Spoil of the Field which they accounted their own The whole number of the Strangers was about e H. Knighton p. 2551. two Thousand Men of Arms besides the great Numbers of English that came in as Voluntiers above the appointed Musters such hopes had they conceived of their Prince's Conduct and Fortune The King f Frois c. 16. Grafton p. 219. assigned the Strangers convenient lodgings in the Suburbs of York but to Sr John himself and his Servants he allotted an Abby of White Monks in the said City He himself and the Queen his Mother being lodged in the stately Building called the Fryers where each of them kept house apart This g Frois ibid. S John of Heinalt was one of the most Gallant Knights in the World and he had first undertaken to defend the Queen and her Son against the Persecutions of the two Spencers even when her own Brother the King of France had deserted her quarrel so that he was very dear to the young King and his Mother and they resolv'd to entertain him in most Royal Manner Wherefore the King held all along a Great Court to do these Strangers Honour and there was every where much Plenty of Provision Good and Cheap for the City and Country were Rich and flourish'd with abundance For full six weeks did the King lie there with more than 60000 men yet all that while the price of Provision was nothing enhanced but every thing was sold as reasonable as before the Army came thither There was plenty of Rhenish Gascoign and Anjovan Wines with Pullen and other Provision at very ordinary Rates and Hay Oats and other necessaries for Horses were daily brought to the Strangers lodgings so that they were all extreamly satisfied with their entertainment But yet even this their Prosperity had like to have proved more fatal unto them then a Rout in Battel might have done For h Knighton p. 2551. presuming much hereby on the King's favour they carried themselves too Magisterially toward his Subjects whence arose such Contention as brought forth many sad effects and was not at last stinted without much bloodshed on both sides On Trinity i Frois c. 16. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantabr c. 213. Sunday the King for the sake of these Lords Strangers held a Solemn and Magnificent Feast at the Fryers aforesaid himself being attended with 500 of his Knights to which he then added 15 more and the Queen his Mother having more than threescore Fair Ladies of the greatest Nobility and Beauty in England about her Person to pleasure the young Lord of Beaumont and his Company There was that day a most Splendid Entertainment and a truly Royal shew of whatsoever was choice and excellent And now the Ladies themselves with many Noble Virgins were meditating the various Measures their skilfull Feet were to make the pleasant Aires their sweet Voices should warble and those soft Divisions their tender Fingers should strike on the yielding strings when suddenly as soon as ever the Feast was ended a strange and hideous noise confounded the Minds of the whole Court. For the Servants and Pages of these Foreign Auxiliaries had by their k Knighton p. 2551. insolence so exasperated the minds of some English Archers who lodged among them in the Suburbs that immediately a great Fray began among them which continually rose higher new abettors successively flowing in on each side till near 3000 of the Archers being gather'd together many of the poor Heinalders were slain and the rest betaking themselves to flight were fain to enter their lodgings and there to fortifie them in the best manner they could against the Fury of their enemies Most part of the Knights their Commanders were then at Court but on the first noise of the Fray they hasted to their lodgings to defend themselves and their People Some part of the City of York in the Hurlyburly was fired many of the Heinalders slain and more hurt nor less on the English side than l Stow p. 228. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. ibid. 80 Archers most of them Lincolnshire men fell that day who were all buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Fosegate But at last by the Authority of the King with the earnest endeavours of the Queen Mother who loved the Heinalders dearly and by the ready assistance of the Great Men who charitably took the Strangers parts the Archers thirst of blood was slaked and the quarrel ceased for that time But that Night the Strangers who had suffer'd most not so m Knighton p. 2551. much thinking of sleep as revenge being now headed by Commanders rose privately and joyning all together set suddenly upon the Archers of Lincolnshire and Northampton for the Men of each County were Marshall'd and lodged together by themselves where they slew about 300 of them Nor in the Morning had they paid cheaply for that desperate action for more than n Frois c. 16. fol. 7 8. 6000 Archers had combined together to burn or kill them every man in their lodgings or without by Night or by Day when ever they should obtain an Opportunity But that the King to secure the Strangers from their Fury had set strong Guards about them displacing the Archers from their former Quarters they themselves hardly ever daring to sleep without good Watch their Horses ready saddled and their Arms always near at hand or upon their Backs so well they knew it behoved them to look to themselves after such a Provocation of the Common Soldiers of England Now had King o Frois c. 16 17. Edward lain at York with all this Great Army in and about the City for the space of three Weeks and when in about three Weeks more after this sedition no final agreement could be made between the King's Council and the Scotch Ambassadors p Caxton who came thither after Trinity Sunday to treat of a Peace the Marshals of the Host by the King's Command Proclaimed thrô all the Army that by the next Week every Man should be ready to March against the Enemy and that such to whom the Care was left should provide Carts and Wagons for Carriages and Tents and Pavilions to lie in the field with all other matters necessary for the King's journey toward Scotland All things therefore being by the said time provided accordingly the King and all his Barons began their March from the City of York in good Order and gallantly armed with Trumpets sounding and Banners waving in the wind In this Expedition besides those at Newcastle and Carlile already sent thither to defend the Frontiers we have made shift to recover the Names of these Worthies q Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the King's Uncle John r Id. 1 Vol. p. 184. Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger ſ Id. ibid. p. 145. Mortimer Lord of Wigmore William
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.
