to succour the Lady Mountfort The Englishmen were entertained with great applause at Bayon and Burdeaux Afterward laying siege to Bergerat a towne neere the riuer Gerond they receiued the townsemen to mercy the English Captaine taking their othe of fidelitie in the name of the King his Master They tooke many other places also partly by composition partlie by force of armes Amongst other they wonne the Castle of Auberoch a place notably fortified and leauing there a Garrison to defend it the English Captaine returned againe with the rest of his army to Burdeaux In the meane while the French men to the number of twelue thousand besieged the same Castle againe verie streytly and put the souldiers there in Garrison to great distresse But the English Captaine at Burdeaux hauing intelligence thereof assembled some nine hundreth men and in an euening when the French men were to supperward brake suddainelie out of a wood and charged so resolutely vppon them that he put them to discomfiture and in the chace tooke diuers prisoners their Captaine for one being sore wounded whome the people in those partes had in such estimation as if he had beene a Prince As the English men lay in leaguer before a certaine Castle the souldiers put their Captaine in holde because he refused to yeeld it vp to the enemy and would by no meanes graunt his liberty but vppon consent to their request In the end he consented and afterward comming to Tholouse was there arrained of treason and hanged vppon a gibbet for his labour The towne of Rioll was likewise rendered into the Englishmens handes but the Castle was still maintained by the Captaine The Englishmen therefore drew a mine ouerthrew a great part of it to the ground then the captaine considering his imminent perill abandoned the place and left the Castle to the English They also receiued Angolesme by composition after a moneths respit which the townsemen had requested vppon hope to be releeued in the meane time by the French King It is formerly tolde you of Iaques de Arteuill how he was growne so great among the Flemmings that the Earle himselfe could haue no safe recourse into his own country But at length hee receiued the iuste reward of a seditious rebell He had giuen great hope to the King of England that hee would procure the whole countrey of Flaunders by generall consent to accept him for their soueraigne And for accomplishment hereof the King of England with a well furnished nauie arriued in the hauen of Flaunders The matter was propounded to the commons and all for the most part seemed well affected to the King of England But the Gauntoys tooke this practise in meruailous ill part and when Iaques returned into the Citle they entertained him nothing so kindly as they were wont but besetting the house where he was brake open the dores vppon him and slew him as he thought to haue escaped at a posterne Amongst other Articles wherewith they charged him this also was a principall point that he had priuately conueyed all the common treasure ouer to the King of England The Earle of Flaunders moreouer had but one onelie sonne About the same time William Earle of Henault sayling with great assistance into Friseland pretending himselfe to be rightfull Lord of that country was himselfe there slaine in battell with diuers of his nobilitie After his death Margaret Princesse of Henault and wife to Lewis of Bavier the Emperour tooke possession of this Earledome The French King was very desirous to draw vnto his partie one Sir Iohn of Henault a worthy Gentleman and a gallant souldier who had formerly done great seruice to the King of England The matter was attempted by diuers meanes and when no other would take effect this devise was put in practise to insinuate into his conceit that the King of England had a purpose to withdrawe from him his pensions and yeerely entertainments He gaue such credit to this report that forthwith he wholy estranged himselfe from the King of England and yeelded his seruice to the French King When the French King vnderstood that the Englishmen wasted Aquitaine and had wonne many townes and fortresses there he levied his forces amounting to the number of an hundreth thousand men Ouer this armie he appointed his Sonne John Duke of Normandy to be Lievetenant Generall To the French kings ayde came Odet Duke of Burgundy with his Sonne Phillip Earle of Artoys and Boloine both of them excellently well accomplished for the warr They recouered the towne of Angolesme laid siege to the castle of Aguillion gotten before by the Englishmen vppon composition then which there was not a stronger nor better fortified in those quarters The winning thereof was by sundry meanes attempted But it is incredible to beleeue with what courage and resolution the Englishmen that laye there in Garrison defended themselues The French King being aduertised thereof and demaunded what his pleasure was to be done in the matter returned answere to his Sonne that he should continue his siege till necessitie of hunger constrained them to yeeld The King of England vnderstanding in what distresse his men were raysed in continently a power of fourteen thousand souldiers He was accompained amongst other with his Son Edward Prince of Wales and a certain French Gentleman called Godfrey of Harecourt who being expulsed his country by the French King fled to the King of England for safegard of himselfe and reuenge of his iniuries for the French King had seized vppon all his possessions This Godfrey was the cause that the King of England directed his course into Normandy being otherwise purposed to sayle into Aquitaine He diuided his Armie into three partes whereof two raunged along the sea coast wasting the fields sacking diuers townes and leading away their prisoners least afterward they might gather to a head and worke them some displeasure The third wherein was the King himselfe marched through the maine land making hauocke of all things and euery night they mette all together againe at the kings campe The French King in the meane time caused such an armie to be raised as a more puissant had not beene seene in Fraunce of many yeeres Letters were also addressed to the King of Bohemia for ayde who at that time highly fauoured the French King The Englishmen tooke a very rich towne in Normandy called Saint Lupes and afterward hastened to the siege of another much richer called Caē borrowing that name of the riuer running by it The townsmen were purposed to haue giuen battell to the Englishmen in the field but being people vnexperienced in armes at the first fight of the enemie they fled backe again into the towne The French captaines had betaken themselues to their fortresses but beholding the huge slaughter made in the Citie for the Englishmen had taken it they yeelded Amongst other prisoners the Constable was one whome with the rest which were taken in his company the
