and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
Vain-glory For they had no manner of Conduct nor Skill in matters of War any further than their ordinary Trainings of the Militia in Peace might have instructed them with The English enter'd the Town with them Pell-mell where seising immediatly upon the Gates they held them open till the Earl of Lancaster and all his Men were enter'd And this is the manner as an ancient Author witnesses of Taking Poictiers tho p Frois c. 136. c. Froisard gives a different Account thereof which is this That the English having after the first Assault rested that Night in their Camp the next Morning certain Knights and Gentlemen of the Army by the Earls Order took their Horses and coasted about the Town to view it if peradventure any where they might find it more Assaultable These upon their return reported to the Earl that they had found a Place of more easie Access than ordinary by which they doubted not to carry the City Hereupon the Earl determin'd to renew the Assault the next Day in three several Places the greatest Noise and Show to appear elsewhere but the whole stress of the Business to lie there where it was most likely to succeed Now as Froisard also witnesses there was not in the Town any Captain of Name or Experience in matters of War nor were the Inhabitants of any great Skill or Conduct in making good a Defence whatever Courage they had in holding out thus long Wherefore the Assault being on the third Day renewed according to the former Device the English who attacked the weakest part enter'd by Force and so presently became Masters of the City When they within saw this they fled away in heaps at other Gates and escaped away because the Place as not surrounded but yet there were slain more than 700 of them for at the beginning all were put to the Sword who were found both Men Women and Children And the whole City was overrun and robbed as well of what the Inhabitants had owned as of what was brought thither from Parts adjoining for better Security Several Churches and Houses of Religion were robbed and defaced and many Rapes and other Licentious deeds committed and more had been but that the Pious Earl of Lancaster commanded the contrary on Pain of Death proclaiming that no House much less Church should be fired forasmuch as he said he designed to tarry there ten or twelve Days So that the Rage of the Souldiers being thus repressed far less Harm was done than would else have happen'd but however as it falls out in such Cases there was Plundering and Mischief enough Here the Earl tarried 12 Days and might have done longer if he had so pleased for there was none to resist him all the Country was in such a Consternation During his Stay here because the Place was of too large extent to be Garrison'd without great Numbers which he could not spare at that time he resolved to leave it void and so it was Dismantled given up to Plunder and laid wholly desolate except that they forbore to fire it the Souldiers finding so much Spoil they hardly knew what to do with it insomuch that they valued nothing but Gold Silver and Feathers for Men of War. From hence the Earl returned by easie Marches to St. jean D'Angely where he tarried a while treating and caressing the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town with Banquets and Collations besides Gifts of Jewels and other rich Presents and he behaved himself so gallantly amid these Sports and Revels that the People said He was the Noblest Prince that ever rode on Horseback After some short Continuance here during which time he took a new Oath in the King his Masters Name of the Mayor and Burgesses of the Town to keep and defend it as the Indubitate Right and Inheritance of the King of England he took his leave and return'd by such Fortresses as he had won before to the City of Bourdeaux where having largely satisfied his Men of War with Spoil Thanks Pay and Commendation he disposed them into their several Quarters the Winter being far entred at that time XIV When the Earl of Lancaster had thus respited the Country the Inhabitants of Poictiers who had escaped repaired again thither and fell with all their might to fortifie the Place And soon after being joyned with great Numbers of their Neighbouring Friends and headed with sufficient Captains they sent forth a strong Detachment of Men of Arms and others designing to surprise Lusignan the Garrison whereof hugely annoyed them But in this their Attempt thô q Giev Villani l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. treble the Number of the English they were with great Loss discomfited and their Captain the Earl of Monferrand with many others slain Which was look'd upon as another wonderfull Instance of King Edwards invincible Fortune CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip by his Ambassadors prevails with the King of Scotland to break the Truce with King Edward and to invade England II. King David resolves on a War with England The Number of the Scotch Army they begin to March. III. King David's Cruelty to an English Knight in cold Blood He encamps near the City of Durham IV. Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York in order to resist the Scots She sends an Expostulation to King David who prepares for fight The Order of the Scotch Army V. The Order and Number of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders VI. Queen Philippa encourages her Men who beat Earl Douglas and Sr. David Graham before the Battle VII The Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is forced to Retreat VIII King David is taken Prisoner by John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland IX The third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited X. The Time and Place of this Battle certainly assignned A gross Mistake of Hector Boethius the Scotch Historian XI The Duration or Time how long it lasted with an Account of the Loss on both Sides And the Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken XII John Copland bears away the King of Scotland to his Castle where he resolves to keep him The Queen sends to him for the King his Prisoner and She returning to York King Bailiol and the English Lords invade Scotland XIII John Copland upon refusal to deliver his Prisoner to the Queen is sent for by King Edward who upon full knowledge of his Reasons holds him excused and rewards him Royally XIV King David brought to London and put in the Tower The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed XV. The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to Calais XVI The Pope seeks to make Peace between England and France but in vain I. NOR were these all the Triumphs of this glorious Year King Edward's Good Fortune is providing another King to be Conquer'd and another Royal Army to be overthrown by his Successfull Arms. We spake in the former Chapter how King
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
of November he went thence to Monstrevil and thence Four Leagues farther to Hesdin and so to the Good City of Amiens where he tarried almost till Christmas On St. Thomas his Day being a Monday he rode thence to Paris where he was Honourably received of the Clergy with solemn Processions and the Universal Joy of all the People who convey'd him with great Demonstrations of Loyal Affection to his Palace Here He and his Son Philip and the rest of the Cavalcade alighted a most Royal and Magnificent Dinner being prepared for them But it is not my business to declare with what Welcome the French King was received by all manner of People at his return into his Realm For he was indeed a Better Prince than One would guess by his Ill-Fortune and had now been a Prisoner no less than Four Years One Month and six Days viz. from the 19 of September 1356 on which day the Battle of Poictiers was fought to the 25 of October 1360 when he was fully acquitted and went from Calais to Boulogne Wherefore his presence was much desired of all his Subjects and they welcom'd him where e'r he came with shouts and Viveleroys and presents of Gold and Silver and other Fair and Rich Gifts And the Prelates and Barons of all his Realm came to Paris to Visit and Congratulate him and they entertain'd him with Shews and Feasts and other Diversions to comfort his Mind according to their Duty And the King was hugely pleas'd with these things it being agreeable to have a Right Taste of Recreation after so much and so bitter Affliction III. Soon after this King Edward sent over the Sea such Persons as were Commission'd by Him to take Possession in his Name of those Lands Countries Earldoms Bayliwicks Cities Towns Castles and Forts that were to be deliver'd unto him by Vertue of the Peace and Treaty But this Matter was not over-hastily perform'd for divers Lords in Languedoc would not at first obey the French Kings Orders to yield themselves to hold of the King of England althô King John frankly quitted them of all the Faith Homage and other Tyes wherewith they had been bound unto Him It seem'd so hard to them to forget their Natural Lord and yield to obey Strangers Of this Humor especially were the Lords of the far Marches as the Earl of la Marche the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Chasbeau Darry the Vicount of Carmain the Lord of Pincornet and divers others all who were extreamly surprized that the French King should offer to acquit them of the Resort and Homage which they ow'd to him and enjoyn them to pay it to the King of England And some of them began to argue and said that the King ought not so to acquit them for they affirmed how there were in Gascogne Charters and Privileges above 500 Years old granted unto them by Charlemagne King of France which signified that their Resort and Allegiance should not be put to any other Court but his only And therefore at first they scrupled the Kings Commands but King John who was resolved to hold and perform the Articles of the Peace with all sincerity sent his Dear Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon unto them all severally who by good Words and found Reasons shewing them both the necessity of Affairs and that it was the Kings absolute Pleasure and Resolution perswaded the most part of the said Lords as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord De la Bret the Earl of Foix and many others thô much against their Wills to become Liege-men to the King of England The same Difficulty was found in the parts on the Sea-side as in Poictou Rochellois and Sainctogne Unto them this Composition of their King seem'd very grievous when they saw that thereby they were in a manner cut off from their Natural Country and that they must submit to the Government of strangers But especially the strong City of Rochelle would not of a long while admit of the English Yoke but excus'd themselves unto the King and beg'd earnestly of him still to continue their Protector and they wrote to him in the most endearing manner possible desiring him in their Letters and by their Representatives that for Gods sake he would please never to acquit them of the Faith that they ow'd unto him nor put them out of his Demaine into the hands of Strangers saying how they had rather be Taxed yearly even to the half of their substance than to be subject to the English which was a thing wholly insupportable to all true Frenchmen King John by these their frequent and humble Remonstrances saw well their Faith and Loyalty to him and was very compassionate of their case but he was a Prince of that Honour that he had rather lose half his Kingdom than break his Word and it was his ordinary saying That if Faith and Truth were banished from the rest of Mankind nevertheless they ought to be found in the Mouth of Kings Besides he was called upon by King Edward's Deputies for by this backwardness of the French Nation when it seems things were not made ready against Midsummer the First of the times appointed for compleating these Matters King Edward f Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. Franc. 35. Ed. 3. n. 3. on the 15 of November following constituted Sr. Thomas Vuedale Knight and Thomas Duncent Licentiate in the Laws his Agents whom he sent to Bruges with Power to make request to the King of France for the effectual Accomplishment of all things concluded on at Calais and to require that He and his Son should make the Renunciations and Transports according to all the foresaid agreements on the Reception whereof they were enabled to give Acquittance in the King their Masters Name These things quickned King John in his endeavours to reduce his People to acquiesce in his Determinations wherefore he wrote to those of Rochelle Desiring them to shew their Loyalty which they so much professed in denying themselves for his sake that otherwise the Peace would be broken upon their account which would be a great Imputation to his Honour and no less Prejudice to the whole Realm of France Hereupon when the Rochellers saw no other Remedy and that whether they would or no since their King would not admit of their excuses they should be compelled to undergo this hatefull Yoke then at last after much adoe they yielded full fore against their Wills the Honest Men of the Town saying to one another Well we shall then from henceforth obey the English but our hearts are tyed for ever to the French Interest And here it may be a matter of our Wonder how it came to pass that King Edward should ever expect otherwise from Frenchmen born but that they would bear a foreign Rider with a Mind always ready to fling him off upon the first occasion as afterwards it proved indeed Surely in this case I cannot tell what to say since that Prince's
he would take Advice in the matter and return them his answer on such a day Till which time the Three Deputies went and lay at Rennes Then streight the Earl sent William Lord Latimer into England to certifie the King of the French Kings Proposals and to crave his opinion and direction in the Matter King Edward being rightly informed of the whole Affair said How he would advise the Earl of Monford to accept of a Peace on Condition he might ever after remain Duke of Bretagne and also thought good that he should shew himself inclinable to yield some Honourable Allowance to the Lady who called her self Dutchess Widow of the Lord Charles of Blois and that he should assign her some handsom Pension or yearly Revenue to be payable out of some certain place where it should best please her And he granted also that he might do to the King of France for that Dutchy as other Dukes his Predecessors have done heretofore This answer the Lord Latimer brought back again to the Earl who having read the King his Father-in-Law's Letters and understood his pleasure as to the Premises by advice of his whole Council sent presently for the French Commissioners to come before him at which time he gave them a very agreeable Answer But it was said to them expresly that the Earl of Monford would by no means lay down his Claim to the Dutchy of Bretagne but that he would remain Duke thereof and so be called while he lived Notwithstanding whereas the French King would have him peaceably to open his Cities Towns and Castles and to yield Faith and Homage unto Him and to do all other Rights and Services which the Dukes of Bretagne have done in times past all this the Earl is well content to do nay he shall gladly acknowledge the French King for his Natural Lord and render unto him his Homage and Service in presence of the Peers of France And further he makes Offer to give Friendly Aid Help and Comfort to his Cousin Relict of the Lord Charles deceased and moreover to use his Interest to deliver his Cousins her Sons out of Prison in England This Answer extreamly satisfied the French Lords and they took a certain day whereon these Matters were to be fully Ratified and Concluded at Guerande and with that the City of Quimpercorentin and all Bretagne was to be entirely his Accordingly the French Deputies sent away to the Duke of Anjou who was then at Angiers having from the King of France full Commission and Authority to conclude this Treaty or to lay it aside at his pleasure When the Duke of Anjou saw the Conditions he had a long Deliberation for thô he found the Earls Proposals extreamly reasonable considering the juncture of Affairs yet he remembred he had promis'd other things to the Dutchess his Mother-in-Law which notwithstanding he now saw to be exceeding difficult for him to perform But at last he was wholly overrul'd to accept and Ratifie the Treaty and the two Knights that were sent to him returned back to Rennes with his Answer engrossed and sealed Then the Messengers of the French King and the Deputies of Earl Monford went and met d Mezeray c. at Guerande where soon after the Peace was fully made and compleated on both Hands and Quimpercorentin was forthwith yielded up and all other Places that had hither to held out against the Earl of Monford and He remain'd thenceforth True Duke of Bretagne on this Condition that if he should leave no Children of his Body lawfully begotten then the Dukedom should return to the Children of the Lord Charles of Blois and also that the Lady Jane late Wife to the said Lord Charles deceased should be Countess of Pentebria or Pontheure which Lands were of the Yearly Value of 20000 Franks And also that Duke John should come into France whenever it should please the King to send for him and render unto him his Homage for the Dutchy of Bretagne For the surer Confirmation of all which there were sundry Charters and Instruments interchangeably Engrossed and Sealed on both Parts Thus did John Earl of Monford at length obtain the Dukedom he had so long contended for and henceforth remain'd Duke thereof without any contradiction till other Wars broke out again as We shall shew in due place When this Concord and Agreement was made between King Charles of France and the Duke of Bretagne the said King who was very Politick and desired greatly to win to his side as many brave Souldiers as he could restored unto the Gallant Young Lord Oliver Glisson what his Grandfather King Philip had taken from him when he so cruelly and unjustly put his Father to Death as we have e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 8. p. 299 shew'd in the XVIII Year of King Edward's Reign After which time this brave Lord Clisson did by his Vertuous behaviour so win upon King Charles by degrees that at last nothing of moment could be done in France without him and he might e'n do whatever he pleased Which liberty however he used to no Mans hurt but only he utterly forgot his old Friends the English and ever after prov'd a true Frenchman And thus at last was the Fertile Country of Bretagne allowed a most pleasing Respit after those long and Cruel Wars which had almost emptied her Veins of the best Blood in France All the Natives were extream glad at this happy Change and received their New Lord with an universal Respect and unfeigned Joy he taking Faith and Homage of all the Cities Towns and Castles and of all the Prelates Barons Knights and Gentlemen of the whole Country Shortly after his Dear Lady Mary of England Fourth Daughter of King Edward was honourably convey'd over the Seas into Bretagne and there again the Marriage Rites were solemnly renewed with Feastings and Publick Rejoycing in the City of Nantes and in process of Time f Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 179. he had Issue by this Lady John Duke of Bretagne called the Sage Father of Peter and Francis both Dukes of Bretagne who died without issue Richard Earl of Estampes and Arthur Duke of Bretagne also the Third of that Name And thus We shall leave this Valiant Duke in the full Enjoyment of his Good Fortune till the Wars between France and England being renewed shall give us an Occasion to bring him upon the Stage again IV. Nor was there only a full Peace established thus in Bretagne but about the same time also Queen Jane Aunt to the King of Navarre and Queen Blanch his Sister endeavoured so earnestly that there was at last a Peace struck up between the French King and the King of Navarre chiefly by the prudent and dextrous Menagement of that renowned Lord the Captal of Busche who shew'd himself so diligent in Composing of Differences between these two Princes that in Consideration thereof King Charles wholly discharged him of all Obligations which lay upon him as to
e Frois c. 239. fol. 143. Fabian p. 250. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. departed out of England with a Princely Equipage and set sail for France being received at Boulogne by several Persons of the Highest Quality and by them conducted to Paris At some distance from the City he was met by the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy and the Lord Ingleram of Coucy Earl of Bedford his Brother-in-Law who convey'd him to the Louvre to the Presence of the King of France his Lodgings being provided in the Kings own Palace The first day he din'd and supp'd with the King at his own Table the next day he dined with the Queen at another of the Kings Houses near St. Paul and having danced after dinner with the Ladies and passed his time in such Amorous Gallantries and Recreations as young Princes usually divert themselves with in presence of that agreeable Sex he was again by the two foresaid Dukes of Berry and Burgundy conducted back to the Louvre where he supped with the King that Night also On the day following the two Dukes entertain'd him in like Manner at One of their Houses named Artois in Paris and the Day after he dined and supp'd again with the Queen and on the next Day being a Thursday he took his leave of the King and Queen who gave unto him and to the Chief of the English Lords in his Company sundry Gifts to the Value of 20000 Florens And so he was convey'd as far as Sens in Champaigne by the Earl of Tancarville and other Noblemen and from thence to the utmost Bounds of France by Knights and Gentlemen of that Kingdom to whom at parting he gave several Rich Gifts with many thanks Having thus passed thrô France he came into Savoy where he was very kindly received at the City of Chambery by the Generous Earl of Savoy whose Sister the Lady Blanch was Wife to Galeas Duke of Milain and Mother to the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel's Espoused Lady Having tarried there three Days which were all spent in Magnificent Entertainments Balls and Dancing with the Ladies and Gentlewomen he took his leave and began to set forward the Earl himself bearing him Company to Milain Where he saw his Niece Daughter to Duke Galeas given in Marriage unto Prince Lionel in the Famous Cathedral of Milain on the 29 Day of May f Lit. Dom. B.A. Pasch 9. April being a Monday and the next day after the Festival of the Holy Trinity in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXVIII Duke Galeas in Honour of this his Son-in-Law g Paul. Jovins in Galeatio 2 do p. 152. ex co Stow p. 267. Sandford p. 220. is said to have spent such abundance of Treasure as seem'd to surpass the Magnificence of the most Wealthy Monarchs For not to mention all the Sumptuous Feasts Balls Justs and Tourneaments and other stately and divertive Spectacles set forth on this occasion nor to summ up the great and large Gifts which were given to the Lord Edward Spencer and more than 200 other English Gentlemen who came out of England to wait on the Prince the Marriage Feast alone was so extraordinary that We may by that Conjecture the Largeness of Duke Galeas his Soul the full satisfaction he had in this Match and the Abundance of his Coffers For in that One Feast where Francis Petrarch the Laureate Poet of Italy was present being for Honour of his Learning seated among the Guests of the Highest Quality there were above 30 Courses of service upon the Table and between every Course as many Presents of unusual Magnificence intermixed all which John Galeas the Duke's Son and Prince of the Chosen Youth that waited that day presented unto Prince Lionel as they were brought up to the Table In one Course were presented Seventy Good Horses richly Adorned and Caparizon'd with Silk and Embroider'd Furniture and in the other Courses came up Vessels of Silver Ger-Falcons Hounds Armour for Horses Costly Coats of Mail shining Breastplates of Massy Steel Corslets Helmets and Burganets adorned with High and Rich Crests and Plumes Surcoats embroider'd with costly Jewels Knights Girdles and lastly Pictures of Gold beset with Gems and Purple and Cloth of Gold for Mens Apparel in Great Abundance And such vast Provision was there at this Feast that the Meats which were brought from the Table would have plentifully sufficed 10000 Men. II. But while the Accomplished Young Prince lived with his New Lady after the Manner of his own Country in continual Sports and Revellings besides the more boistrous Exercise of Tourneaments as forgetting or not regarding his Change of Air and what Diet was most proper for the Italian Clime within Five Months after his Marriage he fell into a grievous Sickness in the City of Alba Pompeia now called Longeville in Italy in the Marquisate of Monferrato in Piedmont in the House of his Father in Law the Duke of Milain Whereupon perceiving his Disease to be Mortal by h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. Sandford p. 221. his Testament bearing Date there upon the Third of October 1368 he bequeathed his Body to be buried in England in the Convent Church of the Augustine-Fryars at Clare in Suffolk before the High-Altar and gave thereto a Black-suit with all the Appurtenances as also his Black Cloth Embroider'd To his Lady Violantis He bequeathed his Vestment with Gold Coronets and all that belonged thereto Item to Sr. John Bromwick Knight his Courser called Ger-Falcon to Dr. John Capell his Chaplain a Girdle of solid Gold therewith to make a Chalice in Memory of his Soul to Thomas Waleis the Circle of Gold wherewith his Brother the Black-Prince was created Prince and to Edmund More the Circle wherewith he himself had been created Duke that we may pass over the many other Great Legacies which he gave to the Lord Edward Spencer Thomas Newborne Esquire and others then attending him in Italy And so being at that time i Vid. Ashmole's Garter c. One of the Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter he finally departed this Life k Sandford Dugd. ex Escaet 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 23 c. on the Vigil of St. Luke the Evangelist being a Tuesday and the 17 day of October the same Year not without suspicion of being * Knighton p. 2629 n. 50. poisoned by some subtle Italian trick to prevent that Glory which perhaps some Envy'd that he should attain He left behind him only One Daughter his Heir by Elizabeth his First Wife called Philippa then but l Sandford p. 222. 13 Years of Age and soon after given in Marriage to Edmund Mortimer the Third Earl of March of that Great Family from whom by the Mothers side came Edward the IV. Thô for the present he was deposited in the Chief Church of Pavia a City of Milain yet soon after according to his Testament his Body was brought over into England by Thomas Newborne
besides his own Cauteous Humor the Lord Clisson who was one of the Chief of his Council and had his Ear most cast many doubts in the way and said Sir be not easily tempted to send forth your People against those Madmen yonder The best way to beat them is to deny them Battle they will then fall away of themselves You may let them go on thus for a while for they cannot take your Inheritance from You nor drive You out of your Kingdom by their Smoak Sr. Robert Knolles therefore finding he could not obtain a Battle began to dislodge with his Army on the Tuesday Morning having fired all the Neighbouring Villages about which he had encamped that the Fire and Smoak were seen at Paris Now there was a Knight in the English Army who had made a Vow the day before to ride up to the Gates of Paris and strike at the Barriers with his Spear And therefore when the Army began to March away he left his Rank in order to accomplish his Vow with his Spear in his Fist his shield about his Neck on a good Horse and arm'd at all Pieces but his Head his Esquire bearing his Helmet after him on another Horse But when he came near to Paris he took and clapt on his Helmet and so leaving his Esquire behind set spurs to his Horse and came on a full Carriere to the Barriers which were then open It was at the Gate of St. James his and there stood there at that time the Earl of St. Paul the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Chauny the Lord of Crespy Sr. Edward of Renty and Sr. Angerant Dourdan who all wonder'd what this Knight intended to do For by his Riding they thought he design'd to enter into the City But it seems he intended no such Matter for having struck once or twice at the Barriers as before he had vow'd to do he turned the Reins of his Horse and rode back again But when the Frenchmen saw this they laugh'd him to scorn saying Go thy ways in Gods Name thou hast shew'd thy Knighthood enough of all Conscience The Gentleman's Name We can't recover nor whether he was an English or a Scotch Man or of what other Country only the Blazon upon his shield h Frois ibid. was Gules Two Fusils in a Fez Sable a â—ordure indented Sable But in the Suburbs he met with an hard Rencounter which he little expected for as he passed along the street there was before him a Butcher a sturdy big bon'd fellow with a sharp Axe in his Hand Who had before observed the behaviour of this Knight and intended to give him a Mark if he could conveniently As therefore he return'd and rode on carelesly heeding no Body this Butcher slipt on one side and gave him such a stroak between his Neck and Shoulders that he fell flat upon his Horses Neck and yet recover'd again but at that instant the Butcher redoubled his Blow so strongly that the Axe entred into his Flesh With that the Knight fell down to the earth but his Horse ran away and went to the Esquire who took him by the Bridle as he stood at the end of the street wondring what was become of his Master For he had seen him ride to the Barriers and after he had struck thereat with his Spear return again Wherefore now he rode a little forward to see what was the Matter and there he spy'd his Master lying on the ground among four or five lusty fellows who laid on him as if they had been beating on an Anvil with a Massy sledge At this the Esquire was in such a bodily fear that he durst by no means go any further and besides he thought his Master by that time past help wherefore he rode back with his Masters Horse in his Hand to the Army and told what misadventure had happen'd unto him whereat they were sorry So the Knight was there slain by the Butcher and the rest with him after which the Lords of France who stood at the Barriers and saw all the Passage laid up his Armour and caused his Body to be decently buried in Holy Ground That Night the English Army lodged between Paris and Montleherry by a little River named Yvette For they always us'd to take up betimes XX. While Sr. Robert Knolles i Frois c. 282. was employ'd in this Expedition on the one part and the Black-Prince on the other Hand with his two Brethren lay before the strong City of Limoges Sr. Bertram of Clequin with his two hundred Spears ravaged about on the one side of Limosin but he never lay in the Field so much as one Night for fear of being snap'd by the English whom he knew so strong in those Parts And yet every Day he rode about endeavouring by all means to conquer and win Towns and Castles and still at Night he would retire for shelter into some Fortress belonging to the Lord Lewis of Maleval or to the Lord Raimund of Marvejols or some other who had revolted to the French side The Prince of Wales knew of all this his Progress very well and Complaints were brought unto him dayly how cruelly Sr. Bertram harassed the Country But for all that he would not leave the Siege no thô Bourdeaux had been in Danger to be lost because of his Oath and Thirst of Revenge He only pressed it on the more violently that so he might be again at Liberty to attend other Matters Thus Prince Edward lay before the City of Limoges for the space of a Month or more in all which time he made neither Skirmish nor Assault but continued to undermine them Day and Night he trusted so well to the skill of those whom he employ'd in that Matter The Captains within the Town perciev'd plainly that they were undermin'd and made many Countermines to destroy the English but they made so many false Mines and by great skill in Mathematicks ran their ways so variously till they came to the Place design'd and so amused their Enemies by flinging out Earth on one side the Town when they had advanced their Mine to the other that at last they brought their Work to Perfection without suffering the least harm from the Counterminers Then the Captains of the Miners went to the Prince and said Sir when ever now it shall please Your Royal Highness to command us we shall in so many Hours cause a great Pain of the Wall to fall down into the Ditch so that you may enter the City at your ease without any danger The Prince being extreamly pleased with these Words said Then our Pleasure is that early to morrow Morning all things may be ready for our Entrance as you have promised Then Orders being given secretly thrô the Army and a strong Brigade of Footmen and Archers being appointed to enter at the Breach so to open the Gates for the Prince whose Resolution also concerning the Inhabitants was now known the Miners set fire to
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
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
till the Truce was fully expired and then on the same 12 day of July to enter Scotland in Hostile Manner with his Forces the Chief Captains whereof under him were John Lord Warren Earl of Surrey in England and of Stratherne in Scotland Richard Fitz-Alan the Stout Earl of Arundel Henry Lord f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who it seems had made no Oath to the Contrary as the Scotch Writers affirm but was redeem'd from his Imprisonment by a good round Summe of Money as we shew'd before the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Percy were here also together with the Lords Nicolas Cantilupe and Ralph Stafford all Barons of great Valour and Conduct who thô Subjects of England being for the most part ally'd to King Bailiol with their several Retinues and a choice Band of lusty Welchmen enter'd Scotland on the One part at the same time that King Edward enter'd on the Other as it had been before appointed Two such Mighty Torrents of War were not likely to be much resisted by the almost-exhausted Powers of the Bruceans So that in a manner they ravag'd the Country at their Pleasure wasting and burning all before them On the 12 g Knighton p. 2566. c. of July being a Wednesday King Edward of England began his March from the City of Carlile passing over the Solway Frith and so entring into Scotland in good Order of Battle On the Tuesday following being the 18 of July the Lord William Montague with certain other Barons of England rode forth coasting on the left hand towards the Parts of Caerlaverock in Nidisdale to fetch in Prey for the Army and the next day they return'd all safe with some Hundred Head of Cattle On * Julii 20. Thursday the King passed the Ford of Anand which giveth Name to Anandale and then he rear'd his Banners Royal and made many Knights but to the Lord William Montague he granted his Crest with the Eagle and a gallant Courser with Caparisons adorn'd with the Arms of Montague which are Argent three Fuzils in Fess Gules Moreover he gave him the Reversion of the Mannor of Wodeton and Mersewode-vale with the Advowsons of the Churches as also of the Mannor of Pole with the Advowson of the Church after the Death of Robert Fitz-Paine and Ela his Wife without Issue paying to the King his Heirs and Successors upon Christmas-day wheresoever he or they should happen to be a sword of 3 shillings and four pence for all Services Encouraged with this Bounty of his Prince the Lord Montague pierced yet farther into Scotland making great Havock and Spoil and continually bringing in huge Quantities of Victuals and Prey to the Army On that same day a certain Knight of Heinalt Named Sr. Enend came before King Edward with a Present from his Father in Law William Earl of Heinalt which was a very Gorgeous and Princely Helmet Richly beset with Precious Stones and adorn'd with the Coronet and other things in the same manner as the Earl himself was us'd to wear it on Festivals and when he appeared in the Greatest Splendor The King was extreamly pleased with this Present and immediately Rewarded the Messenger with an Hundred Pounds sterling 'T is likely he wore it long after for the Sake of the Donor For I have seen several ancient Pictures that Represent him in such an Helmet On the * Julii 23. Sunday after St. Mary Magdalene King Bailiol on the other hand took a strong Castle of the Earl of Athols called Cambremouth which would hardly have been master'd so soon but that in time of the Assault whether by chance or from without there happen'd such a fire in the Castle as compell'd them to yield presently together with all their Ammunition and Provision lay'd up for a long time or else they had all perished by Fire or been put to the sword Here they found the Lord David Marshal with his Lady also the Relict of the Lord Archimbald Douglas and the Wife of Sr. Philip Moubray beside meaner Prisoners Yet all this while neither of the Kings found any Considerable Opposition For long h Frois c. 26. f. 16. now had the Scots been us'd to these Harassings and therefore the better avoided them at this time by retiring with the best of their Substance into their Fortresses among the Marishes and thick Forests This manner they were first taught by their King Robert Bruce who in the Days of King Edward the First being so hardly hunted and pursued that neither Town City nor Castle could or durst entertain him betook himself to these Forests with good Success And still when the said King Edward was return'd for England he would forth again and appear on his Countries Behalf with sword in Hand straight Rally his broken and scatter'd Forces and presently recover either by Strength or Policy all that he had lost as far as to Barwick Upon News whereof King Edward would return with his Power and win all again Thus King Robert wan and lost the Kingdom of Scotland by turns for four or five times together when being at last Chaced into i Martin p. 87. Fabian p. 148 Graften p. 192. Norwey his Mighty Adversary King Edward the First died in a good old Age at Burgh upon the Sands near Caerlile But while he lay on his Death bed he sent for Prince Edward his Son and gave him Counsel to be Mercifull and Just and Constant in all his Words and Deeds to love his Brethren but to avoid Flatterers and especially Piers Gaveston After this he made him k Frois c. 26. f. 16. b. swear upon his Blessing that when he should see the Breath out of his Body he should take his Corps and boyl it in a Cauldron till the Flesh should all come off Then to bury the Flesh but to keep the Bones in a Coffin and to bear them along with him whensoever the Scots should Rebell for whether by Imagination or Superstition or secret Revelation he promised certain Victory against the Scots as often as his Bones were carried into the Field against them We read indeed in profane Story many such Instances and particularly that the Turks had some such Opinion of Scanderbeg's Bones but however King Edward the Second either out of Filial tenderness or pure disobedience buried his whole Body at Westminster where it remains Honourably Entombed to this day yet surely he never prosper'd against the Scots besides that he came to an unhappy end as we shew'd in the beginning of this History whether for want of his Fathers Bones or his Blessing for generally the Blessing of God goes along with a Parents just Benediction But this by the by While after their old Manner the Scots thus again at this time to avoid King Edward's Fury retired into their Fastnesses the l Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 898. Welchmen who were with King Bailiol being Highly incensed for want of Opposition spared neither
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.
