Vid. Godwins Catal. Bish c. also this Year Dr. John Thoresby Archbishop of York and Dr. John Barnet Bishop of Ely besides the Bishop of Worcester of whose Death we spake at the beginning of the last Parliament Alexander Nevile succeeded in the See of York Thomas Fitz-Alan younger Son to the Earl of Arundel in that of Ely and Henry Wakefield in that of Worcester CHAPTER the ELEVENTH AN. DOM. 1374. An. Regni Angliae XLVIII Franciae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward inquires into the Livings then in the Hands of Aliens with his Letters to the Bishop of Winchester for that purpose II. He sends Commissioners to treat with the Popes Legates about the Premisses with the Copy of their Commission and the Effect of their Treaty III. The Duke of Anjou's Expedition into Gascogne IV. A Truce between the Dukes of Lancaster and Anjou V. The Lords of High Gascosgne yield to the Duke of Anjou who takes in all 40 Towns and Castles from the English VI. Becherel for want of succour yields VII Sr. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France is redeem'd with an Adventure between him and the Lord of Gomegines Captain of Ardres for King Edward VIII A Treaty at Bruges concerning a Peace between the two Crowns wherein Care is had of the Earl of Pembroke and others taken formerly by the Spaniards with the Death of the said Earl of Pembroke and some Observations thereon IX The Death of Francis Petrarch Laureat Poet of Italy and some other Considerable Persons of England X. An Account of Madam Alice Perrers who was falsly said to be King Edward's Concubine I. KING Edward being perpetually alarum'd as well in Parliament as otherwise by his Subjects who complain'd of the many great Abuses done unto Him and his Authority by the See of Rome as of their Reservations and other Arts whereby they entrenched upon his Prerogative Royal and the Liberties of the Church of England exhausting his Kingdom to enrich Strangers and such as were his Enemies the King I say being now throughly awaken'd at these Cries of his People among other notable Ways whereby he encountred these Usurpations began a Fox Acts Monum p. 560. at this time to require an exact Survey of all Benefices and Dignities Ecclesiastical throughout his Dominions which were then in the Hands of Italians Frenchmen or other Aliens with a true Valuation of the same and sent unto all his Bishops his Royal Commission to make such Enquiry the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Reverend Father in God William by the same Grace Bishop of Winchester Greeting Being willing for certain Reasons Us thereunto moving to be certified what and how many Benefices as well Archdeaconries and other Dignities as Vicarages Parsonages Prebends and Chapters within your Dioecese there be
Tivedale as well Religious as secular pray to be restored to their Possessions given from them to their Enemies Let the Lords Marchers there named treat thereof and report to the Lords in Parliament their Opinion concerning a Remedy The Citizens of York desire that whereas the Lord of Ard and Cockham in Holland hath stayed six and Thirty Surples of their Woolls to the Value of 1900 l. supposing that the King oweth him Money for his Service in France and will neither for the Kings Letters nor other means deliver their Woolls that therefore they may have Licence to stay the Ships of the same Lord at Calais or in England till they be paid and answer'd to the Value Let it be declared to the Grand Council and they shall have Remedy according to Reason John de q Ità M.S. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton Britshorne Bretshorne maketh his Title to the Mannor of Grinsteed in the County of Wilts and to the Advouson of the said Mannor and to the Moiety of the Mannor of Exbury in the County of Southampton and prayeth to be restored to the Possession of the same from Robert de Beverley the Premises being confessedly held of the King in Chief It is before the Great Council The Commons of Devonshire pray that they may be paid for Victuals taken of them by the Duke of Bretagne while he lay there a long time for passage and that from henceforth no Protection be granted to any Passenger over to take any Victuals otherwise than for present pay Let the Offenders for the time past answer and for the time to come the King will provide That Remedy may be had touching the Dishonest Returns of Bayliffs of Nihil habent against them for their bribing Fees and other Corruptions It is before the Grand Council Where Men for safeguard and fear of their Lives do fly to Church-yards and after depart therefrom the Steward of the Kings Houshold forthwith enquireth how they escaped out of the Church-yard and upon the Matter found awardeth an Escape against the Town or Parish wherein they pray Remedy The King will be advised herein That if the Party Plaintiff or Defendant upon his Habeas Corpus returned do not sue out his Nisi prius then the whole Process may be discontinued and that in all and every of the Kings Courts and that every Man may have the Nisi prius granted as well against the King as others without suing to the Privy Seal Let the Law used run That such as have or shall sue Livery upon an Inquest of Office by Escheators where those Lands indeed are not holden of the King may be received to aver of whom or by what Service the same Lands are holden If any Mans Inheritance be charged by any such Inquest he who will complain shall be received to traverse the Inquest before his Homage done That any Man having the Privy Seal for the Payment of Debts due by the King unto him shall not be stayed from the Payment thereof by any private Letter of the Treasurer The King granteth thereunto That a Parliament may be holden every Year the Knights of the Parliament may be chosen of the whole Counties and that the Sheriff may likewise be without Broakage in Court. As to the Parliament there are Statutes already made For the Sheriffs Answer hath been given and as for the Knights it is agreed that they shall be chosen by Common Consent of every County That such as by sinister means procure Extents against the King at One Value where it is thrice or however far better may be punished The King will make Enquiry thereof as himself pleaseth That no Pardon be granted to any Impeached in this Parliament being the Kings Counsellors or sworn to him but that such be thenceforth removed and never restored and an Act thereof to be made The King will do therein as shall please him That all the Articles of Wrongs declared in this Parliament against any Person may be duly determin'd by Commissions by the Kings Justices and other Lords and that the Judgement given in this Parliament be not Repealed by Reason of Broakers about the King. The King will do by Advice of his Council what shall seem best saving to every One his Liberties They require the King to have good Regard to the Government of the Realm that all Profits of the Crown may be employ'd to the Kings Honour The King as next above will do for his own Honour the Good Government Profit and Ease of the People That such as shall of their own Authority lay new Impositions without Assent of Parliament may lose Life Member and other Forfeitures Let the Common Law heretofore used run Then there follows a long Bill against the Broakages and corrupt Recovery of Religious Persons by the taking of Sheriffs that any notwithstanding such Recoveries might have Tryal and upon the Matter found those Religious Persons to be punished therefore as therein is contained with many other Matters relating to the same The Law therein heretofore used shall be kept That all Wapentakes and Hundreds let to Farm may be Repealed and none hereafter granted and that all Bayliffs may be sufficient and able The Statutes made therefore shall be kept That Remedy may be had so as there may be Reasonable warning given for the holding of Wapentakes and Hundreds The Statutes therefore made shall be kept That Presentments may be made but twice in the Year in Leets or great Wapentakes There be Statutes therefore That none but such as be r i.e. Resident Resiant do come to any Wapentake or Hundred There are Statutes provided therefore Complaint made against Bayliffs of Markets and Fairs who attach Men out of their Jurisdictions There are Statutes made therefore Against Bayliffs being Farmers of Wapentakes or Hundreds who thereby procure Plaints in other Mens Names and sue great Sums by dividing the same into less Sums Let them hold to the Statutes ¶ Petitions exhibited by the Clergy and their Answers That all Consultations may readily be granted in the Suit for Tythes of Sylva Caedua and that no Attachment do Ensue the same A Consultation granted doth suffice and if need be there may be a special Clause for Prohibitions Granted or to be Granted That the Ordinary may according to the Ecclesiastical Laws punish such as do fraudulently procure Consultations That in Matters touching the punishing of the Soul the Kings Prohibition may cease or a Consultation be granted That in Demands of Pensions by One Church from another no Prohibition be granted The Justices shall meet in the presence of certain Bishops who shall take Order therein to content In a Case of Tythes upon objection that the Tythes exceed a Fourth part of the Value of the Church a Prohibition is granted against the Canonical Sanction That the Kings Purveyors take up of the Clergy and cause them also to make Carriage for the King against their Traditions and Statutes therefore made That if the
Earl of Richmond The Black-Prince growing worse and worse resigns Aquitaine to his father The Death of the Earl of Stafford Sr. William Molineux and Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller From p. 827. to p. 848. Chap. X. The Constable of France beats the English before Sivray and Conquers about in Poictou The War hot in Bretagne The Duke of Lancaster's Expedition and March thrô France A Treaty at Bruges A Parliament at Westminster A Prodigious Malady The Death of several Great Men. From p. 849. to p. 864. Chap. XI King Edward enquires into the Livings then in the hands of Aliens A Treaty at Bruges The Earl of Pembroke is redeem'd and dies The Death of Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet and others An account of Madam Alice Perrers said to have been King Edward's Concubine From p. 865. to p. 873. Chap. XII St. Saviour le Vicount yields to the French by Composition Edmund Earl of Cambridge and the Duke of Bretagne Conquer about in that Dukedom But are hindred by an unseasonable Truce from prosecuting their Advantage The Lord Edward Spencer dies A Treaty between King Edward and the King of Scotland Esquire Katrington being challenged of Treason for yielding St. Saviour le Vicount loses the day Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards The Death of two Earls Two Acts of Charity From p. 873. to p. 877. Chap. XIII The Lord of Coucy's Expedition into Austria A Treaty at Bruges which begets a Truce and that another King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it The JUBILEE of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster The Black-Prince dies His Will Character Burial and Epitaph The Captal of Busche takes it to heart and dies The Black-Prince's Praise and Children The said Parliament continued A Censure thereof Who the First Speaker of the House of Commons The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome From p. 878. to p. 895. Chap. XIV King Edward Creates his Grandson Richard of Bourdeaux Prince of Wales The Londoners entertain the Young Prince John of Gaunt associated to the King in the Government A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ An exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine The Duke of Lancaster for his sake falls out with the Bishop of London The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke The Bishop hardly restrains the People The Princess-Mother of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their excuse to the King. They and the Duke reconciled Sr. John Menstreworth executed for Treason The Lord of Coucy falls off to the French. King Edward Creates Prince Richard Knight of the GARTER The War open Sr. Hugh Calverley Captain of Calais Outwick batter'd with Cannon yields to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley's Acts. The English Commissioners returning for England find the King on his Death-Bed He dies A Story of the Manner of his Death refuted The French King commends him His Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character From p. 895. to the End. Errata sunt sic Emendanda PAG. 22. lin 5. read fast-asleep p. 54. l. 44. r. Nobles p. 58. l. 2. r. Turne-tabard p. 76. l. 2. r. tell for call p. 89. for Innocent r. John. p. 177. dele Parag. VIII IX in the Centents p. 270. l. 17. r. neck'd p. 276. l. 35. r. Chancellor of the Church of York p. 286. l. 37. r. strange p. 295. l. penult r. Father was named p. 302. l. 2. dele and. p. 303. l. 32. dele and. p. 354. l. 31. r. 16 years c. p. 356. l. 27. r. 20 in depth c. p. 373. l. 22. for Paragraph r. Chapter p. 402. l. 22. r. Vicount of Rohan sic semper p. 439. l. 46. r. Simon de Burchester p. 466. l. 14. r. no Charms about them took horse and so began c. p. 470. l. 13. r. Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth p. 484. l. 49. r. On the second of November being All-Souls day the King began c. p. 485. l. 12. r. for he could not have been c. ibid. l. 34. r. after his setting forth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls day p. 502. l. 34. r. Blew-Silk p. 531. l. 22. r. July p. 707. l. 18. r. keep it p. 721. l. 21. r. William p. 748. l. ult r. and bearing p. 750. l. 45. r. Inno. p. 751. l. penult be accounted the Off-spring p. 761. l. 45. r. having done a pious c. p. 806. l. 49. r. best word c. p. 814. l. 57. r. the Prince and Princess c. SAPIENTIA FORTUNAM EDWARDVS III DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIAE ET FRANCIAE ET DOMINUS HIBERNIA HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE EDWARD III. King of England France and Lord of Ireland He slew Two Kings in One Day routed a Third had Two Kings his Prisoners at one time Upon the Death of Lewâ— of Baitaria He had the offer of the Empire thó he declin'd it He took Calais from the French Instituted the Famous Order of the GARTER haveing Reigned in great Glory for space of 50 Yeares 4. Moneths 28. Dayes He Dyed at his Mannor of Shene in Surrey in LXV year of his 〈◊〉o. Dui MCCCLXXVII lyes Buried at Westminster ICH DIEN QUI SANâ—â—â—â—â— NOBIS HANC PATRIAM PEPERERE SUO POTENTISSIMUS EDWARDUS PRINCEPS WALLAE ET AQUI TANIAE DUX CORNUBIAE COMES CESTRIAE ET CANTIL Honoratiss Viro 〈◊〉 RICHARDO CHANDLER Armig. nuper de Cell Emanuel Aâ—M Amico plurimum Colendo Hanc Invic â—iss Hervis EDWARDI Principis Walliae cogno mento Nigro Imagine Observantiae â—â—mti Iudinis ergo D.D.D. Josua Barnes HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE HOUMONT The most Renowned Prince EDWARD sirnamed the Black-Prince Eldest Son to King EDWARD the Third Prince of WALES of AQVITAIN Duke of CORNWALL Earle of CHESTER of KENT He was in his life time the Flower of the Chivalry of the whole World. He wan the Battle of CRESSY wherein he overthrew King Philip of Valor slew the King of Bohemia also the Famous Batlle of POICTIERS wherein w th an Army of 8000. Men He overthrew the whole Power of FRANCE takeing the King IOHN de Valois Prisoner who was 4 years after Ransom'd at 3 Millions of Crowns of Gold Lastly he triumph'd in the Glorious Battle of NAJARA in Spaine where he overthrew the Bastard Henry Setled Don Pedro in his Throne He died in the 46 yeare of his Age An o Dom MCCCLXXVI lyes Buried at Canterbuâ—â— THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FIRST CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Circumstances of the Birth of King Edward the Third with his Education and Character II. He is made Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain beside the Titles of Earl of Chester Ponthieu and Monstroile He goes into France with the
upon them if they did As for more circumstances of this Martial Sport they are neither fit to be minutely handled nor can I find them any where particularized But this is very likely that the Actions were performed with Gallantry enough and that the Undertakers on both sides were considerable Persons For some say p Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 893. the Young King himself with 12 more in his Company thô disguised were the Challengers ready to answer all Defendants that should come At least the King Queen and whole Court were Spectators with many thousands of the City But in the height of this Recreation there happen'd an accident which had like to have proved Tragical For the Stage q Stow's Survey of London p. 280. Hist p. 230. R. Baker p. 143. whereon the Queen and her Ladies were placed suddenly brake under them to the great affrightment of all the Company thô by the wonderfull Goodness of God it happen'd that no harm at all was done But the King was thereby so incensed at the Master-Workmen that it would have proved very difficult for them to have avoided a severe Punishment had not the Noble-minded Queen her self upon her knees requested their pardon Which besure the King would never have granted on any other consideration to those who had occasion'd the hazard of a Lady so dear unto him And indeed this vertuous Princess was of a most Generous and Compassionate Nature always desirous to do good but especially to the Afflicted and those who were brought into any undeserved Misfortune so that all along she Reign'd in the hearts of the People whose Welfare and Convenience she continually endeavour'd with all her Power III. About this time the Queen Mother who bore an Inveterate hatred against Edmund Plantagenet Earl of Kent one of the Kings Uncles chiefly for the Earl of Marche's sake to whose Unreasonable pride the Noble Princes Courage scorn'd to yield began earnestly to inform the Young King her Son against him as guilty of matters into which the subtle Mortimer had craftily insnared the Open-hearted Gentlman r Frois c. 23. fol. 13. a. Fox Acts Mon. p. 345. Some say that being the next Heir Apparent he was accused to have conspired the Death of the King his Nephew by poyson which might not perhaps sound so improbable but that at this time and for above six years after the Kings own Brother John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall was ſ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. alive thô Froisard and from him others by mistake say he was then newly dead besides this Earl of Kent had himself an Elder Brother then living which was Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshall of England and yet above all this there were two Ladies Joan Queen of Scotland and Princess Eleanor the Kings own Sisters surviving So that he could not by any means pretend to be the next Heir nor even his Enemies with any sense pretend it for him Moreover in the Records we find no mention of Poison nor that he was so much as accus'd of Designing to compass the King his Nephew's Death Unless that was obliquely insinuated as a consequence of his Delivering the Old King which it was lay'd to his charge that he endeavour'd 'T is certain the Poor Prince was first trepan'd into a Sham-plot and afterwards speciously by way of Friendship undermin'd so as to yield to make a confession of matters not seeming Treasonable which afterward his Enemies aggravated much higher upon the Assurance of a Pardon Instead whereof before he was brought to any legal Tryal or confronted by his Accusers a Warrant was suddenly sign'd for his Execution But lest it should be admired how any Man should now be accus'd of endeavouring to deliver the Old King who had been murder'd as appears almost two Years before I will exactly set down by what arts this Innocent Gentleman was train'd on to his utter Ruine Mortimer therefore and his Complotters with a design to make his Enemies obnoxious to him which he could no other way do they were Men of such known Loyalty and Integrity cunningly scatters it abroad that the Old King Edward the Second was still alive notwithstanding the late Rumour of his Death and Burial and that he now resided in the Castle of t Stow p. 229. ◠Corfe in Dorsetshire but was not to be seen in the day time by any means with much difficulty in the Night for fear he should hasten his own Death thereby Now to carry on this incredible Tale the better for those were cauteous and discreet Men whom Mortimer aim'd to catch there were several Knights appointed to make Shows and Masks and other Diversions upon the Battlements and Leads of the Castle which the Country People observing could not but imagin some great Prince or King to be there for whose pleasure and honour those Solemnities were so performed Hence the rumour of the Old King 's being still alive was spread far and near so that at last it came as was first design'd with some kind of Authority to the Earl of Kents Ears who desiring only as he thought to sift the Truth out entangled himself more strongly in an errour To the Castle of Corfe he privily sent one of his Confidents a Preaching Fryer with a charge to dive into the Matter He at last under much caution with a great deal of doe obtaining to be admitted into the Castle was even then out of pretended Fear kept close all the day in the Porters Lodge But at night being for more security as they held him in hand disguised in Lay-habit he was brought into the great Hall where he beheld one cloathed in Royal Habiliments to personate a King so that the Fryer himself either deceived by the glimmering of the Lamps or the Distance which he was forced to keep or the strength of prejudice working upon his Fancy did really take him for the Father of the Young King as he sat with seeming Majesty and Princely Attendants at a Royal Supper This Account the Fryer brought back to the Earl of Kent and whether himself also corrupted or really in mind perswaded did as really perswade the Unfortunate Prince that he had seen the King his Brother alive and well and at supper with his own Eyes Whereupon the Earl declared with an Oath that he would make use of all the Means and Interest he could to rescue the King his Brother from that unworthy Confinement u M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 220. Now when first this Rumour began to go abroad with some Authority Earl Edmund having some occasions at the Court of Rome held a Discourse with Pope John XXII at Avignion and said How Almighty God had many times for the love of Thomas of Lancaster done many fair Miracles upon severall both Men and Women who were through divers Maladies undone as to this World till thrô his Prayers they were restored unto their Health
was outed and this other put in his place twelve Barons 800 Knights 2000 Men of Arms and above 13300 Foot But on the English side there fell no more than two Knights Sr. John Gourdon and Sr. Reginald Beche and of Esquires thirty three but not one Archer nor Footman So that the extraordinariness of the Victory occasion'd Lit. Dom. P. that it was justly attributed to Divine Power and from this time the Lord Bailiol began to bear the Sirname of Conquerour This Battle was struck on the 14 of August being the x Knighton p. 2561. n. 30. Wednesday after the Feast of St. Laurence The next day in pursuance of so notable a Victory they march up to St. Johnston upon the River Tay which thô very Defensible was thrô the Consternation of the Inhabitants taken without Assault and here they found good store of Warlike Ammunition and Provision of Victuals Wherefore they thought best to Fortifie the Town for their own Use and to entrench it round with deeper and larger Ditches as not doubting shortly of an occasion to be put to defend themselves against Greater Forces which indeed came to pass accordingly For immediately after Earl Patrick of Dunbar and Archimbald Douglas came and invested the Town with an Army of 40000 Men before which time they had sent Orders to Sr. John Crab the Admiral that he should set forth with as many Vessels of War and as Great strength as he conveniently could of the sudden and therewith fall upon the English Fleet which lay in the Water of y Knighton p 2561. n. 5â— Tay but ill-defended as they imagin'd This Counsel was put in execution but missed of its desired Effect For Sr. John Crab came with Ten stout Ships of Flanders suddenly upon the English as they lay in the Harbour Sr. Henry Beaumont's Barge felt his Fury first for this he took and put all to the Sword he found there which were yet but a few and they not ready because of the suddenness of the surprise But however before they fell they made such Resistance that the rest of the English had time to Arm and Unite strongly together Which being done thô nothing equal to the Scots in number they behaved themselves so well that by plain Valour they extorted another unexpected Victory from their overweening Enemies slaying and wounding the greater Part of them and burning sinking or taking all their Vessels Their Admiral Crab himself very narrowly escaped away flying by Land and himself bearing the first News of his own Loss This Success happen'd to the English on St. Bartholomews being a Saturday on Knowledge whereof Earl Patrick and Douglas raised their Siege in Despair Because nothing was to be done effectually unless they could cut off the English from the use of the Water which by this Defeat could not now be performed After this the English deliver the Town well Fortified and Provided with a sufficient Garrison to the Custody of the Lord Duncane Macduff Earl of Fife who upon the Victory at Kingcorn had revolted from King David to the Lord Bailiol the Conquerour But shortly after he betray'd the Town again to the Bruceans requiting one Treason with another IV. The Reputation of these frequent and incredible Victories was so great that many Nobles and Gentlemen z Walsingh Hypod p. 112. n. 30 of England of their own accord flock'd thither to the service of the Lord Bailiol even at their own expence either in hopes of Prey or out of pure Courage to get Honour in the Wars or of Love to the Family of the Bailiols which had always been supported by the English Or perhaps by King Edward's allowance for the Exercise of his Gentry in the Wars Not a few also of the Scots themselves revolted to the Conquerour So that soon after on the a Walsing hist p. 114. n. 1. 5 of the Calends of October which is the 27 of September the Lord Edward Bailiol was by the English Crowned King of Scotland at Scone many also of the Prime Nobility of that Realm consenting to and assisting at the same Such weak Resistence can even so Potent a Kingdom make when those who should joyn in the Common Defence of their Country either by Disloyalty to their Prince or Faction among themselves prepare a way for a Common Enemies Success Especially when the supream Governour himself either by reason of Childhood or Unskilfulness can have no absolute Disposal of the Laws in his own Hands to any purpose Besides at this time the Scots had few or no sufficient Leaders the Lord James Douglas being as we shew'd before kill'd in Spain and the Lord Thomas Randulph who had been Protector of the King's Person and the ablest either Counsellor or Soldier in Scotland was now newly dead b Hector Bâ—ct l. 15. fol. 310. lin 70. Buchan l. 9. p. 281. Boetius and from him Buchanan would here fain make us believe that he was poison'd by a Monk at the Order and Contrivance of King Edward of England Who upon the news thereof brought to him by the said Monk invaded Scotland say they with a great Army When finding Randulph still alive thô but then dissembling health as he that had received the Poison for Anger he burnt the Poisoner and for Fear broke up his Army Thus these Egregious Historians and indeed they set off the tale wonderfull prettily but with what Truth or Honesty appears not only in that they bring no Author for what they say themselves being more than 200 years after that Age nor in that they are both very frequently found either thrô Malice or Ignorance in shrewd and palpable Errors but in that it appears from the most Authentick Records extant that King Edward the Third invaded not Scotland in Person till two years after the Death of this Lord Randulph which by their own c Buchan p. 282. ubi moritur 3º Calend. August i.e. 30 Jultit Cum Balicli Invasio centigit circa principium Augusti ut supra dictum Confession preceded even this Invasion of the Bailiol And moreover the whole Course of King Edward's Life and Reign will appear full of Acts of Generosity Honour and Magnanimity But having laid down these First Seeds of the Scotch War we shall now take a short leave of these Affairs till time calls us to consider what Fruits in their Order they brought forth and by whose Hand the chief Harvest of Honour was gather'd V. In England this mean while certain d Walsingh hist p. 113. n. 40. bold Fellows of the Realm in meer contempt of the King's Youth or by the secret instigation of some great Malecontents began to assemble themselves in considerable Bodies together And thus they kept in Woods and Forests robbing and abusing all that came near them after their own pleasure and as it is usual when Impunity accompanies Villany in a short time these Bands grew so numerous and formidable that they became a Terror and