King of England afterwards bought of him that took them for twentie thousand crownes The Englishmen marching still forward passed ouer the riuer Seane towards Roane and their light horsmen scoured the country euen vnto the Suburbes of Paris where encountring the townsmen of Amience well appointed posting towardes Paris vppon commaundement from the King because of long time before they had been charged with no seruice for the warres they let fiercely vpon them and bereft them of their carriage The French King in the meane while notwithstanding the Parisians earnest sute to the contrary departed from Paris to Saint Dennis whither as then the rest of the Peeres were assembled From thence pursuing his enemie with a certaine vehement and wonderfull desire to fight he remoued to Amience The King of England assayed to passe his armie ouer the riuer Some but there was neither foord knowne nor bridge possible to be taken they were all so surely garded by the French men At length after proclamation of enlargement and reward to any French prisoner that should performe it a certaine young man taken by chaunce discouered a forde The French men suspecting they would passe ouer at the same place opposed themselues strongly against them and entertained them in the riuer with a sharpe skirmish Neuerthelesse the Englishmen waded through and put them to flight By this time the French King was come to Abbevile and the King of England wayted for him in the plaine fieldes to giue him battell When the time of battell approched the King of England made his prayers to God to send him an happy victory and diuided his wholy Armie into three parts In the vauntgarde was his Sonne in the reregard himselfe The fight was furious on both sides but at length the Englishmen obtained the victory which may seem a wonder considering the huge multitude of their enemies In this battell the King of England who awaiting oportunitie had not yet put himselfe in preasse being aduertised that his Sonne fighting valiantly in the forefront was wellnighe oppressed by the enemy he made answere to the messengers in this sort Demaunde no helpe of me this day so long as my Son liueth For I will that he now shewe some proofe of his valor and that the honour of the victory be wholy his and theirs that are appointed to attend him In this battell was slaine Henrie of Lutzenburge Father to Charles King of Bohemia who although he were blinde would needes adventure against the enemy notwithstanding Towards night the French King accompanied with very fewe withdrewe himselfe out of the field The King of England caused the dead bodies of the French men to be numbred and there were found slaine eleven Princes fourescore Barons twelue hundreth Knights and about thirtie thowsand others By commaundement from the King all the noble men were buried in the villages neere adioyning and three daies truce was graunted to giue buriall to their dead After the King of England had obtained this notable victorie he tooke his way directly towards Calice and environning the towne with a stronge siege there planted himselfe in purpose not to depart before he had constrained them to yeelde for famine Meane while the French King sent word to his Sonne the Duke of Normandy lying still at the siege of Aguillion that he should giue ouer his enterprise and conuey his forces againe into Fraunce to withstand the English men who subdued all things before them as they passed Before this aduertisement came to the Army there was another battell fought betweene the French and the English wherein was present Phillip son to the Duke of Burgundy who falling with his horse soone after departed this life During the siege of Aguillion wherof an English Baron was captaine the Earle of Derbie whome the King of England had before sent into Aquitaine remayning at Burdeaux Assoone as he vnderstood that the siege was raysed and the Duke of Normandy departed he assembled to the number of six thousand men and raunging through a great part of the countrie thereabouts at length tooke Poitiers by assault and then returning againe to Burdeaux dismissed his souldiers leauing no Garrison in Poitiers because the towne was vtterlie raced Whilste the King of England was busied about the siege of Calice David King of Scottes partly of his owne motion partly by procurement of the French King perswading himselfe that all the souldiers of England or at leastwise the greater part were gone a warfare with their King assembled his forces to the number of fortie thousand or there about and invaded England The Queene of England in the mean time behaved her selfe with great courage and discretion consulting with the Lords and Prelates of her Real me about the direction of her affaires So an armie was levied vpon the suddaine and the enemie fiercely encountred certaine Archbishops and Bishops of England being present in the conflict whose power notwithstanding it were sarre inferiour in number to the Scottes yet they obtained the victorie In this battell the Scottish King himselfe with many others were taken prisoners The number of them that were slaine amounted to fifteene thousand the rest saued themselues by flight After the accomplishment of this honourable victorie the Queene of England crossed the seas and went to visite the King her husband In the battell before mentioned amongst others was also slaine the Earle of Flaunders who by reason of the rebelliu of Iaques de Artevill was compelled to put himselfe into the French Kings protection He left a Sonne named Lewis at that time about fifteene yeeres of age Now the King of England was in great expectation that through the politicke assistance of Iaques de Artevill he should haue brought the Flemminges to receiue him for their soveraigne