nobility and birth but his forwardnes and readines to conceiue and learne whatsoeuer was taught him ercéeded the common sort of his equals but chiefly hée excelled in exercise of Armes wherein he wholly delighted and ouer went the rest of his familiars and such as were brought vp with him When he came to mans estate he betooke himselfe to marriage and by his wife who liued not long with him who also may séeme not to haue liued with him so contentedly as was to bée required hée had one onely daughter whom he loued most entirely and caused her to be brought vp in vertue and learning wherein shée prospered to the great contentment and ioy of her Father and comfort of her mother who notwithstanding shortly after died and left her sole gouernor of her Fathers house which was great consisting of many people seruingmen and houshold seruants all which shée gouerned and vnder her father ruled with such discréet and modest behauiour as was of all people wondred at in respect of her tender age and youth besides shée was of such excellent and surpassing beauty as allured the eyes of all sorts of people to gaze and wonder at it nature hauing wrought in her mind an example of all womanhood and in her body and countenance a patterne and moddell of all perfection which being knowne at the Court as also throughout the land shée was commanded to attend the Court amongst Ladies of her regard and equall estimation being at Court and daily attendant on the Queene The King himselfe I meane King Iohn still respecting and gazing at her exquisite carriage and the perfection of her bewty fell so farre from himselfe and that which became his person and estate that he bent all his endeâ—ors to sollicite her of loue which shee as fully resolute most constantly denied The repulsed King left not so his vnlawfull sute for all her deniall but practised to procure her father to be a meanes for his vnlawfull and vngodly request a matter so farre from Kingly dignity a thing so dishonorable for him to attempt or vndergoe as that for it he euer after how euer for the time he bare faire weather persecuted and hated the King most deadly and it seemed to him being a man of high courage and resolution so prophane and so hainous a request as was from his very soule to be abhorred and detested nature not brooking the father to become a Pandor to his child but such was the loue or rather lust of this lasciuious King that the poore virgine not other wise able to auoid his importunate cute besough her father that shee might be professed a Nun or votary at Dunmow whereunto her father consented trusting that her absence would alay and asswage his lust and cause him to leaue his vnhallowed sute but it preuailed not but as a Lyon bereft of his pray grew more curaged then before appointing a messenger which he procured and hired of purpose whose arrand was either to perswade her to consent to the Kings request or by poison to take away her life in the end when nothing could perswade her he according to his direction poisoned her I haue read that it was secretly done with a poatched egge the sault being poisoned which was for her sauce Others say with a cup of poison which he enforced her to drinke but howsoeuer great mischiefe befell after this lamentable Tragedy which wel neere had ouerthrowne the Kingdome and Country This was about the yeere of our Lord 1213. Of the Barrons warre and the banishment of this Robert Fitz-walter FOr this occasion and many other grieuances the Barrons together with this Robert arose and made warre against the King driuing him to such extremity that he was forced to deliuer the City to the Barons and the Towre of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury on certaine conditions whereof I haue seene the coppie of a Charter or deed remaining in the Towre of London to this purpose The agreement betweene King Iohn of the one part and Robert Fitz-walter Marshall for the armie of God and the Church of England Richard Earle of Clare Geffrey Earle of Essex and Glocester Roger Bygot Earle of Nâ—rfolke and Suffolke Saâ—r Earle of Winchester Robert Earle of Oxford Henry Earle of Hereford and the Barrons vnderwritten that is to say William Marshall the younger Eustace de vescie William de Mowbray Iohn Fitz-roberts Roger de Mountbegon William de Lannauaile and other Earles and Barrons with those aboue wrâ—tten together with the fréemen of the whole kingdome that they aforesaid shall hold the Citty of London of the Kings deliuerance sauing to the King in the meane time all farmes rents and his cléere debts vntill the ascention of the Uirgin Marie which shall be in the 17. yéere of his raigne and the Lord of Canterbury shall likewise hold of the Kings deliuerance the towre of London vnto the foresaid terme sauing to the City of London their