Defence of the North even as they had already done And then several were appointed to follow this device and to prepare the Commissions for Array into divers Countries It is agree'd that the Inhabitants of Holderness in Yorkshire should be Arrayed and grant Aid for the Defence of those Marches as well as others of the County of York altho they be appointed by Commission to keep the same It is agree'd that the Commissions of Sr. William Wallingford and all other Commissioners for Purveyance for the King be utterly void And that all Officers of the Ports by the Kings Writ do refrain the exporting of k Alii legunt Coyne Corn. That the Earl of Richmond the Lord Clifford the Lord Roos of * M.S. Wake male Werke the Lord Moubray and Sr. William Daubeny should be commanded by Writ to repair towards their Lands for the Defence of the North Marches or if unable or otherwise occupy'd in the Kings Service then to send their Quota's thither to the Lords who were Captains there That the Writs of Summons for the next Parliament should charge every Sheriff to return for his County two Knights girded with Swords That every Archbishop and Bishop do before the next Session of Parliament take a Certificate of all Benefices being in the Hands of Aliens of the Value of each of them and of Residence or Non-Residence thereon That two Writs be issued out the One to call a Convocation of the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury and the other of York against Hilary Term following It is also determin'd that the Parliament should be Summon'd against the Octaves of St. Hilary then ensuing Of which we shall now take leave to discharge our selves that our following Discourse may find no Interruption When the time of the next Sessions of Parliament approached l Rot. Parl. M. S. ibid. p. 25. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 19. because the Duke of Cornwall Warden of England was busied about the Kings Weighty Affairs being as I shew'd with his Father beyond Sea there were appointed to preside in Parliament John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellour and William de la Zouch Archbishop of York m Philipet's Catal p. 33. Lord Treasurer with the Dean of York and Sr. John Willoughby Deputy Lord Chief Justice Sr. John Stonore Justice of the Kings Bench and Sr. John St. Paul any Four Three or Two of these by the Kings Letters Patents were appointed to begin continue and end the Parliament for and in the Name of the King and the Lord Warden of England and there to do all things which the said Guardian should do until his or the King his Fathers coming The Commission began Edvardus D. Gr. c. and ended Teste Edvardo Duce Cornubiae Com. Cestr Filio nostro Charissimo Gardiano de Angl. These n Jan. 20. Commissioners aforesaid caused sundry of the Lords and Commons to assemble in the Presence Chamber AN. DOM. 1340. An. Regni XIV because several of both Houses were not yet come they continued the Parliament from day to day till the * Dom. Lit. B. A. Monday next after the Octaves aforesaid during which time Merchants Owners of Ships and Mariners did attend That o Jan. 24. same day the Causes of the Parliament were declared to be the same as before namely for Granting the King an Aid for keeping of the Sea and for Defence of the North Marches whereunto the Commons require Respit until Saturday the 19 of February And then they unanimously offer'd to the King for Aid 30000 Sacks of Wooll on certain Conditions expressed in a pair of Indentures But for the better Expedition after some Debate they yielded to give the King presently 2500 Sacks of Wooll so as if the King liked the Conditions aforesaid the same should go in part of Payment if not they were freely offer'd unto him The Lords promised to send unto the King to know his Pleasure and in the mean time they also for their Parts grant that such of them or of their Peers as hold by a Barony should give to the King the Tenth of their Grain Wooll and Lambs and of all their own Demesnes As for the Merchants their Day was put off till p i.e. 6 Martii nam Pascha hoc ano. 16. April Monday in the First Week of Lent but the Mariners of the Cinque Ports promised to make ready their Ships before q i.e. 26 Martii Midlent viz. 21 Ships of their own and 9 of the Thames and to bear half the Charges themselves the other half the Privy Council promised to bear of their own good Will to their King and Country but not of Duty or that it should stand for a Precedent The Mariners of the West promise to set forth 90 Sail and 10 Ships of the Burthen of one Hundred Tunn or more and to bear the whole Charges if they could Two Sufficient Scholars were appointed to compute the Charges the One for the West and the Other for the Cinque Ports It was here order'd that all Ships of Portsmouth and from thence toward the West of the Burthen of one Hundred Tunn or upward should ride at Dartmouth the Admiral to be Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and that the Ships of the Cinque Ports and the Thames being of that Burthen should ride at Winchelsea the Admiral to be William Clinton Earl of Huntington The whole Fleet to be ready before the end of Lent. Command was given to the Admirals to stay all other Ships which might pass the Seas and to warn them to go into safe Harbours And to Furnish this Fleet with Souldiers beside those whose Duty was to attend and also those who were prest general Proclamation was order'd to be made that all Persons who had received of the King Charters of Pardon should now repair to the Sea-coasts for the Kings Service on pain of forfeiting the same The Lord Richard Talbot that Noble Warrier some of whose Valiant Acts we have mention'd in the Scotch War having in Parliament undertaken for the security of the Town of Southampton is now appointed Captain of the Town and allow'd for that Service 20 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers extraordinary at the Kings Wages and more upon occasion All which Souldiers to have one Months Pay beforehand and Sr. Richard one 100 Pounds by way of Gratuity Being also appointed to see the said Town forthwith fortified according to Covenants in a pair of Indentures and to levy the Charges of the Neighbours bordering thereabouts and if that shall not suffice of the Inhabitants The Bishop of Winchester who at that time was Adam Orleton the Traytor the Prior of St. Swithens and the Abbot of Hyde were order'd to keep at their Mannors near Southampton with all their Powers to be ready to assist the said Sr. Richard at his Call Also that two Pinaces the one at r Itâ— cerrigo pro Welbroâ—k in M. S. Sr. R. Cotton Milbrook
de Flisco and Andrew his Son with the Gentleman their Servant were brought back and restored to the Pope whereupon he return'd his Thanks to the King of France and took off the Interdict but as the Author of his Life says hang'd all those of his own Family who had a hand in the matter before the Doors of the House which they had broke open But as for his own Master of the Horse who was consenting to the Deed when being in Prison for anguish and shame he had slain himself after it was found willfull Murder he gave Order that his Body should be expos'd on a Gibbet to be devour'd by the Birds of the Air. II. But to return to the King of England who had lately taken upon him the Arms and Title of King of France as we shew'd He the mean while presently found the expected Effects of this Contrivance of Jacob van Arteveld's for now immediately upon the same all the People of Flanders n Knighton p. 2576. and Stâ—w p. 236. yielded unto him as True and Rightfull King of France and consequently their Superior Lord their Homage and Fealty and submitted themselves and their Country to his Government and were long after in all matters obedient unto him as to the King of France both by Right and Conquest After things thus done it was determin'd in this Parliament that o Frois c. 43. the next Summer the War should be hotly pursued in France being to be begun with the Siege of Tournay Which was the thing chiefly desired by the Flemings For they made sure to be able to get it and then they hoped easily to recover Lille Douay and Bethune with the Appurtenances With this Resolution the Council brake up and the King within a few days returned to Antwerp But the Queen who was then big with Child remain'd still at Gaunt where she was very honourably entertain'd and visited especially by Jacob van Arteveld Walsingh hist p. 133. and Stow p. 236. and the chief Lords and Ladies of Flanders And within a while after was happily deliver'd of a Lovely and Lively Boy her Fourth Son who was named John and sirnamed of Gaunt from the place of his Birth This John of Gaunt in time became a Noble and Mighty Prince himself being both Duke of Lancaster and King of Castille and Leon his Son Henry of Bolingbrook was afterwards King of England by the name of Henry the Fourth who was Father to the Conquerour Henry the Fifth but that Kingly Dignity was extinguish'd in his Son Henry the Sixth However from John of Gaunts Loins q Sandford Geneal Hist p. 248 by the Mothers Side was descended Henry the Seventh who was the Son and Heir of r Mill's Catal. Nobility p. 613. Edmund of Hadham Earl of Richmond by his Lady Margaret the only Daughter and Heir of John Beaufort Duke of Somerset Nephew of John of Gaunt by his Son John Beaufort And he marrying the Lady Elizabeth Daughter of King Edward the Fourth who had the Blood and Right both of Prince Lionell and Edmund of Langele Third and Fifth Sons of King Edward the Third got of her the Lady Margaret his Eldest Daughter from whom the Kings of Scotland is descended our most Gracious Soveraign James the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland whom God grant long and happily to reign III. But it must not be omitted that before King Edward left Gaunt Å¿ Rot. Franc. 14 Ed. 3. m. 1. and Ashmole p. 651. he sent his Letters Patents to the Prelates Peers and Commons of France thereby signifying that Charles late King of France his Mothers Brother being Dead the said Kingdom was devolved to him by manifest Law. And that Philip of Valois Son to the Uncle of the said King had by Violence and Injustice intruded into it during his Minority and even yet wrongfully detain'd it Lest therefore he should seem to neglect his own Right He now thought good to own the Title of France and take upon him the Defence and Government thereof and having offer'd the said Philip divers Friendly Conditions of Peace to which he refufed all Condescention he was therefore necessitated to defend himself and recover his Right by Force of Arms And therefore all such Subjects as would submit to him as True King of France by Easter then next ensuing should be received into his Royal Grace and Protection AN. DOM. 1340. An. Regni Angliae XIV Franciae I. But here the Stile of France is set first and the Title of Duke of Aquitain omitted it being immerged in the more General Title of King of France This is the Summ of his Letters which he caused to be sent t Speed p. 572. a. to the Frontiers of the French Dominions and to be fixed upon the Doors of Churches and in other Publique Places But to satisfie the Curious I shall adjoin a full Copy of the Letter it self the Tenour whereof was this EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England Lord of Ireland unto all Prelates and Ecclesiastical Persons and to the Peers Dukes Earls Barons and to the Commons of France Greeting u u Fox Acts and Monum p. 346. The High Lord and King above althô his Will be in his own Power yet is pleased to make that Power Subject unto Law commanding every thing to be given unto Him which is His thereby declaring that Justice and Judgement ought to be the Preparation of a Kings Throne Wherefore seeing the Kingdom of France thrô the Providence of God is by the Death of Charles last King of France of Famous Memory Brother German to Our Lady Mother devolved and fallen unto Us by plain and manifest Law forasmuch as the Lord Philip of Valois Son of the Uncle of the foresaid King and so remov'd from that Crown by a farther Degree of Consanguinity thrô Force and Usurpation hath intruded himself into the foresaid Kingdom while We were yet in Our Minority and so contrary both to God and Justice doth still detain and occupy the same Now least We should seem to neglect Our own Right and the Gift which God hath given Us or not to submit Our Will to Gods Ordinance We have thought Good to acknowledge the Title of France and by support of the Almighty King have taken upon Us the Defence and Government of the said Kingdom firmly purposing within Our Selves as every Good Man ought to do Graciously to Administer Justice to every One according to the Rights and Laudable Customs of the foresaid Kingdom Also to Renew the Good Laws and Customs which have been in the time of Lewis Our Progenitor moreover adding thereto what shall seem Expedient according to the Condition and Quality of the time But as for any Change of Coin or any Inordinate Exactions We intend not to seek Our Profit by Your Detriment Because the Almighty be Praised We have enough and abound And as concerning the Affairs of the
victory after a sharp and terrible Conflict In which Battle a mighty Number of our Enemies were destroyed and almost all their whole Navy taken with some Loss also on our Part but nothing like in Comparison to theirs By reason whereof We doubt not but that the Passage by Sea shall hereafter prove more quiet and safe both to Us and our Subjects And also many other Commodities shall ensue thereupon as we have good cause to hope Wherefore We devoutly considering the Divine Favours so gratiously bestowed upon Us do render our most humble Thanks and Praise to Christ our Lord and Saviour Beseeching him that as he hath been and always is most ready to prevent our Necessities in his own good time so he will please to continue his helping Hand ever towards Us and so direct Us here temporally that We may reign and rejoice with him eternally in Heaven Moreover We require your Charitable Assistance that you also Rising up together with Us unto the Praise of God alone who hath so favourably begun to work with us for our Good do instantly in your Publique Prayers and Divine Service as well as in your Private Devotions recommend Us to the Lord since We are here labouring in these foreign Countries and not only studying to recover our Right in France but also highly to exalt the whole Catholick Church of Christ and to rule our People in Righteousness And that You also call upon all your Clergy and People each one thrô his distinct Diocess to do the same altogether invocating the Name of our Saviour on our Behalf that of his Clemency he would please to give unto Us his Humble Servant his Grace and a docible Heart that We may so judge and govern here upon Earth in Equity doing what he hath commanded that at length We may happily attain to that which he hath promised thrô our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. An. 1340. V. This Letter was enclosed in another of the Kings directed to his Son the Prince who received them at Waltham And then at last and not before was the Fame of this Victory perfectly credited by the most Scrupulous But thrô France the sad News of this their Loss flew more nimbly thô as yet none durst undertake to be the hatefull messenger of such an unwelcom Relation to King Philip. Till at last his Lords prompted a pleasant Fellow the Kings Jester to do it who is said to have revealed the whole Matter after this manner r Walsingh hist p. 134. n. 30. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 347. Sr. Rich. Baker c. Running carelesly one time into King Philips Presence he began to insult with much vehemence and upbraid the English of flat Cowardise calling them Dastards and cowardly Poltrons with many other Opprobrious Words to that effect Which he repeated with great Bravery till the King asked him the reason why he so extreamly undervalued the Englishmen Why said the Fool because the Cowardlike Faint-hearted Rogues had not the Courage to leap into the Sea so gallantly as our Normans and Gentlemen of France did Certainly We are told by most Writers that in this Fight the English Arrows fell so thick among the French and did so sting torment and fright them that many Men rather than endure them leapt desperately into the Sea To which the Words of this Jester no doubt alluded And without all question the Guns which are used now adays are neither so terrible in Battle nor do such Execution nor work such Confusion as Arrows can do For Bullets being not seen only hurt where they hit but Arrows enrage the Horse and break the Array and terrifie all that behold them in the Bodies of their Neighbours Not to say that every Archer can shoot Thrice to a Gunners once and that whole Squadrons of Bows may let fly at one time when only one or two Files of Musqueteers can discharge at once Also that whereas Guns are useless when your Pikes joyn because they only do execution point blank the Arrows which will kill at Random may do good service even behind your Men of Arms And it is notorious that at the famous Battle of Lepanto the Turkish Bows did more mischief than the Christian Artillery Besides it is not the least observable that whereas the Weakest may use Guns as well as the Strongest in those Days your lusty and tall Yeomen were chosen for the Bow whose ſ Fabian p. 392. Hose being fastned with one Point and their Jackets long and easie to shoot in they had their Limbs at full liberty so that they might easily draw Bows of great strength and shoot Arrows of a Yard long beside the Head. But to proceed VI. About the same time that King Edward sent the foremention'd Letters into England he also directed others from t Frois c. 50. f. 30. Gaunt to the Earl of Hainalt and those who were besieged within the Castle of Thine certifying them of his Arrival and Success When the Earl heard this News and that the French had received such a Blow at Sea because he could not force the Duke of Normandy to a Battle having at last brought off the Besieged in that manner as we related he decamped and giving his Souldiers leave to depart return'd with all the Lords in his Company to Valenciennes where he feasted them all most magnificently There Jacob van Arteveld once or twice declared openly in the Market-place in the Presence of the Earl of Hainalt the Duke of Brabant and all the Lords and Others who were content to hear him What undoubted Right the King of England had to the Crown of France and of what great Puissance the Three Countries of Flanders Hainalt and Brabant were like to be now that they were surely joyn'd in one indissolvible Bond of Allyance whereof King Edward was the Knot Strength and Stay. And more he spake to this purpose with so much Eloquence and Discretion that all who heard him highly applauded his smooth Language and weighty Reasons Saying that he was both a very good Orator and a most sound and expert Politician and therefore most meet and worthy to Govern all Flanders After this the Lords of the Empire departed severally from Valenciennes having first of all agreed to meet again within eight Days at Gaunt to visit the King of England which they did accordingly He for his part received them gladly and feasted them honourably as also did the Queen in her Apartment And here 't was agreed between King Edward and the Lords of Germany that a General Council should be held at Villenort about their present Affairs for which a certain Day was appointed and Notice given to all the Allies to meet accordingly Now the King of England as he had formerly made a Promise to the Flemings had brought over with him certain Bishops and very many Priests and Deacons u Mezeray 2 part 3 tom 16 pag. who being less scrupulous than the Priests of Flanders
should be forthwith raised the One consisting of the Men of Gaunt and Bruges and other Flemmings a Fabian p. 212. with a certain Number of English Archers b Du Chesne p. 651. making up in all 55000 Men which being commanded by the Lord Robert of Artois was to lay Siege to St. Omers And the other consisting of King Edward's own Forces with the rest of his Allies was to sit down before Tournay in like manner The Lord Robert of Artois was soon ready for his Task and went accordingly thô not so soon but that King Philip before his Arrival had sent thither the Duke of Burgundy named c Favine l. 4. c. 3. p. 6. Eudes the IV with many other Lords Captains and Men of Arms to the Reinforcement of the Earl of Armagnac Who Arrived there accordingly d Gaguin l. 8. p. 137. with two and fourty Ships furnished with Souldiers and Provision of all Sorts As for King Edward it was resolved that he should set forward with his Forces by e 22 Julii Magdalene-tide then next ensuing and lay Siege to the City of Tournay And that thither all the Lords of the League should repair to him with their several Forces except the Lord Robert of Artois aforesaid Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders and the rest who were to lie before St. Omers All these things being thus fully Established the Council brake up and every one address'd himself to the performance of this Agreement Now King f Frois c. 53. fol. 30. b. 31. a. Du Chesne Philip of France had presently secret Information of the greater part of the Resolutions of this Council Whereupon besides his foremention'd Provision for St. Omers he sent to Tournay the Chief of all his Men of War as Ralph Earl of Ewe and his Son the Young Earl of Guisnes Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Brethren Emery Earl of Narbon Sr. Emery of Poictiers Sr. Geoffry Charny a Valiant Young Lord of whose Exploits this History will not be silent with these he sent the two Marshals Sr. Robert Bertrand and Sr. Matthew de la Trie Sr. Gerard de Montfaucon the Lord of Caieux Seneschal of Poictieu the Lord of Chastelan and Sr. John Landas and many other Valiant Knights and Esquires to the Number of g Fabian p. 212. 4000 Men of Arms and h Gievana Villan l. 11. c. 111. p. 769. 10000 Footmen the City it self affording no less than 15000 Fighting Men effective Now therefore when this Great Recruit was come to Tournay the Captain thereof the Lord Godmar du Fay was wonderfully satisfied and so joyning all together they immediately took all Care possible to supply and furnish the Place with Provision of Salt Wine Flesh Fish Wheat Oats Attillery and what else might seem Necessary for the Maintenance of a Town Besieged II. Nor was King Edward himself unwilling that his Intentions should be known in France But according to the Law formerly Established with his Allies in Flanders besides his Defiance made last Year he sends i Walsingh hist p. 135. Edit Franes p. 149. n. 21. before he goes to the Siege of Tournay his Charter of Defiance to King Philip the Tenour whereof from the k Adam Murimouth Original French runs thus l l Id. Adam Mâ—rimouth Walsingh lote citato Fabian p. 212 Fâ—x Acts Monum p. 348. Sandford p. 161. Du Chesne p. 651. Mezeray p. 16. c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Noble and Puissant Lord Philip Earl of Valois Sr. Philip of Valois We have long and often peaceably demanded of You by Our Embassadors in the most Reasonable manner we could devise that You would restore unto Us Our Lawfull Right and Inheritance of the Crown of France which all this while You have with great Injustice and Violence detained from Us And whereas We well perceive that You intend to persevere in the same injurious Usurpation without returning any Satisfactory Answer to Our just Demands We give You to understand that We are entred into the Land of Flanders as Sovereign Lord thereof and are now passing thrô the Country And We further signifie unto You that by the help of Our Saviour m m Haec verba videntur alludere ad illud DIEU Eâ— MON DROIT i.e. God and my Right which words are still under the Arms of the Kings of England c. Jesus Christ and Our Righteous Cause with the Forces of the said Country Our Subjects and Allies We purpose to recover the Right which We have to that Inheritance which You by Your injurious Violence detain from Us. And therefore are We now approaching toward You to make a quick decision of this Our Rightfull Challenge if You also will do the like And forasmuch as so great an Army as We bring with Us on Our part supposing You also on Your Part to do the like cannot remain long in the Field without great Destruction both of the People and Country which thing every Good Christian ought to avoid especially Princes and others who have the Government of the same We are desirous by as short dispatch as may be to meet and therefore to prevent the Mortality of Christians since the Quarrel apparently belongs to You and Me let the Controversie between Us be fairly decided by Our own Persons Body to Body to which thing We offer Our Selves for the Reasons aforesaid that the Great Nobility and Valour of each other may be seen of all Men. But if in case You shall not vouchsafe this way then let Us end the Dispute by the Battle of one Hundred of the most sufficient Persons of Your Party and as many of Mine which each of Us shall bring into the Field But if You will not admit either of the One or of the Other way then that You will Assign unto Us a certain Day before the City of Tournay which Day to be within Ten days next after the Date of this Our Letter wherein to Combat both of Us Power against Power We offering unto Your Choice these above specifi'd Conditions as We would have all the World to know not of any Malice Presumption or Pride in Our Selves but for the Causes aforesaid and to the intent that the Will of Our Saviour Jesus Christ being declared between Us two Peace and Unity might grow more and more among Christians the Power of Gods Enemies may be abated and the Bounds of Christendom be enlarged and enfranchised Wherefore consider hereupon with Your Self which of Our foresaid Offers You will accept and by the Bearer of these Our Letters send unto Us quick and speedy Answer Given under Our Great Seal at Chyn upon the Skell near Tournay the n n Sandford p. 161. Fox 27 Julii Fab. 15 Julii Alii diem non assâ—gnâ—nt 17 Day of Julii A. D. 1340. This Letter was some Days after thus