a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
Bill-men the whole Battalia amounting to 12000 Men and all Three to 30000 compleat As for the Names of other Lords and Knights who were present in this Action I have recovered these thô here placed out of Order because no certain Rank is any where assigned Sr. Peter Grandison Banneret Robert Lord Morley the Lord William Felton the Lord Adam Eâ—â—ringham Robert Lord Ferrers the Lord Hugh Meinill the Lord Maurice Berkâ—â— Thomas Lord Furnival the Lord William Kerdeston the Lord Michael Poynings the Lord Robert Vghtred the Lord Thomas West the Lord John Engaine Banneret the Lord John Striveling the Lord John Montgomery and Sr. Giles Erdinton of his Retinue Sr. Fouk c Dugd. Warw. p. 658. Bermingham Peter Lord Mauley Sr. William Swinnerton Sr. Richard e Id. p. 750. Whitacre Sr. John f Id. p. 434. Murdaâ— Sr. Gerard g Id. p. 623. Burdel besides many Others whose Names it is both difficult to collect and tedious to recite Over and above all which the King to encourage his Men the better to pursue Honour created this Day no less than h Asâ—mole p. 655. 50 New Knights the Chief whereof were Sr. Guy Brian a young Baron Sr. Robert Mauley Brother to Peter Lord Mauley Sr. John Ravensholm Sr. Peter Brewis Sr. Thomas Lancaster Sr. Henry d' Engaine and Sr. John Beauchamp younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick to which i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 231. Vbi tamen militari cing de dâ—natum brennic antebâ—â— memerat Aâ—t verò in hoc errat aut haec in Campo Equitum Creatio differt ab alià Hìc Ashmolaeum sequer last was committed that Day the Honour of Bearing the Kings Standard All things being thus order'd every Lord and Captain under his own Banner and Pennon and the Ranks duly settled the Valorous Young King mounted on a lusty White Hobby and with a white Wand in his Hand rode between his two Marshals from Rank to Rank and from one Battalia into another exhorting and encouraging every Man that Day to defend and maintain his Right and Honour And this He did with k Frois c. 128. so cheerfull a Countenance and with such sweet and obliging Words that even the most Faint-hearted of the Army were sufficiently assured thereby By that time the English were thus prepared it was Nine a Clock in the Morning and then the King commanded them all to take their Refreshment of Meat and Drink which being done with small Disturbance they all repaired to their Colours again and then laid themselves in their Order on the dry and warm Grass with their Bows and Helmets by their side to be more fresh and vigorous upon the Approach of the Enemy II. That l Frois c. 129. same Day King Philip on the other side rose early in the Morning and heard Mass at Abbeville in the Abbey of St. Peter where he had lodged and exactly at Sun-rise began to March out of the City against the English with more than an m Frois ibid. Mezeray p. 26. Hundred Thousand Men. Abbeville is between three and four Leagues from Cressy whereof when King Philip had passed about two Leagues some of his Lords said to him Sir it is now High time to set your Battails in good Order and let your Infantry pass on forward while You range your Cavalry here This Advice the King follow'd and moreover sent out four Knights of great Experience viz. the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg in Bohemia the Lord of Nogheres the Lord of Beaujeu and the Lord of Aubigny to ride forward and discover the Face of the Enemy These Lords rode so near that they took notice of much part of their Order and Behaviour and yet the English made no offer to hinder them but lay still and let them alone thô they saw their Business and knew who it was that sent them So these four Lords return'd to their Master who presently demanded of them what tidings They look'd about upon One another as being every Man loath to speak since they had no good News to declare Then the King Commanded the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg to tell him what discovery they had made and freely to utter his opinion Now this Moyne Lord of Bastelberg in Bohemia was an Ancient Gentleman a Native of that Country who in his Youth had been an Esquire to John of Luxemburgh the Valiant Old King of that Realm and had behav'd himself in all his Masters Wars with so much Gallantry that he gain'd the Reputation of being One of the Bravest and most Expert Knights in the World Thô now Age had rendred him more fit for Counsel than Action This Man thus Answer'd the King Sir since it is your Pleasure I shall speak under Correction of my Fellows if they should chance to think otherwise Sir We have ridden forth and at our Leisure view'd the Countenance of Your Enemies and know for certain they are ready ranged in three Fair Battalla's as resolved to wait Your coming being in all by Estimation little more or less than 30000 Men. Sir as for my part bateing Your Majesties Displeasure I would Advise that for this Day You go no further for before Your Reer is fully come up and all Your Forces ranged in good Order of Battle it will be late Not to say that Your Footmen are weary with this long March in their Armour and their Ranks much disorder'd whereas the Enemy is Fresh and Lusty and ready to receive You. Thô by to morrow Morning as their Vigour will be more languid and pall'd so Your now-tired Troops will then be more Vigorous And hereby also Your Majesty may with more Deliberation and greater Exactness both Order Your Men and view the whole Posture of the Enemy as well as consider after what Manner to assail them For doubtless Sir they will not flinch from You. This Counsel the King Commanded to be put in Execution but the Evil Genius of France would not suffer that Command to take any Effect Althô the Kings two Marshals rode forth One to the Front and the Other toward the Reer saying to all the Captains and Ensigns Stand and tarry here in this place in the Name of God and St. Dennis They that were foremost stood still according to Command but the Hindmost would hear nothing of Obedience or Order but with Words of great Bravery rode forward saying they would make no stop till they were as forward as the Foremost So that by their pressing on the First were again forced to March to make room for them that thus followed by which means neither the King nor his Marshals could make them stand till they came in sight of the English And then the Front recoyled back very disorderly to the great Wonder of those behind who thought the First Troops were now engaged with the Enemy And then they might have had Leisure and room enough to have gone forward but they were content to make an Halt Yet some went with