and that his Sonne the Prince of Wales with their generall acceptance should haue obtained the Lordship of all Flaunders But the author of so wicked a deuise was slaine as is already declared for the Flemmings would not disinherit the Son of their Lord though they loued not his Father The King of England therefore began to treate of a marriage betweene the young Earle who was then remaining in the French Court for he fled thither with his Father at such time as the state grew troublesome in Flaunders and a daughter of his named Isabell Against this match the Duke of Braband opposed himself for he also had a daughter at the same time whom he desired to match with the young Earle Meanes were found by the Flemminges to conuey the Earle from the French King and he returned into Flaunders in hope to recouer his Fathers possession The King of England in the meane while was nothing slacke in soliciting his sute with the Lordes of Flaunders By them the matter was mooued and the match profered to young Lewis But he vtterly refused it protesting that he would neuer marrie the daughter of him that had slaine his Father When the
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
much hated by the commons which afterward was the occasion of much mischiefe in England Thus when no forces came from thence to their rescue the Gascones destitute of all succour were constrayned to yeeld themselues to the enemie The French King being a wise and politicke prince held correspondence with all men which might stand him instead or from whome he expected any commoditie or furtherance considering therefore with himselfe how the king of England was yet vnder age and that trouble and part-taking were growing within the realme he sollicited Robert King of Scotland and put him often in remēbrance by his letters to make warre vppon the Englishmen now while so great opportunity was offered that being thereby busyed at home they might not haue so good leysure to passe ouer into Fraunce The scottish King moued with these instigations and partly of himselfe desirous to reuenge old iniuries especially whilste the King of England was yet in his nouage vppon consultation of the matter sent commaundement for the assembling of his people to meete him at a certaine time ready furnished and appointed for the warres vppon the borders of England and Scotland When they were come together a certaine Scottish Lord desirous to shew some proffe of his vasor and bold courage associating himselfe with some fewe others in the night season whilste the watch were all sleeping or negligēt without any great difficulty surprised the castle of Barwicke When the gouernour of the towne vnderstood it he gatherd together a company of the townsemen and early in the morning assoone as any daylight appeared first brake downe the bridge which was the onely passage to issue out and then environed the castle round about with a siege so straightly that it was impossible for his enemy to make any evasion The people of the country being also certified by him how the matter stood brought in ten thousand men to his ayde At the tydings whereof the Scottish men raised their campe to come and rescue their besieged companions But they were so terrified with the greatnes of the English army that they would not aduenture the curtesie of fortune So in conclusion assault was giuen the castle recovered and all that were in it were put to the sword saue onely the captaine himselfe vppon whose authoritie this enterprise was vndertaken After the Castle was thus gotten againe it seemed good to the Englishmen to pursue their eniemies in their retreyte which they likewise did though it fell out to their own deadly disaduantage fortune fauouring the Scottish Pope Gregorie in time past had made a solemne vow that if euer he attained to the Papacy he would neuer keepe his residence any other where then are Rome This was very offensiue to some of the Cardinals which bare scarce good affection to the Romaines and it was nothing pleasing to the french King who was desirous to haue had the Pope his neerer neighbour Therefore he sent his brother the Duke of Aniow to Avinion to perswade with him but he was not able to diuert him from his purpose So he went to Rome the place he desired and within a while after there ended his life When the Cardinals as the custome is were assembled together for the election of another the people of Rome began to make great tumult in the court threatning violent effects of their displeasure if they made choyce of any other to be Pope then such a one as was both by birth and ancestors a Romaine And therewithall rushing in amongst the Cardinals and with their fury interrupting their businesse it came to passe by meanes of this disturbance that one was chosen for Pope which was 100 yeeres old This man the Romanes hoysed vp vpon a white Mule and with great solemnity led him about the Citie But the crooked old man wearie with this troublesome kind of curtesie and tyred with this tumbling vp and downe within three daies afeer gaue vp the ghost Wherevppon ensued another hurliburly the Romaines therein with arrogant threates shewing themselues more outragious then before At length a Romaine borne was elected and called afterward by the name of Vrbane the sixt About the same time dyed the Queene of Navarre the french kings sister and by her decease a certaine seigniory in Normandy fell to Charles and Peter the King of Nauarres sonnes which were brought vp in the french Court. Many counselled the french King to seize into his hands all the King of Navarres possessions in Normandy and to hold the same till his sonnes were come of age The King of Navarre mistrusting as much requested to haue his Sonnes sent home pretending that he was purposed to bestow the elder of thē in marriage with the King of Spaines daughter Answere was returned by the french King that his sonnes could not be in a better or more honourable place then in his Court. For he would bring them vp in all respects as was fitting for the Sonnes of a King and such as were alyed in bloud to himselfe This answere was taken in displeasure by the King of Navarre who therevppon fortified those places of Normondy against the force of the french men Many important occasions mooued the french King to conceiue offence against the King