a due State Counsel and a Treatise thereupon had with the Earls Barons and other Wise Men of our said Realm And for because We never consented to the making of the said Statute but as then it behoved Us We dissembled in the Premises by Protestations of Revocation of the said Statute if indeed it should proceed to eschew the Dangers which by denying of the same We feared to come forasmuch as the said Parliament otherwise had been without any Expedition in Discord dissolved and so our earnest business had likely been which God prohibit in Ruine And the said pretenced Statute We promised then to be Sealed It seemed to the said Earls Barons and other Wise Men that sithence the said Statute did not of our Free Will proceed the same should be void and ought not to have the Name nor strength of a Statute And therefore by their Counsel and Assent We have Decreed the said Statute to be void and the same inasmuch as it proceeded of Deed We have brought to be annulled Willing nevertheless that the Articles contained in the said pretenced Statute which by other of Our Statutes or of Our Progenitors Kings of England have been approved shall according to the form of the said Statute in every point as convenient is be observed And the same We do only to the Conservation and Redintegration of the Rights of Our Crown as We be bound and not that We should in any Wise aggrieve or oppress Our Subjects whom We desire to rule by Lenity and Gentleness And therefore We do command You that all these things You do to be openly proclaimed in such places within your Bayliwick where You shall see expedient Witness my self at Westminster the First day of October the XV Year of Our Reign This is the Famous Revocation which thô put among the Printed Statutes was meerly the Result of the Kings Prerogative Royal and yet in those days Esteemed of sufficient Force and as so afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament as We shall see two Years hence CHAPTER the NINETEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip of France wins the Emperour to his side II. The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward III. King Edwards answer thereto IV. The sudden Death of the Duke of Bretagne without Issue With the several Pretences of the Earl of Montford and Charles of Blois to that Dukedom V. Earl Montford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a. Parliament and goes forth with an Army to conquer his Inheritance VI. He goes into England does Homage to King Edward as true King of France for that Dukedom and implores his Protection VII On Charles of Blois his Complaint to King Philip Earl Montford is Summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France He comes to Paris but being in doubt gets secretly away again VIII The Dukedom adjudged to the Lord Charles of Blois IX King Philip promises unto him his Assistance and confiscates the Earldom of Montford which King Edward requites by giving the Earldom of Richmond unto the said Earl. X. Charles of Blois descends into Bretagne besieges Nantes and takes the Earl of Montford who is sent Prisoner to Paris XI The Countess of Montford prepares to renew the War. XII King Edward keeps his Christmas at Melros Abbey and the Earl of Darby at Roxborough whither certain Scotch Knights come to exercise Feats of Arms. XIII Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son called Edmund of Langley His Christening solemnized with a Feast and Turneament Which is falsly said to have been for love of the Countess of Salisbury XIV A small Digression concerning Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet. XV. The Lord Douglas besieges Striveling and takes it King Edward goes against Scotland with a Royal Army The Scotch Lords offer Conditions to obtain a Truce which are accepted XVI King David of Scotland returns home again raises an Army and enters England lays Siege to Newcastle but leaves it again XVII The Captain of Newcastle rides post with the News to King Edward who prepares for Resistance XVIII King David takes and destroys the City of Durham XIX He lays Siege to the Castle of Werke the Story of King Edwards Amours with the Countess of Salisbury exploded XX. The Captain of the Castle passes thrô the Scotch Host in the Night to hasten King Edward to his Relief On Knowledge whereof the King of Scotland Retires XXI King Edward comes before the Castle of Werke and the next Day follows the Scots XXII A Truce taken between the two Kings with the several Reasons inducing them thereto The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted their Ransoms I. ALL this while thô the Truce between France and England had more than Two Years to continue King Philip knowing that Truces are but Opportunities for Wise Enemies to improve to their Advantage like a Politick and Wary Prince thought good to take this time to recruit himself and to provide more strongly against a War which the Competition for a Crown seem'd to Entayl to future Ages And first after King Edward's own Method he desired to Establish himself with the Accession of some Powerfull Friends The Flemings he could by no means expect to prevail with while Jacob van Arteveld bore any Authority among them and the Earl of Hainalt was too much incensed to be wrought upon and the Duke of Brabant and other Lords of the Empire were still hamper'd in the Triple League made at Villenort Nor indeed did it seem feasable to gain any great footing in the Empire till the Emperour himself might be brought over The Emperours Friendship therefore seem'd as more considerable so upon many Accounts more attainable Lewis the Emperour had now to Wife the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Jane of Valois King Philips Sister Besides he knew him extream desirous to be Reconciled to the Church if he might obtain Absolution from the Pope on no Dishonourable Conditions and King Philip had at that time the Popes Keys under his Girdle the Court of Rome being at Avignon in France The Emperour therefore he now secretly and effectually plyes by the Popes Letters and his own Ambassadors offering him both Temporal and Spiritual Advantages great Gifts and Pensions together with a Frank and easie Absolution from his long-continued Excommunication These things took with him so well that he presently sent unto King Edward these his Letters of Revocation II. a Walsingh hist p. 146. n. 30. Fox Acts and Monum p. 351. Stow p. 238. Odâ—ric Rainald ad hunc annâ—m §. 12. c. Lewis by the Grace of God Emperour of the Romans always Augustus to Edward King of England his Beloved Brother Greeting and unfeigned Love. Althô innumerable and arduous Affairs do lie upon our shoulders and We are variously and perpetually encumbred about them yet notwithstanding when the Discord arisen between You and Philip King of France our Beloved Cosin which unless it be appeased may for the future bring forth both to You and to your
Among other instances they also shewed how the Pope had secretly granted unto two New Cardinals sundry Livings within the Realm of England and particularly to the Cardinal of Perigort above ten Thousand Marks Yearly Collections Whereupon they humbly require the King and his Lords to find a Remedy for these Intolerable Encroachments for that they neither could nor would any longer bear those heavy Oppressions or else they desired that his Majesty and the Lords would help them forceably to expel the Papal Power out of this Realm The King in Consideration of the Premises willeth that the Lords and Commons among themselves consult of the most Decent and fitting way promising his consent to any reasonable Remedy Hereupon the King Lords and Commons presently sent for an Act made at Carlile in the y So in M.S. Rot. Parl. Sr Rob. Cotton But Fox says the 34. and yet pâ—ts it to the Year of our Lord 1307. which was the 35. and last of Ed. 1. I rather believe it should be 35. Ed. 1. 25 Year of Edward the First upon the like Complaint Which utterly forbad to bring or attempt to bring any thing into this Realm which should tend to the Diminution of the Kings Prerogative or the Prejudice of his Lords and Commons And so at this time the Famous Act of Provision was made prohibiting the bringing in of any Bull or the like Trinkets from the Court of Rome or the using allowing or enjoying of any such Bull Process or any other Instrument obtained from thence as there at large doth appear This Act however z Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. as One observes could not be agreed to by the Bishops and the rest of the Clergy but they rather seem'd resolv'd to protest against it till the King peremptorily commanded them to surcease such Presumption However the Lords Temporal only and the Commons by themselves wrote a Letter to his Holiness the Purport whereof followeth a Adam Murimouth Fox Acts Mon. p. 352. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. from the Original French. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman and Catholick Church the Chief Bishop his Humble and Devout Children the Princes Dukes Earls Barons Knights Citizens Burgesses and all the Commonalty of the Realm of England assembled in Parliament at Westminster on the 28 Day of April last past Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet MOST HOLY FATHER the Pious Discretion Prudence and Equity which seem and ought indeed to be in You who are so Holy and so High a Prelate Head of the Holy Church by whom the Catholick Church and People of God should as by the Sun-beams be enlightned do give us good Hope that the just Petitions hereunder by us declared to the honour of Jesus Christ of his Holy Church and of your Holiness also shall be of You gratiously consider'd and that all Errours and Injustice shall be quite removed instead whereof fruitfull Amendment and necessary Remedies thrô the Grace of the Holy Spirit which You in so eminent a Degree have received may be by You gratiously ordained and applied Wherefore most Holy Father after great Deliberation We all with one Assent come unto your Holiness shewing and declaring that the most Noble Kings of England Progenitors to his Majesty that now is as also our Ancestors and our Selves too according to the Grace of the Holy Ghost to them and to us given every one of his own Devotion have established founded and endowed within the Realm of England Cathedrals and other Churches Colleges Abbeys Priories and divers other Religious Houses And to the Prelates and Governours of the same have given and granted Lands Possessions Patrimonies Franchises Advowsons and Patronages of Dignities Revenues Offices Churches with many and divers other Advantages and Emoluments Whereby the Service of God and the Faith of Christ might be honoured and had in Reverence Hospitals and Alms-houses with all other Edifices Churches and Colleges might be honestly kept and maintain'd and Devout Prayers in the same Places made for the Souls of the Founders and the Poor also of the several Parishes conveniently aided and nourished Of all which such only were to have the Cure who were able to take Confessions and were otherwise meet in their own Mother Tongue of England effectually to teach and inform their Flock And forasmuch most Holy Father as You cannot well attain the knowledge of divers such Errours and Abuses as are crept in among us nor yet be able to understand the Conditions and Customes of Places being your self so far distant unless your Holiness be of others duly informed and instructed We therefore having full and perfect Notice and Intelligence of all the Errours and Abuses of the said Places within the said Realm have thought fit to signifie the same unto your Holiness namely That divers Reservations Provisions and Collations by your Apostolick Predecessors of the Church of Rome and by You also in Your time most Holy Father have been granted and now more largely than heretofore unto divers Persons as well Strangers and of other Nations as unto some who are our professed Enemies and who have little or no Vnderstanding at all of our Language and of the Conditions and Customs of those of whom they have the Government and Cure Whereby a great number of Souls are in peril many of the Parishioners in Danger the Service of God neglected the Alms and Devotion of all Men diminished the Hospitals brought to Decay the Churches with their Appurtenances ruin'd and dilapidated Charity waxeth cold the good and honest Natives of our own Country unadvanced the Charge and Cure of Souls unregarded the pious Zeal of the People restrained many Poor Scholars of our own unpreferred and the Treasure of the Realm exported against the Mind and Intention of the Founders All which Errours Abuses and Slanders most Holy Father We neither can not ought any longer to suffer or endure Wherefore we most humbly require Your Holiness that the Slanders Abuses and Errours which we have declared unto You may of your great Prudence be throughly consider'd and that it may please You that such Reservations Provisions and Collations may be utterly repealed that the same from henceforth be no more used among us and that such Order and Remedy be forthwith taken therein that the said Benefices Edifices Offices and Rights with their Appurtenances may by our Countrymen to the Honour of God be supplied occupied and governed And that it may further please Your Holiness by your Letters to signifie unto us without Delay or further protracting of Time what your Pleasure is touching this our lawfull Request and Demand that we may diligently do our Devoir herein for the Remedy Correction and Amendment of those Enormities above specified In witness whereof unto these Letters Patents We have set to our Hands and Seals Given in full Parliament at Westminster the 18 Day of May Anno Domini 1343.
it and to conclude this matter nothing as to a final Peace could be agreed but only the Triennial Truce to endure as before without violation II At this Treaty it is said that the Pope thinking to terrifie King Edward spake to some of his Agents to this purpose i Fox Acts and Mon. p. 502. ex Chron. Alban Walsing hist p. 154. That Lewis of Bavaria who had before Excommunicate having now entirely submitted himself unto the Arbitration of the Apostolick See had therefore merited at his Hands the Benefit of Absolution And that now he had justly and graciously restored unto him the Empire which before he had unjustly usurped Which when King Edward heard being as full of Courage as Indignation he said aloud If the Emperour also shall agree and combine with Philip of Valois I am ready to fight with them both in Defence of my Right That the Pope might say thus much in terrorem or as a piece of Bravery I will not deny and that Lewis of Bavaria made more then one Offer of Submitting himself to the Popes Discretion is k Vid. Odoric Rain ad an 1344. §. 10. c. ubi illius Literx ad Papam Card. most apparent But it is not so evident by what I can find in Rainaldus his Collections that he was ever wholly Restored and Absolved thô not a few Authors averr so much However at this time it appears that the Pope having received by the Hands of Dr. Andrew Hufford another Letter from King Edward concerning the matter of Provisions return'd him his Answer thereto l Odoric Rain ad bunc annum §. 55. usque ad 60. wherein among other things he shews That the Ordinance of Parliament which was made in Opposition to Reservations and the like was too rash and contrary to the Holy Constitutions and that the Dignity of the Primacy of the Roman Church was not to be question'd and that by endeavouring to respect and honour and advance it he would engage the Grace of God unto himself But that otherwise he for his part should find himself obliged no longer to dissemble those Affronts done to Holy Church but to apply a Remedy according to his Duty Dat. Avin v. Id. Jul. Anno Pontif. 3. And on the m Odoric Rain ibid. Kalends of October following he sent Nicholas Archbishop of Ravenna and Peter Bishop of Astorga his Nuntio's into England with Power to call a Synod of the English Prelates in order to remove all Innovations against the Apostolick See And by repeated Letters he exhorted King Edward to revoke what he had done against the Liberties of the Church He also excited the two Queens Isabella the Kings Mother and Philippa his Consort Henry Earl of Darby and the Chief Peers of the Realm to move the King to restore Matters to their Pristine State. John Archbishop of Canterbury was suspected by the Pope to have been the Occasion of all this Controversie who when he attempted to wash away this Opinion with many plausible Excuses was required by the Pope to clear himself by his Actions and to induce the King to rescind what had been done And William de la Zouch Archbishop of York Richard Bury Bishop of Durham and several other Prelates were urged to use their utmost endeavour in this Affair But whether upon this I cannot tell however the Pope from henceforward gat ground in what he aim'd at thô not without a Check now and then from the King. III. Althô I am sensible that this Great English Monarch did not institute the Famous Order of the Garter till Five years after this Time or the 23 Year of his Reign yet because now he began the Order of the Round Table at Windsor which gave occasion to that of the Garter I shall in this place once for all take leave to say something concerning so solemn and Royal a Subject The Castle of Windsor n Ashoncle p. 127. Scituate at the East point of the County of Berkshire being Anciently called Windleshore from the Windings of the shore thereabouts is by some o Frois l. 1. c. 100 reported to have been built by the Famous King Arthur of Britain thô surely the present Name is of p Wyndleshora Saxon Original It is q Ashâ—ale p. 127. Speed Maps Barkshire §. 8. certain that King William the Conquerour being greatly enamoured of the pleasant scituation of the Place which appeared exceeding Commodious because it lay so near the Thames the Wood so fit for Game and the Country yielding other Opportunities both proper and convenient for the Pleasure and Exercise of Kings and therefore a place very fit for his Reception made an Exchange with Edwin then Abbot of Westminster and his Monks for King r Mâ—nâ—st Angl. Tom. 1. p. 61. Edward the Confessor had made a Donation of Windleshore and all its appurtenances to the Monastery of St. Peters at Westminster of certain Lands in Essex and elsewhere in lieu thereof And so Windsor revolved to the Crown again where ever since it hath remained The Conquerour being thus Lawfully possest of Windsor forthwith built a Fair Castle upon the Hill containing half a Hide or Carucate of Land being parcell of the Mannor of Clure After him King Henry the First reedified the said Castle beautifying it with many goodly Buildings and as it were to experience the Pleasure thereof in the Å¿ Hen. Huntingd. l. 7. p. 379 n. 40. France f. 1601. Eight Year of his Reign having overcome his Enemies kept his Easter there with great Triumph and Glory as also two * Id. ibid. n. 50. Years after he summon'd thither all his Nobility where he held his Whitsuntide with Princely State and Magnificence This t Cambden in Atrelâ—â— Castle from an high Hill which riseth with an easie and gentle Assent yields a most delightfull prospect round about for from the Front it overlooks a fruitfull Vale which lying out far and wide is adorned with Corn-fields flourishes with delightfull Meadows is flanked on each side with pleasant Groves and water'd with the Calm and Wealthy Streams of the Royal River of Thames Which hasting with a nimble but smooth speed from Oxford runs along on the Edge of Barkshire as if resolving to visit this Capitol of our English Kings Behind the Castle several Hills shoot up which being neither too rough nor over high are so bedecked with frequent Woods as if Nature had even dedicated them to the game of Hunting Within this place was our King Edward born whence he was commonly called Edward of Windsor as his Father was of Caernarvon whereby the Affection he bore thereto became so great that he seem'd to prefer it by much to all his Royal Palaces and Mansions For this Year first he began to hold a Round-Table therein of which by and by and after that he Instituted the Honourable Order of the Garter here and even until the Fourty Eighth of his Reign
are to be seen in their Primitive Obscurity in the Learned Seldens Titles of Honour y Saxon M.S. apud Selden Titles of Honour p. 812. And St. George upon the Point of his Martyrdom in the Days of Dioclesian the Emperour prayed to the Lord and said Jesu Christ receive my Soul And I beseech thee that whosoever shall commemorate me on Earth all Fraud Peril Hunger and Sickness be far from his House and that whosoever shall in any danger ON THE SEA or elsewhere make use of my Name Thou wilt be mercifull unto him Then came a Voice from Heaven saying Come thou Blessed and whosoever shall in any Danger or Place call on my Name thrô Thee him will I hear The same Sense is thus expressed in the other z Apud Selden ibid. p. 813. MS. in Meeter His Hands he held up on High adown he set his knee Lord he said Jesu Christ this only thing might I see Grant me if it is thy Will that whoso in fair manere Holds well my Day in a April 23d St. George's Day Aperil for my Love on Earth here That there never fall in his House no Harm in all the Year Nor great Sickness nor Famine strong that thereof there be no fear And WHOSO IN PERIL OF SEA thrô me shall make his Boon Or in other Cases Perillous heal him thereof full soon Then heard he a Voice from Heaven that to him said I wis Come forth to me my Blessed Child thy Boon heared is Then his Head was off y-smitten c. Some small Account of this ancient Original I gave about ten or eleven Years since to that Learned Antiquary Esquire Ashmole in the Lodgings of my worthy Friend and Master Dr. Goad then at Merchant Taylors School in London who seem'd not a little pleas'd at the probable Authentick Occasion of this most Noble Order But I leave the Judgment of all to the Candid Reader being content with those Reasons that induced me to make these Conjectures as I readily allow others to follow what may seem more Rational to them V. And having thus at least endeavour'd to find out hidden Truth from among the gross Rubbish of Antiquity we shall now proceed When this Mighty Prince had formed in his Head this most Honourable Design and had begun to hold his Round Table at Windsor upon b Ashmole p. 186 b. c. New-years Day this Year 1344. He issued out his Royal Letters of Protection as we shew'd before for the safe Coming and Return of Foreign Knights their Servants and what belonged unto them who being desirous to try their Valour should come to those solemn Justs by him intended to be held at Windsor on the c Pat. 17. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 2. Monday next after the Feast of St. Hilary next ensuing which happen'd then to be on the * Dom. Lit. D.C. 19 Day of January And these Letters of safe Conduct continued in Force till the Octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary being in the 18 Year of his Reign The Time appointed being come the King provided a Royal Supper to open the Solemnity and then first Ordained that this Festival should be annually held there at Whitsuntide The next Day and during all this splendid Convention from before Candlemas unto Lent the Lords of England and of other Lands exercised themselves in all kind of Knightly Feats of Arms as Justs and Tourneaments and Running at the Ring The Queen and her Ladies that they might with more Convenience behold this Spectacle were orderly seated upon a firm Balustrade or Scaffold with Rails before it running all round the Lists And certainly their extraordinary Beauties set so advantageously forth with excessive Finery and Riches of Apparel did prove a Sight as full of pleasant Encouragement to the Combatants as the fierce Bucklings of Men and Horses gallantly armed was a delightfull Terrour to the Feminine Beholders During these Martial sports William Montagu the Great Earl of Salisbury King of the Isle of Man and Marshal of England thrô his immoderate Courage and Labour for 3 or 4 Days together was at last so bruised and wearied with those boisterous Encounters that falling d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 924. into a Feavour thereby he died within 8 Days after in the e Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 640. ubi Anno 13. Ed. 2. aged 18. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. Ashmole 690. 43d. Year of his Age on the 30 of January being then a Fryday to the infinite regret of the King and all the Court as well Strangers as English and was afterwards Honourably buried in the White-Fryers at London This Mans Father named William Lord Montagu f Mills Catal. Honor. p. 1041. Son of Simon Lord Montagu and being descended of Drû or Drogo who was branched from the Lines of the Ancient Kings of Man did Marry Aufric Daughter of Fergus and Widow of Olaus King of Man or as others report she was g Dugd 1 Vol. p. 633. Sister of Orry King of Man who was descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark Which Lady discerning her Brother and all his Blood to be overcome and ruin'd by Alexander King of Scots fled into England with the Charter of that Isle and being there Honourably received of King Edward I was by him given in Marriage to William Lord Montagu aforesaid who in her Right by Aid of the said King Edward I recover'd the said Isle till at length he mortgag'd it for seven Years to Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham from whom it should seem to have been taken by the Scots Till this Earl William as we shew'd before reconquer'd it from the Scots and was by King Edward III made King of the said Isle as was also his Son after him till the 16 of Richard II when he sold the Crown thereof to William Lord Scroop as some say thô 't is certain that even h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. to his Death he retain'd the Title of Lord thereof as appears by his Will bearing Date at Christ-Church-Twynham 20 April Anno 1397 20 Richardi 2 where he calls himself Earl of Salisbury and Lord of the Isles of Man and Wight Within 6 Weeks after the Date whereof he departed this Life But now at the Death of his Father the first Earl he was found to be but 15 Years old and an half thô in time he became no less renowned than his Father and was One of those 25 whom King Edward chose together with himself Founders of the Order of the Garter But of his Heroick Father who died at this time i Hypod. p. 117. ad n. 1344. Walsingham takes his leave in these Words This Year says he departed this Life the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury King of Man and Marshal of England of whose Valorous Acts worthily to write would be a Work of great Commendation And thus died this Valiant Worthy in the strength of his
Christendom he sent r Odor c. Rainald ad 〈◊〉 annu◠§. 61. 62. his Letters to the Pope shewing how King Philip had despightfully slain and put to Death Good and Loyal Knights and Gentlemen upon his Account and for hate of his Person whereby he had notoriously violated the Truce lately taken between them which as he could not but highly resent so he was preparing to revenge it But yet if King Philip would according as Reason requireth retract for what he had done amiss and offer Satisfaction for these injuries he would at the time appointed send other Ambassadors to the Apostolick See and give them Instructions for making Peace The Pope having heard thus much return'd an Answer to this Purpose After having manifested to King Edward in how great Dangers the whole Christian World was tossed and that this Mortal War thus kindled between France and England did grievously afflict the Church he then told him that King Philip had granted Letters of safe Conduct as the English Ambassadors had required and as to the Death of the Lords Esquires and Others King Philip had wrote unto him that they for their enormous Crimes Murders and Rapines had been justly put to Death by him not thereby to break the Truce but by the fear of their Punishment to terrifie others from the Breach thereof and that he had added how the King of England's Garrisons had attempted many things against the Truce Then he begg'd the King to let him know his Secret Resolutions for that he would never divulge them but use his utmost to make a final Peace which was so profitable and advantagious to the Expedition against the Turks And he assured him that hitherto he had defer'd to dispence with the Canon-Law for the Marriage between his Eldest Son and the Duke of Brabant's Daughter in hopes that by that Bond of Affinity tied in France a sure Peace would ensue c. Thus the Pope neglected not to heal these Wounds of Bleeding Christendom but King Edward was too much exasperated by his Adversary to stop now since nothing of Satisfaction was offer'd but only frivolous and false Excuses Wherefore in order to enable himself the better to carry on this War he now held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster on the 7 Day of June being the Å¿ M.S. Pâ—t Pâ—â— p. 56 18 Ed. ◠§. 1. Sr. Râ—b Cottens Abridgment p. 44 c. v. Statute Bâ—cks Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity On which day in presence of the King certain of the Lords and Commons being then assembled in St. Edwards Chamber otherwise called the Painted Chamber and the Lord Chancellor at the Kings Command declared how sundry things of the last Parliament were left to be done at this And that the Archbishop of Canterbury had against the time of the said Parliament called a Convocation of his Clergy At which Parliament and Convocation sundry of all Estates were absent c. Whereat the King did no less muse than he was thereat offended Wherefore he charged the Archbishop for his part to punish the Defaults of the Clergy and he would do the like touching the Parliament Hereupon Proclamation was made that none should wear Armour or Weapons in or about London and Westminster during the Session of the Parliament Receivours of Petitions for England Gascogne Wales Ireland Bretagne Scotland and the Foreign Isles and other Places beyond the Seas Sr. Thomas Drayton appointed Clark of the Parliament and this is all was done that Day being Monday On the Tuesday the Names of the Lords of the Parliament were examined before the King that such as made default in being absent might abide the Kings Order On Tursday after the Chancellour in full Parliament in Presence of the King and of his Son the Prince of Wales declared the Cause of the same Parliament viz. The Articles of the Truce and the Breaches of the same by the French King which were there particularly instanced Whereupon the Three Estates were willed to advise upon the Premises and to shew their Opinion of them by Monday next ensuing The same Monday they had their time enlarged untill Wednesday in the Week of St. John being the 23 of June on which day every of the Lords and Commons by themselves with one Assent required the King to end the same War either by Battle or Honourable Peace And if the King shall attempt War eftsoons that he do not stay the same at the Letters or Requests of the Pope or of any whomsoever but to end the same by Dint of Sword. Whereunto the King agreed but forasmuch as the same could not be atchieved without Aid the Clergy of Canterbury granted unto the King a Desme Triennial And the Commons granted unto him Two Fifteenths of Counties and Two Desmes of Cities and of Towns on Condition that the same be leavied in such manner as the last was that the Commons Petitions be Granted and that the same may be imployed upon the Wars with the Assent of the Lords That the Prince and Sr. Edward Bailiol may lie on the North-Marches And because the King should pass over the Seas in Person to end this Quarrel they further grant unto the King a Third Fifteenth Then after the Petitions of the Commons and Clergy with their Answers the Commons by their Petition recite the Act of Provision made in the last Parliament and because no Penalty was provided therefore request that such as incurr the breach of the same by receipt procuring or Counsel in stay of any temporal judgement shall lie in perpetual Prison or be forejudged the Land And that all Justices of Assises Goal-Delivery and Oyer and Terminer may determine the same And that the Act of Provision may continue for ever That if any Archbishop or other Person Religieux or other do not present within four Moneths some able Clerk to any Dignity whereof any Person hath obtained from the Court of Rome any Provision but surcease the same that then the King may present some able Clerk himself That 〈◊〉 any Bishop Elect shall refuse to take such t Ità M.S. sed Brother in Sr. Rob. Cotten Bishop other than by such then such Clerk shall not enter nor enjoy his Temporalities without the Kings special Licence That the King shall dispose of all such Benefices and Dignities of such Aliens his Enemies as remain in such Countries of his Enemies and employ the Profits thereof to the Defence of the Realm That Commissions be sent into all the Kings Ports to apprehend all such Persons as shall bring in any such Instrument from the Court of Rome and to bring them forthwith before the Council to answer thereto That the Deanery of York which is recoverable by Judgement in the Kings Court may be bestowed upon some Able Man within the Realm who will maintain the same against him who holdeth the same by Provision from the Court of Rome being the Common Enemy to the King