Wherefore they took him out of Prison and suffer'd him to go an Hawking a Sport which he loved well on the other side the River Lys or Leye But still there were Persons appointed to watch him who were charged upon their Lives to look carefully to his Motions that he should not by any means steal away from them And besides his Keepers themselves were such as chiefly prefer'd the King of England's service so that he could not do the least occasions of Nature without their knowledge This new way of Imprisonment obliged the Earl to another Device he said at last as it were from his heart and of his own accord that he desired extreamly to Marry the Daughter of so Renowned a Prince as King Edward was but none of his Friends would endeavour to procure him that happy Promotion Of this immediately the Flemings sent word to the King and Queen then before Calais and appointed a Day whereon they should come with their Daughter the Lady Isabella to Bruges and they would at the same time bring thither their Lord the Young Earl and so the Nuptials should be solemnized between them in the Abbey The King and Queen x Frois ibid. Giov. Villant l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. who were well pleased with this Overture said how the Flemings had now done like true and honest Men and so prepared for the intended Meeting At the time appointed the most Discreet and Wealthy Burgesses of the Towns of Flanders came unto Bruges a Chief City of Flanders between Ostend and Sluys and brought with them the young Earl their Lord in great Pomp and State Here they found the King of England and his Queen who received them graciously The Young Earl enclin'd himself with great Demonstrations of Respect to the King and Queen and then King Edward took him by the Right Hand very courteously and lead him forward saying unto him As for the Death of the Earl your Father as God shall help me I am Innocent For I knew nothing of his being in the Field at the Battle of Cressy neither on the Day of Battle nor till the Evening of the next Day when the Heralds brought me an Account of the slain The Earl seem'd to believe this Protestation and to acquiesce in so just an excuse And thereupon other Communication succeeded and at last the Marriage was agreed and a Bond of Ensurance made certain Articles of perpetual Amity being on both sides sworn to and agreed on between Edward King of England and Lewis Earl of Flanders And then and there the Young Earl affianced the Lady Isabella King Edwards Daughter and promised on such a Day to Wed her So for that time they all brake up the Earl returning to Courtray and the King and Queen going back to the Camp before Calais where they made great Preparations against the Marriage for Jewels and costly Apparel and Presents to give away according to their Estate The mean y Frois ibid. while the Earl of Flanders pass'd away his time very pleasantly about the River Leye and seem'd so extreamly satisfied with the Person of the English Lady that the Flemings verily believing him to be in earnest took no such great heed to him as before But they did not understand the deep Dissimulation of their Lord for whatever appearance He made outwardly his Heart was wholly addicted to the French Interest and he resolved in his mind never to admit unto his Bed the Daughter of him who had sent his Father to his Grave A just Resolution had it been rightly grounded For indeed his Fathers Death ought not to have been imputed to King Edward but to his own Misfortune for taking part with King Edwards Enemies in that Battle where he was slain by chance of War and without any knowledge of the Kings as himself protested However the Earl having now obtain'd a little more liberty by reason of his fine conveyance for he made huge Preparations against the Marriage he never intended found at last an Opportunity to escape away which was done in this Manner In the Easter-week z Fibian p. 274. being that very Week that the Daughter of England was to be brought into Flanders and the Espousals to be solemnized he rode forth with an Hawk on his Fist by the River side after his Manner At last his Faulconer cast off a Faulcon at a Heron and the Earl presently cast off his Thus these two Faulcons were in chace of the Heron and the Earl followed as after his Faulcon But when he found himself to have got the start of all his Attendants with the Advantage of the Open Fields he then clap'd Spurs to his Horse and gallop'd right on till his Keepers had wholly lost him The Earl continued hard on the Spur till he came into Artois the next Province to Flanders and there he was safe Thence he rode at his Leisure into France and came to King Philip to whom he shew'd the Reasons and Manner of his Escape the King commended him and said he had done Worthily and Wisely But the Englishmen said He had falfifi'd his Oath and with the loss of his Honour and Interest betrayed and deceived them But for all this King Edward did not break with the Flemings For he saw plainly that they were extreamly offended with this Rash Action of their Lords and that they knew as little of this Cheat as himself And indeed they made their Excuse so well that either the King did really believe it or however thought best to admit of it for that time VII We must not omit a Gaguin l. 8. p. 142. Fabian p. 274. c. one memorable Matter which happen'd about this time concerning an Advocate of the Spiritual Court named Dr. Gawin de Bellomont an Inhabitant of Laon in Picardy Who intended as it was laid to his Charge to have betrayed the City of Laon to the English Which City of Laon being seated on a Mountain not far from Vermand stands very commodiously to make War upon all its Neighbours round about Now there was at that time a poor Man named Colin Tomelin who formerly had lived in good Fashion but some while before being fled from Laon for Debt had gone to Metz on the Borders of Lorrain where he made shift to live a miserable Life To this Man Dr. Gawin de Bellomont aforesaid resorted frequently and as it were in pity of his Condition relieved him considerably till at last when he thought he had him fast enough he began something to break his Mind unto him But only then told him in General that if he would be ruled by him he would not only restore him to his former Ease and Sufficiency but raise him to an Eminent Degree of Wealth and Prosperity Colin readily embraced the Offer and sware unto him Secrecy and Fidelity Whereupon Gawin shew'd him a Letter sealed up and gave it him to carry to the King of England lying as then before Calais
