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
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
his Blood should yield to try a Combat before a King his Enemy was mortally displeased at him and thô he had gain'd such Honour both in the Holy Wars and in the late Duel absolutely deny'd to admit him into his Presence But after a few days having with much adoe and earnest Intercession obtain'd admittance the said Lord Thomas as one that was desirous to shew himself a true Subject and so to recover his Brothers favour besides his declaring the necessity which the Christian Lords had put upon him to go into England began among his excuses highly to extoll the Generosity of King Edward and to shew how justly his Fame was spread throughout the whole World Nor did he forget to commend his Equity which he had shewn in his cause not at all accepting the Person of the Cypriote althô it was well known what a Friend he was to the King of Cyprus himself but Prefer'd and Honoured and Rewarded me said he thô I am a Frenchman and Brother and Servant to you my Lord the King of France These Words the Noble Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes and Constable of France then Present not knowing how distastfull they were to King John confirmed by his own experience and rose up and shew'd among other instances n Knighton p. 2607. n. 1. c. how far that Noble King had banish'd all envy and hatred from his Bâ—east insomuch that lately in a solemn Tourneament at Windsor he had not only admitted him being a Prisoner to that Honourable Exercise but gave him an allowance of all necessary accoutrements and at last rewarded him with a Rich Pâ—ize and new had sent him home upon his Parole in trust of a small Ransom and other as Negotiator for the Redemption of others than a Prisoner himself whereby said he I am put in a Capacity to serve your Majesty as I served your Father or blessed Memory These true Praises of King Edwards Princely Disposition enflam'd the envious heart of lâ—ing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thâ—â— consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâ—ung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 namely on the 19 of November to be beheâ—ded by night in the Presence of the Duke of Bourbon and seven or eight other Lords of Note before whom the Earl of Ewe is said to have confessed certain points of Treason whereof he stood guilty But however all the Treason that Envy it self could lay to the Bastards Charge was only that as he was bound by Oath to 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes in the Holy War he had accordingly committed his cause to the Arbitration of the King of England And as for the Earl of â—â—we whatever at that time was devis'd to blacken him he was notoriously a Person of such Gallantry and had already so eminently signaliz'd his Loyalty that to this day it could never be believed that he could be really guilty of any manner of Treason tho some rather by way of conjecture than proof pretend to colour the Matter that his require passing too and fro between England and France which he did in order to hasten the Redemption of his Fellow-Prisoners was with Designs in favour of the 〈◊〉 Others say p Stâ—w p. 251. that he was suspected of being over Familiar with the French Queen and that therefore King John after the fall of these two Great but Unfortunate Gentlemen famished his Queen to Death thô she was Daughter to John of Luxemburgh that Noble King of Bohemia who lost his Life at the Battle of Creâ—â— in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâ—hus first Wife q L. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 427. who indeed was Daughter to the said King of Bohemia died as we shew'd two Years before And his second Wife his Queen at this time who was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne lived in his Favour and died not till many Years after However the Earl of Ewe's Lands and Honours r Frois c. 153. Mezeray ibid. Mâ—rtâ—â— p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâ—s his Office of Constable of France in January following was by the King confer'd on the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain whom already he had made Earl of Argulesme his Earldom of Eu he gave to the Lord John of Artois Eldest Son to Sr. Robert of Artois of whose Revolt from France and Friendship to King Edward we have spoken in the first part of this our History Only the Earldom of Guisnes he left with the Lady Jane sole Daughter of the Defunct Earl of Ewe who was then Married to Walter Duke of Athens and after his Decease to Lewis Earl of Estampes of the house of Eureux from whom are derived the present Earls of Eu Princes of the Blood. VIII About this time the Scots not yet agreeing to redeem their King David who was still a Prisoner here nor admitting of any just offers of Composition but rather provoking the King of England farther by their Insolencies Cruelties and Depredations He for his part considering that the Truce with France would either be soon ended by violation or of its own course sent his Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. p. 275 p. 294. Commissioners viz. Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill to treat with the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland and other Nobles of that Realm then met at York about a firm and final Peace between the two Nations And this Treaty was held on with good hopes of Success even till the end of the next Year for we find that it was at last between them agreed t Rot. Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. that upon the coming into England of the young Lord John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King he himself should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be deliver'd The Kings Letters of safe Conduct to the Hostages and of Power to certain Commissioners to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his Return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were all come bear date the 5 of September an 25. Ed. 3. to continue in force till the Quindena of the Purification next following and on the 3 of November after they were renewed with a further term even to the Feast of St. Philip and James ensuing According to this agreement the Hostages being come and disposed into the Castles of York and Nottingham King Edward sent his Command u Râ—s Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. bearing date the 5 of October to Sr. John Copland High-Sheriff of Northumberland the same who first took the King of Scotland
be within One Year next after that the King of France shall depart from Calais the Lord John Earl of Monford shall have the Earldom of Monford with all the appurtenances he doing for the same Liege Homage to the King of France and all such Duties and Services which a good and Loyal Liege-Vassal ought to do to his Liege Lord because of the said Earldom And also his other Heritages shall be rendred unto him which are not of the Dutchy of Bretagne he doing Homage or other Duty therefore as it appertaineth And if he will challenge any thing in any of the Inheritances which are of the said Dutchy besides the Country of Bretagne good and speedy Reason shall be done him by the Court of France 22. Item Concerning the Question as to the Demaine of the Dutchy of Bretagne which is between the said John of Monford on the one Party and Charles of Blois on the other Party it is agreed that the two Kings having called before them or their Deputies the Principal Parties of Blois and Monford shall by themselves or Special Deputies as soon as may be inform themselves of the Right of both Parties and do their best to set them at an Agreement touching what is in Controversie between them And in case the said Kings by themselves or their Deputies shall not be able to bring them to an Agreement within One Year next after that the King of France shall be arrived at Calais then the Friends of the one Party and of the other shall diligently inform themselves of the Right of the Parties in manner abovesaid and shall endeavour to bring the said Parties to an Agreement to the best of their Power and as soon as may be And if they cannot bring them to an Agreement within half a Year next following they shall then report unto the said two Kings or to their Deputies all that which they shall have found about the Right of the Parties and touching the points of Discord which shall remain between them both And then the two Kings by themselves or their Special Deputies as soon as may be shall set the said Parties at an Agreement or shall declare their final sentence about the Right of the one Party and of the other and the same shall be put in Execution by the two Kings And in case they cannot do this within half a Year next following then the said Principal Parties of Blois and Montford shall do what they shall think best and the Friends of the one Part and of the other shall aid either Part as they please without any Impeachment from the said Kings and without any Damage Blame or Reproof by either of them at any time for the cause aforesaid And if it so happen that one of the said Parties will not sufficiently appear before the said Kings or their Deputies at the time which shall be appointed for them And also in case that the said Kings or their Deputies shall have ordained and declared that the said Parties should be at concord or shall declare their sentence for the Right of the one Party and either of the said Parties will not agree unto the same nor obey the said Declaration then both the said Kings shall be against him with all their Power and aid the other Party which is content to agree and to obey But the two Kings shall in no case neither in their own proper Persons nor by others make or enterprize War one against the other for the cause aforesaid And always the Sovereignty and Homage of the said Dukedom shall remain to the King of France 23. Item That all the Lands Countries Towns Castles and other Places yielded over to the said Kings shall be in such Liberties and Franchises as they are at this present And these Franchises shall be confirmed by the said Lords the Kings or by their Successors and by every of them so often as they shall be duly required thereto if they be not contrary to this present Agreement 24. Item that the said King of France so soon as he can and at the farthest within one Year next after that he shall depart from Calais shall without deceit render and cause to be rendred de facto to Monsieur Philip of Navarre and to all his Publique Adherents all the Towns Castles Forts Lordships Rights Rents Profits Jurisdictions and Places whatsoever which the said Monsieur Philip as well in his own Right as in the Right of his Wife or which the said Adherents do hold or ought to hold in the Realm of France Neither shall the said King do unto them at any time Reproach Dammage or Impeachment for any thing done heretofore but shall forgive them all Offences and Misprisions for the time past by occasion of the War. And of this they shall have his Letters good and sufficient so as the said Monsieur Philip and his said Adherents shall return to his Homage do unto him their Duties and be unto him Good and Loyal Vassals 25. Item It is agreed that the King of England for this time only may give unto whom it shall please him in Heâ—itage the Lands and Inheritance which sometimes appertained to Godfry of Harcourt to be held of the Duke of Normandy or of any other Lords of whom they should be holden of Right by the Homages and Services anciently accustomed 26. Item It is agreed that no Person or Country which have been of the Obedience of the One Party and by this Agreement shall come to the Obedience of the Other Party shall be Impeached for any thing done in time past 27. Item It is agreed that the Lands of the Banished and Adherents of the One Party and of the Other and also of the Churches of the One Kingdom and of the Other and all they who are disinherited or expelled from their Lands and Heritages or are charged with any Pension Taillage or Debt or otherwise grieved in any manner whatsoever because of this War shall be restored intirely to the same Rights and Possessions which they had before the War began And that all manner of Forfeitures Debts and Misprisions done by them or any of them in the mean time shall be wholly pardon'd and that these things shall be done as soon as may be effectually and at the farthest within one Year next after that the King of France shall be gone from Calais excepting what was said in the Article of Calais and Merks and other Places in the said Article named excepting also the Vicount of Fronsac and Monsieur John de Galard who are not comprised in this Article but their Goods and Heritages shall remain in the same State wherein they were before this present Treaty 28. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall effectually deliver unto the King of England as soon as may be and at the farthest before the Feast of St. Michael the Year next coming after his Departure from Calais all the Cities Towns Countries and other
of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lords of Cande De la Barde and Pincornet all who made heavy Complaints to the King how the Prince of meer Pride and Presumption would tread them under his Feet and raise new and unheard of Taxes upon their Lands which they said they would never suffer considering their Resort was to the Chamber of France Wherefore they humbly desired that the Prince might be summon'd to make his Appearance in the Parliament Chamber before the Peers of France there to Answer concerning those Grievances and Innovations which he had began to exercise against them The French King was not unwilling to entertain these Gascogners who thus required Justice of him as of their Sovereign Lord lest otherwise they should seek for Redress in some other place and so he should for ever lose the Sovereignty over them And on this account he at last condescended to their Request thô half against his Will for he could not but see that an open War would ensue thereby which he was very loath to move first at least without some plausible Pretence Besides at that time he saw his Realm not a little molested with the Companions and other Enemies and also he consider'd that his Brother the Duke of Berry with many others were still Hostages in England Wherefore he thought to deal wisely and get first his Hostages home and be fully provided of all things and to try the Hearts of the People thoroughly before he could absolutely resolve to summon the Prince of Wales And accordingly there were such subtle devices used that before any open Breach was made most of the Hostages got out of King Edward's Power as we shall see hereafter Particularly Prince John g Frois c. 244. Duke of Berry having received a private hint of these Matters obtain'd of King Edward to return into France and there to recreate himself among his Friends and Relations for the space of One Year but he order'd his Affairs so cunningly by his frequent excuses and the like that he drove off the time till the War was open and then he thought himself freed from all obligations of Returning And the Lord Guy of Luxemburgh Earl of St. Pol made shift by much subtlety to get into France without taking his leave of King Edward This Man was an Implacable Enemy to the English Nation so that he could neither endure to hear nor speak a good Word of them and now he urged on King Charles as much as he could to take the Gascogne Lords into his Protection for he verily believed that if once the Prince of Wales should be summon'd a War would most certainly ensue And to this Opinion of the Earl of St. Pol agreed several of the Chief Prelates Earls Barons and Knights of France who added how the King of England had not truly kept the Peace to which he had sworn and sealed according to the Tenor of the Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres and afterwards confirmed at Calais For they said it was manifest how the English had hated and molested the Realm of France more since the Peace was made than ever they had done before And Sir said they what We now averr You shall find to be true if it will please You to cause the Charters of the Peace to be inspected and read before You even such as the King of England and the Prince his Son are by Faith and Oath obliged to perform Hereupon King Charles to be the better enformed of all the Truth and that he might not suffer any Encroachment upon the Rights of his Realm caused all the Charters of the Peace to be brought into the Council-Chamber and heard them read over more than once the better to consider and weigh the Point and Articles therein comprised Among others there was found One Letter on which the King and Council stood most because it seem'd to speak more clearly and plainly of what they now look'd for the Tenor whereof ran thus viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine to all who shall see these present Letters Greeting Know that in the final and last Accord and Peace made between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King are contained two Articles comprised in the form following The First Where it is said how the foresaid Kings are bound to cause to be confirmed all the said Articles comprised in the Peace by the Bishop of Rome they to be deliver'd from the Court of Rome confirmed by Sentence touching the full Perfection and Accomplishment of this present Treaty unto each of the said Parties at least within three Weeks after the French King shall be arrived at Calais and also how to the intent that these Articles and Treaties passed may be more firm and stable there shall be made certain Bonds and deliver'd as followeth that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and their Eldest Sons such as should be devised by the Councils of both the Kings And also the said Kings and their Children and others of the Prime Nobility to the Number of Thirty on either Part should swear that they would strictly observe and cause to be observed to their Power all the said Articles accorded and agreed on and perform the same without fraud or deceit And also that both the Kings and all their Friends and Allies should do their utmost to bring all Rebels to Obedience according to the form and true Intent of the Peace And also that both the Kings should submit themselves and their Realms to the Correction of the Bishop of Rome to the end that he should oblige by Ecclesiastical Censures those who should otherwise refuse to comply with this Peace and Accord And further both the Kings and their Heirs by Oath and Promise should renounce all Graces and Absolutions of any thing herein agreed to by them And thô by Disobedience Rebellion or Force of any of the Subjects of the French King the said King should be hindred from performing all the said Articles yet neither shall the King of England nor his Heirs for all that make any War upon the Realm of France but both Kings shall joyn together to bring those Rebels to Obedience and to acquiesce in the said Peace and Concord And thô the Subjects of the King of England should refuse to yield up any Towns Castles or Fortresses which they held in the Realm of France and which by reason of the Peace ought to be deliver'd or what any other Cause should hinder that the King of England could not perform what he ought by reason of this Treaty to perform yet the King of France shall not make War therefore upon the Dominions of the King of England but both the Kings shall joyn together to reduce those Rebels to Obedience and by force to recover such Towns Castles and Fortresses and to
the Prince sitting in the Kings own Place in absence of the King who was still but weak the King sent thither his Letters-Patents being a Commission to the said Prince to begin the Parliament Which Letters being openly read Dr. h Philipot's Catal Chancel p. 44. Godw. Catal Bps p. 512. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and then Chancellour of England at Command of the said Prince then and there President adjourn'd the Parliament till the next day at Nine of the Clock in the Morning because divers of the Lords and Commons were not yet come The next day the Prince Bishops Lords and Commons met all in the Place aforesaid where the said Lord Chancellour began his Oration with that of St. i 2 Cor. c. 11. v. 19. Paul Libenter suffertis Insipientes c. Ye suffer Fools gladly seeing that Ye your selves are Wise Which he apply'd That they being Wise desired to hear Him who was the Contrary He proceeded with Scripture and said That as a Messenger who bringeth joyfull News is Welcome so he ought to be now since he brought them joyfull News of the Kings Happy Recovery from a Dangerous Sickness Whence he took occasion to argue that God loved the King and the Realm the King because k Hebr. c. 12. v. 6. Quos diligit castigat whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and further from that of the Psalmist k Hebr. c. 12. v. 6. Vxor tua sicut Vitis abundans in Lateribus c. Thy Wife shall be as a Fruitfull Vine by the Walls of thine House thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table and thereupon he shew'd that for Children no Christian Prince living was so happy which happiness he aggravated from the Words following Vt videas silios filiorum Thou shalt see thy Childrens Children which the King now saw And that God loved the Realm he proved from the Recovery of so Renowned a Prince the said Recovery happening in the Fiftieth Year of his Reign the Year of Jubilee the Year of Joy for his said Recovery Of Joy because he would thereby impart unto his Subjects Blessings as well Spiritual as Temporal all Bodily Comforts Then from a similitude that althô the Head be sound if some particular Member of the Body be diseased the same infected Part can receive no Vertue Benefit or Salve from the Head He inferreth that the King being the sound Head and willing to shew Grace and Favour to his Subjects they ought to qualifie themselves aright by approving their Loyalty sound and uncorrupted And therefore he perswadeth such as would be partakers thereof to conform themselves thereafter by having Love and Charity without which he proveth by St. Paul that nothing doth avail Thereupon he converts his Discourse to the Lords amplifying the Matter and shewing what reason they had to think the King loved them Dearly since among many other Gracious tokens of his Good will he had upon their Requests since the last Parliament advanced the Lord Richard there present to be Prince of Wales Then he shew'd what cause they had to embrace the said Prince by Offering unto him as the l M.S. Princes of Cullen c. Wise Men did to Christ all Honour by presenting Gold in token of Riches and Renown and Myrrhe in token of his Honourable Scepter Since even the Pagans were used to throw abroad Money at the approach of their Princes He insisted that the said Prince should without all Rancour be embraced in their Hands and Hearts even as Simeon embraced Christ because their Eyes had now seen that which their Hearts had much longed for and likewise he shew'd how they ought to obey him as the Vicar and Legate of God that they might see the true Peace of Israel viz. here in England the m Vox Angeli ad Mâ—nachum Regni statum deplorantem ob extinctâ—m Regiam Presapiam Regnum Anglorum est Regnum Dei Deus providebit pro suo Regno Inheritance of God Whereof after many Victories there is no small hope After which he shew'd the cause of this present Parliament to be For that the French King under Colour of the Truce granted by the King at the Mediation of the Pope yet enduring had allied himself to the Spaniards and Scots the Kings Enemies and had prepared great Quantity of Arms and Puissant Armies thereby conspiring to blot out the English Tongue and Name from under Heaven In which case the King was willing to have their Faithfull Counsel wherefore the Chancellour willed them to go together and to give a speedy Answer This grave Harangue was seconded by Sr. Robert Ashton Knight n Philipet's Catal Treas p. 40. Constable of Dover-Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports being at this time the Kings Chamberlain and Lord High-Treasurer of England He continued how He had a particular Charge to move them from the King for the Profit of the Realm which Words says o M.S. Rot. Par. p. 145. n. 13. my Transcriber lay not perchance in the Bishops Mouth because they touched the Pope Yet at the same time he protested that the King was ready to do all that ought to be done for his Holiness But because divers Usurpations were by him made upon the King his Crown and Realm as by particular Bill in this Parliament should be declared the King requireth them to seek redress Then were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places beyond the Seas and for the Isles and after that Tryers for those several Petitions This done the Commons were willed to repair to the Chapter-House of the Abbey of Westminster to treat of these Matters and how Money might best be levied for the Kings Service and certain Lords there named were appointed from time to time to confer with the Commons for their better Direction and Information The Lords and Commons grant to the King towards his charges Four pence of every Poll Man or Woman passing the Age of p Ità Sr. Rob. Câ—tten Fabian Daniel's hist Vnde M.S. hic corrigend ubi One and Twenty 14 Years only Beggers excepted And besides this the q Daniel's hist p. 260. Fabian p. 261. Clergy grant unto the King toward the Aid of his Wars 12 d. of every Parson Beneficed and of all other Religious Persons 4 d. by the Poll the Four Orders of Fryars Mendicants only excepted But here it is to be remembred that the King because of his pressing occasions not being able to stay till the foresaid Taxes were levied borrow'd in sundry Places several Sums of Money particularly he sent to the City of London for 4000 l. which r Fabian ibid. Loane because the Mayor Adam Staple was backward in raising he was on the 22d of March discharged his Office by the Kings special Command and Sr. Richard Whittington Mercer of whose Rise by means of his Cat there are such pleasant Stories placed in
is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
the very Duty of our Apostolick Employment requires so much of Us but take Order to provide the best Remedy as to the Premises by proceeding against you which will be very troublesom and ungratefull to Us if it shall which God forbid be necessary as Justice so requiring both ought and may be done Given at Avignion under the Seal of the Fisher c. in the i i â—v apud Oderic v Year of our Pontificate on the Ides of November CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward summons the German Lords to meet him at Mechlin in Brabant II. Vpon their Meeting the King and They send their several Defiances to King Philip. III. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War and takes Thin l'Evesque which he garrisons for King Edward The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege IV. The King of France's Preparations V. The French Navy burn Southampton VI. King Edward lays Siege to Cambray VII But on News of King Philips Preparations rises and goes forth to meet him putting all to Fire and Sword as he goes VIII The two Kings face one another at Vironfosse in Cambresis A Day appointed for Battle with the Order and Number of both Armies IX The true Reasons why the French declined to fight and the sudden Departure of King Philip. X. King Edward returns to Antwerp where having sent for his Son the Prince to come to him he keeps his Christmas XI A Copy of the Pope's Letter to King Edward to move him to Peace XII King Edwards Answer thereto XIII Two notable Parliaments held at Westminster one by the Prince before his Departure out of England and the other by Commissioners empowered thereto by the King. I. BEfore the Return of this Answer from the Pope AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII King Edward immediately after the Date of his own Letters began his March to a Frois c. 35. Villenort in Brabant where he lodged his People partly in the Town and partly without in Tents and Pavilions along the River side Here he tarried from the 20th of July till the middle of August still expecting the Coming of the Lords of the Empire his Allies but especially of the Duke of Brabant on whom chiefly the rest did depend as to their resolution in this Matter But when his Patience was almost tired with fruitless expectation he was fain to send once more his special Summons to each of them commanding them to come and meet with him at Mechelen the Metropolis of Brabant on b 1 Septemb. St. Giles his Day following and then and there to shew him the Cause of those ill-boding Delays Now all this while that the King waited thus at Villenort for his Confederates he maintain'd idly at his own Costs and Charges 1600 Men of Arms all English and 10000 Archers of England besides all other necessary Provisions for his Court and beside the great Armies and Garrisons he had in other Places and upon the Seas and beside the vast Summs of Mony which he had dispos'd of to the Lords his Confederates The French King for his part was not unpurvey'd of necessaries for Resistance for beside his formidable Preparations in France Normandy and Aquitain he had set forth a Mighty Fleet of Ships consisting of French Normans Bretons Picards and Spaniards who had Orders as soon as ever the War should be once open and the Defiances made to land on some of the Sea-coasts of England where they could to their best advantage and to put all to Fire and Sword and Rapine So honourable in those days were Christian Princes as thô they manifestly prepared against each other not to begin open War till they had given mutual Warning thereof II. On the first of September or St. Giles his day according to King Edward's Summons these tardy Lords of Almain came all at last to Mechelen unto him where they immediately enter'd upon consideration of the present Affairs There was much Debate among them but in the end it was resolved that the King of England should set forward within fifteen days at farthest and to the intent their Cause should not appear unwarrantable they all agree'd to send their particular Defiances to the French King. First the King of England c Frois ibid. then the Duke of Guerles or Gueldre late Earl and William Earl of Juliers late Marquess but now advanced to higher Dignities by King Edward d Knighton p. 2574. n. 30. 40. then the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord John of Heinalt the Marquesses of Nuys and Blanckeberg the Lord of Faulquemont or Valkenberg as the Dutch call it Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the Archbishop of Colen Sr. Galeace his Brother and the rest of the Lords of the Empire All these had their particular and special Defiances written signed and sealed excepting of all the Confederates the Duke of Brabant only who said He would do the like by himself at his best Convenience Henry Lord Bishop of Lincoln was chosen to carry these Defiances into France being attended with the Herald Windsor who was Principal King at Arms of England in those days These presently carried them to Paris and there Windsor after the Defiances were deliver'd openly defi'd King Philip of Valois in the Name of the King of England his Master and then having Both performed their Business so discreetly that they could not justly incurr any reproach or blame thô inwardly King Philip boiled with Fury they demanded and obtained a safe Conduct and so return'd to the King their Master who tarried for them at Mechlin III. That very Week that the Lord Walter Manny understood for certain how the Defiances had been made he took to him fourty Spears e Frois c. 36. and rode thrô Brabant Night and Day till he came into Heinalt and entred the Wood of Blaton His Resolution and Design was not as yet known to any of his Followers but those few of his Friends only to whom he thought it necessary to Communicate his Purpose and to these he privately confessed how he had promised before some great Ladies in England to be the very first that after the War was Proclaim'd should enter the Confines of France and perform some notable Exploit of Arms That now therefore in pursuance of his Vow he resolves for Mortagne a Town and Fortress on the Confines of Heinalt two Leagues from Tournay towards Valenciennes which belonged then to King Philip and that therefore this he would endeavour to surprise So having passed thrô the Wood of Blaton he came early one Morning before Sunrise to Mortagne where by chance he found the small Door of the Great Gate of the Town standing open Hereupon alighting immediately from his Horse with all his Company having appointed certain to stand still and Guard the Gate against his Return he enter'd with all the rest and went thrô the High-Street with his Banner before him in good close Order till he came to
the other of Roger Normans do constantly attend the Pleasure of the said Richard in the Port of South-hampton Further that all the Inhabitants should remain still upon the Place to Defend the same on Pain of loosing all they have Sr. Richard was to have all the Ammunition and Warlike Furniture of the same Town to be deliver'd into his Hands by Indenture and was endued with a like Power in all things as the Earl of Warwick had been when he was Governour there The Sheriff of Southampton having a Writ of Attendance on him for Victuals and other Necessaries Mr. Stephen Butterly and Mr. William Weston Serjeants at Arms were to provide sufficient Timber Boards and other Necessaries for the said Town by Indenture Thus much for the Sea and the Sea-coasts Now as for the Defence of the Marches of Scotland and the Places thereabouts which might want Strength or Provision William Snoring and John at Fennes Merchants of Lynn-Regis Robert of Bayon and Henry Smith Merchants of Barton upon Humber do undertake at a certain Price and by a certain Day to deliver Ten Thousand Quarters of all kind of Grain at the Town of Barwick and in the Road of Leigh Every Quarter of Wheat and Malt at 9 shillings of Oats Beans and Pease at 5 shillings To which there was added a Caution that under Colour of this Licence they should not serve the Kings Enemies Sr. Thomas Rokeby who for finding out the Scotch Army in the first Year of this King was by him Knighted as we shew'd in due place being now a Person of great Reputation for Valour Wisdom and Fidelity took upon him to keep the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterling till Midsummer next ensuing And the Division of all the Grain aforesaid and of other Victuals for the said Castles and the Town of Barwick being proportionably made the greatest Share was allotted to the Castles Next in Order to preserve the Isle of Wight this Wise and Great Assembly provided First that the inhabitants of the same during the War should be respited the Payment of any Aid to the King and that None of them should by any Means be dispensed with to travel abroad or to absent themselves out of the said Isle nor should be impannel'd or warned at any Assise or Inquest during the said War. Also that due Provision of Wine Grain Coals and other Necessaries for the Castle of Caresbrook in the said Isle be forthwith made the Kings Butler being appointed to deliver the Wine to Sr. John Langford Constable of the said Castle and William of Rewinock was commanded to provide the rest of the foresaid Necessaries Sr. John Ferrers Captain of Jersey Island was now appointed to send thither a sufficient Deputy to whom like Rules were set and Provision allow'd for Defence of the same Command being also sent to Bayliffs there to seise upon the Goods of one William Payne late Jurate of that Isle who Revolted to the Enemy and to Choose another On the back-side of this Roll are seen the Numbers of such Souldiers as were arrayed and set out by certain Nobles Knights and Gentlemen of the Counties of York Nottingham Derby Lancaster Westmorland and Cumberland by their particular Rates which in the whole amounted to 7400 Men of Arms 200 Archers on Horseback and two Thousand Halberdeers Those of the three first-named Counties were order'd at the Costs of the Country to March to Newcastle upon Tine only and they of Westmorland Cumberland and Lancaster to Carlile only And the Captains and other being together shall lie and forrage upon Scotland and not upon the Marches of England A Clergyman was appointed for the defraying of their Wages having the Lords Percy and Nevile to oversee his Accounts and to speak with the Nobles Knights and Captains to execute these Orders and to bargain with Merchants for Shifts and returns of Money The Lord Richard Talbot who was late Captain of Barwick upon his undertaking the Charge of Southampton was now discharged for a while thereof Sr. Walter Clark being appointed to keep the same till Easter next ensuing Those who had directed unto them the Commissions of Array for Souldiers for the County of York were Thomas Lord Wake William Lord Roos Sr. Thomas Vghtred Sr. William de la Pole and Sr. Michael Wath only afterwards Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 541. because the Lord Wake had been appointed Guardian of the Sea-coasts in Lincolnshire and had in that Service many Souldiers under him for whose support he had been at great Expences he was in consideration thereof discharged from finding such Men at Arms Hobelers and others as for his Lands in Yorkshire he had else been lyable to be charged with Those who had Commissions of Array for Nottingham and Derby were the Lord Nicolas Cantelupe Sr. Richard Willoughby and Sr. Thomas Longvillers all Noble Barons of the Realm For the County of Lancaster Sr. Henry Heydock and Sr. Robert Radcliff For Westmorland and Cumberland Anthony Lord Lucy Sr. Pierce Filliol Sr. Hugh Delowthrey and Sr. Robert Perning For Northumberland the Lord Henry Percy and Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby Ranulph Lord Dacres of the North Sr. John Fenwick and Sr. Thomas Helpscots all who were empower'd to Place and Displace Captains upon Reasonable Cause This is the Substance of the Parliament held at this time especially in Matters Relating to Scotland the Discourse whereof we shall refer to another Place and also to France CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Parliament of his Allies at Brussels in Brabant Where he takes upon him the Arms and Style of France the Flemings entring an Alliance with him and rendring him their Homage thereupon II. The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt with the Mannâ—r of King James the Second's Pedigree by the Mothers side down from him III. King Edward Publishes his Letters Patents Monitory to his Subjects of France to own his Authority as of their Rightfull King and to come to his Peace and Protection with a True Copy of the Letters IV. King Edward returns into England with Design to hold a Parliament the time whereof he fixes on the Wednesday after Midlent-Sunday which then fell on the Twenty Ninth of March. V. King Edward informs the Pope of his Reasons for Vsing the Style and Arms of France with the Popes Answer I. THE Sacred Solemnity of our Saviours Nativity being now over King Edward by Advice of the Lords of the Empire his Friends went from a Frois c. 43. Antwerp to Brussels the Chief City of Brabant there to hold a Parliament and to consult with his Friends how to proceed farther in his French Wars These Lords being there met accordingly first perswaded the King to require the Aid and Friendship of the Flemmings in this his Cause and that for his Sake they would defie the French King and March whither he should lead or direct them For all which he should Engage to Recover Lisle Doway
the Nativity of St. John Baptist next ensuing and all that Day till the next Morning at Sun-rise in manner and form following that is to say 1. That z Knighton p. ibid. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 348 Du Chesne p. 653. c. during the said Truce no evil Will or Mistrust of either Party of it self shall be prejudicial to the said Truce and Respit 2. Item That during the said Truce either of the said Princes their Helpers Coadjutors and Allies whosoever shall remain in such Possession and Seisin as they have at this Time of all Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold and have conquer'd howsoever 3. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce the said Princes their Aiders Coadjutors and Allies may safely go from one Country to another and all Merchants with all their Merchandise and all manner of their Subjects with their Goods and Purveyances as well by Land as by Sea and by Water freely as they were wont in the times of the Ancestors of the said Kings only paying therefore the Customes anciently used Except such banish'd Men or any of them as have been banished out of the said Realms for other Causes than the Wars between the said Princes But that the Barons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy of Guienne and other Persons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy that are banished may be comprised in this Truce so as freely to come and go from one Country to another during the said Truce 4. Item It is accorded that the said two Kings shall not procure nor cause to be procured either by Themselves or by any Other that any new Practice or Grievance be made by the Bishop of Rome or Others belonging to Holy Church whatsoever upon or against either of the said Kings their Coadjutors or Allies or upon their Lands or Subjects by Occasion of the said War or any other Cause nor for Services which the said Allies or Coadjutors have done to the said Kings or either of Them. And that if our Holy Father the Pope or any Other will do against the Premises the two Kings shall hinder him or them to their Power without any fraud during the said Truce 5. Item That the Truce be immediatly proclaim'd in both the Hosts that all who know and hear it may be obliged to keep and observe it 6. Item It is agreed that within 20 Days to begin from this day either of the Kings shall cause to be proclaim'd in Gascoign and the Dutchy of Aquitaine in the Lands which they hold the Articles of this Truce that they may be known and understood 7. Item It is agreed that if by either of the said Kings their Subjects Coadjutors or Allies any Siege be laid in Gascoign in the Dutchy of Aquitain or in the Isles of the Sea in Garnsey or Jersey the same Sieges shall be raised as soon as this Truce shall come to their Cognizance And that a This is omitted in Fos who also varies not a little from the Original French both here and elsewhere c. Fourteen Persons to wit Seven for each of the Kings shall enter every Town Castle and Fortress where the Sieges shall be and shall view their Store of Provision both of Men and Victuals to the intent that on the Day when the Truce shall end the said Towns Castles and Fortresses shall remain and be furnished with the like Number of Men and the like Quantity of Victuals as at first they were found to be by the foresaid fourteen Persons 8. Item It is accorded that the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders that have been on the Part of the King of France b Here the old French a little imperfect shall not return during the Truce and if they do they shall forfeit all the Goods they have in Flanders 9. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce all Prisoners taken in this War shall be released from their Prisons upon their Faith and Oath to return thither again if they shall not be ransomed within the term of the said Truce so as if the said Prisoners shall deny in their due times to return themselves back to Prison the said Truce failing that then upon the failure of every Prisoner his Lord shall constrain him to come and make restitution of his Person So that the Levies which were made before this Truce in time of War whether they be Goods Spiritual or otherwise shall remain without making Restitution during the Truce 10. Item It is agreed that a Truce be forthwith taken between the English and the Scots their Aiders and Allies untill the Feast of St. John Baptist aforesaid And that certain Persons shall be deputed by the said Parties to be at a certain Day on the Marches of England and Scotland to vouch and stand to the said Truce c Frois c. 63. fol. 35. But if the Scots or any other of the Allies on either Side shall refuse to admit of this Truce let them be at their own Choice however France Picardy Burgundy Bretagn and Normandy shall be bound to this Peace without any Exception So that during the Truce however the Scots shall obtain no manner of Aid or Reinforcement from the French. 11. Item It is accorded that this Truce shall be proclaimed in England and Scotland within 26 Days after the Date of these Letters 12. Item it is accorded that within this Truce shall be included and comprised the Spaniard the Catalaunian the Genouese the Provincial the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray and the Castles in Cambresis as also the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac Gaston Lord of Lille the Lord of Tricouleon Sr. John Vernon and the Lord of Roye In Witness whereof We the foresaid John King of Bohemia c. on the one Party and on the other B. A. Dom. Lit. have Sealed this Instrument of Truce and Peace and deliver'd the same accordingly in the Church of Spetelin on Monday the 25 of September in the Year of Grace MCCCXL d Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 912. Besides there was at this time Consideration taken of the Flemings the Summ of Mony wherein they stood bound to the Pope and the French King being now released unto them And as by King Philips means they had before been Excommunicated so now at his Request the Interdict was repealed and they again received into the Bosom of the Church Lewis Earl of Flanders being thereupon restored to his Country It was moreover at this Treaty e Freis c. 63. fol. 35. resolv'd that either Party should send four or five Persons as their Commissioners to meet at Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send 2 more who all together were to consult in order to a full Confirmation of the Peace between the Two Kings XII The Contents of this Truce were immediately proclaimed in both Armies whereof the Brabanders especially were wonderfull glad For they came at first but with an ill Will to
that of the Wise Man g g Ecclus c. 11. v. 5. Many Tyrants have sat on the Throne and a Man unthought on hath wore the Diadem The Sword being thus in the Hands of Madmen not thrô any proud Arrogance or Disobedience but by wisely * * Currenti cedende Furori yielding to the Course of Fury we have hitherto defer'd our Access to You that just Fear excusing us which might fall upon the most Resolute being notwithstanding ready to obey your Majesty in all things the Honour of God and of Holy Church and of our own State and Order being always in all points preserved But truly in the mean while during the Power of these Tyrants to the rooting out whereof let Him that ariseth from on high vouchsafe to assist You that the word of the Wise Man may be fulfilled h h Wisd c. 16. v. 4. For it was requisite that upon them exercising Tyranny should come Penury which they could not avoid Lest the clamour of our Infamy should grow higher to the manifesting of our Innocence we answer to the Articles contained in those Letters or infamous Libels not sophistically but truly in form following viz. For the Beginning of your foresaid Letters The Archbishops Answer to the first Article or of the foresaid infamous Libell being full of Reproach containeth That your Majesty being formerly exalted to the Royal Throne in the Years of your tender Youth and desiring at your first Vndertaking that Princely Charge to be directed by wholesom Counsel did make use of our Spiritual Advice in matters concerning the Health of your Soul and also of our Temporal in Affairs relating to the Augmentation and Conservation of your Kingdom And that afterwards when by Right of Succession the Realm of France was devolved unto You and by the Lord Philip of Valois de facto manifestly usurped we perswaded You by our Importunities to make a League with the Lords of Almain and Others for the Recovery of your Right and that You should only take care to provide Men of Courage and Skill sufficient for the War because we would effectually supply you with Monies for the Necessities of You and Yours and for Wages for the Army And because You altogether wanted this due Assistance you were fain to submit to the heavy burthen of Vsury To these things most Excellent Prince even thô we hold our Tongues and speak not a word the notoriety of the Fact knows how to give a fit Answer For in the beginning of your Reign while we presided over the Church of Winchester by whose Counsel your Majesty was directed is known to the whole Kingdom For He who is ignorant of nothing knows that when the Question about the Kingdom of France after the Death of King Charles the Brother of your Serene Mother i i Vid. l. 1. c. 2. §. 2. p. 28. was handled and discussed in the Parliament then held at Northampton and it was thereupon ordained that the Bishops of Worcester then now of Winchester and of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and in your Name claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois who according to this Ordinance taking then upon them the Legation enjoyned them went into France which very Embassy gave the greatest Occasion of this present War we had at that time no concern in the Government of You or of your Youth as others had who directed You both in Spirituals and Temporals because neither as then did we any ways intermeddle in the Kings Business but remained at Court for what cause God knows hated by all the Courtiers But afterwards in times of Unity since it pleased Your Majesty that We also together with others of Your Council should confer about Your Affairs toward the Establishing of Peace between the two Realms of England and of France considering the Perils of Souls Bodies and Goods that were impending from the Devouring Gulf of War We labour'd with all Our Power and to that end frequently crossing the Sea not without many Dangers Toyls and vast Expences We together with other Prelates and divers Peers of Your Realm have sought the Personal Presence of the said Philip and have effectually offer'd him We say not Measure sufficient enough but even running over as before this it hath been known for the obtaining of Peace But the said Philip like the Deaf Adder stopping his Ears and not willing to hearken unto Us there were sent unto him on Your Part two Spiritual Ambassadors to wit the Bishop of Durham and of Worcester then now of Winchester for the obtaining of his Peace And another time the Lords Henry of blessed Memory Bishop of Lincoln and William Mountagu and William Clinton now Earls of Salisbury and of Huntingdon who yet could neither obtain Peace nor any delay from War But while the said Ambassadors were yet in the Parts beyond Sea the the said Philip of Valois presently sent divers Commissions to all his Maritime Coasts to kill and destroy the Men and Ships of England wheresoever they could be found at Sea and with all Expedition sent an Armed Band to Invade your Country of Gascoign And so the War being begun by the said Philip and not by Us according to the deliberation of Your Parliament at Westminster Summon'd on that Occasion and not on Our Account only but on the Account of the great Cruelty and Obstinacy of the Haughty Mind of the said Philip who Invaded the English and refus'd all manner of Agreement and for the obtaining of Your Right in the Realm of France which was wickedly Usurped by the said Philip it was Ordained and Agreed that an Alliance should be struck up with the Almains and others But as for the Wages in this part to be paid to Your Forces in a certain Council then for that end called at Stamford there were certain Agreements made with certain Merchants of Your Land We being present the Form whereof may plainly appear in Your Chancery Which if they had been observed together with other Subsidies given by the Clergy and People to the Aid of Your War and the great Customs of Woolls not only in our Opinion but in the Judgement of all Your Counsellours would have sufficed for this whole War. And Your Majesty well knows that the foresaid Agreements were neither Violated nor Changed by Us and that the Subsidies by no means came to our Hands If then any Misfortune happen'd for want of Money for which We are sorry this is to be wholly imputed to those who brake the said Agreements and wickedly wasted and embesel'd the said Subsidies and not to Us who bore the Burthen and Heat of the Day and especially for this Cause that after Your first Crossing the Seas We have made no long abode in this Kingdom But with the Reverend Fathers the Lords Cardinals and the Bishop of Durham We went into France for the Reformation of the