and to the Realm and that the Main Profits may be employed upon the Defence of the Realm To all which Petitions Answer was made in form following It is agreed by the King Earls Barons Justices and other Wise Men of the Realm that the Petitions aforesâ—â—d be made in sufficient form of Law. According to the Petitions aforesaid certain Processes made against Sr. William de la Pole and Reginald at Conduit out of the Exchequer are revoked as Erroneous And that they shall be charged anew to accompt for Moneys received for the Kings Wooll notwithstanding any Letter of Acquittance to them made The which Accord was sent to the King to know his Pleasure therein The Petitions of the Clerks of the Chancery that whereas the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper for the time being ought to have the Cognisance of all Pleas of Trespasses done by the said Clerks or other Servants where the Chancery shall remain Yet notwithstanding the Sheriffs of London had attached one Gilbert de Chrishull a Clerk of the said Chancery in London at the Suit of one Killingbury a Draper upon a Bill of Trespass Which Gilbert brought a Supersedeas of Priviledge to the said Sheriffs which they would not allow but drew him to find sureties The Clerks pray Remedy therefore and maintenance of their Liberties The Parliament doth confirm their Liberties and reciting the Contempt for neglecting the Process conclude that Writs be sent to the Mayor of London to attach the Sheriffs and others who were Parties and Maintainers of the Quarrel by their Bodies to appear before the King in Chancery at a certain day to answer as well to the Contempt of the Process as to the Breach of the Liberty and Damage of the Party At the Petition of the Commons of Nottingham it is enacted that as well the Goal of Nottingham which the King hath granted to Sr. John Brocas during his Life as all other Goals in the like Case should be annexed to the Sheriffwick of every County according to an Act made Ano. 14. Ed. 3. That no man within Cities or Towns or elsewhere do carry Maces of silver but only the Kings Serjeants but that they carry Maces of Copper only and of no other Mettal It was answer'd the same should be so excepting that the Serjeants of the City of London may carry their Maces of silver within the Liberties of London before the Mayor in the presence of the King. It is to be observed that of the Oaths of Justices and of the Clerks of the Chancery expressed in the u A. â— 1â— Ed. 3 p. â—8 Printed Statutes there is no mention made in the Record And this is the Sum of this Sessions of Parliament the rest being to be had in the Statute Books of this Year XIV And now the x Frois c. 102. Earls of Darby and Arundel with the Earls of Pembroke and Oxford the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Walter Manny Sr. Frank van Hall an Almain Lord of great Valour and Fidelity to the English Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant St. Richard Fitz-Simon Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. Stephen Tombey Sr. Richard Haydon Sr. John Norwich Sr. Richard Radcliff Sr. Robert Oxenden and others to the Number of 500 Knights and Esquires and 2000 Archers were ready to pass the Seas The King upon taking leave of his Cousin the Earl of Darby said unto him Take with you Gold and Silver enough and bestow it freely among those that do well for in so doing You will win their hearts which is beyond all Worldly Treasure The Earl took shipping at Southampton and on the 6 of June Landed at Bayonne a good and strong City of Gascogne that held of King Edward There he tarried seven Days and on the Eighth marched to Bourdeaux having largely encreased his Forces At this City he was received with Solemn Procession and here also he tarried a while being lodged in the Stately Abbey of St. Andrew At this time there was a Valiant French Lord called Gaston Earl of Laille Deputy for the French King in Guienne who excepting the loss he suffer'd at Bourdeaux by the Lord Oliver Ingham of which we * C. 15. §. 1. p. 163. spake had hitherto kept footing in that Country very well having taken divers Towns and Castles from the English He was endued with Absolute Power as the Kings Lieutenant that he might be render'd more able to reduce and defend those parts Wherefore understanding now of the Earl of Darby's arrival at Bourdeaux he sent for the Earls of Cominges and of Perigord the Vicount of Carmain the Earl of Valentinois the Lord of Mirande and the Lord of Duras for the Viscount of Villemur for the Lord De la Bard the Lord of Picornet the Viscount of Chastillon the Lord of y Ita Du Chesne Chasteauneufe the Lord of Lescun the Abbot of St. Salvin and all other Lords thereabout that held for France of whom the Earl of Laille demanded what they thought as to the coming of the Earl of Darby They answer'd how they thought themselves strong enough to defend the Passage at Bergerac This answer satisfied the Earl and thereupon he sent for Men from all Parts to reinforce his Troops and so went and kept the suburbs of Bergerac which were strong and of large extent and enclosed with the River of Dordogne The z Frois c. 103. fol. 50. b. Earl of Darby had been now at Bourdeaux about 15 Days when hearing what Provision was made to resist him at Bergerac he resolved first of all to march thitherward The Marshals of the Host were Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Frank van Hall who rode the first Morning three Leagues to a Castle of their own called Monlieu where they tarried the Remainder of that Day and all that night The next Morning early the Marshals Forerunners rode up to the very Barriers of Bergerac and having there well view'd the Demeanor of the French return'd and told the Lord Manny that they found nothing formidable in what they had seen That Morning the English dined betimes because they design'd the residue of the Day for Action and as they sat at dinner Sr. Walter Manny applying himself to the Earl of Darby said mertily My Lord if We were good Men of Arms We should drink this evening with the French Lords in the Suburbs or City of Bergerac The Earl reply'd it shall not be my fault if we fail I 'll assure you When the Captains heard that they said to one another Let us haste to Arms for we are now for Bergerac and accordingly every Man was Armed and on Horseback and the Captains ranged them in Order of Battle without any other command given When the Earl of Darby saw the great Ardour and Alacrity of his Souldiers he took great Pleasure thereat and said aloud Let us then ride on to our Enemies in the Name of God and St. George Thus they rode forth with their Banners displayed in the heat
at his Funeral Where his Son afterwards erected to his Memory a Fair Tomb on the Northside of the High Altar in the Collegiate Church of our Lady called the New-Warke But there is no Coronet on his Head. II. About this time there happen'd a memorable Revolution in Flanders which may teach us how uncertain Popular Favour is and how suddain the Fall of those Great Ones proves who are not fixed on a sure Foundation We have frequently had occasion to speak of Jacob van Arteveld of Gaunt who had long govern'd all Flanders with a more absolute Sway than ever the Earls themselves had done This Man whether thrô hopes of raising his Family to future Time or whether out of Inclination or of meer Policy to secure his own Greatness by the Aid of England was all along a fast Friend to King Edward and had again as much respect and favour from that Prince as his Heart could desire He now d Frois c. 115. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 854. in Confidence of his boundless Authority among the Commons of the Country grew so presumptuous as some while before this to entertain a Resolution of Disinheriting his Natural Lord Lewis Earl of Flanders and to put the Government thereof into the Hands of King Edward of England On Condition that He the said King should endow his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales therewith and make a Dukedom of the Earldom of Flanders These things being thus privately agreed on beforehand about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward having e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. left his Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp his Lieutenant at Home during his Absence took Shipping at Sandwich and came before Scluse with a great Navy the Young Prince Edward his eldest Son being with him and Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Seagrave John Lord Leiburn and many Others attending Him. The King lay at Anchor in the Haven of Scluse and there kept House on Board whither his Friends the Chief Men of Flanders came to visit him One Day the Flemish Burgesses being invited into the Kings Ship called the Catherine after a f Mezeray p. 23 ad hunc ann most Magnificent Collation bestowed on them by the King Jacob van Arteveld rose up and made a most plausible Oration extolling the King of England's great Power either to protect his Friends or to punish his Enemies he set forth also the notable Good-will which he had all along bore to his Allies and Subjects of Lower Germany That the Young Prince of Wales his Son did no way come short of his Fathers Steps but rather promised if God gave life to reach the very Height of all his Vertues That their own Lord Lewis unmindfull of the Welfare of his People had confederated with King Philip their Mortal Enemy and had himself made War against them and done unto them many great Inconveniences and Dammages Wherefore if they judged it fit to requite their Haters with Neglect and to pay unto their Lovers and Protectors Friendship and Service He must needs advise them either to make the Earl of Flanders pay his Homage unto King Edward to whom as to the Rightfull King of France it was only due or if thrô his Stubborn Obstinacy they could not prevail with him herein then wholly to cast off the hatefull Yoke of a Tyrannous and an Unkind Lord and submit to the pleasant and honourable Government of King Edward and his Son who would advance the Earldom of Flanders into a Dukedom and make them flourish above all other People in Trade and Prosperity III. When the Burgesses had all heard what secret Poison lurked in the Breast of this subtle Orator in their Hearts they utterly abominated his Perfidious Treason and firmly resolved never to be Guilty of so black and base a Deed as to disinherit and depose their own Natural Lord and his Young Son Lewis from their proper Right and Title But however to get off handsomly and make fair weather for the present after a little private Conference they gave this Answer to the King. Sir said they there is proposed unto us a Matter of no small Importance which may some Ages after very nearly concern the whole Country of Flanders and our Heirs for ever as well as our Selves And thô surely we know no Person in the World at this time whose Promotion and encrease of Wealth and Honour We so heartily desire as We do your Majesties Yet this Business we dare not of our selves determine unless the Commonalty of Flanders yield their Consent thereto Wherefore Sir for the present we crave leave to return every Man to his own City and there we shall confer with the Generality of every Town and Corporation and as the Major Part shall agree we shall act most willingly Within a Month at farthest we will all return hither again and bring your Majesty we doubt not such an Answer as shall be agreeable IV. The King and Jacob van Arteveld urged them much to make a more speedy Return but they could obtain no other Reply at that time wherefore they were all dismist to their own several Homes But Jacob tarried still with the King bearing him all along in hand that he would not fail to bring this Purpose to good Effect But King Edward who was not apt to be blinded with Prosperity and had a more piercing Judgment in publick Affairs doubted much not only lest this Business should miscarry but his Friend also incurr some Danger thereby Wherefore at parting he gave him great Caution in the Management of that Affair and allow'd him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 926. also for a Guard 500 Welchmen under the Command of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. William Sturry Sr. John Maltravers was indeed a Baron of the Realm and the same Person we mention'd to have been concerned together with Sr. Thomas Gournay in the barbirous Murther of King Edward the Second wherefore also as we shew'd he fled upon that Act and was three Years after condemned in Parliament to be put to Death wherever he should be found with the price of 500 Marks for his Head or a 1000 for any one that should bring him in alive For fifteen Years after he had lived in great Penitence and very privately in and about Flanders and either finding some hopes from the Kings Mercy or being not so guilty as he was represented or in Confidence of having merited something by his late Services for he had lost h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 101. 102. all his Goods and suffer'd much hardship upon the Kings Account in Flanders he came now voluntarily to the King and rendred himself into his Hands Whereupon especially since he had never undergone a legal Trial he was respited now and by the King set over these Welchmen and six years after fully pardoned But to return This Guard some i Holinshead ibid. p. 926. say that
Bodies of English that were coming upon them besides this loss wanting both Victuals and Rest for their Bodies sled away having indeed purchas'd the Name of Truce-breakers but gain'd little Praise for their Valour One o Godw. Catal. Bâ—s p. 678. says that for want of Victuals they were compell'd to fight upon Disadvantage where the Bishop of Caerlile gave them a memorable Overthrow But I can find no such matter unless the loss under Sr. Alexander Straghan may be so accounted For what became of Sr. William Douglas Had he been entirely beaten he could never have escaped either being slain or taken and he was too eminent not to be taken Notice of both by Scotch and English Writers had either of those things happen'd unto him And we find him alive after this wherefore we rather chose to relate as we have done This loss however dispos'd King David of Scotland to admit of a Truce which p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. ex Rot. Scot. 19. Ed. 3. m. 4. c. presently ensued hereupon and the Lord Thomas Lucy with the Bishop aforesaid and others were by King Edward joyned in Commission to see the same duly observed The said Lord Lucy being likewise constituted Sheriff of Cumberland and Governour of the Castle at Caerlile XII And now we shall close this Year after our usual Method when we have remembred the Names of some Grandees that departed this Life about this time The first was the Lord q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 11. Adam Welles a Valiant and Noble Gentleman who dying at the Age of one and fourty left behind him John his Son and Heir then but Eleven Years of Age who afterwards behav'd himself with Great Honour in the French Wars On the r Godw. Catal. Bpâ—p 662. 24 of April there departed this Life at Aukland the Renowned Dr. Richard Aungervile commonly called of Bury Bishop of Durham of whose Wisdom and other Vertues we have more than once spoken in these Papers He died in the 58 Year of his Age and lies buried in the South angle of his own Church We have already seen how great part of this Mans Life was taken up in publique Employments for the Service of his Royal Pupil King Edward But this is memorable of him that what spare time he found from these Weighty Affairs he either spent in Å¿ â—odw Cattal Bps p. 661. Prayer or Conference with his Chaplains or else in study with which he was extreamly delighted He wrote many things whereof some yet remain and in one of them entitled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Conradus t Conr. Gesner in â—â—blieth Vnvers p. 582. Gesner commends highly he saith of himself * Fâ—tatico quedarn librer unâ—mâ—re potenter se abreptum vid. Godwin ibid. that he was powerfully hurried away with a certain Ravishing Love of Books And indeed his study was so well furnished that it was thought he had more Books than all the Bishops in England beside He was also wonderfully taken with the Conversation and Acquaintance of Learned Men and many Letters passed between him and Francis Petrarch and others Famous for Learning in that Age. He had still in his House many Chaplains all Notable Scholars the Chief whereof were Thomas Bradwardin King Edwards Confessor and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Fitz. Ralph afterwards Archbishop of Armagh Dr. Walter Burly Tutor to the Prince of Wales Dr. John Mauduit Dr. Robert Holcot Dr. Richard Killington Dr. Richard Wentworth who in time became Bishop of London and Dr. Walter Seagrave whom Bishop Godwin calls Bishop of Chichester thô himself neither in that Title nor in any other takes notice of any such Man. It was this Bishop of Durhams Custom in Dinner and Supper time to hear some one or two Paragraphs out of some Choice Book read to him the Matter whereof he would afterwards discourse with his Chaplains as leisure from other business would permit He was of a very Charitable and Bountifull Disposition u Godw. Catal. Bps p. 662. Stows Survey of London p. 75. giving a Weekly allowance of Eight Quarters of Wheat made up into Bread for the Relief of the Poor besides the Offals and Fragments from his Table He would constantly when he rode between Durham and Newcastle give away Eight Pounds Sterling in Almes in his riding from Durham to Stockton Five Pounds from Durham to Aukland Five Markes from Durham to Middleham Five Pounds and so proportionably in other journeys Many other Monuments of his Charity Wisdom Piety and Learning he left behind him which have endear'd his Name to all Posterity He was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Hatfield the King's Secretary of whose Election this x Walsing Hypod p. 118. Story is Reported That King Edward being by all means desirous to prefer him to the Bishoprick and perhaps doubting the Convent would not choose him was content rather then miss of his Purpose even against his own late Resolution to Request of the Pope that he would give it him thereby opening a new Passage for him to Reenter into Possession of his late Cancell'd Usurpation The Pope therefore glad of this Opportunity without any Regard had to the Merit of the Man immediately comply'd with the King's Desire And when some Cardinals made Exceptions saying that he was not only a meer Lay-man but one of Light Carriage and no way Worthy of that Sacred Dignity 'T is true said the Pope but if now the King of England had Requested me in behalf of an Ass he should have succeeded And yet y Godw. Catal. Bps p. 663. this Man built Durham College in Oxford and purchased certain Lands unto the same for the Maintenance of such Monks of Durham as should be sent thither to study Which College having many Years after received a new Foundation from Sr. Thomas Pope of Tyttenhanger in Hertfordshire Knight was by him called as it is to this Day Trinity-College This Thomas Hatfield built also Durham Palace in London for the Reception of himself and Successours at their Repair thither And was a Principal Benefactour if not the Founder of the Friery at Northallerton in Yorkshire and having sat in the See 36 Year died a Good Old Man in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXXVI In this Year on the Eighteenth of July died the Famous or rather infamous Adam Orleton of whom We have spoken where We Related the Trayterous and Horrid Murther committed upon the Sacred Person of King Edward the Second We there shew'd how far he was concerned in that Heinous Act but by his subtil Evasions he so well Handled the Matter that he not only escaped Temporal Punishment but within two Moneths after by Means of his Patroness the Queen Mother was Prefer'd to the Bishoprick of Worcester Six Years after thô now King Edward could not endure him at the z Godw. Catal. Bps p. 233. Request of the French King he was Translated by the Pope to Winchester Whereat King Edward was so
Confederates convey'd thither their Cattle and other Commodities to be sold Besides which the Maishals of the Host would scour the Country daily and rode often toward Guisnes and Terouenne and to the Gates of Ardres and St. Omers and sometimes to Boulogne and mightily refreshed the Army with Prey which they brought thither in great abundance III. One time especially the f Knighton p. 2588. Earl of Warwick went forth with a Detachment of Men of Arms as far as Terouenne where he heard a Great Fair was then kept Here they sound the Bishop of Terouenne with 10000 Souldiers ready to Defend the Fair but this strength was not sufficient for they were all Worsted by the English the Bishop himself being grievously Wounded and hardly escaping with Life all the Merchandise and Riches of the Fair taken and carried away in Carts and upon Horses to the Camp before Calais to the Infinite Loss of the French and the Comfort and Satisfaction of their Enemies But as to this Action g Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 937. another Reports that the Bishop himself not daring to expect the English fled away to St. Omers leaving the Defence of Terouenne to a Valiant Captain Sr. Arnold D'Andreghan who is said to have made a good Resistance thô in vain For the English enter'd the Place by fine Force slew all his Souldiers and took him Prisoner And having Sacked the City set it on Fire But as for my part I rather encline to believe the first Account because We shall find the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan to be now in Calais and the Bishop could not come with any hope of Protection to St. Omers for that was the same time actually Besieged by King Edwards Friends and Allies of Flanders Brabant and Hainalt who h Knighton p. 〈◊〉 n. 6â— seeing the Great Fortune of the King of England not only sent i 〈◊〉 Voâ—ages 1 Vol. p. 119. 38 Vessels well Mann'd to encrease his Fleet before Calais but also raised an Army by Land werewith they laid Siege to St. Omers and other Places as We shall shew hereafter And these Flemings k Holinshead â—â—gl Coron p. 937. when they understood what the English had done at Terouenne sent out a Party of their own thither who began a new Spoil and Slaughter of those Persons and things which had escaped the English Particularly they fired the Canons Houses and other Religious Places which in Devotion the Earl of Warwick had spared IV. Now there was at this time Captain of Calais a Renowned Knight of Burgundy named l Frois c. 133. John de Vienne afterwards Marshal of France and with him the Valiant Lord Arnold D'Andreghan Sr. John Surrey Sr. Barton Belborne Sr. Godfry de Lament Sr. Pepin de Vermand and divers other Knights and Esquires were there in Garrison all Brave and Resolute Men full of Courage and Loyalty to the King their Master When Sr. John de Vienne perceived that King Edward intended to lye long there he thought to rid the Town of as many useless Mouths as he could and so on a Wednesday being the 13 of September he forced out of the Town more than 1700 of the poorest and least necessary People Old Men Women and Children and shut the Gates upon them Who being demanded wherefore they came out of the Town Answer'd with great Lamentation that it was because they had nothing to live on Then King Edward who was so fierce in Battle shew'd a truly Royal Disposition by considering the sad Condition of these Forlorn Wretches For he not only would not force them back again into the Town whereby they might help to consume the Victuals but he gave them all a Dinner and two-pence a piece and leave to pass thrô the Army without the least Molestation Whereby he so wrought upon the hearts of these poor Creatures that many of them prayed to God for his Prosperity V. Of all this Years Expedition from the time that King Edward wan the City of Caen in Normandy even to this time One of the Kings Chaplains who was present and attended him all along wrote two Letters which for their Authority and further Confirmation of what We have said We here think good to subjoyn The First Letter of Michael Northborough a Dominican Fryer and Chaplain and Confessor to King Edward the Third m m Fox Acts and Mon. p. 504. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Benedicere Debemus Deum Caeli c. We have great Cause to Bless and Magnifie the God of Heaven and Worthily to Confess his Holy Name who hath so wrought his Mercies for Us. After the Conflict at Caen where many were put to the Sword and the City taken and sack'd even to the bare Walls the City of Bayenx immediately yielded of its own accord fearing least their Councils had been discover'd Thence our Lord the King directed his Progress towards Rouen and being at the City of Lisâ—eux there came unto him from the Pope two Cardinals to perswade him to admit of Peace These Cardinals being Graciously Received by the King had this Answer How the King being very desirous of Peace had used all Reasonable Ways and Methods to cultivate it and therefore had made many Fair Overtures and Conditions to the no small Prejudice of his own Cause And even yet was ready to admit of any Reasonable Offer if it might be secured unto him With this Answer the Cardinals being dismiss'd went to the French King the Kings Adversary to Treat and Sound him in like Manner and upon their Return to King Edward offer'd unto him in the French Kings Name the whole Dukedom of Aquitaine in as Ample Manner and as Full Assurance as everthe King his Father had it before him Besides further hopes of Obtaining more if a Treaty of Peace might take Place But forasmuch as that could not satisfie the Kings Mind and the Cardinals had not found the French King so tractable and inclin'd to the study of Peace as they expected they return'd to Avignon leaving the Matter as they found it And so the King Marching forward in his intended journey subdued all the Country and the great Towns without any Resistance of the Inhabitants who all fled and ran away before us God Almighty strack such a terrour into them as if they had lost their hearts So that in this Expedition as the King had taken many Towns and Villages he also subdued several strong Castles and fortify'd Places with little Labour His Enemy being then at Rouën had Raised a Mighty Army yet notwithstanding his Forces were so Numerous he still kept on the other side of the River Seyne breaking down all the Bridges that We might not come over to him And thô the Country was continually harassed spoiled sacked and consumed with fire for more than 20 Miles in circuit yet the French King thô sometimes distant scarce a Mile from us either would not or else durst not for he might have easily passed over the