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
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
Battle The Men of War and others in St. Quintins might easily discern their Banners but they had no great desire to disturb them They thought it sufficient if they might preserve themselves So that thô the Van-currours of the English Host came riding up to the Barriers to skirmish none yet came out against them The next day the Lords of the Kings Council debated which way they should proceed and by advice of the Duke of Brabant they resolv'd for la Tierasche because that way their Provision came in most plentifully And if King Philip followed them as they thought he would most certainly do then they were determin'd to expect him in the plain Fields and there to give him Battle Thus they marched forward in three Great Battalia's the English Marshals and the Germans made up the First the King of England led the Main and the Duke of Brabant brought up the Reer In this Order they rode forth burning and wasting the Country for three or four Leagues a day but always they took up their Lodgings betimes One Brigade of English and Germans passed the River of Somme by the Abby of Vermand and wasted and overran the Country all above Another under the Lord John of Hainault the Lord of Faulquemont and Sr. Arnold of Baquehen rode to Origny St Bennet a good Town and a rich but it was not greatly fortified so that it was presently taken by Assault and Plunder'd an Abby of Nuns being violated and the Town it self fired Then the Army proceeded toward Guise and Ribemont but the King lodged at Vehortes and staid there one day while his Men overran and destroy'd the Country all about The next Day the King took the way to la Flemenguere to go to Lesche in Tierasche and the Marshals and the Bishop of Lincoln with 500 Spears passed the River of Oyse and entred into Laonnois toward the Lands of the Lord William of Coucy where they destroy'd St. Gawen and the Town of Marle with Fire At night they lodged in the Valley beside Laon and the next Day they drew again to the main Host For they had found by examination of their Prisoners that the French King was come to St. Quintins with an Hundred Thousand Men and intended there to pass the Somme and follow King Edward to fight him But in the return to the Army they fired a great Town called Cressy sur Serre with many other Towns and Hamlets thereabout As for the Lord John of Hainault and his Company who were 500 Spears they went to Guise where they burnt the Town and beat down the Mills And thô Sr. John found within the Fortress his own Daughter the Lady Jane Wife to Lewis Earl of Blois who begg'd of him to spare the Inheritance of his Son-in-Law the Earl her Husband yet for all that he proceeded in what he had begun and utterly destroy'd all but the Fortress and then returned to the King whom he found at the Abby of Sarnaques and still his Men rode about to fetch in Prey for the Army and to spoil the Enemies Country Among others the Lord of Falquemont with an hundred Spears went to Plommion a considerable Town in Tierasche which he found empty for the Inhabitants were fled into a great Wood having carried all their Goods with them and had fortified themselves in the Wood by felling of Trees round about them The Almains having first set fire to the Town rode thither and beheld their manner of Defence but here they met with Sr. Arnold Baquehen and his Company who joyning together assayled them there in the Wood The Townsmen defended themselves to their power but these were Men of War and by removing the Timber on one hand and offering to set it on fire on the other presently drove them to flight having in the Medly slain and grievously wounded little more than 40 or 50 of them but all that ever they had was left behind a prey to the Conquerour Thus on all hands was the Country overran for they did what they pleased and as yet found no manner of impeachment g Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. thô they had burnt near a 1000 Towns and Villages When this Havock began to be made in France on h Knighton p. 2574. Stow p. 235. St. Matthew's Festival at night the Lord Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice of England led the Cardinal Bernard de Monte Faventio who had so boldly insulted to King Edward of the strength of France up into an high Tower shewing him the Frontiers of that Kingdom where for about 14 or 15 leagues together it seem'd as if all the Country was on a light fire Whereupon Sr. Geoffry said to the Cardinal My Lord what thinketh your Eminence now Doth not this Silken Line wherewith you say France is encompassed seem to you in great danger of being crack'd if not broken The Cardinal was so amaz'd that he answer'd nothing but fell down as Dead for sorrow and fear About this time there was i Odoric Rainal ad hunc an § 10 ex Tom. 5. Epist secr 417. brought to King Edward in his Camp a Letter from the Pope bearing Date from Avignon the iv of the Ides of Octob. Anno Pontificatus v to the Substance whereof was to let him know the great Propensity of the Roman See to his Person and Welfare the Edicts and Sentences set forth against Lewis of Bavaria and how assiduously he had sought to reduce him to the Bosom of the Church and advising him not any longer to cleave or adhere unto Him or his Interest till he should be reconciled to the Church because of those heavy Penalties which were denounced against Him and his Adherents into which himself was thereby plunged That Lewis was not really Emperour nor any of his Actions valid or done by Imperial Authority that he moved War unjustly against the Bishop and People of Cambray to which he then laid Siege that therefore he must not suffer these things in silence but unless he would reform himself and forbear those Courses he should be obliged thô unwilling to proceed against him according to the extent of his Apostolick Power By that time this Letter was received King Edward had as we shew'd rais'd his Siege from before Cambray and was now enter'd into the French Pale with Fire and Sword. VIII In this manner King Edward passed through France for about the space of 5 Weeks and he so scoured the Country with his Armies that in a manner all the Lands of k Stow ibid. Cambresis Vermandois Tierasche and Laonnois and other Parts of Picardy and Artois were wholly wasted except those Cities which were sworn to him with Churches and Monasteries which he spared for Devotion or Castles which were too strongly fortified The Inhabitants of the Country fled on all hands nor was there any that offer'd to resist him Thô the French King had gather'd several great Armies some being dispersed about in Walled Towns and
should be forthwith raised the One consisting of the Men of Gaunt and Bruges and other Flemmings a Fabian p. 212. with a certain Number of English Archers b Du Chesne p. 651. making up in all 55000 Men which being commanded by the Lord Robert of Artois was to lay Siege to St. Omers And the other consisting of King Edward's own Forces with the rest of his Allies was to sit down before Tournay in like manner The Lord Robert of Artois was soon ready for his Task and went accordingly thô not so soon but that King Philip before his Arrival had sent thither the Duke of Burgundy named c Favine l. 4. c. 3. p. 6. Eudes the IV with many other Lords Captains and Men of Arms to the Reinforcement of the Earl of Armagnac Who Arrived there accordingly d Gaguin l. 8. p. 137. with two and fourty Ships furnished with Souldiers and Provision of all Sorts As for King Edward it was resolved that he should set forward with his Forces by e 22 Julii Magdalene-tide then next ensuing and lay Siege to the City of Tournay And that thither all the Lords of the League should repair to him with their several Forces except the Lord Robert of Artois aforesaid Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders and the rest who were to lie before St. Omers All these things being thus fully Established the Council brake up and every one address'd himself to the performance of this Agreement Now King f Frois c. 53. fol. 30. b. 31. a. Du Chesne Philip of France had presently secret Information of the greater part of the Resolutions of this Council Whereupon besides his foremention'd Provision for St. Omers he sent to Tournay the Chief of all his Men of War as Ralph Earl of Ewe and his Son the Young Earl of Guisnes Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Brethren Emery Earl of Narbon Sr. Emery of Poictiers Sr. Geoffry Charny a Valiant Young Lord of whose Exploits this History will not be silent with these he sent the two Marshals Sr. Robert Bertrand and Sr. Matthew de la Trie Sr. Gerard de Montfaucon the Lord of Caieux Seneschal of Poictieu the Lord of Chastelan and Sr. John Landas and many other Valiant Knights and Esquires to the Number of g Fabian p. 212. 4000 Men of Arms and h Gievana Villan l. 11. c. 111. p. 769. 10000 Footmen the City it self affording no less than 15000 Fighting Men effective Now therefore when this Great Recruit was come to Tournay the Captain thereof the Lord Godmar du Fay was wonderfully satisfied and so joyning all together they immediately took all Care possible to supply and furnish the Place with Provision of Salt Wine Flesh Fish Wheat Oats Attillery and what else might seem Necessary for the Maintenance of a Town Besieged II. Nor was King Edward himself unwilling that his Intentions should be known in France But according to the Law formerly Established with his Allies in Flanders besides his Defiance made last Year he sends i Walsingh hist p. 135. Edit Franes p. 149. n. 21. before he goes to the Siege of Tournay his Charter of Defiance to King Philip the Tenour whereof from the k Adam Murimouth Original French runs thus l l Id. Adam Mâ—rimouth Walsingh lote citato Fabian p. 212 Fâ—x Acts Monum p. 348. Sandford p. 161. Du Chesne p. 651. Mezeray p. 16. c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Noble and Puissant Lord Philip Earl of Valois Sr. Philip of Valois We have long and often peaceably demanded of You by Our Embassadors in the most Reasonable manner we could devise that You would restore unto Us Our Lawfull Right and Inheritance of the Crown of France which all this while You have with great Injustice and Violence detained from Us And whereas We well perceive that You intend to persevere in the same injurious Usurpation without returning any Satisfactory Answer to Our just Demands We give You to understand that We are entred into the Land of Flanders as Sovereign Lord thereof and are now passing thrô the Country And We further signifie unto You that by the help of Our Saviour m m Haec verba videntur alludere ad illud DIEU Eâ— MON DROIT i.e. God and my Right which words are still under the Arms of the Kings of England c. Jesus Christ and Our Righteous Cause with the Forces of the said Country Our Subjects and Allies We purpose to recover the Right which We have to that Inheritance which You by Your injurious Violence detain from Us. And therefore are We now approaching toward You to make a quick decision of this Our Rightfull Challenge if You also will do the like And forasmuch as so great an Army as We bring with Us on Our part supposing You also on Your Part to do the like cannot remain long in the Field without great Destruction both of the People and Country which thing every Good Christian ought to avoid especially Princes and others who have the Government of the same We are desirous by as short dispatch as may be to meet and therefore to prevent the Mortality of Christians since the Quarrel apparently belongs to You and Me let the Controversie between Us be fairly decided by Our own Persons Body to Body to which thing We offer Our Selves for the Reasons aforesaid that the Great Nobility and Valour of each other may be seen of all Men. But if in case You shall not vouchsafe this way then let Us end the Dispute by the Battle of one Hundred of the most sufficient Persons of Your Party and as many of Mine which each of Us shall bring into the Field But if You will not admit either of the One or of the Other way then that You will Assign unto Us a certain Day before the City of Tournay which Day to be within Ten days next after the Date of this Our Letter wherein to Combat both of Us Power against Power We offering unto Your Choice these above specifi'd Conditions as We would have all the World to know not of any Malice Presumption or Pride in Our Selves but for the Causes aforesaid and to the intent that the Will of Our Saviour Jesus Christ being declared between Us two Peace and Unity might grow more and more among Christians the Power of Gods Enemies may be abated and the Bounds of Christendom be enlarged and enfranchised Wherefore consider hereupon with Your Self which of Our foresaid Offers You will accept and by the Bearer of these Our Letters send unto Us quick and speedy Answer Given under Our Great Seal at Chyn upon the Skell near Tournay the n n Sandford p. 161. Fox 27 Julii Fab. 15 Julii Alii diem non assâ—gnâ—nt 17 Day of Julii A. D. 1340. This Letter was some Days after thus
Simon Frasier and Earl Patrick of Dunbar The Stratagem however is told two ways and the less probable by the e Hector p. 322. n. 20. Bâ—chan l. 9. p. 298. Scotch Writers themselves which is this The Lord Douglas having acquaintance with one Walter Towers a Merchant called him into the Fryth directing him to counterfeit himself an English Merchant and to offer the Garrison Wines to sell This Towers according to his Instructions provided two Vessels of rich Wine and other Presents for the Captain desiring his leave to sell off the rest of his Goods in those Parts without any impediment or molestation That in consideration of this Favour if the Garrison wanted any thing which he had upon knowledge he would gratifie them therewith at reasonable Rates The Captain bidding him bring a certain quantity of Wine and Sea-bisket promises Admission at any time He forsooth pretending to be afraid of the Scots appointed to be there very early the next Morning That night Douglas and 12 of the most chosen and valiant Men with him disguised themselves with Seamens Habit over their Armour and having planted their Fellows in the nearest place they could with Order not to stirr till the Signal given go along with the foresaid Provision to the Castle Sr. William Douglas and Sr. Simon Frasier went first with the Cart the other Eleven were commanded to follow at some distance Being upon Call let in at the outer Gate of the Barriers which was before the Castle Gate as they espi'd the Keys of the Castle hanging on the Porters arm they suddenly slew him so that he died without one Word speaking Then in great silence they open the Castle Gate and thence gave the signal to their Fellows by the sound of an Horn the mean while they cast all their Carriages between the Doors that they might not be closed before their Fellows should come up This is Buchanan's Relation thô in some respects I know not upon what Authority different from Hector's who went before him Wherefore I rather follow Froisard an Author of credit infinitely beyond them both who thus tells the whole Matter f Frois c. 55. That Sr. William Douglas with his Companions aforesaid took to them two hundred hardy Wild Scots and went on board a Ship wherein was Provision of Corn Oats and Fuell and so they came peaceably into the Harbour of the Fryth or Forth not far from the Castle of Edinburgh That in the Night they armed themselves and all their Company disguising ten or twelve of their Choice Men and such as they had most confidence in with ragged Habits over their Armour and Hats like Country Clowns the rest of their Men they bestowed in an Ambush among the ruines of an Old Abby near the foot of the Hill. This done they that were dress'd like Clowns being yet well arm'd beneath their Rags drave up the Hill about break of day twelve Galloways laden with the foresaid Provision Being little more than half way onward Sr. William Douglas who could speak English perfectly without any mixture of the Scotch Dialect as his Father the Lord James could â—o before him and Sr. Simon Frasier disguised as they were went a little before and called to the Porter saying Sir in great fear we have brought hither Corn Oats and Fuel which if you have any need thereof we will sell you good cheap Why Marry said the Porter and we have great need thereof But it is so very early that I dare not wake the Captain nor his Steward However let them come in for I shall open the outer Gate where you shall be safe till the Steward-rises Upon this the Gate being open'd they all entred within the Barriers Sr. William Douglas first who heedfully casting his eye about espied the great Keys of the Castle hanging upon the Porters Arm. The two last Horses being laden with Coals were so order'd be like their Hamstrings suddenly cut that they fell down just at the entrance of the first Gate so that without much time and labour it could not be closed again At that instant while the Porter as he thought no harm was carelesly looking to the unlading Douglas from behind gave him so sure a stroak that without word speaking he fell down dead Then they took the great Keys and opened the Castle Gate laying all the Sacks there upon the Groundsell that it should not by any strength be closed against them but the outer Gate they cleared for their Men to come in with more ease This done Sr. William sounded an Horn and all cast away their torn Coats and drawing their Swords stood close together in shining Armour at the entrance of the Gate Upon the Signal given those that lay in Ambush mounted the Hill with all expedition being assured of Success The Watchman also of the Castle being allarm'd with the noise of the Horn look'd out and saw Men with their Weapons in their hands ascending the Hill and running toward the Castle Then he blew his Horn aloud and cri'd out Treason treason Rise rise to Arms to Arms quickly For yonder come Men of War upon us At this Alarm the Garrison began to rise and run to Arms in all hast they that first could hasting down to the Castle Gates But Sr. William Douglas and his twelve Companions so stoutly defended the Passage by the help of those Encumbrances that lay on the Threshold that the Gate could not be closed again till the coming up of the Scots Ambush Notwithstanding they within endeavour'd to defend the Castle to the utmost and hurt and slew several of the Scots but at last by the obstinate Valour of Douglas and his Men joyned to the great Surprise the English were in and their Unpreparedness many also giving all for lost without Trial the Castle was carried all that opposed being master'd and slain except the Master Sr. Richard Limesi and six English Esquires who were taken Prisoners The Scots tarried there all that Day to settle the Orders of the Castle over which they made Sr. Simon Vescy Captain with a sufficient Garrison under him The News of this Loss with the Manner thereof was brought to King Edward while he lay before Tournay During this Siege before Tournay Jacob van g Frois c. 379. fol. 257. Arteveld had a Son born in Gaunt to whom Queen Philippa of England who lay then in that City was pleased to be Godmother and gave him the Name of Philip Which Philip van Arteveld in process of time became a famous Captain of the Rebellious Gantois against the Earl their Lord as may be seen in Froisard and those who write of the Wars of Flanders in that Age. IX Now it is to be remembred that before we began to treat of the Siege of Tournay we spake of another h Vid. l. 1. c. 17. §. 1. p. 187. Army of Flemings which was appointed to sit down in like manner before St. Omers under the Conduct of the
a due State Counsel and a Treatise thereupon had with the Earls Barons and other Wise Men of our said Realm And for because We never consented to the making of the said Statute but as then it behoved Us We dissembled in the Premises by Protestations of Revocation of the said Statute if indeed it should proceed to eschew the Dangers which by denying of the same We feared to come forasmuch as the said Parliament otherwise had been without any Expedition in Discord dissolved and so our earnest business had likely been which God prohibit in Ruine And the said pretenced Statute We promised then to be Sealed It seemed to the said Earls Barons and other Wise Men that sithence the said Statute did not of our Free Will proceed the same should be void and ought not to have the Name nor strength of a Statute And therefore by their Counsel and Assent We have Decreed the said Statute to be void and the same inasmuch as it proceeded of Deed We have brought to be annulled Willing nevertheless that the Articles contained in the said pretenced Statute which by other of Our Statutes or of Our Progenitors Kings of England have been approved shall according to the form of the said Statute in every point as convenient is be observed And the same We do only to the Conservation and Redintegration of the Rights of Our Crown as We be bound and not that We should in any Wise aggrieve or oppress Our Subjects whom We desire to rule by Lenity and Gentleness And therefore We do command You that all these things You do to be openly proclaimed in such places within your Bayliwick where You shall see expedient Witness my self at Westminster the First day of October the XV Year of Our Reign This is the Famous Revocation which thô put among the Printed Statutes was meerly the Result of the Kings Prerogative Royal and yet in those days Esteemed of sufficient Force and as so afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament as We shall see two Years hence CHAPTER the NINETEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip of France wins the Emperour to his side II. The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward III. King Edwards answer thereto IV. The sudden Death of the Duke of Bretagne without Issue With the several Pretences of the Earl of Montford and Charles of Blois to that Dukedom V. Earl Montford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a. Parliament and goes forth with an Army to conquer his Inheritance VI. He goes into England does Homage to King Edward as true King of France for that Dukedom and implores his Protection VII On Charles of Blois his Complaint to King Philip Earl Montford is Summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France He comes to Paris but being in doubt gets secretly away again VIII The Dukedom adjudged to the Lord Charles of Blois IX King Philip promises unto him his Assistance and confiscates the Earldom of Montford which King Edward requites by giving the Earldom of Richmond unto the said Earl. X. Charles of Blois descends into Bretagne besieges Nantes and takes the Earl of Montford who is sent Prisoner to Paris XI The Countess of Montford prepares to renew the War. XII King Edward keeps his Christmas at Melros Abbey and the Earl of Darby at Roxborough whither certain Scotch Knights come to exercise Feats of Arms. XIII Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son called Edmund of Langley His Christening solemnized with a Feast and Turneament Which is falsly said to have been for love of the Countess of Salisbury XIV A small Digression concerning Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet. XV. The Lord Douglas besieges Striveling and takes it King Edward goes against Scotland with a Royal Army The Scotch Lords offer Conditions to obtain a Truce which are accepted XVI King David of Scotland returns home again raises an Army and enters England lays Siege to Newcastle but leaves it again XVII The Captain of Newcastle rides post with the News to King Edward who prepares for Resistance XVIII King David takes and destroys the City of Durham XIX He lays Siege to the Castle of Werke the Story of King Edwards Amours with the Countess of Salisbury exploded XX. The Captain of the Castle passes thrô the Scotch Host in the Night to hasten King Edward to his Relief On Knowledge whereof the King of Scotland Retires XXI King Edward comes before the Castle of Werke and the next Day follows the Scots XXII A Truce taken between the two Kings with the several Reasons inducing them thereto The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted their Ransoms I. ALL this while thô the Truce between France and England had more than Two Years to continue King Philip knowing that Truces are but Opportunities for Wise Enemies to improve to their Advantage like a Politick and Wary Prince thought good to take this time to recruit himself and to provide more strongly against a War which the Competition for a Crown seem'd to Entayl to future Ages And first after King Edward's own Method he desired to Establish himself with the Accession of some Powerfull Friends The Flemings he could by no means expect to prevail with while Jacob van Arteveld bore any Authority among them and the Earl of Hainalt was too much incensed to be wrought upon and the Duke of Brabant and other Lords of the Empire were still hamper'd in the Triple League made at Villenort Nor indeed did it seem feasable to gain any great footing in the Empire till the Emperour himself might be brought over The Emperours Friendship therefore seem'd as more considerable so upon many Accounts more attainable Lewis the Emperour had now to Wife the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Jane of Valois King Philips Sister Besides he knew him extream desirous to be Reconciled to the Church if he might obtain Absolution from the Pope on no Dishonourable Conditions and King Philip had at that time the Popes Keys under his Girdle the Court of Rome being at Avignon in France The Emperour therefore he now secretly and effectually plyes by the Popes Letters and his own Ambassadors offering him both Temporal and Spiritual Advantages great Gifts and Pensions together with a Frank and easie Absolution from his long-continued Excommunication These things took with him so well that he presently sent unto King Edward these his Letters of Revocation II. a Walsingh hist p. 146. n. 30. Fox Acts and Monum p. 351. Stow p. 238. Odâ—ric Rainald ad hunc annâ—m §. 12. c. Lewis by the Grace of God Emperour of the Romans always Augustus to Edward King of England his Beloved Brother Greeting and unfeigned Love. Althô innumerable and arduous Affairs do lie upon our shoulders and We are variously and perpetually encumbred about them yet notwithstanding when the Discord arisen between You and Philip King of France our Beloved Cosin which unless it be appeased may for the future bring forth both to You and to your
but they judg'd this sadness to proceed not from Love but from this that he had missed of the Scots his Enemies In the k Frois ibid. Morning however the King arose early resolving forthwith to follow after the Scots and to chase them out of his Realm Accordingly having taken leave of the Lady he put himself in the head of his Army and went after the Scots till he came to Barwick from whence afterward he proceeded till he encamped within four Leagues of the Forest of Gedeours whereinto King David was entred with all his Forces in confidence of that Impassable Wilderness For three days together King Edward lay there to see whether the Scots would come forth and give him Battle All this while there were divers skirmishes between the two Armies and several were slain and taken interchangeably on both sides thô the greater share of the loss fell to the Scots But Sr. William Douglas was the Man among them that did most harm to the English His Arms at that time are said to have been Azure a Chevron Argent Thô after upon the Encrease of the Honour of that House the Douglasses as * Vid. c. 4. §. 2. p. 57. We said before took the bloody Heart for their Arms in memory of Sr. James Douglas the Author of their Nobility who died in Spain as he was carrying King Roberts Heart to Jerusalem XXII Now for all these Skirmishes between the Scots and English during these three days l Frois c. 78. Du Chesne there were certain Noblemen on both parts who earnestly labour'd to compose matters between the two Kings And their Treaty took at last such effect that a Truce was agreed on for two Years provided the French King should give his Consent thereto For King David was so strongly confederated with King Philip that he could admit of no Peace without his Leave Which unless he should now grant then the said Truce was only to endure unto the First day of May following It was also agreed that the Earl of Murray should be quitted of his Ransom and Captivity if the King of Scots could so far prevail with the French King as that the Earl of Salisbury who was already at liberty but upon Parole should now fully be acquitted of all Obligations This Truce the King of Scots was by his Council earnestly advis'd to make that Scotland might thereby have some Breathing time to recover Strength from all its Miseries and that the Husbandmen might return to their care of the Fields which were now almost wholly neglected And King Edward for his part agreed the sooner not only because the Season of the Year began to call for a Respit but because he had Men of War at this time maintained at his charges in France in Gascogne in Ponthieu in Xaintogne in Bretagne and other Places besides his other vast Expences King David soon after by his Ambassadors persuaded King Philip to allow of this Agreement and moreover to send a Release to the Earl of Salisbury into England on sight whereof King Edward immediately return'd the Earl of Murray into his Country Only the King of France did by a caution oblige the Earl of Salisbury to pay him m Leland Câ—ll 1 Vol. p. 803. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 2 Vol. p. 48. 3000 l. Sterling to boot which before he had undertaken to do for the redemption and Fees of himself and of the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Son to the Earl of Suffolk In consderation of all which Charges we find that a Year after the Earl of Salisbury had his Liberty his good Master King Edward allow'd him leave to transport n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 240 Sacks of Wooll into Flanders as part of a Requital of what he had lost and suffer'd for his sake CHAPTER the TVVENTIETH The CONTENTS I. Charles of Blois layes Siege to Rennes in Bretagne II. The Countess of Monford sends for Succour to King Edward who orders the Lord Walter Manny to her Aid But he is detain'd at Sea 40 days III. The City of Rennes taken by Charles of Blois IV. He besieges the Countess in Hennebond with a notable Exploit performed by her in Person after which she is forced to ride off to Brest V. She returns again to Hennebond with a good Succour whereupon Charles of Blois leaving half the Army still there under Don Lewis of Spain goes with the other half and lays Siege to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against the Garrison of Rosternan VI. Hennebond being just on the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives the Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess VII The Lord Manny in a sally breaks the Enemies biggest Engine of Battery to pieces and gives them a brisk Camisade VIII Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois before Auray who sends him to take in Dinant In his way thither he takes Comper IX The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond X. The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who after that takes and sacks Guerande XI Auray taken by Charles of Blois XII He takes Vannes and lays Siege to Karhais XIII The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis killing 5700 of his Men the Don narrowly escaping XIV While the Lord Manny attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet takes and carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny pursues and besieges but hearing of a powerfull Succour approaching rises and goes homeward taking Gony en la Forest in the way The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement XV. Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who thereupon returns before Hennebond Don Lewis having obtain'd as a gift the disposal of the two English Knights Prisoners vows to behead them both in sight of their Friends in Hennebond XVI The Lord Manny hereupon calls a Council of War and propounds and effects the Rescue of the two Knights XVII Hereupon Charles of Blois raises his Siege again but takes Jugon by a wile XVIII A Truce taken between the Lord Charles and the Countess which latter comes to England with her Son where she is honourably received of the King. XIX The Earl of Salisbury conquering the Isle of Man is by the King of England crowned King thereof Pope Benedict the Twelfth dying is succeeded by Clement the Sixth I. WE have before given an Account of the Occasion and Beginning of the Wars in Bretagne how John Earl of Montford was taken at Nantes and deliver'd up as Prisoner to King Philip who committed him to the Louvre and that all that Winter the Lord Charles of Blois remained about Nantes intending to renew the War in the Opening of the Year Now therefore having remov'd out of the way the Matters of Scotland we shall return again to Bretagne where shortly we shall find England engag'd in a War. Early a Frois c. 79. in the Spring of this Year MCCCXLII
do what became his Wisdom and Courage but he was something surpris'd to be taken at such a time when most of his best Friends were absent with the Earl of Salisbury who lay then before Rennes but knew nothing of this matter it had been carried on so privately When the Besiegers had made good their Approaches and rightly fitted themselves they immediately fell on the Assault which they maintain'd with incredible Fury and Resolution For they feared lest the Earl of Salisbury should be informed of this their undertaking before they had effected their Design The Lords Henryds Leon and Sr. Oliver Clisson gave the greatest Encouragement and set the best Example so that never any Attack was carried on with more Ardour nor obtain'd better Success For there were so many places to be Mann'd and so few hands to perform that at last they wan the Barriers not long after the Gates and so they entred the City by force the English being now in their turn put to the chace many hurt and taken and more slain The Lord Robert of Artois escaped very narrowly thrô a Postern thô grievously wounded and with him the Lord Stafford who both got to the Countess to Hennebond The Lord Hugh Spencer was taken by the Lord Henry du Leon but so grievously wounded as Froisard says that he died within three Days after Thô this is a mistake for this Baron Spencer died not till p Dâ—dg 1 Vol. p. 395. six Years after as appears from the Records only indeed a Brother of his Sr. Edward Spencer we find to have departed this Life about this time But neither will I affirm that he was the Man for his Death is set a little more forward VIII Thus q Frois c. 93. fol. 47. b. was the City of Vannes retaken and fortified and repaired with all Expedition imaginable for fear of a Relapse so that within a short space it was much better provided to endure a Siege than ever before The Lord Robert of Artois tarried a while at Hennebond to seek remedy for his Wounds but neither did the Air agree with him nor the Physick For he found but little good there So he was advis'd to return into England where he might get more skilfull Chirurgeons But in his voyage the Sea and the Weather us'd him so unkindly that his sores fester'd insomuch that being brought to London he there died soon after Surely thô his High Spirit not being able to brook an injury from one whom He had in a manner raised to a Crown had urged him to open Enmity with his own Country yet for his Valour Conduct and Loyalty to King Edward he ought not to be deprived of his due Commendations especially since his fault against his Country may seem to have been expiated by his violent Death but the Worth of the Man may appear to have been considerable since his fall was bemoan'd as a Publique Loss over all England and King Edward himself being present at his Funeral in St. Pauls Cathedral perform'd his Obsequies as solemnly as if he had been his own Cosin Henry Plantagenet the most Noble and Valiant Earl of Darby Nor that only but he made a vow that he would severely revenge his Death and to that purpose would go himself in Person into Bretagne and bring the Country into such heavy desolation that it should not be recover'd of fourty Years He that could resolve to do so much for his sake after Death cannot but be supposed to have had an high esteem for his Person when living Althô I do not find that he had any Monument raised for him over the place of his Burial Perhaps King Edward thought as the late Noble Montross wrote for his Martyr'd Prince that it was more fitting To sing his Obsequies with Trumpets Sounds And write his Epitaph in Blood and Wounds However the Kingdom of France did not gain much by his Fall for her evil Genius soon after rais'd up another Native of her own who prov'd as great a Firebrand of the War against Her. IX But we must not omit a Memorable Parliament which King Edward held this Year at his Palace of Westminster die Lunae post Quindenam Paschae that is on * E. Lit. Dom. Pascha 13. April the 28 Day of April during the Sessions whereof viz. on the 12 of May being a Monday King Edward created r Ashincle's Garter p. 671. Adam Marimouth M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 226. ad hunc an c. his Eldest Son Edward who was now in the Thirteenth Year of his Age Prince of Wales investing him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a silver Rod And that he might be enabled to maintain a Port according to his Style and Dignity besides his former Titles and Profits annexed thereto he added several other Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William Emelden ordering him to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney together with this Dignity Further the King granted him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in and upon all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. At the same time the King Knighted several young Noblemen particularly Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. John Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick to whom he then gave an allowance of twenty pounds per annum toward his better support in the Kings Service Now it was Enacted t M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 50. §. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 38. §. 23. that the Statute made at Westminster 15 of Edward 3. which the King had soon after revoked as we have shewn should accordingly be utterly Repealed and lose the Name of a Statute as contrary to the Laws and the Kings Prerogative But forasmuch as the Articles there made were Reasonable it was Enacted that such Articles and others agreed on in this Parliament should be made into a Statute by Advice of the u i. e. of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. Justices X. In this Parliament it is Recorded x 17. Ed. 3. n. 59 in Dorso Vid. M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 54. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 41. Fox Acts Mon. p. 388. c. That the Commons of England made great Complaint of the Provisions and Reservations coming from the Court of Rome Whereby the Pope took up beforehand the future vacancies of Ecclesiastical Dignities for Aliens and such as had nothing to do within this Realm They remonstrated to the King the Manifold Inconveniences ensuing thereby as the Decay of Hospitality the transporting of the Treasure of the Realm to the Maintenance of the Kings Mortal Enemies the Discovering of the Secrets of the Kingdom and the utter discouragement disabling and impoverishing of Scholars Natives of the Land.