liberties and the customes and to euery man his right in the custody or kéeping of the Towre of London and if so bée that some things named in that Graunt bee performed by the King or that they be not hindred to be by him performed within the said terme that then the said City shall be deliuered to the King within the said terme sauing the liberty and customes of the said Citty and if they be not performed but hindered by the King Then the said Barrons to hold the said Citty and the Lord Archbishop the Towre vntill they be performed And in the meane time all men on either side to receiue the Lands Castles and Townes which they had the beginning of the warre betwéene the King and the Barons c. Hereby appeareth that the people of England had great affiance in the wisdome and valour of this Robert for they chose him for their chiefe commander and Generall of their Hoste by the name of Marshall The King after this agréement found meanes to banish Robert and diuers others of the Barons whereof some fled into Scotland some into France Thither also fled Robert Fitz-walter The king considering what dammage his owne subiects and people might doe vnto him in France prepared an Army and sailed ouer and met the French king where each armie being prepared and articles of peace and truce proposed they agréed vpon a truce for fiue yéeres Whilst both the hosts lay still about this composition There was an English knight which made offer to Iust with any knight of the French host which challenge Robert Fitz-walter obtained to answere on behalfe of the French So he ferryed ouer on horsebarke to the English Host there being a small Riuer betwixt them and in fight of both kings and armies Robert ouer threw and vnhorsed the English challenger or champion whereat king Iohn was wroth and swore by Gods tooth which was his vsuall oath that he were a king indeed that had such a knight Some of Roberrs friends enformed him and said
the French ouerwearied driuen to narrow straights were right glad to conclude a peace which was concluded and made in Brittaine at or neer Chartires in thee yeer of our Lord 1360. The black Prince with the chiefest of his Souldiers were after imployed in the warres of Spaine many returned for England and others could not by any meanes be drawne from out of France and from such places and preferments as with their swords they had purchased But Iohn Hawkewood ioyning himselfe and his company with such as were called the new men or late commers determined to séek better fortunes and raise his estate with the spoile of his enemies and so with a setled resolution to passe through the East parts of France vnto Italy to follow the warres there Hee tooke his iorney in despight of any powres that could be made to resist him through Champaigne Burgundy and Daulphine and came into Prouince euen to the very gates of Auignion where the Pope kéepes his Court residence of Cardinalls Great and exceeding rich were the spoiles which hee and his Followers gat in this iorney but much more was the honour fame and renoune which he purchased Hee neuer attempted but he conquered nor neuer skermished or fought battaile but euermore hée bare away the victory Hée was the sole and generall Commander of all which followed him which of their apparrell which hée newly made for them were called the white band which consisted of fiue thousand horse and one thousand and fiue hundred foote whereof the most part were Englishe and Archers Thus entred he into Lumberdy and was entertained by the Marques of Mountferratto a great Prince who made vnto him large payment and royall pay to the full content of himselfe his Captaines and Souldiers besides rich spoiles which they obtained and gat of the Marques enemies In these wars he spent some time to the great honour and fame of our English Nation At this time Lionell the Duke of Clarence third sonne to King Edward arriued in Italy with an honourable company to marry the Lady Violetta daughter to Uicount Galeasius Duke of Millan which gaue vnto Sir Iohn Hawkewood occasion to take leaue of the Marques and become a follower of the Duke of Clarence to the marriage where moreÌ„ like a Courtier then a Souldier trained vp as he was he behaued himselfe with such commendable and heroyicke carriage as that hée deserued to bée beloued both of the Duke and of his Father-in lawe Galeasius but most of all Barnabe brother of Galeasius a warlike Prince admired his vertues and knowing of his valor and resolution neuer rested to intreate the Duke of Clarence till he had obtained licence of him that Sir Iohn Hawkewood might with his companies serue him in his warres against the state of Mantua which warres hée mannaged in behalfe of Barnaby in such sort as that he in sundry â—ighte and skirmishes ouerthrew his enemies making himselfe