Rions their Mayor and the greater part of the Aldermen sent to the Earl of Lancaster for a Safe-Conduct whereby six of them might have security to wait upon him and Treat with him that Night or early the next Morning This latter was granted and so next Day six Burgesses were brought to the Earls Tent where presently they concluded to become good Subjects of England as long as King Edward or some of his Captains would protect them and their Town against the French King. So the Earl tarried there three Days to refresh himself and to take the Homage of all the Inhabitants After which he proceeded to Lusignan where as some say he only burnt the Town but could not win the Castle Thô on better Authority h Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. it seems that both the Town and Castle of Lusignan were now taken and Garrison'd by the English as will further appear in the close of this Paragraph Thence the Earl rode to the strong Town of Niort whereof the Lord Guischard Dangle was Captain who maintain'd his Honour and the Place so well that after three Vigorous Attacks spent in vain the Earl was content to leave it and go on the Right Hand to Bourg St. Maixent where he found better Success and entring the Place by Storm put all to the Sword. The whole i Frois 136. c. Country was so terrify'd with his Name that every Man fled before him into strong Holds and Towns Defensible forsaking their own Houses and their Goods Nor was there the least Preparation made by any to stop his Career for all Knights Gentlemen and other Captains kept close in their Fortresses without making any show of presenting Battle to the English Then the Earl went forward to Monstrevill-Bonnin wherein he heard there were no less than 200 Coyners making Money for the French King. The Inhabitants were resolved by no means to yield but to Defend the Place to the extreamity Thô therein they shew'd much more Courage than Discretion if We ought not rather to call that Brutish Valour than Courage which is not guided by Discretion For the Earl with his Men of War gave them so fierce an Assault whereto he encouraged his Men by promising that every One should freely and entirely Possess what he could first light on in the City that all Opposition being soon surmounted the Place was enter'd by Storm and all within put to the Sword. And here I shall make bold to supply Froisard with a Story the truth whereof is notably attested by many thô by none yet refer'd to this Place as every Judicious Reader will easily grant it ought to be when he shall consider our Reasons XII The Relation is this that at the Assaulting of a certain Town in France the Earl of Lancaster to encourage his Men the better proposed to them as a Reward the Spoil of whatever House or Person every one should first have in his Power Now it chanced that the French Kings Mint being there one man among the rest who was but a Common Souldier and named Reth had the good hap to light upon that House wherein it was And finding there several Sacks of Coined Money besides Bullion he was almost carried beyond himself for joy and wonder But at last considering that such vast Riches were too disproportionable to his Condition and only proper for the Coffers of Kings he secur'd the entrance of the House and went and told the Earl of Lancaster desiring him to take Care and Possession thereof The Earl bad him keep what Fortune had put into his Hands for it was and should be his own But the honest Fellow finding upon a more particular search that the Immensity of the Treasure exceeded all imagination went again to the Earl protesting it was too much for any Private man to possess and that he neither would nor durst accept of it The Earl replied Fear nothing honest Archer but be content with what God hath given thee For the Treasure thou hast found cannot possibly be so much as to make me break my Word to my Souldiers Since a Prince ought not to do so for all the Treasures in the World. And hereupon some of his Captains dissallowing of that his too profuse Liberality and saying that he might without any imputation of Injustice have abundantly contented that poor Fellow with a good Part and reserved the greater Quantity for his own and his Country's Use he nobly answer'd in these k Câ—nbdâ—as â—emains in tâ—tulo Wise Speeches p. 239. Words It is not for my State to play Childrens Play to give a thing and take it back again Since he has my Word let him hold the Money if it were thrice as much This is the Substance of the Story which after so great a Man as Cambden I have not doubted to relate notwithstanding the Diversity of Authors as to the Place and Time when and where the Action was done For l Knighton p. 2585. thô Knighton says the Earl of Darby found a Pipe of Gold at Bergerac yet since we shewed before how that Place was not taken by Force but yielded upon Composition it certainly ought not to be given to the Plunder And m Frois c. 136. Froisard and n Du Câ—â—sne p. 665. Helmâ—â—cad p. 93â— Du Chesne say expresly that in Monstrevil Bonnin there were 200 Money-makers that coyned for the French King not to say that this Place being confessedly taken by Storm and the Inhabitants consequently put to the Sword all this Money must of necessity have been found Thô Froisard might not have heard of this heroick and magnificent Act of the Earl of Lancaster's thereupon XIII The Earl having repaired the Fortifications of the Castle and left a Ganison for its Defence went homeward now again but in his way presented himself before the City of Poictiers This Place was of so large Extent that his small Army was not sufficient to invest it round wherefore he laid his Siege to it but on one side and began to assault them fiercely But the Inhabitants being very numerous thô for the most part mean People and without any sufficient Number of expert Captains or choice Souldiers did yet defend themselves so well that they took but little Dammage at that time and so the English retired to their Lodgings Whereat as o Knighton p. 2592. one says the Townsmen were so puffed up with fond Conceit that the next morning they adventur'd to Sally forth with no less than a 1000 Men of Arms such as they were and a mighty number of Footmen Who scorning the small Forces of the English defied them to a Fattle But the Earl of Lancaster marched forth against them in good Order and came upon them with so much Fury beating down their Ranks with his Chosen men of Arms and terrifying them with his Archers that they presently turned their Backs with as much Dishonour as they had sallied out with
shall receive yearly 20000 l. sterling saving the Rights of his Holiness And that hereupon Surrender be made unto the Scots of whatsoever hath at any time been taken from them and annexed unto the Crown of England This being read the said Messengers by the Mouth of Sr. Bartholomew Burwash required to know what aid they thought fit to grant to the King toward the furtherance of his Enterprises and the Defence of the Realm In Answer to which the Commons having desired respite for their Answer till the Thursday next ensuing declared on the said Thursday by a schedule at large the sundry particular former Aids the Imposition of 40 s. Custom of Wooll extorted of them against Law besides the Arraying of Men and common taking of Purveyors Notwithstanding which they freely Grant the King Two Fifteens in two Years so as that if within two Years the Wars do cease then the latter fifteen to cease also After this follow the Petitions of the Commons with their Answers made by Prince Lionel by Commission from the King in the Kings Name in Manner following viz. Pet. That all Acts of Parliament not repealed may be fully and entirely observed so as there pass forth no Commissions of Array Resp The first Point the King Grants of the Rest he will be Advised Pet. That such as were fined for not Arraying of Men may be discharged Resp The King will take Advice Pet. That all within six Miles of the Sea may have a Supersedeas for Arraying of Men. Resp Only such as keep the Sea-coasts shall have a Supersedeas It is Enacted that the Coynage in all places shall be open as heretofore Item that those who import false Money into the Realm shall forfeit Life and Limb and that the Justice of Assise and of the Peace shall enquire thereafter Pet. That the Kings Receivers may receive as well Gold as Silver and that the Changers thereof be not without Parliament Resp The first is Granted the other Respited Pet. That the Fourty shillings Subsidy of every sack of Wooll may cease Resp The Kings mind must be known first Pet. That Payment may be made for the last taking up of Victuals Resp Order shall be taken for that Pet. That the Chief of every County may be Justices of the Peace and that they may Determine all Felonies Resp The first is Granted For the second the King will appoint Justices learned in the Laws Pet. That the keeping of the Sea be at the Kings Charge thenceforward Resp The Sea shall be kept as it hath been heretofore Pet. That Sheriffs in every County may have sufficient in their Counties and that none of those Offices be granted for Life or in Fee Item that Purveyors who have not the Constables with them according to the Statute of Westminster may be look'd on as Thieves and that Justices of the Assise and of the Peace may enquire of the same Resp The Statute made shall be observed Pet. That the Fifteens in Towns and Ancient Demesnes be levyed as in the Bodies of Counties without encrease Resp They shall be levyed after the accustomed manner Pet. That all Justices of the Inquest may be sworn as Justices of the Bench and that the Chief of them may have Power to swear the Rest Resp Such Justices shall be sworn as ought to be so as they take nothing but Meat and Drink and that of small Value And the Chief shall be impowred to swear the Rest Pet. That the Fifteenths beyond the Trent be employ'd only for Defence of the North. Resp The King will provide for Defence of those Parts Pet. That Strangers Enemies of the Realm who remain now in Newgate may be adjudged during the Parliament Resp They shall remain there till further Order Pet. That no Charter of Pardon be granted since the Kings last Expedition Resp Advice shall be taken It is Enacted that Lombards and other Merchants shall receive Gold for their Ware without any Compact on pain of Fine and Imprisonment Pet. That all Alien Monks do avoid the Realm by Michaelmas and that their Livings be disposed of to young English Scholars And that such Aliens Enemies as are advanced to Livings they being in their own Countries but Shoemakers Taylors or Chamberlains to Cardinals may depart the Realm before Michaelmas and their Livings be bestowed on poor English Scholars Resp To these two Petitions this One Answer was given that the Persons being Spiritual were not to be tryed by Parliament and that their Livings being in the Kings hands were not without him to be disposed of Pet. That the King may take the Profits of all other Strangers Livings as Cardinals and others during their Lives Resp The King doth take their Profits and the Council have sent their Petition to his Majesty Pet. That no Payment be made to any Cardinals living in France to treat either of War or Peace Resp This is granted as Reasonable Pet. That Foreign Provisors or Aliens buying Provisions do quit the Realm by Michaelmas on peril of being Outlawed Resp The Statute heretofore made shall be observed and the King shall signifie the same to the Pope Pet. That the annual Advancement of 2000 Marks granted out of the Province of Canterbury may be restrained and that those who sue for Recovery thereof may be Outlawed Resp The Lords think the same Reasonable and it is further commanded that no such be from henceforth received It is Enacted that whosoever shall bring into the Realm any Aliens the Vessel wherein they are brought shall be forfeited to the King and the Body of the Bringer shall lye at the Kings Discretion It is Enacted that during the Wars no Person do send or transport any Money to the Pope or to any Bishop or other Alien whatsoever for any Duty whatsoever Pet. That no Englishman do Farm any thing of any Alien Religious nor buy any of their Goods nor be of their Counsel on pain of perpetual Imprisonment Resp This is against the Kings Profit who reaps benefit by such Farmers Pet. That all Fryers Aliens should depart the Realm never to return hither again Resp Order shall be taken with every General of all the Houses of Fryers so to look to all Fryers Aliens under their several Charges as that they shall not be able to disclose the Secrets of the Realm Pet. That the annual Pension of 7 shillings which Sr. Raimond Peligrue received of every Religious House within the Realm may henceforward cease Resp The said Sr. Raimond is the Kings Liegeman born in Gascogne and sworn of the Kings Council by whose Command he receiveth the same Pet. That the annual Pension of 2000 pounds paid to the Abbot of Clugny may cease for ever Resp The same is paid there Pet. That the Statute made that the King should present unto any Church of his Gift falling void at any time within three Years so as if the Parson had continued therein for three Years that he should not be turned out may
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
22. Ed. 3. m. 3. Stow p. 245. sent to Denemere to receive in his behalf Fealty and Homage of Lewis Earl of Flanders which the said Earl thô he had now Married the Duke of Brabant's Daughter was at last forced to comply with and performed it accordingly But for all that being wholly enchanted with a love for the French Nation m Stow p. 246. b. not long after that he might be Reveng'd of those who thus forced his Inclination he enter'd Flanders with a great Power of Frenchmen burning killing and ravaging as if he had been in the Country of his Deadly Enemies However he was at last oppos'd by a considerable Body of Flemings reinforced with some English Men of Arms and Archers who gave him a shrew'd encounter Wherein many Frenchmen being slain he himself with the rest was forced to quit the Field by flight In which Action many both Flemings and English behav'd themselves so gallantly that they obtained thereby the Honour of Knighthood among whom was the young Lord John St. Philibert Son an Heir of him of whom we spake in the n Vid. l. 1 c. 4. §. 6. p. 63. V Year of this King. IX While yet the foresaid Festival of the Translation of St. Thomas lasted it was also very privately signified unto King Edward by one of the Secretaries of Emeric of Pavia Captain of Calais that on such a certain Day the Lord Geoffry Charny with a great Number of Armed Frenchmen was to be received into Calais to the utter ruine of his Interest in that Place Froisard is of the Opinion that this Secretarie betrayed his Masters Secrets thus to the King without his knowledge as we shall see by and by But the other French Writers agree that he discover'd them himself thô he had not only agreed to take their Money but also had bound himself by taking the Sacrament to the Bargain and therefore Mezeray says that being taken some while after by the French he was by them flea'd alive and indeed we shall find him immediately laid aside by King Edward after this Business was over But let us first see how Froisard telates the Matter It should have been observed before how the Frenchmen in all their Negotiations either relating to a Peace or Truce were ever urging of this Point that Calais might be restored But to this King Edward would never yield by any means not only because the Town had cost him so dear before he had it but also because while in the English Hands it was both a signal Trophy of his Honour and a sure Footing for him to enter France upon any Rupture between the two Nations However as we shew'd before the French had now agreed to a Truce the Necessity of their Affairs so requiring it thô it inwardly grieved them to the Heart that Calais was still left under the Dominion of England Now there o Frois c. 150. was at this time in the Town of St. Omers a right Politick and Valiant Lord of France called Sr. Geoffry de Chargny or Charny who had full and absolute Authority as Lieutenant under the King of France to keep the Frontiers in those Parts in like manner as p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. 25 Septeâ—â—b Rot. Fron. 22. Ed. 3. m. 1. Henry Earl of Lancaster had under the King of England in the Parts of Flanders Calais and all other Places subject to King Edward in France This Lord Geoffry Charny who resolved by any Means to serve the King his Masters Interest among many Considerations which he entertain'd in his thoughts concerning the Regaining of Calais remembred that the Captain of the Castle of Calais was a Lonbard and that your Lombards of all People are naturally Covetous And so with this thought he resolves upon a Design nothing at all agreeable to Faith or Honour but likely to prove of great Advantage to the King and Realm of France Now by reason of the Truce there was free Communication allowed between the Calisians and them of St. Omers so that dayly they resorted for Traffick to one another and had mutual Correspondence in matters of Life and Society Hereupon the Lord Geoffry Charny built his Design and secretly fell in Treaty with Sr. Emeric of Pavia Captain of the Castle so that at last he agreed and thereupon q Stow p. 248. b. took the Sacrament for the Summ of 20000 Crowns of Gold to deliver up to the Frenchmens Hands the Castle of Calais whereby the Town was commanded as on the last Day of December at Midnight There is some Variation in the Account that Authors give of this Matter Some averring that this Lombard had been bred up of a Child in King Edwards Court Others that he was at first a Pensioner of the French Kings in the Town of Calais untill the Taking thereof at what time for Reasons best known to himself he retain'd him in his Pay But this latter Opinion seems the weaker of the two for how should so Wise a Prince commit so important a Charge to any Man upon so small Acquaintance Again some say that the Discovery of the Treason was not made by him but then how should the King be so secure as to keep him still in that Office Thô I confess this is not absolutely improbable because the King being certainly informed of the Time and other Circumstances might well enough be supposed able to prevent the Treason's taking effect by setting a good Watch over him secretly to observe all his Motions On the other hand 't is said as we intimated before that he himself of his own accord gave the King secret and timely Notice of the Design and that thereby he would have an Opportunity not only to catch his Enemies in the very Act of breaking the Truce but to make a considerable Advantage to Himself and at the same time turn the Mischief they intended to Him on their own Heads But if this latter be true the Man had more Loyalty to King Edward than Religion to God who could so readily take the Sacrament as a Pledge for the Performance of what he never intended A thing scarce credible among Christians but that we have seen even in our Days a Man who had the impudence to own himself guilty of the same horrid Prevarication under pretence of Designing well And having given this Hint lest the different Accounts which Authors give of the Matter may prejudice an unwary Reader against any thing we shall say we now proceed according to Froisard not absolutely rejecting those of the other side because neither are they without their Probabilities When King Edward therefore heard either one or the other way of this intended Treachery of the French he immediately sent for Emeric the Lombard to come over unto him And he accordingly went for he thought it impossible that his private Conveyance should have taken any Vent already When the King saw him he took him into his Closet and said You
Rumour that there were many Poisoners and especially the Jews who infected the Waters and Fountains From whence the foresaid Pestilence began Wherefore in many Places Thousands of Jews and some Christians also thô innocent and blameless were burnt slain and cruelly handled Whereas indeed it was the Hand of God which wrought all this for the sins of the World. To resist which unreasonable Fury of the Christians against the Jews Pope Clement twice wrote his Encyclical Letters to all Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church to stop this Fury of the People But all his Endeavours could not prevent the unjust Prosecution of this miserable Nation For every where except in the Province of Venaissin and about Avignon the Jews were sought out on all hands to be put to Death for Poisoners And particularly this Year in Germany where the Plague then reigned this false Rumour made them so odious that as r Rebder fius in Annal. Rebdorf witnesses 12000 of them were put to Death in the City of Mentz And ſ Alb. Argent in Chron. Albert of Strasburgh writes that from this rage of the People against them they were reduced to such Despair and Madness that locking themselves up they consumed themselves and all that they had with Fire But in England early this Year the Plague began to abate and about the end of August was wholly extinct at London and in most other Parts of the Land and immediately a more pleasant Face of things began to smile and cheer up the late dejected Minds of the People And thus we shall end this Tragical Chapter CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward founds the Chappel of St. GEORGE in Windsor Castle with the Copy of his Letters Patents for that purpose II. The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls III. The Kings Progress in the Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR IV. The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER attended with Divine Service Royal Feastings and Solemn Justs and Tourneaments V. Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made also Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne VI. The Lord Thomas Dagworth stain in Bretagne VII Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He reduces the French to Terms VIII A famous Combat between Thirty English and Thirty French-Bretons IX Of Certain who arrived to great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars X. Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy-Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry who lived in Ulster XI A Grant of the Black-Prince to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King. I. NOW this being the Year that King Edward the Third founded and established in his Royal Castle of Windsor the Ever-Noble and Honourable Order of the Knights of the Garter of which we spake more fully in the 18 Year of his Reign it will not be amiss to resume so much of that Matter in this Place as we left unremembred in that And first for the Dignity and Worth of the Subject we shall present the Curious Reader with the Copy of his a Pat. an 22. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 6. extant apud Ashmole de Ordine Garterii in Appendice N. 1. Letters Patents for Founding of St. George's Chappel in Windsor-Castle faithfully translated from the Original Latine which we shall find to bear Date the sixth of August in the Year foregoing before the Plague began in London EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to All who shall see these Present Letters Greeting It becomes the Majesty of a King to delight always in Acts of Piety that when he shall stand before the Tribunal of the Most-High-King with whom there is no acceptance of Persons but every One shall receive according to what he hath done in the Body whether it be good or whether it be Evil he may be able to stand among the Good on the Right Hand and not be condemned with the Reprobates as a slothfull and unprofitable servant We truly with grief of Heart carefully remembring the various Labours of our Life and our own small deserts as also rightly considering the Divine Favours shewed unto us and the Graces and Honours wherewith above others the Most High hath prevented us do greatly repent of those goods which being granted us by God we have above measure so often vainly expended And there remains nothing else for us to do but only that unto Christ and his Mother the Glorious Virgin who hath never failed to defend us but has hitherto by her blessed Prayers protected us when we were set in many Dangers we wholly convert our mind and give unto him thanks for his Favours and ask pardon for our Offences And because it is a good way of Merchandise whereby with an happy bartering transitory things are exchanged for Eternal We have caused a certain Chappel of convenient Beauty for eight Secular Canons scituate within our Castle of Windsor wherein we were washed with the Water of Holy Baptism magnificently begun to the Honour of St. Edward the Confessor by our Progenitors to which Canons for their sustentation they allowed a certain Sum of Money at their pleasure and gave it them for Alms out of their Exchequer to be finished at our Royal Charge to the Honour of God Almighty and of his Mother the Glorious Virgin Mary and of the Saints George the Martyr and Edward the Confessor And earnestly desiring and effectually endeavouring that the said Canons being there to serve the Lord may be augmented as well with an encrease of Revenues as in the number of other Canons Ministers and Servants and that in the said Chappel the Glory of the Divine Name may be exalted with greater Worship unto the foresaid Eight Canons we think fit to superadd One Custos presiding over them and fifteen other Canons more and twenty four Poor Knights impotent of themselves or inclining to Poverty to be perpetually maintain'd of the goods of the said Chappel and other Ministers of the said Chappel perpetually serving Christ under the Command of the said Custos or Warden and there Cause to be received as well the Canons and Knights as other Ministers of the said Chappel as is premised And this We firmly decree inviolably ordain and by our Royal Authority as much as in us lies establish for ever Willing that the said Canons and Ministers perform Divine Offices for us and our Progenitors and Successors in part of Satisfaction for those things whereof in the last judgement we are to give an Account they being to celebrate for ever according to the form of our Ordination thence more fully to be made Unto whom the Rights of Patronage and the Advousons of the Churches of b b Vulgò Rasbury Wyrardesbury in the Dioecese of Lincoln Southtanton of Exon and Vttoxater of Coventry and Lichfield which we have lately purchased for that Cause for Us and our Heirs We have given and granted