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
of Archimbald Douglas who fell in the Battle of Halliden Earl of Douglas and committed to his Charge the Leading of one Brigade III. The first e Holinshead Scotl. p. 240. c. â—t ante Fortress they came to near the Borders was Lidel round which they lay encamped for three Days but on the Fourth after a Vigorous Attack carried it by fine force where they put most of those they found to the Sword But the Captain Sr. Walter Selby before he would deliver his Sword compounded with a Scotch Knight to have his Life and the Lives of his Children saved which was thereupon assured him But when King f Stow p. 243. Holinshead ibid. c. David heard of the Captains being taken he gave order that his Head should be cut off Then the Scotch Knight who had taken him began to intreat in his behalf at least that he might be admitted into the Kings Presence this with much adoe being granted the English Knight upon his knees requested that his Life might be saved for a Ransom But notwithstanding he was again adjudged to die Nor only so but the Cruel Prince commanded two of his Children to be strangled in sight of their Father and having thereby afflicted his Mind almost to Madness with rage and grief he presently caused his Head to be stricken off not allowing him so much time as to make a Confession thô like a good Christian he instantly desired that Ghostly comfort Surely that hatred is Diabolical and Implacable nor only unworthy of a Christian but even exceeding the Barbarity of Infidels which extends beyond this Life and endeavours not only to destroy the Body but also to plunge the Soul into Eternal Ruine After this Merciless Execution the Scotch Army marched to Lenercost where they spoil'd the Abbey of all its Ornaments and whatever was valuable therein and so passing the River Irthing they went by Naworth Castle and leaving Cumberland enter'd on the other side the Picts-Wall into Northumberland wasting all along with fire and sword till they came to the Priory of Hexham which was also pillaged and sacked but the Town was saved from fire by the Kings Command for he was advised to spare four Towns from fire in his Passage to York whither he thought to go without Resistance namely this of Hexham Cerbridge Durham and Darlington to the end they might serve him as so many storehouses to lay in what quantities of Victuals and Provender he should find about in the Country therewith to sustain his Army upon Necessity if he should either stay long in England or be reduced to any extremity At Hexham he lay three Days and thence Marched to Ebchester beyond the River Derwen being one of the first Towns on that side within the Bishoprick of Durham As thus he marched wasting and spoiling the Country on every side toward the City of Durham he destroyed many of the Farms belonging to the Abbey of that City and had utterly ruin'd them all had g Knighten p. 2590. n. 40. Stow p. 243. not some of the Monks who were taken thereabouts and were kept as Prisoners to be Ransomed made an agreement for themselves and the rest of their Fraternity to pay the next Day ready down a 1000 pounds Sterling on Condition they would forbear spoiling the Residue of their Mannors or their Tenents But of all others they h Knighton ibid. n. 10. took one penny for every Head and one penny for every Foot which being done they were left free but otherwise put to the sword And thus they intended to do to every Soul they should meet with even to the River Trent but that they found a stop long before At last King David came and encamped by the Wood of Beare-Park within three Leagues of Durham not far from Nevils-Cross He took up his Lodgings in the Mannor there and daily sent forth strong Detachments to fetch in Booty and to burn and destroy Houses and Villages The Spoil Desolation and Slaughter which Rapine Fire and Sword spread along before the Enemy was both Barbarous and terrible for they spared neither Young nor Old neither Church Chappel nor Monastery but in their blind fury made one General Heap of both Sacred and Profane Not so much as the Goods and Lands belonging to the Patrimony of St. Cuthbert were exempted from Rapine and Plunder as the Scotch Writers themselves confess thô not only the Monks of the Abbey dedicated to that Saint had compounded for their exemption but also as Hector says King David was strictly admonished in a Dream by no means to presume to touch any thing belonging unto his Church IV. Now the Noble Queen of England Philippa being at that time in the North-parts about York when she heard of the first Motions of the Scots was not forgetfull of the King her Husbands Honour and of the Good of his Kingdom But putting on a Spirit worthy of Her that was Confort to King Edward and Mother to the Black-Prince sent out her Summons to all the Lords and Prelates of those Parts and others left by the King for the Defence of the Borders to repair with all speed unto her The Summons were sent forth in the Name of the King of England by the Queen and the Archbishop of York and soon after there came the Lords and Captains of England with their Retinues to York to the Queen where she made her General Musters Then the Queen and the Archbishop sent away an Herald at Arms to King David requiring him to desist from further invading the Country and to return into Scotland till some Reasonable Order for a final Peace might be agreed betwixt him and the King his Master Otherwise he should be sure to have Battle to the Uttermost within three Days after i Hector Beeth l. 15. fol. 324. But that if he refused all terms of Agreement he should remember that there was in Heaven a Just God of Power sufficient to Revenge the Injuries done unto England and especially to his Servants the Priests and other Holy Persons whom he had slain with the Sword neither sparing Church nor Church-Lands nor weak Women nor Innocent Children But all this signified little or nothing to that Prince who was not only stirr'd up by his Youth and an Emulation of his Fathers Glory but also provoked to Revenge as well by the former dealings of his English Enemies as by the manifold Benefits received of his Friend of France Wherefore he sends back a Mortal Defiance and the next Day set his Men in Order to receive their Enemies if they should come forward The first Battalia he committed to the Care of the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland as being Eldest Son of King Davids Eldest Sister Margaret Bruce with whom was the Lord Patrick Dumbar Earl of March The Second was commanded by John Randulph Earl of Murray and William Earl of Douglas And the Third he Lead himself having with him the French Auxiliaries