of Navarre but especially that matter of poisoning which we told you before was confessed Wherefore sending an army against him he subdued Mountpelier and the country about it which at that time were vnder the King of Nauarres subiection The King of Navarre being thus molested both vpon the frontiers of his owne kingdome and in Normandy for the French King had sent an army thither also made request to the King of England by ambassadours that he might be receiued into his frendship The King of England sent him answere how he thought it expedient that if he would deale seriously and effectually in matters of such importance he should come into England himselfe This motion was well accepted by the King of Nauarre and accordingly he repaired into England where recounting his misfortunes after the matter had been debated in counsell he was receiued into league and amity with the King of England vppon these or the like conditions 1. That from thenceforth euer after he should take part with the English 2. That he should neuer make peace with the french King or the King of Spaine vppon any tearmes whatsoeuer without consent of the King of England and his counsell 3. That he should fortifie the Castle of Chirburg in Normandy and maintaine a garrison in it for three yeeres space to the vse of the King of England 4. That if it should happen the Englishmen to recouer any townes in these quarters from the french then the King of England to haue the profits of the same the propriety of the places remaining to the King of Navarre And this especially was most acceptable to the English because from thence they might alwaies haue accesse into France at their pleasure It
was further agreed that the King of England should immediatly send foure thousand horsemen into Navarre to be employed against the Spaniard and that it should not be lawfull for them to depart out of the King of Navarres seruice till such time as the warres were finished This to be done not at the King of Englands charged but his owne The french King being aduertised by some of the King of Navarres owne houshold that he was purposed to goe into England perswaded the king of Spaine to make inuasion vppon his country in the meane while The commaunder of that army which the french King had sent into Normandy was a great souldier and one well experienced in martiall affaires called the Lord Cowcy This man whilste the King of Navarre was absent negotiating his affaires in England recouered many townes and fortresses thereabout and with so much more facility because he caried in his company Charles the King of Nauarres eldest sonne in whose behalfe when many heard those warres were vndertaken they stoode not much vppon resistance Onely the Castle of Chirburg remayned still to be brought in subiection Henrie King of Castile besieging Bayon a towne of the English dominion with a great army had surely enforced them to yeeld had not the plague consumed his souldiers Neuerthelosse he brought not forth his forces in vaine for he subdued many other townes thereabouts and besides a great part of his army was conveyed to the siege of Pampelone the chiefe Citie of Nauarre I told you before of one Ivan a welch man who after the death of his father Prince of Wales had from thenceforth of a child beene brought vp vnder Phillip Iohn Charles Kings of Fraunce This Ivan being growne to mans estate and desirous of reuengment omitted no occasion whereby he might worke displeasure to the English and in all military employments so demeaned himselfe that the french King held him in great reputation As he lay at the siege of a certaine Castle in the country of Burdeloys and had brought the besieged to that point that famine must of necessity haue enforced them to yeeld a certaine welchman vnder pretence of bringing priuate intelligence of his countrymens good affection insinuated himselfe into his acquaintance and in conclusion waiting oportunitie one day when he had no other company about him cruelly murthered him vnawares as he sat idely gazing vppon the Castle combing his head The rest of the Captaines though they were much troubled with this shāefull murther of so gallant a souldier yet continued their siege very straightly notwithstanding But vpon the approche of a great number of Englishmen comming by sea both the french men and Britons which ioyned to their ayd were constrained to breake vp their campe and leaue their enterprise vnperformed By this occasion the Englishmen recouered much in the territory of Burdeauz Amongst other places the English had besieged a towne in Britaine called Saint Maloes at that time in possession of the french men Many assaults were giuen and those very violent but the french King then abyding at Roan sent an army whose comming somewhat abated the fury of the assaylants and gaue a stop to their proceedings Neuertheles they went forward with their enterprise and attempted to cōpasse it by vndermining Which when the townes-men perceiued taking the aduantage of opportunity one night very secretly they issued out of the towne and whilst their enemies kept negligent watch brake vp the mines in such sort that those which laboured in the workes vnderneath were ouerwhelmed with the earth which they tumbled vppon them The English thus preuented and disappointed of their purpose thought it best for their behoofe to returne into their couuntrey Two of the King of Englands vncles were cheefe cōmanders in this seruice Iohn the King of Spaines Sonne termed the infant of Spaine and the Constable of Spain together besieged Pampelone The King of Nauarre emboldened with the assistance of the English valiantly defended himselfe and was purposed to haue giuen battell in the field but King Henrie vppon some occasions recalled his sonne and so the army was dispersed The Englishmen and Nauarroys together pursued the Spaniards in their departure and burned and sacked certaine townes and villages vppon the frontiers Wherewith the King of Spaine was so vehemently mooued that he raysed an army of some forty thousand in purpose to haue besieged Tudell the place where the King of Nauarre wintered But by mediation of good men a meanes was found to make peace between them Which was that Charles the King of Nauarres son should take to wife the King of Spaines daughter and the King of Spaines