Loeheair with another Valiant Gentleman who had now left his Mistress the Countess for the Lord Charles of Blois and his name was Sr. Geoffry de Malestroit King Edward having invested the Place o Frois c. 94. gave them a very brave and vigorous Attack which endured half a day but yet little good was done thereby the City was in such good Case at this time The Countess of Montford hearing that King Edward was come into Bretagne and lay now before Vannes went from Hennebond accompanied with the Lord Walter Manny who lately was return'd unto her from the King and divers other Knights and Esquires to see his Majesty and his Lords and to discourse about her Matters of Necessity and Weight as well as to bid them welcome into her Country In which visit having spent four Days she then took her leave and returned back to Hennebond with all her Company excepting the Lord Walter Manny and two or three Lords more of England and Bretagne And all this while ever since a little after the first taking of Vannes by the Lord Robert of Artois the Earls of Salisbury Oxford Pembroke and Suffolk lay at Siege before Rennes Wherefore the Lord Charles of Blois when beside those great Forces that came from England before he understood also how King Edward was come now after them himself with another great Army sends word thereof unto his Uncle Philip King of France declaring that he must be inevitably ruin'd without a very speedy and very considerable supply Whereupon King Philip commanded his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to address himself effectually to Succour his Kinsman The mean while King Edward finding the strength of the City of Vannes and being informed that so great an Army as his could not be supply'd in that place by reason the Country round about was so greatly wasted and harassed that it was difficult to get any Forage for Man or Beast upon these accounts he resolved to divide his Army And first the Earl of Arundel the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Stafford the Lord of Triguier and Sr. Gerard of Rochefort with 600 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers were to carry on the Siege before Vannes and to ravage and feed on the Country all about He himself with the Residue of the Army resolv'd to go unto Rennes to see how the Siege went on there and so he did being highly welcomed by the Lords that lay before that place When King Edward had been before Rennes about five Days he heard how Sr. Charles of Blois made great Preparations to raise a sufficient Army at Nantes Wherefore leaving those whom he had found at Rennes except the Earl of Oxford to carry on the Siege there still he marched forth to Nantes with a Resolution to give Battle unto the Lord Charles or to hold him Besieged within the City He could not here furnish his Siege quite round because of the Extent of the place and of the River of Loire that ran besides it Wherefore he pitch'd his Tents on a little Mountain without the Town and set his Men in Battle Array thereby hoping so to provoke the Valorous young Lord Charles to come forth and accept of a decisive Battle But having stood thus from Morning till High Noon and found not the least offer of a Sally from the Town he sent his Van-Currours to skirmish at the Barriers and to set the Suburbs on fire which being done accordingly he withdrew his Men into their Entrenchments While thus King Edward lay before Nantes the Earl of p Knighton p. 2582. n. 50. Northampton Marshal of his Host rode forth every day ravaging and fetching in Prey out of the Country round about and taking of Castles Towns and Fortresses as Pont de Launay and others Wherefore now the Lord Charles of Blois repeated his Letters every Day to the French King laying open the great Necessity he stood in and requesting Succour with all speed The Duke of Normandy having before received Orders from the King his Father was at that time at the City of Angiers near the Borders of Bretagne where he made his Rendezvous and was now again call'd upon by his Father to make all Expedition possible King Edward this mean while had given many Assaults to the City of Nantes but was not able to gain any great Advantage nor could by any means oblige the Lord Charles of Blois to make a Sally Wherefore being displeased that he lay so long and lost so many Men to so little purpose he again divides his Army resolving him self to go before Dinant leaving still 600 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers to maintain the Siege before Nantes and to ravage the Country round-about With these he left the Earl of Oxford the Lord Henry Piercy the Lord William Ros of Hamlake the Lord John Moubray the Lord John Delaware the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord John Lisle and Others to whom Froisard adds the Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont But the q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 52. a b. Elder Henry who bore this Title had been now Dead above two Years before and his Son and Heir John died also a little before this leaving behind him his Son Henry the Younger who was at that time but two Years of Age and whom we shew'd to have been born in Flanders So that this Mistake of that Ancient Historian is to be excus'd as well as this short Digression of ours which was made only to witness our Diligence and not in the least design to expose an Author from whom I have borrowed so much my self These Lords being left before Nantes King Edward himself r Frois c. 94. f. 48. c. 96. c. went and laid Siege to the strong Town of Dinant between Rennes and St. Malo upon the River of Rance having in his way thither taken the strong Towns of Å¿ Knighton p. 2582. n. 60. Ploermel and Malestroit So that now at one time he held Siege before three strong Cities as Vannes Rennes and Nantes besides one good Town called Dinant in Bretagne The Captain of Dinant at that time was Sr. Pierce Portbeufe a valiant and worthy Gentleman who for a while maintained the Place maugre all the fierce Attacks of the English so that he worthily gain'd the Reputation of a Noble Knight But after four Days King Edward having got together a competent number of Boats and Barges filled them with Archers and Others commanding them to row up to the Pales wherewith the Town was enclosed toward the Water only having on that side no other Walls or Fortifications This piece of Service the Archers performed so well that none of the Inhabitants durst look over the Pales at their Defence so that while the Archers shot thus certain Men of Armes in the Boats who were appointed for that purpose hewed down the Pales with their Axes and so enter'd on that part by Force The Inhabitants upon this fled to the Market-place with those of
the Garrison but not with much Discretion For thereupon those few who enter'd by the Pales marched up to the Chief Gate and set it open for the King to enter Thus all was lost in a Trice the Besieged put to the Sword except their Captain Sr. Pierce Portbeufe who was taken to Mercy the Town utterly sack'd and plunder'd of all its Riches for it was very considerable in Merchandise Soon after which the King return'd to the Siege before Vannes leaving the Town of Dinant waste and Desolate XV. Now the mean t Frois c. 95. while that King Edward was thus busied about Dinant and other Parts of Bretagne his Captains whom he had left before Vannes gave many gallant Assaults to that City and especially at the Barriers and the chief Gate One Day in particular there was a very warm Attack made and many proper Feats of Arms done on both Sides So that at last the Besieged boldly set open their Gates and came to the Barriers because they saw there the Banners of the Earl of Warwick and of Arundel of the Lord Stafford and the Lord Manny whereupon they hop'd for some Advantage seeing the chief Lords of the Host adventur'd themselves rashly as they thought being so far from the Camp. Wherefore the Lord Clisson and Sr. Henry du Leon came forth couragiously to the Barriers and there began a very notable Skirmish with the Enemies In the end the English hoping to allure them to come forth of their Barriers or really unwilling to stand longer at such Disadvantage retired back in much seeming Confusion Then the fond Desire of Glory blinded the Eyes of the two valiant Lords of Bretagne for having appointed six other Knights to keep the Gates they open'd the Barriers and sallied forth upon the Lords of England who retired back on purpose now and then making a faint Offer of Resisting But when they had train'd them far enough they all together made a stop faced about and gave so vigerous a Shock to their Pursuers that seeing themselves deceived they now began to take their turn of Retiring but immediately they were charged home and many of them hurt slain and taken Which when the Besieged observed fearing to loose all they closed the Barriers in so unlucky a time that the Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon were shut out and so both taken Prisoners u Knighton p. 2581. n. 30. 40. together with Alard du Leon Brother to the Lord Henry and 5 other Persons of Quality and 30 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires On the other x Frois c. 95. side the Lord Ralph Stafford had pursued so far that he at the same time was shut in among his Enemies between the Gate and the Barriers and so was taken Prisoner with several of his Company some few being slain Upon this the Bretons retired into the City and the English to their Camp But there were no more Sallies after that It would be but superfluous to busie our Pen about what was done before Rennes or Nantes since as we shall shew by and by those Sieges were both raised before they came to any Effect by the Kings own Command upon his expecting a General Battle with the Duke of Normandy But we shall take occasion to mention one thing y Frois c. 96. concerning Don Lewis of Spain Sr. Charles of Germaulx and Sr. Otho de Rue the three Admirals of Charles of Blois who were at this time upon the Sea with 8 Galeons 13 good Barks and 30 other Ships of Genoua and Spain and kept the Coasts between England and Bretagne doing much harm to those who brought Provision to the Army before Vannes Once among the rest they adventur'd on the Kings Navy lying at Anchor in a little Port beside Vannes at which time they slew many of those who kept the Ships and had done much more Mischief if a good Detachment from the Besiegers had not been sent thither in all haste to their Assistance However by that time they came to the Port Don Lewis had taken four Ships laden with Provision and had sunk three other Vessels with all that was therein Upon which loss King Edward was advised to send Part of his Navy to Brest and the other Part to Hennebond which was done and the Sieges still continued before the Cities of Vannes Nantes and Rennes XVI And now 't is time to look out and see what Succour the Duke of Normandy hath raised for his Cousin Charles of Blois z Frois c. 97. He well enough knew what the King of England had done in Bretagne what Towns he had taken and what he had besieged and made all the haste he could to stop his Proceedings So now at last all things being ready he began his March from the City of Angiers and took the High-way to Nantes being conducted by the two Marshals of France the Lord Charles Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant His Army consisted of more than 3000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and above 30000 others the chief Captains whereof were Charles of Valois Earl of Alenson the Duke of Normandy his Uncle Guy Castilion Earl of Blois Father to the Lord Charles of Blois his Cousin the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Ponthieu the Earl of Boulogne the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord of Craon the Lord of Coucy the Lord of Suilly the Lord of Fresnes the Lord of Roye and many other Lords Knights and Esquires of Normandy Auvergne Berry Limosin Poictou Xantogne and Anjou First of all Tidings came to the Earl of Oxford and the rest of the English Captains who lay before Nantes that the Duke of Normandy was coming directly upon them with 40000 Men of War Whereupon they presently dispatch'd away Word to the King their Master who lay then before Vannes King Edward having studied a little upon the Matter presently told his Lords that he thought it would be best to raise two of his Sieges this before Vannes and the other before Rennes and so go and joyn his other Forces lying before Nantes and then to meet the Frenchmen But his Council were of another Opinion and made it appear in this manner Sir your Majesty is now in a good sure place nor only so but near to your Navy the greater Part whereof lies at Hennebond Wherefore it seems better that You command those who lie before Nantes to quit the Siege and come hither to You and those who lie at the Siege of Rennes may tarry still there for they are not so far off but they can come hither at any time upon your Command But surely the Commodity of the Place wherein you are now encamped ought not easily to be quitted This Counsel taking the Siege was raised from before Nantes and the English Lords came back to the King before Vannes Within a day or two of their Departure the Duke of Normandy a Frois c. 98. fol. 49.
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
And we find remaining upon this Registry of True Glory no less than Eight Emperours of Germany Five French Kings Five Kings of Denmark Three Kings of Spain Two Kings of Scotland before the Realms were happily United Five Kings of Portugal Two Kings of Sweedland One King of Poland One King of Bohemia One King of Aragon Two Kings of Castille Two Kings of Naples Two Arch-Dukes One Duke of Guelderland One Duke of Holland Two Dukes of Burgundy Two Dukes of Brunswicke One Duke of Milain Two Dukes of Vrbin One Duke of Ferrara One Duke of Savoy Two Dukes of Holstein One Duke of Saxony and One Duke of Wertemberg Seven Count Palatines of the Rhyne Four Princes of Orange One Marquess of Brandenberg all Strangers besides many other Worthies and Persons of the Highest Rank and Vertue both at home and abroad to the Number of well near 500 since the First Institution All whose Names together with the Escutcheons of their Arms are still remaining Engraven on Square Plates of Mettal affixed to their several Stalls in the most Beautifull Chappel of St. George and every Knights Banner is set up over his Head during his Natural Life So that We may justly conclude with our Learned Selden that it exceeds in Majesty Honour and Fanie all Chevalrous Orders in the World. VIII No less Designs than these busied the Active Mind of this Illustrious Monarch when he met with any Respit from War which now is hasting on apace For while by the Device of his Round Table He was thus laying a Foundation for this Royal and Heroick Institution King Philip of France who already had begun to countermine him with another Table of his Erecting at Paris and was extreamly offended with whatever King Edward went about began to be jealous of certain of his Lords and others who hitherto had served him faithfully as if they secretly for all that favour'd King Edwards cause Whether that was True or no whereof they were suspected is no where made appear but however King t Frois c 99. Mezerâ—y p. 21. Philip under pretence of a Solemn Tourneament which he then held at Paris in imitation of King Edwards at Windsor as we shew'd train'd thither the Lord Oliver Clisson with ten or twelve other Lords of Bretagne in company of the Lord Charles of Blois and there the most Loyal and Valiant Lord Clisson was suddenly by the jealous Kings Order apprehended and clapt up in Prison no Man being able to imagine for what reason unless that because King Edward had chose rather to release him by Exchange for the Lord Stafford he was therefore suspected to be a secret Friend to the English And notwithstanding that he had so gallantly recover'd Vannes from the English and at the same time had rid King Philip of the Lord Robert of Artois one of his most mortal Enemies nowwithout any Process or hearing he was adjudged to be drawn thrô the City to the Place of Execution where u Fabian p. 272. he lost his Head and after that his Body was hanged in Chains upon a Gibbet and his Head sent to Nantes in Bretagne where it was advanced upon a Pole over the Gates of the City To the great x Mezeray p. 21. Astonishment of all Men and the infinite Regret and Indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till now was not used to be shed but in Battle for that Cruel Princes quarrel This Lord Clisson left behind him a young Son named Oliver as his Father was him his Relations upon this Disaster took up presently and carry'd unto the Countess of Montford where he was bred up with her young Son John who was just about the same Age with him Soon after there died in the same manner and for as little matter Sr. John and Sr. Godfry de Malestroit the Father and Son two Valiant and Worthy Bretons also Sr. John de Montauban Sr. William Bruce Sr. John Cablet and Sr. John du Plessis Knights and John Malestroit Nephew to the foresaid Sr. John the Elder Esquire as also Robert Bruce John and David de Sennes Esquires Shortly after there were also Executed in Paris or as some say y Frois c. 99. starved to Death three Valiant Knights of Normandy Sr. William Bacon Sr. Richard Percy and Sr. Rouland de la Rochetessone all whose Heads were sent to Carentan a Chief City in Normandy which afterwards proved the utter Ruine of that Place as we shall shew Sr. Godfry of Harecourt himself who was Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother of the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had been served in no better manner but that he wisely kept aloof nor would he by any means obey King Philips Summons but at last despairing of any tolerable security in those parts he came over into England to King Edward who received him gladly and made good use both of his Valour and Counsel in the following War whereof he became a second Firebrand as the Lord Robert of Artois had been before him And King Philip after his old manner to enflame the business the more proceeded against him with an High Hand and openly proscribed him as a Traytor and Enemy to the Crown of France but King Edward on the other hand being then again at Enmity with Philip called him Cousin allowed him an Honourable Maintenance and made him one of the Marshals of his Host But this happen'd after the Death of the Lord Clisson z Frois c. 114. almost a Year Thus King Philip when he should rather have endeavoured of Enemies to make Friends by his rash severity and want of Princely connivence and temporizing a little rendred even many of his own Subjects Enemies unto him IX Of the first part of this Tragedy King Edward had News immediately for while a Frois c. 101. at Windsor he was busied in preparing his Round-Table of which we have spoken Mr. Henry b Fabian p. 273. Malestroit a Deacon in Holy Orders Master of the Requests to King Philip and younger Brother to Sr. Godfry of Malestroit whom the said King had unjustly put to Death came over to England in deep displeasure and told the King complaining unto him most lamentably of the Death of his Father Brother and Cousin and how cruelly and without all Reason King Philip had Executed several other Lords Knights and Esquires and especially the noble Lord Clisson who had so faithfully and valiantly served against the English only because he had a jealousie that they were secretly King Edwards Friends Wherefore he exhorted him earnestly that since the French King had thereby broken the Truce he would renew the War against him and Revenge the Blood of those his Innocent Friends How King Edward resented this News We shall shew when we have first dispatch'd what concerns this Messengeâ— Mr. Henry Malestroit To him the King presently assigned a place of good Authority in the City of Vannes in Bretagne which was then held of England
and to the Realm and that the Main Profits may be employed upon the Defence of the Realm To all which Petitions Answer was made in form following It is agreed by the King Earls Barons Justices and other Wise Men of the Realm that the Petitions aforesâ—â—d be made in sufficient form of Law. According to the Petitions aforesaid certain Processes made against Sr. William de la Pole and Reginald at Conduit out of the Exchequer are revoked as Erroneous And that they shall be charged anew to accompt for Moneys received for the Kings Wooll notwithstanding any Letter of Acquittance to them made The which Accord was sent to the King to know his Pleasure therein The Petitions of the Clerks of the Chancery that whereas the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper for the time being ought to have the Cognisance of all Pleas of Trespasses done by the said Clerks or other Servants where the Chancery shall remain Yet notwithstanding the Sheriffs of London had attached one Gilbert de Chrishull a Clerk of the said Chancery in London at the Suit of one Killingbury a Draper upon a Bill of Trespass Which Gilbert brought a Supersedeas of Priviledge to the said Sheriffs which they would not allow but drew him to find sureties The Clerks pray Remedy therefore and maintenance of their Liberties The Parliament doth confirm their Liberties and reciting the Contempt for neglecting the Process conclude that Writs be sent to the Mayor of London to attach the Sheriffs and others who were Parties and Maintainers of the Quarrel by their Bodies to appear before the King in Chancery at a certain day to answer as well to the Contempt of the Process as to the Breach of the Liberty and Damage of the Party At the Petition of the Commons of Nottingham it is enacted that as well the Goal of Nottingham which the King hath granted to Sr. John Brocas during his Life as all other Goals in the like Case should be annexed to the Sheriffwick of every County according to an Act made Ano. 14. Ed. 3. That no man within Cities or Towns or elsewhere do carry Maces of silver but only the Kings Serjeants but that they carry Maces of Copper only and of no other Mettal It was answer'd the same should be so excepting that the Serjeants of the City of London may carry their Maces of silver within the Liberties of London before the Mayor in the presence of the King. It is to be observed that of the Oaths of Justices and of the Clerks of the Chancery expressed in the u A. â— 1â— Ed. 3 p. â—8 Printed Statutes there is no mention made in the Record And this is the Sum of this Sessions of Parliament the rest being to be had in the Statute Books of this Year XIV And now the x Frois c. 102. Earls of Darby and Arundel with the Earls of Pembroke and Oxford the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Walter Manny Sr. Frank van Hall an Almain Lord of great Valour and Fidelity to the English Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant St. Richard Fitz-Simon Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. Stephen Tombey Sr. Richard Haydon Sr. John Norwich Sr. Richard Radcliff Sr. Robert Oxenden and others to the Number of 500 Knights and Esquires and 2000 Archers were ready to pass the Seas The King upon taking leave of his Cousin the Earl of Darby said unto him Take with you Gold and Silver enough and bestow it freely among those that do well for in so doing You will win their hearts which is beyond all Worldly Treasure The Earl took shipping at Southampton and on the 6 of June Landed at Bayonne a good and strong City of Gascogne that held of King Edward There he tarried seven Days and on the Eighth marched to Bourdeaux having largely encreased his Forces At this City he was received with Solemn Procession and here also he tarried a while being lodged in the Stately Abbey of St. Andrew At this time there was a Valiant French Lord called Gaston Earl of Laille Deputy for the French King in Guienne who excepting the loss he suffer'd at Bourdeaux by the Lord Oliver Ingham of which we * C. 15. §. 1. p. 163. spake had hitherto kept footing in that Country very well having taken divers Towns and Castles from the English He was endued with Absolute Power as the Kings Lieutenant that he might be render'd more able to reduce and defend those parts Wherefore understanding now of the Earl of Darby's arrival at Bourdeaux he sent for the Earls of Cominges and of Perigord the Vicount of Carmain the Earl of Valentinois the Lord of Mirande and the Lord of Duras for the Viscount of Villemur for the Lord De la Bard the Lord of Picornet the Viscount of Chastillon the Lord of y Ita Du Chesne Chasteauneufe the Lord of Lescun the Abbot of St. Salvin and all other Lords thereabout that held for France of whom the Earl of Laille demanded what they thought as to the coming of the Earl of Darby They answer'd how they thought themselves strong enough to defend the Passage at Bergerac This answer satisfied the Earl and thereupon he sent for Men from all Parts to reinforce his Troops and so went and kept the suburbs of Bergerac which were strong and of large extent and enclosed with the River of Dordogne The z Frois c. 103. fol. 50. b. Earl of Darby had been now at Bourdeaux about 15 Days when hearing what Provision was made to resist him at Bergerac he resolved first of all to march thitherward The Marshals of the Host were Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Frank van Hall who rode the first Morning three Leagues to a Castle of their own called Monlieu where they tarried the Remainder of that Day and all that night The next Morning early the Marshals Forerunners rode up to the very Barriers of Bergerac and having there well view'd the Demeanor of the French return'd and told the Lord Manny that they found nothing formidable in what they had seen That Morning the English dined betimes because they design'd the residue of the Day for Action and as they sat at dinner Sr. Walter Manny applying himself to the Earl of Darby said mertily My Lord if We were good Men of Arms We should drink this evening with the French Lords in the Suburbs or City of Bergerac The Earl reply'd it shall not be my fault if we fail I 'll assure you When the Captains heard that they said to one another Let us haste to Arms for we are now for Bergerac and accordingly every Man was Armed and on Horseback and the Captains ranged them in Order of Battle without any other command given When the Earl of Darby saw the great Ardour and Alacrity of his Souldiers he took great Pleasure thereat and said aloud Let us then ride on to our Enemies in the Name of God and St. George Thus they rode forth with their Banners displayed in the heat
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
order'd his Lodgings to be set up without the Town for in War time he would never endure to lodge in any Town for fear of Fire having already sent a strong Detachment before him who presently took the Town and plunder'd it sending their Burgesses Prisoners to the Ships From hence the King having burnt Torigny Cormolin Fontenay and Chesne marched directly toward the great City of Caen. in Normandy about eleven French Miles Eastward of St. Lo which likewise abounded with Mercers Ware and other Merchandise and was inhabited with Rich Burgesses Noble Ladies and Fair Virgins and adorned with goodly Churches and other Buildings among which there were two stately Abbeys the one of the Trinity and the other of St. Stephen which latter was built by William Duke of Normandy who was in time King of England sirnamed the Conquerour and lay then buried before the a Sandford Geneal hist p. 6. High Altar in the said Church of St. Stephen under a most stately Mausoleum erected there for him by his Son King William sinamed Rufus On the one side of this City b Frois c. 123. Du Chesne p. 664. Gaguin p. 140. Fabian p. 221. stood the Castle being the very fairest of all Normandy wherein was Captain Sr. Robert Wergny with 300 Genouese Arbalistes besides Men of Arms And in the Town there was William Bertrand Bishop of Bayeux Ralph Earl of Eu and of Guisnes and Constable of France and John Melun Earl of Tancarville and High Chamberlain with a sufficient Number of Men of War. King Edward c M.S. vet Lat. c. being desirous to save the Effusion of Christian Blood sent unto them first Geoffry de Maldon Fryer of the Order of the Hermits of St. Austen and Professor of Divinity with his Letters wherein he exhorted them to deliver up unto him the Town and Castle and he promised to receive them into his Grace and Protection and to let them enjoy their Properties securely But him the Bishop of Baieux caused to be clapt in Irons and detained in the Dungeon of the Castle tearing the Kings Letters in pieces and urging the Captains to stand boldly to their Defence For that day the King of England took up his Lodging early in the Afternoon by a little Port-Town called Estrehan near the River Orne whither his Admiral came to him with his Navy The Constable and the other French Lords in Caen kept good Watch that Night and the next Morning betimes were all in Arms together with the Inhabitants ready to serve their Country with the hazard of their Lives The Constable's Resolution at first was only to stand on the Defensive Part and therefore he gave Order that none should sally forth by any means but stand in their allotted Stations upon the Walls Gates Bridge and Rivers As for the Suburbs he gave over all care of them because they were not tenable For he thought it sufficient if he might make good the City it self because it was only enclosed with the River But when the Burgesses and chief Inhabitants heard of this Order they said that for their Part they would march out against the King of England for they were both able and willing to give him Battle for all his Puissance The Constable seeing their Alacrity said Be it so then in the Name of God and St. Dennis You shall not want my Company Then they set open their Gates and marched out all in good Order making Countenance as if they were resolved to Conquer or to sell their Lives Dearly That Morning being the 20 of d Fabian p 220 July King * Frois c. 123. Edward rose early and having heard Mass before Sun-rise set his Men in order to go against the City of Caen And so took horse with the Prince his Son and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt one of his Marshals whose Word the King much rely'd on and approached the Town in three well-order'd Battalia's But when the e Frois ibid. Du Chesne Mezeray p. 25. Burgesses of the City who had hitherto stood ready to receive him in the Field saw the Dreadfull Appearance of Standards and Banners waving in the Wind and the Tall Archers shooting fiercely from their long Bows presently their Hearts began to fail them and having scarce endured the first Brunt of the Battle for all that the Constable could say or do they ignobly abandon'd both Him and their Honour and fled precipitantly toward the Town the English eagerly following them at the Heels Here it was that the Archers finding some faint Resistance at the Bridge King Edward lest they should suffer by the French Men of Arms sent the Earl of Warwick to succour them who by his wonderous Valour thô he found the Archers out of all Danger and fighting with some Advantage on their Side so signaliz'd himself that together with Seven Men of Arms more if he did not as f Walsingh Hypod p. 148. Walsingham reports slay an Hundred Normans yet he won the Bridge and enter'd the Town pell-mell with the Enemy When the Constable and the Earl of Tancarville saw how things went cursing the Cowardise of the Townsmen and their own Credulity they took a little Tower at the Bridge Foot which they enter'd with certain Knights in their Company The Bishop g Fabian p. 221. of Bayeux with some other Captains Knights and Esquires of France such as knew the ready way to the Castle hasted all thither where they were received by the Captain Sr. Robert Wergny for the Place was large enough All this while the English were chasing and slaying such as they found for as yet they gave no Quarter And it happen'd so ill for the Town that the River which at other times could bear Ships of Burthen was now so low that Men might without Danger pass and repass it both on Horseback and on Foot. Wherefore the City was presently full of Enemies and the French were on all hands beaten down without Mercy so that what within the Town and in the Chace there fell above h Giov. Villan l. 12. p. 872. 5000 of the Enemy The Constable and the Earl of Tancarville beholding this Slaughter and considering that they were not able to make good the Place wherein they were wherefore they were like to be slain as they saw their Men were without Mercy began to think of saving their Lives by yielding So looking down along the Street at last they espied an English Lord Sr. Thomas Holland who with his Brother Sr. Robert and Others were of the Retinue of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Froisard says he had but one Eye which because he also reports of William Montagu late Earl of Salisbury of the Lord John Chandos and other English Knights I am apt to think that he was one of those 500 young Gentlemen who in the Beginning of these French Wars clapt Patches on their Left Eyes with a solemn Vow never to take them off till they had
Knights and Esquires of France together with the Inhabitants Here the English alighted from their Horses and made a brisk attack upon the Place But the Defence was so vigorous that after a long contest which lasted a whole Morning the Assailants were fain to leave off and go to seek better Fortune elsewhere In the way they took Fontaine-Sur Somme which they pillaged and set on Fire but there was no Passage there thence they went to another Town called Longe in Ponthieu where a Bridge was laid over the River but it was so well Defended that after a brisk Assay they were fain to quit all hopes of winning it So they passed on to Picquigny where again they found the Town Bridge and Castle so surely fortfied that it was next to impossible to force them King Philip had taken such Care to secure all the Passages with design by keeping the King of England as it were locked up between two Rivers either so to famish him or to give him Battle at his great Disadvantage So that when the two Marshals had thus made Tryal all along by the River and found no likelyhood of getting over they return'd to King Edward their Master shewing him their ill Success and how every where the Enemy had prevented them That same Night the French King came to Amiens with more than an Hundred Thousand Men to be nearer the English whose Motions now he resolved to observe more narrowly Amiens is the Chief City of Picardy lying upon the Somme and distant about 10 Leagues from Abbeville but little more than six from Airaynes where now the King of England lay He for his part knowing the King of France so near him behind and the River before him which he could not pass remain'd very thoughtfull most part of that Night but resolved now to seek a Passage himself with all his Forces So the next Morning having heard Mass before Sun-rise he presently after began to decamp from about Airaynes his two Marshals scouring along before him As thus he rode thrô the Country of Vimeux toward Abbeville a good and large City of Ponthieu upon the Somme he found in his way a pretty considerable Town called Fountaines les Secques whither many of the Country People were fled with their Goods in hopes of that little Defence that was there But these hopes proved pernicious for the Town was presently taken and spoil'd and the Inhabitants put to the Sword. King Edward continued his March to Oysemont which he also took and lodged there for that Night in a great Hospital near the Town The mean time King Philip had left Amiens and as in pursuit of the English came about Noon to Airaynes from whence King Edward was gone that Morning Here he found great store of Provision left there by the English upon their hasty departure as meat ready spitted Bread and Pasties in the Ovens Tunns and Casks full of Wine and Tables ready spread All these things as they were then Arguments to Philip that Edward fled so have they been to several especially to the French Historians of the same But whoever impartially considers the Policy and Courage of King Edward and that he not only now had the leisure to take Towns in his Flight but also both before and after shew'd his firm Resolution to abide his Enemies and that Tables are not usually spread so early in the Morning as when he left that Place will easily imagine that all these things were purposely and designedly left there by that Prince to nourish security in his Adversaries as We shall find it did to their Destruction XIII However there King Philip was obliged to stay that Night for the Reer of his Army and some of his Lords which were not yet come up King Edward the mean while being at Oysemont had sent out his Marshals who overran the Country even to the Gates of Abbeville and as far as St. Valery where they had a brisk Skirmish at the Gates Upon their return at Night King Edward held a Council of War wherein 't was agreed to call certain of the French Prisoners before them which being done the King himself in a very Affable and Courteous Manner demanded if there was any Man among them that knew of any Passage beneath Abbeville whereby he and his Men might get over the Somme And he added that if any one could rightly and truly inform him as to this point he would grant him his Liberty and twenty other Frenchmen for his sake Now there was among the Prisoners there present a young lusty Yeoman called Gobin y Gaguin Du Chesne c. Agace who boldly stepping forth before the King said Sir I promise You on peril of my Neck to guide You to such a Ford where Your Majesty and all your Men shall pass the Somme without Danger There are certain places at this Passage so broad that 12 Men may go over in Front with ease and hardly knee-deep in the Water for thô at the return of the Floud the River swells so intolerably that the biggest Ships may ride there yet during the Ebbe which happens twice in 12 Hours the Water is so low that either Horse or Foot may pass over with security enough And the bottom of this Passage is so hard and firm with Chalk White-stones and Pebbles whence it is called Blanchetteaque or White-Water that all your Carriages also may go safely over And if it please Your Majesty to set forward very early We may be there by Sun-rise for it is but about 4 Leagues of The King said if this proved true he would set Gobin and all his Company at Liberty and give him over and above an Hundred Nobles for his Pains And thereupon having committed the Fellow to the Marshals Custody he sent Command thrô the Host that every Man should be ready to March at the sound of the Trumpet About two days before z Frois c. 127 King Philip who understood the Country well and doubtted that some one or other either for hope or fear would inform King Edward of that Passage for the more Security ordered Sr. Gondemar du Fay a valiant Baron of Normandy to go from Amiens on the other side the Somme and defend Blanchetteaque with a 1000 Men of Arms and 6000 Foot together with the Genouese Crossbows so this Lord went on by St. Requier in Ponthieu from whence he passed to Crotoy to be there ready at hand and he had such Help from Arras Montrevil Abbeville and St. Requier that he now compleated a Gaguin p. 141. Frois Mezerar p. 26. Martin p. 118 c. 12000 Men. But King Edward after he had heard of this Place by the Prisoner took but little Rest that Night For at Midnight he arose commanded the Trumpets to be sounded and all things to be ready for a March. About Break of day he left Oysemont and rode after the Guidance of Gobin Agace so that by Sun-rise they came to