and the English men so famous and renowned that all Italy seared them and accounted Barnaby happy in his entertainement who on the other side admired the discipline and valiant demeanour of our Nation and so entirely loued and honoured this Giouanno Acutho for so the Italians called him that hee gaue vnto him in marriage his daughter Dominia which hée had by a Lady of high birth and nobility named Porra and with her 10000 Florences of yéeraly reuenue Thus was his glory honour and name more spread and admired his riches increased and the more for that Barnaby was esteemed and accounted the most valiant and the worthyest Souldier of his time But to the great wonder of all men when the Duke of Clarence died at Alba the English men reuolted from the friendship of Galesius and Barnaby and Sir Iohn Hawkewood with his Army ioyned with their enemies By meanes of such alteration and change of affections grounded vpon what occasions I doe not reade I finde that many townes and Citties of Lumbardy were spoiled and wasted by his powre all Italy feared him and well was that Prince which might giue him entertainement But being yet out of pay his order was to take one Citty or other and with the spoile thereof pay his Souldiers and men of warre But if they would saue themseluos from spoile and ruine he ransomed them and would somtimes sell them to such as were enemies to the owners of them At these times hée tooke the Townes of Faensa and Bagnacauallo the one hee sould to the Marques of East for two hundred thousand Crownes That of Bagnacauallo he kept and held as his owne a long time yet at last Astrogian Manfredy gat it from him by treason Being weary of being out of pay wages hee was sent vnto Pope Gregory the twelueth whose Citties in Prouince reuolted from him whereupon hee entertained Sir Iohn Hawkewood and made him his Generall For whom he recouered all those Citties townes which refused his obedience For which seruice hee was besides his ordinary pay well rewarded and by the Popes appointment made Gouernour of fiue great townes In these warres I reade that he by mischance was once taken prisoner but by the great valour and worthines of his Captaines and Souldiers recouered from out the handes of his enemies with whom he was most honourably vsed and intreated Hauing ended the warres for the B. of Rome and vtterly refusing to be idle and out of pay he was solicited by many frée Citties and states of Italy to serue Amongst whom the Citty State of Florence proffered him most and them he serued with great commendation and honour From them hee went to the Pysans with whom when he had serued a space hee was againe solicited by the Florentines who increasing his pay and allowing better meanes to his Souldiers and followers obtained his good will againe with whom hee serued a long time after with such successe and increase of his commendation glorious renowne that hee was held and estéemed to bee the onely absolute and the best Souldier that then liued For hauing an excéeding sharp ripe and quick conceipt hee had learned by long experience in the warres hee had learned to force occasions and politiquely to frame his resolutions He was also speedy in execution and whensoeuer occasion required hée was as hot in fight as notable in delaies So that sundry great Captaines who after were most highly renouned procéeded from his schoole as from an exact Master of martiall discipline The exploits which he atchieued with good successe were accounted as sure grounds and principles of warlike discipline as well amongst his enemies as amongst his owne followers Thus waxed he old in the warres and after an incomparable renowne amongst all men for his vertues and true valour hée departed this mortall life at Florence and like a souldier was most honourably buried in their Cathedrall Church and in regard that he had in his life been a notable defender of their Common wealth The Senate and Citizens in
it is your owne knight Robert Fitz-walter and humbly be sought his pardon which the king graunted and so his lands were restored and his Castle at London which was defaced and taken from him called Bainards Castle was with licence of the king repaired and réedified of which Castle and the custome belonging thereunto I haue read in a very auncient written Booke of the customes of London that which followeth which also is remembred by Iohn Stow in his Annales The ceremonys and rights which belong to Robert Fitzwalter Chasteline of London and Lord of Woodham that is hee ought to be chiefe Bannerer or Bauner-bearer of London as in fee which belongeth to his Castle Bainard which seruices he ought to performe in time of warre THe said Robert as his Ancestors haue done and his heires ought to doe when there is preparation for warre he ought to come vpon his