whether Florens were to be current with Sterling After which Declaration was made in the Kings Name that whoever of his Subjects should think themselves hardly used either by the King or his Officers upon Complaint and Proof made should have their Remedy The mean while the Archbishop in Order to be present at this Session of Parliament f Antiqu. Brit. p. 235. n. 56. came to London repaired secretly to the Bishops of London and Chichester by whom he is convey'd to the Kings Palace where the Parliament sat with a great Company of Clergymen and Souldiers Upon his Entrance into the House the Kings Steward and Chamberlain met him who in the Kings Name forbad him to enter the Parliament untill in the Kings Exchequer he had undergone a Tryal concerning Crimes laid to his Charge Canterbury lest he should move the King too much went into the Exchequer and there took a Copy of the Articles whereof his Accusation was framed to which he promised after a mature deliberation to return an Answer Then with the Kings leave he enter'd the Parliament and there before the Prelates and Lords of the Realm declared the causes of his coming to be for the Honour Rights and Liberties of the Church for the Profit and Commodity of the Realm and for the Interest and Honour of the King and lastly that he might clear himself in Parliament of several Crimes laid to his Charge and Published over all England That day there was nothing done but the Parliament being at the Kings command Adjourn'd every one went his way But from g M. S. ibid. §. 6. Sr. Rob. Cottons Exact Abridgement Thursday the 12 of April till Thursday the 19 the Parliament continued from day to day in debate upon this point that the Nobles of this Land should not be put to answer but before their Peers in open Parliament Whereupon are named Four Bishops Four Earls and Four Barons to draw up the Platform for the Kings View Their h Antiqu. Brit. p. 236. Godwins Cat Bps p. 136. Names were these the Prelates Ralph Stafford Bishop of London Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells John Grandeston Bishop of Exceter and Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford The Four Earls were Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon and Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk The Four Barons were Henry Lord Piercy Thomas Lord Wake Ralph Lord Basset and the Lord Ralph Nevill These being also to enquire concerning the Crimes laid against the Archbishop and to prepare them for the King among other things determin'd that the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer and other High Officers of State should be included under the Names of Peers and set down a Request that all Conditions and Estates might enjoy their proper and peculiar Liberties By that time these things were thus forwarded the Archbishop came again to the Parliament but was forbid by the Captain of the Kings Guard i Antiqu. Brit. Godw. ut supra Sr. William Attewood to enter Whereupon he spake thus to the People that flocked about him My Friends the King by his Writ of Summons hath called me to this Parliament and I who am the Chief Peer of the Realm and who next the King have the First Voice in Parliament claim the Rights of my Church of Canterbury and therefore require entrance into Parliament But when for all this being kept out by the Guard he could not enter he took his Cross in his own Hands and solemnly protested that he would not stir from that place till the King gave him leave to come into Parliament or a sufficient Reason why he should not While he stood there in this manner some that were by began to revile him telling him that he was a Traytor and had deceived the King and betray'd the Realm To whom the Archbishop The Curse of Almighty God and of his Blessed Mother and of St. Thomas and Mine also be upon the Heads of them that inform the King so Amen Amen In this hurry certain Noblemen chancing to come out he besought them to Request the King in his behalf and for the Right of his Church of Canterbury this they kindly promise him to do The mean while certain Articles cunningly contriv'd and so as they might stir up the hate of the Common People against him are scatter'd about in all places The Authors of this trouble of the Archbishops were thought to be that subtle Engineer Adam Orleton Bishop of Winchester the Lord Darcy and Dr. William Killesby but Winchester cunningly dissembled the Matter and the other two were his open Enemies However at last by the Intercession and Favour of the Lords the King gave leave for his Admission into Parliament where he offer'd to purge himself Lawfully in Parliament of the Crimes objected unto him But he was referr'd to the Consideration of the Twelve Peers who had his Cause in Hand at that time On the 19 of April being a Thursday k M. S. Ret. Parl. p. 41. §. 8. Sr. R. Cotton p. 31. ibid. the King came into St. Edward's Chamber commonly called the Painted Chamber before whom in sight of all the Lords and Commons the Archbishop humbled himself and required his Gracious Pardon which upon the whole Parliaments General Suit and Entreaty his Majesty granted After which the Archbishop desired that whereas he was publiquely defamed thrô the Realm he might now be Arraigned in Open Parliament before his Peers But the King answer'd he would first attend to the Common Affairs and after that examine lighter Matters However a little after without any more Accusation or Answer the King of his own accord declared him Legally purged and excused and ever after held him more Dear than before Thus ended the Archbishops Troubles the Matter being no more resumed he either appearing Innocent which is most likely or however made so by the Kings Pardon Thô at that time all things touching his Arraignment were deliver'd l M.S. Id. p. 45. §. 48. Sr. Rob. Cotton to remain with Dr. William Killesby Keeper of the Privy Seal who as We observ'd before was thought no very Good Friend to the Archbishop But the Gracious King it seems had a Mind not to destroy so able a Minister but only to humble him and break his High Prelatical Obstinacy which for a while seem'd ready to Cope with his Regal Power But upon occasion of this Contrast the m M. S. Id. p. 42. c. Clergy of England in this Parliament made these Requests to the King That the Liberties of Holy Church may be kept and the Great Charter be newly proclaim'd and by Oath confirmed The King answer'd that it was his Desire that Magna Charta should be observed but that it seem'd to him sufficient for either that or other their Liberties to be exemplifi'd under the Great Seal and that more Oaths were not necessary especially since already too many
And we find remaining upon this Registry of True Glory no less than Eight Emperours of Germany Five French Kings Five Kings of Denmark Three Kings of Spain Two Kings of Scotland before the Realms were happily United Five Kings of Portugal Two Kings of Sweedland One King of Poland One King of Bohemia One King of Aragon Two Kings of Castille Two Kings of Naples Two Arch-Dukes One Duke of Guelderland One Duke of Holland Two Dukes of Burgundy Two Dukes of Brunswicke One Duke of Milain Two Dukes of Vrbin One Duke of Ferrara One Duke of Savoy Two Dukes of Holstein One Duke of Saxony and One Duke of Wertemberg Seven Count Palatines of the Rhyne Four Princes of Orange One Marquess of Brandenberg all Strangers besides many other Worthies and Persons of the Highest Rank and Vertue both at home and abroad to the Number of well near 500 since the First Institution All whose Names together with the Escutcheons of their Arms are still remaining Engraven on Square Plates of Mettal affixed to their several Stalls in the most Beautifull Chappel of St. George and every Knights Banner is set up over his Head during his Natural Life So that We may justly conclude with our Learned Selden that it exceeds in Majesty Honour and Fanie all Chevalrous Orders in the World. VIII No less Designs than these busied the Active Mind of this Illustrious Monarch when he met with any Respit from War which now is hasting on apace For while by the Device of his Round Table He was thus laying a Foundation for this Royal and Heroick Institution King Philip of France who already had begun to countermine him with another Table of his Erecting at Paris and was extreamly offended with whatever King Edward went about began to be jealous of certain of his Lords and others who hitherto had served him faithfully as if they secretly for all that favour'd King Edwards cause Whether that was True or no whereof they were suspected is no where made appear but however King t Frois c 99. Mezerâ—y p. 21. Philip under pretence of a Solemn Tourneament which he then held at Paris in imitation of King Edwards at Windsor as we shew'd train'd thither the Lord Oliver Clisson with ten or twelve other Lords of Bretagne in company of the Lord Charles of Blois and there the most Loyal and Valiant Lord Clisson was suddenly by the jealous Kings Order apprehended and clapt up in Prison no Man being able to imagine for what reason unless that because King Edward had chose rather to release him by Exchange for the Lord Stafford he was therefore suspected to be a secret Friend to the English And notwithstanding that he had so gallantly recover'd Vannes from the English and at the same time had rid King Philip of the Lord Robert of Artois one of his most mortal Enemies nowwithout any Process or hearing he was adjudged to be drawn thrô the City to the Place of Execution where u Fabian p. 272. he lost his Head and after that his Body was hanged in Chains upon a Gibbet and his Head sent to Nantes in Bretagne where it was advanced upon a Pole over the Gates of the City To the great x Mezeray p. 21. Astonishment of all Men and the infinite Regret and Indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till now was not used to be shed but in Battle for that Cruel Princes quarrel This Lord Clisson left behind him a young Son named Oliver as his Father was him his Relations upon this Disaster took up presently and carry'd unto the Countess of Montford where he was bred up with her young Son John who was just about the same Age with him Soon after there died in the same manner and for as little matter Sr. John and Sr. Godfry de Malestroit the Father and Son two Valiant and Worthy Bretons also Sr. John de Montauban Sr. William Bruce Sr. John Cablet and Sr. John du Plessis Knights and John Malestroit Nephew to the foresaid Sr. John the Elder Esquire as also Robert Bruce John and David de Sennes Esquires Shortly after there were also Executed in Paris or as some say y Frois c. 99. starved to Death three Valiant Knights of Normandy Sr. William Bacon Sr. Richard Percy and Sr. Rouland de la Rochetessone all whose Heads were sent to Carentan a Chief City in Normandy which afterwards proved the utter Ruine of that Place as we shall shew Sr. Godfry of Harecourt himself who was Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother of the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had been served in no better manner but that he wisely kept aloof nor would he by any means obey King Philips Summons but at last despairing of any tolerable security in those parts he came over into England to King Edward who received him gladly and made good use both of his Valour and Counsel in the following War whereof he became a second Firebrand as the Lord Robert of Artois had been before him And King Philip after his old manner to enflame the business the more proceeded against him with an High Hand and openly proscribed him as a Traytor and Enemy to the Crown of France but King Edward on the other hand being then again at Enmity with Philip called him Cousin allowed him an Honourable Maintenance and made him one of the Marshals of his Host But this happen'd after the Death of the Lord Clisson z Frois c. 114. almost a Year Thus King Philip when he should rather have endeavoured of Enemies to make Friends by his rash severity and want of Princely connivence and temporizing a little rendred even many of his own Subjects Enemies unto him IX Of the first part of this Tragedy King Edward had News immediately for while a Frois c. 101. at Windsor he was busied in preparing his Round-Table of which we have spoken Mr. Henry b Fabian p. 273. Malestroit a Deacon in Holy Orders Master of the Requests to King Philip and younger Brother to Sr. Godfry of Malestroit whom the said King had unjustly put to Death came over to England in deep displeasure and told the King complaining unto him most lamentably of the Death of his Father Brother and Cousin and how cruelly and without all Reason King Philip had Executed several other Lords Knights and Esquires and especially the noble Lord Clisson who had so faithfully and valiantly served against the English only because he had a jealousie that they were secretly King Edwards Friends Wherefore he exhorted him earnestly that since the French King had thereby broken the Truce he would renew the War against him and Revenge the Blood of those his Innocent Friends How King Edward resented this News We shall shew when we have first dispatch'd what concerns this Messengeâ— Mr. Henry Malestroit To him the King presently assigned a place of good Authority in the City of Vannes in Bretagne which was then held of England
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
Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him but however the King of England and his Marshals sent out u Id. Mezeray c. 500 Spears and 2000 Archers on Horseback to scour the Fields and to see whether any Frenchmen were again gather'd together Now many Inhabitants of Abbeville and St. Requier in Ponthieu with the Commons of Rouën and Beauvais had early that Morning being the Day before joyned together come into the Field not knowing of the late Discomfiture Some say that the English had reared French Colours which they had taken in the Fight whereby those Frenchmen being deceived came up to joyn them as if they had been their Friends The English immediately made them know their Errour and set upon them so lustily that within a little while they put them to Flight and chased them and slew in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes more than 7000 Men nor had one of them escaped if the Day had been clear They had scarce wip'd their Swords and recover'd their Order when they had an other Occasion to bestir themselves For now they met with a more formidable Number of their Enemies who were conducted by two Noble Leaders the Archbishop of Rouën and the Grand Prior of France they also being ignorant of the Overthrow given to their Friends the Day before For they had heard how King Philip intended not to fight till the Sunday and therefore came thither now to his Assistance Upon these the Day beginning now to clear the Englishmen under the Leading of the Earls of Arundel x Vid. Michael Northburgh's Letter l. 2. c. 4. §. 5. Northampton and Suffolk set with a Courage which their last acquired Victory had doubled and fought so obstinately that after a Stout Resistance they gain'd a Compleat Conquest having slain the two Leaders with 2000 of their best Men upon the Spot and pursuing the Chace for 3 Leagues together Beside these two Successes they met with several Frenchmen who had strayed in the Dark night and not knowing where the King or any of his Captains were had lain about in the Fields But their Respit was not long for now they were all put to the Sword as many as were found and sent to bear them Company who were slain the Day before Whereby it was thought that of the Commons and Footmen of the Cities and Good Towns of France there fell now four times as many as were slain on the Saturday in the great Battle XIV That same y Frois c. 132. Sunday about Noon as the King came from Hearing Divine Service the Captains of this Brigade return'd and shew'd the King what they had seen and done and how they had succeeded and assured him that there was no more Appearance of any Enemy in the Field Then the King order'd the Lord Reginald Cobham and Sr. Richard Stafford Brother to the Lord Ralph Stafford with three Heralds in their Company to go and search the Field and view the Number and Quality of the Slain For in those Days every Great Man wore a Surcoat of his Arms over his Armour to distinguish him according to his Quality These visited in Order the Bodies of all them that were slain and when they had taken a full and exact Account of every Parcel certain Men who were thereto appointed of the King spoil'd their Bodies taking their Money and Rings and what else was most valuable but with so much Decency that they left their Apparel on to cover their Nakedness All which Booty the King caused to be distributed among his Souldiers by equal Portions These Lords with the Heralds returned from visiting the Dead and brought along with them all the Spoil of the Field just as the King was going to Supper and after Supper they reported to the King a just Account of what they had found namely that there lay Dead in the Field 11 Great Princes 80 Bannerets 1200 Knights and more than 30000 of the Common Souldiers The Contemplation of this Success made a z Giov. Villani p. 879. pious Historian of those Days break out after this manner O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts how great is thy Power in Heaven and Earth and especially in Battles Since sometimes nay very often he brings to pass that a small People and Power doth vanquish Mighty Armies thereby to set forth his own Power and to pull down the Proud and Arrogant and to punish the Sins of Kings Lords and People And particularly in this Discomfiture he shew'd his Power evidently for there were Thrice as many Frenchmen as English But yet this was not says he without just Cause that such Mischief should happen to the King of France Since among his other Offences that we may not instance in the Wrong done to the King of England and other his Lords in Usurping their Inheritance and Lordships but Ten years before being sworn to Pope John to undertake the Croisade and promising within two Years to go beyond the Seas and to regain the Holy Land he took the Tenths and Subsidies of all his Realm and yet made War against Christian Princes unjustly On occasion whereof there died and were taken Prisoners by the Saracens beyond the Seas of Armenians and other Christians above an 100000 who in Confidence of his Assistance had begun the War against the Saracens in Syria Thus far Giovanni Villani XV. The King of England kept the Field all Sunday-Night also and on the Mâ—nday Morning he prepared to March thence but a Frois c. 132. first by Proclamation granted a Truce to all the Towns thereabouts for Three Days that so the Country People might be encouraged to come forth and search the Fields of Cressy and to bury their Dead But as for the Bodies of the Kings and Great Princes he caused them to be taken up decently and conveyed along with him in solemn Pomp to Monstrevil were they were all deposited in Holy Ground in the Great Abby The King b Giov. Vill m. l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. Himself and his Chief Lords wearing Blacks at their Funerals especially for the Sake of John the Famous Old King of Bohemia whose Death he took heavily and prosecuted with Lamentations After which he sent his Body with much Honour to the Marquess his Son then at the Abby of Riscampo whence afterwards it was honourably conveyed to Luxemburgh by his Son aforesaid While the King lay thus at Monstrevil his Marshals made an Excursion towards Hesdin and burnt Campagne and Beauraine but they let the Castle alone because it required some time to win it and that Night they lodged by the River of Canche near Hesdin towards Blangy The next Day the whole Army began to March forward c Frois Knighten p. 2588. Da Chesne p. 665. towards Boulogne and by the way took St. Josse the Town of Estaples Neufchastel St. Estienne and burnt and wasted all the Country for about 8
Staple in the Statute-Book because it agreeth exactly with the Record containing 28 Chapters The Seventh day of October Sr. Bartholomew Burwash the Kings Chamberlain in the Presence of the King Lords and Commons sheweth how the King had attempted and pursued War against the French without Charging of the Commons And to end the same he had made great means to the Pope but that since he could not obtain any good end of the War he now required the Commons to grant him the Subsidy of Wooll who thereupon by whole assent granted him the same for Three Years The Print against Provisors that sue to the Court of Rome c. 1. agreeth with the Record the Print that all Suggestions shall be put into Pardons c. 2. agreeth with the Record The Print that Justices of the Peace should look after Victuallers c. 3. agreeth with the Record But the Statute of Wines in the Print c. 5 6 7 and 8. is not in the Roll nor in the Printed Calendar of Parliaments The Commons Petitions are as followeth viz. That the King would revoke the Office of Alnage and take three pence of every Cloth. Let the Commons talk with the Chancellour and Treasurer to the end good Recompence be made for the said Alnage That the Subsidies and other Aids granted may be employed only in the Wars It pleaseth the King. That the Coin may be reduced into old Sterling It was answer'd the last Parliament That the Staple may be appointed at Worcester Nottingham Hull St. Botolphs Stamford Lyn Ipswich and Canterbury One shall be at Canterbury and that only in Honour of St. Thomas That the Lords and Commons may by Easter following appoint out three Sorts of Wolls which shall then Commence The King will be advised That the outragious Fines taken by Sr. John Molins and such other Commissioners may be remedied Vpon Complaint Redress shall be had It is Enacted that all the Articles of the Staple shall be proclaimed throughout the Realm and confirmed at the next Parliament VII Thus this Year ended and on the 15 of March following King Edward sent forth his Writs of Summons to his Barons to meet him in Parliament on the Monday after St. Mark the Evangelist or the 28 of April On the q M.S. Rot. Par. 28 Ed. 3. m. 1. p. 579. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 85. Monday aforesaid the Lord Chief Justice Sr. William Shareshull in the Painted Chamber made open Proclamation before the King Lords and Commons that the Parliament was called for three Causes First For the Establishing the Staple within the Realm and for Confirmation of the Ordinances made at the last Great Council Secondly How they might treat of a Peace with France for that by War the King saw his Subjects greatly wasted and Thirdly For Receiving of Petitions and redress of Enormities all which without a Parliament could not be effectually ended Here Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore being Grandchild to the old Roger Mortimer Earl of March who had been executed for Treason r Vid. l. 1. c. 3 §. 6. p. 46. ad p. 54. An. 4. Ed. 3. twenty three Years before had such favour as Å¿ M. S. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Ashmole p. 692. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. upon his Petition to obtain a Reversal of the Judgment given against his Grandfather aforesaid as erroneous and utterly void for that he that said Earl was put to Death against Law having never been called to open Answer before his Peers Whereupon this said Roger from thence forward bare the Title of Earl of March and had again Restitution of the Castles and Lordships of Blenleveny and Bulkedinas whereof his Grandfather died seised as also all his other Lands which upon that Forfeiture coming to the Crown had been bestowed on William Lord Montagu and Others But the Charter of his Restitution t Tho. Mills Catal Hen. p. 576. bears a later Date viz. on the 19 of Novemb Anno Regni 29. 1355. In u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 317. M.S. Ret. Par. p. 80. §. 13. c. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 86 c. like manner Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel upon his humble Petition wherein he remonstrated that Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father had been unjustly put to Death was thereupon as Heir unto him fully restored And because the Death of his Father had been occasion'd by the means of Roger Mortimer Grandfather to the foresaid Roger Earl of March to prevent all further Heart-burnings between the two Families it was now x Dagd 1 Vol. p. 317. 〈◊〉 Claus 28 Ed. 3. in dâ—rse m. 10. by Indenture made betwixt this Earl Richard and the said Earl Roger agreed that Edmund Son and Heir to the said Richard should take to Wise Alice the Daughter of the said Roger and that she should have Three Thousand Marks for her Portion viz. one Thousand at the Sealing of that Agreement upon their Marriage at her Seventh Year of Age one Thousand more and at her accomplishing the Age of Thirteen the remaining Thousand Now before this as we have already observed the King in Council resolved to withdraw the Mart or Staple of Woolls from the Towns of Flanders because that People thô they received much Advantage thereby had not kept true Touch with him and accordingly he commanded the same to be kept at y Holinsh Engl. Chren p. 948. Statute-Beek p. 102. Westminster Chichester Lincoln Bristow Canterbury Hull and other Places In pursuance of which wholsom Device it was z M.S. Rot. Par. p. 80. n. 16. Sr. Rob-Cotton p. 86. ibid. c. now Enacted that all the Ordinances made in the last Great Council assembled at Westminster touching the Staple be confirmed to continue for ever It is Enacted that the Justices of the Peace shall be of the Best in every County that upon the Displacing of any of them others be placed at the Nomination of the Knights of the same County that they sit four times at least every Year That none be displaced without the Kings Special Commandment or Testimony of their Fellows It is Enacted that no Purveyor being arrested for any Misdemeanour shall have any Privy-Seal to cause such as arrested him to come before the Council to answer the King but have his Remedy at the Common Law. The Commons Petitions with the Kings Answers thereto were these That the Surplusage of the Fines of the Statute of Labourers may be entirely distributed among the Poor of the whole County and not to poor Towns only It shall be parted among the poor Towns only That the Writ of Estreat may lie in every Action where the Party shall recover Dammages of Estreats after the Writ purchased The old Law shall be continued That Remedy may be had in such Cases where the King receiveth the Profits of the Wards Lands as well of Soccage as otherwise where no part of the same is holden of him The Law heretofore used shall continue That it may be order'd
made above an hundred thousand Men. When any were taken and question'd why they did such Devilish deeds they had nothing to say but that they could not help it they only did as they saw others do it being their design to destroy all the Nobles and Gentlemen in the World. One day the King of Navarre slew of these People above 3000 near Clermont in Beauvoisin and at the same time there came out of Prussia from the Holy War Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Cousin John Greilly Lord of Kendale and Benanges and Knight of the Garter commonly called the Captal of Buche a true and constant Lover of the English Nation When the Truce was taken between the two Realms this Noble and Valiant Gentleman with the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Walter Fauconberg an English Baron and several others as well French and Gascogners as English went into Prusses to fight against the Enemies of the Christian Religion and being now upon their Return on the Borders of France they heard of the great havock these unhappy Multitudes made among the Nobility and that the Dutchess of Normandy and the Duke of Orleans and his Dutchess with more than 300 other Ladies and Gentlewomen were in great fear fled unto the City of Meaux for refuge Wherefore the foresaid Lords agreed to go and comfort these Ladies and to offer their Lives in their service for thô the Captal and other English Lords were there yet a Truce being now between the two Kings they might safely ride thrô any part of that Kingdom and besides the Cause it self was able to justifie them all the Country standing in need of such Protectors They were in all Threescore most accomplish'd Men of Arms Lords and Knights besides their Esquires and servants all who were well provided for War and being come in time to Meaux they were heartily welcome to the Duke of Orleans and the Ladies with him and immediately the French Lords and Gentlemen thereabouts joyn'd them The mean while the Rascals of the Jaquerie hearing what a Number of Ladies Gentlewomen and Noblemens Children were gather'd together in Meaux taking unto them the Rebels of Valois and some of the Commons of Paris marched thither as to a certain Prize Upon their first setting forth they were about 9000 and every day they encreased as they passed on till they came to Meaux the Commons of which City out of Fear as they pretended or rather in connivance at their Wickedness set open their Gates and gave them leave to enter Immediately all the Streets were full of them even to the Market-place where all the Nobles Knights and Ladies were lodged in a strong house environ'd by the River of Marne Yet notwithstanding the Presence of these Valiant Knights when the Ladies saw such Multitudes of the Rabble coming against them they were in an heavy taking for doubt of their Lives and Honour But at that instant the Earl of Foix the Lord John Greilly the Lord Fauconberg and their Company being all gallantly mounted rode toward the Gate that looks to the Market-place and sallied forth in Warlike Order setting fiercely upon the Levellers who were but indifferently Armed and held but little Array being more ignorant in the Arts of War than in the Practise of Brutish Cruelty Besides the Three Lords aforesaid there was also the Duke of Orleans with his Banner and their whole Number exceeded not 500 but they were all well-armed Expert and Gallant Men and led on by Captains of High Courage and Conduct Wherefore when this Rascally Rabble saw these Warriers all in shining Armour sallying forth on their Barbed Horses ready to Defend the Place the foremost of them gave back in great Confusion and the Gentlemen fell in upon them with swords Spears and Battle-Axes But when the Barbarous Clowns felt and saw the mighty stroaks they gave and how nothing they had could resist them they all began to turn their backs and for haste fell foul upon one another Then all the Noblemen having quitted the Barriers and won the Head of the Street rushed forth in good Martial Order and flew in with great Fury among the thickest of their Enemies whom they beat down by heaps and slew them like Beasts driving them before their faces so hastily that Hundreds of them leap'd into the River In short they slew of them that day more than 7000 and not one of them had escaped but that the Victors were so wearied with the Execution that they were not able to follow the Chace and pick them up from all parts where they were scatter'd Now at last when all these Men of Arms were return'd to the Town with one consent they set it on fire and burnt it to the ground and all the Commons of the Town whom they could enclose therein because they had so perfidiously taken part with the Jaquerie and let them in at their Gates Their Captain Jaques the Good-man being here taken alive was sent to the Dauphin ſ In Gestis Innocent VI. apud Besqu vid. Odor Rainald ad ann 1359. §. 1. who understanding that he had assumed the Name of a King caused him to be Crown'd with a Trevet or the Three-legged Frame of an Iron Skellet red-hot and so to be hang'd in Requital of all his Barbarous Cruelties After this notable Discomfiture and the terrible Example done upon Meaux they were never able to make any considerable Head again For the young Lord Ingelram de Coucy a Valiant Baron both of t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. England and France with certain flying Troops of both Nations scoured about thrô all the Country and still as fast as he could pick them up he put them to Death without pity IV. But neither yet were the intestine Broils of France allayed for by reason of the King of Navarre's popularity especially because he presum'd to retain certain Englishmen at his wages within Paris it self the u Frois c. 183. Duke of Normandy doubting the Event of such open Insolence as also the seditious Designs of the Provost of the Merchants and his Abettors left the City in Displeasure with those Friends he had about him and rode to Pont-Charenton on the River Marne where he began to Muster Men of War and presently sent his Defiance to Stephen Marcell the Provost and all his Partakers The Provost was mightily startled at this and doubted greatly that some time or other the Duke would come upon them in the Night and over-run the City for at that time Paris had neither deep Trenches nor any other Defence in a manner except those Walls of Bone her Inhabitants Then immediately he set Labourers and Pioneers to work about the City who made large and deep Trenches and began High Walls and strong Gates and Bastions and other Defences there being 300 Men continually employed about the Work for the space of one whole Year Surely it was a Mark of Extraordinary Greatness to furnish an Army and at
by the Hands of their own Country-men Being thus resolved they secretly made an Agreement with the Englishmen those that made War against Paris for the King of Navarre knew nothing of this Plot that on such a Night the Provost with his Friends should be at the Gates of St. Anthony and St. Honore at the Hour of Midnight ready to let in the English and Navarrois who were to be near at hand well appointed to overrun rob and utterly destroy the City except only such Houses as should have certain Marks agreed on between them but in all other Houses where such Tokens were not to be seen to plunder and destroy Men Women and Children To this height of Wickedness was the Provost by Degrees carried proving at last a Diabolicall Incendiary instead of a good zealous Patriot as at first he was because his indiscreet Zeal for the People made him at the beginning too bold with his Prince whose Patience when he had abused beyond all hopes of Pardon not daring to trust the Rabble for whose sake he had offended he now resolves for the saving of his own Neck to destroy all even the Innocent with the Offenders had not God blasted his unnatural Design For that same Night on which all this was to have been done John Maillart and his Brother Simon with Pepin des Essards and several other Honest and Loyal Burgesses of Paris having as some think by means Divine or at least Humane received an Intimation that on that Night the City was mark'd out to be destroyed armed themselves secretly and informed their Friends of the Danger that more might be in readiness upon Occasion and so with a compleat Guard being themselves upon the Watch they went the Rounds In their Progress a little before Midnight they came to St. Anthonies Gate where they found the Provost of the Merchants with a small Company having the Keys of the Gates in his hands Then said John Maillart to the Provost Stephen what do you here at this time of Night The Provost answer'd how he was there to look to the safety of the City By God quoth Maillart you shall not come off thus for it is plain by the Keys there in your hands that you are not here at this time of Night for any Good. Said the Provost John you lie falsly in your Throat Nay quoth John 't is thou Stephen that liest like a false Traytor and therewithall offer'd a blow at him and commanded his Guard to slay the Traytors At this the Provost turn'd about and would have fled but John Maillart althô he was his Godfather knockt him down to the ground with an Ax and never left till he had slain him There died with him six more of his Friends among whom were f Da Serres c. Simon Palmier and Philip Guyphart the rest being all seised and clapt in Prison By this the People began to rise at the Alarm and come into the Streets but John Maillart and his Company hasted to the other Gate of St. Honore where they found the rest of the Provost's Friends whom they accused of Treason and having dispatched such as would not be taken lead the rest away to Prison After which they proceeded to take the Accomplices such as had been confessed privy to the Design by those whom they found at the Gates And these they took in their Beds and at their Houses with small ado and sent them away to Prison This is the best Account of several that I have met with For Du Serres as may be seen is a Man that usually models the Circumstances of his Narrations more agreeably to his own Wit or Fancy than to Truth But whoever is minded to compare his Relation with ours may consult it both as he reports it and as Froisard and g Fabian p. 302. Fabian from the French Chronicles do more particularly declare the whole Transaction We are unwillingly by these Foreign Matters detained from the History of England Thô not only what we have already said but something more also is necessary to be spoken for the better clearing of what is to follow VIII To be short therefore h Frois c. 187. 188. f. 101. Fabian Mezeray c. upon this Mans Death the Parisians made their Peace with the Duke of Normandy who thereupon came to Paris with the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and many other of the Nobility in his Company and was lodged in the Palace of the Louvre But yet not even here did the Domestick Troubles of France cease For King Charles of Navarre being highly displeased at the Death of his Friend the Provost by advice of his Brother Philip sent presently a new Defiance to the Duke of Normandy and his whole House to the Parisians and to the whole Body of the Realm of France And now he began to retain Souldiers on all hands as well English under their Captains Sr. James Pipe and Sr. Robert Knolles as Germans Brabanders Hainalders Luxemburgers and Others all who were called Navarrois because they fought in Navarre's Quarrel The Mony which the Provost had so frequently and so largely sent him stood him now in good stead and he was no way sparing of it to his Souldiers so that all Men were glad to serve him The King himself held his principal Garrison at Melun on the River Seyne and the Lord Philip his Brother had Garrisons at Mante and Meulan on the same River and every day their Forces encreased because their Pay was so large and certain And presently they reduced the strong Town of Creil standing on the Oyse into their Power Being therefore Lords of the Rivers Seyne Marne and Oyse they soon won the strong Castle of le Herelle which lies between Compeigne and Amiens after which they took Mauconsel and St. Valery But we must beg the Readers Patience if we are something more particular in this matter not only because many English Captains were concerned herein thô they acted now in the King of Navarre's Name only and not by any Commission from King Edward nor so much as his Consent but also because the Actions themselves are well worthy of Memory for their variety and importance And also the Sequel of our Story will be more clearly understood thereby Now therefore the Captain of Creil was the Lord Fondregas of Navarre who so aw'd the Parts about him that none could pass from Paris to Compeign or to Noyon to Soissons Laon or other Places without his safe Conduct so that while he held that Garrison he gat more than an 100000 Franks by granting of Pass-ports only The Captain of le Herelle was the Lord John Picquigny by Birth a Picard but by interest a Navarrois and a Rebel to his Lord the French King who had entrusted the King of Navarre to his Keeping but he not only let him have his Liberty but embraced his Cause ever after His Garrison very much straightned those of Mondidier Perone and Amiens and all
the Esquires we know very well but we pretended to be Englishmen and told him that you were the Lord Bartholomew Burwash whereupon he desired your Company as we said before At this Sr. Galahaut studied with himself a little and then asked Advice of his Friend Sr. Roger of Coulogne and other his Captains what they would have him to do in this Case Sir said they since of your own Accord you always sought out for Adventures now they fall into your Hands you may well afford to take them For by Right of Arms a Man ought to offend his Enemy when once so declared either by Stratagem or open Force as Opportunity serves best To this Sr. Galahaut readily agreed and presently leap'd on his Courser and clapt on his Helmet with the Visor down because his Face should not discover him and the same did all his Company So they left the Village and took the Fields having already determin'd what to do and rode forth on the Right hand toward the Wood where Sr. Reginald waited for them with not above Å¿ Frois c. 207. fol. 102. 30 Men of Arms in his Company whereas Sr. Galahaut had about 70 by this time When Sr. Reginald saw them he displayed his Banner before him and rode forth fair and softly to meet them verily taking them for Englishmen Being come up he raised the Visor of his Helmet and saluted the Lord Galahant by the Name of Sr. Bartholomew Sr. Galahaut thought not to discover himself yet till he had train'd them further off wherefore he only answer'd faintly in English Let us ride on and so set himself among his Men on the one side as Sr. Reginald was with his on the other When Sr. Reginald saw this their Manner and how Sr. Galahaut rode sometimes near him without exchanging a Word shewing his Face or unfolding his Banner then he began to suspect the matter So that after he had rode thus about the space of a quarter of an Hour he made an Halt and stood still under his Banner among his Men and said aloud Sir Knight I am not well assured what you are I think you are not Sr. Bartholomew Burwash for I know him well and he would have been more familiar with me So that I see you are not the Man and therefore you are like to tell me your Name before I ride any farther in your Company Then Sr. Galahaut lifted up his Visor and made towards him thinking to have laid hold on the Reins of his Bridle and crying aloud our Lady of Ribemont while his Fellow Sr. Roger of Coulogne cried Coulogne to the Rescue When Sr. Reginald saw this he was not in the least dejected but drew out his Sword and just as Sr. Galahaut endeavour'd to have seised his Bridle ran him clear through the Body and drew out his Sword again and immediately clapping spurs to his Horse took the open Field and left Sr. Galahaut grievously wounded But several of Sr. Galahaut's Esquires pursued after him so hotly that seeing he must either turn again or incurr Reproach he faced about like a Valiant Gentleman as he was and stood the formost and gave him such a warm Reception that he had no more desire to follow him and in this manner he served three or four of his Pursuers wounding and bruising them all and if he had had a good Ax in his hand he had surely slain a Man at every Blow By this Means and the goodness of his Horse he made shift to escape himself without the least harm His Friends received him gladly and his Enemies and all that heard the Action applauded his good Presence and Courage for coming off so well Thô most of his Men were either taken or slain but a very few enjoy'd their Masters Fortune For when Sr. Galahauts Men saw their Captain wounded in that manner they fell upon the Germans with all the Fury imaginable till they had slain taken or routed them every Man. The Sword had not penetrated any of Sr. Galahaut's Vitals wherefore they dressed up his Wound and bore him carefully to Perone But he never perfectly recover'd that hurt for he was a Man of such indefatigable Courage that he would by no means spare himself in time of War althô his Case required it wherefore he lived but a little while afterward V. The mean while King Edward t Frâ—â—sâ— â—â—8 c. marched thrô Artois where he found a poor Country and little or no Provision but being entred Cambresis he met with plenty of all things For there nothing was taken care of because that Country as holding of the Empire since the Death of Lewis of Bavaria and not of France took it for granted that the English would not hurt them but King Edward was not of that mind He was now lodged at Beaurevoir bordering on Cambresis where because of the Goodness of the Country he tarried four Days to refresh his Men and Horses many great Detachments the mean while overrunning the whole Country as well of Cambresis as Vermandois Whereupon Peter Bishop of Cambray and other Lords of that Country with the Burgesses of the Good Towns having obtained safe Conduct sent their Deputies to the King of England to expostulate with Him and to know by what Title and for what Cause he committed those Hostilities Answer was return'd that it was because heretofore they had been Confederates with France and Enemies to England of which as yet they had given no sign of Repentance But had since that also received Frenchmen into their Towns and Castles and had rebelliously held out against England On all which Accounts they thought it lawfull to use them now as Enemies This was all the Answer they could have and they were fain to be content therewith After this King Edward marched forth into la Tierasche foraging the Country about on all sides and bringing in Prey to the Army One day the Lord Bartholomew Burwash rode before St. Quentin where by chance he met with the Captain of that Place u Frois ibid. sed Knighton vâ—cat tro Danequin Bald. Barton p. 2621. Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows between whom began a terrible Medley wherein many were overthrown on both sides but the English obtain'd the Victory without the loss of one Man and Sr. Baldwin himself was taken Prisoner by the Lord Bartholomew's own Hands But soon after paying his Ransome he had his Liberty and thereupon x Frois c. 210 fol. 103. went to defend the Town and Castle of Tonnerre in Burgundy With this Success which was obtained on the 26 of November Sr. Bartholomew return'd to the King whom he found at the Abby of Fenney where was good store of Provision both for Horse and Man. Thence the Army removed and went into le Rhemois or the Marches of the City of Rheims in Champagne the King taking up his Station at St. Vall beyond Rheims the Prince of Wales at St. Thierry and the Duke of Lancaster
who shall rebell or will not accord to the Premises the said Kings shall use all their said Power of Body Goods and Counsel to reduce the said Rebels to true Obedience according to the Form and Tenor of the said Treaty And moreover the said Kings shall submit themselves their Heirs and Realms to the Correction of our Holy Father the Pope that he may constrain by Sentences and Censures of the Church and other due ways Him who shall rebell according as Reason shall require And among the Confirmations and Securities aforesaid the said Kings and their Heirs shall renounce by Faith and by Oath all War and all Proceedure of Fact And if thrô the Disobedience Rebellion or Power of any Subjects of the Realm of France or any just Cause the King of France or his Heirs or any of them shall not be able to accomplish all the Premises the King of England and his Heirs or any of them shall not nor ought not to make War against the said King of France nor his Heirs nor his Realm but both together shall endeavour to bring the Rebels to true Obedience and to accomplish the Premises And if any of the Realm or Obeisance of the King of England will not restore the Castles Towns or Forts which they hold in the Realm of France and obey the Treaty aforesaid or for just cause cannot accomplish that which He ought to do by this present Treaty neither the King of France nor his Heirs nor any for them shall make any War upon the King of England or his Realm but both together shall put to their Power to recover the Castles Forts and Towns aforesaid and to be a Means that all Obedience and Accomplishment may be done to the foresaid Treaties And there shall also be done and given of the one Party and of the Other according to the Nature of the Fact all manner of Confirmations and Securities that they can think on or devise as well by the Pope and the College of the Court of Rome as otherwise perpetually to hold and preserve the Peace and all other Matters here-above recorded 38. Item It is agreed by the present Treaty and Accord that all other Accords Treaties or Conferences if any have been made or debated in time past shall be null and of no Force and altogether made void neither may the Parties at any time relieve themselves nor make any Complaint the one against the other on occasion of the said Treaties or Accords if any such hath been as is said 39. Item That this present Treaty shall be approved sworn and confirmed by the two Kings at Calais when they shall be there in Proper Person And after that the King of France shall be gone from Calais and shall be within his own Power the said King of France within one Month next following his said Departure shall make Letters Patents Confirmatory of the same and such others as shall seem necessary and shall send and deliver them at Calais to the said King of England or his Deputies in the said Place And also the said King of England when he receives the said Letters Confirmatory shall deliver back his Letters Confirmatory like unto them to the King of France 40. Item It is agreed that neither of the Kings shall procure or cause to be procured by Himself or Others that any Innovations or Grievances he done by the Church of Rome or others of Holy Church whosoever they be against this present Treaty upon either of the said Kings their Coadjutors Adherents or Allies whatsoever nor upon their Lands or Subjects by occasion of War nor for other Cause nor for Services which the said Coadjutors Adherents or Allies have done to the said Kings or any of them And if our said Holy Father the Pope or any other would do so the two said Kings shall hinder it to their Power sincerely without fraud 41. Item Concerning the Hostages which shall be deliver'd to the King of England at Calais and concerning the Manner and Time of their Departure the two Kings shall determin at Calais XI These Articles being thus agreed on first by the Commissioners of King Edward and of the Regent of France were also after that allowed by both the Principals thô the Regent is said to have yielded thereto in a manner by Force and Constraint because he saw the Realm was no longer able to subsist amidst those Desolations and Ruines which the War brought However sending back the Testimony of his Hand and Seal that he had consented thereto in order to the full Completion of this Treaty a Truce was taken to continue between the two Kings their Adherents and Confederates from that time to the Feast of St. Michael then next following and from thence on for a Year that so all Matters in order to a firm and perpetual Peace might be duely and rightly devised and established The mean while till King John might be at Liberty only the two Eldest Sons of the Kings were solemnly sworn to uphold and maintain this Agreement aâ—d first the Prince of Wales ordained on his Part y Tillet has six and Fab. Four Barons of England that is to say the Lord Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Guy Brian and the Lord Roger Beauchamp of Bletso who were received into Paris as Messengers from Heaven all the Bells ringing and the People thronging the streets as to see a Triumph all the Street where they passed z Du Chesne p. 692. C. being spread and tapistred if we may believe it with Cloth of Gold. They went straight to the Palace where the Regent his Brethren and their Uncle with many Lords and Prelates received them honourably Du Chesne says that here in the Great Hall in presence of all the People the English Lords made their Oath and sware in the Name of the King their Master and of his Sons upon the Holy Eucharist and upon the Holy Evangelists to accomplish and hold the said Articles From the Hall they were conducted to a Magnificent Feast and from thence to the Chappel where the Regent shewed them many Jewels and Relicts and presented them with one Great Thorn which was believed to have belonged to the Crown of our Saviour After this they return'd and the Regent on his Part deputed Four Nobles of France who went immediately after to Louviers in Normandy where at that time the Prince of Wales was and there made for him the same Oath in Presence of the said Prince But it is my Opinion that these Lords on each Side went rather to take the Oath first of the Dauphin and then of the Black-Prince as most other Writers affirm the manner whereof a Walsingh hist p. 167. Hypod. p. 127. vid. Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 1. Fabian p. 241. c. Walsingham thus describes That at Paris in the time of Low Mass when they had thrice sang O Lamb of God which takest away the
England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Men Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognizances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions High and Low Resorts Safeguards and Lordships and Superiorities which appertain'd or may in any wife appertain to the Kings of France and to the Crown or to any other Person because of the King and Crown of France at any time in Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places aforenamed or in any of them and their appurtenances and appendages whatsoever or in the Persons thereof Vassals or Subjects whatsoever be they Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church without retaining or reserving any thing therein to themselves their Heirs and Successors or any of the Kings of France or any other whatsoever because of the King and Crown of France whereby they their Heirs and Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places abovenamed so as all the above-named Persons their Heirs and Successors shall for ever be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Sovereignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their appurtenances and appendages and other things aforesaid with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords and as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without Recognizing any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort or Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognizance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expresly the said Resorts and Sovereignty and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall expresly Renounce all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd unto or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demaine of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Earldoms of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or may make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and be rendred to the King of England and his Heirs And the two Kings shall convey resign and quit the One to the Other for ever all the Right that each of them hath or may have to those things which by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to each of them as for the time and place when and where the said Renunciations shall be made the two Kings shall confer and agree together at Calais Now We to uphold and accomplish the Articles Peace and Accord aforesaid do Renounce expresly all Resorts and Sovereignties and all Right which we have and may have in all the things aforesaid which We have rendred and deliver'd and resign'd to the said King of England our Brother and which from this time forth ought to remain and appertain unto him by the said Treaty and Peace In respect that He and the said Prince his Eldest Son have Renounced expresly all those things which by the said Treaty ought not to be rendred unto nor to remain with the said King of England our Brother for him and for his Heirs and all Demands which he maketh or may make against Vs And especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Earldom and Country of Flanders and all other Demands which the said King of England maketh or may make of Vs for any cause whatsoever saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to the said King of England and his Heirs And unto him We convey yield and resign and He unto Vs and each to Other to the best of our Power all the Right which either of Vs might or may have in all those things which by the said Treaty and Peace ought to remain and be deliver'd to either of Vs Saving still and reserving to the Churches and to Men of the Church that which to them appertaineth and all that which hath been usurped and detained from their Hands by occasion of the Wars that this be rendred and delivered unto them And that the Towns and Forts and all the Inhabitants thereof shall be and remain in such Liberties and Franchises as they were before they came into our Hands and Dominion and that to be confirmed unto them by the said King of England if he shall be thereto required and that We do not the contrary in any of the Matters aforesaid And as to this point We submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Coërcion of the Church of Rome and We Will and consent that our Holy Father the Pope shall confirm all these things in giving Monition and General Commands for the accomplishment thereof against Vs our Heirs and Successors and against all our Subjects be they Commons Colleges Vniversities or single Persons whatsoever and in giving General Sentences of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to be incurred by Vs and by them who shall do the contrary And that the said Sentences may fall upon Vs or them as soon as We or They act or endeavour by seising any Town Castle City Fort or any thing doing ratifying or consenting in giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aâ—d privily or openly against the said Peace Of which Sentences they shall not be absolved till they shall have made full satisfaction to all those who by that Act have sustained or suffer'd Damages And moreover to the Intent that this said Peace be more firmly kept and holden for