Confederates convey'd thither their Cattle and other Commodities to be sold Besides which the Maishals of the Host would scour the Country daily and rode often toward Guisnes and Terouenne and to the Gates of Ardres and St. Omers and sometimes to Boulogne and mightily refreshed the Army with Prey which they brought thither in great abundance III. One time especially the f Knighton p. 2588. Earl of Warwick went forth with a Detachment of Men of Arms as far as Terouenne where he heard a Great Fair was then kept Here they sound the Bishop of Terouenne with 10000 Souldiers ready to Defend the Fair but this strength was not sufficient for they were all Worsted by the English the Bishop himself being grievously Wounded and hardly escaping with Life all the Merchandise and Riches of the Fair taken and carried away in Carts and upon Horses to the Camp before Calais to the Infinite Loss of the French and the Comfort and Satisfaction of their Enemies But as to this Action g Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 937. another Reports that the Bishop himself not daring to expect the English fled away to St. Omers leaving the Defence of Terouenne to a Valiant Captain Sr. Arnold D'Andreghan who is said to have made a good Resistance thô in vain For the English enter'd the Place by fine Force slew all his Souldiers and took him Prisoner And having Sacked the City set it on Fire But as for my part I rather encline to believe the first Account because We shall find the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan to be now in Calais and the Bishop could not come with any hope of Protection to St. Omers for that was the same time actually Besieged by King Edwards Friends and Allies of Flanders Brabant and Hainalt who h Knighton p. 〈◊〉 n. 6â— seeing the Great Fortune of the King of England not only sent i 〈◊〉 Voâ—ages 1 Vol. p. 119. 38 Vessels well Mann'd to encrease his Fleet before Calais but also raised an Army by Land werewith they laid Siege to St. Omers and other Places as We shall shew hereafter And these Flemings k Holinshead â—â—gl Coron p. 937. when they understood what the English had done at Terouenne sent out a Party of their own thither who began a new Spoil and Slaughter of those Persons and things which had escaped the English Particularly they fired the Canons Houses and other Religious Places which in Devotion the Earl of Warwick had spared IV. Now there was at this time Captain of Calais a Renowned Knight of Burgundy named l Frois c. 133. John de Vienne afterwards Marshal of France and with him the Valiant Lord Arnold D'Andreghan Sr. John Surrey Sr. Barton Belborne Sr. Godfry de Lament Sr. Pepin de Vermand and divers other Knights and Esquires were there in Garrison all Brave and Resolute Men full of Courage and Loyalty to the King their Master When Sr. John de Vienne perceived that King Edward intended to lye long there he thought to rid the Town of as many useless Mouths as he could and so on a Wednesday being the 13 of September he forced out of the Town more than 1700 of the poorest and least necessary People Old Men Women and Children and shut the Gates upon them Who being demanded wherefore they came out of the Town Answer'd with great Lamentation that it was because they had nothing to live on Then King Edward who was so fierce in Battle shew'd a truly Royal Disposition by considering the sad Condition of these Forlorn Wretches For he not only would not force them back again into the Town whereby they might help to consume the Victuals but he gave them all a Dinner and two-pence a piece and leave to pass thrô the Army without the least Molestation Whereby he so wrought upon the hearts of these poor Creatures that many of them prayed to God for his Prosperity V. Of all this Years Expedition from the time that King Edward wan the City of Caen in Normandy even to this time One of the Kings Chaplains who was present and attended him all along wrote two Letters which for their Authority and further Confirmation of what We have said We here think good to subjoyn The First Letter of Michael Northborough a Dominican Fryer and Chaplain and Confessor to King Edward the Third m m Fox Acts and Mon. p. 504. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Benedicere Debemus Deum Caeli c. We have great Cause to Bless and Magnifie the God of Heaven and Worthily to Confess his Holy Name who hath so wrought his Mercies for Us. After the Conflict at Caen where many were put to the Sword and the City taken and sack'd even to the bare Walls the City of Bayenx immediately yielded of its own accord fearing least their Councils had been discover'd Thence our Lord the King directed his Progress towards Rouen and being at the City of Lisâ—eux there came unto him from the Pope two Cardinals to perswade him to admit of Peace These Cardinals being Graciously Received by the King had this Answer How the King being very desirous of Peace had used all Reasonable Ways and Methods to cultivate it and therefore had made many Fair Overtures and Conditions to the no small Prejudice of his own Cause And even yet was ready to admit of any Reasonable Offer if it might be secured unto him With this Answer the Cardinals being dismiss'd went to the French King the Kings Adversary to Treat and Sound him in like Manner and upon their Return to King Edward offer'd unto him in the French Kings Name the whole Dukedom of Aquitaine in as Ample Manner and as Full Assurance as everthe King his Father had it before him Besides further hopes of Obtaining more if a Treaty of Peace might take Place But forasmuch as that could not satisfie the Kings Mind and the Cardinals had not found the French King so tractable and inclin'd to the study of Peace as they expected they return'd to Avignon leaving the Matter as they found it And so the King Marching forward in his intended journey subdued all the Country and the great Towns without any Resistance of the Inhabitants who all fled and ran away before us God Almighty strack such a terrour into them as if they had lost their hearts So that in this Expedition as the King had taken many Towns and Villages he also subdued several strong Castles and fortify'd Places with little Labour His Enemy being then at Rouën had Raised a Mighty Army yet notwithstanding his Forces were so Numerous he still kept on the other side of the River Seyne breaking down all the Bridges that We might not come over to him And thô the Country was continually harassed spoiled sacked and consumed with fire for more than 20 Miles in circuit yet the French King thô sometimes distant scarce a Mile from us either would not or else durst not for he might have easily passed over the
his Preparations were great so they took up much time however in answer to the foresaid Letters he sent word to King Edward that he would shortly come and look upon his Siege and to the Calisians that now he would by no means fail to bring them a speedy and powerfull Succour All this while John Duke of Normandy had made several Offers to draw near Calais with a great Power and sometimes he came within two Leagues and sometimes within three but the English had so drain'd the Countrey that for lack of Victuals he could not subsist thereabout for any time and thereupon as y Knighton ibid. n. 40. some will have it he made that Expedition into Flanders where he had such Success as we have shewn before XVI On the z Knighton p. 2593. n. 60. 18 of July being a Wednesday Henry the Thrice-noble Earl of Lancaster and Darby went from the Siege of Calais about ten Leagues into the Realm of France with a strong Detachment of 800 Men of Arms and 20000 Archers His Design was to go to the General Fair that was held for Cattle of all Sorts near Amiens on the Day of Sr. Margaret the Virgin and Martyr which is kept on the 20 of the said Month of July But when he had rode one Day and a Night intending to have been at the Fair the next Day he received upon the way certain Information that the French King was marching toward Calais with a mighty Army of about 200000 Men. For the Inhabitants of Picardy and Artois had lately sent to King Philip telling him That if he did not make haste to succour Calais and drive the Enemy away they were not able any longer to endure such a Neighbour but must of necessity yield up all their Towns to the King of England Wherefore King Philip made haste and began his March thitherward upon News whereof the Earl of Lancaster hasted back immediately for Calais but however he had in this short Expedition so well ransackt the Country that he brought back with him no less than 2060 Oxen and Kine and more than 5000 Sheep which was a great Refreshment to the Army We shew'd before how the French King had made his Summons commanding all his Lords and Others who held of him to be with him at the General Rendezvous at Amiens by the Feast of a 20 May. Pentecost with their respective Troops There came thither by the time appointed the King of France himself attended with a great number of Nobles and Men of War where the held a solemn and magnificent Feast b Frois c. 144. Du Câ—ejne p. 667. Helâ—â—shead p. 941. Soon after there followed Duke Eudes or Otho of Burgundy as also John Duke of Normandy the Kings Eldest Son and Philip then Earl of Valois afterwards Duke of Orleans his Youngest Son the Duke of Bourbon Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix Amadis Earl of Savoy John Lord Beaumont of Hainalt the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Valentinois and divers other Great Princes Earls Barons and Knights Here King Philip held a Council of War to consider which was his best way to March in order to raise the Siege of Calais more successfully or at least to relieve the Town with Men and Provisions He chiefly desired to have the Passages of Flanders open for so he thought to put some Troops into Graveling and thence to recruit the Town of Calais while he gave a Diversion to King Edward another way To this end he sent Messengers into Flanders to treat upon the matter but they were too fast Friends to the English to comply so far with the French Wherefore King Philip resolved to take the way on the left hand towards Boulogne and so Order was given for all Men to provide forthwith against this Expedition for as yet the whole Number of the French Forces was not compleated Now the Flemings c Frois c. 144. were not only content to have sent this Denial to King Philip but to give King Edward a further Proof of their Good-will they sent an Army of near an 100000 Men and laid Siege to the strong City of Aire on the River le Lys in Artois and wasted and burnt the Country all about as Merville or Mergen Le Gorgue Eyterre Leventis and a March called Loos by the River Deulle and on the other hand up to Teroüenne and even to the Gates of St. Omers Upon News hereof King Philip was obliged to remove from Amiens to Arras that so he might be nearer at hand to watch the Motions of the Flemings and upon occasion to give them Battle and all the Garrisons of Artois he reinforced with fresh Men of War but especially he sent the Lord Charles de la Cerda commonly called Don Carlos of Spain who was Son to Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands now lately deceased and Son in Law to Guy late Earl of Blois and now in the Absence of the Earl of Eu and Guisnes who was then Prisoner in England Constable of France this Man he sent with a strong Reinforcement to St. Omers for its greater Security But notwithstanding the Flemings had done excessive Mischief about in the Country and had slain many Frenchmen and won much Booty before King Philip removed to Arras but upon the News of his Arrival doubting lest he should come upon them with all his Forces they raised their Siege and returned into Flanders XVII When King Philip understood that by his drawing so near them he had obliged them to quit the Siege of Aire and that their Army was now disbanded being tid of that Fear he began to march with all his Forces from Arras to go the way he had before resolved on toward Calais The first Day he went to Hesdin on the River Canche where he tarried one Day for his Carriages the next day he removed forward to Blangys en Ternois where he also tarried the remainder of that Day to advise further what Course to take now Here it was agreed to take the direct way thrô Boulonois and that way accordingly King Philip took the next Day with a mighty Army of about d Ita Frois sed Mezeray 150000 tantùm 200000 Men one with another so that his Host together with his Carriages took up in length above three Leagues of the Country For there was now with King Philip besides the Lords and others aforemention'd and their several Retinues the Lord e Stow p. 244. Charles King of Bohemia Marquess of Moravia and Elect Emperour thô as yet Lewis of Bavaria was not dead who brought with him a great Army of Bobemians Luxemburghers and other Germans and sware to King Philip that he would either by Force or Treaty raise the Siege or at least victual the Town for another Winter But how well he kept his Word we shall see hereafter The Army passed on leaving on the Right hand the County of Fauquenbergh and so proceeded
till they came to Sangate-Hill between Calais and Wissant G. Lit. Dom. within a little Mile of the English Camp. They came thither on the Monday after St. James being the 30 of July in very good Order and Array with Trumpets sounding and Banners displayed that it was a Delightsom Terrour to behold so gallant and dreadfull an Appearance When the Calisians saw them encamping it seem'd to them as if another Siege was going to be laid But the sight of the French Lillies made them indeed look upon it as an Army sent from Heaven for their Deliverance Now f Frois c. 144. King Edward had before this built an high and strong Tower at Risban to close up the way between the Town and the Sea which he had fortifi'd with g Vid. Skinner's Eâ—ymol a Will. Conq. ex Chancers Romant of the Rose Springolds Bows and other Artillery And in the Place were 60 Men of Arms and 200 Archers besides Engineers who kept the Haven that nothing could come in or out Wherefore of necessity the Place must soon be reduced by Famine But when King Edward saw and knew h Frois c. 145. that the French King was come with such great Forces to raise the Siege and that if he should go forth out of his Trenches to fight him the mean while the City would be plentifully recruited with Provision of all sorts so that it might hold out as long again it grieved him to think of Leaving what he was just then upon the point of Obtaining For he knew very well the extream Scarcity and Famine that raged in the City Wherefore as he was of a good ready Capacity and Presence of Mind he consider'd with himself that the Enemy could neither come to him nor to the Town any other way but in two Places the one on the Downs by the Sea-side the other by the High-way where yet because of the many Ditches Rocks and Marisheâ— there was but one Passage and that was over New-land Bridge For a Remedy therefore in the first place he gave Order for his Navy to draw along by the Sea-side to command the Downs every Ship well-provided with Archers Crossbows Springolds Bombards and other Artillery whereby it was not possible for the French to pass that way without apparently exposing themselves in Flank to the Shot of the Enemy And then as for New-land Bridge he sent thither in good Time the Valiant and Thrice-noble Earl of Lancaster and Darby with a sufficient Number of Archers and Men of Arms to make good that Passage So that the Bridge being thus defended there was no way on that side left free for the French unless they would venture over the Marishes which was no way seasible Now on the other side toward Calais the King of England had built a Sconse wherein he had set certain Archers and Others to defend the Entrance of the Passage that way by the Downs from the Frenchmen To this Bulwark while King Philip was lodged on Sangate Hill there advanced 1500 of the Commons of Tournay at whom the Defendants shot Arrows and cast Stones but however they passed the Ditches and came to the Foot of the Wall with Pick-axes and other Instruments and while some fell to Digging at the Wall others began to Assault where they received a severe Welcome and lost many of their most forward Men But by obstinate Contending at last they gain'd the Place and slew all they found within and beat the Tower down to the Ground But still the Navy being spread along the shoar in most formidable manner that way was as difficult as ever for those that offer'd to pass that way laid themselves open in Flank to be by them galled at their Mercy Then King Philip sent forth the Marshals of his Host to view the Siege and to consider which way he might best approach either to relieve the Town or to give the English Battle These Men having view'd the manner of King Edwards Entrenching and how well he had provided for all the Avenues return'd with this Answer to the King their Master That it was impossible to come to Handy Stroaks with the English against their Wills without apparently exposing his Men to many fatal Disadvantages Thus for that Day things rested King Philip being much troubled that after all his vast and expensive Preparations it was still so difficult to bring his Purpose about But the next Morning after Mass he sent by Advice of his Council the Lord Geoffry Charny the Lord Eustace Ribemont the Lord Guy de Nesle and the Lord of Beaujeu to King Edward to demand Battle of him affirming in his Name that he would be ready i M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 228. to give him a Meeting in the Field the Third day next after or the Second of August for this Message was sent on the Last of July about the time of Even-song if he durst come forth from the Siege and abide it These four Gentlemen were Persons of great Worth and Experience in the Wars and they went by the way of New-land Bridge which they found to be a very difficult Passage for an Army They highly applauded among themselves the Order that the Earl of Lancaster kept at the Bridge and so they rode forward with the same Earl in their Company till they came to the King who stood at his Tent door well attended with a Noble Company of his Chief Peers and Captains At sight of the King they all alighted from their Horses and came up to him and kneeled the Lord Eustace Ribemont delivering the Message in these Words Sir the King our Master sendeth you word by us that he is come to Sangate-Hill to give you Battle But because he can find no convenient way to come to You he desires that You would come forth and fight with him for he will not fail to meet You on the Second of August about Even-song Or that You would appoint certain Lords of your Council as he also will of His and that among these Lords of both Parties a convenient Place and Time for Battle be agreed on to which he promises to stand King Edward knew well his own Business and without any long Tarrying or great Deliberation replied in this Manner Lords of France I have well understood what you demand of me in behalf of my Adversary who unjustly detains my Inheritance from me whereat I am not a little displeased You may tell him from Me that here I am and here have been almost now an whole Year and he might have found me here before this if so he had pleased But since he hath allow'd me so much Time to my great Expence and Trouble that now at last I have reduced the Town of Calais into my Power I must beg his Pardon if I determine not so easily by the advice of an Enemy to forego what otherwise I am in a manner sure to win and which I always
in case it were not given there should be injury done unto him I wrote likewise that God should do him injury and approved it This I now revoke as false Heretical and Blasphemous CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH AN. DOM. 1355. An. Regni Angliae XXIX Franciae XVI The CONTENTS I. The King of Navarre murders the Constable of France and invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance The Duke sets forth in order thereto but hearing how the Kings of France and Navarre were agreed returns home again II. The manner how that Reconcilement was made III. The War breaks out again between England and France Prince Edward goes over into Gascogne with his Exploits there The Lord John Lisle slain IV. Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfield's setting forth the Particulars of the Prince's Expedition V. King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England VI. Barwick taken by the Scots VII A Parliament at Westminster VIII A Parliament at Paris IX The Birth of Prince Thomas of Woodstock The City of Nantes in Bretagne taken and recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion from Company The Death of Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth of that Name I. WHen we spake of the Combat that was to have been perform'd between the Dukes of Lancaster and Brunswick we mention'd among other things how extraordinary kind his young Kinsman Charles King of Navarre was then unto him Now the Occasion of this Prince's Coming to Paris at that time was to marry the Lady Jane one of the Daughters of King John de Valois But surely whatever Alliance or Affinity he had or might seek to have with France he became an Occasion of many great Calamities to that Kingdom For a Mezeray ad avn 1353. as he was the most winning and obliging in his Address of any Man living being adorn'd with Vigour Beauty Eloquence Courage Affability and Liberality beyond all Men so he made the worst use of these natural Excellencies and rendred them pernicious by his Ambitious Temper and the secret Delight he had in all kind of Mischief From the time of his Marriage he never ceased to pursue his Pretensions to the Countries of Brie and Champagne but especially to that of Angoulesme But Charles de la Cerda of Spain Constable of France to whom the King had given the latter disswaded him from proffering any Equivalent by way of satisfaction in that Point Whereupon the Navarrois retires discontented into his Earldom of Eureux in Normandy and b Gaguin Frois c. 154. Meâ—eray Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Du Chesne p. 673. there understanding that the Constable was then in his Castle in the Town de L'Aigle he enterprised a design as bold as execrable For on the Sixth of January taking unto him certain armed Knights he caused them to scale the Castle early about break of Day and there by them the Constable was murder'd in his Bed. This done he avowed the Fact by justifying himself in his Letters to King John and his Council and in the mean time thô being the Kings Son-in-Law he endeavour'd to reconcile himself to his Favour yet either to secure himself against the worst or by making himself formidable to extort a Pardon he was very busie in making Musters in fortifying his Castles and inviting several Neighbour Princes to a League against France And althô a Treaty of Reconcilement had been begun and to all seeming appearance established by that time between the French King and him as we shall shew by and by yet when he heard how the Duke of Lancaster was as we shew'd in the preceding Year at the Court of Avignon c Frois c. 154. fol. 76. a. he also made shift to get thither where secretly he d M.S. Ret Par. p. 85. n. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90 confer'd with his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster at which time he complain'd to the said Duke of several Dammages done unto him by the French King and gave him his Oath that he would most willingly enter into League with the King of England and for Assurance of the same would endeavour when the Truce was once ended to joyn him at Jersey with all the Power he should be able to raise And in the beginning of this Year he e Stâ—â— p. 255. sent among Others his Uncle Giles of Champagne to the Duke of Lancaster with Letters heartily beseeching him to come into Normandy with all speed to his Aid and Defence and to receive his Oath of Fidelity to serve King Edward against all Men. The Duke accordingly with the Kings leave f 〈◊〉 p. â—â—9 gather'd a great Navy together which was rigged and made ready at Rutherhive alià s Radriffe being furnished with Provision of Victuals for one Quarter of a Year and the whole Fleet consisting of fourty Sail had all their chief Streamers beaten with the Arms of the said Duke of Lancaster who was appointed with a great Power of chosen Men of Arms and Archers Lord Admiral of the Navy But few or none of his Men knew whither he was bound The Tenth of July he sailed to Greenwich between which and Sandwich he was held till the 15 of August the Wind for the most part all that while continuing at West and South-west which was contrary to this intended Course At length with much Difficulty he came to Winchelsea and thence to the Isle of Wight And it was generally concluded that he design'd for Normandy to support the King of Navarre in his Quarrel against the French King But hearing now certain News of that Kings Reconciliation with France he returned home again to the King his Master II. Now to set forth the Inconstancy of this Navarrois Prince we shall here remember what we promised a little before the manner of his first Reconcilement which was this When King John saw by his Levying of Men and otherwise that Despair of Pardon might drive him to desperate Courses prejudicial to Him and his Realm especially in this doubtfull Juncture he thought to dissemble the Matter and by Flattery to bring him within his Power But g Frois c. 154. f. 75. c. Mezeray p. 40. ad an 1354. this jealous Prince could by no means be allured to come to Paris till he had made most secure and advantageous Conditions for himself As that King John should render him Lands equivalent to Brie and Champagne and an Independency of his Earldom of Eureux from all Others but the King only also he demanded a full and absolute Pardon for all those who had an hand in the Constable's Murther and besides all this a good round Summ of Mony and several other Lands and Advantages and moreover the Lord Lewis Duke of Anjou the Kings Second Son in Hostage for his Security All which King John was fain to grant him being thereto perswaded as well by the Navarrois his Friends as by the Necessity of his own Affairs Whereupon in March following he came to Paris and appeared
they found no Enemy to oppose them and first let us speak of the Prince of Wales and of his Actions in this Expedition EDWARD the Black-Prince n Frois c. 155. being thus happily arrived in Gascogne as we shew'd before declared o Holinsh p. 951. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. to the Chief Captains and Lords of the Country the Reasons of his coming thither and fell immediately to advise with them how to proceed for the best Advantage in his Affairs After which having well refreshed his Souldiers and sufficiently augmented his small Forces on the * Lit. Dom. D. Fifth of October being a Monday he marched out of Bourdeaux in this Order In the Vanguard was the Earl of Warwick his Constable the Lord Reginald Cobham his Marshal the Lord Roger Clifford Son in Law to the Earl of Warwick the young Lord John Beauchamp of Somersetshire the Lord Richard Stafford Brother to the Earl of Stafford and Sr. John Wingfield an intimate Friend of his of the Lord Cobhams Retinue and seven stout Barons of Gascogne with 3000 Armed Men In the Main-Battail marched the Valiant Young Prince himself being now in the 25th Year of his Age with a double Ensign with him were the Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burghersh or Burwash whose Father was then newly dead the Lord John Lisle the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Roger de la Warre the Lord Maurice Berkley the Lord John Bourchier the Lord John Rose the Elder of Bourdeaux the Lord John Greilly Captal de la Buche the Lord of Chaumont and the Lord of Monferrand the Four latter being of Gascogne and in this Battail were 7000 Men of Arms. The Reer which contained 4000 Men of Arms was led by the Earls of Suffolk and Salisbury with whom was the Lord of Nemours who conducted the Carriages The whole Army consisted of better than 60000 Men one with another and being furnished with such a General and such Valiant and Expert Leaders might well be counted very formidable Wherefore the Earl of Armagnac who was Lieutenant to the French King in Languedoc Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix James of Bourbon who was Lord of Ponthieu and Constable of France and the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France thô they had among them far p Frois c. 155. Mezeray p. 42. greater Numbers than the Prince and were more Powerfull in the Field if their Courage would have permitted a Tryal durst not either for Fear or as Mezeray softens it for jealousie of one another so much as once offer to stop his Victorious Progress Wherefore in little more than two Months time the Prince overran all the Country at his pleasure as far as Beziers and Narbonne burning the very suburbs of Narbonne or rather as will appear by and by the city it self and taking and destroying very many strong Towns and Castles all which are particularly and truly enumerated by Sr. Thomas de la More thô the Names of the Places are there most corruptly written for which reason as well as for the dryness and prolixity thereof we forbear to add the particulars here In this q Stow p. 255 c. Expedition on occasion of a Fire that happen'd one Night in a Town where he lodged he took a Resolution which he kept while he lived never to lie a Night in any Town in an Enemies Country in time of War. Being come to the strong City of Carcassone the Citizens offer'd him 25000 souses of Gold on Condition he would spare their Town from Fire but the Prince answer'd That he came not thither for Gold but to take Cities and Towns with their Inhabitants to succour and cherish his Friends and to offend his Enemies In this Expedition at several times the Prince Knighted all these Gentlemen Jenkin Barefort Giles Stratton Rowland Davis Ralph Basset the Sons of the Lord of Albret Theodorick Dale Porter of the Prince's Chamber and many others In lieu of all whom he lost only one but him a most Valiant and Noble Knight of the Order of the Garter named the Lord John Lisle who on the r Ashmole's Garter p. 673. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 739. 14 of October received a Mortal wound with a stone from a Wall of which he died the next day to the infinite regret of the Prince and all who knew his Worth and Gallantry leaving behind him his Son and Heir Robert then 22 Years of Age. IV. But because a more particular account of this Expedition cannot better be expected than from the Mouthes of those who were actually concern'd therein besides the former Reference to Sr. Thomas de la More I shall take leave to subjoyn the Words of Sr. John Wingfield a Valiant Knight whose ſ Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 952. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Ashmole p. 672. two Letters on this subject are most Worthy to be inserted that thereby the Reader may as by a Touchstone try the Truth of Authors who write of the same Matter A Copy of Sr. JOHN WINGFIELD's Letter to a certain Noble Lord then in England My Lord as touching News in these parts may it please you to understand that all the Earls Barons Bannerets Knights and Esquires were in Health at the writing hereof and my Lord the Prince hath not lost either Knight or Esquire in this Expedition except the Lord John Lisle who was slain after a strange manner with a Quarrel the third day after we were entred into our Enemies Country He died the 15 of October And please you to understand that my Lord hath rode thrô the Country of Armagnac and hath taken many enclosed Towns and burnt and destroy'd them except such as He fortified for himself After this He marched into the Vicountie of Rovergue where He took a good Town called Plaisance the Chief Place in that Country which He burnt and destroy'd with the Country round about the same This done He went into the Country of Estarrac wherein He took many Towns and wasted and ravaged all the Country Then He entred the County of Cominges and took many Towns there which He caused to be destroy'd and burnt together with all the Country round about He also took the Town of St. Bertrand the Chief in that Country being as large in compass as the City of Norwich in England After that He entred the County of t t L'Isle en Dodon Lille and took the greater part of the closed Towns therein causing several of them to be burnt and destroy'd as he passed Then going into the Lordship of Tholouse We passed the River of Garonne and another a League above Tholouse which is very great For our Enemies had burnt all the Bridges as well on the one side of Tholouse as the other except those within Tholonse for the River runneth thrô the Town And within this Town at the same time were the Constable of France the Marshal Clermont and the Earl of
Blaisois and Touraine to the intent to fight the English And lest he should make any Delay in a matter of such Consequence he forthwith rode from Paris to Chartres onward of his way to have the surer Intelligence of the Prince's Actions And there dayly flocked to him thither and to the parts about Blois and Tours Men of War from every Province in and about the Kingdom of France as from Hainalt Lorraine La Franche Comté Picardy Normandy Bretagne Vermandois Berry Burgundy and still as they came in they were set forward train'd and enrolled having Quarters assign'd them about in the Country by the two Marshals the Lord John of Clermont and the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan King John the mean while sent huge Quantities of Provision of all sorts to all the Fortresses and Garrisons in Anjou Poictou Le Maine and Touraine and elsewhere where He thought the English might pass designing thereby to foreclose the Avenues of the Country and so to cut off all Provision from them that neither they nor their Horses might get any forage or subsistence But for all that as yet Prince Edward and his Forces found no Impeachment or want but passed on at their ease thrô the plentifull Countries of Auvergne Quercy Limousin Perigort Saintogne la Marche and Berry as now we shall shew II. EDWARD b Stow p. 259. Prince of Wales sirnamed the Black-Prince having employ'd the Winter-season in repairing and fortifying the City of Bourdeaux and other Castles and Towns in Gascogne and caused great Quantities of Gold and Silver to be coined according to a Commission from the King his Father for the Wages of his Souldiers began his March from Bourdeaux on the c Walsing hist p. 163. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 230. sixth of July with an Army of d Mezeray ad hunc annum 12000 Men as one says whereof 3000 were Natural English But most Writers agree that his Forces amounted to little more at this time than 8000 which was for certain the utmost number he had at the Battle of Poictiers unless we should believe that before he came thither he lost one Third of his whole Army without any opposition or remarkable Action at all Wherefore we rather follow Froisard who assigns the Number to be â—000 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers With which gallant little Army of Chosen Men having left the Lord e Stow p. 259. Bernard de la Bret his Lieutenant in Gascoigne with sufficient Power for the Defence thereof against the Earl of Armagnac who threatned to invade it he rode thrô Quercy f Frois c. 157. and Auvergne where he found plenty of all things burning plundering and destroying all before him in Hostile manner When he enter'd any Good Town well replenished with all things there he usually tarried two or three days to refresh his Men and then upon departure the Residue was all destroy'd the Heads of the Wine-Vessels stricken out Wheat Barley Oats Flesh and all other Provision but what they could bear away consumed lest the Enemy might be the better for them This Course the English held till they came to the strong City of Bourges which is the Principal place in Berry Here they made an attempt by giving a brisk Assault to One of the Gates In the Action many proper Feats of Arms were done but nothing of Advantage could be won here the place was so well Defended by the Lord of Conserans and the Lord Hutin de Memers who were Captains of the City Thence they wheel'd off to Issoudun a Castle of great strength to which they gave a very fierce Assault and thither came the whole Army but the Gentlemen within behaved themselves so well that they sav'd the place and wan Honour from the Prince by the Opinion they created in him of their Courages From hence they took their way to Virzon a large Town defended by a good Castle but the Town it self was not well fortified and the Hands within too few to make good the Defences so that it was taken by force And here the Prince finding great Plenty of Good Wines and other Provision of all sorts was pleased to tarry three days to refresh his People While he tarried here tidings came to him that the French King was at Chartres on the other side the Loire with a great Assembly of Men of War about him and that all the Towns and Passages upon the said River were foreclosed and guarded strongly So that he could not expect to pass over to get into Anjou Vendosmois or Le Maine Wherefore he was advised by his Council to pass thrô the parts of Touraine and so to wheel off on the Left Hand into Poictou and by that way to return thrô Saintogne and so to Bourdeaux This Course the Prince resolved to follow and having done as he pleas'd in the Town of Virzon and taken the Castle by force and slain most of them within he proceeded something on the left hand and rode toward Romorantin which lies almost equidistant between Blois and Bourges sending before him his two Marshals the Lord John Chandos and the Lord James Audley both Knights of the Garter accompanied with Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Frank Van Hall together with their Men to try out the state of the Country and to see there lay no Ambush King John also at the same time sent forth his spies to view the Condition of the English and to learn of what force they were Among whom g Stow p. 259. one Griffith Micco Captain of 200 Horse came upon the English spies to his Cost For there 30 of his Men together with himself being taken all the rest were slain to a Man not so much as one being left to carry back word what was become of his Fellows Now among others whom the French King had sent into those parts to look to the Defence of the Country there were h Frois c. 157. Stow ibid. three great Barons appointed to keep the Frontiers namely the Lord of Craon the Lord of Bouciquaut and the Hermit of Chaumont who with 300 Spears had for some time rode about the Country coasting at a distance the English Host whom having now followed for six days together they could yet never find any Advantage to set upon them the Army rode so carefully and in such close Order At last perceiving the Prince to take the way of Romorantin they began to fetch a wide compass about and so getting before him planted themselves in Ambush near to Romorantin at the middle of a wonderfull straight Passage by which the English must needs go That same Day by chance there went with the leave of the Marshals before the Prince's Battail the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Walter Pavely Sr. Nele Loring and Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt all Four Knights of the Garter with the Lord Roger de la Warre the young Lord Edward Spencer then about i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 395.