Sonne should likewise marry the King of Nauarres daughter This Charles as we told you had been detained certaine yeeres by the french King but at such time as this treaty of marriage tooke effect vpon the king of Spaines request he was honourably sent home to her father Immediatly vppon the conclusion of these matters the King of Spaine deceassed and Iohn his sonne with the generall consent and approbation of the state was receiued in his steed The Duke of Lancaster and his brother who had married the daughters of Pietro the tyrant slaine by King Henrie tooke it in high displeasure that the matter was knit vp in this sort not a little enuing the new kings coronation The King of Portingall also was very much offended at the succession of King Iohn as shall be declared more at large hereafter The French king being a notable politicke Prince and of great experience in matters of state to the intent he might more commodiously maintaine his warres against the English sent an ambassadour into Scotland to retayne the Scottish King in amity and frendship This man arriuing by the way at Sluce in Flaunders from whence he purposed to haue proceeded on his iouruey was by the magistrate of the towne brought before the Earle then remayning at Bruges where by occasiō of some vndiscreet speeches he was reprooued and sharpely checkt with tearmes of reproch both by the Earle of Flaunders himselfe and by the Duke of Britaine inueying earnestly against such kind of persons as the chiefe causers of all dissention and vnquietnes There were others also which put him in feare that if he committed himselfe to sea it was likely that the Englishmen lying in waight for such oportunities would intercept him in his passage Here vppon altering his purposes he returned into Fraunce without dispatch of his commission and vppon the report he made of these matters the french King wrote very sharpe letters to the Earle of Flaunders exhorting and aduising him as he tendred his owne welfare that he should not foster his enemy the Duke of Britaine When the Earle had imparted these letters to his counsell there were none but perswaded him that a banished Prince forced in such sort to flye his country was by all meanes to be releeued many of them boasting that if
AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ⧠Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
albeit hee had a farre greater power then the King of England as hauing in his armye aboue an hundreth thousand men yet notwithstanding partly perswaded by his Lords but principally terrifyed by the letters of Robert King of Sicill his neere kinseman an excellent Astronomer hee withdrew himselfe and departed without giuing battell And so the King of England returned into Braband and the French King into his own Country much displeased with himselfe that he had refused to fight The King of England shortly after being well assured of the faithfulnes of his confederates passed ouer into his own kingdome About this time in the Citie of Gaunt a certaine person of the baser sort named Jaques of Arteuill purchased himselfe such estimation among the commons that in continuance of time there was none able to withstand his bold attempts no not the Earle of Flaunders himselfe The King of England to procure the good will of the Flemmings allyed this fellow vnto him as one that might affoord him much helpe in his warres hereafter Of this Iaques henceforth we shall often haue occasion to make mention The King of England before hee returned into his owne conntrey as is a little before declared had obtained a grant of the Flemmings to ayde him in his warres whereby himselfe might not onely assayle his enemie with the greater force but they also recouer their lost towns as Lisle Tourney and certaine others holden at that time by the French But the Flemmings pretended great difficulty in the matter before they would conclude this league with the English For they had formerly couenanted with the French King and bound themselues vppon the forfeiture of twenty hundreth thousand crownes neuer to beare armes against the King of Fraunce and these conditions were ratified by the Bishop of Rome Hereupon they perswaded the King of England to take vpon him the armes and stile of the Realme of Fraunce and in so doing they thought themselues discharged of their oath The King after much deliberation condiscended to their requests and so the league was established betweene them The French King hauing intelligence of the matter practised with the Flemmings by some friends of his as it were in the name of the Pope to forsake the King of England and adhere to him againe adding large promises of great reward all which notwithstanding they refused wherevppon presently ensued the Popes thunderbolt It made the Flemmings shrewdly affraid but the King of England so encouraged and hartened them by letters and messengers that they brookt the matter with the better patience Then beganne the warres to growe hot between the Flemmings and French men and the King of Fraunce sent his eldest Sonne as Generall who with a puissant Armye marched through the country euen as farre as Henault Whilste William Earle of Henault for the establishing of his affayres trauailed first into England and afterward to Lewis the Emperour the French men in his absence did meruaillously afflict his country by making continuall incursions vpon it But the Earle at his returne out of Germanie hauing associated himselfe with the King of England the Emperour and diuers Princes of the Netherlands raysed a mighty power and being also ayded by him who in a manner had the hearts of the Flemmings at commaund I meane Iaques of Artevile enforced his enemies to retyre So the Armyes on both sides being prepared to fight the Earle of Henault was very desirous to come to the encounter but the Duke of Braband was of another opinion and with weightie reasons disswaded him from hazarding the battaile till such time as the King of England were returned whome they accounted as Generall of this warre Assoone as the French King vnderstood the King of England was departed into his owne countrey he gaue commaundement that a fleete of Shippes should presently bee rigged and put forth to Sea to attend his comming backe and then to assayle him with great violence and bend all their forces