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
Francis Petrarch the Laureat Poet of Italy of whom We have spoken b Lib. 1. c. 19. §. 14. p. 247. in the former Part of this History in the seventieth Year of his Age wherefore Squarzafichus the Writer of his Life is to be corrected who acknowledges him to have been of that Age and that he was born in the Year 1304 but yet that he died Anno 1364 which is a palpable Mistake Upon the Thursday next after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr there departed this Life that Valiant Baron Sr. John Charleton Lord of Powis leaving John his Son and Heir at that time 14 Years of Age and another Son named Edward aged about Four Years behind On the c Vid. Thorn's Chron. apud 10. Angl. Script p. 2148. p. 2150. Walsing hist p. 183. Hypod. p. 133. Godâ— Catal. p. 146. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 236. 5th of July D. William Wittlesey Archbishop of Canterbury departed this Life presently after whose Death the Monks of Canterbury elected for their Archbishop one Adam Easton d Ità Scriptâ—res nostri sed bis térve evolventi Victorellum nullus mihi cecurrit Cardinalis horum temperum Adam nominatus a Cardinal who was an Englishman born but thoroughly Italianated as having lead his whole Life in a manner at the Court of Rome Wherefore King Edward was so offended at this Choice of the Monks that he determin'd to banish them out of the Realm and to confiscate their Goods But then Pope Gregory thô he favour'd this his Cardinal yet to shield the poor Monks from the Danger of this Tempest was content to annull their Election and to bestow the Archbishoprick by way of Provision on Dr. Simon Sudbury then Bishop of London whom he knew the King liked well enough This Man was the Son of Nigellus Tibalds a Gentleman of Suffolk but being born in the Parish of St. George in Sudbury a Town of the said County he took his sirname thence after the manner of many Clergymen in those days He was a Man of Excellent Parts great Knowledge Judgement Wisdom and Eloquence and among many Works of Charity he e Speed's Maps in Kent c. 3. §. 8. built the West-Gate of the City of Canterbury and all the Wall from that Gate unto North-Gate commonly called by the Name of the Long-Wall an Act of no less Advantage to the City than of Expence and Charge to the Builder About seven Years after he yet ended unhappily being barbarously Murder'd together with Sr. Robert Hales Treasurer of England by the Rebels who were headed by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw in the Days of King Richard the Second neither his Age nor Dignity nor Eloquence nor Piety being able to mollifie the Minds of those Wretches who had already cast away the Bonds of their Allegiance X. About this time a certain Lady named Madam Alice Perrers being a Person of extraordinary Beauty f Stow's Survey of London p. 421. was therefore made Lady of the Sun and rode from the Tower of London thrô Cheap-side accompanied with many Lords Knights and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord or a Knight by his Horses Bridle till they came into West-Smithfield where presently began a Solemn Justs which held for seven Days together But because hereafter we shall have occasion to speak further of this Madam Alice Perrers especially since by our Vulgar Historians she hath constantly been misrepresented I shall here once for all make a more particular Enquiry who and what She was That She was not King Edward's Concubine as most of our Writers one taking it from another too boldly affirm may appear not only from the utter Improbability of the Matter it self which we shall shew but also from the Reputation of her Person which was so great that after this She was g Dudg Warwickshire p. 434. taken in Marriage by a considerable Baron of this Realm the Lord William Windsor h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 509. who in the Fourty Third of this King was Constituted his Lieutenant of Ireland but afterwards became much more notable Now I say 't is neither probable that King Edward who never else is said to have gone astray even in the Flower of his Age especially while his beloved Queen lived which was within five Years of this time except only that Story of his being enamour'd on the Fair Countess of Salisbury which We have utterly exploded should now in the very impotence of his Age burn in Flames to which he had so seldom indulged And it is as improbable that so Noble a Baron as Sr. William Windsor should afterwards take in Marriage so notoriously infamous a Woman had she been thought at that time such a lewd and impudent Strumpet as many would make her But the i Rot. Par. 1 Ric. 2. n. 41. c. Vid. M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 158. n. 41. Records themselves are nothing so severe upon the Reputation of this Lady as appears from these Words Dame Alice Perrers was introduced before the Lords and by Sr. Richard Scroop Knight Steward of the Kings Houshold charged for pursuing of Matters contrary to order taken two Years before namely that no Woman should for any Advantage present any Cause in the Kings Court on pain of losing all they had and being banished the Realm for ever That particularly she had procured Sr. Nicolas Dagworth to be called from Ireland whither he had been sent and at the same time procured from the King Restitution of Lands and Goods to Richard Lyon Merchant of London whereas the same Lands having been forfeited by him had been given to the Kings own Sons To all which the said Dame Alice reply'd that she had not pursued any such thing for any Advantage of her own Whereupon divers Officers Counsellours and Servants to King Edward the Third being examin'd prov'd that she made such pursuit and that in their conceits for her own private Gain And so the Lords gave judgement against the said Lady that according to the Order aforesaid she should be banished and forfeit all her Goods and Lands whatsoever But as Sr. Robert Cotton goes on to say truth of the Devil is counted Commendable and therefore surely says he the Record against the said Lady being very long proves no such heinous Matter against her only it shews how she was in such Credit with King Edward the Third that she sat at his Beds head when others were fain to stand at the Chamber Door and that she moved those things unto him which they of the Privy-Chamber durst not And further says he those two Points for which she was condemned seemed very honest Only her Misfortune was that she was Friendly to many but all were not so to her The Record is strange and worthy of perusal Thus much by the by for clearing of injur'd Innocence and stopping the Mouth of Popular Calumny thô this Matter of Record happen'd
shall find Complaint made in Parliament the Year following by the Owners of the said Vessels X. On the r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. Tenth of October this Year there departed this Life the thrice-Noble and Valiant Lord David Strabolgi Earl of Athol leaving only two Daughters his Heirs behind him And the most Honourable Heroe Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 318. Catal. Henâ—â— p. 650. died on the Ninth of the Calends of February this same Year in a good old Age leaving behind him three Sons and three Daughters Richard the eldest of his Sons succeeded him both in his Honours and Vertues Helming t Stow's Survey of London p. 217. Legat Esquire having obtained Licence of the King gave at this time one Tenement with a Cartelage or Yard thereto belonging and a Garden with an Entry leading thereto unto Mr. John Hariot Parson of Fen-Church and to his Successors for ever the House to be a Parsonage-House and the Garden to be a Church-yard or Burying-place for the Parish And about the same time u Dugd. Warw. p. 781. a. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton founded an House at Atherston in Warwickshire called the Fryars-Hermits of St. Augustin over the Gate whereof is yet to be seen his Coat of Arms cut in a fair Shield of Stone CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. Ingleram Lord Coucy makes an Expedition a second time into Austria but to no purpose II. Another Treaty at Bruges which only produces a short Truce and that another At which time King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it III. The Jubile of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster IV. During whose Sessions the Black-Prince dies his Will Character AN. DOM. 1376. An. Regni Angliae L. Franciae XXXVII Burial and Epitaph V. The Captal of Busche takes his Death to Heart and pines away VI. The Black-Prince's Character again his Children VII The Continuation of the foresaid Parliament at Westminster VIII A Censure thereof who the First Speaker of the House of Commons IX The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche X. Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome I. IN these Days Ingleram de Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earl of Bedford and King Edward's Son-in-Law a Frois c. 314. fol. 195. Gallicè f. 266. De bello inter Bernabonem Pentifices gesto vid. Odor Rainal ab Ano. 1360. n. 6. c. returned into France from the Wars in Lombardy which at the Instance and on the Behalf of the Pope he had maintain'd together with John Galeas Earl of Vertus Son of Duke Galeas against his Uncle Duke Bernabo and his Allies the Recital whereof would be Foreign to the Matter now in Hand This Lord of Coucy was Son to the Lady b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. a. Catherine of Austria who was Sister to c Catal. Hener p. 440. Peter Duke of Austria last deceased so that the said Duke dying without Issue lawfully begotten the Lord of Coucy was of Right to succeed in that Dukedom to his Uncle Peter aforesaid But the d Pannones olim dicti People of the Country had already given the Dukedom to another further removed than he whereof he had before this made frequent Complaints to the Emperour Charles the Fourth Who very well knew the Right which he had but durst not interpose too vigorously on his Behalf because the Austrians were a considerable Nation and Hardy in War. Wherefore the Lord of Coucy seeing he could not be righted otherwise had his last recourse to Arms wherein thô assisted by his Aunt Sister to the late Duke and his Mother he nevertheless had but small Success wherefore having afterwards exercised his Arms for some time in Lombardy he now returned as We have shewn into France where he was received very gratiously of the King who highly esteem'd him for his Valour and imagin'd by what means he might win him over from King Edward unto himself The Lord of Coucy understanding that there was a Truce at that time between England and France which was in a fair way to be prolonged and that there were many Men of War then in France without any Employment who as he thought might prove very serviceable to him in Recovering his Right in Austria began now to request of King Charles that he would permit those Bretons and Companions who during the Truce were like to be but a Burthen to his Realm to go along with him into Austria to help him to recover his Right The King as well to rid himself of that Charge and Trouble as to oblige him granted this his Request and besides that either gave or lent him 60000 Franks to bestow among his Followers Wherefore several French Lords themselves when they saw how well their King himself wish'd to this Cause joyned themselves with the Lord of Coucy as the Vicount of Meaux the Lord of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy the Baron of Roye and the Lord Peter de la Bar with many other Lords and Knights of France Bretagne Artois Vermandois Picardy and Hainalt all desirous to advance their Bodies in Quest of Military Honour With these Forces the Lord of Coucy rode forth towards Austria about the Feast of St. Michael in the Year 1375 the Companions that were with him after their manner doing much Mischief all the way But when the Austrians and the Almaignes with their New Duke whom they had chosen understood for certain that the Lord of Coucy was coming against them with such Forces they immediately burnt and destroy'd for three Days journey along by the River Danube after which they retired into the Mountains and other Places hard of Access So that the Lord of Coucy and his Men who had expected to have met with Victuals could find none at all whereby they suffer'd that Winter infinite Loss and Trouble for not knowing where to get Forage or Victuals for themselves or their Horses many of both Sorts died what with Hunger Cold and Sickness These Afflictions put an end to this Expedition so that in the Spring the poor Remainders of the Army returned into France where they divided into several Quarters to refresh themselves But the King sent the most part of the Companions into Bretagne and Low Normandy to quarter there till he should have occasion for them which he expected shortly For there was only a Momentary Truce taken between the Realms of England and France of which we shall now speak a little II. When the Feast of e Vâ—d l. 4. c. 12. §. 7. p. 876. All-Saints drew near which was the Time appointed for a Meeting at Bruges in order to prolong the Truce beyond the forelimited time of the First of April or if possible to settle a lasting Peace there came again to Bruges for the French King the Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Amiens but the
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
shall be heard That if any Religious Person taketh the Profits of any Lands whereby it may be thought to be within the Compass of the Statute de Religiosis that then the King or Chief Lord may enter upon the same The King intendeth not to change the Laws That the Statutes now made be not Repealed but by Assent of Parliament and that the Statute of Purveyors may be executed The Statutes cannot be Repealed otherwise and as for Purveyors the Law made shall stand That the Knights Fees for coming to the Parliament may be levied of the whole County as well within Liberties as without except Cities and Towns and the bound Tenants of such as come by Writ to Parliament Let it be as it hath been used That no Ordinance be made at the Petition of the Clergy without Assent of Parliament and that no Man be bound by any of their Constitutions made for their Advantage Let this be more particularly declared That such as have u Vid. Gulielm Somneri Glosâ—ar in Visus-Franci-Plegii view of Frank-pledge may have the Correction of Taverners It is no Article thereof That none of the Commons be appointed Collector of this Subsidy The King granteth it That the Protection of such as lie about Calais or in Picardy only to delay such as sue them may be Repealed and no such from henceforth granted Let the Kings Council be informed of such Covin and it shall be redressed That certain Engines used to the Destruction of Fish and called Wonderecheone in the manner of a Drag being used in Havens and Creeks may be forbidden Commission to certain to enquire and to certifie shall be made whereupon Order shall be taken therein They pray Remedy against such Debtors as to defraud their Creditors make Feoffments by Covin and thereupon fly into Sanctuary Vpon the finding of such Feoffments to be so made the Creditors shall have Execution of such Lands as thô no such Feoffments were made That the King would pardon all Piracies and Felonies done upon the Sea except such as be Impeached of the Death of Sr. Henry de la Haye or of such as be Impeached at the suit of the Party The King will shew Pardon where him liketh That divers having in their Charters That no Seneschal Marshal or Clerk of the Mercate do intermeddle with their Liberties are thereby little the Better for that those Officers do intermeddle because these Words are wanting Tam in praesentiâ nostrâ quà m alibi That therefore it be commanded that none of those Officers do intermeddle The King would have them to be allowed according to Law and Reason as it hath been heretofore used That no Customs of Woollen Cloaths granted in 44 Ed. 3. be paid unless the same be Fulled The King hath commanded that no Woollen Cloths be carried out of the Realm before they be Fulled and that no Customs be paid before such Fulling That such Loanes as were lent in the time of Thomas Brentingham Bishop of Excester and Treasurer of England may be now paid It shall be so soon as may be That no Tythe be paid for Sea-coals It shall be as it hath been That no Fines be taken for any Writs according to that of the Great Charter Nulli Vendemus Justitiam Let it be according to the Discretion of the Chancellour as it hath been That no Knight Esquire or other be appointed for Sheriffs Escheators Coroners Collectors or such like after his Age of 60 Years The King will do herein as him shall please That all Charters heretofore granted may be allow'd and confirmed They shall be allow'd as duly heretofore hath been That every Professed Person of what Sex soever being professed of any Religion and continuing the said Habit to the Age of Fifteen Years may upon Tryal of the same in any of the Kings Courts be in Law utterly debarred of any Inheritance thô he hath a Dispensation from Rome Which Dispensations are the chief Grievance The King and the Lords will provide therefore That some Provision be made that Herring may be better cheap being now grown to an Excessive price Indifferent and able Men by Commission shall see the x Ità M.S. sed Price Sr. Rob. Cotton Place and enquire of the Causes and certifie the same whereupon Order shall be taken The Commons of Devon require that upon return of the Commission touching the Customs of the Stannery there being now done withall in the Chancery the rest of the Liberties of the Stannery may be declared according to the Promise of the last Parliament and that the same be made in Letters-Patents Richard Prince of Wales prayeth that the Declaration made in the last Parliament as touching the Stanneries in Devon and Cornwall may be revoked considering that the same was made neither the Prince nor any of his Council nor any other the Officers being called or made privy thereto Such as stood for the County of Devon pray that they may answer to such as alledge that the said County should seek to hinder the Profit of the said Prince The Circumstances shall be examin'd by the Council of the King and of the Prince and thereupon Order shall be taken The Counties of Leicester and Northampton Huntington and Bedford complain of the Erection of three Mills upon the high Stream of the y Ouse River of St. Ives so that neither Ships nor Boats can pass and whereby they surround all the Grounds about the Towns of Bugden Brampton Godmanchester Herford and Huntington Let the Statute in such case provided be executed The County of Warwick desire that the Goal-house in Warwick being very ruinous may be repaired with the profits of the County aforesaid by the hands of the Sheriffs Let them sue to the Treasurer and others of the Council to have Redress That none such as pass over Woolls or have Ships on the Sea be appointed Customers or Weighers of Woolls The King will appoint such Customers as shall please him The Heirs and Tenants of the Land of the Chief Taxers of the Fifteen do pray that they may be taxed by the Barons of the Exchequer according to the old Rate upon the View thereof without bringing any Writ therefore The Taxation being once reasonably made should seem to continue Divers Counties adjoyning upon the River of Severne desire Remedy for the Course of the said River between Worcester and Bristow which is so straightned that the Grounds thereabouts are thereby surrounded that Ships and Boats cannot pass and many are drowned in their Beds Let certain Lords be appointed to hear and determine this matter That if it shall happen any Man or Boy to be drown'd with a fall out of a Ship or Boat or any other Vessel the said Vessel shall not therefore be a Deodand Being upon the Sea it shall be adjudged no Deodand and being upon a Fresh River the King will shew favour That every Man may be admitted to prove his Age and to sue Livery by the
whom he is Godfather From p. 662. to p. 669. Chap. XIII A Parliament at Westminster wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Demand of the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid The Quarrel between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities taken up by the King. The Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford A Treaty of Marriage between Prince Lionel and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Duke of Milain Archbishop Islip dies his Foundation of Canterbury College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury On the French King's Complaint of the Companions King Edward prepares an Army against them But on the French King's being jealous desists The French King and the Pope endeavour to draw off the Companions into Hungary but it will not do From p. 669. to p. 672. BOOK IV. CHAP. I. DON Pedro's Character The Pope excommunicates him and legitimates his Bastard Brother The Companions joyn Sr. Bertram of Clequin and march against Don Pedro who being forsaken of all flies from place to place and absconds in Galizia Don Henry the Bastard is made King of Spain Don Pedro implores the Protection of the Black-Prince and arrives at Bayonne Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity The Reasons Pro and Con why the Prince should or should not assist him The Prince has his Fathers leave to undertake his Quarrel The King of Navarre is won The Copy of a Famous Grant of Don Pedro to King Edward and to the Prince and the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for Ever Prince Edward sends for his Captains who were then in the Bastards Service The Bastard's surprise at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram goes back into France to raise Friends Divers Opinions touching this undertaking of the Prince's The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon c. The Prince's Zeal for this War. The Lord of Albret engages to bring a 1000 Spears The Companions being besieged in Montabuan beat the French. James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to implore the Prince's Aid against the King of Aragon The Prince by Advice of his Council countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears From p. 674. to p. 694. Chap. II. A second Son Born to the Black-Prince named Richard. The Prince begins his March is joyn'd by the Duke of Lancaster He passes the Pirenaean Mountains the Order of his Army the Names of his Chief Captains Don Henry sends his Expostulation and Defiance to him The Lord Thomas Felton takes Navaret Salvatierra yields to the Prince The Lord Thomas Felton beats up the Bastard's Quarters and sends Intelligence to the Prince Don Henry goes forward but halts at St. Miguel The Prince expects him at Victoria The Earl of Sancelloni beats up the Prince's Quarters and takes the Lord Thomas Felton and all his Company The Discourse thereupon had in the Spanish Camp. The Prince passes the Ebro and answers Don Henry's Letters Don Henry's Resolution The two Armies move forward The Order and Number of the Spaniards The Lord Chandos made a Banneret The Prince's Prayer before the Fight The Famous Battle of NAJARA in Spain where the Bastard receives a Mighty overthrow The City of Najara taken The time and place of the Battle The Number of the slain on both sides The Prince obliges Don Pedro to grant a General Pardon All Spain comes in and submits to Don Pedro and the Prince The Prince demands his Souldiers pay of the King who goes to Seville but sends none The Great Renown of the Black-Prince after this Victory The Black-Prince returns home without his Money The first Change of King Edward's Fortune The Danish Fleet beaten by the English The Death of Don Pedro King of Portugal sirnamed the Justiceer From p. 695. to p. 718. Chap. III. Prince Lionel is Married to the Lady Violantis He falls sick and dies A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal A Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyder-zea Sr. Bertram by a Fineness obtains to be ransom'd The Companions wanting their Pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they go away and do much Mischief in France The Prince taxes his Subjects which occasions a Revolt From p. 718. to p. 725. Chap. IV. Don Henry the Bastard finding the Prince of Wales embroyl'd returns into Spain surprises the King Don Pedro beats him takes him and kills him with his own Hands The King of France being urged by the Discontented Gascogne Lords Summons the Prince of Wales to appear before him William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester c. The Prince of Wales falls sick of an incurable Disease He sends the Lord Chandos against the Gascogne Lords The French King surprises Ponthieu and defies King Edward Who in Parliament resumes his Title to France and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars The Black-Prince makes the Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is confirm'd by the King his Father From p. 725. to p. 742. Chap. V. The War begins in the Principality Mutual Losses and Gains The two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes their Rights argued The Pedigree of the Kings of France King Edward's Reasons for his Right and Title to France From p. 743. to p. 758. Chap. VI. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter Mutual Losses and Gains The Earl of Pembroke's Danger The Death of Queen Philippa The Duke of Lancasters Expedition The Earl of Warwick dies The Duke of Lancaster a Widower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester The French King raises a Tax From p. 759. to p. 782. Chap. VII The Death of the Lord John Chandos The War hot in Gascogne The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland The Genealogy of his Successor Robert STUART An Old Error concerning King Robert's Children confuted Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition into France The Black-Prince sacks Limoges and Sr. Bertram of Clequin made Constable of France Pope Urban dies Maximus Planudes flourishes From p. 783. to p. 812. Chap. VIII The Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols The Black-Prince his Eldest Son dies He returns into England sick The War in Gascogne A Parliament at Westminster King Edward beats the Flemings at Sea. James King of Majorica dies The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge Marry the Two Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Spain The Pope's endeavours for Peace The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl his Brother return with their Ladies into England From p. 812. to p. 826. Chap. IX The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny The War hot in Gascogne The Earl of Pembroke taken by the Spaniards Poictiers and Rochelle yielded to the French. Thoüars besieged King Edward sets sail to raise the Siege but the Wind will not serve so Thoüars is lost The Duke of Bretagne made
Southerland As for the former King John Baliol he liv'd at this time a retired life in France having only two Sons the Lord Edward and Henry who as yet had no Issue and therefore their Father had on certain considerations resigned and quitted and given over to King Robert his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland so that Robert was now quit of all fear on that part and otherwise very strong in the affections of his People who were then a great and flourishing Nation And this was the state of Scotland when King Edward the Third of England came to the Crown wherefore encouraged with their former success and despising King Edwards Youth r Rich. Sâ—uthwell on the very night of that day whereon King Edward was Crowned the Scots had intended to take the Castle of Norham Å¿ Grafton p. 173. between the Marches of England and Scotland by surprize and so well they managed their design that about t Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 225 sixteen of them had already mounted the Walls but the Captain Sr Robert Manners being warned of the Matter before-hand by one of his Garrison who was a Scotchman had so well provided to receive them that of those who had mounted he took five or six and put the rest to the sword their Companions below upon this disappointment retiring This seem'd a good Omen of King Edward's future Victories over the Scots by occasion of the Lord Edward Baliol who was himself a Scotchman Presently after King Robert Bruce supposing it now a very fit season to take some advantage against his old Enemies the English during this their Kings Minority sends about u Frois c. 15. Grafton p. 218. Easter a short and brisk Defiance to King Edward and all his Realm telling them that he would shortly with his Power invade the Realm of England with Fire and Sword and there do as he had done before in his Fathers Reign at the Battle of Bannocksborn near Striveling or Sterling where the English received that mighty Overthrow we spake of by reason of those x Sr Tho. de la More Ed. 2. p. 2. Holingshead hist Scotl. p. 217. Hector and Buchan Pits into which the Scots had intrapt them unawares I must not omit that the Scotch Writers attribute the occasion of this Defiance to some fraud or other wherewith the English had lately endeavour'd to ensnare them by foul Collusion of their Ambassadours but neither can it be imagin'd what necessity the King of England should have either by fraud or force to attempt to injure the King of Scots with whom he stood on no ill Terms before his own Affairs were in any posture of Settlement nor do any of their own Historians assign what this fraud or injury was nor indeed was ever the English Nation noted so much for fineness or subtlety as for down-right Honesty and blunt valour Nor is the consideration of King Robert's Age and sickness sufficient to conclude that of necessity there must be some great Cause given that could provoke so decrepit a Man to begin a War toward the End of his Life since thô his Person was weak his Mind was strong and vigorous and Scotland was never in better case than at that time and the Generals he intended to employ were Barons of great Fidelity Conduct and Resolution and he might reasonably hope to have at least as much advantage over this Young King as he had over his Father in his Full Age when attended with a most flourishing Army Nor is any great Captain thô never so satiate with Lawrels so unambitious after all but that in his weakest condition he would lay hold on any occasion of so probable success against a professed Enemy 'T is sweet to an old Warrior to end his days among Triumphs and Victories This is certain King Edward the Third neither did nor could send any Ambassadors to him before his Coronation yet even then we shew'd before that the Scots began to break the Peace by attempting to surprize a Castle thô no less than y Hâ—linshead hist Scot. p. 224. Ashmole p. 645. ex Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 2. Dâ—rs Nine years were to come of the last Thirteen years Truce struck up between this Kings Father and King Robert of Scotland four years before And besidâ—â— we find that there had been since the Coronation of this Young King an Agreement for a further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on the Sunday next before Ascension Day then ensuing But as I said before King Robert imagining to make an easie prey of the young Monarch neither much valued the old Truce not yet ended nor the new Agreement not yet perfected but resolves upon War. Hereupon soon after he invades the North Borders with an z Hector p. 307 b. n. 60. Army of Twenty five thousand Men a Bachan p. 273 all Horse that they might do mischief more speedily and retire with more expedition if by any necessity they should be so obliged VI. The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance and to secure himself for the future from the like Contempt immediately with all his Power addresses himself to defend his Reputation And first he b Frois c. 17. sends his Uncle Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England with a choice number of Soldiers to Newcastle upon Tine who there made his Musters as he was appointed on the c Ashmole p. 645. Monday next before the Ascension in like manner the Lord Robert Hufford and the Lord John Moubray were commanded away to the Reinforcement of the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth then d Dugd. Baron 1 Vol. 565. a. Governour of the Castle and Town of Carlile At the same time the King issued out his General summons to his own People and moreover by kind letters invited his noble Friend John Lord of Beaumont in Heinalt and brother to William Earl of Heinalt by whose aid chiefly the Queen had deposed her Husband and who was but newly return'd home again to come over to his assistance about the time of the Ascension Sr John Lord Beaumont hereupon came over to the King to the City of York the place appointed for the general Rendezvous thô Newcastle also was pitch'd upon for the assembly of other Forces a week before within three days of Whitsuntide accompanied with more than fourty Lords and Knights of Heinalt Flanders and Bohemia with other Knights from Cambray and Artois to the number of Five hundred Men of Arms all well Arm'd and gallantly Mounted Soon after Whitsuntide follow'd for the sake of this John of Heinalt the Lord William Son to the Duke of Juliers or Gulick and Sr Henry Thyrry afterwards Earl of Lewis and with them another goodly Company all expecting to purchase much honour under this hopefull Young King and no less profit as well from his Royal bounty as from the
firm to the Young King his Nephew as the Cause for which he died shews that his Heart was never false to the Old King his Brother Yet for all this it is said that he was the less lamented r Walsin Hypod. p. 111. n. 40. Stow p. 229. b. because his Servants were very oppressive to the Commons and many great Disorders were allowed in his Family Certainly 't is not enough for a Man of High Degree to do well himself but to take Care that those who are under him do so too Since he is not only lyable to be censur'd for their Miscarriages in this World but also in some measure to answer for them in that which is to come He left behind him ſ Sandford Geneal Hist p. 212 Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 94. Catal. Honor. p. 764. inter se cellatis by his Lady Margaret Sister of Thomas Lord Wake of Lydel Four Young Children two Sons Edmund and John who were both soon after restor'd in Blood but dy'd successively without Issue and two Daughters Margaret who was afterwards married to Amaneus Eldest Son to the Lord Bernard de la Brett or Albret of Gascoigne and the other a little Female Infant scarce then two Years old named Joan who afterwards became the Paragon of her whole Sex for Exquisite Beauty Modesty and Discretion and upon the Death of both her Brothers becoming the Sole Heiress of all her Fathers Possessions was commonly called by way of Eminence the Fair Countess of Kent of whom more hereafter From the foregoing Story we may observe how early in this Kingdom Malicious Statesmen who sought the Ruine of those who faithfully interpos'd to hinder their Ambitious Designs made use of this now more-common trick of buzzing Sham-plots into their Princes Ears Which however false and improbable would yet never want Evidences to make out some plausible Circumstances IV. And thus at last happily We have past over the less Gratefull Part of this King's Reign wherein we have beheld him not as he was in himself Bright and Vigorous but as he was misrepresented by those who under his Name did but Eclipse and darken his Royal Authority Now that all things might succeed the better the Hopefull young King resolves to begin with Heaven and remembring that in his former Troubles during his Fathers Reign or in his late Danger at Amiens when he narrowly escap'd being seiz'd upon by the French King he had made t Stow p. 230. b. Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 362. Walsing hist p. 112. Knighton p. 2555. Joh. Tinem fol. 229. a Vow in Devotion to visit some Holy Places in France he now sets himself about performing his Vow Leaving therefore his Brother John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Protector of the Realm on Thursday in Easter-week u G. Lit. Dom. Pascha 8 April vid Labb Chro. Techn being the 12 of April he adventur'd privately to pass the Sea in the Company of John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and his Valiant and Loyal Servant William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury disguised like Merchants the whole number amounting but to Fifteen Persons It was a bold not to say a rash undertaking for a King to expose his Person so lightly if it is Lawfull to term any thing Light that proceeds from a Mind so Religiously affected especially into a Country so jealous of his Fortune and where he had before been publiquely seen more than once But the Strength of his Devotion encourag'd him to it and the Success that followed makes it in him warrantable I say in him For no exact Rules can be prescrib'd to such Mighty over-working Spirits and Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar thô they have committed many seeming-Rash and Indiscreet Actions I know not who dare blame or censure them for it Our King accordingly soon Returns safe and with his whole Company when immediately at Dertford in Kent he holds a Great and Solemn Tourneament thereby to Exercise his Nobles to delight in Arms. Thus Early did this Monarch lay his Foundation by Piety and Industry on which afterwards he Reared so many Glorious Trophies of Victory But I am well aware that there is another Account of the Reasons which induc'd the King to cross the Seas at this time which because it is very probable I shall here also deliver King Edward as we said before delaying beyond the time prefix'd to send that Declaration of his Homage for it was not yet dispatch'd away by the French Ambassadors till May in this Year King Philip caused him x Du Chesne p. 639. c. ex Monsieur du Tillet c. again to be summon'd and after some Motions and Hostility done by the English who were Rendezvous'd at Sainctes the chief City of Saintogne in Aquitain he sent his Brother the Lord Charles of Valois Earl of Alenson who laid Siege before the Town Which King Edward understanding began to talk of Peace to the obtaining whereof he sent his Ambassadors into France with whom this Agreement was made on the Ninth of March at Paris viz. I. That King Philip shall grant a full Repeal of Banishment to the Principal Authors of the Motions of Guienne named in the Treaty of the Year One thousand three Hundred Twenty and six according to the Promise made by his Predecessor Charles the Fair. II. That the Treaties preceding which import That those who were banish'd by the King of France or his Court should not be received nor concealed in Guienne should be kept inviolably That even without the approbation of King Edward the Seneschals of France should have Power notwithstanding to Banish his Officers and Ministers for Faults committed in their Precincts as by right of Soveraignty the King of France may and doth especially protest that all the Liberties of which the said Seneschals have been in Possession before this Treaty shall be conserved unto them accordingly III. That as to the Sums of sixty Thousand pounds on the one part and of fifty Thousand Marks Sterling on the other which King Edward oweth to King Philip Reason shall be done by Payment or Compensation IV. That the Quality of the Homages of the Dutchy of Guienne and of the Earldoms of Ponthieu and Monstroile shall be declared to be Liege and the Form thereof expressed which shall be Renewed on every Change and the Kings shall promise to keep the Treaties of Peace made by their y Ibi malè ut opiner par leurs Successeurs Predecessors V. That the Castles of St. Croix Madailhem Puipines and du Bourdet shall be demolish'd according to the Form prescrib'd by Robert Bertrand Marshal of France and that the other Points of the Treaties remaining to be perfected shall be respectively accomplished VI. That the Siege held by the Earl of Alenson before the Town of Sainctes shall be raised as soon as King Edward shall have Ratified the present Accord the mean while that those who are culpable in the
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much â—ncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â— Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
Rob. Cottoos Abridgment of the Records p. 143. Rex Charissimo Filio suo Richardo Principi Walliae c. But I believe this Place being thrô Age obscur'd and so left to Conjecture was for hast mistaken in that manner John Earl of Kent with any of the Blood Royal. 4. To make Restitution for any Dammage he tender'd to King Philip as much Mony as he should in reason demand 5. He also proffer'd to take a Voyage to the Holy Land with the King of France if he would restore his Lands unto him 6. To go the Voyage if he would restore but Half or Some of those Lands 7. To take the Voyage with him if he would but make Restitution after his Return Or 8. Lastly to take the Voyage singly by Himself so that at his Return he would restore him his Right These Overtures with many others which the King or his Council could think of were offer'd to the King of France in Order to a Peace with this General Proposal beside That if any one could think of any other way tending to an Accommodation He would be ready to accept thereof But all was in vain for King Philip on the contrary not only still held his Lands beyond Sea but excited and maintained the Scots against him and also by his Navy did much Mischief at Sea. I wholly here pass by the Matters of Scotland till a more convenient Opportunity for fear of interrupting the Thread of our History especially because all was done there by snatches and fits and intervalls King Bailiol with various Fortune contending to keep on his Head a Crown more full of Thorns than of Jewels X. Now the o Ashmole p. 649. Pope perceiving that the storm of War was ready to break forth to the great Hazard of the Interest of Christendom sent into England about the Feast of St. Martin p Victorelius Ciacon 1 Vol. p. 862. §. 24. p. 857. §. 4. Holinshead Engl. Chr. p. 901. c. Pedro Priest Cardinal of St. Praxeda and q Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 15. ubi Papalis Commissio his Cardinalibus facta Bertrand Deacon Cardinal of St. Mary in Aquiro to use their best Endeavours to compose the Differences now growing High between the two Kings For the more Honourable Reception of these Christian Peacemakers according to the Kings Order the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester Ely Chichester Coventry and Lichfield with the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London went forth and met them on Shooters Hill. The young Duke of Cornwall with the Earl of Surrey and many other of the Nobility received them a Mile without the City and the King himself met them at the lesser Hall-door of his Palace at Westminster and carried them into the Painted Chamber where they deliver'd their Message Hereupon the King caused a Parliament to be summon'd to meet him at Westminster on the Morrow after Candlemas day r Ashmole p. 649. till which time upon the Cardinals Mediation thô Peace could not be effected a Truce was agreed on Nor ſ Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 20. yet was Peace the only business about which these Cardinals came but the Priviledges and Immunities of the Church as appears by the Popes Letter to the King bearing Date IX Kal. Julii An o Pontificatûs III. However these Cardinals thô they came to make Peace were not yet rightly prepared for the Work For they made it evidently appear that they were more concern'd for the King of France and so not fit to be as indifferent Composers of Matters between the two Kings And this was notoriously demonstrated by t Walsing Hist p. 146. Edit Franc. n. 20. Bertrand the French Cardinal in a Sermon of his ad Clerum wherein he could not forbear putting a false Gloss upon King Edward's Actions and Adorning and Gilding King Philip's cause till the Archbishop of Canterbury not able to endure his Insolence rose up and confuted all his Arguments and Publiquely declared his Assertions to be vain false and frivolous And from that time it was the Common talk in England that the King of England had a Right to the Crown of France which he intended to claim and pursue This u Gesta PPae Benedicti XII apud Besqu M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Ben. XII Odoric Rainald ad hune An. §. 30. Year on the third of June there was a certain Fryer named Franciscus de Pistorio of the Order of the Minors deliver'd over to the Secular Power and burnt as an Heretick at Venice for persisting in this Assertion That Christ and his Disciples possessed nothing either in Proper or in Common the Contrary to which Pope John XXII had determin'd in the Constitution which begins Cum inter Nonnullos CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament the Cardinals return into France together with Commissioners from King Edward II. Whose Overtures being by the French rejected King Edward with a Fleet of 500 Ships sets sail for Flanders and arrives at Antwerp whither he Summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament which begets another at Halle III. King Edward sends from thence an Embassy to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and invites his Queen to come over from England to him she is soon after her coming deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son named Lionell Prince Thomas of Brotherton the Kings Vncle dies An English Lord's Son that was Born beyond Sea Naturalized IV. An Enterview between the Emperour and the King of England the latter being made Vicar-General of the Empire by the Former V. King Edward calls a Parliament of his Allies in Brabant with the effects thereof VI. A day appointed whereon all the Confederates are to come with their several Quota's to the King of England AN. DOM. 1338. An. Regni XII who keeps his Court the mean while at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant keeps fair with the French King. VII Prince Edward of England Duke of Cornwal holds two Parliaments in the King his Fathers Absence For whom he obtains a Mighty aid The English Navy reinforced with sixty Sail. I. ON the third of February or the Morrow after Candlemas-day the Parliament began where the Truce was Prorogued a Ashmole p. 649. to the First of March following b Holinshead p. 902. The Laity at the same time granted to the King the One half of their Woolls throughout the whole Realm for the next Summer which he received Graciously and also he Levied of the Clergy the whole causing them to pay nine Marks of every Sack of the best Wooll but after the Rate of the One half he took in whose hands soever it was found as well Merchants as others according to the foresaid Grant So that of the Abbey of Leicester only as c Knighton p. 2570. Knighton one of that House witnesses he had no less then 18 Sacks After d Holinshead ibid. this he
way or other He therefore would expect them all there again on the Third of August following at the farthest because the time of Action began to wear away To this Appointment having all agreed they took leave of the King who tarried still at Antwerp being lodged in the Abbey some of his Lords tarrying with him to bear him Company while others rode about the Country at great expence to negotiate the Kings Affairs and to gain the favour of the People as also to divert themselves and satisfie their Curiosity As for the Duke of Brabant he went to the City of Louvaine about seven Leagues East of Antwerp from whence he sent frequent Messages to the French King Requesting that he would not entertain any Suspicion of him nor give Credit to any idle Rumors For he assured him that he would by no means make any Alliance or Agreement to his Disadvantage Thô as he said the King of England being his Cosin-German he could not in Honour refuse him the Civility of his Country Thus the Duke of Brabant endeavouring to keep in with both Kings was really a Friend to neither but we shall see how he behaves himself now to King Edward The Third of August came and all the other Lords return'd to Antwerp except the Duke whereat the rest taking occasion said that as for their parts they and their Men were ready provided the Duke of Brabant would be as ready on his Part for he was nearer than they that being his Country That therefore when they should understand that he was fully provided they would not be one jot behind him With this tergiversation of theirs King Edward was inwardly very much displeased r Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. for he found no sincerity nor Honour in any one of them except the Earl of Gueldre and he privately told the Bishop of Lincoln and his Council that he had not been well advised hitherto However he immediately sent this their Answer to Louvain to the Duke of Brabant urging the Matter home to him and requiring him as his Friend Kinsman and Ally and as a Christian and a Man of Honour to deal sincerely and heartily with him for hitherto he said he very well perceived that he was but cold in the Matter and that he justly feared unless he grew more warm and shew'd more concern for the Cause he should loose the Assistance of all the other Lords of Almaine The Duke being thorougly awaken'd with this Alarm began to consider more seriously on the Matter that King Philip had been severe and cruel to him King Edward his Friend and able to be his Protector that he was ty'd to him not only on the account of Allyance but in Honour having passed his Word and contracted to be on his side only he fear'd that if the Rest of the German Lords should fall off he might be left a Prey to Philips anger Wherefore he at last declared to King Edward ſ Frois ibid. that now he was fully determin'd to be as ready as any One in his service only he desired once more to speak with the foresaid Lords altogether So that they were sent for again the time of their meeting fix'd about the middle of August the Place to be t Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 234. Halle a strong Town of Hainalt on the very Borders of Brabant distant from Brussels but four English Miles thrô which the River Senne sends a small current and this Place was judged the fittest because the young Earl of Hainalt and his Uncle Lord John of Beaumont might be there In short the Result of this Parliament at Halle was this the Lords having again consider'd on the Premises found themselves so bent on King Edward's Service that they thought they never should desert him unless compell'd by the Emperour to whom only they ow'd Allegiance Wherefore in the Name of himself and all the Rest the Duke of Brabant spake thus to King Edward Sir we of our selves cannot find any just Cause all things consider'd to defie the French King without the Consent of the Emperour our Soveraign Lord or that he would Command Us so to do in his Name For long since in a Covenant mutually Sworn and Sign'd between France and Germany there is an Article that no King of France should take or hold any thing belonging of Right to the Empire Notwithstanding which Obligation this King Philip hath taken the Castle of Creveceur in Cambresis and the Castle of Alves in Bailleul u Mezeray Palencour and also the City of Cambray it self So that the Emperour has good Reason on his side to break with the king of France And Sir if you can obtain his Consent it will be more for our Honour otherwise the World will say that without the Imperial Authority the Lords of Almaine Commenced an unjust War having no Provocation thereto III. This Request appear'd but reasonable to the King wherefore he appointed the Marquess of Juliers with certain English Knights and Men Learned in the Laws together with some of the Earl of Gueldre's Council to go to the Emperour about the Premises Only the Duke of Brabant would by no means send any body in his Name because he would not be known to stir in the business till things should be ripe He stood in such fear of the King of France ever since that Quarrel about the Lord Robert of Artois of which we spake in the 7th Year of King Edward But yet however he freely Resign'd his stately Castle of Louvain to the King of England to lie in and to use as his own during his Royal Pleasure The Marquess and his Company found the Emperour at Flourebeche where they did their Message to him so well that together with the Perswasions of the Lady Margaret the Empress who was Sister to Queen Philippa of England he was willing to grant King Edward's Request for which end he desired an Enterview with him and immediately created the Earl of Reginald Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess William Earl of Juliers thô x Speeds Chron. p. 564. §. 81. some say this was done afterward by King Edward their Kinsman when he was Vicar of the Sacred Empire King Edward the mean while kept his Court with great Splendor at Louvain being lodged himself in the Castle for his better security since the City was Commanded thereby From hence he sent a considerable Part of his Forces into England as having little occasion for them yet to defend the Frontiers against the Scots At the same time he kindly invited his Beloved Queen to come over to him if she so pleased for he sent her word he was determin'd not to leave those Parts for the space of a Year at least The Queen shortly after went over to the King her Husband being then Great with Child of which being a Male she was happily deliver'd at y Walsingh Hypod p. 114 Hist p. 132. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. Leland Coll.