his Company On the Third Day he rode to Canterbury where also he stayed for some time and here the French King and the Prince of Wales made their Offerings at the famous Shrine of St. Thomas Becket The mean while King Edward being informed of the Arrival of his Son with the French King in his Company d Speed p. 582. gave Command to Sr. Henry Picard then Lord Mayor of London to make ready the City Pageants and to prepare for the Reception of King John with all their Formalities in the most honourable Manner that might be And now Prince Edward rode from Canterbury to Rochester from thence the next day to Dartford and the day after to London whither he came on the 24 of May being the Wednesday before Whitsunday and was met in Southwark by more than a Thousand of the Chief Citizens on Horseback King John being clothed in Royal Apparel was mounted on a large White e Ita Meâ—erâ—y ad aâ—n 1378. where Charles King of France had an Enterview with Charles the Emperour He entertained him says he with all the magnificence imaginable paid him all manner of Respects but such as denote Sâ—veraignty c. And at his Entrance into Paris the King affected to be mounted on a white Hâ—rse and order'd a â—â—â—k one for the Emperour Courser in token of Soveraignty and to be the more Remarkable the Generous Prince of Wales riding by his side on a little black Hobby as one that industriously avoided all suspicion of a Triumph They took their way over London Bridge and rode directly for Westminster and in all the Streets as they passed the Citizens of London set to publick View all their Riches as Plate Tapestry and the like in honour of the French King but especially they f Knighton p. 2615. n. 19. boasted of their Warlike Furniture and exposed that Day in their Shops Windows and Belconies such an incredible Quancity of Bows and Arrows Shields Helmets Corslets Breast and Back-Pieces Coats of Mail Gauntlets Vambraces Swords Spears Battle-axes Harness for Horses and other Armour both Offensive and Defensive that the like had never been seen in Memory of Man before The g Walsingh hist p. 164. Hyâ— p. 124. Speed p. 182. Concourse of People that came from all parts to behold this rare Spectacle was so great that the Solemnity of the Cavalcade held from Three of the Clock in the Morning till High-noon about which time the Prince got to Westminster-Hall where he presented unto the King his Father then sitting in Great Majesty on a Royal Throne the Person of King John his Prisoner King Edward could not long retain the Severe Majesty of a Conquerour for when the French King had humbled himself with such a serious thô Manly Submission as became his present Fortune he was immediately touch'd with a due Consideration of the Instability of his own Affairs by the instance of so great a Prince whom now he beheld in so low a Condition and so rising hastily from his Throne he h Mezeray p. 49 ad 〈◊〉 ann Caressed him with as much Honour and Respect as if he had only come to give him a Visit And the Father and the Son did so exactly resemble each other as well in Generosity as Valour that King Edward being now fully acquainted with the Particulars of his Sons humble Deportment after the Battle of Poictiers declared that he was more sincerely satisfied therewith than at the Victory it self Nor did that Great King make use of this solemn Entrance of his Royal Captive as a Matter of his own Triumph but rather of a devout Procession For i Polyd. Virg. l. 19 p. 381. n. 42. by his Order that very Day the Clergy of London came forth with their Crosses and singing Anthems to meet the Prince and after that for two Days together publick Supplications and Prayers with Thanksgivings were celebrated thrô the Cities of London and Westminster That Day King Edward treated the French King his Son Philip and the rest of the Noble Captives at a Princely Rate and order'd for the King an Apartment of his own Court to lodge in for the Present till the Savoy should be prepared for him being at that time a most splendid and magnificent Structure belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster and so called k Pol. Virg. p. â—82 n. 3. Speed l. 539. from its first Founder Peter Earl of Savoy Father to Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury who was Uncle to Eleanor King Henry the Third his Queen To this Palace soon after he was convey'd and there Honourably attended King Edward himself his Queen and the Prince giving him frequent Visits and devising all the ways they might both to Honour and Comfort him But nothing is perfectly agreeable while Liberty is wanting and therefore thô King John could not expect either more Diversion or more Respectfull Behaviour in the Court of his Brother in Law the Emperour yet something hung upon his mind which was not possible for him to shake wholly off till he should find himself at his own dispose 'T is said l Pol. Virgil. l. 19. p. 382. that when the King of England and his Son having often observed such a cloud of sorrow to obscure much of that serenity which was expected from him at those Princely Diversions wherewith they entertain'd him asked him thereupon to lay aside all Melancholy Care and sorrowfull thoughts he made this Answer with a smile m Psalm 137. v. 5. Quomodo Cantabimus Canticum in Terrâ alienâ i. e. How shall we sing a Song in a strange Land Thus was King John and his Son and the Chief of the Captive Nobles of France entertain'd in England n Pol. Virg. ibid. of the other Prisoners some were presently released upon King John's security in their behalf and the rest were severally bestow'd in safe Custody II. While things went thus in England Henry Duke of Lancaster lay at the Siege before Rennes in Bretagne which he had begun on the o Mezeray ad hunc annam Third of December in the preceding Year and had made many Assaults but to little purpose as yet the Place was so well defended For within was a good Garrison set there by the Lord Charles of Blois under the Viscount of Rouën the Lord de Laval Sr. Charles du Digne and others There p Frois c. 175. sol 87. was also in Rennes at this time a Valiant young Batchelour a Knight of Bretagne called Sr. Bertram du Clequin who soon after became a most Renowned Captain and was at length sirnamed the Restorer of France During this Siege there passed a Challenge between this Sr. Bertram and a young Baron of England named Sr. Nicolas Dagworth a Valiant Son of that Valiant Lord Thomas Dagworth of whose Actions and Life and Death we have already spoken The manner of the Combat was to run Three Courses with a Spear to strike Three Blows
to Horse and Man. But because such Matters were not strange in the declining of the Year the King encouraged himself with Patience resolving to bear what he could by no means prevent However the King rode thus by q Frois ibid. c. 2â—7 short journeys till he came into a dryer Country to Bapaume in Artois about which Place there happen'd an adventure between a Lord of France and a German Lord of the English part well worthy a particular Relation Only it is to be premised that all the Towns Cities Castles and Passages in Picardy and Artois where the King was suspected to pass were well guarded with Souldiers partly such as the Dauphin and Parliament had sent thither and partly also such as the Great Towns had themselves hired for their better security In the City of Arras was the Earl of St. Paul with 200 Men of Arms the Constable of France was at Amiens the Lord of Monsault at Corbie Sr. Edward of Renty and Sr. Ingram of Hesdin at Bapaume and Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows at St. Quentin and the like Provision was made for other Places For by this it was generally noised about that King Edward design'd to go and lay Siege to Rheims in Champaigne intending when he had won the Place there to be r Mezerâ—â— p. 58. anointed with the Holy Oyl Crowned King of France IV. But now the Inhabitants of Perone in Vermandois which lay directly in the King of Englands way were wholly destitute of an able Captain and Commander to defend them and that City being scituate upon the River of Somme when they understood it was King Edwards Custom to march along by Rivers they expected the English to be upon them every Day and were infinitely perplexed on that account At last they bethought themselves of a Valiant Captain called Sr. Galahaut de Ribemont who was now unengaged in the City of Tournay being a Baron of high Courage and Conduct and Cousin to the Lord Eustace Ribemont who fell in the Battle of Poictiers To him therefore now they send very kind Letters inviting and requesting him to come and be their Captain with such a certain Number of Men of Arms they promising to allow him 20 Franks per diem for himself and ten for every Knight in his Company and for every other one Frank a Day The Lord Galahaut was a Knight of great Courage and Experience in the Wars and very desirous to be employed in any Hazardous Attempt for Glory Wherefore he accepted the civil Proposals of his Neighbours of Perone and sent them word that he would not fail to be with them the second Day after So he rode presently from Tournay with no more than 30 Spears in his Company but still as he went on his Number encreased And particularly Sr. Roger of Coulogne to whom he had sent to come and joyn him in such a Place came to him accordingly with 20 Men of Arms more So that now Sr. Galahaut being fifty Spears strong besides others as he was marching towards Perone came and took up his Lodgings within two Leagues of the English Army in a little Village in the Fields which was quite void of Inhabitants for all the People of the Country were fled into strong Holds for fear and he design'd the next morning for Perone near unto which this little Village stood Now after Supper when they had set their Watch and discoursed of several things relating to the present Juncture the Lord Galahaut said to his chief Captains then in Council with him To morrow early we shall be at Perone but yet before we go thither I would advise that we ride a little nearer toward our Enemies for I believe there are those among them who to get Honour or Booty will ride abroad in the Morning so that we may chance to meet with some or other of them who may help to pay our Shot To this Advice his Council agreed and kept it private in their own Breasts being all ready for that purpose by break of Day with their Horses sadled Then they mounted and rode forth in good Order leaving the Road to Perone and coasting the Woods to see if they could find any good Adventure At last they came to a certain Village where the People had fortified the Church for their Security and there Sr. Galahaut alighted for he was sure to meet with Bread Wine and other Provision in this Place and those within offer'd him to take what he would for they knew him to be a Friend While they tarried here to refresh themselves Sr. Galahaut called two Esquires unto him one whereof was named Bridol of Talmond whom he commanded to take their Horses and ride forth into the Field and discover the Country about whether they could meet with any thing of Moment and so to come back and bring him word thither for he would stay there for them Now on the English Part the Lord Reginald of Boulant a German of the Duke of Lancasters Retinue had ridden forth the same Morning and finding no Adventure was now returning to the Army again at which time he met with these two French Esquires about a League from Sr. Galahaut's Station The Esquires at first took them to be some French Men of Arms who had laid an Ambush thereabouts but when they perceived them to be Germans they agreed to pretend to be of their Party for otherwise they could not escape them At this Sr. Reginald of Boulant demanded of them in High Dutch who they were and to whom they did belong to which Esquire Bridol who was skill'd in that Tongue answer'd Sir we are Englishmen of the Retinue of the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Why where is the Lord Bartholomew said Sr. Reginald Sir said the Esquire He is now in yonder Village What means he to tarry there said the Knight Sir said the Esquire he expects our Return For he sent us abroad to see if we could meet with any Forage hereabouts in the Country On my Word said Sr. Reginald here is none for I have been abroad all this Morning and can find nothing Wherefore go back and bid him come away that we may both ride together toward St. Quentin to see if so at least we may mend our Market Sir said Esquire Bridol who are you then that would have our Lords Company They call me said the Knight Reginald van Boulant only say so much to my Lord Bartholomew that 's enough With that the two Esquires returned upon the Spur to the Village to their Master who asked him what Tidings Sir said they we have seen enough for in yonder Wood there is the Lord Reginald of Boulant who hath been riding about this Morning with 30 Spears and he desires your Company to ride with him toward St. Quentin How said Sr. Galahaut what is that you say Sr. Reginald de Boulant is a Knight of Germany and retained under the King of Englands Pay. All that said
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
Knighton ibid. Du Chesne p. 682. Guil. Paradin Annal. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 345. seven Weeks all which time he never offer'd to attack the Place For he knew well it would have been either wholly in vain or very expensive of his Subjects Blood. But by this time being wearied out with this tedious way especially because Forage was so difficult to be got that his Men began to lose their Horses and to want Victuals themselves he resolved now to rise from before the Place and marched forth in good Order the way that leadeth to Châlons in Champagne which passing by he proceeded toward Troyes and encamped about Mery sur Seyne all his Host covering the Face of the Country for above 8 Leagues together While the King lay here the Constable went with the Vantguard to attempt St. Florentin where Sr. Edward Renty was Captain but after a great Assault made in vain he gave it over About which time the King came up to him and departed thence to Tonnerre in Burgundy which City he took by Assault but the Castle he could not win For the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows were there in Garrison with a great Number of chosen Men. But because the King found here 3000 Vessels of Wine he was pleased to tarry there five whole Days to refresh his Army in which time thô he gave many Assaults to the Castle he was yet never the nearer Thence passing over the River Armancon he refused the way on the Right Hand and went a little declining to the Left to Noyers which he took without any Assault for their Lord and Captain was still a Prisoner in England ever since the Battle of Poictiers Thence n Frois Holinsh Ashmole p. 660. c. he marched to Mont-Real and so to Avallon on the River Cousson where he tarried from Ashwednesday to Midlent because of the great Opportunity he found thereabout of receiving Supplies of Provision for his Army from a valiant English Esquire named John Argentine who bore for his Arms Azure an Escutcheon of Pretence Argent This Man had won the Town of Flavigny not far thence wherein he found sufficient Provision of all Sorts to serve the whole Army for a Month and accordingly he constantly supplied the King therewith Besides which his Marshals and Van-currours overran the Country wasting and ravaging all about and they also brought in much prey daily During the Kings stay here namely on the 26 of February o Lit. Dom. ED. Pascha 5 April being the Thursday in Quadragesima there departed this Life at the Town of Rouvray on the Coussin near Avallon in Burgundy the Noble and Valiant Young Lord Roger Mortimer Earl of March and Constable of the English Army leaving behind him one onely Son named Edmund then about nine Years of Age Upon whose Death we find p Rot. Franc. 34. Ed. 3. m. 45. vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 695. p. 692. that the King made the Lord John Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick Constable of the Army as also of Dover-Castle and of the Cinque-Ports the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Avallon in Burgundiâ Primo Martiâ— IV. Now the q Frois c. 210. f. 103. b. King and his Chief Lords had with them in this Expedition as we said before besides the usual Carriages Hand-Mills to grind their Corn Ovens to bake Bread Meat or Pasties Spits and Cauldrons to roast or boil and Forges to make Shoes for their Horses And over and above all this there were brought in Carts a sort of little Boats made artificially of Leather every one being able to hold Four Men to row on Ponds or in Rivers and to fish in them at their Pleasure Which Device proved both pleasant and very convenient to the Lords of England during the season of Lent. The King had also for his Diversion thirty Faulconers on Horseback with Hawks and sixty Couple of Hounds and as many Grey-hounds besides those Hawks and Hounds which his Sons and the Chief of the Nobility had wherewith they hunted and hawked by the River at their Pleasure And during all this Expedition from the time they left Calais till their coming to Chartres where the famous Treaty for Peace was set on foot the whole Army was divided into three Great Battalia's every Battalia subdivided into three Bodies each whereof lodged a-nights well-nigh a League from each other The Duke r Knighton p. 2623. n. 50. Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 85. p. 559. c. of Lancaster and the Earls of Northampton and Salisbury were in the first Great Battail the King Himself in the Second and the Black-Prince with his Three Brethren in the Last V. While King Edward lay thus at Avallon Å¿ Frois ibid. Paradin Annales de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 346. Mezer. Holinsh p. 965. Fabian p. 238. Speed Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 82. 84. p. 557. c. Philip the young Duke of Burgundy by Advice and at the Request of all the Country sent unto him in order to a Treaty Sr. Anselme de Saulieu Chancellour of Burgundy Sr. John de Vienne who had defended Calais so worthily against King Edward and Sr. Hugh de Vienne his Brother Sr. John Derie Sr. William de Thoraise and Sr. John de Mont-martin These Lords found King Edward in so good an Humour that they presently obtained this Composition That the King of England giving Security for Himself and all his Subjects not to ravage rob or commit any Hostilities within the Territories of Burgundy for the space of three Years then following in Lieu whereof the Duke should pay unto the King in ready Money the Summ of t De hac Summà variant Autheres Knighton Da Chesne Froi 200000 Motons Mat. Villani 100000 Motons Paradin 200000 Florens Walsingh M. S. vet Angan Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. 70000 Florens Paul. Aâ—â—yl 100000 numm 〈◊〉 â—elyd 〈…〉 non 〈…〉 sed 〈…〉 Speed. altiâ—ae meâ—â—â— sentiunt 200000 Florens of Gold which amounts to 35000 l. Sterling Besides which the Burgundians were to administer to the King and his People whatever Provision of Victuals or other things they wanted for their Money Some suppose n Matt. Villani l. 9 c. 82. 84. p. 557. 558. that the Burgundians having little Love at this time for the House of France and verily believing that King Edward would attain the Crown of that Realm entred a Secret Alliance with him on Condition that then the Duke of Burgundy should be the First Peer of France However when this Agreement between the King and the Duke was sealed and engrossed and mutual Security given the King of England decamped from before Avallon intending directly for Paris and so he passed the River of Yonne at Coulogne beside Vezelay and the Army spread along by the River almost to Clamecy at the Entry of Nivernois Which x Mezeray ad hinâ— ann
p. 59. Country also compounded with the King as Burgundy had done But he laid waste all the Country in Gastinois and Brie thrô which he marched toward Paris with an high Hand In this y Fabâ—an p. 238. March the Prince of Wales passed with his Battalia by a little Town on the Loing in Gastinois called Moret till he came to a strong Fortress named le Plessis aux Tournelles near the Forest of Provins which was then an English Garrison but had been beleaguered by the French for some time who having fortified their Camp with a strong Tower fenced with Ditches gave many fierce Alarms to the Englishmen And thô now they heard for certain that the Prince of Wales approached that way they had such Confidence in their Works that they would not stirr from the Place But yet they were deceived for the fifth day after the Princes Coming their Tower was won and most of them within put to the Sword no more than 47 who were the Chief among them being taken alive of whom were the Lord of Bonneville the Lord of Angreville Sr. John de Barrois and Sr. William du Plessis VI. Thus at length King Edward succeeded so in his Victorious Progress that on the last z ED. Lit. Dom. Pascha 5. April Day of March being the Tuesday before Easter he a Vid. Frois c. 210. Fabian p. 238. Mat. Villani l. 9. c. 85. 86. p. 759. c. came with his Army before the City of Paris and took up his Quarters at Bourg la Reine within two little Leagues of Paris the Army being encamped all along at Longemeau between Mont-lehery and Chastres and in the Towns thereabout even to Corbeil At sight of this Formidable Army Charles Duke of Normandy and Regent of France began to think of some Offers towards a Treaty especially because King Edward b Knighton p. 2623. n. 40. in reverence of the approaching Festival of our Lords Resurrection forbare all Hostilities intending not formally to lay his Siege till after Easter Hereupon c Fabâ—an Hoâ—â—st c. by the especial Intercession of Father Simon de Langres Provincial of the Jacobin Fryars and Legat from Pope Innocent VI King Edward yielded to admit of a Treaty to be seriously held at the Maladerie or Spittle of Longemeau on the Good-Friday following the Solemnity of the Day being look'd on as an Enforcement of so Christianlike an Undertaking At the Time and Place there appeared for King Edward Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord John Chandos the Lord Walter Manny and Sr. William Cheney and for the Regent of France there appeared the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France the Lord Bouciquault Marshal the Lord of Garenciers the Lord of Vignay en Vienne Sr. Simon Bucy and Sr. Guischard D'Angle But we pass by the Debates of this Treaty because they came to no good Effect Wherefore King Edward the rather to quicken the French to a sincere desire after Peace on d 7 April Easter-Tuesday removed something nearer to the City of Paris Whereupon on the Fryday following being the Tenth of April at the earnest Importunity of the foresaid Simon de Langres and of Androine de la Roche Abbot of Cluigny who was then newly come from the Pope for that Purpose another Treaty was appointed to be held but neither yet could Matters be brought to any good issue So that again they parted leaving the Breach as wide as ever Wherefore on the Sunday following King Edward drew down his whole Army before Paris and embattail'd them in a Field by St. Marcels in three Great Battalia's each Battalia being divided into Three Bodies and then he forthwith sent the Duke of Lancaster with his Heralds to the Regent of France who was within the City with a great Army to demand Battle of him assuring him e Walsing hist p. 167. n. 10. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. that if now King Edward should lose the Day He would never after claim or assume any Right or Title to the Crown of France But for all this the Cauteous Regent declin'd to answer his Desire While the Messengers were about this Demand the King honoured no less than f Speed p. 583. M.S. id ibid. 400 Esquires and Young Gentlemen with the Order of Knighthood among whom g Frois c. 211. were John Lord Fitz-Walter Robert Lord Vavasour Thomas Spencer John Nevil and William Torceaux but Collart Dambreticourt younger Son to Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt and Esquire of the Kings Body declin'd the Honour at that time by saying that he could not find his Headpiece and Corslet For he had made an Oath to do some notable piece of Service before he would accept the Order of Knighthood But when upon the Return of the Duke of Lancaster and the Heralds the King heard how he should not have Battle he was wonderfully displeased and upon the Lord Manny's Request sent him forth with all the new-made Knights and such others as were thereto appointed to skirmish at the Barriers and to burn what they could of the Suburbs so to h Meâ—eray ad hunc an p. 59. provoke the Frenchmen to come forth or at least to offer more ample Conditions The Assault was vigorous and lasted from Morning till Noon and the French defended their Post at the Gate and Barriers with Valour becoming their Circumstances nor would they have been content to have stood so long on the Defensive Part only for there were many Noble and Resolute Knights and Gentlemen within the City at that time but it was the Duke of Normandy's peremptory Command that no man on pain of his Head should presume to issue out of the Barriers without his Order So well had that Prince afterward sirnamed the Wise learn'd how to deal with this English Hannibal not only by the Example of the old Roman Fabius but of two nearer Relations even of his own Father and Grandfather whose frequent and great Losses proceeding from their too forward Courage taught him now to oppose a Shield to this Conquering Sword and not easily to put his last Stake to the Fortune of a Battle But however one i Knighton p. 2623. n. 60. says that after Noon when the Lord Walter Manny's Skirmish was over about 30 of these new-dubbed Knights went to the Barriers requiring a few Courses on Horseback according to the Law of Arms in those Days Against whom says he came forth 60 Frenchmen if the Number is not mistaken for Thirty as I rather believe and between these there arose an hot Skirmish But in the end the English by the Grace of God had the better having slain some grievously wounded others and obliged the rest to retire It is said that while the King stood before Paris the k Stow p. 264. Where he says this happen'd on the 14 of April and the Morrow after
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
and reasonable for the Prince to take upon him the Protection of the King of Spain and thereupon Credential Letters were framed directed from the King of England and his Council to the Prince of Aquitaine and his Council and the Duke of Lancaster had leave to go over to visit and confer with the Prince his Brother whom he desired to serve in this Expedition So the Messengers returned with these Letters and the Duke in their Company and came to Bourdeaux where they found the Prince and Don Pedro to the former of whom they deliver'd their Letters from the King his Father Upon this a new day was forthwith assign'd for the Parliament to sit again at which time there assembled at Bourdeaux all the forenamed Lords of Aquitaine and Others that were Summon'd thereto And then the King of England's Letters were openly read in full Parliament The Purport was this That the King and his Council were well pleased that the Prince his Son should in the Name of God and St. George seriously undertake to restore King Don Pedro to his Throne and Heritage which his Bastard-Brother had wrongfully taken from him without either Law or Reason and as it appeareth traiterously deposed him That the King thought himself obliged to wish his Son to do thus much for his Cousin the King of Castille not only for the sake of Justice and Honour but also for the Common Interest and Right of Kings and especially because of certain Alliances Treaties and Confederations heretofore made between them which imported a mutual Assistance in case of Necessity if either Party were thereto required Wherefore he desired all his good Friends and Subjects in those Parts to be Aiding and Assisting to his Son the Prince in that Matter as well as if he himself were there and undertook the Expedition in his own Person When the Nobles and Captains of Aquitaine heard these Letters read dictinctly and perceived the pleasure of the King and of his Son the Prince their Lord then they all readily gave in their answer with one consent Sir We shall gladly obey the Command of our Sovereign Lord the King of England and of Your Royal Highness it being our Duty so to do and therefore We now declare that in this Expedition We shall readily serve both Your Highness and also King Don Pedro. But Sir We desire to know from whom We are to expect our Wages for it will be difficult to oblige Men of War to go abroad into a strange Country without such kind of Considerations Then the Prince turned his Face to Don Pedro and said My Lord O King You hear what our Subjects say Pray please to answer them Your self as to this point For it is your Concern so to do To this Don Pedro answer'd Most Dear Cousin as far as the Gold Silver and other Treasure which I have brought hither with me and I 'll assure You 't is not the Thirtieth Part of what I 've left behind as far as that will go I shall now immediately resign that entirely to your Dispose to be bestowed among our Friends your Subjects And for what shall remain if God Almighty send Us Success I shall make full amends in all things of this Be this Honourable Assembly my Witness Sir said the Prince You say well and as Circumstances stand We can expect no more of You. As for the Remainder therefore I my self will be indebted to these Gentlemen and pay them as occasion shall require all which my Lord O King I shall lend unto You expecting to be repaid upon our good Success in Castille Hereupon Don Pedro renew'd his Promise to be more than Just in all manner of liberal Retributions acknowledging with many fair expressions of Gratitude the extraordinary Favour Grace and Courtesie which the Prince had been pleased to shew unto him X. Now in this Council there were many Noble Personages of great Experience in Affairs of that Nature and who especially understood the difficulties usually attending an Expedition into Spain Such as the Lord John Chandos the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Pamiers and others who had been more than once in Spain to help the Good King Alphonso against the Moors These all concluded that it was absolutely necessary if they resolved to go into Spain to bring over the King of Navarre to their side For they could not pass but thrô his Country over the Pyrenean Mountains by the streights of Roncevaux Which Passage it was doubted whether they might obtain because Charles the Present King of Navarre and Don Henry the Bastard had lately made a strict Alliance together After much altercation upon this point also the Parliament was prorogued to another day when they were to meet in the City of Bayonne about six Leagues from the Confines of Navarre and the Prince was by his Ambassadors to request the King of Navarre's Presence at that Assembly So the Prince sent unto him the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton who behav'd themselves with such Discretion and gave him such Reasons that he faithfully engaged both by word of Mouth and also under his Hand and Seal not to fail on the appointed day of being present at the Parliament at Bayonne And with this News the two Knights returned to the Prince The day appointed being come there came to Bayonne King Don Pedro Edward Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales the Captal of Busche the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and all the Barons of Gascogne Guienne Poictou Quercy Rovergue Sainctogne and Limosin and thither also came Charles the King of Navarre in Person to whom the Prince and King Don Pedro shew'd extraordinary respect the rather because they design'd to prepare him for their opinion This Parliament sat thus at Bayonne five days together For the Prince and his Friends had much adoe to perswade the King of Navarre he being a Person of that temper as to be stiff and almost inexorable when he saw any One stand in need of him But at last when he consider'd the great Power of the Prince and that He who now desired him if too much provoked might compell him on certain considerations he was content to renounce the League he had made with Henry the Bastard and sware and promised under his Hand and Seal Peace Love and firm Alliance and Confederation to King Don Pedro as likewise Don Pedro did unto Him by the Prince of Wales his menagement and contrivance The Latter as true King of Castille engaging by Covenant then Engrossed and Sealed to give and restore unto the King of Navarre and to his Heirs for ever all the Land of y An Oregne Groigne as it lies on both sides the River and also all the Lands of Salvatierra with the Town Castle and all the Appurtenances Also the Town of St. John Piè du Port and the Marches thereabout which Lands Towns Castles and Seigniories he had before violently