Battle of Durham among whom the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland was especially numbred Thô both before that and since he had given sufficient Testimonies of his Courage and Conduct and had also by his Government during his Masters Imprisonment and his Care and at last Success in working his Delivery as plainly demonstrated his Loyalty But however King David rather than acknowledge his own Rashness in occasioning that Overthrow laid it so vehemently upon his Nephew Roberts Leaving the Field o Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. Hector l. 15. that now at last that Act whereby the Crown of Scotland for want of Lawfull Issue begotten of Davids Body was for ever entailed on the said Prince Robert and his Heirs was by his Procurement repealed disanulled and wholly made void and his other Nephew the young Lord p Odor Rainal vecat Alexand. alii Johann sed Rainaldi fides prastantior Alexander Son and Heir to the Earl of Southerland by his youngest Sister Jane was declared Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in the Room of Prince Robert who was Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret King David's Eldest Sister Which Act all the Lords of Scotland were sworn to observe and maintain Whereupon the old Earl of Southerland Father to this Prince Alexander verily believing that his said Son could not now miss of the Crown of Scotland gave away the most part of his Lands dividing them among his Friends and Relations especially to the Noble Families of the Hayes the Sinclares the Ogilbies and the Gourdons thereby to bind them the faster unto his Sons Interest But all this Precaution fail'd for shortly after the Lord Alexander his Son being one of the Pledges then remaining in England for the Security of King David's Ransom together with most of the other Hostages died of the Plague which then again raged in this Kingdom as we shall see shortly Whereupon Prince Robert Stuart being then again easily reconciled to the King was once more acknowledged and by Act of Parliament established Rightfully the Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in as full manner as he had been before The mean while especially at the Instance of the Pope the Clergy of Scotland agreed to contribute the Tenth Penny of all their Fruits and Revenues towards the payment of their Kings Ransom And at the same time the said King nothing unmindfull of his Promise made to King Edward before his Deliverance moved his Lords and Barons in a Matter which yet himself was not willing to succeed in thô being bound by Oath so to do he urged it notwithstanding with all the Application he could Namely q Odor Rainal ad ann 1358. §. 4. Scotici Scriptures Holinsh c. That provided he himself should decease without Issue they would agree that the Crown of Scotland and all the Rights thereof should be entirely transferred to the King of England's Eldest Son and to his Lawfull Heirs for ever But to this unexpected Proposal the Lords answer'd all with one Voice That as long as any of them were able to hold a Sword in their Hands they would never yield to be subject to England King David was well pleased with this their Resolution and look'd upon himself now as discharged from attempting any thing further that way Because he had only engaged to King Edward That if the Scotch Nobility would consent he would Entail the Crown upon his Eldest Son. IV. But we have too long left the Duke of Lancaster at the Siege of Rennes in Bretagne from whence as we shew'd r Vid. Lib. 3. c. 2. §. 2. p. 527. before King Edward at the Cardinals Remonstrance had sent him a peremptory Command to rise forthwith upon sight of his Letters Now the mean while the Duke by a strict and long Siege for it began on the 3d of December in the Year foregoing and ended not till the latter end of July in this Year had mightily straitned the Place having moreover ravaged and eaten up the Country all about to supply his Army but I dare not say with Å¿ Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 824. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788. Leland that by a Detachment sent from the Siege he wan Autry and Semay lying on the River Aysne on the Marches of Lorraine for to any one that considers the Distance of those Parts from Bretagne it will seem ridiculous to imagin it I had rather in that Place read Vitray on the Vilaine on which River the City of Rennes also stands However t Knighton p. 2616. once Charles of Blois came thither with 10000 Men to raise the Siege but when he saw the English Duke ready to receive him in the Field and yet at the same time to make good the Siege with another Part of his Army holding it not likely to succeed as then he retired Whereupon the Besieged beginning to doubt of their Affairs sought for an occasion to parly with the Duke but they design'd to do it as it were by Chance that so they might obtain the better Conditions First therefore they request a safe Conduct for a Bishop and six Knights whom they sent to re-consecrate a Church without the Walls which being polluted by a Murther committed therein had been shut up for some time These seven having obtained a safe Conduct and the Work for which they went being done upon their return thrô the Camp were invited by the Duke to Dine with him and there at Table in Discourse it was question'd what might be the Meaning that the Defendants delay'd to yield up the Town since there was no Body able to succour them or to raise the Siege The Bishop having received Instructions before-hand said they should not refuse to yield upon good Conditions the Duke said they could not expect any better Conditions as things were now than to submit Themselves and Goods to his Clemency However after much Altercation Matters were brought at last to this Issue That the Inhabitants should give to the Duke an u Fab. say but 60000. a Scute 6 s. 8 d. i. e. a Noble English hundred thousand Scutes of Gold toward the Charges he had been at so that they should be otherwise free both in their Body and Goods and further that they should give Security that upon the Duke's Demanding the Town for the Use and Behoof of the King of England they would deliver it unto him to set what Captain he should please over them These things were established and agreed to on both sides and thereupon the Duke named them a Captain but because he would not expose the City to Plunder he appointed only certain Troops to go and take Possession of it in his Name he himself tarrying without the Town with the Gross of his Army One x Meâ—eray ad hunc annum says how he had sworn not to rise from before Rennes untill he had entred in Person and should see his Banners planted upon the Rampiers
not to be left in silence Now on the 13 of November which was the Birth-Day of this Great Monarch at which time he had exactly finished 49 Years of his Age and was come to the Entrance of the Fiftieth King Edward as he was a Man of more exalted Thoughts than any other in his Days resolved to keep a Jubilee of his Age in the most remarkable and solemn Manner imaginable at least to the greatest Satisfaction of those under his Government Of Jubilees in general and of their Original we u Vid. L. 2. c. 10 §. 1. p. 449. have already spoken wherefore we shall repeat nothing of that in this Place but immediately dispatch our present Narration Only we shall observe this that King Edward had this extraordinary Privilege to see two Jubilees besides that of Pope Clement the Sixth this First being upon the Account of his having arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age and the other of which we shall speak in its Place because he had then Reigned as many Years But now we are entertain'd with this under our Hands On the 13 of November which was the First Day of our King Edwards Life and the Last of this Parliament when the Petitions of the Commons were answer'd and they with loyal and well-affected Minds had unanimously x Walsingh hist p. 172. n. 30. granted unto the King for three Years 26 s. 8 d. of every Sack of Wooll besides a Subsidy of Woolls Fells and Skins y M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridg. p. 92 c. then by the Kings Command rose up the Lord Chancellour Sr. Henry Green aforesaid and declared that the King being arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age intended to shew several Acts of Grace and Mercy unto his People and first that he design'd to advance unto Honour such of his Sons as were of full Age namely that his Son Lionel then being in Ireland should have the Title of Duke of Clarence to Him and to the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully to be begotten in Right of his Wife z Vid. Mills Catal Hon. p. 334. Elisabeth Daughter of William Earl of Vlster Son of John de Burgo by Elisabeth de Clare Sole Daughter and Heiress of Gilbert Rufus Earl of Clare the Name of Clare being changed into Clarence And hereupon a Id. Mills Catal Hon. p. 336. an Addition of the Arms belonging unto the House of Clarence was elegantly inserted into the Label of this Dukes Coat viz. Argent with the Fourth Part of a Scutcheon Gules The Lord Chancellor further declared that his Son John should be Duke of Lancaster in Right of his Wife for her Eldest Sister Daughter to the late Duke was now dead in England as we intimated before and lastly that his Son Edmund should be Earl of Cambridge in Fee. After which in b M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 94. full Parliament the King Girt his Son John of Gaunt with a Sword and set on his Head a Cap of Furr and a Circlet of Gold with Pearls thereon and created him Duke of Lancaster c Mills Catal. Honor. p. 326. with all the Liberties and Regalities of an Earl Palatine in the County of Chester as also Earl of Leicester Lincoln and Darby with the Office of High-Steward of England in the Right of his Wife Blanch whereof he gave him his Charter This done he d M.S. Rot Par. p. 90. S◠Rob. Cotton p. 94. Girt his Son Edmund with a Sword and Created him Earl of Cambridge whereof he gave him a Charter So that the incomparably Diligent Antiquary and Herald Sr. William Dugdale himself appears here to have slipt a little when he says e Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 54. that Prince Edmund thô he was then in Ireland at this time was created Earl of Cambridge The Mistake I suppose happen'd from the Words foregoing which take Notice that Prince Lionel was then in Ireland At the same f Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 385. Speed p. 584. Walsing Hist p. 172. Favine le Paris Theatre of Hen. l. 5. c. 1. p. 60. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 232. time the King granted his General and Special Pardon to all without Fine or paying of Fees for the Seal set all Debtors and Prisoners at Liberty and recalled those that were Banished and for the better ease of his People in their Law-Sutes and also perhaps lest England should any longer bear those Marks of Slavery he ordained that hereafter all Pleas should be used in English and that all Law-Cases Pleadings Sentences Decrees Judgments and Contracts should be written and enrolled in the English or Latine Tongue the French being wholly laid aside But whether by length of Time the Custom had been too strongly radicated to be so suddenly broke off or whether by the Wit and Subtlety of the Lawyers this Law was not long after in part eluded For thô to this Day our Pleadings are in English yet our Law-Cases remain in French or rather as Polydore in the Norman Language which Custom was first introduced by William the Conquerour Only it is here to be observed that althô the Printed Statuto touching Pleading in the English Tongue Chap. 15. doth agree with the Record yer where the Print says that all such Pleas should be enrolled in Latine the Record doth nothing warrant the same Besides this King Edward now confirmed Magna Charta which in his whole Reign he is said to have done no less than 12 several times Nor shall I omit that althô of our Kings since his Days few have lived so long none have reigned so long wherefore they had no Opportunity to imitate King Edward in these things yet g Polyd. Virgil. idid Speed c. from Occasion of this Jubilee of his they have since used that Famous Custom on Maundy-Thursday being the Day before Good-Friday to bestow their Alms more largely than usually and in Imitation of our Saviours Humility to Wash Feed and Clothe as many poor People as they themselves are Years Old. V. The Parliament being ended the King rode forth with all the Chief Dukes Earls Barons and Lords of the Realm together with the French Hostages in his Company to several great Forests h Knighten p. 2627. n. 20. as Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and Clunne Forest in Shropshire and many other Woods Parks and Forests where he hunted all sorts of Noble Game in Season and all the while he expended extraordinary an 100 Pounds one Day and an 100 Marks the other and so on while the Sport continued which was both long and very divertising About this time the i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Noble Lord Walter Fauconberg a Valiant and Hardy Baron of this Realm departed this Life leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then seventeen Years of Age. And thô with all my Diligence I cannot find the manner or
his Ransom for till now thô at Liberty he was but a Prisoner upon Parole And indeed the French King began to shew himself wonderfull Gracious and Favourable to the Captal and gave him freely the fair Castle of Damemarie in Brie with all its Appurtenances which Gift was more than 3000 Franks per annum And by this seeming Generosity of that subtle Prince the Candid Gentleman was easily won to do Homage to the French King and to become his Liegeman thô only for that Castle wherewith King Charles was wonderfully pleased for he had an extream Value for all Men of Worth but especially he prized the Service of so Famous a Knight as the Captal was But that Service lasted not over long For when the Captal was returned into the Principality of Aquitaine and came before the Prince of Wales who had been fully informed of all that was done the Prince took him aside and chid him very smartly asking him how he could acquit himself Loyally and truly to two several Lords of different Interests and whether it was agreeable for a Man of Honour to taint his Mind with Covetousness and to sell his service for Bribes and indeed but to accept of Lands lying in France where he knew himself to be neither sincerely loved nor duly respected When the Captal heard these words and saw how he had unawares incurred an evil Opinion from his Natural Lord the Prince he was very much ashamed and began to excuse himself saying Sir I am not so strictly bound to the French King but that I may easily undo again all that I have done or promised since I acted only conditionally if it might so please you my Lord and the King your Father to whom the French King knows me bound by Ties far more strong and more early Then the Prince gave him his Hand and banished all evil thoughts of him and the Captal presently sent into France to the King an Esquire of his by whom he flung up all that had been given him and renounced to hold any thing of him whereby he might be tempted to divide the Service which he ow'd entirely to the Prince of Aquitaine He himself tarried still with the Prince at Bourdeaux for he was wholly acquitted of his Imprisonment by Vertue of the Articles of the Peace made between the Kings of France and Navarre By which Articles also the Cities of Mante and Meulan were to remain for ever with the King of France in Consideration whereof the King of Navarre had other Castles in Normandy restored unto him as an Equivalent V. About this time the Young Lord Lewis of Navarre took his leave of France and went into Lombardy having taken of the French King at his Departure 60000 Franks in lieu of certain Castles in Normandy which he deliver'd up What his business was in Lombardy I do not find for 't is certain g Frois c. 229. Froisard is in a mistake who says he went thither to Marry the Queen of Naples and that accordingly he did Marry the said Queen when as we are h Vid. Odor ad an 1362. § 10. 11. infallibly assured that Joan Queen of Sicily and Naples was at this time and 3 Years before and many Years after the Wife of James the Young King of Majorica However Prince Lewis of Navarre died soon after without any Issue of his Body thô he left behind him the Reputation of having been all along a most Valiant Courteous and Noble Knight which is a Character that Worthy Souls esteem beyond Life or Children VI. On the i M.S. Record Parl. p. 95. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 99 Fourth of December in the Close of the foregoing Year King Edward sent forth his Summons for the Parliament to meet him at Westminster on the Octaves of St. Hilary following On which day being assembled accordingly Proclamation was made in Westminster-Hall that for that Day they might depart but they were to return the next Morning into the Painted Chamber there to hear the Kings Pleasure At which time Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England began in a long and solemn Harangue to open the Parliament taking for his Theme that of the Royal Prophet Vera justitia c. Faithfull Judgement doth adorn the King's seat From whence he took occasion to discourse of the King his Master and of the great Prowess and manifold Victories which by Gods Assistance he had Atchieved in his Youth not forgetting the constant and dutifull Goodwill and ready concurrence of the King 's Loyal Subjects towards the Furtherance of those his Important Undertakings For which as now the King did by him return them his hearty thanks so he let them know that on his part he was resolved to seek the Common Peace and Tranquillity of all his People especially by enforcing a due Observation of all the good and sound Laws and by amending such of them as were faulty as also by Establishing New ones where Necessity should so require Then they proceeded to appoint Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other foreign Countries and Isles That same day the King declared with his own Mouth to the Three Estates how Citations and false Suggestions were daily made to the Pope for Matters determinable in his own Court within the Realm and for procuring Provisions for Ecclesiastical Dignities to the great Scandal of the Ancient Laws to the Derogation of his Crown to the daily conveying away of the Treasure of the Land to the Diminution of Ecclesiastical Livings to the Withdrawing of Divine Service Alms Hospitality and other Good and Acceptable Works and to the daily encrease of all Mischiefs wherefore no Person c. And the King by his own Mouth requireth them according to the old Statute heretofore to provide a sufficient Remedy Whereupon besides two former Acts made against the Popes Provisions the One k Vid. Statute-Book ad an 25. Ed. 3. ad an 27. Ed. 3. ad an 38. Ed. 3. 25 Ed. 3. and the other 27 Ed. 3. as may be seen in the Statute-Book another Act to the same purpose was made now which agreeth in all things with the Print c. 1 2 3 4. Only in the Record are more biting Words a Mystery says Sr. Robert Cotton not known of All Men. On the Saturday after being the Conversion of St. Paul or the 25 of January the Bishops Lords and Commons brought into the Parliament the foresaid Act and another touching the Preservation of the Liberties of the Bodies of Prelates and other Lords of the Parliament Then follow the Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That no Victuals or Corn be carried from the North-Marches into Scotland and that no Protection or Pass-port be granted to any Scot to pass thrô the Realm The King will provide therefore That the Fines of the Chancery may be as they were at the Kings Coronation The King would have
therefore King Edward sent his Letters of Proclamation commanding them on their Allegiance to go out of France and no longer to infest that Kingdom Some few obey'd but others made answer that as they held nothing there of the King of England so neither for him would they leave their Garrisons and that Livelihood they had got with so much labour The King was so enraged at this piece of Insolence that immediately he prepared to Chastise them in Person with a Royal Army But when the French King heard of his vast Preparations he began to fear lest after he had destroy'd the Companions he himself might be prey'd upon by him to the hazard of his Crown under colour that he ought to pay the Wages of the Army or by whatever other pretence a Conquerour should please to make Wherefore he now again sent to him desiring him to desist and keep at home At which affront the King was so displeas'd that he sware by the Virgin Mary Never to stir again about aiding the King of France no thô the said Companions should endeavour to thrust him out of his Kingdom But yet soon after these outlaw'd Captains having at the King of England's Command deliver'd up their Fortresses and Castles were content to go along with Sr. Bertram of Clequin into Spain upon an occasion of which we shall discourse more fully by and by As yet the Wise Men of France could find no way to purge the Land of them but they saw evidently that unless they could think of a Remedy and a speedy One too either by beating them or buying them out of the Realm they would shortly prey upon the very Vitals of France and perhaps of a good part of Christendom for they were reckon'd to be about 60000 Fighting Men And by Success they were like to be augmented with new accessions of Men of their own ungracious Principles At that time ſ Vid. Odor-Rainal ad hunc ann §. 3 c. Lewis the Valiant King of Hungary having at Buda made an Alliance with John Palaeologus the Greek Emperour who requested his help against the Turks made great Preparations for the War and among others desired much to have these bold Fellows in his Service And thereupon t Frois c. 229. fol. 125. b. wrote to Pope Vrban V then at Avignon and to the French King and also to the Prince of Wales shewing how desirous he was to employ these Warriers in a more Righteous Cause against the Enemies of Christ and to give them good pay So these Three Grand Personages agreed together and offer'd the Companions Gold and Silver and free Passage and the Pope's Pardon but nothing would do they were not so devout to change their Quarters when they were well and they said they would not go so far to fight when they might do it nearer at home For they were well informed by some of their own Company who had already been in Hungary that in those Parts there were such straits that if among any of them they should meet with an Enemy they could never escape but must inevitably die a shamefull Death with which words whether true or false they were so terrified that they absolutely refused to go thither When the Pope and the French King saw they could not be rid of them this way they knew not what course to take till at last another occasion offer'd it self as we shall shew in the following Book more largely The End of the Third Book THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FOURTH CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Character and Manners of Don Pedro Sirnamed the Cruel King of Castille and Leon He is Excommunicated by the Pope and his Bastard Brother made Legitimate The Companions and others joyn to go and Depose him Sr. Bertram of Clequin being their General II. Don Pedro provides to oppose this Army but being forsaken of all flies to Seville thence to Portugal and thence escapes into Galizia where he absconds a while III. Don Henry the Bastard Conde of Trastamare is by General Consent accepted and Crowned King his Acts Liberality and Designs IV. Don Pedro advis'd to implore the Protection of the Black-Prince sends his Letters Supplicatory unto him for that purpose V. While the said Prince is fitting out a Fleet to fetch Don Pedro from Galizia to Aquitain in safety Don Pedro himself arrives at Bayonne VI. Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity VII The Prince's Council give their Reasons why they would not have him to meddle with Don Pedro with the Prince's Reasons why notwithstanding he thought himself obliged thereto VIII Don Pedro's great Promises to the Prince's Souldiers and Captains the Prince calls a Parliament of his Barons of Aquitain Which Parliament advises him first to learn his Fathers pleasure therein IX King Edward directs his Letters to the Prince and his Council wherein he Wills him to take in hand the Defence of the Exil'd King and Commands all his Subjects of those Parts to be aiding unto him in that his Vndertaking X. The King of Navarre his Friendship being found necessary to this Affair is on certain considerations brought over Don Pedro engages by Oath Bond and Pledges to make suitable Returns to the Prince XI A Copy of a Famous Grant of King Don Pedro's to King Edward and the Prince and to the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for ever whereby the Memory of this Favour of the Prince's might be Honourably Recorded in Spain to all Generations XII Prince Edward sends to his Captains then in the Bastards service commanding them home the Bastards surprize at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram of Clequin gives him Counsel and hasts back into France to raise him Friends XIII Divers Opinions concerning this Vndertaking of the Prince's XIV The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon which occasions great difficulties to the Companions that came out of Spain with Design to serve the Prince XV. Prince Edward sends the Lord Chandos to retain the Companions in his service and to get the Earl of Foix his leave that they might pass thrô his Country XVI The Prince's zeal for the War and his Methods for raising Money The Lord of Albret promises to bring a 1000 Spears to the service XVII The Companions being Besieged in Montauban beat the French Lords with a great overthrow XVIII They get at last into the Principality where yet they cannot forbear doing much Mischief XIX James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to beg the Prince's aid against the King of Aragon who withheld Majorica from him XX. The Prince by advice of his Council having Men enow otherwise countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears which prov'd the first occasion of Discontent to that Gascogne Lord. I. AT this time a Frois c. 229. fol. 126. a. there Reigned in Castille a Kingdom of Spain Don Pedro the Son of Alphonso the Eleventh who because of his many Barbarous