to empeach his landing But the King of England encountring them in his passage put them valiantly to the worse and with fortunes fauourable assistance arriued safely in Flaunders Robert King of Sicill of whome wee haue formerly spoken foreseeing by the Art of Astrologie that the kingdome of Fraunce should sustaine great dammage by the English men for the great affection he bare to that Realme trauailed himselfe to Auinion and there made earnest sute to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinalls that they would set an attonement betweene those twoo puissant Princes They promised to employ their endeuours so the mindes of the kings were disposed according About this time the Brabanders Flemmings and Henowaies entred into a most strict league among themselues in such sort that if any of those countryes should happen to be molested with warre or afflicted by any other meanes the rest were bound to succour and assist them And if any dissention or variance chaunced they should arbitrate the matter among themselues or else if the case were such that they could not decyde it then it should bee determined by the discretion of the King of England into whose hands they were all sworne to put the controuersie and to abide by his arbitriment The King of England associated with the ayd of his confederates besieged Tourney with a strong army Many assaults were giuen but they preuailed not by reason of the valiant defence made by the Townsemen who were furnished throughly aforehand both with men and all thinges needefull to offend the enemye by commaundement from the French King who was ptiuie to a great part of the deuises and consultations among his enemies During the siege before Tourney the French King sending certain companies into Scotland ernestly entreated the captains left there in Garrison for the safty of their country by King Dauid to make some invasion vppon the English that by this meanes his enemie might bee enforced to rayse his siege and returne for the defence of his own country promising moreouer that he would send them store of souldiers whose seruice they might employ in that action The Scots stoutly vndertaking the matter wonne certain holdes and much endammaged their enemy The French King in the meane while levied a great armye to rayse the siege before Tourney There came to his ayde Charles King of Boheme the Dukes of Burgoine Britaine Burbon and Loraine the Earles of Bar Sauoy Geneua Alauson and Flaunders And besides these the kings of Nauarre and Scotland the one as confederate the other as feudarie to the crowne of Fraunce That the Earle of Flaunders followed the French King as we haue declared whilste the Flemmings tooke part with the English let it not seeme straunge to any for thus standeth the case This Iaques of Arteuill whome we spake of before was become so popular and growne to such authoritie amongst the commons that the Earle himselfe could finde no safe abyding in his own country but was constrained for that cause to commit
himselfe to the protection of the French King The siege of Tourney continued some three moneths during which space Iane os Valoys the French kings sister and mother to the Earle of Henault laboured very earnestly to procure a composition At length shee obtained thus much that a day was appointed for a meeting to be had betweene the Lords of Fraunce and England where they agreed vpon a truce for twelue months space with condition that each party should hold whatsoeuer he had gotten by battell Herevppon the armies were both dismissed And this further was concluded that at a certain time prefixed within the yeare another treatie should be had at Arras where commissioners from both Princes and from Pope Clement should meete together and this likewise was performed There the English men demaunded much and the French men profered nothing saue the Earledome of Ponthiew which was giuen before in dowrie to King Edwards mother when shee married into England More then thus was nothing done in this treaty onely another yeere added to the truce and the King of England returned into his Country When things were thus set at a stay and that the Duke of Britaine prepared to returne into his owne country he was seised vppon in his iourney by a most violent sicknes whereof in short space he dyed leauing behind no lawfull issue male to succeed him He had two brothers of whome the one which was Earle of Mountfort was his brother onely by the fathers side the other both by father and mother but he died before him leauing issue one only daughter whome the Duke of Britaine in his life time ioyned in marriage to Charles of Bloys sisters Son to Phillip the French King For the Duke fearing it might so fall out that after his decease his brother the Earle of Mountfort would seise the seigniory of Britaine into his owne handes and by that meanes dispossesse and as it were disinherite the lawfull daughter of his brother by the whole bloud thought good to prouide a stay for the Lady by marriage and therefore his desire was the rather to match her to the kings nephew because if the other should make any attēpt hereafter he might the easilier be resisted And so it came to passe For the Earle of Mountfort had no sooner vnderstanding of his brothers death but that partly by force partly by cōposition he possessed himselfe of the greater part of Britane And then the better to supporte his cause and stablish his estate he went ouer to the King of England where relating the whole discourse of his proceedings he receiued from him the inuestiture of his dukedome And the King of England considering that by this meanes he might haue a ready passage through Britaine into Fraunce promised both his councell and furtherance to the newe Duke against his enemie whether it were the French King or any other whosoeuer For he had lost the French kings fauor before euer since he brought in the Germaines to serue in his warres vppon whome he had spent such a huge masse of money withou◠accomplishing any notable enterprise And this is the true cause and originall ground of this warre Charles of Bloys being aduertised of the proceedings and enterprises of Mountfort made great complaint of him to the French King After consultation had the King commaunded that the Earle should be summoned to the Parliament of Paris The