even by the Law of Nature which neither any Prince nor any Law ought to infringe Besides it is now publiquely known every where how in Our Dukedom of Aquitain he has invaded and violated Our Rights flying upon our Lands and wasting those he could take Which having joyned to those he had seised before and without any Fear of God saying that he has Law at Will he still most injuriously detains As for the Scots whom the Rights of Ancient Times had made subject to Our Crown they by the Disloyal madness of Rebellion kicking against their Natural Lord were guilty of High Treason a Fault which they have continued down from Our Predecessors even unto Us. Yet with these that they might be the more enabled to offend Us he has in despight of Us enter'd a League Cherishing and Maintaining them in so ungratefull and black a Crime against Us thô by Right of Blood and Nature he ought rather to stand on our side And when all these Premises did not satisfie his unsatiate desire of abusing Us having collected all the Forces he could possibly bring together he prepared unawares to swallow Us up with the torrent of his Anger desiring to remove Us out of the World because perhaps by his own evil Designs against Us he measured Ours against him Thô none can justly collect or measure Our Intentions by meer Conjecture since we have not done any Act meriting such an Opinion Moreover not well resenting the Gift of Divine Providence bestowed on Us he seems to reckon it an Injury done to him that we live and Reign in Our Kingdom of England and over what else the Lord gave Us to Rule in Prosperity at least but for him in Peace And all this we imagine he hath done only because the People that serveth Us or rather whom we by Our indefatigable Cares do constantly serve have hitherto by the Gift of God continued in Great Glory and Renown Yet these things thô heard and known did not presently move Us but we past them by with a Charitable dissimulation sparing no Labour nor cost to appease his Persecuting Violence against Us and to make as much as in Us lay Our Reign to pass peaceably with him Until we saw his Sword even ready unsheath'd for the Destruction of Us and Ours and prepared for Our utter Extermination And now will any Body perswade Us that such an Uncle so well known to Us and a Prince of such Power thô We were then busied in other Wars ought to be neglected Who being armed with the Right of his own Will and surrounded with a Mighty Power collected from all Parts that he might more freely persecute Us at his Pleasure deserts even the Cause of Christ which he had sworn to maintain What therefore should not a King that even now sees himself and his State in apparent Danger endeavour to do for his own Right and Security Surely he only can tell who knows what such a Man ought not to do who contends only to avoid Injuries and Losses especially in those things that so nearly concern his very Life being Or can that be said to be a light and idle Fear which could shake the Constant Courages even of Noble and Valiant Princes Our Allies only for Our Sakes Much more then ought it to Alarum Us whom only the Preparations of all these terrible things did concern For this Cause therefore even by Natural Impulse being made not voluntary but necessary Defenders of Our own Rights and those of Our Subjects and seeking for the most Prudent Course of Proceeding according to the Military Precepts of the most Illustrious Captains of Antiquity since Hostile Preparations are more dangerously expected at our own Doors than repelled to those of our Enemies We thought it better to meet them that they might not fall upon Us unprepar'd but be stifled where first they had their Birth Not only following the advice but using the Assistance of those whom Consanguinity and Affinity hath joyned unto Us and to whom it as well belonged to prevent together with Us Our Downfall which would even to them have proved little less than Fatal According to these Counsels and by these Aids We resolvedly endeavour to secure Our Selves committing into the Hands of God our Righteous Cause which once We were willing to have refer'd to Your Apostolick See or to any other Good Men indifferent and free from prejudice nothing doubting but that He who sees all things from on High will give a most just Sentence and bring it to pass with the Power of his Sword. Nor do we believe Holy Father that any Equal Umpire or Just Judge can so Interpret or wrest this our Act that what We have done for Our own Defence and the Security of Our Just Rights t t One Clause of which I could make no serse left out he should esteem an Injury or Offence Nay rather we believe and are sure that the true Intention of Our heart will be consider'd and that such a One will weigh in the Balance of unbyass'd judgement what we go about and why we undertake this arduous Affair◠That as the Sanction of the Law teacheth the Deed may not be censur'd from the Words but from the Deed the Words may be consider'd ſ ſ Hic etiam Clausulam emitte eâdem ratione ductus Let therefore all vain Surmises about our Actions be laid aside and let them only take Place in what appears certain but not in uncertain Matters And now perhaps an Accuser who is but a bad Interpreter of Our Actions because We have enter'd Friendship with a Man against whom the Church or the Vicar thereof is said to have proceeded will be apt to say that We do not perform the part of a Brother or an Ally because forsooth We are gaining to Our side such necessary Power whereby We may defend Our Selves from the Dangers that threaten our Ruine and may be enabled to contend for the just obtaining of Our Rights But in the mean time such a One forgets to say that We intend to defend Our Selves and to strive for what is Our own which is the real Truth of the Matter For We are so far from opposing him or favouring any of his Opposers that We should rather of Our Selves without any respect of Danger expose Our Selves for his Honour as becomes the Catholick Piety of Kings Yet thus He accuses Us when yet as the intention of all Equity allows the Final Cause of every Action or the Reason is to be principally attended and from a Knowledge of the Will and Purpose there should arise a distinct and certain Knowledge of the Deed call'd in question and as to humane Actions only the Real Act not the Verbal Conception ought to be weigh'd He forgets to say that of this Matter We only make a shield against him who levell'd a deadly blow at Our Head And that We have done after the Example of a Wise Physician who by his
than necessaries for War made off and escaped by their Nimble Sailing but the Edward and the Christopher stood stiffly to their Tackling and fought fiercely more then 9 Hours insomuch that on both Parts more than 600 Men were slain before the Victory could be decided But in the end wearied with Labour Wounds and Slaughter and opprest with Number they were both taken and brought into the French Havens most of the wounded English being unmercifully thrown overboard too base a Recompence for their Great Valour On the o Frois c. 37. f. 21. Stow p. 235. Holinshead p. 904. Knighton p. 2573. à n. 1. ad n. 10. Walsing hist Edit Franc. p. 146. n. 5. Fabian p. 206. c. 5 of October being a Sunday 50 Galleys of Normans Picards Genoans and Spaniards all well Mann'd and Furnish'd with Habiliments for War at 9 of the Clock in the Morning while the People were at Church came suddenly to Southampton where they sacked the Town the Inhabitants running away for fear but they plunder'd all they could lay Hands on and slew the poor people they met with and ravish'd Women and wasted the Victuals at a heavy rate Those of the Nobler sort whom they could light on they hung up in their own Houses and upon their Departure set the whole Town on Fire But by the Break of next day before they were half got to their Ships Sr. John Arundel a Valiant Gentleman of Hantshire came in upon them being accompanied with a goodly small Band of Choice Souldiers and those Townsmen who had fled from the French the Day before who thô they came too late to save their Friends came yet soon enough to Revenge them and so falling suddenly upon the Barbarous Pyrates before they could recover their Confusion which their speedy Departure put them into they slew no less than 300 of them upon the spot together with a Chief Captain of theirs the King of Sicily's Son to whom the French King had granted whatsoever he should Win or Conquer in England But for all his High hopes he was in this surprise beaten to the ground by a rough Clown who laid about him with a Flail like a Mad-man the Prince not being able to speak a Word of English cry'd p Speed's Maps in Hantshire f. 13. §. 10. out in French Rancon Rancon meaning that he desired to be taken to Ransome But the Clown nothing understanding either his Language or his Coat-Armour answering him I know thou art a Francon and therefore thou shalt die still laid on till he had thrash'd him to Death The rest of the Pyrates fled as fast as they could to their Ships but the Pursuers cut many of them short and not a few were drowned thrô their too great haste as they confusedly endeavour'd to recover their Vessels most of the Ships being hal'd off for fear the English should board them After this the Townsmen of Southampton encompassed the place about with a great Wall and q Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 20. §. 16 17. M.S. p. 27. §. 16. c. in the Parliament of which we shall speak in due season the Lord Richard Talbot was appointed Captain of the Town with 20 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers at the Kings Wages whereby they were secur'd from the like distress for the future Another time Eleven r Stow p. 235. of these French Gallies approaching to the Town of Harwich in Essex cast fire among some of the Out-houses the force whereof was so abated by reason of a strong Contrary-Wind that no great harm was done But the Town it self was too strong to be attempted with any probability of Success Thus the French Navy sought Advantages along by the Sea-Coasts once they sailed to the Isle of Wight but here they gain'd nothing being strongly resisted by the Inhabitants Thence therefore they coasted about for some more easie adventure at Hastings they burnt Fishers Cottages with their Boats and slew many Poor Labouring Men they also made great shows of a Design against the Isle of Thanet in Kent and against Dover and Folkeston but here they were able to do no great harm except to Poor Fishermen Thence sailing about to the Havens in Cornwall and Devonshire every where they Destroyed the Fishermen and their Boats and whatever Ships they found at Anchor they fired At length they enter'd Plimouth-Haven where they burnt some Great Ships and a good part of the Town But here at last they were met with by Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire and old tough Souldier of Fourscore who came upon them with the Trained Bands of his Country and seeing at the first Brunt a few of his Men fall by reason of the French Quarrels which they shot from far he made his Men to close immediately and fall to Handy stroaks with them whereupon he soon overcame them beating them down by Heaps and so Chaced them eagerly to their Gallies when being not able to reach their Fellows by wading for they were now drawn off and stood aloof there were drown'd of them about 500. About this time there Å¿ Knight n. p. 2573. n. 40. came a Fleet of Frenchmen consisting of 20 Great Ships 15 small Ones and 32 Gallies riding before Sandwich-Haven but they durst not take Land because they saw the County Militia ready drawn up to receive them Thence therefore they tack'd about to Rye where they did much Mischief but while they were there a Squadron of English came up with them whereupon the French hoised Sail and fled before them the English all the while making after them with full Sail till they came to Bologne where they set fire to part of the Town and hang'd 12 Captains of the Fleet whom among others they had taken VI. The News t Stow p. 235. of these Hostilities of the French and especially of their Success at Southampton were brought to the King of England in Brabant while the two Cardinals u Victorelâ—us 1 Vol. p. 862. §. 24. p. 857 §. 4. Pedro de Gomez of Spain Titulo Praxedis and Bertrand de Monte Faventio Titulo Sanctae Mariae in Aquiro were yet in his Presence debating of Matters between the two Realms and urging the King to a Peace with France whereupon the King with Great Indignation turning to the Earl of Juliers and other his Friends there Present asked them If he had not great Cause to break with France If only to Revenge their Inhumane Butchery and extream Cruelty to his Poor Subjects who fell into their Hands At which the Cardinal Bertrand replyed in this Manner not without a smile betraying his Haughty Conceits My Lord said he the Realm of France is encompassed about with so strong a Line of Silk that it cannot be broken by the strength of the Kingdom of England Wherefore my Lord ô King you will do well to stay first for the Arrival of the Dutchmen and others Your Friends and Confederates the greater Part
Peace and Concord would not only be rendred difficult but which God of his infinite Mercy avert impossible And moreover it doth not seem less worthy of consideration how mightily by occasion of the present Wars your Majesties Subjects are as it is said many ways exhausted of their Mony and other their Goods and are like upon continuance of such Burthens which God forbid to be further grieved And that the Event of War is doubtfull but especially upon the Divine Indignation to be feared Wherefore We more earnestly in the Lord require and exhort your Royal Magnificence nevertheless beseeching You by the Mercies of God that taking the Premises and what else may occurr to your Royal Wisdom into your Princely Consideration you may by taking Truce with the said King and renewing the Peace obviate the dangers both of your Self most Dear Son and of your People and so please God who loveth Peace and delighteth in Peace-makers rendring thereby your self more acceptable unto Him and confirming the strength of your whole Kingdom And that therefore you would incline to the wholsom Admonitions and Perswasions of ourdear Sons Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals of the Apostolick See our Nuntio's who are zealous of your Royal Honour and Success and whom we have lately by Advice of our Brethren sent to those Parts for that purpose Truly considering the Premises and that we might prevent the like dangers and innumerable more which are ready to follow from the said Wars and that between You our most Loving Son and the said King who is by the near Tye of Blood and Affinity joyned unto You the fulness of Peace and mutual Charity may flourish We wish with most ardent desires a Reformation of this Peace and if perhaps it cannot be obtained by the Instance of the said Cardinals yet if You O most Dear Son and the said King disposing your selves to mutual Concord acceptable to God amiable to Men profitable to Christendom and many ways the best for both of You will but consent that We also in our own Person should intend as Friendly Moderators to the Reformation of Peace taking a mutual Truce and granting a Cessation from Arms for a convenient time wherein the Treaty of Peace may be begun continued and if the Lord of Mercies grant brought to an happy End We thô we are continually occupied with weighty and importable Affairs even above our strength do notwithstanding thrô Desire of the said Peace hereby offer Our selves ready as far as conveniently and with honesty may be done effectually to interpose in the Reformation of this Peace to the Quiet Profit and Honour of each Party our share of Sollicitude as it shall be administred unto Us from above Concerning all which we request your Royal Majesty upon the most mature Deliberation to write unto Us your Pleasure Given c. at Avignon x Kalen. Jan. Anno Pontif iv To this Letter of the Popes the King of England wrote this Answer * * Walsingh hist p. 130. To the most Holy Father in God Benedict by Divine Providence Bishop of the Holy Roman Church Edward by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet We received with due Reverence and Devotion the Letters of your Holiness sent last unto Us wherein your Goodness persuades us to renew the Peace or take a Truce with the Lord Philip of Valois graciously adding that You in your own Person would intend to the Reformation thereof as a Friendly Moderator if We and the said Philip would consent thereto Surely We considering in the Lord your Holinesses Affection which is so sollicitous for the quiet of your Sons do humbly return You all possible Thanks for that your wholsom Persuasion and an Offer so condescending and so pious and in a firm love and confidence of your Integrity we desire to follow your Counsel and particularly to conform Our selves to your Holy Pleasure But it is now notoriously known how the said Philip contrary to Justice hath usurped unto himself the Kingdom of France lawfully devolved unto Us by the Death of the Lord Charles of Famous Memory the last King of France our Uncle And not content with this he hath seised into his hands our Lands in the Dutchy of Aquitain as many as he was able in Hostile manner invading our Islands in the Sea and also our Kingdom of England with that very Fleet which under colour of an Holy Expedition beyond Sea he pretended to rig forth having sworn for the Cause of Christ He hath also excited the Scots to rebell against us designing altogether to oppress us that so according to his unsatiable Desire of Sovereignty he may the more freely withhold from us our said Kingdom of France and other our Hereditary Lands To whom as we remember we have written before to your Holiness We have offer'd many desirable Methods of Peace willing even to purchase Quiet of him thô with no small Resignation of our own Rights But he long holding us in suspense by divers specious Treaties and exposing us to vast Expences that so he might drain our Exchequer and render us thereby unable to recover our Rights hath at last took no care to give us any Satisfaction but still his Persecution encreased and rag'd against Us Wherefore necessity so compelling We are now come to the Parts beyond Sea to take unto us the Assistance of our Friends to revenge the Injuries done and to repulse those that would have been done by him unto Us and to obtain our Hereditary Rights Which certainly we intend not to neglect but will pursue them when we cannot by any other agreeable way by Force of Arms God being our Help And althô in Presence of the Reverend Fathers Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals and Nuâ—tio's to your Holiness who have laudably and sollicitously labour'd in the Affair of Peace the said Realm of France which by all Right is known to belong to Us hath been demanded and We have under certain ways of Peace caused our said Will to be sincerely open'd to the foresaid Cardinals always offering Our selves ready to embrace any reasonable Method of Peace on condition the Adverse Party will agree thereto Yet neither by the said Cardinals nor by Others could we know to this Day that he the said Philip would do or offer any thing of Satisfaction unto Us. And truly if then he had made but never so small Offers to shun the hazards of Wars and the prosuseness of Expences we should have made a reasonable Answer thereupon but now we see not what we can do farther with our Honour in the way of Peace But for all that if it shall now please the foresaid Lord Philip to offer us any Reasonable Way or if your Prudent Consideration or the said Lords Cardinals shall open unto
and Bethune which three Towns the French King withheld from Flanders Upon King Edwards Request therefore Jacob van Arteveld came to this Parliament at Brussels with a great Retinue as if he had been Earl of Flanders and at his Motion all the Chief Burgesses of Gaunt and the other Good Towns of that Country by some called the Hanse-Towns of Flanders thô properly speaking they belong rather to the Four Provinces of Lubeck Cologne Brunswick and Dantzick All these were well pleased with the foresaid Promise of King Edward and thereupon desired to take Advice among themselves When having Retired and Debated sufficiently upon the Point they gave the King this Answer the Contrivance and Menagement of all which is Attributed to Jacob van Arteveld Sir You were pleased to require of Us that which of Our selves We would most willingly do if We might do it handsomly and without Loss or Dishonour But alas Sir We are Obliged both by Oath and a Bond of b Ashmole p. 650. Fox p. 340. Sandford p. 160 2000000 of Florens of Gold to be paid into the Popes Chamber never to make War against the King of France whosoever he shall be Which Forfeiture not only keeps Us in Aw but also the Danger of being Interdicted by the Pope if We break Our Oath made to him But Sir If You will but undertake to bear the Arms of France and Quarter them with the Arms of England and Own Your Self publiquely King of France as indeed You are and ought of Right to be Accounted then We will look upon You as the True King of France against whom We are not to make War and thereupon demand of You an Acquittance of Our said Bond which You may Grant Us as King of France By this means We shall be assured of Our Money and acquitted of Our Oath and then We will be ready to serve You in what You shall Command This Fine Trick was thus Invented by that subtle Demagogue Jacob van Arteveld to satisfie the unthinking Commons of the Equity of standing to King Edward against France notwithstanding all their Solemn Engagements to the Contrary However the King demurr'd at this their Answer For thô he knew he might Lawfully claim the Crown of France in Right of his Mother Queen Isabella yet he thought it neither Reasonable nor much for his Honour to take upon him the Arms and Kingly Title of that Realm before he had made Conquest of any Part thereof not being sure that ever he should be able to bring those Matters to effect On the other side he was very loath to refuse the Flemmings this their Desire because they might prove so Instrumental in his Service Whereupon he Advis'd in private with the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre the Earls of Juliers and Blankburg Mons and Bergen the Lords of Hainault and Valkenburgh the Lord Robert of Artois and his English Peers by whose Advice he return'd this Answer That if they would Swear and Seal to this Covenant and Engage to serve him upon all Occasions in his War he would then readily do all this since in Equity he might and further undertake to restore them those three Cautionary Towns of Lille Doway and Bethune which they had deliver'd as Pledges of their Faith to the French King. To this the Flemmings agree'd and d Joh. Villani l. 11. c. 108. Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 3. Hocsem l. 2. c. 25. so the 23 of January was appointed firmly to Ratifie these mutual Covenants and Conditions at Gaunt on which day the King and most of the forenamed Lords came to Gaunt where he was met by the Chief Burgesses of all the Towns of Flanders and then and there all the foresaid Agreements being ready Engrossed were rehearsed Sworn and Seal'd to and so the King took upon him the Style of France and Quarter'd the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England But thô e Speed p. 572. afterwards perhaps to gratifie the French Nation or because that was the more Ancient and Greater Monarchy he placed the Flowers de Lis in the Dexter and more Honourable Quarter yet it is highly probable that at their First Entermingling it was not so as appears not only by the Figure of this King in Armour trampling on a Boar by a Castle signifying France in a very Old Vellam M. S. now by me where the English Lions are ranged in the First and Last Quarters of his Shield but also from f Speed p. 572. a Seal of Queen Isabella this Kings Mother where the Arms of England as being those of the Husband's Line and therefore to have Precedence are Marshal'd where now the Flower de Luces shine But to put this out of all Doubt We shall further produce the Words of King Philip spoken at this time upon occasion of this Action of King Edwards to certain English Gentlemen sent to him about the present Affairs Our g Stâ—â— p. 236. Cosin says he doth wrongfully Quarter the Arms of England and France which notwithstanding doth not so much displease Us because indeed he is descended thô by the Weaker Sex of Our Kin and therefore as being a Batchelour We could easily be content to allow him part of the Arms of France but whereas in his Seals and Letters Patents he Styles himself King of England and of France in the One and sets the Quarter of his Arms with Leopards before the Quarter Charged with Lillies in the Other this is that which We disdain exceedingly For thereby it should seem he Prefers that Inconsiderable Isle of England before the Mighty Kingdom of France To this Complaint Sr. John Shoreditch the King of Englands Agent made Answer that it was the Custom of England to set the Title and Arms of their Progenitors before the Arms and Title of a Right derived from the Mother And thus said he doth my Lord the King of England Prefer his Paternal Coat both out of Duty and Reason But as it appears soon after they were alter'd even as now they stand at this Day only h Sandford p. 157. an Not. vid. eund ibid. in Notis p. 270. that when Charles the Sixth of France with Design to shew a Difference changed the Semee Flours de Lize into Three Our King Henry the V. also did the like and so it hath continued ever since Either at this time or soon after the King set at the Foot of his Shield beneath the Arms of France and England thus quarter'd this French Motto DIEV ET MON DROIT in English GOD AND MY RIGHT declaring thereby his Confidence to be only in God and the Equity of his Cause Which Motto with the Title of France hath been continued by the Kings of England his Successors even unto this day That King Edward might justifie his Title to the Kingdom of France whose Arms he thus undertook to Bear he sent his Ambassadors to the Pope with these Instructions following i Odâ—râ—â—uâ— Raynald ad hunc
Realm Our Purpose is not to proceed rashly or by Our own Will but by the Discreet Advice and Counsel of the Peers Prelates Nobles and other Our Faithfull Subjects of the kingdom so far forth as shall make for the Honour of God the Defence and Advancement of the Church which in all fullness of Devotion We Reverence and to the Advantage both Publique and Private of all the Subjects thereof with full Execution of Justice by the Grace of God to be Administred unto all and Singular Persons We being earnestly carefull for the Honour Profit and Tranquility of You all For as the Lord knoweth nothing will be more acceptable to Us than that by Our carefull Solicitude Peace may be engendred in General among all Christians but especially betwixt Us so that by Our Concord the force and Strength of all Christian Princes may be united together for the Recovery of the Holy Land which Our Saviour and Redeemer hath dedicated with his own Precious Blood whereunto We will endeavour Our Selves thrô the Grace of the Holy Ghost And forasmuch as We have offer'd to the foresaid Lord Philip divers Friendly and Reasonable Conditions of Peace whereunto he would neither condescend nor agree to any Conformity nay rather he moveth against Us unjust War to the Utter Subversion of Our State We are of Necessity compelled to the uttermost of Our Power for Our own Security and the Recovery of Our Right to Defend Our Selves by force of Arms Not seeking any slaughter of Good and Humble Subjects but desiring their safeguard and Profit For the which Cause all and singular such Our Subjects of the Kingdom of France as shall submit themselves unto Us as unto the True King of France between this and the Feast of Easter next ensuing professing unto Us their Fealty and doing unto Us as unto the King of France of Duty it appertaineth so as Our beloved Subjects of Flanders have done already or shall be ready to offer themselves so to do All such We willingly Admit and Receive to Our Peace and Grace under Our Protection to be defended them to maintain as is convenient from all molestation and trouble whatsoever in Person or Goods hereafter to be inflicted by Us or by Our Officers upon whatsoever occasion of Rebellion afore-passed And forasmuch as the Premises cannot easily be intimated to all and singular Persons We have provided the same to be fixed upon Church Doors and in other publick Places whereby the Manifest Notice thereof may come to all Men to the Comfort of You that are to Us Loyal and to the Information of those who thrô the Sinister dealing of Our Enemies are otherwise informed of Us. Given at Gaunt the 8 day of February in the Year of Our Reign over France the First and over England the Fourteenth IV. Presently after King Edward had thus assumed the Arms and Style of France and had caused his Great Seal to be Changed leaving the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk in Flanders with his Queen and Children he took the Sea for England and Landed safe at x Claus 14. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 42. derso Orwell in Suffolk on the 21 of February at Nine of the Clock in the Morning on which very day that his New Seal might be made more Publique he caused y 21 Febr. ibid. m. 33. in derso Impressions thereof and of his Privy Seal which was also alter'd to be made and sent to all the Sheriffs in England to be Published in the several Counties in regard he intended at the meeting of the Parliament on the z 29 Martii Wednesday next after Midlent-Sunday to acquaint them with the Cause wherefore he had added to his Style the Title of King of France And on the First of March following he deliver'd his New Broad Seal to Sr. John de St. Paul in the Cage-Chamber at Westminster the Old Great Seal being then deliver'd up to him by the said Sr. John which he gave to William de Kildesby to be laid up in his Wardrobe But it is to be a Vid. hujus sigilli Imaginem Sandford p. 124 remembred that upon this Change there were two Seals made alike in all things but only One was circumscribed Edvardus Dei Gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae And the other was Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae Dominus Hiberniae the Style being varied in Respect of the Place as Our King is now in Scotland called Rex Scotiae Angliae but in England Anglia is put first But of King Edward and his Affairs in Parliament We shall not yet speak till We have given some account of other Matters of no small Consequence in other parts which fell after the two Armies had broke up at Vironfoss without engaging V. Only here We shall remember that the King of England upon this variation of his Seal to set forth the Equity of his Cause sent his Letters to the Pope wherein using the Style of King of France and the Lillies quarter'd he largely sets forth how the Realm of France was devolved unto him by Hereditary Right and that Philip of Valois had by Violence and Injustice usurped it M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet p. 1. apud Odoric Rainald ad An. 1340. § 4. ex Tom. 6. Epist Secret. 255. in Vatican to whom the Pope sent an Answer the Tenour whereof followeth Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction When lately the Letters of Your Royal Excellency were presented to Our Apostleship and the Contents thereof more fully understood as soon as ever a New Title therein described and the Impression of a Seal engraven with the Arms of France and England did at first view appear they Administred unto Us great Matter of Astonishment and Admiration For by how much We Embrace You with the Preheminence of a more Ample Charity by so much the more grievously are We afflicted inwardly while We perceive You to be led by Perverse and Deceitfull Counsels and to be induced to such things as are neither Expedient nor Decent Nor doth our inward Affection permit Us to be silent or dissemble but that We should set before the Eyes of Your Mind these things that You may be able more Discreetly and Profitably to take Care to Your self as to the Premises For it is affirmed for certain and undoubted that whereas the Custom hitherto kept inviolably doth not admit the Succession to the Realm of France by the Female Line the Succession is said not to be due unto You who as You know are descended of the Stock of the House of France by the Female Line And if no such Custom did forbid the c c Successâ—ne M. S. Successionem Odoric Successive Proceeding of the Female Line to the Crown of the
and other Profits rising of the said Realm of England shall be set and dispended upon the Maintenance of the Safeguard of our said Realm of England and of our Wars of Scotland France and Gascoign and in no place elswhere during the said Wars Besides which extraordinary Grant of the Lords and Commons the Clergy also at the Motion of the Archbishop freely gave unto the King a Tenth Here also because the King in his Style was called King of France and had alter'd his Arms whereby his Subjects might think themselves in danger of becoming a Province to France that being the greater Kingdom the Kings Letters Patents of Indemnity were granted beginning d Vid. Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 82 Edvardus c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all those who these Letters shall hear or see Greeting Know ye that whereas some People do think that by reason that the Realm of France is devolved unto Us as Right Heir of the same and forasmuch as We be King of France our Realm of England should be in Subjection to the King and Realm of France in time to come We having regard to the Estate of our Realm of England and namely that it never was nor ought to be in Subjection nor in the Obeisance of the Kings of France which for the time have been nor of the Realm of France And willing to provide for the Safety and Defence of the said Realm of England and of our Liege People of the same do will and grant and establish for Us and for our Heirs and Successors by Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons of our Realm of England in this our present Parliament summon'd at Westminster the Wednesday next after the Sunday in Midlent the xiv Year of our said Reign of our Realm of England and the First of France that by the cause or colour of this that We be King of France and that the said Realm to Us pertaineth as afore is said or that We cause Our Selves to be named King of France in our Stile or that We have changed our Seals or our Arms nor for Commands which We have made or hereafter shall make as King of France neither our said Realm of England or the People of the same of what Estate or Condition they be shall not in any time to come be put in Subjection or in Obeisance of Us nor of our Heirs nor Successors as Kings of France as aforesaid nor be subject nor obedient but shall be free and quit of all manner of Subjection and Obeisance aforesaid as they were wont to be in the time of our Progenitors Kings of England for ever In Witness whereof c. Certain Bishops and Lords require of his Majesty to be saved harmless for those great Summs of Money wherewith they stood bound on the Kings Behalf to the Duke of Brabant in case the Duke of Cornwall should not Marry with the Daughter of the said Duke which Request was granted and all with the Letters Patents aforesaid was enrolled in the Chancery The Petitions also of the Clergy by Assent were made into a Statute beginning Edvardus c. and enrolled as above After this certain fit Persons there named were appointed for several Affairs some to hold Debate of matters concerning Flanders some to speak with the Merchants touching Exchange to Brussels and to confer with the Merchants of England some to dilate with Priors Aliens of which we shall speak more hereafter others to advise touching the Defence of the North Marches others to treat about the Affairs of Gascoign and others how best to preserve the Islands and the Sea-coasts As to the Keeping of the Peace and performing of Covenants between the Duke of Brabant and Others on the Kings Behalf that was all to be debated in the Kings own Presence Concerning the raising of Money that was refer'd to the Commons But because the Taxes last granted were not duly answer'd to the King by those who had been entrusted with the Care thereof Certain Persons were now appointed to take the Accounts of Sr. William de la Pole Sr. John Charnells and Paul de Monteflore and Others who had received Money Wooll and other Goods to the Kings Use Whereupon Sr. William de la Pole and the Rest had Day given them to shew their Accompts each of them finding their sufficient Sureties The Earl of Derby and the Lord Wake were Sureties for Sr. William the same Earl of Darby and the Lord John Montgomery for Sr. John Charnells John Lord Dacres and Reginald Lord Cobham Sr. John Shareshull and Sr. John Stradling stood for Paul de Monteflore Sr. John Sturmy and Sr. John Charnells were bound for William Welchborne and the Earl of Huntington engaged for Pierce Dyme and other Merchants of Barton Thereupon the Parliament was Protogued till Wednesday in Easter Week then ensuing At which time certain were appointed to sit on Petitions had before the King When also the Bishops at the Kings Request promised never to dissent from the Kings Promise made for the Customs of Wooll but by Common Assent of Parliament A Motion to remember to Repeal a Commission made to Sr. Robert Waterford of the e Appâ—ser M.S. Opposer in the Exchequer Also to remember to respit the Prior of St. Dennis near Southampton and of Southwick from paying of the Tenths and Fifteenths And to direct a Commission to Sr. Robert Popham to be Sheriff of Southampton during the Kings Pleasure It is Enacted that the King may with the Assent of his Allies make any reasonable Peace In this Parliament in f M.S. Sr. R. Cotton ibid. Dagd 2 Vol. p 113. consideration of the many Good Services done by the Marquess of Juliers the King made him Earl of Cambridge and gave him in Fee a 1000 l. per annum till he could provide for him so much of Hereditaments Whence it appears that the Learned Antiquary g Cambden Brit. Mr. Cambden was mistaken who says that King Edward the Third for the Love he bore to Queen Philippa his Consort created the Lord John of Hainault her Uncle Earl of Cambridge And that upon his Revolt to the French he devested him thereof and conferr'd it upon William Marquess of Juliers Sisters Son to that Queen Whereas the said Lord John was not now nor of some Years after Revolted to the French as We shall shew in due place so that he could not yet forfeit with Edward nor is there any thing at all in Our publique Records that may give the least Countenance to this Assertion of that Famous Man as the Diligent Sr. William Dugdale acknowledges Whereas it is most Evident that at this time the Marquess of Juliers was created Earl of Cambridge as We have shewn But We have not made this Observation upon so Great and Venerable a Person out of Envy or Ostentation rather thrô love of Truth alone and to infer
Villani a Person of more Credit says it was on the 28 of July But I shall hereafter take little Notice of that Mans Writing because the Authorities I shall bring and the Contexture of the Story it self will confute him among the Learned and to others I write not Thô I know he took this Account from Du Chesne and other French Authors but even them he has corrupted and mistook as any Man may observe X. These are the various Adventures which most deserve Memory during the Siege of Tournay that is for the space of Nine Weeks and upward King Edward all the while expecting to win the Place by Famine for he knew well there was a great Number of Mouths within and not much Victuals the Frenchmen as he knew presuming that the King of France would not suffer the Siege to continue so long without endeavouring a Rescue Wherefore the King of England being strongly encamped and always prepared to give or receive Battle resolved to win the City by Famine For this Wise and Pious Prince knew it would be too expensive of Christian Blood to attempt so strong a Place by Storm Some thought however that they could not have held out so long had not the Duke of Brabant secretly favour'd them and allow'd certain Quantities of Provision to be convey'd into the City thrô his Quarters nay there are who stick not to affirm that he was o Gâ—ovâ—n Vâ—llâ—niâ— 11. c. 111. p. 770. Mezeray 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 17. brib'd and corrupted by the King of France's Money and that being therefore suspected by King Edward he most willingly admitted of a Treaty when 't was offer'd him But it may be these were only vain and undutifull Reflections cast out by the idle People of Bruges and Louvain and other Brabanders who were both ill-affected to the Cause and also grew so uneasie with this long Siege that they were not asham'd openly to ask leave of the Marshal of the Host to return home into Brabant When the Marshal heard such an unworthy Request he told them that for his part he was very well content they should go but then they must leave their Horses and their Armour behind them least those who saw them going home should say there went a sort of Souldiers who had left their General at a Siege because there were no Carpets and Perfumes in the Field With which nipping Retort they were so confounded that they never more open'd their Mouths to their Captains about that Affair And beside this backwardness of the Brabanders those Officers whom King Edward had entrusted to Collect his Taxes and other Moneys in England for his Use beyond Sea were so negligent and slow if not false in that business that they mightily perplext their Master thereby and made him borrow vast Summs upon Usury and to enter into many Disadvantagious Engagements for the Payment of his German Auxiliaries and other Necessities consequent upon the Siege Nor was King Philip of France without his Difficulties For besides that it tormented his very Soul to see his Good Towns Besieged and spoiled in a manner before his Eyes his Lords not suffering him to hazard a Battle for Revenging thereof he is said to have lost what by Skirmishes and divers Rencounters with the English and what by ill-diet and Famine which may be wonder'd at he being in his own Country especially for want of Water by the p Frois c. 63. fol. 35. evil Air hot Weather and other Inconveniences more than q Fox Monum p. 348. b. n. 60. 20000 Men Without any set Battle XI King Robert of Sicily being still in those Parts was wonderfully assiduous in his Negotiations for Peace The Pope by his Cardinals back'd him very close and especially by an r Odoric Rainald ad An. 1340 §. 29. Englishman one of his Chaplains named William Norwich Dean of Lincoln and Auditor of the Gauses of the Holy Palace whose Credence from the Pope contained these Heads 1. That he should advise the King not to be too much puff'd up with his Victories nor in confidence thereof to shew himself strange or difficult in admitting of Peace by two Instances of One who being 17 times beaten in War yet the 18 time obtain'd an entire and absolute Victory And of Another who having gain'd two Notable Victories was the third time utterly Defeated and overthrown 2. Secondly To advise him of the Perfidiousness of the Nation ally'd unto him as the Flemings who since they had deceived their own Natural Lord would in all probabilitie much more deceive him whom but accidentally and for the present they had received for their Lord. And that the Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess of Juliers were like to serve him only as far as they might serve their own ends And least of all should he trust to the Almaines who always use to be accounted unstable and his Grandfather the Good King Edward found by Experience their Instability in the time of his utmost Exigence 3. Thirdly Of the Excessive Power of the King of France who thô he should lose Ten Battles in his Kingdom could easily recollect People in abundance to resist any body in all probability Which yet in the King of England being in another Kingdom and in the Hands of Strangers and not attended with his own People is accounted Difficult nay Impossible And this appears by the Example of a certain King of England who formerly had more in Revenues within the Realm of France then the King of France himself had in his own Kingdom and yet was quite expelled by Degrees And especially since the said King of England's claim as to the Realm of France in which he is reputed to have no Right and as to certain Counties in which by Prescription of an Hundred Years and more the Kings of France have continually and quietly had Possession doth seem unjust Wherefore it seems that of Right he ought to be content with the Dutchy of Guien under that form whereby the Lord Edward his Grandfather held the same 4. Fourthly To put him in mind of the Fear of God which he always ought to bring to Memory by revolving in the Closet of his Breast the Processes and Censures made and set forth against the Bavarian which by the adhering to him and assuming the Lieutenantship of the Empire he is known to have incurred Upon which our foresaid Lord the Pope hath often writ to the same King as well by Exhortation as Admonition and once intended Letters unto him not as unto a Son nor as one faithfull to the Church but as one that adhered to Rebells and Infidels And especially because of the Incursions of the Enemies of the Christian Faith who had begun on all Hands to oppose Christianity as is particularly contained in the Letters of our said Lord he ought to desist from carrying on the said War. 5. Also in case that the King should say he not without Reason doubted to put himself
Messengers on your Behalf declared and as they pleased enjoyned us cannot be secret or hid as being publiquely told before Notaries and a multitude of Men. The first of whom viz. the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe bringing with him Royal Letters of Credence under the Privy Seal and delivering his Credence enjoyned and cited us that within eight Days then immediately following upon the account of certain of your Majesties Debts for which we stood bound we should forthwith cross the Seas into Brabant there constantly to tarry till the said Debts should be fully satisfied But the other Messenger namely the Lord Ralph Stafford as if he had come from a long journey and had brought no Letter at all with him said unto us only by word of Mouth I cite thee to appear before the King assuring us also by word of Mouth only that we ought not to fear the Traps of those that threatned us If therefore such Messages as these were consonant to certain Clauses in that part inserted in your Letters let a just Judge determin It must needs seem to any circumspect Person that to go presently into Brabant and yet to tarry still in England for the gaining of the foresaid Informations contains meer Repugnances And let your Majesty know that no vain Fear Pride Disobedience Contempt or Conscience of Guilt withheld us from the delectable Sight of your Royal Face but it was the most just reason above alledged duly considered And that we may speak with due and respectfull Reverence althô your Royal Letters of Conduct for Coming to your Council Staying and returning might at first view seem sufficient if indeed we had been called to your Council as we were not Yet that same Day whereon your Letters were brought to us there was a Royal Brief directed to the High-Sheriff of Kent that he should oblige us to come before You and your Council at London to answer about a certain Contempt in the said Brief contained But with what zeal to your Justice that matter was conceived God knows For thô the Royal Conduct it self gave us free Liberty of Returning yet the very Nature of the said Brief laid upon us a strict necessity of staying in the hands of our Enemies Which thing by no means did or may become the Majesty of a King. Yet we as we said before have always been and shall be ready in the presence of your Majesty the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Land to answer to whatever shall be objected against us and to stand to the judgment of our Peers in all things our State and Order always preserved But those who endeavour to hinder the Convocation of a Parliament pretending for an Occasion that there is no lawfull Cause endeavour to decline the Declaration of the Truth the Truth it self witnessing which says n n John c. 3. v. 20. For every one that doth evil hateth the light As to that which is inserted in the said Letters that We To the 4 Article being exalted by the Royal Bounty to great Honours upon whom as a most Dear Father your Soul reposed were now cruelly changed into an heavy and unnatural Step-father unto You forgetfull of Benefits received ungratefull and pursuing our Benefactor and that we have served You as a Mouse in a Bag a Serpent in the Lap and Fire in the Bosom with an ill Requital for your kindness The Truth being thus concealed and Falshood set forth in laying to our Charge this Ingratitude saving your Reverence not very truly rather from the Malice of him that dictated the Letters than of him that sent them we thus answer For it is said by the mouth of Truth o o Matth. c. 19. v. 29. Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Names Sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit Everlasting Life Now him that spake the Premises we call for our Witness that from that time wherein we labour'd in your Service spiritually according to the Knowledge granted unto us from the Most High we did so much apply our Mind with all Sincerity Loyalty Devotion and Diligence as we premised to the dispatch of your Affairs for your Honour and the Weal of your Kingdom that we not only left our Father and Mother our Wife that is our Church and our Spiritual Children the Care and Culture of our Houses and Lands and also of our Selves but being day and night sollicitous for You and your Affairs we often passed the night without Sleep and by no means spparing our Labours either beyond or on this side the Sea we have I pray God it be not to the peril of our Soul quite wasted our Body and by spending our temporal Goods are as it were made Beggars and by minding your Advantage and that of your Realm have lost the Love both of Clergy and People as the World knows And whether these be the Actions of a Step-father or of a Father let him judge who knows not how to lie the Almighty True God! For unto you we have ever been a kind Father but unto our Spiritual Children which with grief we declare for your sake an heavy Step-father We were not a Mouse in your Bag because in your service we did not feed on what was yours but on our own What we have of a Serpent we shew in exercising his Wisdom not in pouring forth the malice of his Poison in your Lap as also by earnest desires kindling Fire of Divine Love and Charity which doth not consume in your Bosom but according to the knowledge given unto us of the Lord enlighten For all which since there is no reward allow'd from Man let him reward us who is the Rewarder of all Good Men. Nor will that our Exaltation by Royal Benefits diminish our Reward from the Most High Which yet was charged unto us as we have evinced by the malice of the Dictator especially since it would not become the Royal Magnificence to repeat such Upbraidings For it is not thrô the Collation or Procurement of any Secular Prince whatsoever that we are any thing exalted by the Benefits and magnificent Honours which hitherto we have enjoy'd but thrô the gracious Munificence of God p p James c. 1. v. 5. who giveth liberally unto all and upbraids no man of the Good things he hath given But as to that which under a kind of covert is spitefully thrown against us To the 5 Article That we have defamed the Kings Innocence and the Fidelity and Diligence of his Counsellors and Officers who pursue Justice publiquely in our Letters declaring that in these latter times by the Royal Power contrary to Justice the Laity is oppressed the Clergy confounded and Holy Church burthen'd with divers Exactions Taxes and Talliages whether the Premises are grounded on Truth the Most High well knoweth For laying aside all Equivocation we have incessantly studied in Mind and Spirit to
receive the Discourses and Letters of Kings respectfully and graciously yet Our Excusatory Letters containing as in due place and time We intend fully to prove true and just Matter he intitles Detestable Scandalous Libells putting a false blot upon Our Name Because if any One that hath the Custody of a Common Weal is ready to prove those Crimes that are committed to writing if truth corroborate his Assertions he is vindicated from the Scandal of Libelling and is thereby accounted Praise-Worthy He also not observing the manner of his Predecessors who used to Honour and Love their Princes and cause y y 1 Tim. c. 2. v. 1. Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks to be made by themselves and others for them and to teach them in the Spirit of Meekness begins the Web of Faction and perverse Contention against Us and Our Servants in the Spirit of Pride z z Psalm 128. v. 3. making long his Iniquity and seeking which is the Comfort of Wretches more Companions in his punishment And which is worse by his Lying Words he wickedly endeavours to precipitate into a Disrespect and Contempt of Us his Suffragans and other Our Devout and Loyal Subjects And althô with God not the Heighth of a Mans Degree but the Passing of a Good Life gains approbation this Man Glorying in the Loftiness of his Condition requires unto himself as unto the Ambassador of Christ that Reverence which being due from Him unto Us He doth not pay Nay when both He and other Prelates of the Realm who receive the Temporals of their Churches from Us by their Oath of Allegiance do owe unto Us Faith Honour and Reverence He only is not asham'd to render unto Us instead of Faith Treachery in lieu of Honour Reproach and for Reverence Contempt Wherefore althô We are ready and always have been to respect as is meet Our Spiritual Fathers yet as for their Offences which We see to abound to the Hazard of Us and of Our Kingdom We ought not to pass them over slightly But the said Archbishop complains that certain Crimes were in Our said Excusatory Letters objected against him thô absent unheard and without Defence and that he was condemn'd of Capital Matters as if We as He foolishly pretends had to the utmost proceeded criminally against him which is not true When We only supply'd the place of an Excuse being compell'd of Necessity lest We should seem to neglect Our own Reputation But let this Cavilling Reprover see if this complaint may not justly be retorted upon his own Head who falsely and maliciously in positive Words describes Us his King and Our Counsellors thô absent unhear'd and without Defence as Oppressors and Transgressors of the Laws altogether When as He is justly blamed who incurrs the Fault which he himself Reproves and a a Rom. c. 2. v. 1. wherein he judgeth another he condemneth himself while he himself is found reproveable in the same thing Moreover althô he studied to serve not Our Interest but his own Covetousness yet he upbraids and boasts that he hath labour'd so Mightily in the Kings Affairs to use his own Words that thereby he feared how he had manifoldly incurred the heavy displeasure both of God and Man And this he might justly fear since he may be reckon'd among that sort of Men who according to the Prophetical taunt b b Jer. c. 9. v. 5. have taught their tongues to speak lies and weary themselves to commit Iniquity But as to certain other false and specious Words contained in the Letters of the said Archbishop thô We might confute them with Reasons more clear than the Light yet lest We should protract Discourse We thought fit for the present not to answer them because it is not decent to strive with a contentious Man nor agree with him in perverseness But We command You. firmly in the Faith and Love wherein You are bound unto Us enjoyning You that notwithstanding any Mandate of the said Archbishop to which in derogation of the Royal Honour against Your Oath of Allegiance made unto Us You ought not to obey You forthwith proceed to the Publication of those things which in Our foresaid Excusatory Letters are contained according to their Order And because We are and ought to be extreamly jealous concerning the maintenance of Our Rights and Prerogatives Royal which the Worthily remembred Supremacy of Our Progenitors Kings of England hath Gloriously defended and because the said Archbishop to stir up the Clergy and People against Us and to hinder the Carrying on of Our War which by his Counsel principally We undertook hath caused and commanded by others to be done and Published certain Denunciations and Publications of Sentences of Excommunication and Monitions Injurious and prejudicial to Our Crown and Dignity Royal since thereby he endeavours in sundry Articles to take away from Us the Jurisdiction notoriously to Us belonging and whereof We being a King Anointed are known to be capable and which both We and Our Progenitors the Popes Prelates and Clergy of Our Kingdom both knowing and allowing have peaceably enjoy'd time out of Mind to the Hurt of Our Majesty Royal and the manifest derogation of Our Rights and Kingly Prerogatives We therefore strictly and upon your Peril forbid You that neither by your selves nor by others you make nor as much as in you lies by others suffer to be made any such undue Publications Denuntiations or Monitions Prejudicial and Derogatory to Our Rights and Prerogatives Royal or any thing else whereby Our Liege Subjects may be stirred up against Us or the Carrying on of Our War may be any way hindred to the Subversion of Us and of Our Liege People which God forbid at the Command of the Archbishop or any other whatsoever And if any thing in this kind hath by You been attempted that forthwith You Repeal it Witness Our Self at the Tower of London the 31 of March in the Year of Our Reign of England the 15 and of France 2. This truly Royal Command of the Kings being obey'd by all the Bishops of the Province of Canterbury the King resolved to maintain the Rights of his Crown and Summons a Parliament to which also the Archbishop is called c Antiqu. Brit. p. 235. n. 55. the Kings Royal Protection being Granted him that he might safely come thither XI On the d Pascha 8 April Lit. Dom. G. Ninth of April being Easter e M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 40. c. Exact Abridgement by Sr Rob. Cotton p. 31. Monday King Edward held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster the Causes whereof were declared to be how the King might be speedily supply'd with the Grants yielded unto him last Year upon his passing in Person against his Enemy Philip of Valois who had taken away part of the Dutchy of Guienne much part of which Grant was kept from the King by Evil Officers Also secondly how more plenty of Money might be raised and
People heavy Losses both of many Mens Lives and Fortunes doth represent it self unto our Eyes it more especially torments our Mind and moves Us to apply all our Diligence Care and Labour to take it up Wherefore We give You to understand that the foresaid Philip at our Request hath given unto Us by his Letters Authority and Power to moderate between You and Him about this Discord stirred up between You in order to the obtaining of a Peace Which Peace duly considering the whole State of You and your Allies we believe to be very expedient for You and your Kingdom And therefore perswade your Friendly Charity and earnestly exhort You to give also Your Consent thereto So that We may thereby bring You and Him to an Agreement and establish between You a firm Peace whereunto with a ready Mind We will apply Our selves and take pains in vigorously prosecuting the same Wherein if You will consent to our Advice and as We hope acquiesce therein may it please You by your Letters to give unto Us. the foresaid Power of Treating about an Agreement and of Ordaining a Truce for a Year or two more Neither let it move You that between Us and Philip King of France a Friendship is made and contracted For since You took a Truce and certain Limits wherein to treat of an Agreement between You and the said King of France without our Knowledge Will and Assent We also by the Advice of our Princes who know the Tyes Bonds and Covenants betwixt Us to whom also it seem'd that saving our Honour We might do the same have contracted an Agreement and Friendship with the said King of France and therefore for the Causes aforenoted do revoke and call back the Lieutenantship assigned unto You by our Letters Nevertheless giving you for certain to understand that We shall in our Treaties make such Brotherly Provision for You that if You will acquiesce in our Counsels your Cause by means of our Counsel shall be brought to a good Issue About which Matters further to inform your Charity of our Intention We have sent unto your Brotherhood a Religious Person Frier b Herwart Everhard Reader of the Order of Friers Hermits of St. Augustine and Chaplain in Ordinary of our Court Whom about the Premises We desire to be speedily dispatched unto Us again Dated at Frankford the 14 Day of June in the 27 Year of our Reign and the 14 of our Empire III. King Edward made no more of all this knowing the unconstancy of that Prince but only return'd him this respectfull and rational Answer To the most Renowned Prince the Lord Lewis by the Grace of God Roman Emperour always Augustus Edward by the same Grace King of France and England and Lord of Ireland Greeting and perpetual Happiness We have reverently received the Letters of your Highness containing among other things that upon your Request Philip of Valois hath by his Letters given unto You Power to treat of an Agreement between Us and Him and that if it would please Us to give unto You Power therefore You would willingly endeavour Your utmost toward the bringing about the said Agreement And that the Friendship between You and Philip should not move Us For since without your Knowledge and Assent we took a Truce and Limits wherein to treat of Peace between Us and the said Philip You also have contracted the said Friendship with him by the Advice of your Princes to whom it seem'd that saving your Honour You might do so much and have also revoked the Lieutenantship by You granted unto Us. Certainly the Zeal which You have to make the said Agreement We very much commend c Here a Clause added by Fox which I find not in Walsingham's Original And truly it would be very agreeable and acceptable to Us if at the Instance of so great an Umpire a desirable Peace may be obtained But forasmuch as We know our Right and Title to the Realm of France to be clear enough We purpose not by our Letters of Commission to any one to leave it under doubtfull Arbitrement But when We seriously consider and revolve how your Highness upon mature Deliberation beholding our manifest Right and the obstinate Pertinacy and Violence of the said Philip did of your Grace make a League with Us against the said Philip admitting Us out of the Exuberance of your Love as a particular Child of Adoption to speak by your leave We cannot sufficiently admire That your Invincible Highness being constituted of God for the d 1 Pet. 2.14 Praise of them that do well and for the Punishment of Evil-doers hath made a League against Us with the said Philip our injurious and notorious Enemy And as to that which You say that without your Knowledge and Assent We took a Truce with the said Philip in Order to a Treaty about a Peace the Circumstances of the Fact being rationally weighed it ought not to move You For while We besieged the City of Tournay it was requisit we should follow their Counsels who then gave us their Aid and Society and the near Approach of Winter and the Distance of place would not permitt Us to advise with your Highness about the Premises Nay if you remember your Grant unto Us was otherwise namely that if a fit Opportunity was offer'd We might without your Advice or Knowledge hold a Treaty of Peace but so as that without your Consent We should by no means make a final Peace with the said Philip which We never purposed to do till we should have had thereupon your Counsel and Assent But it was Our desire in all things to bear Our selves as we ought toward You according to our Abilities hoping that the Fulness of your Brotherly Kindness would more lovingly have supported Us for a time It is also thought by some that the Revocation of the said Lieutenantship was prematurely made Whereas according to your Promise herein given unto Us by your Imperial Letters it ought not to have been made untill we had obtained the Kingdom of France or the greater Part thereof We desire your Excellence duly to weigh the Premises and to do farther what shall seem most requisit Because by the Grace of God We intend after our Abilities to gratifie both You and Yours according to the measure of your Benevolence bestowed upon Us. The Almighty grant unto your Highness as much Felicity as your Heart can wish Dated at London the 18 of July in the 2d Year of our Reign of France and of England the 15. IV. Now for a while we might expect to have liberty wholly to divert to Actions of Peace the Truce being prolonged with France for two Years more and that with Scotland not yet expiring till the Feast of St. John Baptist next ensuing But King Edwards Destiny which mark'd him out for Action or rather the evil Genius of France was even now working to break the Truce and to set open the Gates of War again
The Occasion was given first in Bretagne For e Frois c. 63. fol. 35. after the Truce had been confirmed and sealed before the City of Tournay and every Man was gone his way the Lord John Dreux then Duke of Bretagne who had been there on the French Kings side in as gallant an Equipage as any other Prince whatsoever upon his Return homewards fell suddenly sick of a mortal Disease and died in little Bretagne and was buried at f Catal. Honor. p. 606. Ploermell in the Diocess of Nantes He had been thrice married first to Isabell Daughter of Charles Earl of Valois and Alanson and Sister to King Philip of Valois secondly to Blanch Daughter of the King of Castille and lastly to Margaret Daughter of Edward Earl of Savoy but yet died without any Issue From whence a lasting War was entailed upon his Country which occasionally also involved the Realms of France and England This same Duke g Frois ibid. Catal. Honor. had two younger Brethren the one by the Fathers side onely of a second Venter named John Earl of Montfort who was then living the other named Guy Earl of Pentebria his Brother both by Father and Mother side was dead indeed but had left one Daughter behind him named Jane which her Uncle the late Duke had before his Death married to the young Lord Charles Castillion Eldest Son to Guy Earl of Blois by another Sister of King Philip of France Upon which Marriage the said King promised after the Decease of her Uncle Duke John to uphold and maintain the said Charles her Husband in the Dukedom of Bretagne For the late Duke always suspected vehemently that his Half-brother Monford would struggle for the Inheritance after his Death against the Daughter of his own Brother Guy to whom he reckon'd it more justly belonged That she might therefore find an able Friend upon Occasion to abett her Quarrel he thus wisely to his thinking match'd her with a Son of King Philips Sister And accordingly King Philip however partial he was in King Edwards Cause who claim'd the Crown of France by a Title derived from a Woman yet without any Scruple undertook to defend the Title of his Nephew Charles to this Dukedom as we shall shew at large anon V. However John Earl of Monford had this Advantage that he h Frois ibid. first heard of the Duke his Brothers Death and thereupon resolving not to dally in a matter of such Consequence he rode immediately to Nantes the chief City in Bretagne where upon his fair Address to the Burgesses and those of the Country thereabouts he was forthwith received as their Chief Lord and had Homage and Fealty done unto him Then the Earl and his Lady Margaret Daughter to i Mezeray p. 19. Robert late Earl of Flanders and Sister to Lewis of Cressy the present Earl of Flanders a Lady of a most Masculine Spirit determin'd by Advice of their Council to call a Court of Parliament and keep a Solemn Feast on such a Day at Nantes against which time the Earl of Montford sent forth his Summons to all the Nobles and Representatives of the good Towns of Bretagne to be there to render their Homage and Fealty unto Him as unto their Soveraign Lord. But in the mean while before the time of the Feast came the Earl of Montford went from Nantes with a competent Number of Men of Arms unto Limoges the Chief Town of Limousin whereof the Dukes of Bretagne were Vicounts where he was informed that the vast Treasures which his Father Arthur had amassed together were securely kept Being come thither he enter'd the City in great Pomp and Splendour and was honourably received of all the Clergy Burgesses and Commons who then and there made Homage and swore Fealty unto him Here he handled the Matter so discreetly that he had all that inestimable Treasure deliver'd up to him which of a long time before his Father had gather'd and strongly secur'd with this Injunction left to his Son that he should not meddle therewith till he should be brought to some Extremity So having obtained this hitherto untouch'd Prize he brought it away with him to Nantes to the Countess his Wife as the most able Nerves of the War which he expected By this time was the Day of the Solemn Feast come but no Breton of any great Name or Quality was found to be concern'd at Monfords Summons onely one valiant and wealthy Lord named Sr. Henry du Leon came thither to yield him his Obersance However the Feast was continued for three Days with much Real Pomp but Feigned Cheer because it look'd so ill that his Cause was so universally discountenanced by the Nobility and Gentry After the Feast it was resolved that all the New-found Treasure should be set apart for Wages for Men of War both Horse and Foot which the Earl design'd to retain on all Hands as well to constrain the Rebellious as to maintain the Dutchy against his Adversary Being therefore as soon as might be well furnished with Men of War and Chosen Captains from divers Countries he resolved to March forth and either by Love or Force make himself Lord of all Bretagn The first Place he design'd to attempt was the strong Castle of Brest standing upon an Arm of the Sea the Captain whereof was the Lord Garnier Clisson a Noble Knight and one of the Greatest Barons of Bretagne Earl Monford all along in his Passage thither prest the Men of the Country to his Service none daring to refuse so that by that time he came thither his Forces were mightily encreased Brest and Nantes being distant almost the whole length of Bretagne one from another Being come to the Castle he sent the Lord Henry du Leon to summon the Captain to yield up the Place and to obey the Earl as his Lord and Duke of Bretagn The Captains Answer was short That he was not inclin'd to do any such Matter till he should be commanded so to do by the Right Heir of that Dukedom So the next day an Assault was given But within the Castle were 300 Men of Arms besides Others and all things were well disposed for Defence Wherefore the Captain full of Courage came to the Barriers with 40 good Men of Arms and made a very brave Resistance But so many of the Assailants came thither that at last the Barriers were won by fine Force the Defendants being obliged to retire toward the Castle in some Confusion having lost several of their Company But the Captain did so much that he secur'd the Retreat to the rest as far as the first Gate When those who kept the Ward thereof fearing from what they saw more mischief in an ill time let down their Portcullis and shut their Captain out with most of his Company who fought with him in the Reer with much Resolution and Bravery Thus they all remain'd without expos'd to eminent Danger for the Captain would never yield
do what became his Wisdom and Courage but he was something surpris'd to be taken at such a time when most of his best Friends were absent with the Earl of Salisbury who lay then before Rennes but knew nothing of this matter it had been carried on so privately When the Besiegers had made good their Approaches and rightly fitted themselves they immediately fell on the Assault which they maintain'd with incredible Fury and Resolution For they feared lest the Earl of Salisbury should be informed of this their undertaking before they had effected their Design The Lords Henryds Leon and Sr. Oliver Clisson gave the greatest Encouragement and set the best Example so that never any Attack was carried on with more Ardour nor obtain'd better Success For there were so many places to be Mann'd and so few hands to perform that at last they wan the Barriers not long after the Gates and so they entred the City by force the English being now in their turn put to the chace many hurt and taken and more slain The Lord Robert of Artois escaped very narrowly thrô a Postern thô grievously wounded and with him the Lord Stafford who both got to the Countess to Hennebond The Lord Hugh Spencer was taken by the Lord Henry du Leon but so grievously wounded as Froisard says that he died within three Days after Thô this is a mistake for this Baron Spencer died not till p Dâ—dg 1 Vol. p. 395. six Years after as appears from the Records only indeed a Brother of his Sr. Edward Spencer we find to have departed this Life about this time But neither will I affirm that he was the Man for his Death is set a little more forward VIII Thus q Frois c. 93. fol. 47. b. was the City of Vannes retaken and fortified and repaired with all Expedition imaginable for fear of a Relapse so that within a short space it was much better provided to endure a Siege than ever before The Lord Robert of Artois tarried a while at Hennebond to seek remedy for his Wounds but neither did the Air agree with him nor the Physick For he found but little good there So he was advis'd to return into England where he might get more skilfull Chirurgeons But in his voyage the Sea and the Weather us'd him so unkindly that his sores fester'd insomuch that being brought to London he there died soon after Surely thô his High Spirit not being able to brook an injury from one whom He had in a manner raised to a Crown had urged him to open Enmity with his own Country yet for his Valour Conduct and Loyalty to King Edward he ought not to be deprived of his due Commendations especially since his fault against his Country may seem to have been expiated by his violent Death but the Worth of the Man may appear to have been considerable since his fall was bemoan'd as a Publique Loss over all England and King Edward himself being present at his Funeral in St. Pauls Cathedral perform'd his Obsequies as solemnly as if he had been his own Cosin Henry Plantagenet the most Noble and Valiant Earl of Darby Nor that only but he made a vow that he would severely revenge his Death and to that purpose would go himself in Person into Bretagne and bring the Country into such heavy desolation that it should not be recover'd of fourty Years He that could resolve to do so much for his sake after Death cannot but be supposed to have had an high esteem for his Person when living Althô I do not find that he had any Monument raised for him over the place of his Burial Perhaps King Edward thought as the late Noble Montross wrote for his Martyr'd Prince that it was more fitting To sing his Obsequies with Trumpets Sounds And write his Epitaph in Blood and Wounds However the Kingdom of France did not gain much by his Fall for her evil Genius soon after rais'd up another Native of her own who prov'd as great a Firebrand of the War against Her. IX But we must not omit a Memorable Parliament which King Edward held this Year at his Palace of Westminster die Lunae post Quindenam Paschae that is on * E. Lit. Dom. Pascha 13. April the 28 Day of April during the Sessions whereof viz. on the 12 of May being a Monday King Edward created r Ashincle's Garter p. 671. Adam Marimouth M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 226. ad hunc an c. his Eldest Son Edward who was now in the Thirteenth Year of his Age Prince of Wales investing him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a silver Rod And that he might be enabled to maintain a Port according to his Style and Dignity besides his former Titles and Profits annexed thereto he added several other Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William Emelden ordering him to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney together with this Dignity Further the King granted him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in and upon all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. At the same time the King Knighted several young Noblemen particularly Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. John Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick to whom he then gave an allowance of twenty pounds per annum toward his better support in the Kings Service Now it was Enacted t M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 50. §. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 38. §. 23. that the Statute made at Westminster 15 of Edward 3. which the King had soon after revoked as we have shewn should accordingly be utterly Repealed and lose the Name of a Statute as contrary to the Laws and the Kings Prerogative But forasmuch as the Articles there made were Reasonable it was Enacted that such Articles and others agreed on in this Parliament should be made into a Statute by Advice of the u i. e. of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. Justices X. In this Parliament it is Recorded x 17. Ed. 3. n. 59 in Dorso Vid. M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 54. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 41. Fox Acts Mon. p. 388. c. That the Commons of England made great Complaint of the Provisions and Reservations coming from the Court of Rome Whereby the Pope took up beforehand the future vacancies of Ecclesiastical Dignities for Aliens and such as had nothing to do within this Realm They remonstrated to the King the Manifold Inconveniences ensuing thereby as the Decay of Hospitality the transporting of the Treasure of the Realm to the Maintenance of the Kings Mortal Enemies the Discovering of the Secrets of the Kingdom and the utter discouragement disabling and impoverishing of Scholars Natives of the Land.