steed couered he being the twentieth man of Armes his caparisons of cloath or iron vnto the great dore of the Minster or Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul with his Banner displaid with his Armes in it and when he is come to the great dore of the Church mounted and apparrelled as before The Maior with the Shereffes and Aldermen armed shall come foorth to the dore of the said Church or Minster on foot the Maior hauing a Banner of Saint Paul in his hands which Banner shall be of vermaile with an Image of Saint Paul of gold with feet head and handes of siluer with a sword of siluer in the hand of the said Image and wheÌ„ the said Robert shal sée him come forthwith such a banner hee shall alight from his horse and salute the Maior as his fellow and compauion and shall say Sir Maior I am come to doe my seruice which I owe vnto the Citty and they shall say we giue to you as to our Bannerer in sée this Banner of this towne to beare and gouerne to the honour and profit of this Citty to your power And the said Robert and his heires shall receiue the said Banner in his hands and goe on foot out of the gate or dore with the Banner in his hands and be Maior and Sheriffes shall fellow him to the dore and present vnto him twenty pound sterling in money and deliuer it to his Chamberlaine for his expences that day Also a horse worth twenty pounds with a Saddle with the Armes of the said Robert on it engrauen the saddle shall bee couered with Slâ—ndall and his Armes also embrothered And the said Robert shall mount vpon the said horse with the Banner in his hand and when he is vp he shall say to the Maior that he cause a Marshall to be chosen for the host one of the Citty and when the Marshall is chosen the said Robert shall commaund the Maior that hee assemble the Burgeses and Commoners of the Citty and they shall all goe vnder the Banner of Saint Paul and the said Robert shall bere it himself vnto Algate being com there the said Kobert and the Maior shall deliuer it ouer to whom they shall thinke good and if they haue cause to goe foorth Robert shall cause them to meet at the Priory of the Trinity and the said Robert shall chose two foorth of euery ward the most sage persons to foresee that the Citty bee safely kept if the Host of London doe besiedge any towne or Castle If the siedge continue long as a whole yéer he is to receiue for euery siedge of the Comminalty of London fiue pounds for his trauaile and no more His Rights in time of Peace THe said Robert hath a Sokne in the Citty that is a wall in the Channonry of Saint Paul as a man goeth downe the stréet before the brame of S. Paul vnto the Thames and so to the side of the mill which is in the water which commeth downe from Fleet bridge and goeth so by London wall betwixt the Fryers Preachers and Ludgate and so returning backe to the house of the said Fryers vntill the said comen of the wall of the said Channonry of S. Paul that is all the parish of Saint Andrew which is in the guift of his Ancestors by the said signiortty and so the said Robert hath Appendant to the said Sokue all these things héere vnder written videlicet That hee ought to haue Sokeman and to place what Sokeman he will so that he be of Sokemanrie And if any of the Sokemanry bee impleaded in the Guild Hall of any thing which toucheth not the body of the Maior for the time being or that toucheth not the body of no Sheriffe it is lawfull for the Sokeman of the said Robert Fitswalter to demaund a Court of the said Fitzwalter and the Maior and Cittizens ought to graunt him to haue his Court and in that Court hee ought to bring his Iudgement as it is assented and giuen in the Guild Hall If any therefore be taken in his Sokne he ought to haue his stockes and his imprisonment in his Sokne and hee shall bée brought from thence to the Guyld Hall before the Maior and there they shall prouide him his iudgement such as ought to bee giuen him but his iudgement shall not bee published vntill he come in to the Court of the said Robert and in his Fraunchéese And the Iudgement shall bee such If he hath deserued death by treason then to bee tyed to a pillar which standeth in the Thames at Wood wharfe where Boates are fastened two ebbings and two flowings of the water And if hee be condemned for a common thiefe he ought to bee led to the Elmes there suffer his iudgement as other common thieues And thus the said Robert and his heires haue agrert honour which he holdeth for a great Frauncheese within the Citty that the Maior and the Cittizens are bound to doe him of right that is to say when the Maior will hold a great Councell he ought to call the said Robert and his heires to be with him in Councell and of Councell with the Citty And he ought to be sworne to be of Councell to the Citty against all people sauing