Earle came and after some debatings on both sides he was enioyned by the King not to depart the Citie for a certaine season Neuerthelesse he conueyed himselfe secretly away and so sentence was giuen with Charles It was a great blot in Mountforts case that he had been inuested in his Duchie by the King of England And thervppon the French King denouncing Charles to be rightfull heyre encouraged him with his own mouth to recouer by force of armes the seigniorie due vnto him both by iudgement of law and right of inheritance promising not only his owne ayde but procuring other Lords also to assist him in the maintenance of his rightful quarrell The warre was vndertaken in the behalfe of Charles with the power of the Peeres of Fraunce his friendly assistants Besides other at length the Citie of Nants the principall in those partes was forced by assault There Mountfort himselfe was taken prisoner and from thence conueyed to Paris to the King by whose commaundement being cast in prison he there ended his life His Lady in the meane time bearing her fortune with a true manlike resolution encouraged the fainting hearts of her people and both fortified with Garrisons and furnished with victuals the rest of the holdes yet vntaken by the enemie Vppon conclusion of the truce between the kings of England and Fraunce and dissoluing the siege before Tournay the King of England returning home perceiued what great annoyance the Scottes had wrought to his country in the meane while wherevppon he assembled an Armie The Scottes being pressed with great extremitie in the absence of the King purchased a truce of the English vppon condition that if within foure moneths space the King did not prouide for the rescue they should yeeld This was signified to the King of Scottes who therevppon returned and being ayded with forraine power wonne certaine holdes from the English Amongst other the Citie of Durham was one where no mercy was shewen to no sex age nor order whatsoeuer but the very churches and all were consumed with fire Afterward perceiuing that by further prosecutiug his enterprise he did but lose his labour and vnderstanding moreouer that the King of England approached with a mightie power vppon deliberation with his counsell he retired In the meane while ministring proffers of a truce which notwithstanding he had no intention to admitte till he had first taken aduise of the French King with whome he was formerly confederate The Lordes of Fraunce departing out of Britaine for no other respect but because the winter whether compelled them returned againe with their forces in the beginning of Sommer purposing to bring the rest of that Duchy in subiection Whereof the Lady of Mountfort being aduertised shee sent ambassadours to the King of England requiring ayde vppon this condition that her Son whome shee had borne by the Earle of Mountfort should take to wife some one of the kings daughters But the succours which he sent for the space of well nere twoo moneths together were tost vppon the Seas with stormes and contrarie windes in such sort as they could by no meanes attaine to their desired porte so that in the meane season certaine places were recoured by the French men But it is admirable to relate with what courrage and stowtnesse the Lady Mountfort demeaned her selfe Fot shee was not only content to fortifie stronge holdes and encourage her followers with comfortable speeches but shee also put on armor herselfe and attended with a troupe of horse came into the open field and prouoked her
enemie Moreouer being besieged in a certaine Castle and put to great distresse when for the most part all that were about her perswaded to yeeld shee alone amongst men persisted in opinion to the contrarie and with this resolution held it out so long till at last the English forces which had wandred a great while vppon the Seas arriued to her rescue A certaine French captaine called Lewis of Spaine tooke the Citie of Dinant in Britaine by composition the Citizens hauing slaine their gouernour in the market place because he refused to yeeld it Another Citie neere adioyning named Gerand was taken by the same Captaine by force where not so much as Children and little infants nor the Temples consecrated to Gods seruice could escape the vttermost rigour of warre but were all destroyed with fire and Sword The Duke was much displeased with this impious cruelty and worthylie caused the authors of such wickednesse to be hanged He also receiued the citie of Vannes vppon composition without consent of the captaine and many other places besides To be short diuerse encounters passed both by Sea and Land with variable fortune on both sides A towne and Castle in those partes called Hamibout was assaulted with great violence but defended with more valour for therin at that time remayned the Duchesse of Britaine whome wee spake of before The French men perceiuing they spent their time in vaine and that Winter began to approach perswaded Charles of Bloys to dismisse his Armie and withall to take a truce and place his souldiers in Garrison It was so done and the Duchesse sayled ouer to the King of England who sent an Armie into Britaine against the French men About this time the noble men of England counselled their King to take a stedfast truce with the Scottes for three yeeres space if it might be shewing how great a burthen it would be to him to supporte so huge a charged of wars round about him in Scotland on the one side in Fraunce on the other Herevppon Ambassadours were sent to the Scottish King but nothing could be effected for he would determine vppon nothing without the French kings counsell The King of England mooued therewithall raysed a mightie power in purpose to bring the Scottes to vtter subuersion But in the meane time by the mediation of good men a truce was obtained stablished The English Armie which we spake of erewhile met with the French kings fleete well appointed vppon the coast of Britaine There they encountred one another and continued in fight till within the euening Somewhat before midnight there arose a very dangerous tempest which scattered them in such sort that they were separated more then an hundreth miles asunder In this conflict also the Countesse of Mountfort her selfe performed knightly seruice At length the English men recouered