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
by a Commotion of War between Us and Him have offer'd to the said Philip divers Friendly Methods of Peace not without a great Diminution of our own Rights that so we might as we desire pursue the War of Christ in the Holy Expedition beyond Sea against the Blasphemers of the Christian Name which alass is too much neglected to the no small Ignominy of Christendom he by his Fox-craft driving us off with Incertainties would in effect yield nothing unto Us but still by feigned Treaties hath abundantly heaped Injuries upon Injuries Wherefore not willing to neglect the Gift of God who in the Devolution of the said Kingdom hath shewed unto Us his marvellous Kindness but desiring as it is fitting in hope of the Divine Assistance and a Confidence of our Righteous Cause to take pains about the Recovering and Maintaining of our Hereditary Rights since by peaceable Ways we could not prevail Necessity so requiring we descended with an Armed Power into Bretagne to reform the Injuries done and to prevent those that otherwise by him would be done unto Us and also to the Obtaining of our Hereditary Rights Being willing to set forth powerfully to the Succour of those that adhered unto Us rather than to expect at home the Dangers threatned unto Us. And while thus we were occupied in our Wars there repaired unto Us the Reverend Fathers Peter Bishop of Palestrina and Annibald Bishop of Tusculan Cardinals Nuntio's of the most Holy Father in Christ Pope Clement VI and of the Apostolick See desiring us in the Name of the said Lord the Pope to admit of a Truce with the foresaid Lord Philip for a time during which space there might be a Treaty held before the Lord the Chief Bishop concerning a final Peace and adding that the said Lord the Pope did believe to find out a way whereby a Peace might very well be reformed And in hope of an Agreeable Peace to be made by his Holy Mediation and especially for Reverence of the said Lord the Pope and the said See We consented to the said Truce And moreover We took care to send Commissioners endued with sufficient Power to his Holinesses Presence and accordingly there was a Truce taken between Us and the said Lord Philip so that a was to be observed every where within the Dominions of both Parties especially within the Dukedom of Aquitain between Us and the said Philip and our Acherents and his even thô they should pretend to have a Right in the said Dukedom of Aquitain and that all Coadjutors and Allies of the Parties should remain in such a Possession of Things and Goods as they had in the time of making the Truce and under other Forms and Conditions more fully expressed in the same And when thrô a smiling hope of Peace in Confidence of the said Truce returning into England having sent a few of our Servants into Bretagne for the Governance of those Parts and of our Coadjutors there we had designed to send our Commissioners to the Presence of the said Lord the Pope in order to a Treaty of Peace there came unto Us certain News not a little stinging our Mind namely of the Death of certain Noblemen our Adherents who were taken in Bretagne and by the special Command of the said Philip contrary to the Form of the said Truce shamefully and tyrannously put to Death at Paris And also of the great Slaughter and Devastation of our Liege People and Places in Bretagne Gascogne and elsewhere and of his subtle and secret Treaties held with our Allies and Subjects whom so he endeavoured to take off from Us and to Bind unto himself and of other his Injuries not easily to be numbred and of his Offences against the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip done and attempted both by Land and by Sea whereby the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip is notoriously known to be dissolved And althô the Truce being thrô Fault of the said Philip thus broken we might as even yet lawfully we may have justly resumed War against him forthwith Yet notwithstanding to avoid the ill Effects of War being desirous first to prove if by any Amicable way we might obtain a Reparation as to the Premises more than once we sent sundry our Ambassadors to the Presence of the Lord the Pope as well to treat of the Peace aforesaid as to require Reformation of the said Abuses attempted and done within the Limits appointed for the said Treaty for that Purpose also frequently prolonging the said Term reserving always unto our selves a Liberty of Resuming the War by Default of the said Philip sought out against Us. And truly the Terms appointed for the Treaty are now past and no Reasonable way of Peace hath yet been opened unto Us or our said Ambassadors Nor hath the said Philip in the least taken care to reform the said Abuses althô he hath been thereto required and admonished by the Letters of the said Lord the Pope as the said Lord the Pope by his Letters unto Us hath written but there are always multiplied against Us Tyrannies Conspiracies and Alliances to our Subversion by the said Philip who subtily practises against the Form of the said Truce Not to say any thing of the excessive Enormities of the Pope's Legate lately sent into Bretagne for the Conservation of the said Truce who more earnestly rais'd the contention which he ought to have allayed not approving himself a Conservator of the Truce but rather a Party against Us and Ours Concerning which the said Lord the Pope by his leave did apply no Remedy althô as was fitting he was thereto required Wherefore We ought to be excused before God and his Holiness if when We can receive no other Remedy We endeavour to repell the Violence and Injury done unto Us Especially since We have a most just Cause and which is most notorious to the world And therefore esteeming the foresaid Truce to be as indeed it is dissolved and broken from the Causes aforesaid which we know and in place and time will-prove to be True by the foresaid Philip and his Adherents especially those who in the said Dukedom of Bretagne pretend to have Right and that We are free and acquitted of the Observance thereof Him the said Philip as a Violator of the said Truce and our Enemy and Deadly Persecutor and an Unjust Usurper of our Kingdom of France and a Rash Invader of our other Rights justly Necessity so requiring We defie protesting that We will not attempt any thing to the Offence which God forbid of his Holiness or of the Apostolick See which by all means We desire to revere as we ought nor to the injury of any One but only with due Moderation to pursue our Rights and to defend Our Selves and our Rights For it is always our Intention amicably to admit of a Reasonable Peace when We may obtain it But these things g g The Letter to the Pope differs from this
done Exploits worthy of the Voice of Fame However these French Lords knew him by Name for they had seen and known him in the Holy Wars in Prussia Granada and other Places and called out unto Him and his Company saying they would yield themselves his Prisoners Then Sr. Thomas Holland went thither with his Men and took the two Lords and 25. French Knights more who all yielded themselves to Sr. Thomas and those with him among whom we find one Thomas Leigh a valiant Esquire of the Lord Holland's who took the Earl of Tancarville i Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 931. for which and other his worthy Services done in this and other Expeditions King Edward gave him the Lordship of Hanley in Broxton-Hundred in the County Palatine of Chester which still remains in that Ancient Family But to the Lord Holland besides the great Honours he arrived to afterwards the King k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. gave 4000 Florens of Gold and in lieu thereof took the Earl of Eu for his own Prisoner This done and the Prisoners committed to safe Custody the Lord Holland remounted his Horse hastily and rode into the Streets where by his Authority he interposed and saved many Lives and preserved many Ladies young Damsels and Nuns from violation For now the Common Souldiers rag'd exceedingly because many of the Town being got on the tops of Houses had flung down Tiles Stones Timber and Iron wherewith they did much harm to their Enemies and not only provoked the Souldiers but also the King himself Insomuch that having heard at night how near upon 500 of his Men were in this manner either grievously hurt or killed out right by the Citizens he gave Command that the next day they should put all to the Sword and reduce the City to Ashes But then the Lord Godfry of Harcourt either in a pious Commiseration of his own Country or that he really saw of what ill Consequences such severe Beginnings might prove to the English stept out before the King and said Sir for God's Sake refrain your Passion a little and let what You have already done suffice for this time For You have still much Labour to go thrô before You can arrive at Calais whither You are designed And Sir in this Place there are many People who if driven to Despair will not fail so obstinately to defend their Houses and to sell their Lives so dearly as it may cost You many of your Men unless You resolve to destroy the City and the Spoil together Whereby peradventure You will not be able to accomplish your Design upon Calais which must needs redound to your no small Vexation Wherefore I pray Sir save the Lives of your Men for before a Month come to an end You will have occasion for them even thô You had as many more For besides the many Difficult Passages and Rencounters You will every day meet with I believe in my Conscience your Adversary King Philip will present You with Battle But if it shall please Your Majesty to proclaim a Pardon for all that shall submit I 'll engage that without any more Bloodshed You shall be Lord of this City and all that is therein The King having well weigh'd the Reason of these Words answer'd Sr. Godfry You are our Marshal order all things at your own Discretion So next Morning the Lord Godfry Harcourt rode early from Street to Street with his Banner displayed before him and commanded aloud by an Herald in the Kings Name l M.S. vet Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab at ante that no Man should presume to set fire to any House to murder any Person or to violate any Woman whatsoever The Townsmen hearing this Proclamation freely admitted the English into their Houses and gave them good Entertainment and many opened their Closets and bad them take what they pleased so they might be secure of their Lives And yet for all that there were many Rapes Murders and Robberies committed in the Town Thus the English were Lords of Caen where they tarried three Days gathering of the Spoil because they made Resistance and were taken by Force among other Riches of Gold and Silver and the like there were found as One m Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872. reckons no less than 40000 Pieces of Fine Cloath Silks and Linnen beside other Wares proportionable All which the King sent down the River Orne to Estrehan where the Navy lay to be carried to St. Saviour the Vicount from whence soon after by the Kings Command the Earl of Huntington conveyed all into England as well Cloth and other Stuff for Garments Vessels of Gold and Silver Jewels and other Riches as all the Prisoners whereof in this Bout at Caen there were no less than n Giov. Villani ibid. 86 Great Lords Barons and Knights and above 300 Rich Citizens IX King o Frois c. 125. Edward having now done his Pleasure at Caen after three Days without Firing the Place departed thence having also taken in Bayeux in the same Order he used before and continued his March thrô the Bishopricks of p Mezeray p. 25. Lisieux and Eureux having among others taken and sacked a good Town called Louviers where he found a vast quantity of Riches Drapery and other Merchandise He took also q Ashmole p. 654. Lisieux it self a chief City in Normandy and abounding with Wealth and Merchandise which his Souldiers plunder'd And hence r Rot. Norman 20 Ed. 3. m. 21. vid. Odoric Rainald ad hunc ann §. 39. He gave Letters of Protection and safe Conduct to Annibald Cardinal of Tusculan and Stephen Cardinal of St. John and St. Paul sent from the Pope to mediate Peace These Men hereupon soon after came to the King he being then at ſ Ashmole p. 654. Gaillon between Pont de l'Arche and Vernon which Place he had newly taken and burnt And here they represented unto him t Giov. Villar l. 12. c. 63. p. 873. vid Epist Papae ad Edvard Regem dat Avin iii Non. August Anno Pentif 5. apud Oder Raynald ad hanc an §. 40. how they were sent from his Holiness to endeavour an Accord between Him and the King of France willing him to remit the whole Matter to the Pious Decision of the Pope But King Edward who could put no Trust in the Pope would not hear of any Accord but presently brake off all Treaty with the said Legates because it appeared to him that the Pope was much more favourable to the King of France than to Him or his Cause Yet forasmuch as some of them had been rifled of what they had by some English Souldiers King Edward not only caused their own to be restored unto them but gave them something over and above of his own to make them amends and so they returned towards Paris The mean time King Edward with his Detachments overran the Country far and near and all the way he went on
so the English took their Rest for the remaining part of that Day and the Night following being first All commanded to be ready provided in the Place which the Marshals were Meeting out the next Morning at Sound of Trumpet This same Fryday the French King spent in Abbeville waiting for all his Forces to come up and especially for the Earl of Savoy whom he expected with a 1000 Spears and had paid him for 3 Months by the Men of Troyes in Champagne In the mean time he sent out his two Marshals to ride and view how and where the English were encamped And these coming back at night related that they were lodged in the Field of Cressy Then King Philip made a most Royal and magnificent Supper for all his Chief Lords and Captains and there he effectually exhorted them to lay aside all private Animosities and to be perfect Friends one with another and valiantly to joyn together like true Frenchmen against the Common Enemy About Supper-time there arrived at Abbeville the long-expected Earl of Savoy named Amè or Amadis with a 1000 Men of Arms which encreased the Security the French were already too prone to entertain CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward disposes himself to receive the Enemy with the Order and Number of his Forces and Names of his Chief Commanders He makes 50 New Knights II. King Philip marches out of Abbeville against the English III. Who on sight of the Enemy put themselves into a Posture with the Manner of their being Embattel'd IV. King Philip advances his Auriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon V. The Order of the French Army VI. The Battle of Cressy VII The English Captains send to King Edward for Succour with his Answer VIII The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward a-against the Main Force of the Enemy routs the Marquess of Moravia kills his Father the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers IX King Philip after much Personal Valour being wounded in two places quits the Field and leaves the Victory to the English X. The Number of the Slain on both Sides XI An occasional Inquiry after the Antiquity of the Invention of Guns XII King Philip retires to the Castle of Broye thence to Amiens and a while after to Paris XIII The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Parties of the French defeated next Day by the English XIV The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and Care for the Burial of the Dead XV. King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais I. THUS a Frois c. 128. were the English encamped in the Fields of Cressy in Ponthieâ— whre they found plenty of good Wines and all manner of Provision Thâ— if it had been otherwise the Army should not have wanted for the King had providently gather'd before-hand a sufficient Store of all things necessary which followed in Carts among the Carriages On the Fryday Night King Edward also made a Supper in his Royal Pavilion for all his Chief Barons Lords and Captains At which he appeared wonderfull Chearfull and Pleasant to the great Encouragement of his People But when they were all dismist to their several Quarters the King himself retired into his Private Oratory and came before the Altar and there prostrated himself to Almighty God and devoutly prayed That of his Infinite Goodness he would vouchsafe to look down on the Justice of his Cause and remember his unfeigned Endeavours for a Reconcilement althô they had all been rendred frustrate by his Enemies That if he should be brought to a Battle the next Day it would please him of his Great Mercy to grant him the Victory as his Trust was only in him and in the Right which he had given him Being thus armed with Faith about Midnight he laid himself upon a Pallet or Mattress to take a little Repose but he rose again betimes and heard Mass with his Son the Young Prince and received Absolution and the Body and Blood of his Redeemer as did the Prince also and most of the Lords and others who were so disposed Immediately after Mass was ended he commanded that all Men should betake themselves to their Arms and march in their appointed Order to the same place in the Field which had been chosen by the Marshals and approved by the King the day before The Place was on the East-side of the Forest of Cressy the Town and the River Maye being on their left Hands and beside this Defence the King now commended a Park to be made by the Wood-side in the Reer of his Army wherein were enclosed all the Carts and Carriages of the Army in the Middle whereof were all the Horses for it was the Kings Resolution to enflame the Courages of his Men by Despair as well as other Arguments to fight that day on Foot. This Park had but one Entrance and that was well defended with Men of Arms and Archers Then the King divided his Host into three Battalia's In the First whereof was his Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but 15 Years two Months and 11 Days Old but yet of Courage and Strength so far beyond his Age that even then he seem'd neither unworthy that Place nor that Father With him were joyned the Lord Thomâ— Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford the Lord 〈◊〉 Harcourt of Normandy the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord John de la Ware the Lord Thomas Holland the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Elder and his Son a valiant Knight of the same Name with the Lord John Mohun Son in Law to the Lord Bartholomew aforesaid the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John Chandos the Lord Thomas Clifford and Sr. Robert Neville Second Son to the Lord Ralph Neville of Raby and several Others Knights and Esquires to the Number of 800 Men of Arms 4000 Archers and b Give Villeni l. 12. c. 66. p. 877. 6000 valiant Welchmen But the Earl of Warwick and the Lord John Chandos had a particular Charge from the King to stand firm that day to his Sons Person and direct and defend Him by their Counsel and Valour The second Battalia was Headed by the Lord Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton with whom were the Lord John Willoughby the Elder the Lord William Roos the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Multon Sr. Lewis Tufton of Toketon from whence the Honourable Nicolas Eâ—l of Thanet is derived and many others to the Number of 800 Men of Arms 2400 Archers and 4000 strong Bill-Men The third and last Battalia was Headed by the King himself who had in his Company John Lord Moubray Roger Lord Mortimâ—â— Thomas Lord Dagworth Sr. Richard Goldesborough Sr. Richard Damory or Damuer Sr. Nele Loring Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. John Butterell and Others to the Number of 700 Men of Arms 6000 Archers and 5300
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
their Qualities Estates and Offices and ordained the like thrô the whole Kingdom They set also a general Tax upon the whole Clergy nor were they shie to make bold with what Sums had been gathered through France for the Holy War and with the Plate Shrines and other Riches and Profits of Abbeys and Monasteries Particularly the King having received a Subsidy which was required of the Monks of St. Dennis among certain other Jewels of that Place which he would needs have demanded a great Crucifix of Masse Gold standing over the High Altar of the Monastery But to this the Monks replied that it could not be taken away without great hazard of the Souls of those who should be concerned in that Action For Pope Eugenius the III more than 200 Years before had in the Days of Lewis the VII King of France solemnly accursed all those of any Degree whatsoever that should offer to lay violent hands upon that Crucifix sacrilegiously to take it away from its Place or to convert it to any Secular Use as f Fabian ibid. appeareth by a Plate engraven under the Pedestall of the Cross With which Answer King Philip was satisfied In this Parliament it was also Ordained that the King should send forth his general Summons throughout the whole Realm commanding all Persons who any way held of the Crown of France to be with the King at the City of Amiens by Whitsuntide next following g Kal. April Pasch Whitsunday falling on the 20 of May that Year there to attend at the Rendezvous with all their several Retinues in their best Array Nor did they forget to invite all the Friends and Allies of the House of France especially the Lord Charles of Luxemburgh Son to the late King of Bohemia and Elect Emperour or King of the Romans set up by the Pope and his Adherents against the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who again lay under the Censures of the Church And lastly to enflame the Minds of the French Nation more eagerly to prosecute their Revenge against the English King Philip h Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 894. caused to be brought from St. Dennis the sacred Banner of Oriflambe which of old was never taken down but in the Cause of Christ against Infidels or upon some great Distress or Necessity of the King and the Realm of France But now it was taken down to be used against King Edward and was committed to the Custody of a Burgundian Lord a Noble Gentleman and approved in Arms and having repeated his Commands to all Men to be ready to follow this Banner when he should require them for that time he dismist the Parliament II. Having seen in what manner King Philip bestirr'd himself to rear his Half-ruin'd Affairs let us now take notice how King Edward thô abroad influences Matters at home towards the Establishing what he had already done and was yet undertaking For both these Princes understood well that the time which was unfit for Action was the most proper for Counsel and that they could not better pass the Winter then in providing against the Casualties of the Summer Wherefore at King Edward's Command a Parliament was also called at Westminster by his second Son Prince Lionel then Lord Warden of England for the King his Father i M.S. Rec. Parl. 61. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridgment p. 46. which Parliament began the third Day of the New-year on the Monday next after Christmas-day as if it was the best Auspice not only to end the Old-year but to begin the New by wholsome Advice and Counsel On which Day Command was given by Prince Lionel that Proclamation should be made against wearing of Armour and using of Games in and about Westminster during this Sessions Then also a time was appointed for all such as would exhibit any Petitions and Receivers also and Tryers were constituted to take and consider of the several Petitions referring to England Ireland Wales Scotland Gascogne and other Foreign Parts and Isles and thereupon Sr. Thomas Drayton being appointed Clerk of the Parliament because several of the Lords and Commons were not yet come they adjourn'd till next Day At which time the House being informed that Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. John Darcy Lord Chamberlain Mr. John Thoresby and Mr. John Charleton were arrived as Messengers from the King then lying before Calais but could not be ready to make their appearance there till Wednesday next after the Morrow the Parliament was prorogued until that Day At which time Declaration was made in open Parliament that the Reasons of that their present meeting were because the King since his passing the Sea and his Attempts in France was now uncertain of his Condition that according to the Issue or Exigence of Affairs abroad Matters might be concerted at home for the safety of his Majesty and the Common Peace and Wealth of his Kingdom which latter was visibly damnified by the sufferance of false Money Then were produced the Kings Letters Patents Credential wherein among other Matters the foresaid Declaration was verbatim expressed the Letters bearing Date before Calais Which being read in open Parliament Sr. Bartholomew Burwash for and in the Name of himself and the rest of his Colleagues in presence of the Lord Warden of England and of the Three Estates declared the good Success of the King since his Arrival at la Hogue in Normandy as in surprising and taking of many Towns and Castles of War as well at Caën as elsewhere and also of the Great Victory obtain'd at Cressy where the whole Power of France was discomfited and how the King was now come before Calais from whence he intended not to depart till by the help of God he had won the same After which he intended to pursue the Enemy without return till the War should be fully ended This done he produced the Copy of an Order made by the King of France in reference to his Son the Duke of Normandy and others Nobles of that Country which was particularly recited being called the Ordinance of Normandy and was to this effect That the Duke of Normandy should pass as Chief with other Nobles of that Province into England with 40000 Men of Arms Knights Esquires and Persons of good Estate and 40000 Footmen Methods being there prescribed for keeping the Sea and an Order also added that the said Duke should remain in England with the said Forces for the space of ten Weeks And in case the Realm of England should in this Expedition be Conquer'd that then the Conquest should solely be to the Name Honour and Advantage of the said Duke and all whatsoever the King of England at that time had there should remain entirely to the said Duke and the Knights and Lords with him That all that which belonged to the Nobles and secular Persons of England should be bestowed on the Churches and Famous Towns of Normandy only of the Revenues of the Church of England the French King
in Popular Mortifications of the Body as in Whippings Fastings and the like but in secret and firm Resolutions against sin and a steady and discreet Curbing of the unruly Concupiscence IV. In the r Odor Rainal ad 〈…〉 §. 4◠〈…〉 231. M.S. Vet. Anâ—â—â— in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 224. beginning of this Summer some Variance happening between the Fleets of England and Spain which was fomented by French Arts the Spaniards under the Conduct of Don Carlos de la Cerda their Admiral beset the Brittish Sea with a Fleet of fourty four Tall Men of War and particularly encountring with ten English Merchants laden with Wine from Gascogne they boarded wan rifled and sank them and so took the Haven of Scluse in Flanders And many more Evils they did about the Coasts of England and Aquitain as firing of Ships which they found at Anchor Robbing and Killing our Merchants and what other Englishmen fell into their hands Hereupon King Edward sent first into Flanders that they should not presume to allow any Harbour or Assistance unto these his Enemies And he the mean while prepared to set out against them in Person Accordingly being soon furnish'd with a Fleet of Fifty good Ships and Pinnaces and taking along with him his Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales then in the Twentieth Year of his Age together with the Earls of Lancaster Northampton Warwick Salisbury Arundel Huntington Gloucester and other Lords and Knights with their several Retinues and a good Number of stout Archers he went on board at Sandwich with design to meet the Spanish Armada at their return with Wares from Flanders and at last on Å¿ Lit. Dom. C. a Monday the IV of the Kalends of September being the 29 of August and the Feast of the Decollation of St. John Baptist he met with them upon the Coasts of Winchelsea and about Rye near the hour of Mattins There arose immediately a fierce Engagement between the two Fleets the Spanish huge Carracks easily overlooking the English Vessels and almost overwhelming them with a storm of Crossbow-shot Stones Timber and Bars of iron that slew incessantly from their high built Castles But the Archers of England pierced their Arbalisters with a further Reach than they could strike again and so compelled them to appear more rarely on the Decks obliging also at the same time those that fought on the Hatches to cover themselves with Planks and Tables and fetching likewise down with their winged Messengers such as threw Stones from the tops of their Ships And then after a long and doubtfull Fight the English Men of Arms began boldly to board the Spanish Vessels with Swords Lances Halberds and Battle-Axes in their hands cruelly slaying and tumbling over-board all they met with to make room for new Guests which King Edward had brought with him for that purpose And now Seventeen of the Enemies Ships were thus wholly in the English power when all out of season envious Night came on to befriend the poor Spaniards but to deprive the English of an absolute and entire Victory For hereby they were fain to cast Anchor and to desist from pursuing their good Beginnings being forced to attend a further Trial till the next Day And therefore as supposing nothing done to purpose while any thing remained undone they fell to dressing their own Wounded but flang the miserable Spaniards into that Sea whereon they had so lately trespassed And then having taken their repast and set the Watch they all waited for the Morning The next Day being freshly apparel'd for fight they look'd about all over the Seas but saw no sign of any thing to resist them For 27 Spaniards Ships had fled away during the Night-season leaving thô against their wills no less than 17 thô u Fabian p. 228. Martin p. 125. Others say 22 and Some b Speed p. 581. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 946. Sed M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Naves XXIV captas refert 26 to the discretion of King Edward who was thus again adorned with a Naval Crown But this Honour the King thought too dearly bought with the Life of St. John Goldesborough a young Knight of great Valour of comely Shape and noble Deportment who died in this Engagement and was much lamented by the King and his Son the Prince of Wales to whom he was always very Dear upon the account of his extraordinary Qualities and almost equal Age and Conformity of Will and Inclination His Loss King Edward having endeavour'd to repair by Advancing no less than fourscore young Gentlemen y Odor Rainal ad hanc an §. 40 41 c. who performed best in the Fight to the Honour of Knighthood return'd again with Victory and Triumph for England This Defeat happen'd to the Spaniard just upon the beginning of Don Pedro's Reign his Father Alphonso XI being z Matth. Villani l. 1. c. 41. Joh. Mariana l. 16. c. 15. in the Month of March preceding taken away by the Plague as he lay at the Siege of Heraclea now called Gibraltar Viejo V. A Week before this Battle was fought namely a Labbe Chron. Techu ad hunc an Mezeray Frois c. on the 22d of August or as some say the 28 being a Sunday Philip of Valois King of France departed this Life at Nogent le Roy in Chartrain in the Fifty Seventh Year of his Age and the Twenty Third of his Reign He was a Prince surely of very great Accomplishments Pious Brave and Liberal But either by the more powerfull Genius of King Edward his Adversary or the Injustice of his Cause or both all his Gallantry and Courage were rendred ineffectual or rather of dangerous effect to himself He b Mezeray ad hunc an was more happy in Negotiations than in Battles very severe and strict to his Subjects suspicious vindicative and apt to be immoderately transported by the impetuosity of his Choler c Frois c. 153. From Nogent his Body was honourably conveyed to our Lady's Church in Paris and on the Thursday following he was Royally interred at St. Dennis on the Left side the High Altar his d Lanquets Chr. ad hunc an Bowels being left among the Jacobins in Paris and his Heart as himself had desired at e an Fâ—untainbleau Bourefountain in Valois His Eldest Son and Heir John Duke of Normandy succeeded him in his Troublesome Throne and on the 26 of September following being a Sunday was solemnly Anointed and Crowned King of France together with his Queen Joan f Vid. l. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 428. late Widow of the Lord Philip of Burgundy in the City of Rheims At which time he made several Knights g Frois ibid. Mezeray c. as his Eldest Son Charles the Dauphin his Second Son Lewis Earl of Alenson the young Earl of Estampes the Lord John of Artois Son to the late Famous Robert of Artois also Philip Duke of Orleanâ— the
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
Statute therefore provided The King willeth that the Statutes be kept and all just Complainants heard That no Purveyance be made for Hay or Oates for Horses The Statute shall be observed That the Payment of Merchants for Wafting over their Goods may cease The King will be advised It seems that it appear'd highly reasonable to that Wise Prince by this his Answer to this last Petition that such Payment ought to be exacted It being but equitable that those Tradesmen or Merchants for whose benefit and security the King at his vast Expence doth more especially maintain the Dominion of the Seas should by a proportionable Custom on those Goods so exported contribute towards the better enabling him to defend and secure them in that their Traffick And this Payment was called Tonnage and Poundage Further the Commons petition That the Subsidy of Wooll viz. of every Sack may cease But because that Subsidy had been granted unto the King for a longer time that Petition fell Then to the request That Sheriffs Escheators and Coroners may have sufficient Allowance in their several Counties it was answer'd that the Statute made for that Purpose should be kept That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs for Paying the Kings Duties The Treasurer upon Complaint shall pay the same That every Judgment in the Common Pleas may pass under the Seal of the Chief Justice as in Cases of Oyer so that the Charges of the Great Seal may cease This Motion seems unreasonable That no Pardon be granted to any Murtherer or Felon but where the King may save his Oath This the King freely granteth That the Fines of Chancery Writs may be abated The King willeth that the Chancellour consider the Quality and Degree of every Person That no Purveyor of Timber do take away Trees about any Mans House and that henceforward Exception be made as to that Point in all their Commissions This the King granteth That no Writ de Excommunicato Capiendo come forth before a Scire Facias be directed to cause the Party to answer And that the Party may answer to the Cause after Letters of Excommunication To these two Petitions this one Answer was given that it could not be granted That the Merchants may be paid their Loans in every Sack of Wooll Walter de Chirton the Kings Farmer of his Customs hath not yet brought in his Accounts It is Enacted That the Statute of Westminster made against the Destruction of Salmons be observed and that all Mills set on Rivers be thrown down It is Enacted that the Justices of Oyer and Terminer shall seise and take the Fines of the Parties in their Presence and by their own Accord And that no Pardon shall be granted to such as bring in False Money That Remedy may be had against the Oppression of Ordinaries and their Officers The Laws of the Land and of the Church shall be observed It is complained That the Custom for every 300 of Wooll-Fells was 46 s. and 8 d. whereas of old it was but 3 s. and 4 d. for every 100 that is 10 s. for every 300. The present Custom being of long time received and established ought not to be withdrawn That a Standard of all Sorts of Measures may be in every County If there be not there shall be That no Statute be alter'd for any Private Cause Let this Petition be better explain'd against the next Parliament Now it is to be observed that the Printed Statutes touching those that are born beyond the Seas and that touching the Measure and Content of Woollen Cloths Chapter 1. As also that of Merchandises to be sold by Strangers Chap. 2. Together with that of Forestalling Chap. 3. And that for pulling down Mills set upon Rivers Chap. 4. agree all with the Record But only the Four latter in the Print are said to be made at the Vtas of St. Hilary an 25. Ed. 3. Whereas it should be the Vtas of the Purification as appears from the Record So also the Act of Provisions made against the Pope's unjust Encroachments agreeth with the Print Chap. 1. 2. As also that about Labourers Chap. 8. In dorso hujus Rotuli is contained a Proclamation against Wearing of Arms and against Players and Games in and about Westminster during the Sessions of Parliament and the Writ also of Proclamation for the True Making of Woollen Cloth is endorsed II. This t Mezeray ad 〈◊〉 mean while the Truce with France not being fully ended however each party took the Liberty as they saw Advantage to enterprize somewhat upon one another Sr. John Beauchamp Captain of Calais for King Edward understanding that the ways thereabout were much infested by the French even as if it had been in time of open War u Knight â— p. 26â—2 went forth of the Garrison with 300 Men of Arms and 200 Archers on Horseback and took up booty about in the Country for 10 Leagues together But in his Return he was encountred by the Lord of Beaulieu with a Brigade of 2000 which Lord notwithstanding he slew and had doubtless routed all his Company but that before he had compleated the Victory another strong party came upon him so that he himself and 20 more Knights of England were taken Prisoners almost all the rest of his Men being slain But Sr. John and his Fellow-Prisoners were soon redeemed and sent into England He was x Stow p. 251. succeeded by Sr. Robert y Vâ—d 〈◊〉 p. 683. 〈◊〉 Ret. Franc. 32 Fd. 3. p. 8. Herle who being recruited with a Choice Band lead by the Lord Walter Manny rode forth for all that into the French Pale and having done much damage about in the vicinage came off not only without loss but with a vast booty of Oxen Sheep and Swine so that a fat Ox at Calais would hardly yield sixteen pence Sterling there was at that time such exceeding plenty of Cattle But about Easter z Knighton p. 2602. n. 48. Sten p. 251. 〈◊〉 40. Pascha â—â—tigit 17 April hee anno Lit. Dom. B. King Edward sent over Henry then newly-created Duke of Lancaster who soon after marching forth of Calais went along by the Sea-Coasts of Artois and Picardy and burnt the suburbs of Boulogne to the very Walls He made an Assault also upon the Town it self but could not prevail because the Scaling Ladders which he brought with him were too short However he fired all the Vessels in the Haven and then proceeded along down to Estaples on the River Canche which having plunder'd he took a Compass to return backward on the Right Hand and did the like to Fauquenberge and after that to Terouënne only here many of his Men were hurt by the Townsmen who fled into the Church and thence made stout resistance till that also was taken and the Frenchmen for the most part put to the Sword. In the Havens of these Towns he sired above an Hundred Vessels of all sorts and then went on burning all about
and a gallant Retinue At Guisnes the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France met him with a Noble Attendance of Men of Arms in the o 11 Decemb. Quindene before Christmas and gave him an Honourable Reception conducting him with much respect as far as Hesdin Where the Lord James of Bourbon Count de la Marche met him also with another Honourable Train of Gentlemen and conducted him to Paris with extream Civility At his approach to Paris he was thirdly met by a very considerable Body of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of France who came by King Johns special Command to do him Honour There was then the greatest Number of Strangers that e'r was known at Paris to behold this Combat of two such Mighty Princes all who in their several Capacities gave due Honour to the Duke of Lancaster and King John himself immediately upon his Arrival sent for him to his Palace where he gave him a Princely Reception But above all his Kinsman p This Duke Henry was Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was second Son to Edmund second Brother to K. Edw. I and of Blanche the Relict of Henry de Champagne King of Navarre from whom also this Charles King of Navarre was descended Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 319. Charles the young King of Navarre shew'd him a very high Regard and Menaged his Affairs with great diligence and application Before the day of Battle there was much agitation to reconcile these two great Enemies but all overtures were ineffectual the English Duke maintaining the Truth and Reason of his Words and the Almain utterly denying the whole Accusation Wherefore on the day appointed the Lists were ranged out in a Field called q Fabian ad hunc an p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Mezeray p. 51. le Pré aux Clercs the two Combatants were brought into the place and the King of France with his Prime Nobility and an Infinite Number of People were present as spectators All things being ready the two Knights having as the Custom of Duellists in those Days was taken their several Oaths on the r Corporall Gallice Corporall Latin. Corperale idem qued Dominicale i.e. pulvinar Sacrosanctum Synden vel linteum qâ—o corpus Dominicum tegitur Corporall that their cause was just and that they had no Charms about them and so began to address themselves to the Combat The Duke of Brunswick bore in his shield Å¿ True Use of Armory Bibl. Cottonianâ p. 58 vid. Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 342. He came of Maud Eldest Daughter of K. Henry II of Engl. and Henry Leo D. of Saâ—eny whose V Son William of Winchester was Progenitor to the Dukes of Brunswick Hence this Dukes Arms so like England Gules Two Lions Passant Guardant Or and the Duke of Lancaster Gules Three Lions Passant Guardant Or being the Arms of England with a Three-pointed Labell of France Now 't is said that till now You could hardly find a more fierce or comely Man at Arms than the Duke of Brunswick nor one that promised better But presently as soon as he had taken his Oath his countenance changed and grew pale as Death whereby most People thought his quarrel was not so good as he pretended He took his Horse with a sad and ill-boading Countenance and as many spectators avouched had none of his former briskness and vigour remaining insomuch that he bare himself very awkwardly in handling his Arms and twice or thrice let fall his shield in receiving it But the Noble Duke of Lancaster sat ready Mounted with his Spear upright and his shield on his Arm in a decent and couragious manner with a sedate and resolute Countenance expecting to cope with his Adversary like a Knight who had Truth and Honour on his side so that all Men applauded his steady and gallant Behaviour Wherefore the Duke of Brunswick by advice of his Friends submitted his quarrel to the judgement of the King of France and proffer'd to withdraw his Challenge But the Duke of Lancaster absolutely refused to forsake the Combat saying How that before he had entred the Lists perhaps he might have been perswaded to an agreement but now that he was already Mounted and prepared before the King and his Nobles and such an extraordinary Confluence of People to defend the Justice of his Cause it would be an high Reflection both on himself and the English Nation if now he should depart the Lists without performing what Truth and Equity did require Wherefore he said he would not leave the Field for any Treaty or Composition whatsoever without Battle so as to derive the least umbrage of a suspicion upon his Honour Blood and Quality whereby either Himself the King his Master or his Country might suffer the least flaw in their Reputation Otherwise he would receive what Event or Fortune the Grace of God would allot him Upon this the Duke of Brunswick as a Man Conquered utterly renounced the Quarrel and refus'd the Combat without any reservation of his Honour wholly submitting himself to the award and disposal of the King of France to the great Glory of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Brunswick was generally more acceptable to the King and Court of France as who was much their Friend but however the Duke of Lancaster was not without his Interests among so many Honourable Persons who respected him thô an Enemy for his many Heroick Vertues and High Birth Among these his Counsellours and Abetters who stuck close to him at this time were the foremention'd Charles King of Navarre his Kinsman and Giles his Fathers Brother the Earl of Ponthieu the Earl of Flanders the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Saltzbourg the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France the Lord James of Bourbon the Lord Lewis of Navarre the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt the Lord John de Chastillon and the Lord Walter his Son with many more These Persons so wrought with the Duke of Lancaster that upon Duke Otho's absolute renunciation of the Quarrel he was content to go last out of the Field After which the King at a great Feast by the help of his Nobles partakers on both sides reconciled these two Dukes and took up the Quarrel between them for ever The next day he led the Duke of Lancaster about his Palace shewing him many notable and Rich Jewels of all which he offer'd him the choice But he for his part desired only one Thorn out of the Crown of our Saviour which he brought away and afterwards gave as a Relick to his Collegiate Church of our Lady founded by himself near the Castle of Leicester The third Day after he took leave of the French King and Court and return'd home into England unto the King who was then at St. Albans where he kept his Christmas at that time and received him with great Grace and Favour XIII This pious Heroe who at last by his Religious and Noble Carriage obtained to be called the t Tho.
Cardinal by the Will and Consent of the said King of France and his Council To which o Leco supra citate Odoricus Rainaldus adds these Words What dreadfull slaughters King John brought upon himself thereby with a like event as his Father Philip had revoked the Peace made with the English Commissioners from whence we said the English War brake forth whereby France was embroil'd for so many Years will appear hereafter IX Since we spake a little above of the Death of Dr. William Batemanâ— it is fit that we take our leave something more solemnly of so Worthy a Person of whom many commendable things are to be said thô only to excite Vertue in a Degenerate Age by the example of others whose Liberality have embalmed their Names to late Posterity He was p Godw. Catal. Bâ—s p. 426. born at Norwich bred at Cambridge and being Dr. of the Civil Law and Arch-Deacon of Norwich was at last elected Bishop by the General Consent of the Convent He was the first Founder of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge appointing it as it remains to this day a perpetual Seminary of Learned Civilians and giving certain Lands toward the Maintenance thereof He founded also the Hall of the Annunciation of our Lady in the said University and gave one of the Publick Chests And provoking others to follow his good Example he perswaded one Edward Gonwell alià s Gonvill to found another Hall in the same English Athens which afterwards was much augmented at the Cost and Charges of one John Caius a Learned Physician and is now after both their Names called Gonvill and Key 's College Dr. Bateman was succeeded in the See of Norwich by q Dagd 1 Vol. p. 275. Richard Piercy younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy which Henry was never Earl of Northumberland thô Godwin by mistake calls him so and gives unto this Richard the Name of Thomas as Stow also doth but Father to the first Earl of that Name X. About this time r Stow p. 255. Walsing Hyped p. 122. hist p. 161. Foâ— p. 361. Holinshead p. 948. there fell a Cruel Dissention in the Famous University of Oxford between the Scholars and the Townsmen The occasion whereof was this On the Tenth Å¿ Anton. Wood's Antiqâ— Oxon. of February t L. 1. p. 174. ad annum 1354. ex Reg. Synwell dicto fol. 67 68 69 c. Dom. Lat. D. ad an 1354 / 5. which in the Year 1354 / 5 happen'd on a Tuesday and the Feast of St. Scholastica the Virgin Walter Sprinheuse and Roger Chesterfield with other Scholars went to a Tavern called Swindlestock or Swinstock at the Sign of the Mermaid in the Street named Quatervois and there finding fault with the Wine called for John Croydon the Vintner and demanded better Wine Here Words being multiply'd and the Vintner not at all complying the Scholars went so far as to strike the Pot and Wine and all about his Head. Upon this Affront he ran down made his complaint to his servants and family and afterward to his Neighbours so that in short a great part of the Town conspired the Destruction of the Scholars and rang the Town Bell at St. Martins Whereupon the University Bell of St. Maries was rung also and so the Scholars and Townsmen being armed with Bows and other Weapons had a scuffle till the Evening parted them and as yet no great harm was done But the next day the Countrymen near Oxford to the Number of about 2000 came in to the Assistance of the Townsmen with a Black-Banner born before them Whereupon the Scholars fled to their Colleges but the enraged Multitude breaking in upon them slew many whom they flung in their Bog-houses and then rent and tare their Books and Writings to pieces and carried away the College-Plate and what else they pleased There were the Names of more than 28 University men slain and wounded that day given in to the Bishop of Lincoln a few days after besides those who being secretly buried were not heard of any more For this Riot the King * Ret. Claus 29. Ed. 3 m. 9. seised on the Liberties of the City the greater part whereof were granted to the University which they enjoy to this Day However for that time the University was in a manner dissolved all Scholars but those of Merton College going to their Friends and Relations where they continued for a Year or two after The mean u Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 949. Anton. Wood's Antiqu. Oxon. l. 1. p. 174. 176. while the Bishop of Lincoln inhibited all Priests to celebrate Divine Service in presence of any Layman within the City of Oxford and the King sending his Justices thither to take knowledge of this disorderly Riot there were divers both of the Townsmen and Scholars endited and certain of the Burgesses as Richard Forester and Robert Lardiner and the Mayor himself John Bereford were committed to Prison And the High-Sheriff named Richard Williamscote because he did not according to his Duty in helping the University and the Vicechancellour was removed and John Laundels put in his Place The x Anton Wood's Antiqu. Oxon. l. 1. p. 176 c. former Mayor and Bailiffs being now clapt up in the Tower at the y In Minâ—r Rubr. Libr. Civ Oxon. C. fol. 27. Kings Command another Mayor was chosen whose Name was John de St. Frideswide and two new Bailiffs William Somerford and Hugh Yeftele alià s Eifley who were to hold for the remainder of the Year The next day after their Names were carried to the King and Attourneys sent to beg in their behalf his Majesties Pardon for the foresaid Sedition About which time certain Advocates for the University were also at Court solliciting an end of these Matters Whereupon both Parties being cited up to London sent thither their several Advocates The University wholly resign'd both her self and Privileges into the Kings hands Then also the Townsmen produced their Resignation and rendred up all their Privileges and Liberties their Persons and Goods moveable and immoveable and their Gilds whatsoever as well general as special and all their Rights they entirely submitted to the Kings disposal and this they did as they confess in the form of their Surrender because if they should be proceeded against by any other way of Law and solemnly the examination of their cause would tend to their greater Confusion and Punishment c. These Surrenders were made on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Dunstan the Bishop before John Archbishop of York Chancellour and William Bishop of Winchester Treasurer and the Justices and others of the Kings Council in the Council Chamber by the Exchequer at Westminster At which time both Parties humbly petition'd that the Kings Majesty would accept of their Resignations But the King commanded them to be deliver'd into the hauds of David Wollere Master of the Rolls of Chancery to be kept until such time as upon due
pressing he flatly refused to make any such Bargain So that the English Lords perceived plainly how their Enemies meant not to afford them Battle as at first they pretended but only by Delays to seek Advantages and to put their Master to Charges thereby to make him weary of the War. However because of the Season of the Year the Commissioners on both Sides made shift to strike up a Temporary Truce t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. to endure till Easter which done they parted asunder without any more medling for that time King Edward stayed at Calais however till the Tuesday u 17 Novemb. following at which time having paid the Lords Strangers their appointed Wages because he saw no appearance of having Battle given him he embarqued for England where the next day he happily arrived and came to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster VI. This x M.S. Rot. Par. p. 85. §. 1 4 5 6. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90. c. Parliament first began to sit on the Day of St. Martin the Bishop being the very Day on which the King return'd to Calais from pursuit of his Enemies but upon the Account of the Kings Absence as well as for other Causes had been Adjourned first from the said 12 of November to the 23d and after from thence to 25th by which time the King was returned to his Parliament But before we enter upon this Affair it will not be amiss to dispatch other Matters out of the way in order to clear some Passages which follow Besides what we mention'd and the approach of Winter there was a further Reason why King Edward made so much haste home into England for while he was yet in Artois he had News brought him How on the Sixth of November the Scots came very early one Morning to Barwick and having by Surprize taken the Town thô with the Death of only three or four Englishmen whom they found upon the Watch they seised on all the Goods and Persons therein except those who had got into the Castle But the Castle they could not take the Bridge being drawn up Thô notwithstanding they held the Town as their own till King Edward drove them away as we shall shew in due place Now before King Edward was come into France King John had y Hector Bret. l. 15. f. 325. n. 40. c. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. Holinsh hist Scotl. p. 242 Knighton p. 2611. n. 1. c. sent the Lord Eugenie Garenciers with a select Number of Frenchmen and 40000 Crowns in Gold into Scotland to encourage that People to invade England thereby to give a Diversion to King Edward as soon as ever he should have left his Kingdom Whereupon Patrick Earl of March and the Lord William Douglas being accompanied with Fourty French Captains of Name beside the Lord of Garenciers marched silently towards Barwick and in a certain convenient Place not far off the two Earls planted themselves in a strong Ambush Then Sr. William Ramsey of the Dalehouse according to Order with 400 Light-Horse in his Company began to drive a great many Head of Cattle near the Town to decoy the Garrison into their Ambush The Souldiers of the Town seeing such a Booty sallied out under the Command of Sr. Thomas Grey as was expected and hardly pursued after the Cattle and their Drivers till e'r they were aware they fell into the Scotch Ambush where being suddenly surrounded after a stout Resistance they were all slain except Sr. Thomas Grey their Captain with his Son Sr. John Dacres and a few more Esquires and Gentlemen whom they kept to Ransom Thô the Scots themselves lost in this Skirmish several Persons of Quality as Sr. John Haliburton Sr. James Turnbull and Others z Hector l. 15. f. 325. n. 62. Hector says certain Frenchmen bought of the Scots the English Prisoners and then presently put them to the Sword in revenge of their Friends and Parents slain by them at Cressy and elsewhere But this I 'll not believe the French being naturally a People of more Honour Early the next Morning the Scots encouraged with this Victory approached the Town of Barwick and when the Watch was in a manner overcome with Sleep set their Ladders to the Walls mounted and enter'd the Place Those few English whom they found ready they fell upon and slew thô not without loss to themselves for by their Acknowledgment there fell on the Scots side Sr. Thomas Vaux Sr. Andrew Scot of Balvere Sr. John Gourdon Sr. William Sinclare Sr. Thomas Preston and Sr. Alexander Moubray And of the English Sr. Alexander Ogle the Captain of the Town Sr. Everard Grey and Sr. Thomas Piercy Brother as they say to the Earl of Northumberland thô as yet that Title did not belong to that Name and in the Genealogy of the Lord Piercy there is no mention of a Brother of his so named in those Days But 't is usual with the Scotch Historians to create Men and Titles and then to slay them to advance as they imagin the Honour of their Nation I 'll give but one Instance of Hectors Ignorance or at least indiligence speaking of the Battle of Poictiers which happened a little after he says a Hector Boet. Sect. Hist l. 15. f. 327. l. 27. c. The same time these things were done in Scotland Richard the Son of Edward the Third Prince of Wales He who afterwards as King of England succeeded in his Fathers Place having conquer'd John King of France and bringing him into England c. We may well expect wonderfull intelligence from this Man as to the Families of the English Nobility who is so grosly ignorant of the Name of the Greatest Prince Son to the Greatest King that England ever produced But to return Whatever the Manner was of Winning Barwick the Scots are said at this time b M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229. to have slain no more of the English but only those who resisted But when King Edward heard of the Loss of the Town he forthwith hasted into England to his Parliament as we shew'd before where for the ardent desire he had to recover the Town and save the Castle he tarried but three Days before he began to march for Scotland and yet in that time the Parliament performed Matters worth our Notice Of which now we shall speak briefly Only we must not forget c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. ex Rec. v. Stow p. 255. b.n. 46. c. that the Lord William Greystoch who had been constituted Captain of the Town of Barwick but was absent at the time of its Taking did then much incurr the Displeasure of the King therefore But it being clearly proved that his Absence was occasion'd by the Kings Command for he attended the King personally into France as he was order'd at the request of Queen Philippa he obtained his Pardon VII At the Opening of this Parliament d M.S. Rot. Par.