the Land of Picardy along by the River Soame In Mauconsel were 300 Men of Arms under these Captains Rabigois of Derry an Irishman Franklin and Hawkins two Esquires of England Sr. Robert Knolles his Companions And these were Masters of the Country round about them And all the Great Towns of those Parts that were not fortified were fain to pay certain Sums of Florens weekly by way of Contribution-money for their Redemption as also the Abbeys and other Religious Houses were fain to do or else they had been utterly destroyed In Saint Valery also there was a strong Garrison of five hundred Navarrois under Sr. William de Bonmare and Sr. John Segar an Englishman and these were Lords of all the Country as about Abbeville the Ports of Crotoy of Rue and Montrevil even unto Dieppe in Normandy When the Duke of i Frois c. 189. Normandy who was then at Paris understood how these Garrisons ravaged about and wasted the Country in the Name of the King of Navarre and that their Strength and Numbers encreased dayly being himself unable to raise any considerable Forces for want of Mony he sent to all the Good Towns in Picardy and Verniandois desiring That like good Loyal Frenchmen they would make a Purse among themselves and send as many Souldiers as they could bear into the Field against the Common Enemy The Cities and Good Towns very readily agreed to so just a Request and set an Assessment among themselves according to every Mans Ability to settle a Fund sufficient for so many Men of Arms Footmen and Crossbows The Bishop of Noyon was the chief Leader of these Forces being assisted with the Lord Ralph de Coucy the Lord Ralph de Rayneval the Lord of Chauny the Lord of Roye and Sr. Matthew de Roye his Brother the Lord of Coudun with many other Knights and Esquires of Picardy and Vermandois Being all rendezvous'd near Noyon they strait went and lay before Mauconsel for they took that to be the weakest Garrison of all that belonged to the Navarrois and yet it had been a great Nuisance to the Inhabitants of Noyon and Vermandois Having invested the Place they made several Assaults and gave the Besieged their Hands full Wherefore the three Captains within sent by night a Messenger to the Lord John of Picquigny who held Garrison at le Herelle all the other Navarrois Garrisons in those Parts being subjected unto him When he heard of their Condition he took care to expedite their Succours and besides a Detachment from his own Garrison which he resolved to lead thither in Person he sent very privately to the Lord Fondregas Captain of Creil to send such a Quota of Men to joyn him in such a Place at such a time without fail Which was done accordingly Being all met they made a 1000 Spears and upwards and so rode silently together in the Night by Direction of a good Guide and early the next Morning they came before Mauconsel That Morning there was such a Fog or Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him under favour whereof they came upon the Besiegers unseen for they were nothing aware of them but most of them asleep and the Watch but thinly set for they suspected nothing on that side The Navarrois strack suddenly into the Host and fell on with a Shout slaying of Men and beating down Tents and Pavilions at a prodigious Rate The Frenchmen were so surprised they had no time to Arm wherefore in Despair they fled directly toward Noyon which was next at hand and the Navarrois after them in the Chace Between Noyon and Orcan Abby and between Noyon and Pont l'Evesque was made a dismal slaughter of the French their Dead lay on the ground by Heaps in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes For the Pursuit was made to the very Gates of Noyon The City it self was in great danger of being lost For it was said by several that were present on both sides that if the Navarrois could have but dream'd of any such thing they might have entred the Town without the least Opposition for those within were so terrified that they forgot to shut the Gate toward Compeigne The Bishop of Noyon himself was taken at the Barriers and sware himself Prisoner or else he had been slain outright With him were taken the Lord Ralph of Coucy the Lord of Rayneval the Lord of Chauny and his two Sons the Captain of Rouvray the Lord of Coudun and two other Lords besides an 100 Knights and Esquires But there were slain above 1500 the greatest part of which Loss fell to the share of those of Tournay for 't is said that of 700 who came from that City scarce so many Dozen returned home the rest being all either slain or taken For those who had been besieged in Mauconsel sallied out to second these their Deliverers Lit. Dom. G. which made the Victory more entire This Discomfiture happen'd on the k Frois c. 189. fol. 102. 22d of August being the Wednesday next after the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Anno Domini MCCCLVIII The Navarrois led the most part of their Prisoners to Creil on the Oyse for the more Security because that was looked upon as one of the strongest Places This their Victory over the French did greatly enrich them as well upon the account of the Armour and Provisions they wan as of the Ransoms of their Prisoners As for the Burgesses of Tournay and other Towns they remitted them all home some for Money and others for such things as they wanted most as Spear-Heads Axes Swords Coats Doublets Horses and the like The Knights and Esquires were ransom'd for Gold and Silver or good Horses for the Saddle but of poor Gentlemen who had nothing to pay instead of a Ransom they accepted of their Service for one two or three Quarters of a Year as they could best agree For as for Wines and other Provision they had Plenty enough the Country afforded them sufficient And nothing could be brought to the good Towns but by stealth without a safe Conduct from some one of these Garrisons which was sold dearly But they always excepted in their safe Conduct three things Good Hats Estridge Feathers and Spear-Heads For these things they chiefly desired themselves The Abby of Orcan was almost quite ruin'd thô against the will of Sr. Rabigois by the Men of Mauconsel who also with the help of one Robert Scot took the good Town of Beaulieu by Scalado which they fortified and made a Garrison leaving 400 Souldiers there whom they paid by the Month. This and the other Garrisons of the Navarrois and Englishmen so bridled the whole Country that they e'n did what they pleased sometimes riding about in Armour and sometimes going from Fortress to Fortress unarmed For there was none to resist them the Knights thereabouts having enough to do in Defending what they had left The young Lord Ingleram