your Father as being a part of the Remainder of King John's Ransome And Sir at this time collect by your Interest among your Friends all the Money you can possibly for you will find need enough without Taxing or Assessing your Subjects for while you keep their Hearts you cannot be poor This and several other prudent Directions were readily followed by the Prince who soon after caused Two parts in Three of all his Plate to be melted down and coined into Money to be bestowed liberally among his Men of War and he sent also into England to the King his Father for the foresaid 100000 Franks King Edward who well knew what an important matter his Son was going about and how Expensive his Design must needs be granted him the said Summ at the first word and presently directed his Letters to the French King willing him to pay the Money to the Princes Use And accordingly the 100000 Franks were paid upon sight of King Edwards Letters and so brought to the Prince who distributed all among his Souldiers One day as Prince Edward was in his Chamber in the City of Angoulesme together with certain Lords and Knights of England Poictou and Gascogne after many pleasant Discourses and Raileries and other Diversions they fell again to touch upon the Expedition then in hand and this was in that while that the Lord Chandos was gone to treat with the Earl of Foix and the Companions of which we spake but now At last the Prince turned his head toward the Lord of Albret and said My Lord of Albret with what number of Men of Arms can you furnish Vs in this Expedition Why Sir replied he if I desire my Friends I shall easily find you a Thousand Spears and yet leave enough at home to defend my Land. Well said the Prince that 's nobly spoken and so turning himself towards the Lord Thomas Felton and other Knights of England he continued in English By my Faith a Man ought to set a Value upon that Land where there are such Barons as can serve their Lord with a 1000 Spears apiece and so turning again to the Lord of Albret he said in Gascogne Sir I retain them all to do me service in this Expeditiou Sir said Albret in the Name of God I am well content and shall not fail It was necessary not to have omitted this seeming small Matter because even hence there afterward arose an occasion of great Mischief as we shall see anon XVII It may not here seem amiss to say something about those Companions who were either Friends to the Prince of Wales or retained for his Service These Men met with many Difficulties before they came into the Principality and at last were fain to part into three Companies The greatest of the Three went coasting Foix and Bearn the Second from Catalunna thrô Navarre and so toward Armagnac all with the Consent and by the Favour of the King of Navarre the Earl of Albret the Earl of Foix and the Earl of Armagnac In the third Company which consisted chiefly of Gascogners were about 3000 who for convenience of Forage were fain to divide themselves in lesser Numbers 300 or 400 in a Body and so having with much adoe passed thrô Aragon into Languedoc they continued their March toward the Bishoprick of Thoulouse till at last a part of them came to Montauban At that time the Seneschal of Tholouse was a French Knight named Sr. Guy Dazay who hearing that the Companions were making that way that they rode divided into small Companies and that in all they were not above 3000 and yet were very weary with Travel but ill armed indifferently horsed and worse ordered then he said how he would never suffer any such Fellows to come into the Parts of Tholouse nor into the Realm of France but rather God willing he would meet them by the way and fight them So he sent word of his Resolution to the Lord Amorry Earl of Narbonne to the Seneschals of Carcassone and of Beaucair and to all Knights Esquires and Officers thereabouts requiring their Aid to defend the Frontiers against these Villanous Companions Those to whom he sent made haste to shew their Compliance by coming as soon as might be to Tholouse so that in all they made up 500 Spears Knights and Esquires besides 4000 Others all who took the Field about Montauban which was seven Leagues from Tholouse and when they were all met under the Conduct of the Earl of Narbonne they encamped near the said City of Montauban which at that time was under the Prince of Aquitain and he had set there a Valiant English Captain named Sr. John Combes The French Lords presently upon their coming sent their Van-Currors to ride before Montauban hoping so to entice out the Companions a Party whereof he knew to be then within the Fortress but they had particular notice of the Numbers of the French and so this Plot was in vain Sr John Combes for his part wonder'd greatly when he saw the Frenchmen come thus with an Army into the Princes Lands and so demanded by an Herald if he might be permitted to speak freely with the Frenchmen who allowing thereof he asked them who sent them thither and for what reason they took upon them to invade the Lands of the Prince who was a good Friend and Neighbour to them and to the Realm of France Sir said they we have no Commission to return you any Answer But to satisfie you of our Reasons if you will either go or send to our chief Leaders they no doubt will know what to say to your Demand Well Gentlemen said the Captain then I desire you to procure me a safe Conduct whereby I may have assurance of going unto them and returning again without Impeachment or else let them send me word plainly by what Title they will make War against me for if I knew the Certainty I would send word thereof to my Lord the Prince who I question not will quickly apply a due Remedy The Marshals of the French Host promised to do thus much for the English Captain and so they returned and told all his Words to their General who presently granted a safe Conduct for Sr. John Combes and Six Eight or Ten to come along with him and sent it to Montauban Having got the Safe Conduct Sr. John left the City with Five more in his Company and went to the French Camp where he found the French Lords who expected him and had well consider'd what to say unto him After Salutation past on both sides Sr. John demanded of them for what Cause they had sent their Van-Currours up to his Fortress and came with such an Army before Montauban which they knew belonged to Prince Edward They told him how they intended not to invade any Person or to begin a War but that they were resolved to pursue their Enemies to destruction whereever they heard they should be Sirs said the Knight who are these
Navarre and James King of Majorica and that they gave Rich Gifts unto the Babe But this is only a far-fetch'd Allusion to the History commemorated by the Day and so I shall leave it However the Name of Richard was given to the Princely Infant and He was called after the manner of that Age Richard of Bourdeaux his Sirname being taken from the Place of his Birth and after the Death of his Father and Grandfather he became King of England the Second of that Name On the very Day of this Princes Birth as Froisard the Historian sat at Dinner in Bourdeaux g Frois l. ult c. ult f. 391. he says how Sr. Richard Pontchardon a Valiant Knight of England and one who was very well skill'd in Astrological Science came to him within two Hours after the Child was born and said Froisard write down and put in Memory that this Morning my Lady the Princess is brought to Bed of a Fair Son this Twelfth-Day which is the Dâ—â— of the Three Kings and thô he is but Second Son to a Kings Son yet he shall be King. Which Saying of his fell out exactly for the Lord Edward his Elder Brother dying at the Age of Seven Years and his Father the Black-Prince following before the King his Father this Richard succeeded his Grandfather King Edward to the Crown and wore it about two and twenty Years II. On the Sunday h Froisâ—c 233. fol. 133. Vid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. 233. c. following being the Tenth of January after the Hour of Prime Prince Edward left the City of Bourdeaux with a Royal Equipage thô the greater part of his Army was passed onward before and lay about the City of Dax in Gascogne to which place the Prince also came in the close of that Sunday Here he tarried three days because he had sure Intelligence how his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was hasting after him having passed the Sea five days before The said Duke took land with all his Troops at a Port in Bretagne from whence he rode to Nantes where his Brother-in-law the Duke of Bretagne received him with great demonstrations of Joy Love and Respect as also did his Sister the Dutchess From Nantes having passed the Loire he marched thrô Poictou and Sainctogne till he came to Blaye where he also passed the Garonne and so went to Bourdeaux He gave order for his Men to march forward after his Brother the Prince but he himself rode straight to the Abby of St. Andrew where the Princess at that time lay in and having given her a short and kind Visit he took leave of his Sister the Princess and so rode on with his Servants and presently overtook his Men and rode along with them till he came to Dax where he found the Prince his Brother The two Royal Brethren were extreamly satisfied at this their happy Meeting for they loved together entirely and then the Meeting of Friends is most agreeable when they are both ready to partake of Honourable Dangers in like manner their Captains and Officers caressed and made much of one another as also their Men as many as could meet together Soon after the Duke of Lancaster's Coming there came also Gaston Phaebus the Earl of Foix to pay his Respects and to offer his Service to the Prince his Lord and to his Brother the Duke and the Prince who was no Novice in returning Salutations shew'd him much Honour and gave him many Thanks for his Readiness to serve him However because of his known Valour and Conduct as also because he was generally belov'd over all the Country the Prince gave him in charge to stay at Home and upon occasion help to defend the Land in his Absence desiring him to reside in Aquitain till his Return together with his High Seneschal the Lord James Audley This Charge the Earl very readily undertook and so after Thanks for the honour of that Trust took his Leave and rode to Bourdeaux where the Princess and the Lord Audley were But the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster his Brother tarried still in the City of Dax diverting themselves a while and all their Men spread abroad in the Country about the Entry of the Passages that lead into Navarre for as yet it was not known whether they could be permitted to pass that way or no Althô the King of Navarre had solemnly engaged to have the Avenues ready open for them For there ran a Report thrô the Army how since that he was reconciled to the Bastard Henry whereat the Prince and his Council wondred greatly and King Don Pedro was extreamly displeased And thô there was no such Matter yet this Rumor gain'd so much Credit that Sr. Hugh Calverley with his Troops went up to the Marches of Navarre and took the Town of la Puente de Reyna or Queens-Bridge and the City of Miranda in that Kings Dominions which terrified all the Country and the News thereof flew presently to the King of Navarre When he perceived hereby that the Companions would enter his Land by Force he was infinitely displeased and complain'd thereof by his Letters to the Prince but the Prince seem'd to take no notice of the Matter because as he thought the King of Navarre kept not punctually the Promise made to Him and King Don Pedro. Whereupon instead of answering to his Complaints he wrote to him that he must first clear himself of what was laid to his Charge for it was generally discoursed that he had revolted to King Henry and it but too plainly appear'd that he had not left his Country open as he had promised At this Charge of Treason the King of Navarre was more vexed than before whereupon he sent a Lord named Sr. Martin Carre unto the Prince who being come to Dax behaved himself so discreetly in excusing the King his Master that the Prince forgat all his Displeasure on Condition that he the said Knight should return to the King of Navarre and oblige him to come to St. Jean Piè de Port whither the Prince should send some of his Council to confer with Him or else to send Messengers with sufficient Powers to the Prince at Dax So Sr. Martin Carre took leave of the Prince and returned to the King of Navarre to whom he recounted all that had passed between the Prince and him and so perswaded him for the further Vindication of Himself to go to St. Jean Piè de Port which having brought to pass he himself rode forward to Dax to inform the Prince thereof When the Prince knew that the King of Navarre was at St. Jean Piè de Port he sent his Brother the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord John Chandos with a small Company of Knights who all rode together with Sr. Martin Carre to discourse the King at the said Town The King of Navarre made them very welcome and there after some Consultation it was agreed that he should
the Number of 10000 Horse and they passed the straights on the Monday with much adoe because the Ways were as yet unbeaten On the Tuesday Morning early the Prince of Wales began his March after them with King Don Pedro and Charles King of Navarre in his Company which latter was then newly come to the Prince the better to Countenance the Matter by so frank an Assurance of his Faith and he had also design'd to invite him to his City of Pampelona In this Battail was the Lord Thomas Felton Grand Seneschal of Aquitain with the Lord William Felton his Brother the Lord Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Sainctogne together with the Seneschal of Rochelle the Seneschal of Limousin the Seneschal of Agenois and the Seneschal of Bigorre the Lord Lewis of Harcourt the Vicount of Chastellerault the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton and all the Poictevins the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. Nele Loring the Prince's High-Chamberlain Sr. Richard Pontchardon Sr. Thomas Banister Sr. Dangouses Sr. Lewis and Sr. Edmund of Marville and the Lord of Pierre Buffierre in all to the Number of 4000 Men of Arms and this Battail also consisted of 10000 Horse but they had a very ill Passage by reason of the High Winds and of the Snow which fell that day to their great trouble and vexation However thorough they got and moved forward and pitch'd their Tents in the Country about Pampelona But the King of Navarre led the Prince and King Don Pedro into his City of Pampelona where he entertain'd them at a Royal Supper On the Wednesday there passed James King of Majorica the Earl of Armagnac and his Nephew the Lord Bernard de la Brett Earl of Albret the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche the Lord Oliver Clisson the Earl of Perigort the Vicount of Carmaine the Lord of Comminges the Lord of Mucidan the Lord De l'Esparre the Lord of Coudon the Lord of Rozan Sr. Petiton of Coutras Sr. Emery de Carse the Lord de la Bard Sr. Bertram of Cande the Lord of Pincornet Sr. Thomas Winstanley Sr. Perdiccas de la Brett the Burgrave of Bretuel Nandon of Bergerac Bernard de la Salle Lortingo de la Salle Edmund Ortigo and the rest of the Companions to the Number of 10000 Horse and these had a pretty easie Passage in Comparison to those who went the Day before And when thus the whole Army had passed the Pirenean Mountains they spread abroad in the Country about Pampelona with the King of Navarre's leave and good liking to refresh themselves and their Horses Here they lay three days because they found the Land plentifull in Flesh Fish Bread Wine and other Provision both for their Beasts and Themselves But the Companions paid not always the full Price of things nor could they refrain from Robbing and Filching what they could get So that about Pampelona and in the way thither they greatly damnify'd those of the Country whereat the King of Navarre was very much displeased But it was too late then to think of Rectifying matters thô it often repented him that he had so freely open'd his Country to the Prince and his Men. For he plainly found that the Damage which he suffer'd thereby overway'd the Advantages granted to him by Don Pedro. But it was now no time to complain for he saw then he was not Master of his own Land. Complaints were daily brought in to him of the abuses and insolencies of the Companions at which he took a deep Resentment thô he forcedly repressed it for the present However he caused some of his Council such as were acquainted with the Captains of these Companions and had sometimes been with them in France Normandy or other places to desire them to abstain from robbing and abusing his Subjects after that manner and they promised to forbear for the future IV. The mean while King Henry the Bastard was fully enformed of the Prince's Passage for he had his Messengers and Spies going to and fro every where Wherefore he addressed himself to raise a mighty Force of Men of Arms and other Souldiers thereby to resist the Prince and Don Pedro his Brother And every day he expected the return of Sr. Bertram of Clequin with a considerable reinforcement out of Bretagne and France He had already sent forth his Special Summons thrô all his Realm commanding all Men on peril of Life Lands and Goods to come to him every One according to his Estate either on Foot or on Horseback to help to defend his Country Don Henry was well-beloved in General and the Castillians had ventur'd hard and taken much pains to bring him to the Possession of the Crown So that being all involved in his Guilt their Hands were strengthen'd to sustain his Quarrel Wherefore they obey'd him more readily and flock'd daily unto his Banners to St. Domingo de la Calzada a City of Castilla Vieja or old Castille to the Number of 60000 Horse and Foot all ready to live and die with him Wherefore when King Henry saw himself thus strong and heard how the Prince with his Army was now in the Realm of Navarre having passed the streights of Roncevaux and saw thereby that of necessity he must now fight the Prince being encouraged with the Numbers and Alacrity of his Men he seem'd to desire nothing more than to shew by his Valour how Worthy he was of that Condition to which he had been so lately Advanced He said aloud to his Lords about him Ha! Sirs this Prince of Wales is a Valiant Knight and because he shall know that this Realm is now mine and that I am ready and willing to fight with him for the Right which I have thereto I will let him know some part of my intent Then he caused his Secretary to write his Letters the Tenor whereof followeth viz. m Don Henrique por la-Gracia de Dios Rey de Castilla y Leon de Galizia de Câ—rdova de Murcia de Jaën del Algarve del Algezira de Gibraltar e Sennor de Viscaya e Mâ—lina c. HENRY by the Grace of God King of Castille and Leon of Galizia of Murcia of Jaën of Algarbe of Algezira of Gibralter and Lord of Biscay and of Molina to the Right-Puissant and Thrice-Honourable Lord EDWARD Prince of Wales and of Aquitain Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting It is given Us to understand that You and your Men have passed the Pirenean Mountains and are marching hitherward and that You have entred Covenant and Alliance with our Enemy and also thereupon Design to make War against Us. At all this We greatly wonder since to our knowledge We never trespassed against You nor ever had the least Intent so to do Wherefore then are You come thus against Us with so great an Army to take from Us that small Inheritance which God hath given Us You have We confess the Grace to be Fortunate in Arms above any Prince now living and We think You magnifie
to be remembred that besides those that fell that day on the Bastards side g M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. there were taken Prisoners of Lords and Knights to the Number of 2000 whereof about 200 were of France and not a few were Scotchmen So that Saturday Night the English took their Repose and refreshed themselves at their Enemies Cost for there was enough of all sorts of Provision ready for them and they kept the Field in the same Manner all the next day h Pasch 18. April Lit. Dom. C. which was the Sunday before Palm-Sunday XV. On the Sunday Morning when the Prince of Wales was up and ready he issued out of his Pavilion and then there came to salute him his Brother the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Lord John Chandos the Captal of Busche the Lord of Pamiers Sr. Guischard Dangle the King of Majorica and all the Chief Lords of the Army and presently after came thither King Don Pedro to visit the Prince by whom he was received with much Honour and Respect After Salutations given and taken King Don Pedro spake thus to the Prince Dear and Fair Cousin I heartily pray and request You that You will please to deliver into my Hands the false Traytors of my Country as my Bastard Brother the Earl of Sancelloni and such others Your Prisoners whom I shall cause to lose their Heads according to their Demerits The Prince of Wales who had well considered this point answer'd and said Sir King I also request of You one thing upon the Account of our Friendship and Alliance which I hope You will not deny me The King who could not for shame refuse any thing to him by whom he had recover'd all he had said Dear Cousin all that I have is yours wherefore I freely and absolutely grant whatsoever it shall please You to desire Sir continued the Prince then I request you to give a general Amnesty and Pardon to all your Subjects of what condition soever who have at any time rebelled against You untill this day By which gracious Dealing You will remain hereafter in better rest and Peace among Your People and be more heartily loved and more faithfully served by them in case of any Necessity But We our selves except from this favour that Arch-Rebel William Garilz For of that Vngratefull and Disloyal Wretch I am content You make an Example King Don Pedro granted the Prince's desire thô much against his Inclination for he durst not for shame shew any difficulty in complying with the Desires of One to whom he was so much obliged and so he said Fair Cousin I yield to Your pleasure with all my heart Then all the Prisoners were sent for and the Prince reconciled them to the King their Lord and caused him to forgive all his Ill-will to his Brother the Earl of Sancelloni and to all the Rest On condition they should enter Covenant and swear unto him Fealty Homage and all Loyal service to hold truly of him for ever and to become his Liegemen and to acknowledge him for their only Rightfull Lord and King for the Future XVI This Courtesie with many others did this Gallant Prince unto King Don Pedro all which were but slightly remembred as we shall see shortly and surely it was not a small kindness that Prince Edward at the same time shew'd to those Barons of Spain his Prisoners for without his Intercession on their behalf King Don Pedro had put them every Mothers Son to Death without Mercy As he served Sr. William Garilz whom he so bitterly hated that he would accept of no Ransom for his Life but caused his Head to be stricken off before his Tent Door This done King Pedro Mounted his Horse together with his Brother the Earl of Sancelloni and all his New-pardon'd Subjects having the English Marshals Sr. Guischard Dangle and Sr. Stephen Cossington with 500 Men of Arms in his Company and so left the Prince and rode to Burgos the Chief City of Old Castille On the Monday Morning Don Pedro came thither and the Citizens who had been well informed how Matters went at Najara and that King Henry was utterly routed durst not pretend to hold out against him but several of the Wealthiest and the most Honourable in the City came forth humbly to meet him and presented unto him the Keys of the Town as unto their Rightfull Lord and Sovereign and so convey'd him and all his Men with great Solemnity and Triumph into the City The mean while Prince Edward kept his Field all that Sunday and on the Monday after Evensong he decamped thence and went and Lodged at Belorado where he tarried that Night and the next day and on the Wednesday marched with all his Army to the City of Burgos The Prince enter'd the Town in great Triumph being attended with the King of Majorica the Duke of Lancaster and all the Great Lords of his Host but the Chief part of their Men set up their Tents without the Town for 't was not possible to Lodge them all with any Convenience within and it was thought too great a Temptation for Men of War especially since the Companions were there to admit them into so Rich and Wealthy a Place as that was When the Black-Prince was settled in his Lodgings appointed for him he gave forth his Summons and Determin'd Judgements concerning Arms and all things thereto belonging and there he kept Field and Wage of Battle So that it might well be said how all Spain was then reduced into his Hands and under his Obedience In this City of Burgos Prince Edward and King Don Pedro held their Easter with great Solemnity and tarried there more than three Weeks the rather to give time to all Don Pedro's Subjects to come in of their own accord and to make their Submissions before they were compelled thereto Accordingly on Easter-day there came thither the Representatives of Astorga of Toledo of Leon of Corduba and of all the Realms of Castille and Leon of Galizia Asturie Algarria Biscaye and whatever else had been subject to King Don Pedro aforetime even unto the utmost Marches and Limitations of the Realm of Castille all these sent in their humble Addresses and made Homage to King Don Pedro promising him true Faith and Loyalty for ever These Commissioners were all glad to Behold the Prince of Wales and Don Hernando del Casteres the One so Renowned for his Valour and the other for his unexampled Loyalty to his Master So at Burgos there was nothing but Joy and Triumph and many Royal and Magnificent Feasts and Entertainments passed among them and all the Land came in voluntarily and renewed their Allegiance to their Lord and King. XVII Now therefore when the Prince had as we said tarried here something more than three Weeks and saw that Don Pedro was generally own'd by all his Subjects being peaceably and unanimously accepted as their True and
Lawfull King and that there were none who rebell'd or held out against him then he spake these Words unto him Sir Blessed be God You are now again peaceably established King over this your Realm without any Rebellion or Opposition And Sir I and my Men tarry here at our great Charge and Expence Wherefore I request you to provide Money to satisfie those who have holpen me to Reinstate you in your Throne as well as to compleat your Promise to which you have sworn and set your Hand and Seal And Sir the sooner this is done the more acceptable will it be to Vs and the more also to your Advantage For you cannot be ignorant that Men of War if they are not paid will make hold to pay themselves Sir We call not your Justice in question but only put you in Mind that at this time there are many Souldiers of Fortune among us and as it will be your Discretion to satisfie them so will it be just and equitable to be punctual in your Word to all who have been assistant to you in this Enterprise To this the King answer'd Fair Cousin We are firmly resolv'd to hold keep and perform to our power what We have sworn and sealed to But truly Sir as for the present We have no sufficient Quantity of Money ready at hand However now we intend to take our Progress toward the Marches of Sevil where we will make such provision of Gold and Silver as to be able to satisfie all Men. Onely Sir We desire you to tarry here in Valladolid where You will find a Plentifull Country and surely We shall return unto You as soon as We may conveniently but at the furthest by Whitsuntide This Answer was nothing disagreeable to the Prince and his Council who consider'd the hard Circumstances of that King and so within a few Days after Don Pedro took his leave of Prince Edward and rode toward Sevil the chief City of Andaluzia with a Design to raise Money to pay off the Men of War as he had covenanted and the Prince went and quarter'd in Valladolid his Lords and Captains being spread abroad in the Country at large the better to provide Victuals and other Necessaries for Themselves and their Horses Thus they tarried in Castilla Vieja not much to the advantage of the Country For whatever strict Discipline the rest of the Army kept the Companions could not for their Hearts forbear stealing plundering and defrauding the People XVIII The News presently spread abroad thrô England France Germany and other Countries far and near how the Prince of Wales had discomfited in Battle King Henry and all his Power having routed taken slain and drowned a well-Order'd and Royal Army consisting of more than an 100000 Men whereby the Prince was greatly renowned and his Valour and Conduct highly extolled in all Places whither the same flew especially in the Empire and in England for France had no cause to boast thereof But the Germans Flemings and Englishmen said that the Prince of Wales was the very Fairest Flower of Knighthood and that such a Prince was well worthy to govern all the World since by his exalted Prowess he had atchieved Three such extraordinary Enterprises as he had done First at the Battle of Cressey in Ponthieu where by Him the whole Power of France was broken Two Kings slain and a Third put to Hight Secondly at the Battle of Poictiers ten Years after where again he overcame the whole Power of France and took the King of the said Realm Prisoner And Thirdly now in Spain near Najara where at one Blow he decided the Fate of a Kingdom XIX But in England especially were great Triumphs made particularly in the Kings-Chamber the City of London Where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen celebrated the Memory of this Victory with great Solemnity and Triumphal Arches in like manner as they were formerly accustomed to do for their Kings when they had obtain'd any notable Success against their Enemies But in the Realm of France there was a quite different Scene representing nothing but deep Displeasure and unfeigned Sorrow because so many Gallant Knights of that Country were lost in that Battle And the taking of Sr. Bertra◠of Clequin and of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and other Frenchmen Prisoners at that time prov'd a great Corrosive to the minds of those who lov'd the Honour and Interest of France for they were all Persons of undoubted Worth and therefore now their Condition was lamented because they were little better than Dead to their Friends while thus buried in Captivity Thô surely they were all kept with much Courtesie and Respect and all of them shortly after put to easie Ransoms except only Sr. Bertram of Clequin who staid longer before he could be acquitted because the Lord John Chandos who had him in Keeping would not as yet deliver him for any Ransome and also Sr. Bertram did not much urge him to let him go XX. Now after the Battle of Najara Don Henry the Bastard escaped out of the Field as We intimated before from the reach of his Enemies and having with much difficulty got his Wife and Children about him went to the City of Valencia where he found King Pedro of Aragon his Godfather Friend and Ally and recounted unto him all his Evil Adventure with the Prince of Wales Within a while after the Aragonian advised him to go to Mompellier to Lewis Duke of Anjou and there to open his Case unto him and this Advice the Bastard was well pleased with because he knew the Duke of Anjou secretly maligned the Prince and all Englishmen in General Having therefore committed his Wife and Children to the Protection of the King of Aragon he took his leave and rode beyond Narbonne the First City of France on that side from thence he rode to Besiers and so to Mompellier in Languedoc where he found the Duke of Anjou who made him heartily welcome For he now lov'd him the more in despight of the English whom he naturally hated thô as yet he had no manner of Pretence to make any War against them When this Duke had fully heard all King Henry's losses and the present state of his Affairs he comforted him to his Power and while he tarried entertain'd him very obligingly indeed Shortly after Don Henry went to Avignon to visit Pope Vrban V and to have some secret Conference with him which done he return'd back again to Mompellier to the Duke of Anjou between whom there was a long and close Treaty held And as it was then reported and afterwards appeared to be manifest at that time King Henry obtain'd of the Duke of Anjou a Fortress bordering on the Principality of Aquitain called Castle-Moron where he assembled together Companions and other Men of War Bretons and Others who had not gone into Spain with the Prince so that presently he got about 300 Men of Arms. However all this was not carried on so privately but that News thereof
Niort having received a Command from the Prince to return again thither by a Day Assigned Thus the Barons and the Lords of Gascogne went home to their several Places having first firmly agreed together by no means to return to the Parliament appointed by the Prince nor to suffer the Foüage to be raised in their Lands but rather to rebell against Him. And shortly after the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Lord of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine and the rest of the Barons Knights and Esquires of those parts went into France and there put forth their Complaints in the French Kings Chamber in presence of the King and his Peers of the Grievances which the Prince of Wales would do unto them adding that in such Cases their whole Resort and Appeal ought to be unto the King of France as unto their only Sovereign Lord. Then the French King who made some scruple to break the Peace which had been so solemnly established between the two Realms answer'd them with dissimulation enough Surely Gentlemen the Jurisdiction of our Inheritance and of the Crown of France we will always preserve and augment to our Power But we have sworn to keep sundry Articles contained in the Peace of Bretigny all which I cannot perfectly remember Wherefore We shall Inspect and consider the Tenor of the Letters and as much as in us lies We will do you Right and shall be glad to reconcile You with the Prince our Dear Nephew For perhaps he is not well advised thus to deprive either You or your Vassals of their Customs and Franchises With this answer for the present they contented themselves but tarried still with the King at Paris resolving not to return to their own places nor to the Prince's Parliament wherewith the Prince was extreamly displeased but for all that he proceeded in raising the Tax aforesaid The Lord John Chandos who was the very Chief of his Council always gave his Opinion against this Foüage and now especially foreseeing the Ill Consequences thereof he would willingly have perswaded the Prince to remit it but when he saw the Prince resolv'd upon it to the intent he might not incurr any reproach or blame in that business he took his leave of the Prince shewing for his Excuse that he was desirous to go into Normandy to visit his Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount whereof he was Lord and had not been there of Three Years The Prince granted his request and so the Lord Chandos rode from Poictou into Coutantine and tarried in the Fortress of St Saviour more than half a year till the Prince's service call'd him forth to Action And all the while the Prince proceeded with an high Hand in raising this Foüage which if he had brought about would have amounted as we said before to more than 1200000 Franks per annum every Fire to pay a Frank and the Rich to have born out the Poor CHAPTER the FOURTH AN. DOM. 1369. An. Regni Angliae XLIII The CONTENTS I. Don Henry the Bastard understanding how the Prince's Affairs began to be embroiled takes Heart and returns into Spain with an Army against his Brother Don Pedro. He finds the King of Majorica sick at Valladolid takes him Prisoner and having received many Cities and Towns goes and lies down before Toledo II. Don Pedro goes hastily against him with a great Army but being met unawares is beaten flies into the Castle of Montiel and is there closely besteged III. For want of Provision he is forced to seek an Escape but being taken is soon after murder'd by the Bastard's own Hands the Bastard reigns in his stead IV. The Discontented Gascogners urge the French King to summon the Prince of Wales to answer unto their several Complaints in the Chamber of Peers V. At last King Charles by the perswasions of his Council under much Caution venters to summon the Prince and so the first seeds of War are cast again William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester with some Observations concerning him VI. The Black-Prince in the midst of his Warlike Preparations is taken with an unknown and incurable Distemper VII The Gascogne Lords begin the War against the Prince who sends the Lord Chandos to oppose them VIII The French King lulls King Edward into security by his subtle Negotiations till being ready he might surprise Ponthieu before-hand Whereto when things are ripe he also sends his Defiance to King Edward IX Hereupon King Edward sends forthwith to secure Ponthieu but all too late the King of France had been there before him X. King Edward having taken all the Care he could for Scotland and Ireland calls a Parliament wherein he resumes the Title of France changes his Seals and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars XI Edward the Black-Prince creates the Valiant Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is afterwards confirmed by the King his Father I. NOW a Frois c. 251. f. 144. of the Affairs of Prince Edward and of Aquitain were all the Kings his Neighbours well informed especially Don Pedro King of Aragon and Don Henrique the Bastard who took particular care to understand how Matters went with the Prince And when they heard that the Barons of Gascogne had applied themselves to the Court of France and began already in a manner to rebel against him they were not a little pleased therewith But chiefly the Bastard was comforted at this News for now he saw the Prince of Wales entangled with Domestick Troubles he hop'd the more easily to reconquer the Realm of Castille which before he had lost by the Prince's means Whereupon he took his leave of the King of Aragon and departed from Valencia with the Vicount of Rochebreton and the Vicount of Rodez and 3000 Horse and 6000 Foot in his Company besides certain Genourse whom he retained for Wages Thus he rode into Spain and came before the good City of Burgos which open'd her Gates and yielded unto him acknowledging him for her Rightfull Lord and Sovereign Thence he went to Valladolid for he understood how the King of Majorica was still there being not yet fully recover'd of his sickness which rendred him unable to go along with Prince Edward when he left Spain The Inhabitants of Valladolid who heard how the great City of Burgos had yielded up thought not to offer to resist him wherefore they also received him and paid Homage unto him Being enter'd the City enquiring for the King of Majorica he was shew'd his Lodgings and went up himself into the Chamber where he lay not yet quite well and accosted him in this manner Sir King of Majorica You have been our Enemy and together with the Prince of Aquitain and a great Army have invaded this our Realm of Castille wherefore We have Reason to seize upon You and You must yield your self our Prisoner or You are but Dead When the King of Majorica saw himself in such a Case and that it