desiring You as affectionately as we can and more earnestly beseeching You by the Bowels of the Mercies of God that rendring a return of Gratitude to the Lord your God for those things which he hath given unto You You would accommodate your Soul prepare your Heart and dispose your Mind to Peace and Concord For You know that the Great King of Peace by whom You live and reign doth command You to love Peace and refuses to dwell in the Hearts of the Unmercifull And lest we should more prolixly enlarge our Epistle we add unto our Prayers that those things which our Reverend Brother Talayrand Bishop of Alby and our Beloved Son Nicolas titulo Sancti Vitalis Priest-Cardinal Nuntio's of the Apostolick See or either of them in their own Persons or in Others shall relate unto You as to this Point or declare unto You by Letters You would undoubtedly believe and by a pious Prosecution fulfill them with the desired Fruits of your Actions Dat. Aven V. Non. Octob. Anno Pontificatús nostri IV. By other Letters also of the same Date the Pope highly applauded the Young Prince for that he had honourably received the Cardinal Talayrand and had in the midst of Prosperity overcome that insolence of Mind which usually attends Conquerours and gave him his Thanks for having entertain'd the French King with such singular Courtesie Our Reverend Brother says he Talayrand Bishop of Alby Nuntio of the Apostolick See wrote unto us by his Letters that You confirming and enhancing the Nobility which you derive from your Stock by your Generosity of Soul and the exercise of Vertues have entertain'd him with such Honours and such Favours as became a Son to exhibit to his Father in Christ And that which is greater than all these preparing your Mind equally for all Events and not being puffed up with any Prosperity of Successes but always more humble in the sight of the Lord your God attributing all unto him from whom you have received all You do graciously allow unto our Dear Son in Christ John the Illustrious King of France whom the Event of War hath brought into your Prison that Honour which belongs to so great a Prince Vpon which account returning unto your Highness our deserved Praises and hoping undoubtedly that the Omnipotent God who hath respect unto the Lowly but knoweth the Proud afar off will bestow on You more abundantly and freely the Grace of his Benediction c. Dat. Aven V. Non. Octob. Anno Pontif. IV. XV. All this while i Frois c. 169. fcl 75. did Edward the Black-Prince continue at Bourdeaux having with his ready Mony bought up of the Lords Knights and Esquires of Gascogne all those French Prisoners whom he design'd to carry along with the King into England For as for those whom the English Lords had taken he intended not to buy them till they were brought safe home The French King he lodged honourably in a magnificent Apartment in the Abby of St. Andrew and Himself kept Court in the other Apartment of the same Abby like unto it Now there were many Questions Contrasts and Challenges among several Knights and Esquires of Gascogne concerning the Taking of the French King divers of them affirming how they were the Men that took him But Sr. Dennis Morbeque by Right of Arms and true Tokens which he shew'd as the Kings own Gauntlet challenged him for his rightfull Prisoner Yet for all that this Mans Cause seem'd so evident insomuch that the Pretensions of all Others were silenced thereby an Esquire of Gascogne called Bernard de Troutes averred how he had more Reason to lay Claim to that Honourable Action Between these two there was much Fending and Proving in Presence of the Prince and other Lords that sat with him to hear the Cause But when once it came to a Challenge between them then the Prince commanded them both peremptorily to surcease and to forbear any further proceeding till they came into England on pain of his Displeasure for he said no manner of Decision or Determination should be made but by the King his Father However because the French King himself enclin'd more to Sr. Dennis of Morbeque than to any other and wish'd as he said privately that he alone might have the Honour which he had so well deserved the Generous Prince considering that being a banished Man he had little more than his Wages and what he purchased in War caused secretly to be deliver'd into his Hands 2000 Nobles to maintain his Estate handsomly withall against the time he should appear in the Court of England And to end this Matter once for all when the next Year King Edward and his Council had determin'd the Cause in his behalf the Prince k Paul. Aeonylius p. 288. gave him 5000 Crowns of Gold more as a Reward for that Service For as we shew'd before all Prisoners who are valued above 10000 Crowns belong not unto him that took him but to the Prince Thus the Prince of Wales tarried at Bourdeaux providing and ordaining his Affairs as he thought best till it was Lent during which time the Souldiers of England and Gascogne spent in Mirth and Revell especially in the Christmas Holy-days all the Gold and Silver which they had won with the hazard of their Lives For Souldiers and Seamen thô they court Money at the Highest rate of any others take their leave of it as pleasantly and as unconcernedly as any Men whatsoever Those Knights l Frois c. 169. Gentlemen and others who had been present in the Battle of Poictiers upon their return into England were welcomed treated and caressed highly by all Men where-ever they came and in all respects Prefer'd to others of their Rank and Condition So Honourable is it to be Brave upon a good and just account But on the contrary m Frois c. 170. all the Lords Knights and Esquires of France who had fled from the Battle were so hated reviled and pointed at whereever they came that they durst hardly venture to appear in any great Town or publick place of Resort Now about the time n Frois c. 170. that this Battle of Poictiers was fought Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster was in the County of Eureux in Normandy and toward the Marches of Coutances together with Prince Philip of Navarre and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt in his Company These Great Captains endeavour'd all they could to joyn the Prince of Wales before that Battle but they could not by any means Because all the Passages on the River of Loire were so surely guarded However hearing shortly after of the Prince's Success they were wonderfully pleased and Prince Philip of Navarre soon after went for England to speak with the King about the further Progress of his Affairs and the Duke of Lancaster as we shew'd before diverted into Bretagne to the Countess of Monford where shortly after he went and laid Siege to Rennes having constituted the Lord Godfry of
was confin'd For they said it would be much for the Advantage of the Realm if so Valiant and Compleat a Prince could be brought to espouse her Interest now that in a manner all her Nobility was either slain or taken in the Battle of Poictiers Wherefore they instantly urged the Duke at this time to deliver him because he was wrongfully imprison'd But the Duke told them all along that he durst not undertake to deliver him since the King his Father had put him in Prison for what cause it was not his part to determine However when He saw there was like to be no abatement of these heats on the Fourth Day he came into the Parliament-Chamber and said That he had not leisure as then to attend to and discuss all their Requests because of tidings which he had lately received from his Father and also from his Uncle Charles Emperour of Germany some whereof he vouchsafed to communicate unto them and so for that time adjourn'd them to the Day of All-Saints when by Advice of his Council he wholly dissolved them without any fruits of so promising an Assembly or any Remedy against the Confusions of the times At this sudden thô deserved Dissolution the Estates murmured and repin'd but however before they parted in order to the justification of their Proceedings took Copies of their Requests made to the Duke to carry to their several Countries and Corporations and to shew them upon occasion in their own Defence And thô afterwards the Duke required an Aid of the City of Paris toward the Maintenance of his Wars they told him plainly that they were not obliged to any such thing unless they were enjoyned by the Three Estates which therefore they desir'd might be reassembled But this the Young Prince would by no means yield to thô he was never so much press'd with Difficulties So unhappy was the Realm of France at this time that when her Parliaments should rather for the present have wisely winked even at great Abuses and have immediately apply'd their helping Hand to the Vitals that were now endanger'd leaving less important Mischiefs to be cured at a more seasonable time On the contrary she undutifully as well as unadvisedly quarrel'd with her Prince about the Reformation of small Abuses not considering that she ought rather in such a Desperate juncture to have closed with Him in providing Physick for the almost expiring State. Kings are not to be forced by the Insolent Populacy from the Necessity of their Affairs but to be confided in as Fathers and to be rely'd on as Generous and Benign Deputies of Heaven from whom we are humbly to request and not violently to extort More commendably did those of the Province of Languedoc as the most remote part from Paris so the most Free from the Contagion of its Insolence For they being r Fabian p. 283. Duserres p. 25. Paul. Aemyl p. 289. by Authority of the Earl of Armagnac the Kings Lieutenant in those parts assembled in order to make Provision for the Kings Redemption did behave themselves both as Dutifull Subjects and discreet men at the same time For first they unanimously agreed to provide at their own proper Costs and Charges 500 Men of Arms all Knights with an Esquire to every one of them and moreover a 1000 Souldiers on Horseback a 1000 Arbalists and 2000 others all to have a Years pay from the State viz. Each Spear to have for himself and his Esquire or Serjeant half a Floren per diem every other Man to be allow'd 8 Florens a piece per Month. Moreover they ordain'd that no Man should wear any precious Furrs or other Rich stuff and that all Women and Ladies should lay aside their Gorgeous Attire of their Heads and wear neither Pearls Gold nor Silver about their cloaths or upon their Girdles as long as the King should remain Prisoner And further to testifie how deeply they resented this Publique Calamity they generally abandon'd all Banquets Entertainments Masks Dances Plays and other Diversions during his Captivity Besides all which they freely granted a considerable Aid toward his Redemption and made divers wholsome Ordinances both to their own Honour and the Profit of the Common-weal Which Laudable Example of theirs Champaigne also followed But good Examples are not always so Influential as Bad for almost all other parts chose rather to copy the obstinate Undutifullness of that Seditious Metropolis of Paris And this City after the usual Methods of Rebels pretending to be in fear of Tyranny when it was preparing to be seditious was Å¿ Mâ—â—eray p. 47. now strengthen'd with Regular Fortifications its Walls repaired and Ditches enlarged and all the Street of St. Anthony and St. Paul which before belonged to the Suburbs was now enclosed within the Walls and Chains continually drawn cross the Streets Thus was Paris of a very weak Place made considerably strong by those popular Tribunes Stephen Marcell Provost of the Merchants and Ronsac the Sheriff who thô they intended this Defence against their Prince and so did wickedly yet as it proved some while after in good time made it more teneable against a Publique Enemy and so were by chance Benefactors to that City XVII Now t Frois c. 171. before this Fruitless Parliament at Paris was thus broke up Word was brought to the Duke and the Three Estates that the Lord Godfrey Harcourt made cruel War in Normandy and overran the Country twice or thrice in a Week sometime to the suburbs of Caën sometimes to St. Lo or to Eureux or Coutances Whereupon the Duke was however so much assisted by the Three Estates as to be enabled to raise 300 Men of Arms and 500 others to go against the foresaid Lord Godfrey Over which Troops the Duke set the Lord u Fabian p. 284. Robert Clermont his Lieutenant in that Dukedom together with the Lord of Ravenal the Lord of Remilly and two other Lords These Forces marched from Paris and came to Rouën where they very much encreased being joyn'd by many Expert Men of Arms of Normandy and also an addition of several Knights with their Troops from Artois and Vermandois as the Lord of St. Quintin the Lord Lewis of Neufcastell the Lord Edward of Renty the Lord John de Fiennes the Lord Ingram of Hesdin and several others who all rode to Coutances and there made their Garrison When the Lord x Frois c. 172. Godfrey Harcourt who was a Knight of great Valour and Conduct heard how the French were come to the City of Coutances he assembled together as many Men of Arms Archers and others as conveniently he could and said he would ride forth and look upon the Frenchmen Accordingly he marched from St. Saviour Le Vicount with little more than 700 Men in his Company consisting for the most part of Normans and other Frenchmen who holding for the King of Navarre were generally in those days called Navarrois That same day the Frenchmen also rode
and other great Lords in other Villages about the City which the King now design'd to block up Within the Place at that time was the Lord John de Craon Archbishop of Rheims the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh Porcien his Brother the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Carency the Lord of Annore the Lord of Lore and divers other Captains Knights and Esquires of those Parts King Edward intended after his manner to offer them the choice of his Favour before he gave them a tast of his Fury and many times y Matt. Villant l. 9. c. 67. p. 549 he proffer'd them by his Heralds to exalt and magnifie their City above all others in France if they would give their Consent that he should there receive the Crown of France promising to use them all most graciously But when he saw that he was not heard believing that they did thus because they were ashamed to surrender without having received any Loss he began to threaten them with a long Siege and the Desolation of their Land if they refused to do what he demanded But neither fair Overtures nor foul did avail any thing For by Common Assent this was their Answer That they had their Lawfull King to whom they intended whilst they had Breath in their Bodies to be loyal true and faithfull and if he used Force against them they design'd to defend themselves by Force Nor were these Mens Deeds disagreeable to their Words for they maintain'd their Loyalty so well that the Place suffer'd no great Dammage during the whole Siege which lasted from the Feast of St. Andrew till the beginning of Lent. For besides that the City was very Defensible and well provided of all things the King would not suffer any Assault to be made because he would preserve his Army entire for a greater purpose And truly the Lords of England wanted a little Rest at that time for they began their Siege in the Heart of Winter and there were high Winds and much Rain about St. Andrews and they wanted Litter for their Horses for the Country had layen in a manner waste for well nigh two or three Years before so that little Forage was to be got abroad under 10 or 12 Leagues off whereby there fell many dangerous Rencounters wherein the English sometime wan and sometimes also lost VI. During this Siege several strong Detachments were sent abroad from the Army especially into the Country of Rhetelois in Champagne to Warcq to Mazieres to Donchery and to Mouson some whereof would absent from the Camp three or four Days together ravaging and plundering the Country and then return again to the Camp before Rheims At that same time Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being newly redeem'd from Prison had begun to manifest by his Hostilities in France that he was at liberty He had lately won z Vid. l. 3. c. 4. §. 9. p. 561. by Surprize the Town of Attigny on the River Aisne in Retelois where he found plenty of Provision of all sorts but especially of good Wines whereof he sent the greater part to the King of England and his Son the Prince then lying at the Siege of Rheims who received it very kindly at his Hands Among the divers Adventures which fell during this Siege it happen'd that the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Richmond and March the Lord John Chandos the Lord James Audley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord of Mucidan and Sr. Richard Pountchardon rode forth about the Fields of Châlons in Champaigne where 't is believed that a Ano. Dom. 453. Attila King of the Hunns was overthrown with the Loss of an Hundred and Eighty Thousand Men by the joynt Forces of Merovee King of France Theodoric or Therry King of the Gothes and Aetius the General of the Roman Empire Thô Jornandes makes this Battle to have been fought near unto Tholouse and not to Chálons However in these Fields the foresaid English Lords ranged till they b Frois c. 208. Knighton p. 2621. True use of Armory p. 54. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788 c. came to Cernoy en Dormois a fair and strong Castle which upon view they resolved to attempt For it was a place of considerable moment In this Castle there were two Valiant Knights Captains the Chief whereof was Sr. John Caples who bare for his Arms Or a Cross Ancree Sable The English assaulted the Castle vigorously till the Lord Mucidan being among the foremost was slain with a stone from the Walls to the infinite regret of the English Lords and especially of his own Men the Gascogners who loved him entirely for his winning Carriage and resolute Conduct So that upon his Death all the Lords sware that they would not stir a foot thence till they had taken the Place and revenged the blood of so worthy a Gentleman And then the Assault was renew'd with all the Fury imaginable The Gascogners especially being enraged at their Loss plunged into the Ditches like Madmen without any care of themselves and approached the Walls and mounted up with their Targets over their heads while the Archers of England sent their Arrows so thick together that the Enemy durst hardly appear upon the Walls at their Defences and whoever did but presume to peep over was in evident Danger of their shot By this means thô not without the loss of many Men the Castle was at last taken by force and the two Captains only with some few Esquires received to Mercy all the rest were put to the Sword as Sacrifices to the Ghost of the Lord of Mucidan Thence they c Knightâ—n p. 2621. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 7â—8 marched about two Leagues farther to Autry en Dormois lying on the River Aisne which was accounted stronger than Cernoy but before they came thither the Inhabitants fled Thence they went back to St. Menehou in Champaigne a fortified Town also whence upon their approach the Inhabitants fled likewise whereupon they all returned to the Camp before Rheims and related to the King what they had won and whom they had lost VII Near this d Frof c. 208. time the inconstant and turbulent King of Navarre fell off again from the Dauphin without any known cause or provocation and leaving Paris of a sudden retired to Mante on the River Seyne whence he sent his Defiance to the Duke and his Brethren who wonder'd upon what Pretence or Title he thus renew'd his Hostilities Under pretence however of his Quarrel an Esquire of Brussels named Walter Ostraste surprized the strong Castle of Rolebois on the Seyne about a League from Mante where he kept a Garrison which did afterwards very much incommode the Parisians and the Vicinage While the Siege c Frois ibid. before Rheims lasted the Lord of Gomegines an Hainalder who went to England with a Message to the Queen from King Edward when he sent the Lords Strangers back to Calais repassed the Sea now again and rode into Hainalt
Countries Isles and Places above-named that they obey the King of England and his Heirs at their certain Commandment in such sort as they have obeyed the Kings and the Crown of France q This Clause added out of King Johns Recapitulation of the Articles And by the same their Letters shall acquit and discharge them in the best manner that may be of all Homages Fealties Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises in any sort by any of them made to the King and Crown of France 8. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named with all their Appurtenances and Appendages wheresoever they shall be to hold to him and to his Heirs and Successors Hereditably and for ever in Demain that which the Kings of France have had there in Demain and also in Fiefs Services Soveraignties or Resorts that which the Kings of France have had there in such manner Saving notwithstanding what was said above in the Article of Calais and Merk And if of the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or any of the Soveraignties Rights Mere and Mixt Empire Jurisdictions and Profits whatsoever which any King of England did there hold or their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever any Alienations Donations Obligations or Charges have been made by any of the Kings of France which have been for the Time within Seventy Years past by whatsoever Form or Cause it be that all such Donations Obligations or Charges are now at this time and shall be henceforth made void repeal'd abolished and annihilated and all things so given alienated or charged shall really and de facto be restored and delivered to the said King of England or to his Special Deputies in the same entire Condition they were to the Kings of England before or since the said 70 Years without Fraud or Deceit so soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing within one Year To be held by the said King of England and all his Heirs and Successors for ever by Right of Inheritance in manner above-written Except what is said before in the Article of Ponthieu which shall remain in Force and saving and excepting all those things given and alienated to Churches which shall remain peaceably in all the Countries here above and under named Provided that the Rectors of the said Churches shall diligently pray for the said Kings as for their Founders wherewith their Consciences are charged 9. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have and hold all the Cities Towns Castles and Countries above-named which anciently the Kings of England did not hold in the same state and manner as the King of France or his Children hold them at present 10. Item It is agreed that if within the Bounds of the said Countries which did anciently pertain to the Kings of England there shall be any Places which otherwise belonged not to the Kings of England but were possessed by the King of France at the day of the Battle of Poictiers which was the 19 Day of September in the Year One Thousand three Hundred Fifty and Six they shall be and remain to the King of England and his Heirs in manner as before 11. Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for themselves and for their Heirs and all the Kings of France and their Successors for ever shall without deceit as soon as may be and at the furthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing in one Year render and deliver unto the King of England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts Safeguards Dominions and Soveraignties which did pertain or do pertain or might any ways pertain to the Kings and Crown of France or to any other Person because of the King or Crown of France at any time in those Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or in any of them and in their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever or in any of the Persons Vassals or Subjects whatsoever whether Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church Barons Nobles and others whatsoever without retaining in them or reserving any thing to Themselves their Heirs or Successors to the Crown of France or to any other Person whatsoever Whereby they their Heirs or Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places above-named So as all the above-named Persons and their Heirs and Successors for ever shall be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall Have and Hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and Appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Soveraignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their Appurtenances and Appendages and other Places specified before with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without recognising any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort and Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognisance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them 12. Item it is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expressly the said Resorts and Sovereignties and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall renounce expresly all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd to or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Kingdom of France and the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dukedom of Normandy of the Dukedom of Tourain and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dukedom of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or could make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this Present Treaty ought to remain or to be
Places abovenamed which by this present Treaty ought to be deliver'd unto the King of England 29. Item It is agreed that the Towns Forts and whole County of Ponthieu the Towns Forts and whole County of Montrevil the City and Castle of Saincte the Castles Towns and Forts and all that which the King holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Sainctogne on this side and beyond the Charente the Castle and City of Angoulesme and the Castles Forts and Towns which the King of France holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Angoulesmois with Letters and Mandates of releasing of Fees being deliver'd to the King of England or to other especially deputed for him then the King of England at his own proper Costs and Charges shall deliver all the Forts taken and possessed by himself his Subjects Adherents and Allies in the Countries of x Lisle de la France France Anjou Touraine Maine Berry Auvergne Burgundy Champaigne Picardy and Normandy and in all other Parts Lands and Places of the Realm of France except those of the Dutchy of Bretagne and the Countries and Lands which by this present Treaty ought to belong and remain to the King of England 30. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall cause to be deliver'd to the King of England his Heirs or Deputies all the Towns Castles Forts and other Lands Countries and Places abovenamed with their Appurtenances at the proper Costs and Charges of the said King of France And also that if he shall have any Rebels and such as will not obey to render yield up or restore to the King of England any Cities Towns Castles Countries Places or Forts which by this Present Treaty ought to appertain unto Him then the King of France shall be obliged to cause them to be deliver'd to the King of England at his own Charges And in like manner the King of England shall cause those Forts which by this present Treaty ought to appertain to the King of France to be deliver'd at his own Charges the said Kings and their Subjects with them shall be obliged mutually to aid one another in this respect if they shall be thereto required at the Wages of the Party so Requiring Which shall be a Floren of Florence per diem for a Knight half a Floren for an Esquire and for others proportionably And of the surplus of double Wages it is agreed that if the pay aforesaid shall be too little respect being had to the Price of Victuals in the Country it shall be done at the Appointment of Four Knights elected thereto that is to say of two on the One Party and two on the Other 31. Item It is agreed that all the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of Holy Church shall in regard of their Temporalities be subject to that King of the two under whom they hold their Temporalities And if they have Temporalities under both the Kings they shall be subject to each of the two Kings for the Temporalities which they hold of either of them 32. Item It is agreed that good Alliance Friendship and Confederation shall be made between the two Kings of France and of England and their Realms in maintaining the Honour and Conscience of the One King and of the Other notwithstanding any Confederations which they have on this side or beyond the Sea with any Persons whether of Scotland or Flanders or of any other Country whatsoever 33. Item It is agreed that the King of France and the Regent his Eldest Son for themselves and for their Heirs Kings of France shall as much as may be done forsake and altogether depart from the Alliances which they have with the Scots and shall promise as much as may be that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of France for the time being shall give or lend to the King of Scotland or to the Subjects thereof present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the said King of England or against his Heirs and Successors or against his Realm or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Scots against the said King of England and Realm of England in time to come And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son so much as it can or may be done shall forsake and depart from all those Alliances which they have with the Flemmings and shall promise that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of England for the time being shall give or lend to the Flemmings present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the King of France his Heirs or Successors or against his Kingdom or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Flemmings against the said King and Realm of France in time to come 34. Item It is agreed that the Collations and Provisions made by the One Party and by the other of Benefices falling void during the War shall hold good and remain in Force And that the Fruits Issues and Revenues received and levied of any Benefices and other Temporalities whatsoever in the said Realms of France and England by the One Party or by the Other during the said Wars shall be quitted on both sides 35. Item that the Kings aforesaid shall be obliged to cause to be confirmed all the Matters aforesaid by our Holy Father the Pope and they shall be Ratified by Oaths Sentences and Censures of the Court of Rome and by all other Tyes in the most binding manner that may be And there shall be obtained from the Court of Rome Dispensations Absolutions and Letters touching the Accomplishment and Perfection of this Present Treaty and they shall be deliver'd to the Parties at the farthest within three Weeks after the King shall be Arrived at Calais 36. Item That all the Subjects of the said Kings which will study at the studies and Universities of the Realms of France and of England shall enjoy the Privileges and Liberties of the said studies and Universities in like manner as they might have done before the Present Wars and as they do at present 37. Item To the end that the Matters aforesaid treated and discoursed may be more stable firm and valid there shall be done and given these Confirmations following that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of the said Kings and of their Eldest Sons the best that can be made by the Councils of the said Kings And the said Kings and their Eldest Sons and their other Children and others of the Lineage of the said Kings and other Noblemen of their Realms to the number of Twenty on either Party shall swear that they will observe and endeavour to maintain as much as concerneth each of them without fraud or deceit the said Matters treated and agreed on and accomplish them without ever going to the Contrary and without empeaching the performance thereof And if there be any Persons 〈◊〉 the said Realms of France and of England
of this Treaty And that We transfer and convey away all the Right which We might have in any of these Things that ought not to be delivered to Us by Vertue of this Treaty Concerning all which Things after divers Alterations about the same especially because the said Renuntiation Conveyance Quitting and Leaving of all the said Things should be accomplished as soon as our said Brother hath deliver'd unto Us or to our Deputies the City and Castle of Poictiers with all the Land and County of Poictou and the Fee of Thoüars the City and Castle of Agen and all the Land and Country of Agâ—nois the City and Castle of Perigeux and all the Land and Country of Perigord the City and Castle of Caâ—â—rs and all the Land of Quercy the City and Castle of Rodes and all the Land and Country of Rouvergue the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land thereunto belonging the City and Castle of Limoges and whatever We or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Monstrevil with the Appurtenances also the County of Ponthieu whole and entirely save and except according to the Tenor of the Article contained in the said Treaty where it maketh mention of the said County also the Castle and Town of Calais and the Castle Town and Lordship of Sangate Coulogne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Rivers Marishes Woods Rents Lordships and other things contained in the Article thereof making mention Also the Castle Town and whole County of Guisnes with all the Lands Castles Towns Forts Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Forests and other Rights according to the Tenor of the Article thereof making mention more plainly in the said Treaty with the Isles that we hold already that is to say at the time of the said Treaty and Peace I say concerning all these Things We and our Brother the French King have promised by Faith and Oath each to other the same Treaty and Peace to hold keep and accomplish and not to do any thing contrary thereto and both We and our said Brother and our Eldest Sons are mutually bound by Obligation and Promise by Faith and Oath the one Part to the Other except certain mutual Renuntiations according to the Tenor and Form of the said Articles and Peace as followeth * * Article 8. c. Item it is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for their Heirs for ever as soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next coming in one Year without Fraud or Deceit shall render yield and deliver to the said King of England his Heirs and Successors and convey unto them all the Honours Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Rights Fealties and Imperial Jurisdictions High or Low Resorts Safeguards Advousons Patronages of Churches Lordships and Sovereignties that appertain or may appertain in any manner of wise to the Kings and to the Crown of France or to any other Person because of the King or of the Crown of France wheresoever it be in Cities Towns Castles Lands Isles Countries and Places before-named or in any of them or their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever whether Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops or other Prelates of Holy Church Barons Nobles and others nothing thereof being to the Kings or Successors of the Crown of France reserved so that neither They nor any of their Heirs or Successors nor any French Kings nor Others by reason of the King or Crown of France make any Challenge or Demand in time to come of the King of England his Heirs or Successors or any of his Men or Subjects aforesaid because of the said Countries or Places So that all Persons aforesaid their Heirs and Successors and all other Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places aforesaid and all their Appurtenances and Appendages shall hold of the King of England perpetually peaceably and freely the said King of England to have over them Dominion Sovereignty Obeisance Allegiance and Jurisdiction as the Predecessors of the French King have had in time past and that the Kings of England their Heirs and Successors shall have and hold peaceably all the foresaid Countries in their full Franchises and Liberties for ever as Lords and Liege Sovereigns and as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without Acknowledging of any Sovereignty Obeisance Homage Resort or Subjection and without doing in time to come any manner of Service or Recognisance to the King or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Countries Lands Isles Places and Persons before-named or for any of them Also it is accorded that the French King and his Eldest Son shall expresly Renounce the said Resorts and Sovereignty and all the Right that they have or may have in all these Things such as by this present Treaty ought to appertain to the King of England and in like manner the King of England and his Eldest Son Renounceth all things such as by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd unto him and Renounceth all other Demands of the Realm of France and especially the Name Right Claim and Arms of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy and of the Dutchy of Touraine and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine and of the Sovereignty and Homage of the Earldom and County of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England made at the time of the said Claim or might make in time to come to the said Realm of France by any manner of Cause whatsoever except all that by this Treaty ought to be deliver'd to the King of England and his Heirs And they to transfer convey and mutually quit each King to the Other for ever all the Right which they ought otherwise to have in these things which by this present Treaty are to be deliver'd to each of them at the Time and Place when and where the said Renunciations shall be exchanged And because that our said Brother of France and his Eldest Son to hold and perform the Articles of the said Peace have expresly Renounced the Resorts and Sovereignties comprised in the said Articles and all the Right which they ought to have or might have in all the said things which our said Brother hath deliver'd and left unto Us and all other things which from henceforth shall abide and pertain to Us by Vertue of the said Treaty and Peace We also in like manner expresly renounce all such Things as by the said Treaty are not to be deliver'd unto Us or to our Heirs And likewise all Demands that we have made or might make of our said Brother of France and particularly the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy and of the Dutchy of Touraine and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine and the Homage and
Sovereignty of the Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands that we have made or might make of our said Brother for whatsoever cause it be ever except all that which by this present Treaty ought to remain to Us and to our Heirs And We shall transfer convey and leave to Him and He to Us and so mutually each to Other in the best manner and as speedily as We may all such Right as Each of Us ought or may have in every thing which by this Treaty and Peace ought to abide and remain with and to be deliver'd to each other of Us Reserving still to the Churches and to Men of the Church all that which to them appertaineth or may appertain and all that is usurped and withheld from them by Occasion of the Wars shall be again recompenced restored and deliver'd And also all the Towns Forts and Habitations with the Dwellers in them shall remain and abide in their full Liberties and Franchises as they did before they came into our Hands and Dominion and that to be confirmed unto them by our said Brother of France if he shall be required so to do and that We do not the contrary in any of the foresaid Things or Subjections And as to Us and all things to Us our Heirs and Successors pertaining We submit our Selves in this Point to the Jurisdiction and Coercion of the Church of Rome and We will and consent that the Bishop of Rome shall confirm all these things in giving Monitions and General Commands for the Completion thereof against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Colleges Universities or single Persons whatsoever and in giving General Sentences Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to be laid upon Us or Them who shall do the Contrary And that the said Sentences may fall upon Us or Them as soon as We or They act or endeavour by seising any Town Castle City Fort or any thing doing ratifying or consenting in giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or openly against the said Peace Of which Sentences the Parties offending not to be assoyled till full satisfaction be made to all them who have had or susteined any Dammage in that Behalf And moreover to the intent that this said Peace be more firmly kept and holden for ever We will and consent that if any Pacts Confederations Alliances and Covenants howsoever they be called shall be any way prejudicial to the said Peace at this time or hereafter to be made even suppose they be firm and deliver'd on certain Penalties or by Oaths confirmed or otherwise ratified or embulled by our Holy Father the Pope or any other they shall notwithstanding be ipso facto cancell'd and of none effect as contrary to the Weal Publick unprofitable to Peace and to all Christendom and displeasing to God Almighty And all Promises and Oaths in such Cases shall be excused and disanulled by our Holy Father the Pope so that none be bound to hold or keep any such Promises Oaths Alliances or Covenants to the intent that hereafter the like may not be attempted And if any endeavour the Contrary that it be void and of none effect And as for our Part We shall not fail to punish all such as Violaters and Breakers of the Peace both in their Bodies and Goods as in equity and reason the Case shall require And if We procure or suffer to be done the Contrary which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and untrue and that we incurr such Blame and Infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We swear on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ to hold keep and accomplish the said Peace and to do nothing contrary thereto neither in our own Person nor by any other in any manner of case And to the intent that these said Bonds should be fulfilled We bind Us and our Heirs and all the Goods of Us and of our Heirs to our said Brother of France and to his Heirs and also We swear on the Holy Gospels by Us corporally touched that We will perform hold and accomplish in the foresaid Cases all the said Things by Us promised and accorded And We will that in like case our said Brother or his Deputies in Place Time and Manner as aforesaid present unto Us his Letters with a like Assurance on his Part comprised therein to the Effect and Strength of our Letters which We have promised and delivered as aforesaid Always saved and reserved by Us our Heirs and Successors that the said Letters above-incorporated be of none Effect nor bring unto Us any manner of Prejudice or Dammage untill the time that our said Brother and Nephew have made sent and delivered unto Us the foresaid Renunciations according to the manner above-devised And till that be done these our Letters not to be against Us our Heirs or Successors in any manner of wise but in the foresaid Case In witness whereof We have set our Seal to the present Letters Dated at Calais 24 of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLX XVI The same Letters were set forth in the Name of King John of the same Date and besides them there a M. S. Reverendi admodùm Edvardi Stillingfleet S.T.P. Ecclesiae Cathed D. Pauli Decan Cui titulus sequitur Renuntiatio pura per Regem Franci◠are others which contain the Renunciation of the French King the Tenor whereof followeth JOHN by the Grace of God King of France to all unto whom these Presents shall come Greeting We give you to know that We have promised and do promise to render or cause to be rendred and deliver'd really and de facto to the King of England Our Most Dear Brother or to his Especial Deputies in that part at the Augustin Fryars within the Town of Bruges on the Day of the Feast of St. Andrew next coming in one Year Letters sealed with our Great Seal bound with Silk and Green-Wax on Condition that our said Brother shall make the Renuntiations which he ought to make on his Part and on the Part of our Most Dear Nephew his Eldest Son and shall have rendred them to our People or Deputies at the said Place and Time in Manner as they are obliged of which our Letters the Tenor word for word followeth JOHN by the Grace of God King of France We give to know unto all present and to come that whereas Mortal Wars have long endured between our Most Dear Lord and Father late King of France when living and after his Decease between Vs on the one Part and the King of England our Brother who challenged unto himself to have Right to the said Realm on the other Part having brought many great Damages not only unto Vs and to all our Realm but to the Neighbouring Realms also and to all CHRISTENDOM For by the said Wars oftentimes have happen'd Mortal Battles Slaughters Ravagings and Destruction of People and Peril of Souls Deflowring of
Aquitaine To all our Captains Keepers of Towns and Castles Subjects Adherents and Allies being in the Parts of France as well in Picardy Burgundy Anjou Berry Normandy Bretagne Auvergne Champaigne Maine Touraine as in all the bounds and limitations of the Demaine and Tenure of France Greeting A final Peace and accord having been made between Us and our Brother of France our Allies and Adherents comprising all the Debates and Discords that have been in time past or may be to which We have sworn on the Body of Jesus Christ and also our Eldest Son and our other Children and others of our Blood with divers Prelates Barons and Knights and the most Noble of the Realm of England and in like manner hath sworn our said Brother and our Nephew the Duke of Normandy and other our Nephews his Children and divers Prelates Barons and Knights of the Realm of France to keep the said Peace Yet lest it might so fortune or fall out hereafter that any Men of War of our Realm or of our Subjects should take upon them to do or attempt any thing contrary to the Peace in taking or with-holding Forts Towns Cities or Castles or in taking of Pillage Prisoners or Merchandise or any other thing against the Peace the which to Us would be right Displeasant and We neither may nor will suffer any such thing to pass under the shadow of Dissimulation in any manner of wise but will with all our Power in all the said things find a Remedy We therefore Will Require and Ordain by the Advice of our Council that None of our Subjects of whatsoever State or Condition they be presume to do or endeavour to do any thing contrary to the said Peace in taking any Pillage or in taking or withholding any Forts Prisoners or Goods whatsoever pertaining to the Realm of France or to our said Brother his Subjects Allies and Adherents or any other whatsoever they be And whosoever shall be thus Guilty of Doing against the said Peace and will not leave or cease so to do or will not restore again the Damages by them done within a Month after they shall be thereto required by our Officers Serjeants or Publick Persons that then by that Deed alone without any further Process or Condemnation they be all reputed for out-law'd as Men cast out of our Realm and Protection and also out of the Realm and Lands of our said Brother and all their Goods shall be forfeited to Us and to our Demaine and if they may be found within our Realm We Will and Command expresly that on them Punishment be forthwith taken as on Traytors and Rebels against Us according to what is accustomed to be done in the Crime of High-Treason without giving in that case any favour or remission sufferance or pardon And in like manner to be done to our Subjects of whatsoever Estate they be who in our Realm on this side the Sea or on the other take occupy or hold any Fort whatsoever against the Will of those to whom they should pertain or that burn or ransom Towns or Persons or commit any Robbery or take any Pillage in Violation of the Peace and in moving War within our Dominions or on our Subjects And We do hereby command and expresly enjoyn all our Seneschals Bailiffs Provosts Governors of Castles and other our Officers in avoiding of our high Displeasure and on pain of losing their Offices that they publish or cause to be published these Presents in certain notable Places within their Rules and Precincts and that this our Command once seen and heard no one be after that so hardy to remain longer in any Fort pertaining to the Realm of France and exempted from the Ordinance of the Treaty of the said Peace on pain of being proceeded against as an Enemy to Us and to our said Brother the French King and that they see all these Things be duly and punctually observed And We give all persons concerned to know that if they be negligent and fail thus to do beside the foresaid Penalty We shall cause them to make good all Dammages unto those who by their Default or Negligence shall be so grieved or endammaged And moreover We shall inflict such further Punishment on them as shall make them an Example to all Others In Witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patents Given at Calais the 24 Day of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLX XIX Besides all this there were several other Letters of Alliance made even for the space of 15 Days together which was the time that these two Kings their Sons and Councils were at Calais all which time was chiefly spent in Conferring Devising and Settling new Ordinances not contrary to the old but such as should better explain and confirm them And for the greater Security all the Letters bare one Date All which were enrolled in the Chanceries of both the Kings but as it is tedious to refer them hither so also is it needless All these mutual Renuntiations Covenants and Agreements were drawn up sworn to and sealed at the same time but e Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. de Tract Pacis Franc. 34. Ed. 3. n. 7. 8. not as yet Exchanged because as yet the King of France was not at Liberty and the Towns Castles and other Places could not as yet be deliver'd But it was now nevertheless agreed and promised that they should be surrendred to the Special Deputies on both Sides by Midsummer following if it might be and the Renuntiations sent at the Assumption of our Lady next ensuing to the Church of the Augustin Fryars at Bruges to be deliver'd to those deputed to receive them Or if they were not sent till Allhallontide after then they were to be deliver'd in the said Church on St. Andrews day following at which Time and Place both Kings engaged to send thither and cause to be deliver'd to the Deputies of both Parties their and their Eldest Sons Renuntiations But if they were not then deliver'd not any thing agreed on was to take Effect There was also another Instrument Dated at Calais at the same time whereby King Edward was obliged to deliver up to the French King before Candlemas come Twelve Months all those Castles and Towns which he now held being Places that by Vertue of the Treaty were not to remain with him the Particulars whereof from the Records are to be seen in my worthy Friend Esquire f P. 663. c. ex Râ—â—praed de Tract Pacis Franc. m. 5. Ashmole's Elaborate History of the Garter For the Surrender of all which the King of England made forth Commissions to several Persons bearing Date at Calais as aforesaid Now g Ashmole p. 664. ex Rot. Tr. Pacis Franc. 34 Ed. 3. n. 6. also the two Kings made a League for them their Heirs and Successors of perpetual Friendship and Alliance to become thenceforward Faithfull Friends and to assist each other against all Persons whatsoever except the
172. in the beginning of February went on Board his Fleet whereof the Earl of Warwick was Admiral and took the Sea with a strong and Princely Retinue and arrived on the Fourth day at Rochelle where he was received with great Demonstrations of Joy and tarried among them four Days The mean l Frois c. 217. while the Lord John Chandos who for more than a Year had Governed all Aquitaine as the King of England's Lieutenant heard how the King his Master had now given all those parts by the Name of a Principality to his Son the Prince of Wales and how he was come to Rochelle in Order to enter upon his Government Whereupon He presently made ready Horses and Chariots and set forth from Niort with a goodly company of Men of Arms Knights and Esquires toward the City of Rochelle to pay his respects to the Prince and to bid him Welcome to his Government The Prince and Princess received my Lord Chandos exceeding Graciously and there passed many mutual Embraces between the Lords and Knights of England But on the Fifth Day from the Prince's Arrival the Prince and the Lord Chandos with all their Retinues which were very considerable rode from Rochelle to the City of Poictiers in great Pomp and Glory the double Face of Peace and War of the Ladies and Men of Arms making a Delightfull Mixture of Mars and Venus of the Court and of the Campaigne At Poictiers he was met with infinite Respect and Joy by all the Lords Barons and Knights of Poictou and Sainctogne and here where his last Triumph was gain'd upon the French King he first received the Fealties and Homages of those French Gentlemen whom he had subjected thereby From Poictiers he went to Bourdeaux where he kept his Court in as Splendid a Manner as if he had been King of France his Beloved Princess being with him all the while Unto Bourdeaux there came to see him all the Earls Vicounts Barons and Knights of Gascogne such as were subject to the Crown of England Whom he entertain'd most Graciously behaving himself in the eyes of them all so Honourably that they were extreamly satisfied with his Noble and Generous Dportment and promised themselves much prosperity under his Government Hither also came to visit him and to pay him their Homage the Earls of Foix and of Armagnac Lords of great Power and near of Blood but at this time there was an High Disgust between them They had as we m Vid. l. 3. c. 6. § 8. p. 581. shew'd before for a long while made Bloody War against each other on the account of a particular Quarrel of their own which the King of France * Meâ—erâ—y p. 63. durst not undertake to compose for fear of displeasing the King of England whose Vassals they were for the Lands then in contest between them But however now Prince n Frois c. 217. Edward took up the Matter and made a final Peace and Agreement between them For besides the obliging Words he gave them and the close Arguments he us'd to perswade them the many mutual heavy Losses which they had already suffer'd made them much more inclinable to admit of an Accommodation This done the Prince made the Lord John Chandos his Constable of all Aquitaint and the Lord Guischard D'Angle his Marshal the latter being by Birth a Frenchman of Angoumois but by the Tenor of the Peace a subject of England as ever after he continued to his great Honour And into other great Offices the Prince set such Knights of his House as he most favour'd and filled all Constableships and Bailywicks with English Knights and Gascogners such as he was most assured of or were best recommended unto him by their own Vertue or the testimony of Vertuous Men. And here a while We will leave him Governing in Peace till War shall call him forth again to reap another Glorious Victory IV. The mean while King Edward held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster where o Walsing hist p. 173. Speed 584. all the Peers were expresly commanded to be present and not one permitted to appear by Proxy This Session lasted from the 13 of October to the 13 of November in which one Months time he made more good Laws and bestow'd more Acts of Grace upon his People than some other Kings have done in all their Life time The Causes of this Assembly were p M.S. Ret. Parl. 36. â—d 3. n. 2. p. 88. Sr. Rob. Certen's Abrâ—dgement p. 92. c. declared by the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green to be for redress of Matters relating to the Church for observation of the Peace to settle Affairs with Scotland and to enhance the Price of Wooll All which were well order'd as may be seen in the Records and Printed Statutes of this Year And whereas some say q â—tow p. 255. that the King at this time contrary to his Oath set up a Staple of Wooll at Calais it should have been consider'd that when a Prince at the Request of his Parliament promises to do or not to do a thing if at another time the Reason of things being then alter'd this very Parliament requires the Contrary the King ought not to be charged with breach of promise in complying with them Because the very occasion of his Promise seems at first to have been the Good of his People which same thing is also afterwards the occasion of his not observing it And We find r M.S. id Sâ— Rob. Cotton ibid. in the Records that when the Lords were commanded to speak what they thought of the Repair of Merchants to Calais they all agreed how it seem'd to them a Matter very profitable to the Realm To which point the Commons thô at first they demurr'd till they might have conference with the Merchants at last yielded also themselves Wherefore the King shortly after Å¿ Knighton p. 2626. n. 40 c. sent over XXVI of the most considerable Merchants of the Realm to hold the Staple there for three Years and to keep and defend the Town every Merchant having six Men of Arms and four Archers at the Kings Charges and besides the Mayor of the Town he also appointed another to be over the Staple the King being to receive for Maletot Twenty shillings and the foresaid Merchants Wardens of the Town 40 pence of every Sack of Wooll It was t Wâ—lsingh â—â—st p. 173. n. 10. 〈◊〉 in this Parliament Enacted that neither Gold nor Silver should be used in Apparel Knives Girdles Chains Rings or other Bodily Ornament by any Man who could not expend Ten pounds by the Year And that none who could not expend an 100 l. per annum should presume to wear Silks Furs or other pretious Garments But I shall pass over the other Statutes made in this Parliament because they are every where to be had in Print but only those Acts of Grace which King Edward did unto his People are