be abroad in those Parts but yet they were somewhat more assured because the Bridge was drawn up Wherefore they adventured to call aloud saying Sirs what manner of Men are You that approach our Town at such an unseasonable time The Constable answer'd We are such and such who desire to pass this way so to get before the Navarrois who are stolen out of Thorigny and are fled from us wherefore in the Kings Name we command you to open your Gates and let us through The Watchmen then told him how the Keys were in the City with the Jurates but they had sent two Men for them who would shortly return But to those Men that went for the Keys the Jurates answer'd that no Gates should be opened there without the Consent of the whole Town and before their Minds could be known the Sun was up Then those who were appointed to make answer to the Constable went up to the Walls over the Gate and look'd out and said to the Constable and to the Earl of St. Paul Lords we desire your Excuse for the present for the Commons of the Town are resolved in this dangerous Juncture not to open their Gates to any Armed Men But they are pleased that five or six of you may enter if you are so minded and as for the rest they may go about their business The Lords of the Army were extreamly vext at this Mockery and gave them many angry Words and horrible Threats but for all that the Gates were kept shut so that when the Constable saw that after all these Delays he could never expect to overtake the Navarrois he disbanded his Men in no very good Humour But the Earl of St. Paul went to his Castle of Bouhain so vext and displeased at the People of St. Quentin that no Body hardly durst speak to him The mean c Frois c. v. 5. fol. v. 5. while the Navarrois rode on by great Journeys to Veilly upon the Aysne having also by help of a Guide passed the River of Oyse and there they rested and refreshed themselves after their great Travel And then finding themselves past all danger they returned thrô the Isle of France and Beauvaisis into Normandy riding by small Journeys from Fortress to Fortress for they were Masters of the Rivers and plain Country So being safely arrived in Coutantine again they made War as before in Normandy the King of Navarre being then at Melun on the River of Seyne with considerable Forces Now the Lord Thomas Holland f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. was Governour of the Castle and Fort of St. Saviour le Vicount and of all the Castles and Places which formerly belonged to the Lord Godfrey of Harcourt having with him of his g Dugd. ibid. p. â—9 Retinue the Lord Nicolas de St. Maure alià s Seymor and Others But he being King Edwards Lieutenant in those Parts made no manner of War during the Truce III. At the same time Sr. Peter Audley Brother to the Valiant Lord James Audley h Frois c. 195. was Captain of Beaufort Castle in Champaigne between Troye and Chálons which Castle of old belonged to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster as part of his Inheritance in right of his i Sandfords Geneal Hist p. 125 Grandmother Blanch Queen of Navarre Countess Palatine of Champaigne and Brie Daughter of Robert Earl of Artois Brother to St. Lewis King of France and Dowager of Henry de Champaigne King of Navarre This Sr. Peter Audley was a Man of great Valour and good Conduct but his ardent delight in War rendred him less just than Honour required so that now he was not content to maintain and keep the Duke of Lancaster's Castle but he must also undertake Actions that were no way warrantable as long as the Truce was in being He had already consider'd with himself k Frois ibid. that if he could get over the Marne some Night a little above Chalons and so come secretly to St. Peter's Abbey he might easily thereby get into the Town This purpose of his he delay'd to put in practise till he understood the River of Marne was very low and then with great privacy he assembled his Men for he commanded at least Five or Six Fortresses about him Being therefore at last 400 strong he began his March one Night as soon as it was dark from Beaufort Castle and by Country Guides came to the place where the Marne was Fordable here they all alighted on Foot and having deliver'd their Horses to their Valets waded over the River all in safety Being got over they Marched in good Order fair and softly toward St. Peter's Abbey but as they went along the Wind being on that side several Watchmen that were about in the Town next the Abbey which was without the Walls thô by a Gate it open'd into the Town heard plainly the noise of their Armour which clatter'd and made some noise upon their Motion When first they heard it they wonder'd what it shou'd be for sometimes the noise ceased namely when the Naverrou stood still and again it gâ—en plainer and nearer viz. when they moved forward However upon the whole one of them said I believe there are some Thieves of England and Nâ—vâ—râ—e coming hither now to surprize the Town let us search out the Matter and Raise the City betimes And with that some went into the Town to give the Alatum and others toward the Abbey to see what was the business But before these latter came thither Sr. Peter Audley and his Men had got into the Abbey-Court for the Walls thereof were not above Four Foot high and immediately Marched forth at the Abbey Gate into the City by a great Street directly before them At which time the Watchmen gave the Alarm crying Treason Treason Whereupon the whole City hasted to their Arms gather'd together and came against Sr. Peter but many of them were slain at the First Brunt and Sr. Peter by obstinate Valour wâ—n the first Town even to the Bridge over the Marne But this mean while the â—â—â—ens being very Numerous rose in all places and armed themselves and stood stiffly to it to defend that Descent into the City It happen'd unluckily for them that Sr. Peter de Chalons who with an 100 Men of Arms had been Captain there for above a Year before had newly forsaken them because they did not pay him his Wagâ—â—duly So that they were in great Danger of being utterly lost had not another Captain by accident come in to their Assistance now in the time of their greatest Exigence For the Lord Otho de Grancey having had some inkling the day before that Sr. Peter Aâ—â—ley prepared to ride abroad suspected that his Design was upon Chilens and because he knew there was at that time no considerable Captain there he gather'd about 60 Spears and â—ode great part of that day and the night following till he reach'd the Place Sr. Peter the mean while assaulted