the King and his heires And when hee commeth to the Hustings in Guild Hall the Maior or his Liuetenaunt ought to rise against him and set him downe neere vnto him and so long as he is in Guild Hall all the iudgements ought to be giuen by his mouth according to the record of yâ— Records of the same Guild Hal. And so many weyfes as come so long as he is there hee ought to giue them to the Bayliues of the Citty or to whoÌ„ he will by the Counce l of the Maior for the time be How this custome tooke bâ—ginning or how it ended I haue not yet read yet I thought good to repeat it for that it belonged to his Castle which honours were againe restored and possessed by his successors For I reade that in Anno Dom. 1303. vpon Saint Gregories day or the twelueth
Hugh Cauerley of Cheshire Croker of Oxfordshire Shandoys c. Besides Iohn Hawkewood neuer to be forgotten who after the end of these warres in France tooke with him his companies both horse and foot which were at his commaund And in Italy acted wonders was most highly esteemed and honoured of whose aduentures and worthy deedes the Histories of Italys make large report who at last there died and in Pauia as I remember hath a most worthy monument erected for him of these captaines Hawkewood amongst the Italians was called Io. Acuth These captaines as also many others according to the vse of conquerors had giuen vnto them lands offices and preferments as keeping of Eastles Cities Townes and countries which in the behalfe and right of King Edward they with great and stout resolution held and maintained in despight of all the French or any powre they could make who being wearied and outworne with the terror of these warres their estate still waxing worse and worse solicited the Pope and all the Princes of Christendome to be a meanes vnto King Edward of their peace which was at last graunted and the English forces abated and withdrawne But the chiefest could not so easily be with drawne from such places as with their swords they had conquered nor from those honors and preferments which with expence of their blood were in reward of their valour and seruice giuen vnto them vntill occasion presented a fit meanes of pollicy wherein the French excéed the English as Comineus witnesseth as in field or battaile the English excéed the French It happened at the same very time that Peter the lawfull King of Castile or Spaine was expulsed his kingdome by his bastard brother Henry and in the yéere 1380. came to Burdeaux to the blacke Prince crauing aid and succor against his vsurping brother This matter was furthered by the French who were most desirous of his absence well knowing that the English Captaines and souldiers would follow him as the Flowre of Chiualry and the honor and glory of his time The Prince accepted of Peters request and forthwith obtained licence of his Father to transport or rather lead his Army into Spaine where in a maine battaile fought at Nazers Henry the Fastard was defeated ouercome his Army dispersed and 6000 slaine and 200. taken prisoners amongst which the Earle of Deue and Bertrand Clakyn were most remarkeable and men of speciall note By this means King Peter was restored whose daughter and heire Iohn of Gaunt third son of King Edward and brother to the blacke Prince married and in her right intituled and called himselfe King of Castile Leon and Aragon which now is callâ—â— Spaine of which matter the Chronicles make large report and therefore néedlesse to be repeated and new written but to our purpose Amongst these prisonors the Earle of Dene being as I said the most remarkeable and of chiefest note albeit he was challenged by sundry men whereof some were of the Nobility yet this iust and wise Prince who neuer vsed to suffer vertue and valour vnrewarded nor would not for either fauour or feare doe a meane and priuate souldier any wrong adiudged the said Earle to be the lawfull prisoner of two valiant Esquires Souldiers and men of worth and reputation named Robert Hall and Iohn Shakerley and thereof they obtained his Charter against all others that pretended claime or interest in him The Earle not willing to go with them into England made request to be ransomed which was grauÌ„ced vnto him and the sum agréed vpon which he affirmed hee was not able presently to pay For that those warres had so impouerished both himself and his countrey and people that all their mony goods were wasted and consumed notwithstanding hée would giue vnto them his eldest sonne and heire as a pledge and hostage of the performance of such paiment as hée promised and they were contented to accept of So remained he still in Spaine and the youth who as I can gather was not then aboue 8. or nine yéeres of age came with these two Esquires into England and in short space he learned the ready