he sent word thereof into the Principality of Aquitain to the English Knights and Esquires of the Princes Court but especially to the Noble Lord John Chandos desiring him and them heartily now at this great and last Pinch to send him a Competent Assistance not doubting but that in Bretagne they should find many a fair and honourable Adventure for which all men of Honour ought especially to seek toward the Advancement of their Names When the Lord John Chandos who greatly desired the Prosperity of this Noble Earl saw how earnestly he wrote unto him he went immediately and asked leave of the Black-Prince his Lord and Master who told him He was well content that he should go to the Assistance of his Dear Brother-in-Law because said he this is no Breach of the Peace between England and France For the Frenchmen in like manner take Part with Sr. Charles of Bloic against the Earl of Monford and have a Licence so to do from the French King himself And thus much was expresly agreed on in the c Vid. l. 3. c. 6. §. 10. Art. 22. p. 588. XXII Article of the Peace of Bretigny that if the two Parties cannot be reconciled the Friends of either of them shall aid either Party as they please without any impeachment from the said two Kings or without incurring or bearing any dammage blame or reproach for the cause aforesaid With this answer Sr. John Chandos was extreamly satisfied and provided accordingly desiring several Knights and Esquires both of England and Aquitain to bear him Company in this his Attempt Thô but a few Gascogners I know not upon what Grounds for 't is evident they lov'd him well went with him but several English Knights that were there except such whom the Prince's Service detain'd embraced the Invitation heartily So having collected 200 Spears and as many Archers Voluntiers for the Prince would not appear in the Matter he lead them thrô Sainctogne and Poictou till passing the Loire he entred into Bretagne and came safely to the Siege before Auray Here he found the young Earl of Monford who received him with great joy as who divin'd himself a Victory from his Coming and so did Sr. Oliver Clisson Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and others both English and Bretons who all generally concluded there could no ill Success fall unto them now that they had the Lord Chandos in their Company Upon the account of whose Reputation in Arms sundry Knights and Esquires of England passed the Sea being desirous to advance their Honour in Fighting against the Frenchmen all who came in good time before Auray where they were heartily welcome to the Earl of Monford and some of them brought d True Use of Armory in Bib. Cotton Lord Chandâ—s his Liâ—e p. 62. Letters from the King of England directed to the Lord Chandos wherein he was required to take particular care of his most Dear Son Monford and in time of Battle constantly to attend his Person And now the whole Number of English and Bretons amounted to about 2000 Men of Arms and about 900 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen II. All this while Sr. Charles of Blois was in the City of Nantes where he made his Musters and gather'd together Men of War from all Parts where he could procure them for Love or Money For he had perfect Intelligence of all the Earl of Monfords Preparations But especially he required all those Lords Knights and Esquires of Bretagne who had already own'd his Cause and Title and rendred Homage unto him as to their Lord to come now and help him to defend his Inheritance against his Enemies Upon these Summons there came unto him the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Leon the Lord of Raix and the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit the Lord of Quintin the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Lodeac the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Lomine the Lord of Ponto and Sr. Charles of Dinant with divers others whose Names we cannot at such a Distance recover All these together with their several Retinues were quarter'd in the City of Nantes and in the Villages thereabout and together with the Aid from France consisted of 4500 Men of Arms besides Crossbows and Footmen These Lords in a Council of War advised the Lord Charles now that he was so strong not to waste any more time there but presently to march forth against his Enemy and give him Battle This Counsel the Lord Charles resolved to pursue and being now ready to march the sprightly and Masculine Lady his Wife the Lady Jane Daughter of Guy Earl of Pentebria who was Elder Brother to John of Monford stept forth and said these Words unto him in presence of Sr. Bertram of Clequin and many other Lords and Knights of France and Bretagne Sir You are now going to fight for mine Inheritance and your own for what is mine is yours also which the Earl of Monford claims wrongfully and without cause God Almighty knows And all the Lords of Bretagne here present know very well that I am indubitate Heiress thereto Therefore my Dear Lord and Husband I heartily require of You not to make or accept any Composition Agreement or Treaty of Peace with Earl Monford unless the whole Body of the Dutchy shall be yielded to remain entire with Us and our Heirs for ever This her Husband promised to do and then saluted and took leave of his Dutchess as they call'd her and so directed his march toward Vannes At which place he made an Halt as well to refresh his Army as to inform himself of his Enemies behaviour and to advise how to get some advantage in ordering his Men. Here there was much altercation and debate among his Council for certain of the graver sort who were wholly sway'd by Christian Principles of Charity made such friendly Overtures that the Lord Charles of Blois who was of a sweet and Candid Disposition had perhaps been perswaded to accept of a Peace and to Divide the Dukedom had he not been so adjured by the last Words of his Lady and also now set on by the encouragement of the Hotter sort of his Captains that he absolutely declared he neither could nor would propose or admit of any such kind of Treaty III. Now between Vannes and Auray where the Earl of Monford held Siege it was about the space of Three Leagues so that News was presently brought to the Earl that the Lord Charles of Blois was coming with the goodliest Company of Men armed at all Points that ever was seen in France At these tidings the Englishmen rejoyced greatly the better sort for the opportunity of gaining Honour and the Companions for the occasion of reaping benefit For being almost bankrupt with the long Peace they desired nothing more than War in hopes of Spoil and Riches Then they all made ready their Harness with great exactness new furbished their Spears
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
Inhumane and Unprincely Actions was Sirnamed The Cruel He had indeed b Rederic Sant Par. iv c. xiv §. 40 c. Vid. Marian. de Reb. Hispand 17. c. 7. many notable good Qualities and Perfections both of Body and Mind for he was Tall of Stature and of a strong and well-compacted Body of a Gracefull and Majestick Countenance and of a sharp and sound Wit He was Sweet and Persuasive of Language Affable and Judicious Able and Expert in Arms a severe Enemy to the Proud and Obstinate and especially to Thieves and Robbers on the High-way In short he had such Courage and other Endowments of Mind as set forth and adorn the Owner but cannot make him Happy without the Addition of Vertue For as to his Religion He either had none or seem'd to take no no ice of it but lived in continued Adulteries and rejected all Admonitions of his Clergy and united himself as was reported to the Moors and the Kings of Belmarine Tremisen and Granada He was always an inveterate Enemy to Pedro King of Aragon and had lately taken from him a part of his Kingdom intending at last to deprive him of the whole as indeed he had a desire to oppress all his Christian Neighbours Nay when c Oder Râ—inal ad an 1362. § 18. Ruffus Maurus King of Granada came to him under safe Conduct for Protection to his City of Sevil partly to obtain his Treasures which were reported to amount to 800000 pieces of Gold and also to gratifie his natural thirst of Blood he caused him to be carried into the Field on an Ass together with One and Fourty Moors his Servants and there he transfixed him thrô the Body with his own Lance and caused the rest of the Moors to be trod to Death by his Horsemen Moreover he had divorced and as some say caused to be dispatched his own Queen the Lady Blanche Daughter to d Philippus dicitur apud Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 16. Peter Duke of Bourbon and German Sister to the French Queen and to the Countess of Savoy whose Death was much bewailed by all that knew her especially those of her Family which was then one of the most Illustrious in the World. The occasion why he was so Cruel to a Lady of her Worth Youth and Beauty for she was but e Maria. de Reb. Hispan l. 17. c. 4 five and twenty when she died and once He himself lov'd her entirely is f Id. l. 16. c. 18. Innocent PP VI. Vitae Auther apud Bosq Vid. Oder Rainâ—l ad an 1353. § 16. attributed to the Enchantments of a certain Jew who at the Instigation of Don Pedro's Concubine Maria de Padilla by Magick so charmed a Rich embroidered Girdle which his Queen Blanche had given him that when he had it on it appeared both to himself and all others nothing else but a great and terrible Serpent From that time He could never endure his Queen who soon after either died for grief or as it is said was poisoned by him And thus being again at his own Dispose he took the said Maria de Padilla to Wife and made her his Queen Now this Don Pedro King of Castille and Leon had Three Bastard Brethren whom his Father Alphonso had gotten on the body of the Lady Leonora Gusman called the Ricco Drue the Eldest was named Henry Earl of Trastamare a Man who supply'd the Defect of his Birth by Vertue and an Honourable Inclination the Second was Tellius alià s Don Tello afterwards Earl of Sancelloni and the Third Sancho When these Three Brethren saw the many Murthers of the Prime Nobility perpetrated by the King their Brother and that he daily grew worse and how he had put to Death Three or Four of their Brethren gotten by King Alphonso on another Lady they began to doubt their own Lives and resolving to get out of his Reach fled for Protection to Pedro King of Aragon whom our Don Pedro so pursued with Bloody Wars that finding no further security there they were e'n fain to fly to the French King. Hereupon Don Pedro confiscated all their Estates and proscribed them as Traytors which prov'd an Occasion of his Ruine For now that all hope of Pardon was taken away they began to consider how by depriving him of his Life they might secure their own To which Resolution they were the more enflam'd because they heard he had lately put to Death the Lady Leonora Gusman their Mother having first caused to be burnt in her Presence a Jacobin of the Order of St. Domingo della Calcade g Favine le Parisien Theatre l'Henneur l. 6. c. 9 c. who had foretold that he himself should be slain by the hands of Henry of Castille Conde of Trastamare his Bastard Brother in Revenge of his other Brethren whom he had murdered About this time also the Prelates of Castille sent grievous Complaints to Avignon to the Pope importing that their King intended to overthrow Holy Church and had already taken away many Church Lands and Revenues and held several of the Clergy in Prison and oppressed the whole Land by Tyranny against all which they beg'd of his Holiness some Remedy And moreover having lately violated the Truce taken between him and the King of Aragon he refus'd to hearken to the Admonitions of the Pope who by his Letter bearing h Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 30 c. Dat. Aven Non. Februar Ano. Pontif IV. and sent unto him by William de Lynne alià s Lulimere Bishop of Chichester exhorted him earnestly to be at peace with the said King. Upon all these accounts Pope Urban being netled to the quick sent Messengers forthwith into Spain to the King citing him to appear by his Proxies in his Court there to answer what should be alledged against him and to excuse and purge himself of those horrible Matters laid to his Charge But Don Pedro in stead of bending a little for a while being full of Pride and Security not only flatly refus'd to obey this citation but also abus'd the Popes Messengers whereby he greatly incurred the Indignation of the Church and especially of the Chief Bishop thereof the Pope And in this manner he persever'd till at last i Frois c. 229. fol. 126. in the open Consistory at Avignon in the Chamber of Excommunication he was solemnly ejected from the Bosom of the Church and pronounced to be but as an Infidel And then after these Censures it was advised that he should be deposed by the Arms of the Companions who were at that time in France Hereupon the King of Aragon who was an Apparent Enemy to Don Pedro and Henry the Bastard who had little cause to be his Friend were sent for to come and confer with the Pope at Avignon Now this Henry the Bastard was a most Valiant and Couragious young Gentleman and had been many Years in France pursuing the Wars on the French Kings part with
Chosen Men of Arms and 400 Archers at the News of whose Coming the Prince was very glad While things were thus preparing in the Principality there came unto the Prince to Bourdeaux James the Younger King of Majorica as he was called but at that time he had not one foot of his Kingdom in his own Possession For his Uncle Pedro King of Aragon who had before murther'd his Father as was said in Prison at Barcelona had hitherto by force excluded him from his Inheritance So that he had nothing in the World to live on saving that the Lady Joan Queen of Jerusalem Sicily and Naples had in consideration of his Youth Shape and Nobility p Vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1362. §. 10. c. taken him for her Third Husband about Four Years before this Wherefore he now applies himself to Prince Edward that by means of his Powerfull Arms he might be able to Revenge the Death and Injuries of his Father and to recover his Right as well in the Kingdom of Majorica as also in the Earldoms of Roussillon and Cerdanna The Prince made him very Welcom and gave him good hopes and comfort against the Present Difficulty of his Affairs and told him when he had heard his whole business Sir ô King being already embarqued in another Affair of like Consequence as yet I cannot possibly attend to your Cause but I promise you faithfully that after my safe Return out of Spain I shall forthwith take Care to restore you unto your full Right either by Treaty or by Force This Free and Generous Promise settled the Young Kings mind for the Present and so he tarried still with the Prince in Bourdeaux expecting when he would begin to march as others did for he intended to accompany him in this Expedition And the Prince considering his Quality allow'd him all that was necessary because he was a stranger and in Distress But daily there were brought to the Prince's Ears great Complaints of the Companions how they were exceeding troublesome to Men and Women of those Parts where they quarter'd wherefore they desired the Prince to begin his March as soon as he could which was his own Desire too But he was advis'd to stay and see Christmas over first that so he might have Winter at his Back and he agreed the rather to this reasonable motion because the Princess his Wife was big with Child again and very near her time and she was mightily concerned lest he should leave her before her Delivery Wherefore fearing that either she or the child might come to any harm he was content to stay till that Danger was over and she was extreamly pleas'd when she heard him promise so to do XX. All this while there was great Provision of Wine and Victuals and other Necessaries made over all the Country because they were to enter into a Kingdom where what for the season of the Year the Nature of the Soil and the Care of their Enemies they were likely to find but small purveyance Among other things while thus they tarried at Bourdeaux and all the Country was full of Souldiers the Prince of Wales by advice of his Council countermanded 800 of the Lord of Albret's 1000 Spears which before he had thought to have retained by his Letters sealed with his Seal the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God Prince of Aquitaine and Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester to his Right Trusty and Right-well-beloved Bernard Lord of Albret Greeting My Lord of Albret whereas of our meer Will and Pleasure We have taken upon Vs this Expedition in which We shortly intend to proceed considering the vast business charge and encombrance which We now have as well by reason of strangers who have offer'd themselves to our service as of the great Numbers of the Companions who are so numerous that we must not leave them behind Vs for fear of the Mischief which they may create among our Subjects That yet We may take sufficient Care of our Land in this our intended absence for as all may not stay behind so neither are all the Men of War to go lest the Country be left without Defence Vpon these Considerations after good Advice had it is ordained by Vs and our Council that for this time You only serve Vs with 200 Spears and You may discharge your self of the Residue and let them do as it shall please them And so God Almighty have you in his keeping Dated at Bourdeaux the 8th of December Ano. Dom. 1366. These Letters being sealed with the Prince's Great Seal were sent to the Lord of Albret who at that time was very busie in his Country about the Preparations for the Campaigne for it was now constantly affirmed that the Prince would begin his March very suddenly But when he saw the Prince's Letters he read them over twice the better to understand their meaning and then he was both amaz'd and displeas'd at what he found in them What saith he to himself how comes this to pass that my Lord the Prince makes a scorn and derision of me after this manner For now he would have me disband 800 Spears Knights and Esquires all whom by his own Command I have already retain'd and so diverted from other ways as well of Profit as of Honour Being in this heat he presently called for his Secretary and caused him to write an Answer to the Prince in these Words Most Illustrious and Dear Lord I am mightily surprised at the Letters You were pleased to send me and Sir I am in a great streight how I ought or may answer You in that point For it proves much to the prejudice and damage of me and all my Friends whom by your own Ordinance and Command I have already enter'd into service whereby I have hindred them of many fair Advantages which they might have reaped in other places For some of them were determin'd to have gone over Sea into Prussia to Constantinople to Jerusalem as most Knights and Esquires do in times of Peace at home to advance their Honour abroad Sir they are all very much surprised and displeased at me thus to be left out at this time and I also extreamly admire for what fault of mine I have deserved this severe Vsage Right Dear Sir May it please You to know that I cannot be sure of 200 unless I may be permitted to bring them all because I fear none will be willing to go when thus unhappily divided from their Friends I am the meanest and worst of them all and yet if any are left behind I doubt none will go God Almighty preserve your Royal Highness Dated c. When the Prince received this answer he look'd upon it as insolent and presumptuous and so did many English Lords and Knights of his Council whereupon the Prince shook his head and said in English Ah! this Lord of Albret is too great a Master in my Dominions when he will thus dare to
would be to no purpose to offer Resistance he answer'd Sir King truly I am but Dead if it so please You and therefore I am ready to yield my self unto You but to no other Man living And Sir if you are minded to deliver me to any other Man let me know it now For I had rather die here than once come into the Hands of the King of Aragon my most Mortal Enemy Sir replied Don Henry don 't you fear any such Matter I will be no otherwise than Just unto You and if I should not do so I were to blame You shall become my Prisoner either to acquit you freely or for a Ransom at my pleasure Thus was the King of Majorica surprised and taken by Don Henry who caused him to be kept there still thô under a sure Guard because of his Infirmity and then he marched to the City of Leon which immediately open'd unto him and while he was here all the Country and the Marches of Galizia submitted unto him and many great Lords and Barons who had lately done Homage to Don Pedro came now in to Don Henry For whatever Loyalty they had pretended to the other in presence of the Prince of Wales they loved him not in their hearts because of his former Cruelties to which they doubted he would quickly return again But King Henry on the other side was popular obliging and gracious to all Men and moreover made large Promises to those who would own his Cause so that in a manner all the Country acknowledged him for their Lord only the great City of Toledo in New Castille would not obey his Summons nor own him for her King. Wherefore Don Henry went thither with all his Forces and began to lay Siege thereto it being the only Considerable Place that had refused to admit him All this while Sr. Bertram of Clequin was not with him but now seeing the Duke of Anjou had lately ended his War in Provence and quitted the Siege of Tarascon upon Composition Sr. Bertram took his leave of him and with divers Knights and Esquires of France and 2000 fighting Men in his Company made hast after King Henry whom he found at the Siege before Toledo II. News was presently brought to Don Pedro who was then in Andaluzia about Seville and toward the Marches of Portugal where he was not over-much beloved how the Country fell away to the Bastard his Brother whereat he was horribly incensed both against the Bastard and all his Subjects of Castille because they forsook him so disloyally And he sware a great Oath that he would take so cruel a Revenge on all those false People as to leave a terrible Example to all false Traytors for the future Then he sent forth his Summons to those whom he had most Confidence in but many of them came not at all they had more mind to follow King Henry to whom they sent their Homages and proffer'd their Service When Don Pedro saw that most of his expected Friends began to fail him he had less assurance and asked Counsel of Don Hernando del Castro who never fail'd him to the last Don Hernando advised him to muster as many as he could get for Love or Money both Moors and Others and so immediately to march against the Bastard before he conquer'd further in the Country Accordingly King Don Pedro sent presently to Ferdinando King of Portugal who was his Cosen German and also to the Kings of Granada and of Belmarine and Tremissen with which Three thô Heathen Princes he made a strict and perpetual Alliance and they sent him about 30000 Moors and Saracens to his Assistance So that at last Don Pedro had gather'd together in the Marches of Seville an Army of above 40000 Men Moors Jews and Christians together And being furnished with these Forces he became so well assured that without tarrying for Sr. Hugh Calverley who was coming to his Aid with 6000 Companions all Chosen Men he began to march against the Bastard his Brother toward the City of Toledo which was distant about seven Days journey from him Don Henry had News how his Brother was coming against him with a great Army and thereupon presently called a Council of War wherein were all the Captains of France and of Aragon especially Sr. Bertram of Clequin by whom he was chiefly swayed And at this time his Advice was that he should march forth immediately to fight his Brother and in what Condition soever he found him presently to set upon him For says he Sir I hear He comes against us with a great Power And if We tarry here waiting for him it may turn much to our Disadvantage not only by reason of his Multitudes but also because of this City which will be then at our backs and may by one brisk Sally ruine your Affairs utterly Wherefore Sir let us suddenly come upon him 't is great odds but we find him out of Order and if once we have that Advantage of him he is certainly ours for ever This Counsel of Sr. Bertrams was received and so King Henry went one Evening from the Camp with a Chosen number of the Best Knights and Captains and about 6000 Select Men the rest of the Army being left to carry on the Siege under the Command of his Brother the Earl of Sancelloni Thus he rode forth against King Don Pedro sending before him seven Spies well mounted who were always successively coming and going and bringing him word from Don Pedro where he was how far Advanced and in what Posture He and his Army were But of all this was Don Pedro unawares for he imagined his Brother to be before Toledo still and so he came forward in a more careless manner without any good Order On the b Vid. Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 11. Mezeray p. 78. Mariana l. 17. c. 13. Frois ibid. 14 of March early in the Morning King Henry and his Forces came up with Don Pedro who had lain that Night in the Castle of Montiel about 30 Leagues from Toledo where he found good Acceptance and was well entertain'd But now having newly left the Place he continued his March towards Toledo little imagining to be met withall by any Enemy that Day When suddenly there came upon him Don Henry with his Brother Sancho and Sr. Bertram of Clequin whose Conduct he chiefly rely'd on and also the Beague of Vilain the Vicount of Rochebreton the Vicount of Rodez and their Retinues All who riding wisely together in close Order came suddenly upon their Enemies crying aloud Castille for King Henry and our Lady of Clequin and so they presently discomfited and put back the Vaward of Don Pedro's Army of which many were overthrown and slain without pitty for Sr. Bertram of Clequin had before advised that none should be taken to Ransom because of the great Numbers of Moors that were there When Don Pedro who was in the Main Battail among his Men heard how his Van was
deliver them to whom they ought to be deliver'd And of this there should be made Obligations and Bonds as sure and perfect as can be devised as well by the Bishop of Rome and the College of Cardinals as by others There was also another Article in the same Treaty which ran thus Item In token and perfect Assurance that We desire and intend to have and to nourish perpetual Peace and Love between Us and our Brother of France We shall renounce and by these Presents do renounce all Graces and other Process of Deed against our said Brother his Heirs and Successors of the Realm of France and Subjects thereof and do promise swear and have sworn on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for Us and for our Heirs and Successors not to do nor suffer to be done either by Word or Deed any thing against this Renuntiation or against any thing contained in the foresaid Articles And if We do or suffer to be done the Contrary any manner of way which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and forsworn and incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We positively Renounce all Dispensations and Absolutions of the Pope and if any be obtained We will that they stand for nought be of no force nor avail Us in any manner of case And the more firmly to uphold the said Articles We herein submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Correction of the Church of Rome and Will and Consent that the Bishop of Rome confirm all the said Treaty and ordain Monitions and General Commands against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Universities Colleges or any other Bodies Politick or single Persons whatsoever they be in giving Sentence General of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to run upon Us or any of them as soon as We or They shall do or attempt any thing against the said Treaty in occupying or withholding any Towns Castles or Fortresses or any other thing doing Ratifying or giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or apertly against any of the said Articles And further We have caused our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales to swear unto the same and also our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Ulster John Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley together with our Right Dear Cousin Philip of Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and of Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Captal of Busche the Lord of Monferrant Walter Manny James Audley Roger Beauchamp John Chandos Ralph Ferrers Edward Spencer Thomas Felton William Felton Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John Mowbray Bartholomew Burwash Henry Piercy and divers others and also as soon as We can conveniently We shall cause to swear all our other Children and the Major part of the great Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles of our Realm of England In Witness whereof We have put our Seal to these Presents Given at our Town of Calais the 24 day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX Among many other Writings that had been made as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais when King John was there this said Chapter being one was chiefly now insisted on and was well read and examin'd by King Charles in presence of his Council and after they had spent their Thoughts thereon then the Prelates and Barons of France said unto him Sir it is most evident that the King of England and his Son the Prince have not duly kept the said Peace but have taken Towns and Castles and do still hold them to the infinite Dammage of this your Realm and they Ransom and Pillage your People because the Money for the King your Fathers Redemption is yet in part unpaid Wherefore Sir You and your Subjects have good Right and just Cause to break the Peace and to make War against England and to endeavour to take out of their hands all that they hold on this side the Water Also certain of his Council advised him secretly upon mature Deliberation Sir boldly undertake this War for there is good Reason You should so do For as soon as ever You have once open'd the War you shall see and find that all the Dutchy of Aquitain will turn to your side as well Prelates Barons Earls Knights and Esquires as the Burgesses of the Good Towns. You may see Sir how the Prince would have proceeded in raising of his Foüage but he cannot bring his purpose about and yet thereby he hath lost the Hearts of all Men for those of Poictou Rochellois Sainctogne Quercy Limosin and Rouvergue are of such a Nature that they can by no means love the Englishmen nor the Englishmen them they are so proud and presumptuous nor never did And besides all this the Princes Officers commit such Extortion among the People of Sainctogne Poictou and Rochellois for they take all at Random and raise so much in the Prince's Name that no Man is sure of any thing that is his own And further the Gentry and Chief Men of the Country are disgusted because they can attain to no Office of Dignity or Profit For the Englishmen and the Prince's Servants run away with all By such Words as these was the French King encouraged to begin the War and especially he was instigated and moved thereto by his Brother the Duke of Anjou who lay at Tholouse wishing nothing more than to see the War open For he could never endure the Englishmen because of such Displeasures as they had done Him and His formerly And frequently the Gascogne Lords would say to the King Most Dear Sir We are obliged to have our Resort in your Court wherefore we all humbly require that you would please to do us Right and Law and as you are the most Just Prince in the World let us have Justice against the great Extortions Grievances and Oppressions that the Prince of Wales and his Men have and would put upon us For Sir if you refuse to do thus much for us we must then seek some other Remedy elsewhere and shall be obliged to yield and submit our selves to the Jurisdiction of such a Lord as shall see We have Reason done us Whereby you will lose your Sovereignty over us for ever The French King who was extream loath to let them part as also he was doubtfull of embracing their Interest knowing that by them his Realm would receive much Strength and Advantage answer'd these Complainants very courteously Surely Gentlemen says he for want of Love and good Counsel you shall not need to make your Resort to any other Court but only to Ours But yet in a matter of this Consequence we ought to move with much Caution and Deliberation And thus the King drove them off for the space of well-nigh a Year but kept them still with him at Paris and paid for all their Expences and gave them many Rich Gifts and Jewels
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
or other Instruments whereby Men may know the Encrease or Decrease of the Sea. In time of War the same may be to less harm and after taken away That the Acquittance of the Co-Executors refusing Administration may be void The Law shall be used as heretofore It is agreed that no Man be punished contrary to the Statute Such Commissions as were to enquire of Scotch Labourers within the Realm were repealed The Print touching the Pardon of Forest Matters Chap. 4. agreeth with the Record The Print touching the Staple to be removed from Calais because of the Wars and to be held in England Chap. 1. differs much in Form from the Record quod nota The next Day being the Twelfth of June the King gave his Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their great Pains and for the Aid they had given him And in some sort of Recompence promised to all such as should pass over Sea with him against the French that they should enjoy and possess all such Towns Castles Possessions Persons Names Arms and Honours as they should obtain win conquer or take of the French to them and their Heirs in Fee saving unto the King all Regalities and the Lands of the Church and that every Person should have Charters of his own Prowess and Conquest And further the King commanded that all the Bishops should not only muster their own Servants and Tenants but also all Parsons Vicars and other Religious Persons of the Clergy all who were to be in a readiness upon Occasion to resist the Common Enemy And then the Parliament brake up XI One thing here We must not omit namely a Matter concerning the Bounty of the Generous Black-Prince extended to the truly Loyal and Valiant Gentleman the Lord John Greilly that Famous Captal of Busche To whom he granted about this time the whole County of Bigorre in tail reserving yearly at Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercel Gentle to be paid at his Castle of Bourdeaux besides the known Services due out of that County whereof he gave him his Charter h Extant Gallico idiemate apud Selden's Titles of Honour Part. 2. c. 3. §. 13. p. 518. EDWARD Eldest Son of the King of England Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Ordiales to all who shall see or hear these Letters We give to know That for the good and agreeable Services which our Right Dear and Loyal Cousin John de Greilly Captal of Busche hath rendred unto Us heretofore and which He and his may render unto Us and Ours in time to come We have given and granted and by these Presents do give and grant to Him and his Heirs Male Lawfully begotten the County of Bigorre with the Cities Towns Castles Lands Seignories Homages Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Meer and Mixt Empire Rights Cens and Rents Revenues and other Profits Emoluments and Appurtenances of the said County He rendring unto Us and our Heirs every Year for ever at our Castle of Bourdeaux at the Feast of Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercellet Gentle and doing unto Us and our Heirs Liege Homage and Oath of Fealty Resorts and other Duties which ought to be done to Us for the said County In Witness of which We have caused to be put to these our Letters Patents our Great Seal Given at our City of Angoulesme the 27 day of June in the Year of Grace MCCCLXIX This Grant of the Prince's to that Noble Lord was in i Rot. Vasc 44. Ed. 3. m. 8. n. 4. April following confirmed by the King his Father under the Great Seal of England only reserving to the King and his Heirs Kings of England the Liege Homage of the said John and of his Heirs for the said County and also the Sovereignty and Resort of the said Earldom and all other Duties to Him as Superior Lord due therefrom And so Command was sent from the King to all States and Officers in that County to be obedient and answerable to the said John Greilly as to the Earl of the said Earldom of Bigorre in all things pertaining to the said Earldom CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry begin to War upon the Principality several English and French Captains alter their Copies II. The Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke are sent over by King Edward to the Prince's Assistance and Sr. Hugh Calverley returns out of Spain with 6000 Companions The Latter is sent by the Prince to make War upon the Discontented Gascogners and the two Former against the Lands of the Earl of Perigort where they lay Siege to Bourdeilles III. Sr. Simon Burley taken Prisoner by the French and his Men all routed slain or taken IV. The Lord John Chandos takes the strong Town of Terrieres Realville besieged by the French. V. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry make use of the Clergy to debauch the hearts of the English Subjects in France from their Duty King Charles makes solemn Processions and is very devout in order to raise up the Courages of his People The Bishop of London sets forth King Edward's Right to the People from his Pulpit Both the Kings seek foreign Alliances VI. The Two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes to the World with certain Copies of both their Cases as they were then menaged by the best Lawyers of Italy France and England VII The Reasons whereby the French pretend to cut off from King Edward and his Posterity not only all Right to the Crown of France but also from his Right to Aquitaine which yet had belonged to England in Right of the Lady Eleanor Daughter and Heiress to William last Duke of Aquitaine and Wife to King Henry the Second of England VIII The Pedigree of the Kings of France from King Philip Son of St. Lewis to King Charles the Fair Brother of Queen Isabell Mother of King Edward the Third IX Reasons alledged by the King of England for his Right and Title to the Crown of France I. THE mean while a Frois c. 248. 249. as soon as ever the Dukes of Anjou and Berry knew for certain that the Defiance was made and the War between the two Crowns open they thought not to sleep any longer but made their Special Summons the One in Auvergne and the other about Tholouse with design to raise Forces and go and make War upon the Principality The Duke of Berry for his part had ready at his Command all the Barons of Auvergne of the Bishopricks of Lyon and of Mascon together with the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Villiers the Lord of Tournon Sr. Godfrey of Boulogne Sr. John of Armagnac Sr. John de Villemur the Lord of Montagu the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin the Lord of Rochefort and divers others with all whom he drew toward Berry and the Marches of Touraine where being mightily reinforced he began to make terrible War upon
the good Country of Poictou but he found it so well furnished with Men of War both Knights and Esquires that no considerable Advantage was likely to be gained here Yet besides all this Power of the Duke of Berry's there were at the same time in the Marches of Touraine Three considerable Captains of the Companions who held Garrison there for France as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton and Sr. William de Bourde who all made War upon the English There was also at that time an English Esquire named Percival Damorie whom the Duke of Lancaster had left Captain in a Castle of his called Beaufort between Troyes and Châlons This Man seeing the War now open renounced his Allegiance to his Natural Lord the King of England and turn'd to the French side and sware Allegiance to King Charles who received him gladly Rewarded him well and left him still Captain of the said Castle adding unto him another Esquire of Champaigne named Owen so these two did much mischief to the English thereabouts being Persons of great Valour and Experience in the Wars But to recompence the Loss of this English Esquire the Noble Lord Canon of Robsart who had hitherto been all along on the French part came over voluntarily to the King of England and sware unto him Faith and Obedience for ever against all Men living Whereat King Edward was well pleased not only upon the account of the Man's Valour and Nobility but also of his known Judgement and Integrity which were sufficient to add Reputation to a Cause he was pleased to own The Duke of Anjou wan over to his side certain Gascogners Captains of the Companions as Sr. Perdiccas of Albret the Little Mechlin the Bourg of Bartuel Edmund Ortingo Perot of Savoy Ralph Braye and Nandon of Pons who all with their Troops turn'd to the French to the great Displeasure of the English on the other part who were much weakned thereby But Nandon of Bergerac the Bourg de l'Esparre Sr Robert Briquet Sr. Robert Thinne Sr. John Freville Sr. Galiard du la Motte and Emery of Rochechoüart remain'd still for the English Interest Thus Knights and Esquires chang'd their Copies on both sides as Hope or Affection perswaded them especially the Captains of the Companions for they all took part either with the English or the French none of them remain'd Neuters The Companions of the English side lay for the most part about the Bishoprick of Mans and also in base Normandy where they had taken the City of Vire and destroy'd all the Country about II. But these Forces were too small to uphold the English Interest on that side the Sea wherefore King Edward sent his Son Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge and his Son-in-Law John Hastings Earl of Pembroke to go into the Dutchy of Aquitaine to the Prince his Son and there joyn him with a certain Number of Men of War the Chief Captains whereof were the Lord Guy Brian the Lord Miles Stapleton Sr. John Trivet Sr. Thomas Banister and divers others beside the two Princes The Lord Guy b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. Brian was Admiral of the Fleet toward the setting forth whereof King Edward had commanded his Son the Prince of Wales to impreset all such Ships as were in the Port of Kaermerdin of one hundred Tunns and upwards and to send them well-mann'd and victuall'd to Portsmouth by such a time to be employ'd by the said Sr. Guy in the Kings Service All things being ready they took the Sea as early as they might being in all c Mezeray p. 81. 500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers who sailing toward Bretagne had Wind at Will and arrived safely at the Port of St. Malo in the Isle When John of Monford Duke of Bretagne heard of the Arrival of his Brethren of Cambridge and of Pembroke he was very well pleased and immediately sent certain of his Knights to bid them Welcome the Chief whereof were Sr. John de Lantriguer and Sr. John St. Augustin This Kindness of the Duke 's highly satisfied the two Earls for till then they were not assured that the Lords Knights and Good Towns of Bretagne would give them leave to pass thrô their Country But now they boldly desired that Favour of the Duke who whatever new obligations he had to France could not in Honour deny this Request to those by whose Aid he had obtain'd his Dukedom wherefore he gave them leave only conjuring them to pay civilly for what they should take Then the two Earls sent for all those English Companions who now lay part in the Fortress called Chasteau Gontier in Anjou and part in the City of Vire in low Normandy all whom they took along with them and so passed by the River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes without doing any harm to the Country Now from the time that Prince Edward had finish'd his Spanish Expedition Sr. Hugh Calverley was order'd to lie about the Marches of Aragon with 6000 able Men of War of the Companions in his Company in order to receive the Moneys for which Don Pedro stood engag'd unto the Prince Thô all that expectation proved fruitless by reason of the Death of the said King who was slain as we have shew'd by his Bastard Brother When this Sr. Hugh Calverley heard how the French King made War upon the Prince his Lord he marched hastily thrô Aragon and Foix and came into Bigorre and soon after went and presented his Service to the Prince at Angoulesme who received him joyfully and kept him still with him till his Brother the Earl of Cambridge should come to him with the rest of the Companions out of Normandy and Anjou they having already sold their Fortresses with Design to come to his Service And when the Earl was come he made Sr. Hugh Calverley Chief Leader of all the Troops of Companions and sent him into the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord of Albret there to make War and burn waste and pillage the Country Now it is to be remembred that the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke tarried still at St. Malo till all their Company had passed the Loire as the Duke of Bretagne had agreed and when they had tarried there to refresh themselves Four Days they went after their Men to the City of Nantes where the Duke received them with great Demonstrations of Kindness and entertain'd them and their Servants Three days On the Fourth they took their leave of the Duke and passed over the great River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes and so began to enter into Poictou continuing their journey till they came to Angoulesme where they found the Prince and Princess Prince Edward was extream glad to see his Brother and Brother-in-Law and enquired of them how the King his Father and the Queen his Mother did and having enjoy'd them for Three Days he then sent them upon an Expedition into the Earldom of Perigort So they took
Garrison resolv'd to die every Man rather than to yield up the Place thô the Townsmen would gladly have received the French if they durst Wherefore the Captains of France sent to Tholouse for Four great Engines which they made ready and reared up against the Walls casting therewith both Night and Day massie Stones and huge pieces of Timber against the Fortress besides which they set their Pioneers a Mining But the Englishmen with great Courage comforted each other and slighted all their Art and Fury thô at last for want of Succour We shall find them to be taken only by reason of the Mines But for the present We shall leave them V. While these French Captains d Frois c. 252. f. 152. were thus busie in Quercy the Duke of Berry was in Anvergne with a great Power of Men of War the chief Leaders whereof were the Lord John of Armagnac his Uncle the Lord John de Villemur the Lord Roger Beaufort the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Villiers the Lord of Semur the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin and many more who ravaged about the Marches of Rovergue Quercy and Limosin where they did much Harm and at first found no great Opposition And besides this application of Force there were not wanting other Arts not then so frequent in the World but since those Days very common which made use of the help of the Church to blow up a Fire of Combustion in the State. For the subtle Dukes of Anjou and Berry prevailed with the Archbishop of Tholouse who was a Politick and Learned Prelate to go to the City of Cahors of which place his Brother was then Bishop and here together these two Brothers so elegantly preached and set forth the Right of King Charles against King Edward's Pretensions that the whole City turned French and sware unto the French King Faith and Homage from that time And with these Arts the Archbishop rode about thrô the Country and every where took care to set forth the Equity of his Masters Quarrel with such advantage of popular Arguments and the Reputation which he added thereto from Religion and Scripture Proofs that together with the Terror of the Duke of Berry's Arms and those of the Duke of Anjou who hover'd thereabout he obliged no less than sixty Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses to submit to the Obedience of the French King who had indeed the cheif place in their Hearts before And as this Archbishop went abroad abetting and maintaining the King his Masters Cause in and about the Marches and Limitations of Languedoc So also in Picardy divers other Prelates and Clergymen brought the Right of the Two Kings into their Pulpits where they discussed the Matter so plausibly that King Edward was ever concluded in the wrong And the Common People who in those Days readily swallowed more Course Morsels than these were fully satisfied with all that was said thô in my Opinion it is not only below the Dignity of Princes to make use of such abject Devices but also no way corresponding to the same of Learning and Religion to appeal so fawningly to the Vulgar whom as they please they may easily cheat with false Colours But in France Dr. William Dorman was especially remarkable for these Tongue Victories for he rode about from Town to Town and from City to City and spake with such power and force of Rhetorical Insinuations and handled his Points so cleverly that all who heard him believed in a manner every Word he said and the Controversie between the two Kings was so artificially represented by him that the French King had apparently the Advantage on his side Besides all this King Charles himself was so moved with Devotion e Frois ibid. Mezeray c. that he not only caused Fastings and Processions to be used throughout his Realm by the Clergy but Himself also and his Queen would often attend them going barefoot and in all Churches there were put up continual Prayers to God devoutly requiring and imploring of his Majesty to assist and maintain the Right of the Realm of France which had suffer'd so great Tribulation for so many Years Nor was King Edward less Pious or less honourably Politick For he also used the same Method thrô his Kingdom the rather that his Subjects might be the more ready to venture their Lives and Fortunes in a Cause which they first understood to be Just and Right There was at that time one Dr. Simon Tibuld alià s Sudbury Bishop of London a Man very well seen in the Canon Law and the Scriptures and of great Eloquence who made many Sermons in the most publick places of the City declaring and proving unto the People that the French King had renew'd the War not only against his Oath but also against all Right and Reason with manifest Injustice Fraud and Perjury all which together with King Edward's Title to France he demonstrated with great force of Argument and Rhetorick to the ample satisfaction of all his Auditors And I must confess that it might not seem unnecessary for both the Kings to provide that their Subjects should be generally informed of the particulars of their Quarrel that so they might more teadily and with a good Conscience assist their several Masters in this War at which both the Nations were sufficiently alarum'd already And King Edward himself who was as well furnish'd with Wisdom as Valour nothing doubted but that this War would prove as great and as momentous as ever any he had been engaged in because of the Advantage which the French King had gain'd by surprising him thus as chiefly because of the new Method of this his politick Enemy and also of the Mutability of his French Friends Wherefore he thought it fit for his behoof to stirr up all his Assistants and Allies that might any ways lie opportunely to divert the impending Mischief And so he sent into Brabant and Hainalt to learn whether they would own his Quarrel or no and especially he desired Duke Albert of Bavaria who at that time govern'd the Country of Hainalt instead of his Elder Brother Duke William who had been for some time before Distracted and continued so to the day of his Death to open his Country upon Occasion and to let him go and come into France or tarry there if need should be with an Army Duke Albert at the Request of the King of England his Uncle especially because Queen Philippa his Dear Aunt urged him also thereto readily granted to have his Country open for the use of King Edward being not â—â—tle perswaded to this Matter by Edward Duke of Gueldres who was Son to King Edward's Sister Eleanor and had lately married Duke Alberts Daughter and with him concurred the Duke of Juliers who was Cosen German to the said Albert of Bavaria These two Lords were strictly bound to King Edward the one being as we said before his Nephew and the other the Cosen German to King Edward's Children and to
the said Duke of Hainalt and yet by many other Ties were they obliged to the English Interest and each of them was by Covenant retain'd to serve King Edward with a 1000 Spears apiece at their own Charges And therefore they not only advised the King now to bring over Duke Albert but they also Themselves joyn'd their Perswasions so that what by their Means and the English Gold he was at first won to declare himself for England But when the Lord of Cominges who was then in the Court of France heard thereof he hasted into Hainalt where he menaged Matters so cunningly with the Lord John Verchin Seneschal of Hainalt by whose Advice all the Dukes Matters were chiefly order'd and who in his Heart lov'd the Interest of France beyond that of England that by the Concurrence of the Earl of Blois and the Lord John of Blois his Brother together with the Lord of Ligny and the Lord of Brabanson who were all well belov'd with the Duke and Dutchess of Hainalt King Edward's Design was wholly quash'd and the labour of his Ambassadors overthrown Thô even they could obtain no more of the Duke than this that both He and his Country would stand Neuter in the Affair and the same Answer was also return'd by the Lady Jane Dutchess of Brabant For at that time her Husband was absent being in France where he contracted secretly a League with that King. VI. And surely King Charles of France who was a notable Politician had secretly prepared himself many Friends both in Hainalt and Brabant almost two years before and had brought over to his Interest the greater part of the Chief Counsellors and Friends of all the Great Lords of both Dukedoms And now to put the better Gloss upon his renewing the War and to make his Cause more plausible in the Eyes of the World he copied out divers Extracts of the Letters relating to the Peace made at Bretigny and ratified at Calais and therein he set forth the Substance of what he according to his Obligation had done and of what the King of England and his Children had not done thô by Oath and Honour bound thereto All along producing such Articles and Points as made for Himself and against King Edward but cunningly concealing smothering or colouring what made to a contrary purpose So that his Cause seem'd only just and the English bare all the Blame And also he privately caused certain Learned in the Laws to be Feed to set forth their Opinions at large concerning the Right of the French King against the King of England both as to the Matter of the Crown and also to the Superiority and Resort of Aquitain and there are yet f M.S. Reverendi Dr. Joh. Spencer S.T.P. C.C.C. apud Cantab Magistri Decani Ecclesiae Cathed Eliensis Extant two Discourses on that Point written by two Famous Doctors of those Days belonging to the University of Bononia in Italy whose Names were John de Lyana and Richard de Salicete Many of which Papers and others of the like Nature together with his own Letters the French King procured to be published in the Courts of all the Princes and Great Lords his Neighbours the better to prepare them to allow of his Quarrel So that King Edward to save his Credit was obliged also to use his Pen against this New sort of Enemy and to justifie and defend his Claim and to prove the Breach of the Peace to lie wholly at the French Kings Doors which he performed notably by his Letters sent into Germany and other Places where he valued his Reputation or thought to have any Friends From which Humour of both the Kings g Paul. Aemyl p. 294. c. Paulus Aemylius rather ambitious to shew his Rhetorick than Historical Fidelity has invented two notable Declamations which he ingeniously enough fancies to have been said before Charles the Emperour and his Son Wenceslaus the one by an English Orator in Behalf of his Masters Cause and the other by a Frenchman who holds the contrary opinion Whereas if that Author had consulted Decorum he would have remembred that King Edward often protested to acknowledge no Mortal whether Pope or Emperour as Judge of his Controversie and that he had but little Reason to expect to find the Emperour any thing favourable to him since he slew his Father at the Battle of Cressy and could not be ignorant how mightily he was addicted as well as more nearly allied to King Charles and the House of France Wherefore we who religiously endeavour to avoid these Gaudy Vanities thô we have Matter enough of Authentick Arguments to fill up a Speech or two yet preferring the venerable simplicity of Truth to all the Fucoes of Vain-Glory shall here set down the Arguments on both Hands as they were then really stated by the Best Lawyers of both Kingdoms in which doing 〈◊〉 where our Authorities cannot be seen our Faith be called in question We declare not only that our selves are wholly ignorant in this as well as many other Sorts of Learning but that the Ancient Copies are to be seen in Latine in a M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls and in English in another M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Spencer Dean of Ely and Master of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge which English Copy appears to have been with much Care translated from the other by some Person of Quality for the Use of that Most Noble Prince of Wales Henry Eldest Son to King James the First And to omit the several Preambles touching Succession of Women and Succession by Representation as also touching Distance of Degrees and Collateral Succession I shall the readiest way come to the Matter but first thô in some measure we have more than once stated the Case before it is necessary for Evidence sake here again to set down the Matter of Fact as it happen'd in the Realm of France Videlicet That King Philip Son of St Lewis King of France had two Sons lawfully begotten Philip the Fair and Charles of Valois And that the said Philip being Eldest after the Death of his Father obtain'd the Kingdom and that Charles deceased leaving behind him Philip of Valois his Son lawfully begotten That afterwards Philip the Fair begat Three Lawfull Sons Lewis Philip and Charles and also One Daughter named Isabel who was married to the King of England and brought forth Edward the Third whilst the foresaid Philip Grandfather to the said Edward remain'd alive That at last Lewis and Philip Brothers to Isabell being Dead without Issue Male King h This to be favourably taken for Philip died first and then his Three Sons in order succeeded Arguments for the French Kings Right Philip their Father also died That after him reigned the foresaid Charles his only Son surviving who likewise died without Issue Now according to the State of the Fact the Question doth rise in Law to be this The Lady Isabell next