stirr for any News that he heard for so the King his Brother had strictly charged him by no means to make any War against the Prince till he should receive express Order so to do And all the while this Politick King was getting together good Captains and Souldiers in the most secret manner that it was possible and particularly he wan to his side certain of the Companions whom he sent into the Marches of Berry and Auvergne permitting them to live there upon the Country something loosely that they might not be suspected for Friends but withall he commanded them to make no War upon the Prince till they had his express Word for it For he took all the Care in the world not to create the least Suspition that he intended a War till all his Designs against the Earldom of Ponthieu should be ripe Nor without cause For if the King of England could but have guessed that the French King would have broke the Peace he could have very easily prevented the Losses which he received afterwards in Ponthieu and especially he would have made such good Provision for the City of Abbeville and all the other Garrisons in that Country that he should still have kept the Soveraignty thereof maugre all the Power of France And yet at that time the Seneschal of that County for King Edward was a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Louvain who was in great Favour with the King his Master as he well deserved For he was so True Loyal and Couragious that he would rather have been drawn in pieces by wild Horses than consent to any thing that might reflect upon his Faith and Honour Yet not only he but King Edward and all others were deceived at this time by the overreaching Devices of the French King who the more to amuse King Edward had a little before sent over the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman to adjust Matters fully with him and his Council and these Men the better to conceal the Malice they intended complained of Wrongs done as they said unto them for they declar'd unto the King and his Council how on their Part the Peace was but slightly kept at the best not only by reason of the War which the Companions who were generally Subjects of England had kept in France for about six whole Years but also upon divers other Accounts whereat the King their Master had no small cause to be disgusted These Embassadors King Edward detain'd in England for about two Months during which time thô he expected to settle a right Understanding between the two Realms they only made many frivolous Complaints to delay time which almost tired the Kings Patience but they were not much concerned at that because they knew they did but follow the Commission they had from their Master However they u Walsing hist p. 177. 178. made unto the King a Present of certain Vessels of Choice Wines and other Gifts from the French King as a Token of his Brotherly Love and Good will. The mean while King Charles having understood for certain that the Inhabitants of Abbeville were willing to own his Interest and that the Wars were already open in Gascogne and all his Friends stood ready to strike as soon as ever they had the Word for it resolved now to put things to the issue Yet however either being secure of the Advantage he had by taking this Start of King Edward or desirous as far as he might to avoid all Reproach lest Posterity might cry shame of him if he should invade any of the King of England's Lands or the Prince's without Defiance he resolv'd by Advice of his Council to send and defie the King of England and all his Adherents and so he did by his Letters Sealed which to his great reproach he gave to a mean Valet to carry And yet before this even while King Edward was giving his Audience of Leave to the French Ambassadors he heard a Rumour that the French King had sent Men of War into Ponthieu and that he had notoriously broken the Peace by certain overt Acts of Hostility whereupon in great Indignation he bad the Ambassadors get them Home with their Deceitfull Presents to their Deceitfull Master and commanded them to tell him how he detested from his Heart and Soul the dishonourable and unprincely Falseness which he had shewn For which he doubted not by the Grace of God but to make him repent before long Away went the Ambassadors with all speed and at Dover they met with the Valet who was come with the Defiance from France the Substance whereof he secretly told them as he was enjoyned to do that they might make hast Home But for all that they x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 10. were met with upon the Sea by some Men of War belonging to Calais who knowing the War was already begun on that side by the Frenchmen set upon them and took away their Wines and other Presents which King Edward had refused to accept and brought them to Calais the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman escaping away to Boulogne IX A little before this the y Frois c. 246. fol. 149. Prince of Wales had sent Sr. Guischard Dangle to Rome whither Pope Vrban z Vid. Oder Rainald ad hunc aun 1367. §. 2. c. was then gone for some while to confer with his Holiness about certain Matters relating to Aquitain and having found the Pope very complying in all his Concerns about this time he returned homeward when being upon the way he heard for certain how the Gascogners and Frenchmen made War upon the Prince and had already invaded the Principality He was extreamly surprised at the News and began to doubt how he should get home without being entrapped by his Enemies however first he went to the Valiant and Noble Earl of Savoy whom he found in the City of Pignerol in Piedmont making War against the Marquess of Saluzzo The Earl entertain'd Him and all his Company very honourably and gave the Chief of them many rich Gifts especially to Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he respected more particularly for the sake of his Abilities in War of which he had heard ample Commendations Having here taken his leave as he drew near to France he heard more and more of the Difference between the Prince of Wales and the French King So that he saw it impossible for him to return openly into Guienne he was so generally known Wherefore he gave the Charge of his Company to his Son-in-Law Sr. John of Issoire and he himself being disguised like a poor Priest in evil Habit and on an old Hackney took another way and so at last with much adoe came safe to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him with much joy But 't is now time to return to this French Valet who after the departure of the Earl of Salebruche and Dr. William Dorman out of England rode strait for London Where
the Meat will be cold else So he sat down with his Chief Captains about him and had done with the First Course but as the Second was served up and he had hardly tasted thereof having all this while deeply weighed the Matter with himself he suddenly lifted up his Head and said to the Knights and Esquires about him Hark ye Gentlemen the Earl of Pembroke is a Noble Person and of High Lineage he is Son also to my Natural Lord the King of England for he hath married a Daughter of his and in all things he is a Companion with the Earl of Cambridge He has requested me to come and succour him and I ought not to see such a Man lost if I may help it Wherefore I 'll go to his Assistance by the Grace of God. And with that Word he thrust away the Table from him saying Gentlemen make ready for Puirenon His Men were all overjoy'd when they heard these Words and immediatly flew to their Arms and the Trumpets sounded and every Man made haste to mount his Horse as soon as it was known that the Lord Chandos would ride to Puirenon to help the Earl of Pembroke and his Men that were besieged there So they drew out into the Field more than 200 Spears and presently the Lord Chandos was in the Head of them compleatly armed and so they set forward their Numbers still encreasing as they went. The Frenchmen that held the Earl of Pembroke so close had their Spies abroad who brought them Word at High noon to which time they had continued the Assault that Sr. John Chandos had left Poictiers with more than 200 Men of Arms and was coming thitherward in great haste having as it seem'd an huge desire to find them there When Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Sr. John de Vienne and the other Captains heard this News the Wisest of them said Gentlemen our Men are now extream weary and spent with Assaulting these Englishmen both yesterday and to day surely therefore it would be better for us to return now fair and softly while we are well with such Prisoners and Booty as we have than to expect the arrival of the Lord Chandos and his Men who are fresh and lusty and what Number they make we know not For otherwise we may not only lose what we have with so much Labour won but fling away our selves too in the Bargain This Advice was presently taken for they had but a short time to advise in So they sounded a Retreat and put themselves in Order and trussed up all their Baggage and presently took the way to la Roche Pozay The Earl of Pembroke and the Lords with him knew by this their hasty Retreat that the Frenchmen were inform'd of the Lord Chandos his Coming then he said Come on now Gentlemen let us leave this unhappy Place where we have been thus long Prisoners against our Wills and ride forth toward Poictiers to meet my Dear Friend Sr. John Chandos Then those that had Horses still leapt upon them and some went two and two on an Horse the rest going on foot and so they all went out of their Hold with great joy taking the way toward Poictiers They had scarce gone thus the space of a League but they met with the Lord Chandos and his Men to the great satisfaction of both Parties who shook each other by the Hands the one side congratulating the others Safety and they returning thanks for so seasonable Deliverance But Sr. John Chandos said how he was extreamly dissatisfied with himself that he came too late to find the Frenchmen Thus they rode all together the space of three Leagues and then took leave of each other Sr. John returning to Poictiers and the Earl of Pembroke to Mortagne from whence he went at first But the Marshal of France with his Troops went without the least impeachment to la Roche Pozay where the Booty was divided and then every Man return'd to his own Garrison leading along with him his Prisoners whom shortly after they ransom'd with much Courtesie and at easie Rates as was the Custom in those Days between the English and French Men. XXIII All this g Frois c. 267. f. 161. while the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Burgundy faced each other at Tournehan at which time another great Loss happen'd to King Edward of England which indeed fell not out but by the usual Course of the World and yet was heavy to the King his Children and all the Realm For now the Incomparable Queen Philippa who had done so many Acts of Piety and Charity in her Days and had protected so many oppressed Persons and had brought forth such Renowned Sons and was always a h Walsing hist p. 179. n. 10. constant Lover of the English Nation this Excellent Lady fell mortally sick in the Castle of Windsor and was brought so low that she was given over in the Opinion of the Wisest But when the Good Lady i Frois ibid. perceived her Dissolution approaching she desired to speak with the King her Husband who coming into her Chamber she put forth her Right Hand out of the Bed and took the King by his Right Hand whose great Heart was now almost conquer'd with Grief and then she said Sir blessed be God We have lived in good Love together this two and fourty Years crown'd all the while with Peace Joy and great Prosperity But now Sir since it pleaseth Almighty God to call me from You I pray that You will grant unto me three Requests at this our Parting Then the King not able to refrain from Tears said Dearest Madam ask what You will I grant it Sir said she First of all I desire You that as for all manner of People whom I have had occasion to deal withall in Merchandise either on this side or beyond the Sea You would please to pay them whatever it shall appear I owe unto them or to any other Person Secondly whatsoever Donations or Promises I have made to any Churches Religious Houses or Colleges either in this or other Countries as my Devotion perswaded me that You would please to confirm and fulfill the same And Lastly Sir I heartily desire You that whensoever it shall please God to call You out of this transitory Life it would please You to choose no other Sepulchre but near unto me in Westminster The King not without many Tears answer'd Sweet Madam all this I firmly promise and grant You with all my Heart Then the Good Queen signed her self with the sign of the Cross in token of her Faith in Jesus Christ and so recommended the King her Husband and her Youngest Son Thomas of Woodstock who being about 14 Years old stood crying at her Bedside and all her other Children to God Almighty she quietly yielded up the Ghost on the k M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. Walsing 〈◊〉 p. 179. c. 15 of August being the Festival of the
when the News of this Treason was brought to the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche These two Lords were mightily surprised at this Treachery of Sr. Thomas Batefoile but they said however they would be present at the Delivery of the Town by the Grace of God. And so before it was light they rode from Bergerac towards la Linde whither they came by break of Day and having caused the Gate to be open on that side rode quite thrô the Town in silence till they came to the other Gate where the Frenchmen were to enter at which very instant the Gate was opening for the French and Sr. Thomas Batefoile stood ready to receive them Then Sr. John Greilly Captal of Busche alighted from his Horse and stept forward with his Sword in his Hand to the Gate and said Ah! thou Perfidious Traitor Batefoil thou shalt first die by my hand and never more commit Treason against thy Good Lord and Master And with those Words gave him so sure a Blow that he fell Dead to the Earth When the Frenchmen perceived the Captal and his Banner and Sr. Thomas Felton with him they saw plainly how their Plot was discovered whereupon they hastily withdrew from the Gates like one that found a Lion in his way and then turn'd their Backs and fled to their main Host Then were the Gates closed again for none pursued them because of their great Army which lay near and so the Town continued English but was in great Danger of being plunder'd and burnt by these Captains who were enclin'd to do so and to put all the Inhabitants to the Sword because they consented to this Treason But they excus'd themselves by laying all the Fault upon Sr. Thomas Batefoile who they said over-aw'd them to it by Threats and how they did nothing but for Fear being compelled thereto and so at last they were pardon'd But these two Lords tarried there till the Duke of Anjou had remov'd his Siege and taken another way as we shall shew when we have cleared our Hands of other Matters which naturally fall in at this Place XIV On the h Hector Boet. l. 15. f. 327. n. 50. Buchan l. 9. p. 306. Holinsh Scotl. p. 244. Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 27. Favine le Paris Theatre of Honour l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. Seventh Day of May David Bruce King of Scotland departed this Mortal Life at his Castle of Edenburgh leaving no Lawfull Issue behind him wherefore the Lord Robert Stuart Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret aliàs Margery his Eldest Sister by True Right of Succession came to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland Which have ever since continued in that Glorious Family down to our Most Gracious Sovereign His Present Majesty King JAMES the Seventh of Scotland and of England the Second To whom may God Almighty grant a Long Happy and Victorious Reign and of his Race and Name to wear the United Crowns of Great Brittain till all Earthly Kingdoms shall be swallowed up in the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven The Original of this Illustrious Family is thus traced by i Favine le Paris l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. c. Favine in his Theatre of Honour Banquho who was Thane i. e. President or Governor of Loquhaber in Scotland being slain by the Tyrannical Usurper Mackbeth his Son Fleance made shift to escape into Wales where of the Daughter of Prince Griffith he begat a Son named Walter and Sirnamed also Banquho as his Grandfather was At that time the Arms of this Family are said to have been Or a Fefs Checkie Argent and Sable of Four Pieces This Walter long after the Death of Mackbeth returning into Scotland fought valiantly for his King against the Island Rebels and the Savages of Scotland and was in recompence of his extraordinary Vertue and eminent Services made Great Provost and Treasurer of the Houshold Royal which the Scots signifie by the Name of Stuart or Steward And he so faithfully discharged the Trust reposed in him without the least Reproach or Embezling of the Kings Money that the Sirname of Stuart was imposed on him and transmitted to all his Posterity Walter begat Alan Stuart who was in the Expedition of Godfrey of Boulogne Alan begat Alexander I his Son was Walter who begat Alexander II and Robert Stuart by whom the Family ran into many Noble Branches Alexander the II Eldest Son of Walter the II begat John Stuart James and other Children by whom Scotland hath been replenished with a Numerous Encrease of Generous Souls John Stuart Eldest Son of Alexander the Second left one Daughter named Jane Stuart who brought unto her Husband the Lord of the Isle of Bute Walter Stuart Third of that Name who taking to Wife the Lady Margery Eldest Daughter to King Robert the First and Sister to King David Bruce gat of her this Robert Stuart King of Scotland by the Name of Robert the Second But because there is a gross Error in all the Scotch Historians concerning the immediate Successor of this King Robert of which many Wicked Men have in our days thought to make Advantage for the sake of Truth and Justice and the Honour of Majesty We shall here fairly state the Matter and faithfully and truly settle it It is the Assertion of all the Scotch Writers whom I have seen thô in some particulars they differ one from another that this Robert before he was King had by a certain Mistress named Elizabeth More Three Sons and Two Daughters that after by his Wife Euphemia Ross who was also Queen he had two Sons and a Daughter that upon the Death of his Queen his Former Mistress being then also by the Death of her Husband Giffard at Liberty was by him taken to Wife her Children legitimated and the Right of Succession by Act of Parliament settled first upon them This is the Effect of what the Scotch Writers say wherein there are many abominable Falsities as We shall make appear for We shall most evidently prove that the Lady Elizabeth More was his First and Lawfull Wife and died before he Married Euphemia that John who succeeded him by the Name of k When he came to the Crown he laid by the Name of John as unfortunate to two Kings of England and France and took upon him that of Robert Fortunate to his Father and Great Grandfather Robert Bruce Robert was his true and lawfully begotten Eldest Son and so reputed both by his Father and King David himself all along and that this Act for settling the Succession was only a Declaration of what was Right and Equity and done in the Life time of Queen Euphemia as is abundantly * P. 189. ad p. 201. made out in Sr. George Mackenzies Jus Regium and l Dr. Brady's True c. p. 309. ad p. 311. Dr. Brady's True and Exact History of the Succession of the Crown of England to whom I shall refer the Reader for the Original Record
he would sit and declare a Bastard preferable to the Brother of his own Lady and also to his own Lady who would have succeeded if her Brothers had died without Issue And then it is most evident that when John was thus Designed Heir the Queen Euphemia Ross was not dead as the Scotch Writers say and the King Married to his Mother For as there is extant a Grant given by the said King to Paul Metine confirming unto him a Charter Granted by the Earl of Ross Father to Euphemia wherein the said John is Witness by the Name of Eldest-Son and Heir so there is a Charter granted unto Her by the King upon the very same day of the Lands of Lochleaven both Grants bearing Date Junii 1 mo Ano. Regni Primo And it is against all sense and reason to think he could have been acknowledged Heir Apparent during her Life if he had not been Legitimate Nay further we find by our Records that x Rot. Scotiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. Vid. Hujus Hist l. 2. c. 11. §. 8. p. 445. 19 Years before this he is stiled John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart as also seven Years after he bears the same Title being ranked * Vid. Hujus Hist l. 3. c. 2. § 3. § §. 4. p. 529. First among the Hostages which lay for King David And further to put all out of Question there is extant in Fourdons History a Charter granted by King David wherein the Witnesses are Robert Stuart Earl of Strathern our Nephew John Stuart Earl of Carric his Eldest Son and Heir Thomas Earl of Mar George of Dumbar Earl of March and William Earl of Douglass So that here again Buchanan is found Tardy who says that John was created Earl of Carrick by the King his Father after the Death of Ephemia Ross when here we find him stiled Earl of Carrick by his Great Uncle King David who also attests that he was Eldest Son and Heir to his Nephew Robert and surely he could be no wayâ— byassed in the Affair But if any one shall say what need then had there been of this Act or Declaration if the Title of John had not been Doubtfull We answer that King Robert could not forget y Hector Buchan ibid. c. how William Earl of Douglas by pretending a Right from the Bailiols and the Cumins had like to have disturbed his own Coronation but that he was not allowed in his Design by his Friends And therefore to stop all Controversies for the future he thought good to fortifie his Right and the Right of his Children for ever by a National Declaration as well as by Statute And thus much for this Important Matter in this Place we now return to the Point from whence we digressed XVI This King Robert the Second of Scotland who had been well acquainted with the Power and Force of King Edward and knew what Havock of that Nation he had made in time past being now in the beginning of his Reign desirous to establish his Kingdom in Peace made a Motion for a Treaty with England which King Edward most readily embraced because of the great War that he expected from France So that at last a firm Truce and Peace was taken and settled between the two Realms to endure for the space z But for 3 years Mezeray for 14 Buchan and 9 Frois of Nine Years All which time it might be lawfull for the Scots to take Arms at their Pleasure and to serve for Wages either the King of England or of France without any Imputation of Breach of Peace So that Sr. Robert Knolles whom King Edward design'd to send into France with a Considerable Army had now with him no less than a Frois Gall. f. 231. Angl. c. 278. an Hundred Spears all Chosen Men of that Warlike Nation In relation to which Expedition b 6 Maii. Claus 44. Ed. 3. m. 15. Derse Proclamation was sent forth that all Souldiers design'd for Picardy and other Parts of France under Sr. Roberts Command he being c Rot. Franc. 44. Ed. 3. m. 14. constituted the Kings Lieutenant in those Parts should be at Southhampton by the Octaves of St. John Baptist following ready fitted to take Shipping there with him So that in the beginning of July Sr. Robert finding all things ready went on Board at Southhampton and arrived safely and landed with all his Men at Calais where he was highly welcom'd by Sr. Nicolas Stambourn Captain of the Town Here he tarried seven Days to refresh his Men and to consider what Course to take on the eighth Day early in the Morning he began to march out of Calais with an Army of d Mezeray ità sed 12000 Holinsh ego priâ—rem praefere quia dicitur Exercitus magnus M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Walsing hist p. 179. 30000 Men among whom were 1500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers on Horseback the Chief Captains whereof were Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Thomas Grandison Sr. Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Gilbert Gifford Sr. John Menstreworth Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Hugh Meinill Sr. Geoffry Vrswell and Others The first Day they reached Fiennes but Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France was then in the Place with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires all well provided and ready to receive their Enemies The next Morning the whole Army faced the Castle but when it plainly appear'd that much might be there lost and little or nothing won they passed by without attempting it and marching thrô the Earldom of Guisnes enter'd the Land of Fauquenberg burning all before them till they came to Teroüenne which yet they attempted not for seeing it well provided they thought 't would be but lost Labour Then they passed the River of Lys and began to enter Artois but they never went above four or five leagues a Day because of the Infantry and their Carriages still taking up their Lodgings early in the Afternoon and near some considerable Village or other At last they drew near to the City of Arras and took up their Lodgings in the Town of Mount St. Eloy near to the said City where they tarried two Days to refresh themselves all the while destroying and burning round about as far as the Marshals durst stretch Now the French King had already provided for all the Defensible Places in those Parts as well as elsewhere strictly enjoyning his Chief Officers not to be easily tempted out to a Battle but only to stand on the Defensive part Which Order was generally obey'd and prov'd more mischievous to the English than open Opposition could have done for by this means they could get very little Provision without Blows but could never come to a Battle as they desired and expected On the third Day they left St. Eloy and passed by Arras but Sr. Hugh Meinill and Sr. Geoffry Vrsewell who were the Marshals of the English Army resolved however to
after the Death of King Edward I suppose that being very dextrous in humoring the old King and tending him carefully in his sickness she thereby prevail'd so upon him as to be able to influence his Favour more powerfully than others of Higher Condition Whereupon thô she did much good and took thence many Advantages to assist the Oppressed she was in the end only rewarded with these Envious Reflections for her Labour Thô the Year k 2 Ric. 2. n. 36. Vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 177. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 510. after Sr. William Windsor and his Lady pray'd a Revocation of this Judgement for the Errors therein and at last by their Attourneys Edmund Clay and Robert Brown obtain'd a Reversal of the same CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. St. Saviour le Vicount being prest by the French Compounds II. AN. DOM. 1375. An. Regni Angliae XLIX Franciae XXXVI King Edward sends his Son Edmund Earl of Cambridge along with the Duke of Bretagne with his Conquests in those Parts The Duke of Bretagne lies down before St. Brieux III. While the Lords of Bretagne on the French side besiege Sr. John Devereux in New-fort who is rescued by the Duke IV. The Duke of Bretagne having an Advantage over his Rebel Lords is forced by a Truce to lose it and so returns into England V. The Death of the Lord Edward Spencer VI. A Treaty between King Edward and King Robert Stuart of Scotland VII The French take St. Saviour le Vicount notwithstanding the Truce VIII Esquire Katrington that deliver'd it up challenged of Treason loses the day IX Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards X. The Death of two Earls two Acts of Charity I. ABOUT the Declining of the last Year a Frois Anglicè c. 312. fol. 194. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. when the Knights of Bretagne and Normandy had taken in Becherel according to the Composition made that if it was not rescued by the Feast of All-Saints it should then be yielded up by the French Kings Command they all went and laid Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantin in Normandy which once belonged to the Lord John Chandos but after his Death was given by the King to Sr. Alan Boxhull who was at that time in England having committed the Town of Coutances together with the Fort of St. Saviour to the Custody of an English Esquire named Thomas Katrington He had now for his Assistants two Valiant Knights Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs and Three Brethren Mauliverers with about Sixscore other Valiant Men. But Sr. John de Vienne Admiral of France kept the Sea-Coasts near those Parts and about the Mouth of the River Carentan to hinder Provisions from being brought to them by Water while the Lords and Knights of Bretagne and Normandy Besieged the Fort by Land with a very Great Army the Constable himself and Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France being there together with the Earl of Harcourt the Dauphin of Auvergne Sr. John Bull Sr. Mouton de Brianville and many other Men of Name The Constable caused his Engines to be reared up against the Fortress and put the Besieged very hardly to it But however the Captain Esquire Thomas Katrington held out Valiantly against them all till about the beginning of March when being much streitned by the continual playing of Engines among which 't is probable that there were Pieces of Ordnance at this time he began to enter a Treaty with the French and in short obtain'd a Truce to endure to Whitsuntide in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXV b Pasch 22. April Lit. Dom. G. which was about Fourteen Weeks after on this Condition that unless within that term the Frenchmen should be fought withall and the Siege raised they should then yield up the Fort their Lives and Goods saved So the French Army lay still before the Place but committed nothing of Hostility all the while Now Katrington in making this Agreement had respect unto the Duke of Bretagne whom he expected shortly there to raise the Siege for he heard He was preparing then to return into Bretagne with an Army out of England as now we shall shew leaving Esquire Katrington's business to another time II. While the Frenchmen c Frois Anglicè c. 313. fol. 194. sed Gallicè f. 265. lay at Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount and the Negotiators of England and of France were yet at Bruges in consultation about a Peace the Duke of Bretagne who having left his Lady in the strong Castle of Auray was gone over into England as we shew'd before did daily importune his Father-in-Law the King for some Powerfull Assistance against his Enemies At last the King said unto him My Fair Son I know well that the Love of Me hath overballanc'd all your own Concerns and that for my sake only You are cast out of your Lands and Princely Inheritance But rest You satisfied with this that You shall most surely recover all again For I will never make Peace with the French King unless You may be comprised therein and entirely restored to your Dominion The Duke humbly thanked him for this his Gracious Promise and the King resolv'd to do as he had said For he presently fell to raise competent Forces which he intended to send into Bretagne with his Son-in-Law the Duke giving him Commission to act as his Lieutenant and at the same time joyning his Son d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Ashmole p. 667. Edmund Earl of Cambridge in Commission with him in the Lieuteanncy of France and other Foreign Parts And on the e Rot. Franc. 48. Ed. 3. m. 7.18 Novemb. 18 of November of the preceding Year Commands were sent forth to arrest Ships for the Passage of these Forces into Bretagne to be ready at Dartmouth and Plimouth with all speed thô notwithstanding the earliness of these Preparations they went not till the f Claus 49. Ed. 3 m. 46. Spring of this Year The Rendezvous was at g Frois ibid. Southampton where the Duke found 3000 tall Archers who by the Kings Command were all paid their wages for half a Year besides whom there were no less than 2000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires the Chief whereof besides the Duke himself and the Earl of Cambridge were these the Lord Edmund Mortimer Earl of March Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford the Lord Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Eldest Son to the Princess of Wales by her former Husband the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord John Mohun the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Hugh Hastings the Lord Thomas Grandison Sr. Nicolas Camois Sr. Richard Pontchardon Sr. John Lascels Sr. Edward Twiford and many more of the English Nobility and Gentry for h 8 May Claus 49. Ed. 3. m. 46. Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 667. whose Good Success Publick Prayers were appointed to be made With these Forces the Duke of