Incentive to Industry by beholding in him an Example to what Height of Eminence Preferment and Dignity Laborious Vertue can ascend thô little advantaged by Birth or external Splendour And also what an Excellent way those Men take as well of Instructing Posterity as of preserving and embalming their own Names to future Generations who by Charitably disposing of the Goods of Fortune toward the Advancement of Piety Learning and Good Manners treasure up unto themselves a Rich Reward both of Worldly Fame and of Eternal Glory But to return to our Purpose VI. While q Frois c. 245. thus Matters began apace to ripen towards a War the Prince of Wales who was fully resolv'd to come Personally to Paris in the Head of a Great Army the next Summer sent word to all the English Captains and Gascogners whom he knew his Friends to be ready by such a time to come to his Service and also to those Captains of the Companions who came out of Spain and were now about the River Loire he sent word that they should not leave those Parts because he expected very shortly to find Work for them of which News they were all very glad But so it was that this Great Soul which us'd so well to inform these Warlike Bodies began now to bend beneath his own Weight and bore about him a Mortal War of his own a certain Fatal Distemper which some r Du Chesne 〈◊〉 Walsingh sed nil tale apud Wals say was brought upon him by Charms and Incantations others that he contracted it first in Spain either by reason of the Infection of that Air or from some lingring Poison which 't is thought that Perfidious and Ungratefull Tyrant Don Pedro gave him for a Requital of that Crown to which he had restored him I know there are some who have not stuck to say that this Poison was given him by his Brother John of Gaunt so to make way for himself to come to the Crown But surely at that time when the Prince was last with John of Gaunt Prince Lionel an Elder Brother to John was alive and besides that the Prince had two Sons now living the said Lionel had a Daughter also all who were before him as to the Succession I cannot nor dare so readily admit Popular slanders against the Persons of such Noble Princes But however it was Prince Edward was by this time so reduced that he could hardly endure to ride on Horseback whereat his Men were extreamly cast down and his Enemies took the greater Courage For the French King was fully informed of his Distemper however it came and the Physicians and the Chirurgeons of France began already to pronounce boldly that the Prince was sick of an Incurable Dropsie VII Now when Sr. John Chapponeau and the Doctor were taken and arrested by the Seneschal of Agenois and Sr. William Molineaux and clap'd up in Prison as we shew'd before the Gascogne Lords upon whose account they suffer'd as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Cominges the Earl of Perigort the Vicount of Carmain the Lord Bertram of Cande the Lord de la Barde and the Lord of Pincornet being now in their own Country and hearing of this Arrest of the Messengers took it in horrible Disdain for in their Name and for their cause were they sent Wherefore they all concluded to revenge it as soon as they might and to begin the War for they said so great an Affront was not to be suffer'd Within a while they understood how Sr. Thomas Wake the Seneschal of Rouvergue was to ride to Rodez the Chief City of that Province to strengthen his Fortress there and for that purpose on such a Day to come with 60 Spears from Agenois Upon this Information at the time appointed they laid an Ambush of 300 Spears to make sure of Sr. Thomas and his Company But of all this the Seneschal knew nothing so that at the expected time he came riding on with 60 Spears and 200 Archers till a little beyond Molieres he fell into the Ambush which suddenly brake out upon him and presently discomfited his Men most whereof were slain or taken but ſ Du Chesne p. 700. Du Chesne speaks too largely when he says that he and all his Men were cut in pieces For many of his People after the Civil Custom of those days were taken to Ransome and he t Frois c. 246. himself by the Goodness of his Horse escaped away alive and got to the Castle of Montauban and so the Gascogne Lords return'd home again for that time with their Prisoners The Prince of Wales was then at Angoulesme whither the News presently slew that his Seneschal of Rouvergue was discomfited by the Earl of Perigort and others who had occasion'd him so disgracefully to be summon'd into the Court of France He was highly displeased at the Report and sware that it should be dearly Revenged on those who had done him this signal Affront and on their Lands and People Then he wrote presently to the most Valiant Lord John Chandos who at that time resided in Coutantine at St. Saviour le Vicount commanding him immediately upon sight of his Letters to come unto him Sr. John Chandos who was always ready to obey where it was his Duty made all the Expedition imaginable and came to Angoulesme to the Prince who was very glad of his Arrival Soon after the Prince sent him with certain Troops of Men of Arms and Archers to reinforce the Garrison of Montauban and thence to make War upon the Gascogners and Frenchmen who dayly encreased and overran his Lands At his coming Sr. Thomas Wake left Montauban and went as before he had intended to Rodez and Victuall'd and New-fortified the City and Castle as also he did to the strong City and Castle of Millaud on the Tarne in the Marches of Mompellier in Languedoc and in all places where he saw most need he set good store of Archers and Men of Arms. The mean while the Lord John Chandos lay at Montauban to keep the Marches and Frontiers there against the French and with him were several other Great Lords and Captains such as the Prince had sent thither along with him namely the most Noble and Warlike Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche the two Brethren of Pamiers Sr. John and Sr. Henry the Soldiche de L'Estarrac the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Pons Lewis Earl of Harcourt the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton Sr. Richard of Pontchardon All which Lords and Knights made frequent Inroads into the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and of the Lord of Albret who by Aid of other Lords of their Gang made shift to keep the Frontiers against them So that sometimes this side had the Advantage and sometimes the other as evermore the adventures of War are various VIII But all this while the subtle Duke of Anjou lay still at Tholouse and made not the least offer to
Garrison resolv'd to die every Man rather than to yield up the Place thô the Townsmen would gladly have received the French if they durst Wherefore the Captains of France sent to Tholouse for Four great Engines which they made ready and reared up against the Walls casting therewith both Night and Day massie Stones and huge pieces of Timber against the Fortress besides which they set their Pioneers a Mining But the Englishmen with great Courage comforted each other and slighted all their Art and Fury thô at last for want of Succour We shall find them to be taken only by reason of the Mines But for the present We shall leave them V. While these French Captains d Frois c. 252. f. 152. were thus busie in Quercy the Duke of Berry was in Anvergne with a great Power of Men of War the chief Leaders whereof were the Lord John of Armagnac his Uncle the Lord John de Villemur the Lord Roger Beaufort the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Villiers the Lord of Semur the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin and many more who ravaged about the Marches of Rovergue Quercy and Limosin where they did much Harm and at first found no great Opposition And besides this application of Force there were not wanting other Arts not then so frequent in the World but since those Days very common which made use of the help of the Church to blow up a Fire of Combustion in the State. For the subtle Dukes of Anjou and Berry prevailed with the Archbishop of Tholouse who was a Politick and Learned Prelate to go to the City of Cahors of which place his Brother was then Bishop and here together these two Brothers so elegantly preached and set forth the Right of King Charles against King Edward's Pretensions that the whole City turned French and sware unto the French King Faith and Homage from that time And with these Arts the Archbishop rode about thrô the Country and every where took care to set forth the Equity of his Masters Quarrel with such advantage of popular Arguments and the Reputation which he added thereto from Religion and Scripture Proofs that together with the Terror of the Duke of Berry's Arms and those of the Duke of Anjou who hover'd thereabout he obliged no less than sixty Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses to submit to the Obedience of the French King who had indeed the cheif place in their Hearts before And as this Archbishop went abroad abetting and maintaining the King his Masters Cause in and about the Marches and Limitations of Languedoc So also in Picardy divers other Prelates and Clergymen brought the Right of the Two Kings into their Pulpits where they discussed the Matter so plausibly that King Edward was ever concluded in the wrong And the Common People who in those Days readily swallowed more Course Morsels than these were fully satisfied with all that was said thô in my Opinion it is not only below the Dignity of Princes to make use of such abject Devices but also no way corresponding to the same of Learning and Religion to appeal so fawningly to the Vulgar whom as they please they may easily cheat with false Colours But in France Dr. William Dorman was especially remarkable for these Tongue Victories for he rode about from Town to Town and from City to City and spake with such power and force of Rhetorical Insinuations and handled his Points so cleverly that all who heard him believed in a manner every Word he said and the Controversie between the two Kings was so artificially represented by him that the French King had apparently the Advantage on his side Besides all this King Charles himself was so moved with Devotion e Frois ibid. Mezeray c. that he not only caused Fastings and Processions to be used throughout his Realm by the Clergy but Himself also and his Queen would often attend them going barefoot and in all Churches there were put up continual Prayers to God devoutly requiring and imploring of his Majesty to assist and maintain the Right of the Realm of France which had suffer'd so great Tribulation for so many Years Nor was King Edward less Pious or less honourably Politick For he also used the same Method thrô his Kingdom the rather that his Subjects might be the more ready to venture their Lives and Fortunes in a Cause which they first understood to be Just and Right There was at that time one Dr. Simon Tibuld alià s Sudbury Bishop of London a Man very well seen in the Canon Law and the Scriptures and of great Eloquence who made many Sermons in the most publick places of the City declaring and proving unto the People that the French King had renew'd the War not only against his Oath but also against all Right and Reason with manifest Injustice Fraud and Perjury all which together with King Edward's Title to France he demonstrated with great force of Argument and Rhetorick to the ample satisfaction of all his Auditors And I must confess that it might not seem unnecessary for both the Kings to provide that their Subjects should be generally informed of the particulars of their Quarrel that so they might more teadily and with a good Conscience assist their several Masters in this War at which both the Nations were sufficiently alarum'd already And King Edward himself who was as well furnish'd with Wisdom as Valour nothing doubted but that this War would prove as great and as momentous as ever any he had been engaged in because of the Advantage which the French King had gain'd by surprising him thus as chiefly because of the new Method of this his politick Enemy and also of the Mutability of his French Friends Wherefore he thought it fit for his behoof to stirr up all his Assistants and Allies that might any ways lie opportunely to divert the impending Mischief And so he sent into Brabant and Hainalt to learn whether they would own his Quarrel or no and especially he desired Duke Albert of Bavaria who at that time govern'd the Country of Hainalt instead of his Elder Brother Duke William who had been for some time before Distracted and continued so to the day of his Death to open his Country upon Occasion and to let him go and come into France or tarry there if need should be with an Army Duke Albert at the Request of the King of England his Uncle especially because Queen Philippa his Dear Aunt urged him also thereto readily granted to have his Country open for the use of King Edward being not â—â—tle perswaded to this Matter by Edward Duke of Gueldres who was Son to King Edward's Sister Eleanor and had lately married Duke Alberts Daughter and with him concurred the Duke of Juliers who was Cosen German to the said Albert of Bavaria These two Lords were strictly bound to King Edward the one being as we said before his Nephew and the other the Cosen German to King Edward's Children and to
your Power alone to save me which if out of Christian Charity you will undertake to doe I promise you by my Faith and Troth to bestow Half my Lands and Possessions upon you to be held for You and your Heirs for ever The Englishman who was but a poor Esquire and unmarried consider'd how Sr. Raimund was a fine Gentleman that it was a great Pitty he should be put to Death upon any account and also that he had promised him very largely and so he said in general that he would do his utmost to save him Sr. Raimund being exceeding glad at that Word sware solemnly unto him how he would most religiously keep his Promise and further do for him whatever he should desire Then they fell to contrive how to bring their Purpose to effect and as it was agreed the Englishman who bore the Keys of the Castle and of the Tower wherein Sr. Raimund was and also of the Postern Gate let him out about Midnight into the Fields and went along with him into a great Wood for fear of being followed presently That Night they suffer'd much Pain for they footed it seven Leagues before 't was light Morning so that they cut their Feet because it was an hard Frost But by Day-light they came to a French Fortress where they were kindly received by the Garrison to whom Sr. Raimund declared all his Adventure the Danger he was in and the Escape he had made For which they all thanked God and the English Esquire But when Sr. Geoffry Argentine found the next Morning that Sr. Raimund and his Keeper were fled he sent forth Men on Horseback to scour about the Country and to pursue them But it was too late they were far enough off and perhaps in the Castle of their Friends by that time After this manner Sr. Raimund of Marvejols made his Escape and came into his own Country where his Lands and Estate lay and there he told all his Relations and Allies what a signal Courtesie the English Esquire had shew'd unto him in his extremity whereupon they all embrac'd him and ever after highly respected and lov'd him and Sr. Raimund offer'd him as he had promised before to convey over unto him the Moiety of all his Inheritance but he would not by any means receive so much he only took 200 l. per annum saying it was as much as befitted one of his Degree And thus the English Esquire continued in those parts and Married and liv'd there upon his Estate and was ever Dear and Welcome to Sr. Raimund and to all his Friends and Relations III. In the opening of the Year c Frois c. 287. c. there died at Bourdeaux the Young Lord Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Black-Prince in the beginning of his seventh Year to the extream Regret of the Prince and Princess and the whole Court. At that same time the Prince himself was advised by his Physicians and Chirurgeons who knew the Nature of his Distemper to go into England his Native Country to try if so at least he might recover his Health which by this time was mightily empaired The Prince approv'd of their Counsel and so provided for his Return into England appointing his Brother the Earl of Cambridge and his Brother-in-Law the Earl of Pembroke with their Retinues to be his Convoy And while the Fleet was rigging out in the Haven of Bourdeaux on the Garonne he sent forth his special Summons to all the Loyal Barons and Knights of Gascogne and Poictou and other parts of his Dominions to come unto him by such a Day to Bourdeaux And all these at the time appointed having presented themselves before the Prince in his Chamber he began to tell them How he had now been for almost Ten Years space a Good and Gracious Lord unto them as much as in him lay for he had kept them in Peace and had maintain'd them in great Wealth Prosperity and Honour till the Common Enemy of Mankind had scatter'd new Occasions of War among them wherein notwithstanding he had defended them with a strong hand But that now for the Recovery of his Health which he very much wanted he had design'd for England thô he should leave behind him his Dearest Brother the Duke of Lancaster to supply his place Him therefore now he desir'd that they would all Believe Honour Serve and Obey even as hitherto they had done unto his own Person and he also required them to be heartily assistant unto Him in all his Undertakings by their Counsel and otherwise nothing doubting but that they should find him a very Good and Gracious Lord upon all occasions Then all the great Barons of Gascogne and Guienne of Sainctogne and Poictou promised and sware on their Faith and Honour that there should never be found any fault or failure in them And so there in presence of the Prince they did Fealty and Homage to the Duke of Lancaster as to the Prince's Lieutenant and therewith according to the Custom they kissed his Mouth After which the Prince tarried not long at Bourdeaux but d Fro s ibid. Walsing hist p. 181. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 234. went on Board in the beginning of January with their Son Richard and the Princesses Children by her First Husband together with the Earls of Cambridge and of Pembroke and 500 Men of Arms besides Archers Thus they sailed without any Opposition from the Elements or their Enemies till they arrived happily at Southampton where they Landed and tarried two Days to refresh themselves On the Third Day they all took Horse the Prince only using a Litter and so the Navy returning to Bourdeaux with the Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Pembroke went along with the Prince to Windsor where the King was at that time who with much joy received his Son and Daughter and their Young Son Richard and was now by the Prince perfectly informed of the state and Condition wherein he had left Aquitaine Soon after the English Court return'd to Westminster and the Prince of Wales went with his Family to his Mannor of Berkhamsteed near London where the Air is accounted better than ordinary IV. When the Prince of Wales had left Bourdeaux and the Earl of Cambridge was returned with the Fleet and his Men of War the Duke of Lancaster solemnised the Obsequies of his Nephew Edward of Angoulesme Eldest-Son to the Prince his Brother after a most Stately and Magnificent manner in the City of Bourdeaux at which Solemnity were present all the Lords and Barons of Gascogne and Poictou who had so lately sworn Obedience unto him But before the Solemnity of the Funeral was quite over while yet all the foresaid Lords and Knights tarried at Bourdeaux These French Lords namely the Lord William de Leondoul the Lord Lewis of Maillezais the Lord of Archy and Sr. Alan Hussy marched forth of perigeux with 200 Spears French and Bretons in their Company and rode to a
King after his Departure So that the Knights and Lords of Poictou were engag'd in a kind of Civil War the Weaker being alway made a Prey to the Stronger and Castles and Fortresses being so intermingled one with another here an English and there a French Garrison that there was nothing but mutual Losses and Reprisals every Day all things were in Confusion neither Law Right nor Reason being of any moment in those Parts VI. Now the Loyal Barons and Knights of Poicton who still adher'd to England consider'd that the Castle of Moncontour i Frois ibid. molested them more than any other Garrison wherefore they agreed to go thither and lay Siege thereto So the Lord Thomas Percy who was Seneschal of Poictou made his Summons for that Purpose within the City of Poictiers where upon the Muster he found his Forces to amount to 500 Spears and 2000 Footmen well armed besides Archers The Chief Captains whereof next Sr. Thomas himself were the Lord Baldwin Frevile Sr. Dangouses Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. Percival Collins Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. Richard Pontchardon English Men and these Knights of Poictou Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Lewis Harcourt the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton the Lord of Crupenac Sr. Hugh de Vinoye Sr. James of Surgieres Sr. Moubron of Linieres and others all who marched forth of Poictiers in good Order under the Conduct of the Lord Thomas Percy and came and sat down before Moncontour This Castle and Town of Moncontour stands on the Marches of Poictou and Anjou being little more than six Leagues from Saumur in Anjou and about as many from Poictiers but hardly four from Thoüars The Castle was exceeding strong and fair and had a good Garrison commanded as we said before by Sr. Peter de Guerfille and Sr. Jordan de Coulonges But the English had brought with them from Poictiers several Great Engines of Battery and had others also sent to the Camp from Thoüars all which they reared up against the Fortress and plaid therewith Night and Day Besides this there were Skirmishes held at the Barriers constantly and especially by the Companions who were then in the English Army being commanded by Sr. Walter Hewett John Cresswell and David Holcraft For they were continually upon Duty being all Valiant Men and desirous by any means to carry the Place because Sr. Thomas Percy had promised to bestow it on those who should win it The Garrison wanted neither Courage nor Provision nor any other thing necessary but Repose and Quiet for they had no rest allow'd them Night nor Day but were constantly alarum'd in several Places without any intermission Especially on the Tenth Day of the Siege the Assault was General and more vigorous than ordinary so that at last the Place was carried by fine Force and every Man within put to the Sword except the two Captains and about five or six Men of Arms who were taken to Mercy Upon this Success the Lord Thomas Percy by Advice and with Consent of all the Barons and Knights present granted the Castle to the Custody of Sr. Walter Hewett John Cresswell and David Holcraft who undertook with their Troops amounting to 500 able Men Companions to make good the Place and to hold Frontier War with those of Anjou and Touraine And this English Garrison subsisted thus a great while to the no small Detriment of the Frenchmen their Neighbours but the Lord Percy having succeeded here discharged his Troops for the present and sent them to their several Quarters VII Now Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France having after his Victory over the English at Pont Vallin designed to Winter at Paris was informed how the English had again taken the Field in Poictou and Guienne Wherefore he resolved after Candlemas in the beginning of the Year to raise an Army and to ride forth against the Enemies of France who ranged about at their pleasure especially from their Garrisons in Poictou Limosin Quercy Auvergne and Rouvergue For in most of these Parts the English had behav'd themselves with much Honour and had sustain'd their Interest with Commendable Bravery ever since the War began Particularly the Lord John Devereux was just then return'd into Limosin whereof he was Seneschal having lately pass'd in Hostile Manner thrô Auvergne and Givaudan till he came into Vivarais where he took the Castle with the City and base Town and all But Sr. Bertram thought not to leave such Matters uncontroverted So having the King's leave he left Paris with a considerable Number of Men of Arms among whom were these Captains of Name the Dukes of Berry and Bourbon the Earl of Alenson and his Brother the Earl of Perche the Earl of St. Paul the Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Suilly the Lord of Montagre Sr. Hugh Dauphin the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Talascon and many more Barons Knights and Esquires of the Marches of France All these went into Vivarais and sat down before the City of Vzes where having layn fifteen days to no purpose the Place being Valiantly Defended by the English they raised their Siege and marched thence toward the Parts of Rouvergue the Constable thinking fit to go and make Experiment of his Enemies there also But at his rising from before Vzes several of the Chief Lords with him took their leaves of him for a while and struck off to Avignon to pay a Visit to Pope Gregory and to the Duke of Anjou who was then with him having k Frois ibid. lately been very instrumental in advancing him to that See. But having received his Holinesses Blessing and confer'd a little with the Duke of Anjou they return'd from Avignon and follow'd the Constable toward Rouvergue where they joyn'd him and proceeded with him in winning Towns and Castles from the English Among others they came before the strong Town of Milland and laid Siege thereto the Captain therein for the English being Sr. Thomas Wake who had kept the Place about a Year and an half together with another Fortress not far off called la Roche Vauclere But now on certain Reasons the said Sr. Thomas was fain to deliver up Millaud upon Composition to depart with Bag and Baggage and flying Colours whose Example was soon after followed by many other Fortresses on the Frontiers Sr. Bertram stay'd a while hereabouts to refresh his Men and so went back again toward the City of Vzes resolving to renew his Siege and that he might do it the more effectually he sent for Great Engines from Riom and Clermont and reared them up against the Walls and made ready all other Instruments of War in order to make one grand and general Assault When the English within saw the Constable's Design l Frois c. 291. being informed that such a Man as Sr. Thomas Wake himself had yielded up Millaud and quitted all Rouvergue and considering also that
Peace was now done we shall proceed orderly to the War. All this Winter l Frois c. 296. c. Gallicè f. 244. there were held in England by the King many Consultations how to carry on the War the Summer following for he design'd to send two Powerfull Armies the One to act about the Parts of Aquitaine and the other from Calais to March thrô Picardy into France And all the while he neglected not to Establish himself with Friends on every side as well in Almaine as the Marches of the Empire where he purchas'd many good Knights and Esquires to his Service And befides all this in England he made such Wonderfull Preparations that the like had hardly been seen before But it seems that God Almighty was willing to prepare this Glorious Monarch by some sensible Affliction for his final Dissolution and that He might by observing his own Weakness fall to a due Consideration of Gods Power and learn to despise the salse Grandeur and Painted Glories of the World he was pleased from this time to blast both his maturest Counsels and his strongest Preparations whereby as a Father doth his Child he weaned him from the Delights and Allurements of this Life and directed him to seek after a better For to say the Truth We cannot till this time Date the Full Birth of King Edward's Misfortunes But from henceforward We shall see his Great Web of Victories continually to unravel and the strong spring of his Success to run backwards with much more speed than ever it was wound up King Charles m Frois ibid. of France was perfectly informed of all King Edward's most secret Resolutions whereupon he provided in all Places accordingly And first he mightily fortified all his Towns Cities and Castles in Picardy and the Marches towards Flanders supplying all his Garrisons with good Captains and Souldiers and other necessaries Nor did he forget his Concerns in Guienne but besides the Armies on that side in Garrison which were able to resist any Encounter after his usual way of Artifice he tamper'd secretly with the Chief Burgesses of Rochelle and other Places and sent also to his New Confederate the King of Spain desiring him effectually to assist him with a strong Fleet the next Summer III. On the other hand King Edward when the Spring was enter'd and he had magnificently solemnised the Feast of St. George as was his constant Custom at Windsor having created Sr. Guischard Dangle Knight of the Garter in the Room of Sr. Walter Manny deceased return'd to London and at his Royal Palace at Westminster held a Great Council about the Affairs of his Realm Here he ordain'd the Duke of Lancaster as his Lieutenant to invade France with a great Army by the Plains of Picardy the Earl of Cambridge being to attend him Then at the instant request of the Lord Guischard Dangle and all the Poictevin Lords whom he and his fellows represented he order'd the Earl of Pembroke n Rot. Vasc 46. Ed. 3. m. 4. as his Lieutenant in Aquitaine to go into Poictou to preserve that Country and to make Powerfull War against the French on that side For the Gascogners and Poictevins had earnestly requested of the King both by their Letters and the Mouth of Sr. Guischard Dangle that if he could not spare some One of the Princes his Sons yet at least he would send the Earl of Pembroke unto them whom next to those they lov'd and honour'd most as having had good Experience of his Extraordinary Courage and Conduct Hereupon King Edward before all his Barons and Knights then assembled in Council said unto the Earl of Pembroke who thô now Husband to the Lord Manny's Daughter had for his first Wise a Daughter of the Kings My Fair Son John I here appoint You as my Lieutenant and Commander in Chief over all Aquitaine to go into Poictou along with my Lord Guischard of Angoulesme and there to be Captain of all my Forces as well of those whom I shall send with You as of such whom You shall find there ready to joyn You who are no small Number as I am credibly informed The young Earl kneeling down said Sir I heartily thank your Majesty for the great Honour You are pleased to confer upon me thô I should be glad to be employ'd in your Majesties Service either there or elsewhere as One of the meanest Officers of your Army IV. These Orders being thus settled and due Care taken for all things to be ready against the time appointed the Council brake up and the King return'd to his Beloved Seat of Windsor He took along with him among others the Noble Poictevin Lord Sr. Guischard Dangle with whom he frequently spake of the Affairs of Poictou and Guienne Sr. Guischard advis'd the King by no means to doubt the Loyalty of his Good Subjects there For Sir said he as soon as my Lord of Pembroke shall but once appear he shall find a Considerable Army in the Field to joyn him For We shall make up to the Number of Four or Five Hundred Spears at least with their several Retinues all at Your Majesties Service to live and die for You so they may have their Wages duly paid them Sr. Guischard Sr. Guischard reply'd the King take You no Care for Gold and Silver to maintain the War when You are once come thither For I thank God I have enough and I am well content to bestow it on such a Commodity as the Glory and Advantage of Me and my Kingdom In such o Frois c. 297. sed Gallicè fol. 244. b. Discourse the King past the time with Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he entirely respected and credited no less as indeed he deserved till the Fleet was ready and the Earl of Pembroke came thither to take his leave of the King in order to his going on Board The Captains that accompanied him were the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Thomas of St. Albans Sr. John Lawton Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John Curson Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Grimston all Knights of England besides the Poictovins as the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinan the Lord John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and others but they had no great Company with them because Sr. Guischard Dangle had advis'd the King not to exhaust England of her Best Men at that time when there were enough ready to fight for him in Poictou provided he sent over sufficient for their Wages All the Captains and their Men were order'd to repair to Southampton where they were fain to tarry no less than fifteen days in expectance of a Wind and then they went on Board with a good merry Gale and set sail for Poictou as they said in the Name of God and St. George but most certainly in an unlucky Hour For King Charles of France being either inform'd of all this or thrô his great Insight into Matters guessing how things would fall or thrô doubt