or Encrease than by way of Confiscation especially of that which riseth upon the Crime of Treason as it is in this present Case It was also set forth at large by the Letters and Rescripts of King Edward how the King of France never renounced either the Reversion or Soveraignty of those Lands which were deliver'd to the King of England by the Treaty of Calais And it was said by way of Corollary that neither the Dutchy of Aquitain nor any other Lands whatsoever ought ever to be deliver'd to the English upon any Respect because among other Reasons the English never yet had althô it were but one Foot of Land in France whether it were by Marriage or otherwise but in the end they always raised Wars and Troubles against the King and State of France And further there were noted and set down many Expeditions made into Aquitain both before and since the time of Charles the Great occasion'd by Justice of the Kings of France for Condemning and Depriving many Dukes of Aquitain because of their Rebellions and other bad Behaviour declaring manifestly that the said Dutchy of Aquitain was sometime the Proper Right and Inheritance of the Kings of France and that did evidently appear in that Charles the Great made and ordained Lewis the Gentle his Eldest Son King of the said Country of Aquitain as King Dagobert long before made Hubert his Brother by the Fathers side only Many other things are there contained which pretend to answer all that the English could say or alledge But We shall now hear what the King of England could say in his own Behalf when We have first set down a short Genealogical Table of the Descent from St. Lewis to King Edward and Philip of Valois VIII THE PEDIGREE OF THE Kings of FRANCE From Philip the Son of St. Lewis untill Charles the Fair. King Philip the Son of St Lewis King Philip the Fair. King Lewis Hutin Jane Countess of Eureux King Philip the Long. Margaret Countess of Artois King Charles the Fair. Blanch Dutchess of Orleans Isabell Queen of England Edward the III. K. of England Charles of Valois Philip of Valois IX Reasons alledged by the KING of ENGLAND for his Right and Title to the Kingdom of FRANCE UPON Supposal as it is evident and notorious in Fact that Philip of Famous Memory sometime King of France the Father of Charles of Honourable Remembrance King of France last deceased and of the most Gracious Lady Isabell Queen of England our Mother 1 Reason Proximity in the Descending Line was our Grandfather by the Mothers Side Then was no Male surviving nearer than We to the same King Charles at the time of his Death of all those who were descended with him from our Grandfather Philip Uncle to our Adversary Now the Person of a Woman is not capable of that Kingdom by a Law therein anciently observed which Law by way of final Cause respecting the Favour of that Realm lest the State thereof should decline under the Weak Government of a Woman by Excluding the Person of a Woman doth not therefore exclude the Person of a Man descended of a Woman so excluded Lest Matters Odious should be extended which is Odious in Law from Person to Person from Sex to Sex from Cause to Cause from Hatred to Favour And lest the Feminine Gender which is contrary to all Rules of Law should comprise the Masculine 2 Reason Restraint of things odiouâ— 3 Reason the Femin Gender compriseth not the Mascaline 4 Reason Derivation of Right from the Grandfather by the Mother 5 Reason Absurdity in Law. 6 Reason The Descending preferred before the Collateral 7 Reason the cause or reason of the Law ceasing especially in a case of an Odious Nature For to this end the Law before mention'd excludeth the Weakness of Women from bearing Rule that more Profitable Provision might be made for the State and that the next Male no otherwise debarred might be Assumed into her Place especially to that Right which did not first spring from the Mother so excluded but is originally derived and propagated from the Grandfather to the Grandchild Otherwise by this odious Enlarging another Absurdity in Justice would ensue that the Nearer Collateral should be excluded and the more distant and remote brought in Seeing that by the Law of Nature and of Nations Brothers and Sisters and their Sons are preferred in mutual Succession before other Collaterals in another Line So that upon this Statute which is made in Favour of the Kingdom and in Hatred of a Woman being debarred from the Kingdom Occasion should arise both of Violation to Law and of Injury to such Males as are descended from a Woman Neither can We conceive that the Intent of the Law here mention'd is so unjust as that the Mother and the Son upon Dislike Reason should be condemned and punished alike Yea by the Contrary Judgment of the same Law whereby the Mother is expelled from Succession the Son entring into the same Degree of his Mother succeedeth in her Place like unto that Son who riseth into the Degree of his Father or Mother deceased 8 Reason the Son entreth into the Degree of his Mother to succeed his Grandfather 9 Reason One vexation not to be added to another that he may be received in equal Terms with his Uncles to the Succession of his Grandfather That so the Sorrowfull Mother being stripped of her Royal Inheritance by Rigour of this Statute should in Right receive some Solâ—ce by Substitution of her Son and not one Heaviness to be heaped upon another which the Upright Consideration of Law doth abhorr as we see even where a Charge of Calamity cometh not by the Law but by Misadventure as in that Law whereby the Custom is condemned which permitteth another Man to take the Goods of them that suffer shipâ—reck By which Reason that which is corrected in express Disposition of Law for avoiding an Encrease of Grief is more strongly prohibited in the secret Disposition Let it therefore more than fully suffice that by the Law of the Realm of France the Mother is cut from the Royal Stem not by any Default in her Self but by the Fact of Nature which framed her a Woman And that by Express Law she suffereth a certain Shipwrock in her own Disinheriting althô she be not by any secret Consequence of the same Law contrary to the Course of Justice wrecked again with her Disinherited Son 10 Reason One not to be burthen'd with anothers Hate And so against all Rules and Reasons of Law one should be burthen'd with anothers Hate Whereas the Right from which the Mother is excluded is in such sort given unto the Son that the Mother receiveth nothing by this Office and Charge of the Son. So likewise we shall find Punishment enlarged without Offence whereas it should be mollified and restrained 11 Reason Punishments to be restrained 12 Reason from an Instance of great Authority even where there
and Defensive thereby to support himself the better against the Power of England The first Opportunity accordingly he dispatch'd away his Ambassadors to the Court of France who were graciously received at Paris by the French King and there between him and these Deputies who had Procurations from King Henry ready sealed whereby they were fully Authorised to treat and to proceed effectually in all Causes in the Name of their Master in any Parliament or Council whatsoever there were accorded ordained and confirmed certain mutual Alliances and Confederations Engrossed and solemnly sworn to on both Parties them firmly to hold and maintain nor by any means to infringe or do any thing contrary thereto But that the two Kings should for ever abide firmly in mutual Unity of Peace Love and Alliance and then and there the French King sware upon the Word of a King to aid and assist the King of Castille and his Heirs in all his Business and never to make any manner of Peace or Agreement with the King of England unless he should be comprised in the same And to this League Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Constable gave much furtherance for he as Dearly loved King Henry as King Charles loved and believed him So the Spanish Ambassadors return'd back to their Master whom they found at his City of Leon in Spain and he received extraordinary satisfaction from this his Alliance with France and entertain'd less doubt of the English than before However like a Wise Prince he neglected no means of Establishing his own Affairs but began to strengthen himself by Sea and Land as One that knew foreign Amities of small force as well as of slow approach where due Care is not taken at home Nor indeed was all this his Caution wholly needless or vain For soon after John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in Right of this his Lady Eldest Daughter to Don Pedro the last Lawfull King of Spain took upon him the style of King of Castille and Leon and l Archbishop Abbet's Description of the World p. 7. Vid. Mr Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 238. p. 253. empaled the Arms of Castille and Leon with his Ducal Coat Nor only so but some Years after began a fierce War against the Bastard Usurper of his Crown which at last could no other ways be ended but by a Match between the Sole Daughter and Heiress of John of Gaunt by this Spanish Princess and Henry Grandson and Heir of the said Henry the Bastard in whose Line and Posterity thus legitimated that Kingdom hath ever since remained XIV Before this Solemn League was thus Established between France and Spain the Pope being alarum'd with the Wonderfull Success of the Turks against Christendom used all his Endeavours to close the Breach between England and France and especially to heal the exulcerated Mind of our King Edward To which end he wrote to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge that they would joyn to move the King their Father to dispose himself towards a Peace with France he also wrote to the King himself the Form of his Letters m Extant apud Oder Rainald ad hunâ— ann §. 3. ex Tem. 1. Fp. secr p 112. being very near the same with those which Pope Innocent VI wrote n Vid. Hujus Hist Lib. 3 c. 1. § 14. p. 517. formerly to the Black-Prince upon his Victory at Poictiers wherefore we purposely omit them in this Place But I shall here set down another Letter which this Pope sent a little before he wrote to the King to that Renowned Warrier John Greilly Captal of Busche whom he knew to be very Gracious with King Edward and of a truly Heroick Mind thô most able for War yet exorable and apt to embrace an Honest Peace o Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 8. GREGORY the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Beloved Son in Christ John Captal de Busche Greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Eastern Parts being exposed to heavy Dangers and in a manner obnoxious to utter Ruine do cry unto the Vicar of Christ unto Christian Princes and other Nobles The Holy Land also being violently possessed by the most impure Saracens of a long while basely detained and polluted by their filthy Touch doth cry unto them doth open her Wounds unto them with ardent Desire expecting an healing Assistance from them Certainly when late we understood those things p p In hâ—c leco voculam quae deleo concerning the miserable Condition of the said Parts and heard also those things which our Beloved Sons the Ambassadours of the whole City of Genoa sent unto Us particularly for this purpose did declare unto Us concerning this miserable State of the said Parts We were inwardly wounded with the Compunction of bitter Sorrow For it was their Assertion that the Turks and other Enemies of the Cross of Christ being gather'd together in a great Multitude do with heavy tempests of Wars afflict waste and consume the said Eastern Parts earnestly affecting to abolish the Christian Name and Worship in those Parts nay even utterly to exterminate from thence the poor Remainders of Christianity And that unless there be made in the next March Expedition a powerfull Resistance to the fury and malice of the said Insidels there will hardly be found in those Parts to invoke the Name of Christ And 't is probably feared nay 't is by many held for certain that the foresaid Turks and other Miscreants are preparing to invade Sicily and by Consequence other Countries of the Christians Wherefore the foresaid Genoans from an inward compassion of their Hearts condoling with the sad Tribulations of the foresaid Parts and together with the Aid of other Faithfull Christians willing to comfort them with the Remedy of a speedy Assistance neither sparing their own Goods nor Persons are now Rigging forth a mighty Fleet of Gallies to pass the Seas this next March-Expedition But they do not think themselves any ways able to resist in the Premises unless they are assisted by other Christians Oh! How unpleasant is the Memory of these things to Us O how bitter the Recollection considering these and other so great Dangers of the Faithfull For while we revolve these sad things in our Mind while with sollicitous thoughts We meditate thereon our Zeal is kindled like a Fire Tears being conceived spring forth as witnesses of our Grief nor can we forbear sighing chiefly for this that as to the Readiness of hasting with so great Succours the Measure of Possibility can no ways equal as We would the vastness of our Wishes many Confusions in the Parts on this side the Sea hindring and especially the heavy Discord which long since the Grand Disturber of Peace and Enemy to Charity hath stirred up between our most Dear Sons Edward and Charles the Illustrious Kings of England and France For the allaying whereof We have destin'd to send unto the said Kings two of our
moi na si Veritie non Et st ore me veissez Ie me quide pas qe vous deissez Ne je eusse onques home este Si su je ore de tant changee Pour Dieu priez au Celestien Roy Ne Mercie ait de l'alme de Moy Touz ceulx qe pur Moy prietont Du a Ditu m' accorderont Dieu les mette en son Paradis Du nul ne poet estre chetiss Thou who silent passest by Where this Corse interr'd doth lie Hear what to thee I now shall show Words that from Experience flow As thou art once the World saw Me As I am so thou once shalt be I little could my Death divine When Life's bright Lamp did sweetly shine Vast Wealth did o'r my Coffers flow Which I as freely did bestow Great store of Mansions I did hold Land Wardrobes Horses Silver Gold. But now I am of all bereft And deep in Ground alone am left My once admired Beauty 's gone My Flesh is wasted to the Bone. A Narrow House doth me contain All that I speak is True and Plain And if you should behold Me here You ' ld hardly think I justly fear That e'r the World to me did bow I am so chang'd and alter'd now For God's sake pray to Heaven's High King To shade my Soul with Mercy 's Wing All those that try on bended Knee To reconcile my God and Me God place them in his Paradise Where neither Death can be nor Vice. The Judicious Reader will attribute the Weakness of these Lines to the Age wherein they were made but surely this Hero's Victories at CRESSEY POICTIERS and NAJARA in Spain shall prove both a more Elegant Epitaph and a more Durable Monument to his Name V. When his Dear Friend the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who was still a Prisoner at Paris heard of his Death he began to neglect himself and at last abandon'd all Care of the World or hopes of Life or Liberty insomuch that it is said he abstain'd from Sustenance and gradually pin'd away thrô Excess of Grief for the loss of so Brave a Commander VI. Thus his Friends both at home and abroad took the Death of this Gallant Worthy for indeed he was of so Obliging a Character that he won the Hearts of all Mankind especially of those who delighted in Martial Performances and in General He was a Prince of such Excellent Demeanour r Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 315. so Valiant Wise and Politick in his Doings that the very perfect Image of Knighthood appear'd most lively in his Person And such was his Towardliness or rather Perfection in Princely Government that every Man judg'd if he had lived to attain the Crown he would surely have exceeded the Glorious Renown of all his Ancestors He left behind him one onely Son Richard sirnamed of Bourdeaux then in the Tenth Year of his Age and after the Death of his Grandfather King of England by the Name of Richard the Second But in all Probability he had left a more Numerous Issue but for the Spanish Expedition for from that time that he left Spain where first he was infected with that fatal Malady he never had any more Children thô before that he had two Sons within the Compass of two Years But it is reported that he had also Å¿ Sr. Rich. Baker's Chron. p. 143. Mr. Ashmole p. 676. Sandford's Gen. Hist p. 189. ex l. 10. s 39. lib. in Collegio Armâ—rum two Natural Sons Sr. John Sounder of whom we read nothing and Sr. Roger Clarendon to the latter whereof he gave by his Will a Silk Bed with all the Furniture thereunto belonging He became afterwards one of the Knights of the Chamber to his Half-Brother King Richard the Second and bare for his Arms Or on a Bend Sable Three Ostrich Feathers Argent the Quills transfixed thrô as many Scroles of the first being as is thought Ancestor to the Family of the Smiths in Essex VII On Wednesday t M.S. Râ—t Par. p. 120. § 40. St. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 123. n. 41. §. 42. which was the Day after St. John Baptist or the 25 of June at the earnest request of the Commons there came into open Parliament before the Lords the Young Lord Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir of Edward late Prince of Wales and so consequently Heir Apparent of the Realm of whom after the Archbishop of Canterbury had spoken Words of Commendation the Commons with one Voice prayed that the Lords would make him Prince of Wales as his Father was But the Lords with more Discretion answer'd that it lay not in them but in the King only so to do to whom however they promised to be Mediators for that purpose But because the King was sick at Eltham the Lords and Commons went thither about the Premises and to have a Confirmation and Answer to these Petitions which follow Petitions of the Commons with the King's Answer That the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest may be kept in all points The King granteth thereto That the Sheriffs in all their Returns of any Inquest do return the most Honest and Nighest Neighbours and that in every weighty Cause the Sheriff be sworn to view the Panel before he return the same The Statute therefore made shall be executed and withall adjoyned to the Oath of every Vnder-Sheriff that He in his own Person shall survey the Panel before he return the same A Motion was made that all Liberties granted to any Mystery or Occupation in any City or Town be revoked and no more granted so as the Mayor and Bayliffs of every City and Town may see things amended But this was quash'd before it came to the King. That divers Commissions for Extortions or such like granted heretofore to sundry Persons of Evil Name may be Repealed and no such granted hereafter but to Lords and others of best Reputation in their Countries The King granteth thereunto and that no such Commissions be hereafter made but to the Justices Serjeants and others Learned in the Law. For the saving of Salmons and other Fry of Fish in the Thames almost destroy'd by certain Engines as the King himself hath often found that therefore all Trunks between London and the Sea may be overthrown and that no Salmon be taken between Gravesend and Henley upon Thames in the u i.e. Spawning time à Belgico Kippen pullos edere ova ezcladere Kipper-time viz. between the x Inventio Crucis 3 Maii Epiphania 6 Januarii Invention of the Cross and the Epiphany and that no Nets be laid in the Thames unless the same be of large Mash of Assize The Statutes therefore made shall be kept and Commission given out for enquiring after the same That the Wears upon the River Brent in the County of Middlesex a parcel of the Thames be taken away The Statutes therefore made shall be executed That all those Lombards called Broakers who only maintain Usury
M.S. Sheriff Clerk of the Market may have nothing to do within the said City He shall make Assay and due Punishment of such as make Default without taking any Fines in Gross of the same Town where he doth not his Office. The Commons of the City of Northampton shew that the Sheriff is yearly charged with an Hundred Pounds for the profit of the Shire where he knows not how to leavy above fifty three Pounds three Shillings four Pence and pray Consideration thereof may be had Let them declare their Request in special manner They pray a Pardon of all Forfeitures supposed to be done by any of them whereof they were not attainted in all their Life and that no such hereafter be made The King will be advised That the Process of such as be at Issue and do not within one Year after sue out their Nisi Prius be discontinued and had for nothing The Law heretofore used shall stand That no Man on pain of Losing all he hath do carry forth Corn out of the Realm but only for the Provision of Calais The Liege People shall have leave to convey Corn whither they please for their most Advantage The Commonalty of Nottingham Darby and Lincoln and of the Town of Nottingham require that by the King's Letters Patents the County and Town of Nottingham aforesaid may appoint two Guardians who may purchase Lands unto them and their Successors for the Maintenance of a Bridge called Heibeth-Bridge nigh unto the Town of Nottingham The King will be advised That the like Order that is made in London against the Horrible vice of Usury may be observed throughout the whole Realm The old Law shall continue That Recovery may he had and an Attourney by a Writ of Assize of Novel Disseisin of Nusance made to a Miln or to the Frank-Tenant of Nusance made in times past as heretofore Let the Common Law run They require that Remedy may be had against certain Lombards who named themselves to be of the Company of Askertines or of Stroze or other the like and thereby have upon Credit bought Wooll of Englishmen some to the value of thirty Pounds and some twenty Pounds and some have departed to the great undoing of divers Englishmen as Thomas Blanchered Nicolas John and other their Factors lately did It is before the Great Council For the Tryal of any Man's Birth whereupon Inheritance doth stand that the Inquest for the Tryal may be of the County where the Birth is laid and not where the Writ is brought The Old Law therein shall be observed That the Kings Carriage for himself and his Houshold may be of Carts and Horses of his own and not to charge the Commons therewith and to remember the Court of Marshalsey for there is great Complaint thereof throughout the whole Realm The King knoweth not how these things are brought to pass But if they be he will charge the Steward and other Officers to make Redress And as to the Article of the Marshalsey let it be declared The Merchants of the Staple require to be eased of divers new Impositions as Chalking p i.e. Vect 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 c. Vâ—d D. Skinâ—â—r c. Tronage Wharfage c. The King would make no new Impositions but that the same be enquired of if it be needfull That Commandment may be made to the Sheriff and Justices of the Peace of every Shire to raise the Power of the Shire for repressing of Routs and Riots The King will appoint Order and willeth that the Statute be executed They require that good regard may be had for the Keeping of the Castle of Nottingham wherein the Sons of Sr. Charles of Blois are under the Keeping of a Stranger not able to answer therefore whereas by Record it appeareth that the Keeper of that Castle was wont to be an Earl of the Realm Let it be declared before the King and the Great Council The Commonalty of Cities and Towns pray that such Parcel and Hamlets of Towns lying near to the Walls of their Cities and Towns and yet not belonging to the same may be contributory to all Charges within such their Walled Cities and Towns and that the Mayors and Bayliffs of the same may arrest all Breakers of the Peace there The King meaneth thereof to be advised That it would please the King to pardon the Commons of Northumberland all Issues and Amercements lost in any of the Kings Courts from Ano. 48. Ed 3. unto this present The King will be advised The Commons of Southampton pray Remedy against the Extortions of the Lord Nevil for not paying Men their Wages whereby the Souldiers spoiled the Country to the Value of 400 l. and that Remedy may be provided for the future The Offender shall answer for the time past and for the time to come the King will provide Remedy The Commons of Norfolk require that Payment be made to them and to all the Countries for sheep taken by the Purveyors far under the Price against the Statute The Bill is otherwise answer'd within the Bill of Buyers That the poor Commons of Yarmouth who came to the Parliament to complain of the Oppressions done unto them by the Rich of the same Town may be in the Kings Protection sworn and examined for the Profit of the King. It pleaseth the King. The Commons of the Dioecess of York complain of the outragious taking of the Bishop and his Clerks for Admission of Priests to their Benefices Who hath most cause let him sue by the Law. The Commons of the Hundred of Gestling in Sussex desire Remedy forasmuch as the Cinque-Ports have bought half the said Hundred and will not contribute any thing to them It is before the Great Council The Commons of Worcestershire Salop and Stafford Hereford Bristol and Gloucester desire Remedy for that the Merchants of those Shires in travelling to Calais are oft arrested for the trespasses and debts of other Men with whom they have no Acquaintance or Doing And also that such as being of the Marches of Wales and County of Chester and rob in the Counties first-recited or commit any other Felonies or Trespasses and being thereof attainted in such Shires where the Felonies are done may therefore lose their Goods and Lands to their Lords Let the old Law there be kept That no Woollen Yarn be carried out of the Realm or sold to any Person but imployed in Draping No such Yarn shall pass out of the Realm upon pain of forfeiture That all Liberties granted to Cities or Towns may be confirmed and no Farmers of any such Liberties be Disturbers of the same Let them shew their Charters in the Chancery and they shall have Right The Poor Commons of Great Yarmouth pray that they may freely buy and sell and chiefly in the Fishing time according to their Charter and not to be oppressed by the Rich. Let them shew their Grievances in particular before the Great Council and they shall be heard The Commons of
which he always had and hath to undertake this Holy Expedition offer'd to be ready to undertake the said Expedition with him and to grant a reasonable and final Truce to the Scots on that Condition that the said Lord Philip would faithfully promise him after their Return to do him full Justice as to the Dutchy But he despising and rejecting Conditions so reasonable nay more than reasonable answer'd That he would do nothing untill he had given unto all the Scots as well those that were Living as unto the Heirs of the Dead full Satisfaction for all Places which in his time he had by force taken in Scotland And when the Messengers of our said Lord the King answer'd that as to that Point they were not empower'd nor did they believe how their said Lord the King would do it the Lord Philip answered in these Words It will never be well untill there be one King of both the Realms of France and England This the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury declared publiquely before a great Number of Prelates Earls Barons and Others Our Lord the King hearing these things being then come to Years of Discretion caused a Parliament to be called wherein by the Advice and Consent of all the Prelates Earls Parons and other Nobles and of the Commons there present and especially of the said Lord of Canterbury particularly insisting thereupon it was Ordained that since by the way of Humility he could not obtain Peace and by the Sentence and Decision of the Doctors and Advocates as well of the Court of Rome as of the Students of Paris and Oxford and others and also of all the more Expert and Famous Prelates of England with whom he had caused his Right to be carefully discussed the said Kingdom of France by the Death of his Uncle the Lord Charles last King of France of Famous Memory was Lawfully by Right of Succession devolved unto him as the next Heir Male He should take Care effectually to prosecute even by a strong Hand his foresaid Right And that this he might do more securely and secretly there were sworn there to the Lords Canterbury Lincoln London Salisbury Litchfield and many other Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles Peers of the Realm upon the Cross of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury aforesaid Also among other things it was Ordained that the Alliances should be made in Almaine which are now made and that the Lord Bishop of Lincoln taking unto him certain Noblemen of England should be constituted Agent for the perfecting those Alliances aforesaid Who by Ordinance of the said Parliament and by the Command of our said Lord the King being so obliged accepted the same Office of Agent and brought it to effect Which done our said Lord the King in pursuance of the Counsel aforesaid passed the Sea and wasted certain Parts of the Realm of France with an Army of his own and of certain his Allies Afterwards the Winter Season approaching our said Lord the King being Returned into England heard that there was a great Fleet of Ships prepared on the Sea for a sudden Invasion of him and his Who by the Counsel of his Friends his then Assistants and principally of the foresaid Lord Canterbury speedily prepared himself to scour the Seas and expos'd himself to go over without Provision of Money or Horses chiefly upon Confidence of the said Lord Canterbury who had promised within certain and few days to send him Money enough And passing the Seas he found his Enemies upon the Sea near the Haven where he designed to Land and obtain'd that Victory which God gave him Who afterwards taking Land on Confidence of the foresaid promise with a Mighty Multitude of Armed Men Besieged the City of Tournay and there having sat a great while destitute of all Aid of Money althô at the Importunate Instance of many yet in very deed being forced by the only failure of Money he consented to take a Truce as being in the greatest Danger and utmost point of Necessity since as he said he had not all the time of the Siege received one Penny out of England and further unfolding his Opinion against the said Archbishop he said these Words I verily believe that the Archbishop would that for want of Money I had been ruin'd and slain And further he hath privately said to me such things of my Wife and on the other Hand hath said to my Wife such things of me for which if he had been credited he had provoked Us to such Mutual Discord that there would have been a perpetual Division between Us. Truly Holy Father our Lord the King hath often remembred all those things touching the Lord Archbishop to me William Norwich as well apart as before others of his Council and strictly enjoyn'd me upon Oath that I should fully and faithfully Report them to your Holiness Those things most Holy Father namely that our Lord the King consented to a Truce for want of Money and what Relates to the Lord Archbishop if it please You may be kept secret All the rest may be made Publick At the same time these Negotiators declared King Edward's Resolutions in these Words Most Holy Father and Lord that He may particularly and nakedly open his Mind to your Clemency he signifies unto your Holiness that he Challenges and intends to Challenge the whole Realm of France as Lawfully due and devolved unto him by Hereditary Right But for the Reverence of You and of the Apostolick See and to avoid the Perils which in all probability will happen by continuance of the Wars he is ready to Treat of Peace and to consent to a Good Peace but so as that in the Treaty of Peace to be made consideration be had as to the Right proportionable unto him in the said Kingdom and not only as to the Dutchy because with the whole Dutchy alone althô free from all Service and Subjection of any One he intends not to be contented And moreover because your Holiness being Highly sollicitous for the Reformation of Peace have offer'd your self by your Letters to Labour in your own Person at the Apostolick-Seat if the Deputies of the Parties be therefore sent to your Court or by others as it may be Honestly and Profitably done our Lord the King out of his great Confidence and Devout Reverence consents that this may be in your Holinesses choice These were King Edward's peremptory Demands so that there appear'd no way of a Final Agreement Nay it was to be expected that King Philip upon hearing thereof would be inflam'd the more Wherefore the Pope advis'd him to be more moderate in his Demands for the King of France was so far from granting thus much that in his k Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 38. Letters to the Pope he only gave him Liberty to declare a Restitution of those Lands of Aquitain which had been Won by his Father Charles of Valois in the time of Charles IV. When King
Edward II. refus'd to give him Homage from the withholding of which we have seen the first Causes of Dissention between the two Kings to have flow'd or of what had been forceably taken by King Philip himself in this last War. Thus were both the Kings disposed in their Minds So that little Good was to be expected from any Treaty And now came the time wherein by the Articles of the Truce the Parliament was appointed to be at Arras the Chief City of Artois lying upon the River of Scarpe When there came thither from the Pope l Gaguin p. 139. who in this Cause was not to be look'd on as a Judge but only as an indifferent Friend to the Common Peace the Cardinal of Naples and the Cardinal of Cleremont commonly so called thô they had only been Bishops of those Titles before they were made Cardinals These Legates going first to Paris where they confer'd with the King came now to Arras together with the French Commissioners who were Charles de Valois Earl of Alancon King Philips own Brother Peter Duke of Bourbon Lewis Earl of Flanders Guy Castilion Earl of Blois the Archbishop of Senes the Bishop of Beauvais and the Bishop of Auxerre They were met by seven of King Edward's Delegates who were Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Robert of Artois Earl of Richmond Sr. John of Hainault Lord of Beaumont and Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders All these held a Treaty together for 15 days but yet they perform'd but little as to a Final Composition for the English Demands were too High and the French Concessions too low they yielding to offer nothing but the m Frois c. 63. ibid. Earldom of Ponthieu which was his Mothers Dowry However they now made shift to prolong the Truce then in being for two Years more and farther than this the Cardinals could not perswade them Wherefore thus much being done and duly Ratified the Council brake up and the Cardinals at the Lord John of Hainalts desire passed homeward thrô that Country where by him and the Earl they were Feasted Nobly Now according to the Ninth Article of the foremention'd Truce the Earl of Salisbury and n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48 b. Waisâ—â— hist p. 135. n. 10. Robert Hufford le Fitz Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk were released from their Imprisonment a Ransome being appointed which they were to pay before the end of the said Truce or else render up their Bodies to Prison But here Authors make no small confusion some alledging that the Earl of Salisbury was deliver'd in Exchange for the Earl of Murray a Scot which could not be till the latter end of the next Year as we shall shew in due place Others confessing that he was now deliver'd do add that immediately thereupon he went with many other English Knights to the Siege of Algezira in Spain to help the Good King Alphonso against the Moors And this is the saying of o Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. Leland himself But surely this followed the Siege of Vannes in Bretagne and not of Tournay in Flanders For as yet Alphonso had not Won the great Battle of Tartessos of which by and by and yet this Battle preceded the Siege of Algezira However this is certain * Sr Roh Cottens M.S. p. 44. §. 43. Godwins Gatal Bps. p. 136. c. that the Earl of Salisbury was present at the next Parliament which sat in April following Thô many such Matters having been so confusedly related by Authors much Difficulty hath arose to Us in this Our Undertaking Upon which Account the Intelligent Reader will pardon these Digressions which seem necessary for the clearing of the Truth XIV Soon after the Prolongation of the Truce the Famous Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln p Godw. Catal. Bps. Linc. p. 304 Stow p. 238. Departed this Life about the Festival of Christmas at the City of Gaunt in Flanders in the Service of the King his Master to whom he was very Necessary Of him q Walsingh hist p. 150. Walsingham Reports a divertive Story which since r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. Sr. William Dugdale ventures to relate I shall not scruple neither He is said to have made a new Park at Tynghurst wherein he enclosed much ground that belong'd to divers of his poor Tenants who therefore pursued him with many a bitter Curse Now soon after his Death say they he appear'd unto a certain Person who had been one of his Esquires in the Habit of a Keeper with a Bowe a Quiver of Arrows his Hom by his side and his cloathing was all in Green to whom he said Thou know'st how I 've offended God and injur'd the Poor by enclosing this Park Wherefore I am enjoyned Penance to be the Keeper thereof till these enclosures be laid open again Go therefore to my Brethren the Canons of Lincoln and entreat them from me to make Restitution to the Poor of what I so unjustly took from them The Canons upon this Message sent one of their Company named William Batchelor to see the Dead Bishops Will performed Who accordingly caused the Banks and Pales to be thrown down and the Ditches fill'd up again and having so done return'd by St. Albans where he Related the whole Matter to Michael the Abbot of that Place I should not care to tell such idle Stories but that there may be Readers also of that Size who will take pleasure in such Entertainment But much less do I concern my self in seriously confuting them And yet I will not let this go thus because Walsingham who was a Monk and therefore thrô Prejudice or Ignorance might either deceive or be deceived has noted him for a Covetous worldly wretch For his Quality he was Younger Å¿ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Elder and t Godw. Catal. Bps. p. 303. Nephew to the Great Sr. Bartholomew Badlesmere Baron of Leeds For his Natural Abilities he was a Person of Good Learning but of exceeding Great Skill in Politicks as may be gather'd from his Prudent Menagement of Embassies and other Publique Affairs And as for his Charity which is a Vertue directly Opposite to Avarice We find u Godwin ibid. p. 304. that together with a Brother of his Sr. Robert Burwash he was a Founder of a Grammar School in Lincoln to which he left Maintenance for five poor Priests and as many poor Scholars for ever He had his Education at x Godw. p. 303. Oxford and had been y Philipot's Catal Châ—ncel c. twice Lord Treasurer of England and for a while Lord Chancellour till of his own Accord he Resign'd that Place because of his Publique Employments in which at last he Deceased at Gaunt but was brought over Sea and z Godw. p. 304. Buried in Lincoln
said Peace going and coming to You then residing in Brabant frequently upon that Occasion And at last the said Affair of Peace being wholly laid aside as Desperate We stay'd with You in Brabant for a while which was Chargeable enough to Us And being made Partakers of Your Necessities together with Your Majesty and others Prelates and Barons of Your Land and for Your Majesty despising all Danger We enter'd several grievous Obligations for the most heavy Debts which You had contracted I wish not to the Prejudice of Your State by paying much Usury And so most Excellent Prince You put not Your Confidence in the Staff of a broken Reed as You say in Your said Letters considering our Actions but on a most firm Staff and like unto that wherewith Jacob k k Genes 32. v. 10. went over Jordan and returned Gloriously with two Bands For with how much Glory this Second time Your Return hath been Crowned the World knows and I wish it may be continued to the Glory of God and Your Honour in times to come A little after in the foresaid Letters a more Wonderfull thing is laid to Our Charge To the 2d Article That breaking off Your further Expedition for that time You were obliged to desist from Your Enterprises so Valiantly begun against Your Enemies and to return into England where having called a Parliament the Prelates Barons and other Liege Subjects of Your Realm gave as an Aid for Your War the Ninth of their Corn Lambs and Woolls besides a Tenth granted You by the Clergy For the Collecting of which Aid and for the procuring of other things Necessary for You We effectually promised to do Our Devoir On Occasion of which Our Promise after a Glorious Victory at Sea granted unto You by God You encamped near the strong City of Tournay In the Siege whereof being for some time wearied with Expectation of receiving the foremention'd Aid You were thrô meer want compelled against Your Will to admit of a Truce Most Gracious Prince that We may speak with due Reverence Your Majesty is not ignorant that the Aid of every Ninth granted unto You as is Premised before Your second Voyage was by the Consent of Your Majesty and of Your Council wholly Assign'd over for the first Year to several of Your Creditors as will plainly appear by the Assignations themselves And that the said Assignations should be firmly observed Yâ—â— your self after Your second Voyage frequently enjoyned by Letters From all which it is Evident that to the foresaid Siege of the beginning whereof we were Ignorant We could not send any thing God is our Witness nor did We promise so to do Nor could the slow Return of the said Subsidy be imputed to Us the several Payments whereof were adjusted in full Parliament by certain Terms and Proportions And therefore on these and other Reasons We and other Your Counsellors fully weighing the Premises told Your Majesty that without Your Personal Presence We could not help You so that Your said Counsellors cannot be styled Mockers saying Precept upon Precept c. But perfect Servants and Faithfull to their Lord not reporting false but true things according to that of the Gospel l l Joh. c. 8. v. 32. Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you Free and so God willing it shall be done Moreover before your Return there was but little or nothing of the foresaid Subsidy paid but all will come into the Hands of your Present Ministers I pray God it may hereafter be well disposed of to your Honour Besides this Dread Lord it is added in your said Letters that upon your Return into Flanders after the foresaid Siege there was nothing either in your own Purses or your Friends whence You might discharge your Necessities and pay off your Foreign Auxiliaries Insomuch that you were compell'd to plunge your self into the Devouring Gulf of Vsury And it was agreed by all your Faithfull Friends Companions of your Labours that all these manifold Inconveniences and Misfortunes happen'd thrô the Fault or Negligence and as is pretended Malice of Vs and of other Your Officers Being therefore led by their Counsel lest otherwise they should draw back from your Assistance and desirous to apply a speedy Remedy certain of your Officers You have removed other You have caused to be detained in safe Custody And believing to be more fully acquainted with what had been done by their Information You sent unto Vs by the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe first and after by the Lord Ralph Stafford Steward of your Houshold commanding that We should take Care more speedily to come to your Personal Presence offering Vs because of many Fears by Vs pretended your Letters of safe and sure Conduct But it is pretended that We setting at nought your Requests and Commands answer'd with as Haughty an Air as Impudent Mind that We would neither appear before You nor confer with You unless in Full Parliament before the Lords and Peers of your Kingdom Which Parliament as the said Letters Witness for certain Reasons was no way expedient to be called at that time Dread Lord the plain Truth of the Premises being consider'd an answer thereto is easily framed for by right Judgement your Return into Flanders could not be imputed to Us when as is Premised We made no promise beforehand and by Consequence Your Friends and Allies could not complain of any Fraud or negligence of Ours For the Most High knows that then and at all times while We have been in your Service We have as is Premised Loyally and Industriously pursu'd your Affairs and Commands And according to the Vulgar saying m m Lat. Vltra posse viri Non vult Deus ulla requiri God doth expect from Man No more than what he can But whereas your Faithfull Friends and Companions of your Pilgrimage would likewise have an apt Remedy applied to these Matters 't is to be believed as the Words Sound how that by a just Process foregoing which shall not be Arbitrary but Mature the Culpable they mean should be Lawfully punished for their Faults But that Clergymen who are exempt from the Judgement of the Secular Power and Lay Freemen should against their Wills be seised and detained contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom and the Form of Magna Charta what and how great is their sin who do this cannot be unknown to your Royal Majesty since the Perils of the Soul thereupon proceeding are not only expressed in the Holy Constitutions but are by Us and our Suffragans divulged thrô all our Province of Canterbury and published both to the Clergy and People And certainly most Serene Prince We much fear that the Processes done and had in your Land in these days I would they were Lawfull and Just may turn away from You which God forbid the Hearts of your People unless a due Remedy be more speedily apply'd But what those things were which your foresaid
own Castle called Castillon upon the Dordonne where he found the Frenchmen who had invested it the Day before and made a vigorous Assault or two but to little Purpose The English immediatly set spurs to their Horses and assailed the Frenchmen with such fury that after a sharp and hard Rencounter they totally routed them having slain and taken Prisoners no less than 2000 Foot and 400 Horse among whom the Seneschal himself and many other Persons of Quality were taken The Residue made their escape by reason of the Weariness of the English in obtaining this Victory Many such Successes the Earl of Lancaster had against several of the French Detachments which either Himself or some of his Captains Chanced to meet with So that the Duke of Normandy was in a manner besieged himself by him and his Garrisons for he durst never send out any Parties but in very considerable Numbers whereby he was not without his difficulties Neither was he able as oft as need required to get in sufficient Provision for the Army for fear of the Earl of Lancaster who thô he was not strong enough to raise the Siege yet so well watched his Advantages that the Besiegers were likely to be soon wearied out CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward resolved in Person to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament at Westminster and takes Order for the Government and Defence of the Realm during his Absence II. He sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy III. Vpon his Landing he Knights his Son Edward Prince of Wales and together with him certain young Noblemen IV. King Philip hearing of his Adversary's Landing sends some Troops to defend Caen against him V. A cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to the Crown of France VI. King Edward marches thrô Normandy in Hostile Manner VII King Philip prepares to oppose him VIII King Edward takes St. Lo and Caen. IX Two Cardinals sent to him from the Pope to exhort him to Peace but in vain While he tarries at Poissy to repair the Bridge in order to get over the Seyne he sends a Defiance to King Philip with different Remarks thereupon X. King Philip goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives an Answer of his Challenge from King Philip to which he replies His Progress thrô France XI King Edward's Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Men of Poix being found Treacherous are put to the Sword. XII King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme the French King following with a great Army The Opinion of some Authors as to his Flight examin'd XIII A French Prisoner offers to shew King Edward a Passage over the Somme Which yet King Philip for fear of the worst had guarded XIV King Edward passes the Somme at Blanche ttaque and discomfits those that kept the Passage XV. King Philip displeased hereat returns to Abbeville for that Night while King Edward prepares to receive him and encamps in the Fields of Cressy I. THE mean while King Edward had full Information from the very beginning of the Duke of Normandy's Descent into Guienne and had particular Notice from the Earl of Darby of all the Occurrences in those Parts from time to time Wherefore he resolved to go now in Person to save his Lands and succour his Loyal Friends and Subjects But first to settle Matters at home He held his High Court of Parliament a Holingshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. at Westminster about the Season of Lent where he took into his own Hands all the Profits Revenues and other Emoluments which the Cardinals and other Foreign Clergy held within the Land for he thought it not reason that those who favour'd the Pope who was b M.S. Author is Anâ—nymi ea Vaticano sign n. 3765. in Clem. Vl. Odoric Rain ad ann 1342. §. 6. a Frenchman born and the French King who was his Adversary should enjoy any such Promotion or Advantage in his Realm Here he Order'd that all his Justices throughout his Dominions should renounce and utterly forbear taking of Pensions Fees Bribes or any Sort of Gratuities which before they were found to receive both of Lords Temporal and Spiritual and Others that so their Hands being free from Bribery Justice might be by them more purely and uprightly administred For this Pious Prince then thought he might expect a Blessing upon the Justice of his Cause when he took Care that his Subjects might meet with Righteous Judgment Here therefore it was that a Form of Oath was drawn up for all Justices which thô in the Book of Statutes falsly placed in the 18 Year of this King as we observed before in the last Clause of Paragraph XIII doth properly belong to this Place and for its Rarity deserves also to be here repeated Ye shall swear c Statute Beck p. 88. that Well and Lawfully Ye shall serve our Sovereign Lord the King and his People in the Office of Justice and that Lawfully You shall Counsel the King in his Business and that Ye shall not Counsel nor assent to any thing which may turn him in Damage or Disherison by any Manner Way or Colour And that Ye shall not know the Damage or Disherison of him Whereof Ye shall not do him to be warned by your self or by other That Ye shall do even Law and Execution of Right to all his Subjects Rich and Poor without having Regard to any Person And that Ye take not by your self nor by other privily nor apertly Gift nor Rewards of Gold nor Silver nor of any other thing which may turn to your Profit unless it be Meat or Drink and that of small value of any Man that shall have any Plea or Process hanging before You as long as the same Process shall be so hanging nor after the same Cause And that Ye take no Fee as long as Ye shall be Justice nor Robes of any Great Man or small but of the King himself And that Ye give none Advice nor Counsel to no Man Great nor Small in case where the King is Party And in case that any of what Estate or Condition they be come before You in your Sessions with Force and Arms or otherwise against the Peace or against the Form of the Statute therefore made to disturb Execution of the Common Law or to meance the People that they may not pursue the Law that Ye shall do their Bodies to be arrested and put in Prison And in case they be such that Ye may not arrest them that Ye certifie the King of their Names and of their Misprision hastily so that he may thereof ordain a covenable Remedy And that Ye by your self nor by other privily nor apertly maintain any Plea or Quarrel hanging in the Kings Court or elsewhere in the Country and that Ye deny no Man Common Right d i.e. upon occasion by the Kings Letters nor none other
Mans nor for none other Cause and in case any Letters come to You contrary to the Law that Ye do nothing by such Letters but certifie the King thereof and go forth to do the Law notwithstanding the same Letters And that Ye shall do and procure the Profit of the King and of his Crown with all things where Ye may reasonably do the same And in case Ye be from henceforth found in Default in any of the points aforesaid Ye shall be at the Kings Will of Body Lands and Goods thereof to be done as shall please him As God You help and all his Saints A like form mutatis mutandic was set for the Clerks of the Chancery for which we refer the Reader to the Statute-Book Where also he will find an excellent Statute made 7 Maii Anâ— Reg. Angl. 20. Fr. 7. which is to be refer'd hither Now also the King hearing e Holinshead Eng. Chr. p. 929. Complaints made against the Purveyors of Victuals for his Houshold who under Colour of their Commissions abused the same in taking up whatever they pleased among the Commons at the rate only set in their Commission he caused strict Inquisition to be made of these Misdemeanours and those who were found Offenders in the Premises of which there were many all condemned some to the Gallows and other to Great-Fines whereby the Groans of the Commons ceased and other of the Kings Officers were made more Wary and Discreet Having thus provided for the settlement of Justice during his Absence he f Frois c. 121. left his Queen to the Care of his Cousin John Plantagenet the Young Earl of Kent his Second Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp he g Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 167. ex Rot. c. constituted his Lieutenant of the Realm appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury and others of his Council to assist him And to Watch the Motions of Scotland b Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. he left the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby together with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Lincoln and the Chief Lords of the North But he gave an especial Charge to Sr. Geoffry Witchingham Lord Mayor of London and to John Croyden and William Clopton Sheriffs to take diligent Care of the Peaceable and Quiet Government of the City and particularly he i 20 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 18. 26. commanded them to look after the Spreaders of False News in and about the City and to apprehend all such Persons and lay them up in the Prison of Newgate II. And having thus providently settled Affairs at home k 6 Maii Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 11. dersc vid. Rot. Franc. 20. Ed. 34. 2. m. 2. and sent to the Prior of the Order of Fryers Preachers in London to offer up Prayers that God would please to Protect and Defend him and give his Forces Victory over his Enemies he repaired to his Army which was now ready to go on board And there he spake aloud to all his Captains and Officers which was also communicated to the whole Army l Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872 That he had more Right to the Realm of France upon the account of Queen Isabella his Mother Daughter of Philip the Fair than Philip of Valois had who was Son of the Lord Charles Second Brother which was of the said Philip the Fair who now usurped the said Realm thô he was not in the direct Line but collateral He therefore earnestly desired them to play the Men forasmuch as it was his Resolution to send back his Navy again as soon as ever he was Arrived in the Realm of France Wherefore it behoved them to be Valiant and either to Win the Land with their Swords or resolve to die every Man for they would have no place to flye But that if any one was in doubt or fear to pass the Seas with him he might ev'n stay in England with his good leave To this they all answer'd as it were with one Voice That they would follow him as their Good and Dear Lord with a good Will even to the Death Then the King seeing his Men well disposed to the War deliver'd his Letters close Sealed to the Admirals of his Fleet least it should happen that by force of Wind they should be separated from the Rest in which letters was contained where he would have them Land and commanded them unless they were divided by Storm not to open them till they came to Land. And so he went on board in the Name of God and St. George at m Frois c. 221. Southampton in the close of June with a Fleet of n Mezeray ad hanc an p. 24. ubi 200. Knighton verò 1100 magnas naves 500 mineres ponit p. 1585. n. 40. Stow p. 241. has a 1000 ships of Barthen and Pinaces Speed p. 577. about a 1000 Sail. Gaguin 1100. Grov Villani 6â—0 c. 200 Sail thô Authors vary much in the Number wherein were 4000 Men of Arms 10000 Archers and Footmen of Wales 12000 and 6000 Irishmen The King had with him in his Company the Young Prince of Wales at that time about sixteen Years of Age There was also Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel John Vere Earl of Oxford William Clinton Earl of Huntington Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and of Barons the Young Lord Roger Mortimer the Lord Gerard o Dudg 1 Vol. p. 738. Lisle and his Kinsman the Lord John Lisle the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lords John and Roger Beauchamps the Lord John Moubray the Lord William Ros of Hamlake the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth the Lord William Felton the Lord Thomas Bradestan the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcoate John Lord Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Peter Mauley V. of the Name * Hâ—c nemina â—u sequuntur ad numerum 22. er M. S. Vetust Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. cui titâ—â—us Acta Edvardi Fihi Edvardi Tertii Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Fitz-Walter William Lord Kerdeston the Lord Roger Say the Lord Almaric de St. Amand the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John le Strange the Lord Edward Montagu the Lord Richard Talbot the Lord John Mohun of Dunster William Lord Boteler of Wemme Robert Lord Ferrers John Lord Seymor John Lord Grey William Lord Botreaux the Lord Hugh Spencer the Lord John Striveling Michael Lord Poynings Robert Lord Morley Thomas Lord Ashley John Lord Sutton the Lord Nicholas Cantilupe and Others and of Knights Batchelours the Lord John Chandos the Lord Peter Audeley and the Lord James Audeley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash junior the Lord Thomas Holland the Lord Fulk Fitz Warine Sr. Richard Pembroke and several others There were but a few Strangers at this time with King Edward because his Friends of Germany had fell off together