Bretagne arrived safe at St. Matthew du Fine Poterne in Bretagne where formerly he had found the Gates shut upon him Here he took Land in good Order and forthwith began to Assault the Castle which stood without the Town not greatly fortified at that time either with Men or Munition Wherefore the English carried it by force and put every Man of them to the Sword because they repented not but stood out still in Rebellion against their Natural Lord. When the Townsmen saw this severe Example they presently set open their Gates to receive the Duke unto whom again they sware true and constant Obedience From hence the English marched straight to the City of St. Pol du Leon which was very strong and enclosed with a Wall and a Ditch However they began a fierce and Vigorous Assault and all the while the Archers who stood on the Dikes shot so wholly together that few or none durst appear at their Defences and so at last the Place was won rifled and plunder'd and many hundreds put to the Sword but of the French Garrison not a Man was saved From thence they passed on taking Towns and Castles all along till they came to St. Brieux de Vaulx which was well furnished with Men and Arms and all things necessary For the Lords of Clisson and of Beaumanoir the Vicount of Rohan and other Lords of Bretagne had been there but a little before and refreshed the Place sufficiently But the Duke sat down resolving to try what he could do by Siege and Assault III. The mean while the Vicount of Rohan and the Lord of Beaumanoir who lay by way of countersiege not far off fronting the Duke of Bretagne heard how the Lord John Devereux being near Quimperlay made great havock thereabouts and had newly repair'd and fortify'd a little Place of Defence which he call'd New-Fort that there he kept his Garrison to the terrour of the whole Country so that the Inhabitants could hardly put their Heads out of their Gates but they were presently pick'd up by Sr. John and his Men. Upon this they sent word to the Lord Clisson who was then at Lamballe a Town about Five Leagues from St. Brieux and He for his part having left some Troops behind to secure the Town marched with the rest of his Men to joyn his Friends before New-Fort to which they soon after laid Siege News hereof was brought to the Duke of Bretagne and the English Lords before St. Brieux just as they had lost a Mine which with great Cost and Pains they had been making for 15 Days together Wherefore being vext at this Disappointment and also desirous by all means to save Sr. John Devereux they agreed not to tarry any longer before so strong a Place but rather to rise and go to the Succour of their Friends For said they if We may but find them in the Field who have now besieged them We trust to have a Fair Day against them Upon this Determination they brake up their Siege and began to March towards New-Fort which it seems the Lords of Bretagne had so fiercely Assaulted that they were now come even to the foot of the Wall and began to dig with might and maine not fearing any thing that the English could cast upon them they were so well cover'd with a Penthouse of shields and indeed the English had but little heavy Matter to fling down But however Fortune so well favour'd them that at the very Instant while they were thus digging to bring down a Pane of the Wall there came one to them suddenly upon the Spur saying Lords get away as fast as You can for yonder is the Duke of Bretagne coming in all haste upon You with his English Army They cannot be above two Leagues off by this time Upon this immediately the Trumpets sounded a Retreat to the Assailants and they drew all back mounted their Horses and marched off speedily taking their way to Quimperlay the nearest Place of Defence they knew of and being enter'd they shut up their Gates drew up the Bridges and prepared for their Defence IV. By this time the Duke of Bretagne came thither with all the Barons and Knights of England having pass'd by New-Fort and given but a short Visit to Sr. John Devereux who thanked them all heartily for their timely Assistance without which he had been most certainly lost But now the Duke lays Siege to Quimperlay his Archers being brought forth into the Field and his Footmen and Men of Arms set to the Assault The Englishmen were not in jest no more were the Besieged So that after a cruel Attack and a Resolute and well-menag'd Defence many being grievously wounded on both sides they parted for that time But thus every day the Game was play'd between them without any considerable Advantage to the English thô to all appearance it was not possible for the Besieged to hold out much longer For Succour to come they had none to Escape away there was no hope all the Avenues being possest by the Enemy and they very well knew that if they were taken by force they should have no mercy especially the Lord Clisson who had been of late so inveterate an Enemy to the English that he could expect no favour at their Hands Upon these considerations they fell to treat with the Duke offering to yield themselves on Condition they might be put to courteous Ransom But the Duke thinking it shamefull to Capitulate thus orderly with his own Subjects absolutely rejected that Motion and would have them yield up simply However at last with much ado they obtain'd of him a Truce and Respit for Eight Days during which time there fell an happy Chance for the Besieged For two English Knights Sr. Nicolas Charnells and Sr. Walter Vrsewick were sent thither from the Duke of Lancaster then at Bruges enjoyning the Duke of Bretagne and all the English Commanders in the King of England's Name to forbear all further Acts of Hostility Forasmuch as there was then lately a Truce taken between the two Kings of England and of France and all their Friends and Allies of the Articles whereof these Knights brought Authentick Copies into the Camp. They were immediately read and published thrô the Camp and also to the Besieged in Quimperlay to the great joy of the latter for without this unexpected good Fortune they had all been lost infallibly And thus the Duke of Bretagne being trepan'd by this subtle trick of the Frenchmen was forced to let his Enemies slip out of his Hands and so brake up the Siege licencing all his Men to depart except his Domestick Retinue with whom he went to Auray where he found his Dutchess After this having at his leisure refreshed his Garrisons of Brest and Auray and done what was necessary for the preservation of his own he return'd with his Lady into England to advise further with the King his Father-in-Law V. A little before which Edmund Earl of Cambridge Edmund
Duke of Anjou tarried still at St. Omers From King Edward there came John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster John Dreux commonly called Monford Duke of Bretagne William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and William Courtney Bishop of London Sr. Robert of Namur was also with the Duke of Lancaster and waited on him to do him Honour while he staid in Flanders and the two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras went between the two Parties and took much Pains shewing many weighty Reasons to induce both Sides to Moderation but all to no purpose the Lords were so far asunder in their Resolutions For the French King demanded back again 1400000 Franks which had been paid for the Redemption of King John and also to have Calais rased and beaten down to the Ground To neither of which would the King of England by any means consent Then the f Fabian p. 258. c. French Deputies required Licence of the Legates that they might ride to Paris to declare more particularly unto the King the Offers made on the English Part after which they promised to return with an Account of his Pleasure as to the Premises Upon this Demand it was at last resolved that certain sufficient Persons for that purpose appointed should go and shew unto King Charles How the English Negotiators besides that they absolutely refused to refund the Money or to rase Calais as aforesaid stood stifly for the Absolute Sovereignty which they said belonged to the King their Master and that the King of England and his Heirs Kings of England should for ever enjoy all the Lands comprised in the former Peace made between Him and King John without any Homage or Resort or any other Duty paying or owing therefore Upon this King Charles summon'd his Peers and Nobles about him and there came many Lawyers and Doctors of Divinity unto him to Paris to hold a Debate and Argument on this Matter And here at last it was peremptorily determin'd that the King might not part with his Right of Sovereignty without great Peril of his Soul because he was so manifoldly engaged to maintain the Rights of his Kingdom This Report being brought to Bruges the Treaty immediately fell to pieces without any further Effect but only that by the earnest Intercession of the Legates the Truce however was prolonged to the g Rot. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. m. 16 21. Last of June then next ensuing and afterwards was lengthen'd out farther to the First of April of the Year MCCCLXXVII to give notice whereof to the English Subjects h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. a Proclamation was set forth So these Lords on both sides tarried at Bruges the Remainder of the foregoing h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. Winter and most part of the Lent following keeping great State especially the Dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy But in the Spring they all return'd to their several Countries except the Duke of Bretagne who tarried still in Flanders with the Earl Lewis his Cosen k Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. who made him extream welcome for the space of a Year i Fabian p. 258. But we must not forget to make mention of the great Good-will which King Edward and his Children still manifested to the Person of the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who being taken as we have related before Soubise was all this while kept a Prisoner in the Tower of the Temple at Paris Him they l Frois c. 315. earnestly labour'd to get at Liberty and made frequent Overtures to that purpose but especially now by their Ambassadors and Negotiators at Bruges they offer'd in Exchange for him Valeran the young Earl of St. Pol and Three or Four other Knights besides m Frois c. 332. fol. 210. b. Gold and Silver in Abundance But the French King and his Council would by no means consent to deliver him n Frois c. 315. fol. 196. b. Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 194. unless he would swear Never more to bear Arms against the Crown of France To which Proposal the Loyal Gascogner stoutly reply'd That thô he was sure otherwise to die in Prison yet he would never make any such Oath But of this Valiant Prince's Death we shall speak hereafter III. This Year being the Fiftieth of King Edward's Reign over England he kept o Daniel's History p. 256. a Second Jubilee in consideration thereof and gave Pardons Immunities and Graces and shew'd many Notable Acts of Bounty and Goodness to his People as in the First Jubilee which was the Fiftieth Year of his Age. A singular Blessing which very few Monarchs have ever arrived to either before or since that time Soon after viz. on the 28 of April p M.S. Ret. Par. 50. Ed. 3. p. 116. n. 1 c. Item Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 120. c. being the Monday after the Feast of St. George FE Lit. Dom. the King of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster On which Day there was a considerable Appearance both of Lords and Commons before the King in his own Chamber Royal. But because divers of the Lords and some few of the Commons were not come Proclamation was made in the Great Hall at Westminster that all such who had received Summons to Parliament should be there the next Morning by Eight of the Clock At which Day Sr. John Knevet Knight Lord Chancellour of England §. 2. declared before the King Lords and Commons the Causes of the present Parliament to be Three viz. To enquire how the King should best provide for the Government of the Realm Secondly for the Defence of the same as well beyond the Seas as on this side both by Sea and by Land and lastly how he might prosecute his Quarrel against his Enemies and make good the same the Chancellour adding That as the King had always in all his Attempts follow'd their Good Counsel so now he meant to do no less Wherefore in the King's Name he wish'd them to go together the Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves and speedily to consult and return an Answer So when there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places and Isles beyond the Seas Tryers of the said Petitions after the Custom being subjoyned §. 3 4 5 6 7. the * §. 8. Commons were willed to depart to their accustomed Place being the Chapter-House of the Abbot of Westminster whither they went accordingly And then certain of the Lords and Nobles who are particularly named in the Records were order'd for the quicker Dispatch of Affairs to go and consult with the Commons In consideration of the necessary
his stead for the Remainder of the Year The Commons request that the King would appoint two Earls and two Barons to receive as well their Subsidy as the Subsidy of the Clergy and the Subsidy of Woolls granted in the last Parliament so as the same may be imploy'd upon the Wars and that the High Treasurer do in no wise intermeddle therewith But when afterwards it was made appear to how great a Sum the Wages of these Four Treasurers would amount then the Commons changed their Mind and required that the High-Treasurer might be the sole Menager thereof for the use of the Wars Afterwards viz. on the 22d of February certain Bishops and secular Lords and also the Chancellour Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Seal by the Kings appointment went all to Sheen in Surrey where the King then lay sick and there in presence of them all the Articles of the Kings General Pardon were read with the Answers made to the Petitions of the Commons to which the King agreed willing that they should be read in the House the next day on which day he order'd them to be dissolved And so it was done the next day being the Twenty-third of February by Authority of the King and Prince Richard the President Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That all Persons and Corporations may have the Pardon freely without paying any thing for the Great Seal Such as for Felony are to sue shall do the same before the Nativity of St. John and pay the Fees only The Prelates Dukes Earls Barons Commons Citizens Burgesses and Merchants of England in this Parliament Å¿ Vid Mr. William Prinne in his Edition of S. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 152 Petition the King not only for a Pardon in General and of Fines and Amerciaments before the Justices of the Peace not yet levied in special but they also subjoyn thereto this memorable Request That in time to come Your said Prelates Earls Barons Commons Citizens and Burgesses of your Realm of England may not be henceforth Charged Molested nor Grieved to make any Common Aid or sustain any Charge unless it be by the common Assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons and other People of the Commons of your Realm of England and that in full Parliament And that no Imposition be put upon their Woolls Wooll-Fells and Leather above the Ancient Custom that is to say of One Sack of Wooll Half a Mark and of One Last of Skins One Mark of Custom only according to the Statute made the Fourteenth Year of your Majesties Happy Reign saving unto Your Majesty the Subsidy granted unto You the last Parliament for a certain time and not yet levied To all which the King then gave Answer As to that That no Charge be laid upon the People but by common Assent The King is not at all Willing to do it without great Necessity and for the Defence of the Realm and where he may do it with Reason And as to that That Imposition be not laid upon their Woolls c. without the Assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and other People of the Commons of his Realm There is says He a Statute already made which the King wills to stand in its full force That such as owe unto the King may upon their Account be allowed of all such Laones as are due to them or to any of their Ancestors The Treasurer and Barons shall make allowance of due Debt That title of Prescription of any Liberties may as well be allowed as if it were by Grant and that Prescription may be from the Coronation of the King. The King by Advice will do herein as he shall think best That the Justices of the Peace do not enquire into any Articles which are to be redressed in any Lords Leet but only concerning the Peace and Labourers and that they hold their Sessions Four times a Year The Statutes heretofore made cannot stand if this be granted That the Patent of Reynold Chambers for being Water-Bayliff of the Thames may be revoked because on that pretence he suffereth Kiddles Trinks and other unlawfull Nets to be laid and cast in the said River of Thames The Chancellour calling unto him the Citizens of London the Constable of the Tower and Reynold Newport shall take Order therein The Citizens of London pray that the King will confirm unto them their Liberties for punishing all Misdemeanors in Southwark and that Commandment be given that the Marshal do not intermeddle within the part of Southwark which is called Gildable The King cannot do it without doing wrong to others The Citizens of London require Confirmation of the Kings Letters Patents made to them that no Stranger should sell any Merchandise or Ware to any other Stranger to the end that the same should be sold again Then follow the very Words of the Patent The King will be thereof informed The same Citizens pray that they may place and displace Coroners among themselves answering unto the King what belongeth thereto The King will not depart from his Ancient Right That no Alien do remain within the Realm during the Wars unless he be a Merchant or Artificer and that no Englishman become any Farmer to any Alien without Licence In which Act they protest that of Temporal things they owe Obeisance to none but to the King. The King by Advice will take Order therein That all Provisors of things from Rome and their Ministers may be out of the Kings Protection The Pope hath promised Redress the which if he do not the Laws therein shall stand That new Perambulations of the Forest be made according to the old Bounds out of which if any Forester do attache a Man that the attached may have his Writ of false Imprisonment Many Counties are not grieved wherefore let such as be shew their Complaint and they shall be heard That it may be declared what Pleas the Marshal shall hold and that Prescription may be as well allowed before the Marshal as before others the Kings Justices They shall hold such as have been in the times of the Kings Progenitors That no Man be impeached for hunting within the Purlieu or without the bound of the Forest and that there be levied no t Vid. Semneri Glessar in Assartari c. Assartments The Charter of the Forest shall be kept and as to the Assart the Demand is unreasonable That as well the Priest that taketh unreasonable Wages as the Giver thereof may either forfeit double to the King and that the same may be tryed before the Kings Justices The Statute therefore made shall be executed That the next Heirs of the Kings Wards may have the Wards Lands in Farm. There is a Statute therefore made That none of the Kings Officers be maintainers of any Quarrels within their Countries on pain to lose their Offices and to answer doubly to the Party grieved The King hath forbidden his Officers so to do and if any be grieved he
Wickliff Greeting Directing our Eyes to the honesly of your Life and laudable Conversation and Knowledge of the Learning wherewith the Most High hath endued your Person who are Master of Arts and having great Confidence in your Fidelity Circumspection and Industry We set you over our Hall of Canterbury lately by Vs founded at Oxford as Warden thereof and do by these Presents commit unto you the Care and Administration belonging to the Wardenship thereof according to our Appointment in this Part reserving unto our selves the Receiving of your Corporal Oath to be by you made unto Vs and due in this Part. Dated at Magfield Vto Idûs Decemb. An o Dom. MCCCLXV And from hence it appears that Wickliff did not obtain this Place by any Ill means as some have said thô it is to be believed that when by this Archbishops Successor he was afterwards ejected no good Arts were used for as then g Anton. Wood Antiq. Oâ—ond 14. 183. nothing in the World was laid to his Charge but that he was a Secular which sure he that set him there first knew as well as they But whereas h Histor Monast D. Albani Fox Acts Mâ—n p. 392. An o ult Ed. 3. he is accused for that as an Hypocrite he resorted much to the Orders of Begging Fryars frequenting their Company and extolling the Perfection of their Poverty this must seem absolutely false and inconsistent to any who hath but once heard of i Eâ—tat in Bibliothâ—câ Publ. Aâ—adem Cantabr Fig. 19.10.13 that Notable Treatise of his now Extant which he wrote particularly against the Mendicant Fryars containing 50 Chapters However this is certain that his Tenets were not received by the Generality of the Clergy in those Days For he affirm'd sundry Doctrines very disagreeable to the Genius of that Age as k Fox Walsing Knighton Oder Rainald Antiq. Britan. p. 258. c. That the Pope had no more Power to Excommunicate any Man than another Priest That if it be given by any Person unto the Pope to Excommunicate yet to absolve the same is as much in the power of another Priest as in his He affirm'd also That the Temporal Power might and ought to take away from the Clergy what the Piety of former Times had bestowed upon them if they shall be found to abuse the said Goods or to approve themselves unworthy thereof and that he proved to have been heretofore practised in England by King William Rufus which thing said Wickliff if he did lawfully why may not the same be done now If unlawfully then doth not the Church err in Praying for him As for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist he proved against the Fryars who held the contrary Opinion l Wickliffe's Treatise against the Fryars c. 16. p. 33. That the Accidents of Bread remained not without the Subject or Substance i. e. that the Body of Christ is present not without the Bread. He m Speed l. 9. c. 13. §. 118. p. 610. also stoutly asserted the Regal Supremacy against Papal Vsurpation he wrote against the Mass Transubstantiation Merit Adoration of the Host of Saints Images and Reliques and against Pilgrimages and Indulgences He likewise held That the n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 5 Walsing hist p. 188. p. 205 Knighton p. 2648. Roman Church was no more the Head of all Churches than any other Church That no more Power was given to St. Peter than to any other Apostle and that the Pope of Rome had no more Power of the Keys of the Church than any Other who was in Priestly Orders That the Scriptures were sufficient for Salvation and that all other Rules of Saints under the Observation whereof there are divers Religious Orders do add no more Perfection to the Gospel than Washing a Wall over with Lime doth make the Wall more perfect As for his Arguments they may be seen at large o Fox Acts Monum Johan Hus Opera Walsing hist p. 200 ad p. 209. Hist Monast D. Albani Knighton p. 2644. Nicol. Harpsseldius in Histor Wickliffiana Holinsh p. 998. in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments and more of his Opinions may be consulted in the Authors quoted in the Margin thô it is to be given as a Caution that they all vary one from another both as to the Number Order and Sense of the Articles VI. It is said that he was supported and upheld in these his Opinions by King Edward himself but this is certain that John of Gaunt the Great Duke of Lancaster and Entitled King of Castille and Leon who had now the chief Government of the Realm during his Father's Weakness was an Open Favourer and Patron of John Wickliff and his Doctrine But at the same time his Opinions were so distastfull to the Clergy that now there p Fox Acts Mon. ex Histor Mon. D. Albani Nic. Harpsseldus in Hist Wickliff c. 5. p. 683. came forth from Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury a Process and Order of Citation for the Author to be brought before the Spiritual Court the Time and Place being formally assigned When the Duke of Lancaster heard that his Client Wickliff was to appear before the Bishops fearing that he being single might be overcome by the Number of his Adversaries he took unto him Four Batchelors of Divinity of Good Learning and Skill in the Scriptures to joyn them with Wickliff for his surer Support On the Day appointed q D. Lit. Dom. Pascha 29 Martii which was Thursday the Nineteenth of February Dr. John Wickliff being accompanied with the Four Batchelors in Divinity aforesaid and also his Mighty Patron the Duke of Lancaster going along with him for the greater Honour and Countenance of his Cause went toward the Church of St. Paul in London the Lord Henry Percy High Marshal of England going before to make way for his Lord the Duke and the Doctor And all the way as they went Wickliffes Friends animated him all they could and bad him not fear nor shrink or be daunted at the presence of the Bishops who said they are all Vnlearned in respect of You And that he should not dread the unusual Concourse or Clamors of the People for they themselves would assist and defend him so that he should receive no harm With these Words of the Duke and other Nobles with him Wickliff being much encouraged came to St. Pauls where there was such a vast Throng of People that the Duke and the Lords with him could hardly pass thrô the Church for all the Lord Marshal made way with his Officers When William Courtney Bishop of London saw the stirr that the Marshal and his Men made in the Church among the People he said unto the Lord Percy that if he had known before how he would have plaid the Master in his Church he would have hindred him from coming thither At which Words of the Bishop the Duke disdaining extreamly answer'd him