however of what might be resolv'd not to leave so Considerable an Entrance unguarded and therefore having obtain'd from his New-Confederate of Spain a strong Navy of Fourty Great Ships and Thirteen Barks well trim'd and furnish'd with Men and Artillery he order'd them to ply about Rochelle either so to trap the Earl of Pembroke whom he heard to design for that Port or at least to encourage those Rochellers who enclin'd to a Defection and to frighten the others of the English side into a Revolt The Admirals of this Fleet were Four Valiant Gentlemen of Spain viz. Sennor Don Ambrosio di Baleguer Don Cabesso di Vaccadent Don Hernando Du Leon and Don Rodrigo de Roses all who had layn at Anchor about Rochelle and the Isle of Re many days expecting the return of the Poictevins with the Earl of Pembroke for they were certainly informed how they intended that way to come into Poictou On the 22d day of June the Earl of Pembroke came up to the Port and should have taken Land happily enough with all his Company But there he found this Fleet of Spaniards ready to impeach his Landing He saw now it was too late to avoid them wherefore he comforted his Men and began to arm the Archers being placed to the best Advantage But surely the Match was nothing equal neither in Numbers of Men nor bulk or strength of Ships to say nothing of the Artillery of the Spaniards among which p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 89. Angl. p. 391. One places Canons and other Fire-Arms And indeed Froisard himself witnesses the same For he tells us how the Spanish Fleet being well-provided with a vast Number of Men of Arms Brigands Cross-bows and Canons great Barrs of Iron and heavy plumets of Lead to fling down first fetch'd a course and tack'd about to get the Wind of the English and so came upon them with full Sails in manner of an Half-Moon making a High and horrible noise which rebounding from the shoar ascended the Skies The Earl of Pembroke having Knighted several Young Esquires for their better Encouragement received them warmly without the least sign of Fear and that day in person performed most worthily doing many notable Exploits with his own Hands and exhorting his Men by telling them these were the same Spaniards over whom they had triumphed at Najara Indeed all the Lords both of England and Poictou shew'd that day extraordinary Manhood in Offending and Defending while the Spaniards from their High-built Carracks thundred down among them huge Barrs massy Stones and heavy Plumets of Lead wherewith they extreamly frustrated the Valour of the English Knights who were not permitted to cope with an equal Enemy but lay thus obnoxious to every Disadvantage However they and their Friends the Poictevins were all greedy of Honour and so became well Content to Court her in the greatest Difficulties And many of their Enemies who saw and felt them acknowledged afterwards q Frois c. 298. c. that they doubted no Attempt whatsoever but to Advance their Names readily accepted the most hazardous offer and that never any Men did fight more Valiantly thô they were but a few in respect of the Spaniards and had also both fewer and smaller Vessels So that it was wonderfull how they could subsist so long had not those Generous thoughts within them supply'd them with fresh Courage and that Courage rendred them for a while Invincible Insomuch r Frois ibid. that it was thought the Spaniards would have got but very little or no Advantage over them had they been in Ships no Higher nor Stronger than theirs For they held themselves so close together and fought with such Resolution and Animosity that none were able to abide their stroaks but those who were exceeding well arm'd and shielded from their Fury But the rowling down of Stones Lead and Barrs of Iron afflicted them and endammaged their Vessels and hurt and wounded many good Knights and Esquires The Citizens of Rochelle saw all this Engagement but they made not the least Motion to come and help the Earl of Pembroke and his Men who fought so obstinately with their Enemies at such mighty Disadvantage They were indeed at that time under the subjection of England but in their Hearts they wished small Success to any of that Nation And thus much the Spaniards knew before by the private Intelligence they had or else they durst not have engaged in the very Mouth of the Channel of Rochelle which was a Place so Considerable Thus the Rochellers left the English to their Fortune not affording them any Succour thô however they maintained themselves with Excessive Bravery till Night coming on the two Fleets with One Consent separated from each other and cast Anchor The English having lost this first day two Good Barges laden with Provision together with all the Men within them That same Night Sr. John Harpedon who was then Seneschal of Rochelle for King Edward spake to John Chaudron the Mayor and to the Chief Burgesses of the City desiring them to take Arms like good Loyal Friends and to muster such a Number of the Commons of the City and so to go on Board to the Assistance of the Noble Earl of Pembroke and the rest of their Friends who came thither only to Succour them and had endured so much all that day in Valiantly resisting their Enemies But these false-hearted Men who had no mind to the Matter but had kept secret Correspondence with the Enemy began to excuse themselves saying how it was as much as they could do to maintain the Town against the Spaniards and how they were no Men for Sea-fights nor should be able to do any Service upon the Water But if the Battle was to have been on the Land he should see how gladly they would go into the Field to serve their Lord the King of England And more than this the Seneschal could not perswade them to and to offer to force them was not seasonable in that juncture And yet besides the Constant Garrison there were at that time in the City the Lord Taniboton Sr. James of Surgeres and Sr. Maubron of Liniers who also earnestly desired the Mayor and Burgesses to send assistance to the English in this their extremity But when they saw they could not prevail they three together with Sr. John Harpedon having left a sufficient Garrison in the Castle went and arm'd themselves and all the rest of their Men such as could be spared and would partake with them which yet was but an Inconsiderable Number and so went on Board in Four Barks and at the break of Day when the Floud came set forth and joyn'd the Earl of Pembroke who thanked them heartily for their Good-Will These Knights told the Earl and Sr. Guischard Dangle how the Rochellers had resused to come to his Assistance Well then said the Earl We must Couragiously expect what Chance it shall please God to allot Vs And I
within Ten Leagues on these Considerations they made signs for a Parley intending to treat with the Constable while yet they might do it on tolerable Terms Now Sr. Bertram of Clequin had received notice before this that he should hear of the English Succours that very Night Whereupon he more readily enclin'd to this Treaty and agreed to receive them to Mercy and so took the Castle and let the Garrison go with their Lives and Armour only This done he forthwith drew out all his Army into the open Field and set them in Battle Array ready to fight if need should be saying to his Men Messieures Consider well your business For our Enemies are coming towards Vs apace and I think yet before Night We shall have Battle Stand therefore all to your Guard and be ready to play the Men for the Honour of France Thus was Sr. Bertram dispos'd But the English made no great Haste to the Battle when they knew that St. Severe was lost beyond Recovery Besides other Matters came upon them which filled both their Hands and Heads with business enough For it is to be understood that the Frenchmen in Poictiers had all along many unsteady Minds among them who only sought an opportunity to revolt from the English So that now in the absence of Sr. Thomas Percy their Seneschal there arose an high Dissention in the City For three Parts of the Town were for letting in the French but Sr. John Reinolds the Mayor and Part of the Communalty resolved to remain true to the English Yet the Chief of the Richest Burgesses and of the Clergy whereof there was a great Number would by all means have the Constable sent for to come and take Possession of the City for they promised to open the Gates unto him Of which News the Constable was glad and communicated the matter to the Dukes of Berry and Bourbon Then it was agreed that the Constable should go from the Army with 300 Spears the best mounted in all the Host and so he went and rode the remainder of that Day and the Night following taking little rest more than 30 Leagues by another way than that which he knew the English kept The next Morning he came to Poictiers where he found the Gates open and his Friends ready to receive him Yet if he had tarried but an Hour longer or so he had come too late For Sr. John Reinolds the Mayor of Poictiers and those of his Party sent in all haste to the Captal and Sr. Thomas Percy who sent them immediatly an 100 Spears and as many Archers on Horseback and these were then come within a league of the City when Sr. Bertram enter'd XIV Upon News of the Loss of this Considerable Garrison of Poictiers all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Gascogne Poictou and England were mightily cast down especially those who were then assembled together in Poictou to the number of 800 Spears and 400 Archers on Horseback For two Hundred of their former Number were now gone to save the Place thô as we shew'd they came too late Then they called a Council of War to advise how to proceed among so many Dangers and Uncertainties For they saw well they were in the midst of their Enemies and yet knew not whom to trust to as their Friends But the Loyal Barons and Knights of Poictou when they saw the English Captains so suspitious and jealous as they might well be in those Circumstances to raise up their Minds and assure them the more said Certainly Gentlemen our Friends and Companions in Arms We are very sorry to see how ill Matters go in these Parts and that it is not in our power to help it But surely Gentlemen You may be Confident of this that while We can hold our Swords in our Hands and there is but one Castle or Fortress left in Poictou for us to retire to we shall never desert you but remain True and Faithfull to our Natural Lord the King of England and to You. The English Captains that were there reply'd Gentlemen next unto God Almighty our chief Confidence is in You And thô it be to die in the Quarrel You shall find us True Companions Thus there was a long Debate held in the Field but at last it was concluded that the Poictevins should march separately one way and the Englishmen another And so the former viz. the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Thoüars the Lord of Roussillon the Lord Lewis of Harcourt Sr. Emery of Rochechoüart Sr. John Dangle Sr. Percival of Cologne Captain of Thoüars Sr. Reginald de Theüars Sr. William de Campenac Sr. James of Surgeres Sr. Hugh Monberon all these with their Retinues went to the strong City of Thoüars But the English Lords and Captains as the Lord Thomas Percy Sr. Richard of Ponchardon Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. John Vbrues Sr. Dangouses John Creswell David Holcroft and others took the way to Niort where they thought to have found a ready Entrance But when they came thither they found the Gates shut against them and the Bridge drawn up and upon Demand the Townsmen answerd That they must not expect any Admittance there This Affront the English could not endure but upon Advice resolved to assault the Place and to make the Inhabitants an Example to all others Now thô the Men of Niort had Inconstancy enough to imitate the Defection of others yet they had not so much Wit as to consider that they were not able to defend themselves against this Power of the English For as yet they had no sufficient Captain among them to direct them in case of Necessity nor any that understood perfectly the Art of War. Wherefore after a short Defence wherein they shew'd more Animosity than Skill the Place was carried by Force the Inhabitants for the most part put to the Sword and the Town spoil'd and rob'd by the English Though if they could but have held out till Night in all likelihood they had escaped For the Constable of France had sent thither Sr. Tibauld du Pont with 200 Chosen Men to reinforce them but this Succour as well as that which the English sent to save Poictiers came too late And so at Niort the English made a strong Garrison intending to lie still till they heard more News XV. While the English i Frois c. 304. thus lay at Niort and durst not divide themselves for doubt of their Inconstant Friends and for fear of their prevailing Enemies Owen the Titular Prince of Wales had succeeded so well with Don Henry King of Spain that he came now before Rochell with a strong Fleet of Fourty tall Ships Thirteen Barges and Eight Galeons full of good Souldiers under the Command of Don Rodrigo di Roses Admiral of Spain and therewith so block'd up the Haven that none could pass out or in without much Danger The Rochellers seeing themselves in no good Condition and indeed being
Mercy not one of whom he was resolv'd to spare So the next Morning he commanded all to their Arms and to prepare all manner of Machines and Engines for a general Assault and then he attacqued the Besieged with such Fury that the like had seldom been seen For the Men of Arms themselves especially the Bretons waded thrô the Ditches without favouring themselves and so came to the foot of the Walls with shields over their heads and dug at the Walls with Pick-axes and Mattocks that it was wonderfull to behold their Eagerness Till at last thô not without much loss as may well be guessed they got down a great Pane of the Wall whereat they easily made their Entrance and put all within to the Sword without Exception Then the Constable having repaired the Breach and what else was amiss and set therein a strong Garrison of Frenchmen resolved to attack the Castle of Marans but the English there despairing to maintain a place so much less defensible than St. Benoist capitulated with him and yielded on Condition to save their Lives and Goods which was accepted From thence he went to Surgeres resolving to make that Garrison pay dearly for their late Attempt upon him a few Nights before but the English had left the Place void beforehand not daring to expect his Arrival Having set a good Garrison here he went back to Fontenay p Itâ Galâ—â—è sed in Angl. le Comté â—â—attitur le Comté a Castle belonging to the Lady of Sr. John Harpedon an English Knight who was then a Prisoner in Spain Here he laid Siege both to Town and Castle and made many fierce Assaults till at last it was agreed by Composition that the Lady her self and as many as would remain true to King Edward should go to Thoüars their Lives Honours and Goods saved And accordingly thither they were safely convey'd by the Constable's Order the rest turning to the French side and so the Constable took Possession both of Town and Castle and made a new Garrison there And now the Constable resolved to go and lay his siege to Thoüars it self to which Place the greater Part of those Barons that held still for England were retired as the Vicount of Thoüars the Lords of Partenay Puissances and Cors the Lord Lewis of Harcourt Sr. William of Campenac Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. James of Surgeres and Sr. Percival of Cologne with many more Thither they went and began immediately to invest the Place having brought from Poictiers and Rochelle several Engines which they play'd Night and Day against Thoüars to the great Trouble of the English and Gascogne Lords Till at last with design to put off the Day of Calamity as long as might be and in hopes of a good Succour by that time they agreed with the Frenchmen for a mutual Respit and Truce for themselves and their Lands till the Feast of St. Michael then next ensuing They in the mean time to send to the King of England their Lord to certifie him of their Condition but so as that if they should not be succoured either by Him or one of his Sons in Person within the said time then they to yield both Themselves and Lands to the Obedience of the French King. This Treaty being agreed to by the Constable and other Lords of France they return'd for that time to Paris whither the Captal of Busche was brought as Prisoner and put under safe Custody in a Tower of the Temple The French King being extreamly pleased at his Taking rewarded the Esquire of Vermandois who took him with 12000 Franks But because the Captal would by no means renounce the English Interest thô it were to save his Life and to purchase his Liberty the French King who feared his Valour would never let him be put to Ransom nor acquitted by Exchange thô the English offer'd q True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal p. 152. one Earl and three Knights in Exchange for him So that he never had his Liberty more but was confin'd in Prison till his Death which happen'd about four Years after A Prince worthy of a better Fate and of Immortal Memory for he yielded to none in that Age for Valour Courtesie Piety or Conduct and as for his Nobility he was nearly allied to the Kings of Navarre France and England and from his Blood is descended the r True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 109 iâ— Titudo ex Bibl. Cotteniana Present Royal House of France and the Glorious King LEWIS the Fourteenth XIX The mean while the Messengers that were sent from the Poictevin Lords in Thoüars came into England and there shew'd unto the King and Prince and their Council the low Condition of Poictou and Sainctogne and the doubtfull Estate of the City of Thoüars and all the Lords and Captains therein together with the Conditions of their late Agreement with the French. When King Edward heard and saw how in a manner without any War he lost all the Lands Cities and Countries that had cost him so much to win he said hastily Å¿ Du Chesne p. 709. How he never knew a King less addicted to Arms than Charles who yet had given him more trouble than his Ancestors that were Warriers And thereupon having studied a little he proceeded saying t Frois c. 305. Gallicè fol. 253. That he would cross the Seas shortly so strong as to be able to give Battle to the whole Power of France and that as for his part he would never return into England till he had reconquer'd what he had lost or together with the rest lost Himself in the Endeavour So presently he commanded the Duke of Lancaster who was just then ready according to former Orders to go to Calais with a Considerable Army to attend now a while for he design'd that he should go along with him into the Parts of Poictou and Sainctogne toward Rochell the greater stress of the matter being judg'd to lie there The mean while the King made an extraordinary Summons throughout his Realm commanding all Men of such and such Age and Degree to come ready Arm'd to Sandwich and thereabouts by a Day appointed there to take the Seas with Him and his Sons the Prince and the Duke None of those who were concerned either would or durst disobey this General Command of the King 's but drew as fast as they might to the Sea-side where lay ready for them 400 great Ships besides other Vessels While these Preparations were making the King call'd his High Court of Parliament to meet at Westminster that so the Affairs of the Nation might be settled before his Departure out of the Realm Especially the King resolv'd to let them know his Mind as to the Succession for before the Meeting of this Parliament the King and the Prince of Wales had upon Consultation agreed that if either the One or the Other should miscarry in this
37 of Ed. 3. tit 18. shall be executed And for exacting Money of them at the Bridges aforesaid or elsewhere against their Franchises they shall make their Suit in the Chancery and have their Writs grounded on their Liberties to stay such takings The Commons of the County of Kent complain against the Officers of the Castle of Dover for arresting them by their Catchpoles to answer before them whereunto they are g M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton hâ—c vocula not intercidit not bound The Officers shall have no Jurisdiction out of the Fee of the Honour and Castle of Dover nor shall make any Process by Capias out of the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports Certain of the Sea-Coasts complain to the King that whereas they by the King 's Appointment with their Ships transported Sr. Thomas Felton Steward of Gascogne and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne unto Bourdeaux and from thence went to the Baye where certain Spanish Gallies notwithstanding the Truce taken between the King the Spaniards and Frenchmen boarded and took them viz. on the tenth of August last past before herein therefore they pray Remedy The King hath done and will do his best for Redress and Restitution The Inhabitants of the Town of Southhampton pray the King to take the Town into his own Hands for that they are not able to pay the Fee-Farm by reason of the great Charge about the Fortification of the same and that he would send thither Men of War for the Defence of the same The King will be advised The Mayor and Commonalty of Winchester pray the King to confirm and grant to them their Liberties in such wise as was last granted to London and that towards the Murage of the same he would give them some Aid of Custom or otherwise The Answer to this is not to be read The Commons of divers Cities and Towns require the payment of certain Moneys lent the King in the time of Thomas Brantingham Bishop of Excester and Treasurer of England They shall be paid as soon as may be The Lords of the Realm and their Tenants pray the King of Remedy against the Riots of divers Cities and Towns for that they enter upon their several Grounds therein claiming Common considering the Wasts thereunto adjoyning may suffice therefore and namely that such of the Townsmen as have not Lands lying with any of the said Lords may have no Common in any of their Lands This Matter is before the Council The Inhabitants of Bath complain that whereas they had a Fair there at the Feast of St. Calixtus the Town of Bristow being but ten Miles from them have raised a Fair at Bristow the same Day and forbidden all their Townsmen of Bristow upon certain Penalties to bring any Wares to the said Fair of Bath for this they pray Remedy It is before the Great Council The Commons of Essex and Suffolk pray that certain Clothes there or elsewhere called Cogware and Kersies made in the said Counties be not within the compass of the Statute of Clothes made in the 47 Ed. 3. h In M.S. c. 41. sed eâ— Statutis câ—rrâ—ge c. 1. The King willeth that they have such Words that the Straight-Ware called Cogware and Kersies made in the said Counties shall not be intended to be comprised in the said Statute nor under the penalty therein The Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London pray that they may enjoy all their Liberties and that no Stranger do keep House or be a Broker or sell Merchandise by Retail The King hath granted thereto conditionally that the same City be well governed saving to the Merchants of the Hans their Liberties The Citizens and Burgesses of divers places there mention'd complain for and in the Name of their respective Cities and Towns that divers of the King's Tenants having i Vide de hâc vece Cowell Spelman Skinner c. Burgage within them do suffer them to fall to decay whereby they are the less able to pay their Fee-farms for which they pray Remedy The Citizens of * M.S. Chester Chichester pray Remedy for that they are impleaded out of the same City for their Freeholds and for that they are driven to appear at Assizes and Sessions contrary to the general Words of their Liberties Let them shew their Charters in the Chancery and they shall have Right They require also Confirmation of their Charters according to that purport Let them also shew their Charters and they shall have Right The Commonalty of Surrey and Sussex pray Remedy that whereas the King out of his Fee-farms paid for the said Counties hath granted to Richard Earl of Arundel the two k M.S. Towns c. in Sr. Rob. Cotton Turns of Sheriffs in the Rapes of Chichester and Arundel worth by the Year 30 l. and certain Rent called Sheringdeld to the Yearly value of 14 l. 19 s. 1 d. yielding therefore yearly 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. The Sheriff may upon his Accompt be discharged thereof Let it be shewed to the King and if it please him that the Earl enjoy the same the Sheriff shall be discharged according to the Quantity if not the Sheriff shall be at his Answer The Burgesses of Southwark pray a Confirmation of their Charter lately burn'd by Casualty Let them make their pursuit in the Chancery and they shall have Right The Mayor and Commons of New-Castle upon Tine complain that whereas the Prior of Tinemouth Parcel of St. John of Jerusalem in England by cautelous and suborned means brought his Writ of Freehold in Fernham and put in View and Plaint the greater Parcel in Value of the same Town holden in Farm of the Crown time out of Mind and recovered Whereupon Order was taken that the same Justice of Assize should not in that Assize have a procedendo but that the Chancellor should grant a Commission for the Examining of the Truth untill which time the Matter should stay they therefore require that the Assize be no further proceeded in untill the Commission return Remedy is provided in this Parliament as appeareth by another Bill thereunto indorsed The Commons of the Marches m an Estriveling of Estritheng require that Commission may be made to the Lord Percy the Prior of Bridlington Sr. Robert Boynton Sr. Robert Constable Sr. John Snaresby and John Almaric that they may appoint able Persons for the Defence of the same and namely an Arrival between a Place called Earl-Dikes and the Town of Whitby It pleaseth the King. The Commons of the Counties of Essex and Hertford pray that the Sheriff upon his Account be allowed an 100 l. yearly of that which he cannot receive Let them search the Exchequer or Treasury or elsewhere for the Causes of the Distress of those Farms for two years now ensuing and in the mean time the Sheriff shall have pardon of an Hundred Marks The Commons of the City of Rochester pray that the n Ità Sr. Rob. Cotton sed in
but the known Piety and Moderation which King Edward used thrô all his Life and that he could not easily be at this time unmindfull of Death may appear in that many Years before thrô a Pious consideration of Human Frailty he close the Place of his Sepulture as a Lib. 3. c. 4 §. 14. p. 564. Ano. Regni 1359. we have shewn and likewise settled the Point of Succession afterwards and had also so lately seen his Gallant Son go the same way before him not to mention the many Instances of his Piety of which we shall speak by and by And as for that solitary manner of his Death it is every whit as improbable for the Court of the Next Heir being then hard by at Kennington and the Three Sons of the King being thereabouts all the while if Piety and Duty could not have kept his Servants about Him yet a Care of their own Interest must have caution'd them at this time not to shew too much neglect of the Grandfather of the Young Prince and of the Duke of Lancaster's Father Not to say any thing of the Earl of Salisbury the Duke of Bretagne and Sr. Guischard Dangle who as we shew'd were just come unto him a little before his Departure And besides He was so far from being totally neglected that every Moment of his Sickness was particularly observed by his Sons and Others So that on that very Day whereon he died before his Soul had left the Body the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London being certainly informed that his Case was now desperate sent certain of their Chief Citizens to Kennington where Prince Richard and his Mother resided to declare unto the said Prince their Loyal Affections to his Sacred Person and how ready upon his Grandfather's Death they should all be to accept of Him for their Lawfull King and Governour And yet had it been true that our Edward was thus left at his last Gasp by all his Waiters and Domesticks surely it would be very Hard Uncharitable and Unchristianlike to argue any thing against his Person therefore or to conclude his Death any whit the more miserable since then he could not be sensible of what happen'd and also it is very usual and ever will be for the Court to fall away from the Setting Sun and to turn toward the East XVII However thus died King Edward the Third of whom when his Enemy King Charles of France heard of his Death he gave this Testimony b Frâ—is c. 314. f. 196. Gallicè verò fol. 267. That He had Reigned most Nobly and Valiantly and well deserved to be added to the Number of the Antient Worthies And soon after he assembled all the Nobles and Prelates of his Realm with whom he Solemnly performed his Obsequies in the Holy Chappel of his Palace at Paris But in England there was great Sorrow made for his Death and immediately all the Ports were stopped lest the News thereof should reach France before the Affairs of the Kingdom might be settled A little before the Coronation of King Richard the Second the Body of King Edward was removed from Sheen and with a great Pomp of Sorrow his Three Sons John of Gaunt Edmund of Langley and Thomas of Woodstock and his Son-in-Law John the Valiant Duke of Bretagne and all the Barons and Prelates of England following the Herse was brought along thrô the City of London with Open Visage to Westminster where it was c Sandford p. 175. vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast solemnly interred on the South-side of the Royal Chappel in the Abbey of St. Peter near to the Body of his Beloved Queen Philippa as on her Death-Bed she had requested Where betwixt two Pillars parallel with the Tomb of King Edward the Confessor He hath his Monument of Grey Marble upon the Superficies whereof lies his Full Portraiture of Copper Gilt and upon the Verge of the Tomb these Old Verses are ingraven beginning on the North-side at the Foot being Latine Rhyme after the Manner of that Age. Hic Decus Anglorum Flos Regum Preteritorum Forma Futurorum Rex Clemens Pax Populorum Tertius Edvardus Regni complens Iubileum Invictus Pardus Bellis pollens Machabeum Prospere dum vixit Regnum Pietate revixit Armipotens Rexit Iam Câ—lo Coelice Rex sâ—t Tertius Edvardus Famâ super aethera Notus PVGNA PRO PATRIA MCCCLXXVII On both Sides of this Tomb are the Figures of all his Sons and Daughters in Solid Brass viz. On the South-side in several Niches are Edward Prince of Wales Joan of the Tower Entitled Queen of Spain Lionel Duke of Clarence Edmund of Langley Mary Dutchess of Bretagne and William of Hatfield under which their several Escutcheons of Arms Enamelled are placed And also under them the Arms of Saint George and of King Edward the Third interchangeably on Four large Shields of Brass Enamelled On the North-side were the Statues and still there remain the Arms of Isabell Lady Coucy William of Windsor John Duke of Lancaster Blanch of the Tower Margaret Countess of Pembroke and Thomas of Woodstock near unto which Sepulchre they will still shew you the Sword which it is said this King used in his Wars in France being only Cross-barr'd Seven Foot long and weighing Eighteen Pounds I will not dissemble d Cod. M. S. Misâ—ell R. Glover Somerset fol. 135. that there is somewhere attributed unto him one Natural Son besides his Twelve Legitimate Children named Nicolas Litlington who was Abbot of Westminster and lies buried in the said Abbey before the Altar of St. Blase But there are several Arguments which with me weigh down the Credit of this single Testimony as his Age he being made Abbot immediately after Simon Langham sixteen Years before this whereas usually Old Age is required for such and he survived King Edward but e He died 1386. Keep 's Men. West p. 52. Nine Years He bare for his Arms f Vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast p. 13. Quarterly Argent and Gules in the Second and Third a Fret Or on a Bend Azure Three Flowers de Luces of the Third His Character may best be gather'd from his History but however we shall again represent him in little according to those lively Colours wherewith the joynt Concurrence of the best g Walsing hist p. 189. Heur Knighton p. 2630. Foae Acts Mon. p. 394. Daniel's Hist p. 260. Ric. Dinothi Advers p. 92. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 144. Stow p. 269. Holinsh p. 999. Weever's Fun. Mon p. 466. c. Authors have represented him He was a Prince the soonest a Man and the longest that held so of any we meet with His Stature not exceeding the usual Bigness of Men but of the Middle sort h Vid. Hakewill's Apology for Providence p. 212. that is just six Foot or two Yards High his Limbs neat and well-made his Body strong his shape Exact his Visage something Long but exceeding Comely Gracefull and Angelical