pronouncing of the English tongue or language and likewise prospered in all vertue and good quallities that he was so well beloued of his said Gaurdians or masters as if he had béene their owne child Hée on the other part behaued himselfe houestly louingly and most kindly towards them with such faith and fidelity in their manifold trobles which for his cause they sustained as was most admirable and hereafter shall be declared His vnkind Father neither regard ng his promis his oath nor his bonds nor hauing any care or father-like affection to his ingaged sonne neuer sent the ran some nor any part thereof but most vnnaturally left him in their hands at the will of his two masters where I will leaue him and returne to King Edward The black Prince the comfort of his Father and ioy of England shortly after this departed this life The good King his Father not able to sustaine the burthen of so great sorrow liued not long after but left the son of Prince Edward his Nephew to succeed him in his Kingdomes and Crownes by the name of King Richard the second In which space King Peter of Spaine was also slaine by his brother and the bastard Henry again repossessed the Crown and dignity Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earle of Darby c. after the death of King Peter called himselfe in right of Beatrix his wife King of Castile Leon Aragon and obtained licence of the King to transport an Army at his owne proper charge into Spain for the recouery of his Kingdome And for that purpose made great and long prouision And knowing well that the Earle of Dâ—ane was in the hands of Hall and Shakerley solicited them to haue him but they vtterly refused to part with him without ready payment of the money for his ransome whereupon he be sought the King to deale with them on his behalf The king pretending yâ— his purpose was to make a marriage betweene the said Earle and his sister a gallant Lady and rich widow late wife to Peter Cortney But this deuise nor nothing else prouailed to obtaine the Dukes purpose so that they were both coÌ„mitted to the Tower of London from whence I know not by what meanes they escaped and after for their further safety they betooke themselues to the Sanctuary at Westminster enrolled themselues and their goods in the protection and priuiledge of that place which was at that time so strong and so reuerend as it was not thought that any man how cruell or tirannous so euer durst once infringe violate or breake it The Duke hauing staid so long in making prouision for his iorney that diuers of his chiefest Followers grew weary of their charges and expences and knowing that the matter of this Earle bred his discontent and was a speciall let and hinderance to his further proceedings determined
THE Honourable Prentice OR This Taylor is a man Shewed in the life and death of Sir John Hawkewood sometime Prentice of London interlaced with the famous History of the noble Fitzwalter Lord of Woodham in Essex and of the poisoning of his faire Daughter Also of the merry customes of Dunmow where any one may freely haue a Gammon of Bacon that repents not mariage in a yeere and a day VVhereunto is annexed the most lamentable murther of Robert Hall at the High Altar in Westminster Abbey ¶ Printed at London for Henry Gosson and are to be sold in Pannier alley 1615. TO MY MOST louing and respected friend Master Robert Valens health and all happines SVch is now and euermore hath been the inconstant and interchangeable estate of humane affaires good Sir that nothing hath beē which hath not had his increase his hight as also his declining and albeit it may bee said that among the rest martiall discipline was neuer in any age neglected or vnregarded Yet can it not be denyed but that in former ages the same hath been mannaged with much more honourable regard and reward then now it is Witnesse the many honoures which the Greekes and Romans allowed to Souldiers and men of high desert And in especiall the stately and costly Triumphs which were allowed to their Consuls or Generalls that were Victors and had conquered or subdued any Nation or Countrey to their obeysence Neyther haue writers left their atchiuements or worthy designes vnrecouered and smothered in obliuion which benefit many worthy Commanders of our Nation haue wanted Among which Iohn Hawkewood whose honour and memoriable exploits acted in Forraine Countries had been forgotten had not Paulus Iouius and some few others rather remembred them then expressed them according to their worth This moued me some few yeeres since for my owne recreation to collect these Histories ensuing hoping that some one or other better furnished then my selfe would haue vndertaken to deliuer them to the world in more ample manner and more plausible termes which not falling out according to my