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
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
English who were not ignorant thereof took care of all their Traps neither venturing to ride loosely nor to leave the High-ways for fear of Ambushes they constantly Marched in Battle Array as ready for Fight And in this Manner they rode thrô Vimeux and the Earldom of Eu and entred into the Archbishoprick of Râ—üen and passed by Dieppe till they came in sight of Harfleur where they began to pitch their camp but the Earl of St. Paul had gotten into the Town beforehand with 200 Spears Three Days the English lay before the Place but gave no Assault for they saw this Succour rendred their Design fruitless so on the Fourth Day they began to Decamp and returned thrô the Lands of the Lord Stouteville where they burnt and destroy'd most part of his Country and wasted the Region called le Pais de Caulx whence they took their way thrô le Vexin Normand and having left severe Marks of their Displeasure whereever they came at last they approached toward Oisemont to repass the River of Soame at Blanchetteaque XXIX At this time the Captain of Abbeville for the French King was Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France who perceiving that the Duke of Lancaster Designed to pass the Soame Armed himself and only Ten or Twelve more of his Men with whom he took Horse saying How he would go and visit Rouvray and see how the Gate there was Defended because if the English passed that way they should not say but that it was carefully provided for This was done early in a Morning and it was a great Mist for it was now the bleaky Month of November At the same time there was in the Army with the Duke of Lancaster a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Lovaine who had been Seneschal of Ponthieu for the King of England but was taken Prisoner as We shew'd the Year before by Sr. Hugh de Chastillon who Ransomed him at 10000 Franks This Ransom stuck grievously in his stomach and he sought all Opportunities to make a Reprisal It chanced so well for him that this very Morning whereon Sr. Hugh de Chastillon went abroad so slightly attended this St. Nicolas Lovaine had left the Army with Twenty Men of Arms in his Company as One that knew all the Passages Streights and Avenues of the Country for he had been acquainted thereabout for the space of three or four Years even during all the time of his Government For once therefore he resolv'd to venture himself between Abbeville and the Castle of Rouvray And so he rode by a little streight Passage thrô a Marish and planted himself and his Men among certain old waste and broken Houses but they stood so near to Abbeville that a Man would never have suspected that any English Men durst have laid an Ambush in that Place However here Sr. Nicolas and his Men lay close observing as well as they could with their Eyes and Ears who ever should pass that way backward or forward At last came Sr. Hugh of Chastillon thrô the same narrow way with Ten or Twelve Men in his Company himself all Armed except his Helmet which his Page bare after him riding on his Masters great Courser and so he passed over a little River that was there thinking to go and speak with the Crossbow Men that kept the Gate to know what they heard of the English By that time the Mist was pretty well clear'd up and Sr. Nicolas Lovaine saw and knew him perfectly and could not have been better pleas'd if One had given him 20000 Franks Then he came out of his Ambush and said to his Men Come on now Sirs lustily yonder 's the Man I look for 'T is the Master of the Crossbows whom I desire to have above all Men living And with that he couched his Spear in his Rest set spurs to his Horse and came upon Sr. Hugh de Chastillon all of a sudden and said aloud Yield your self Chastillon or You are but a Dead Man. Sr. Hugh much wonder'd whence these Men of Arms should come so suddenly upon him for he had not time to clap on his Helmet nor to mount his Courser which his Page rode on while he us'd a light Gelding So that being sensible of his Disadvantage he asked who he should yield to Sr. Nicolas answer'd to your old Acquaintance Lovaine There Sr. Hugh was fain to yield himself but in taking of him and his Men there was slain a Valiant Citizen of Abbeville called Laurence Denson which was a trouble to Sr. Hugh but 't was his own fault for he made Resistance When Sr. Nicolas had taken Sr. Hugh de Chastillon he said unto him Come on Sr. Hugh See yonder there Marches the Duke of Lancaster and his Men who intend to pass the Soame hard by And thus Sr. Nicolas Lovaine by good Fortune took Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France and Captain of Abbeville for whose Loss the said City was much troubled but the Duke of Lancaster and the English were well pleased And afterward Sr. Nicolas made him pay a Ransom of Twenty Thousand Franks which was Double the Sum Sr. Hugh had before extorted from him XXX That Day the Duke of Lancaster passed the River of Soame at Blanchetteaque after which he Marched toward the strong Town of Rue on the Maye and so to Montrevil till at last by several Journeys he return'd again in safety to Calais But the Renowned x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 40. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick died in the way of the Plague as some say thô I am not enclin'd to Credit that any more than what the same Author says of his frighting away the French Army and of his going up as far as Normandy and wasting the Land of Caulx whereas we find the Duke of Lancaster the Head of this Expedition and the Earl one of his Marshals But Walsingham flourish'd in a time when the House of John of Gaunt was commonly hated and slander'd as it was in the Days of Richard the Second so that no doubt common Report did more readily attribute all Successfull Matters to any other than to the said Duke of Lancaster However that part of this Great Earls Character deserves our Credit where t is said that he hardly left his Equal behind him for Courage and Loyalty His Death happen'd y Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 234. on the 13 of November in the 62d Year of his Age and his Body was afterwards brought over into England and Solemnly interred in the Midst of the Choire of the Collegiate Church of Warwick according to the Direction of his last Will and Testament Where his Tomb is still to be seen with the Statues of him and his Countess in White Marble excellently Cut the Sculp of which Monument is to be seen in Sr. William Dugdale's z P. 318. Antiquities of Warwickshire He left many Children