expectation but being put to the Presse I being most assured of your generous and worthy disposition haue imbouldened my selfe in this to make tender of that loue which I beare and owe to your vertues wishing to you all that happinesse which may equall your godly and vertuous intendments Yours in all W. U. The Introduction IT is obserued that the Almighty Creator and Gouernour of this great large vniuerse the world without diminishing his owne ininfinite vncircumscribed power or neglect of his protection and gouernement hath yet appointed the supe rior seauen planets by termes to gouerne the world vnder him each for the space of three hundred fifty and odde yeeres who according to their seuerall honoures and influences impart their seuerall natures and properties to mortall men Which is the cause that some ages are giuen to peace and quiet some to war some to studie and inuention of sciences some to trauaile and search strange and vnknowne lands to plant inhabitants some to propagate religion c. But if any age or time hath had Mars for gouernor I doubt not but about the daies of King Edward the third and his Father and his sonne this Gouernment must bee All Christian Princes yea and the heathen intending nothing but warres bloodshed stratagems and conquests In these times valor and magnanimity was esteemed had in price and bountifully rewarded Honour and promotion attending on such as could and had meanes to deserue it In these times men from meane estates arise to high promotion and dignities honour fame and renoune attending on such as could with wisedome and courage follow the warres THE Famous History of Sir Iohn Hawkewood sometimes PRENTICE of LONDON ABout the beginning of the raigne of King Edward the third there liued in the countie of Essex in the towne of Henningham Syble a man of honest report reputation named Gilbert Hawkewood by his trade and profession a Tanner who among other childrē had a son named Iohn a youth forward and apt for any good impression or matter which might be imposed on him Him hee brought vp in such learning as might after stand him in steed and such as those times affoorded which he diligently applyed insomuch as in writing reading and casting accounts and other rudiments of great scollership he exceeded his equalls So soone as hee came to reasonable yeers and was fit for the Cittie his Father brought him to London and bound him apprentize to a Taylor who were not then called Marchant Taylors but Taylors and linnen Armorers with this Taylor he remained performing all such duties as others that were his fellow prentises vsed to doe vnto and for their Masters vntill the King hauing imployed many thousands of men in his conquest of France and forced to plant and man many Garrisons in Citties Castles towns which he had wonne and taken sent yet againe into England for new supplie of Souldiers pressing many house-holders seruants to supplie his Armies and to mannage his intended conquest of France Then was Iohn Hawkhood albeit yong thought meet and able to serue Himselfe rather willing to be so imployed then to sit all day on a shoppe boord making trusses sowing stockins or fashioning or shaping of Garments His spirit Genius leading him rather to follow Arms after the sound of trumpet and drumme then be at the hand at the call of his master or mistres To France he went as also many other prentises of his acquaintance and familiars He serued an Archer with his bowe shafts in no better place then a common Sentinell or of the still watch as it then was termed and in short space such was his cariage valour and courage that he was promoted to be a commaunder or Corporall after a Sergeant then Ancient after that Liuetenaunt and last of all Captain and serued with his company of two hundred and fifty men all Archers with such good and happy successe as that he was euermore preferred to the best and most dangerous oppositions of the enemy The black Prince his generall hauing a watchfull eie of his behauiour and his valour louing him and esteeming him more then ordinary oftentimes called him to councell in weighty affaires and found him to bee of an excellent sharp and deep iudgement and often preferred his aduise before others who were esteemed much more worthy and were become famous for their councell neither was his estimation only for councell but for execution he surpassed in speede forwardnesse his fellow Captaines The particulars of his seruices are not recorded but lie vnknowne and couered in the names of chief Commannders and Generalls Let this sufice that for his valiant exploits and hardinesse hee was dignified with the honour of Knighthood Albeit hee was thought the poorest Knight in the Army He was in possibility of great preferment and of great riches if those wars of France had continued but