go and look upon those of Arras to see how they were disposed and whether they might not find some Advantage against them Therefore with 200 Spears and 400 Archers they advanced to the Suburbs of the City and so came to the Barriers which they found well furnished with Crossbows and Men of Arms And Sr. Charles of Poictiers was Chief Captain there under the Countess of Artois but he made no Offer to come forth against them for all they stood daring him so without The Marshals were angry at this their Behaviour reputing it no other than rank Cowardise and that they might be sure to leave a Remembrance behind them if they could not provoke them to come forth they set fire to the Suburbs in many places whereby they did much harm and among the rest destroy'd a great Monastery of Preaching Fryers Cloister and all But yet the Defendants kept their Post without offering a Sally So the Marshals return'd after the Army which took its way directly toward Bapaume ravaging all about Thus they passed into Vermandois and came to the strong Town of Ham whither all the People of those Parts had withdrawn together with their Goods for Safety except those who sought Refuge at St. Quintin or Perone But here they did no harm because a Day or two before they had so obliged themselves For being come to Vermand the Chief City at that time of all the Country the English Marshals upon their safe Conduct got the Captain to come to them and said thus unto him How say you Sir what will you give us on Condition that We forbear this Country and respite it from burning and Plunder So the Captain fell to a Composition and agreed to pay them such a Summ of Money and thereupon no more Harm was done in those Parts And by this means Sr. Robert Knolles gain'd in this Expedition for his own Share more than an 100000 Franks thô he had like to have repented afterwards of his Mercate For he was by his Maligners accused to the King his Master that thrô Covetousness he had not done his Duty in offending the Kings Enemies as we shall see anon From Ham he marched and came to the Town of Roye in Santerre which he took plunder'd and destroy'd In this manner the Army went on fair and softly in dreadfull Order two three or four Leagues a Day their custome being to tarry three or four Days in a Place where they found plenty of Provision to refresh Themselves and their Horses But they seldom met with any thing abroad except Barns and Granges full of Corn for it was now toward the end of August As for the Lands of the Lord of Coucy King Edward's Son-in-Law they remain'd in perfect Peace untouch'd and unmolested And if any Man or Woman did but say they belong'd to the Lord of Coucy Earl of Soissons they had not the least harm done unto them Nor so much as a single Penny taken from them At last the English Army came before Noyon a City of Picardy which was well supplied with Men of War and Good Captains Here they tarried a while making their Approaches as near as they durst to try whether there was any likelihood of prevailing or no but it plainly appear'd that small Advantage was to be got by attempting the Place Sr. Robert Knolles was lodged in the Abbey of Dorlans with his Men in good Order round about him and at last having tarried there long enough to little purpose he drew out his Army one Day before the City to see if any would sally out upon him from the Town But there was no such Matter offer'd wherefore Sr. Robert dispos'd himself to march away from thence At that time there was done an extraordinary Feat of Arms by a Scotch Knight named Sr. John Assueton being one of those Men of Arms of Scotland who had now enter'd King Edwards Pay. This Man left his Rank with his Spear in his hand his Page riding behind him and went toward the Barriers of Noyon Where he alighted saying Here hold my Horse and stir not from hence and so he came to the Barriers There were there at that time Sr. John de Roye and Sr. Lancelot de Lorris with ten or twelve more who all wonder'd what this Knight design'd to do He for his part being close at the Barriers said unto them Gentlemen I am come hither to visit you and because I see you will not come forth of your Barriers to me I will come in to you if I may and prove my Knighthood against you Win me if you can And with that he leap'd over the Bars and began to lay about him like a Lion he at them and they at him so that he alone fought thus against them all for near the space of an Hour and hurt several of them And all the while those of the Town beheld with much Delight from the Walls and their Garret Windows his great Activity Strength and Courage but they offer'd not to do him any hurt as they might very easily have done if they had been minded to cast stones or darts at him But the French Knights charged them to the contrary saying how they should let them alone to deal with Him. When matters had continued thus about an Hour the Scotch Page came to the Barriers with his Masters horse in his hand and said in his Language Sir pray come away it is high time for you to leave off now For the Army is marched off out of sight The Knight heard his Man and then gave two or three terrible strokes about him to clear the way and so arm'd as he was he leap'd back again over the Barririers and mounted his Horse having not received any hurt and turning to the Frenchmen said Adieu Sirs I thank you for my Diversion and with that he rode after his Man upon the spur towards the Army Now as Sr. Robert Knolles marched away from before Noyon and had passed the River of Oyse at Pont l'Evesque some that were in the Reer lag'd behind and set fire on the said Town of Pont l'Evesque wherein there were many goodly Houses The Knights and Esquires then at Noyon were mightily displeased to see this Fire wherefore when they understood by the saying of the Scotch Page that Sr. Robert was marched off with the Gross of the Army they sent out of the Town 60 Spears who rode up to Pont l'Evesqne and came where the Fire was There they found some of the Authors of that Mischief and others that tarried behind for Plunder the most part of whom they slew outright released several French Prisoners saved many Houses from fire wan fourty good Horses and 15 English Prisoners all whose Heads they caused to be struck off when they came to Noyon The mean while the Army marched forward in good Order toward Laonnois designing to pass the River of Aysne but they did no harm in the Land of Soissons because it belonged to