a hauen not farre from the City of Vannes at that time in possession of the French men where putting on land their forces they valiantly approched the Citie And in conclusion diuiding their army into three partes with two of them they fiercely assaulted the town in two seuerall places in the night season and whilste al men resorted thither to make resistance they brought the rest of their forces to a place vnfortified and so entred the towne putting all that were in it eyther to the Sword or to flight There were two French Lords which had the custody of this towne whome it full sorely greeued to see the Citie thus taken Therefore assembling such forces as they could rayse vppon the suddaine they gaue a fresh assault to the towne and so surprised it agine from the enemy In these conflicts Robert of Artoys admirall of the English fleete and Generall of the warre was wounded who being conueyed to London for the cure of his hurts in short space after there ended his life Whereat the king of England conceiued so great greefe and displeasure that of purpose to reuenge the death of so worthy a man so deerely esteemed he himselse sailed ouer with a mighty power of shipping into Britaine So great was the number of the English forces that at one instant they besieged three of the most puissant Cities in all that countrey Renes Vannes and Nants where Charles of Bloys with his wife at the same time remained besides the towne of Dinant which they tooke by force Charles of Bloys wrote to the French King concerning the state of his affaires the arriuall of the English the besieging of his townes earnestly requiring that he would succour him in this great distresse The French King sent his sonne the Duke of Normandy who with an Armie of some forty thousand tooke his way directly towardes Vannes at that time very streytly besieged by the English And had not the winter season brought great impediment to their purpose it had surelie come to a field battell But at length through the intercession of twoo Cardinals sent from Pope Clement a truce was agreed vppon for three yeares and a solemne o the taken of the Princes for the due obseruation thereof in the meane space So the King of England returned into his owne countrey Whilste the warres were yet open the Englishmen had laid siege to the Citie of Vannes latelie before recouered by the French and it was stoutly defended by twoo noble men the one called Lord Clisson the other Henrie of Lyon It was these mens fortune in a certaine light skirmish to be taken prisoners by the English and because there was a Lord of England also remaining among the French vpon conclusion of the truce communication was had for the exchange of prisoners The King of England for the redeeming of his deliuered to the French men the Lord Clisson detayning the other still prisoner Herevppon as is most likely some emulous obseruers of Clissons cariage raysed a suspition that he should be secretly affected to the English and that for this respect he rather then the other obtained his libertie To be short this iealousie encreased so farre that he lost his head for it at Paris And for the like cause diuers other noble men suffered the like punishment Sure it was a lamentable spectacle especially considering that Clisson in the recouerie of Vannes from the English had so honourablie performed the office both of an excellent Captaine and valiant souldier This act of the French kings was taken in so ill part by the King of England esteeming it done in his reproch that he commaunded Henrie of Lyon to be presently set at libertie and freely forgaue him his raunsome onelie enioyning him at his returne to signifie to the French King how he interpreted these proceedings no otherwise then as intended to his dishonour and that thereby he held the late truce to be violated wherefore he should expect no other from him but as an enemy This message was deliuered to the French King and the King of England sent an armie into Aquitane with certaine other forces
had bestowed the seigniory of Angolesme who had also espoused the daughter of Charles of Bloys being aduanced to that office was by Charles king of Navarre slaine suddainlie in his bed With this fact as ye may well iudge the French kings mind was not a little troubled neuerthelesse vppon certaine conditions he was pacified To this Charles thus murdred succeeded Iaques of Burbon And the truce taken between the French king and the English to endure till Aprill was prolonged to Midsommer For the ambassadours of both kings meeting at Avinion before the Pope when they could not agree vppon articles of peace added so much more time to the continuance of the truce The Prince of Wales brought an army into Aquitaine and the King his Father intending to prosecute his warres in Fraunce came to Calice There the French King by an herauld profered the single combate but the King of England refused it The French King sending out his writtes summoned to Paris all his nobilitie with the heads of the church and the burgesses of his townes declaring vnto them how greatly it imported him to prouide for the warres So by act of Parliament a generall subsidy was graunted from payment whereof there was no man could be exempted The King of Navarre Iohn Earle of Harecourt and divers others being surprised by the French kings vnsuspected approche as they sat at dinner in the Castle of Roan were suddainly apprehended and committed to safe custody The King of Navarre was sent prisoner to Paris The Earle of Harecourt had vttered I wot not what reprochfull words against the King in presence of diuers noble men stoutly maintaining that the subsidy lately exacted ought not to be payd and withall exhorting the residue to stand stifly in deniall thereof Hence grew the ground of his inditement and hence proceeded the cause of his punishment For herevppon the King commaunded him to be beheaded and his body afterward to be hanged vppon a gibbet The King of Englands Sonne who came lately as we told you into Aquitaine setting forth from Burdeaux wasted all the country thereabout namely Poytiers Turon and Berrie where fournishing himselfe with what was needfull for his owne vse the rest he vtterly spoyled and destroyed burning vp their corne and shedding out their wines to the intent that afterwards it might not be coÌ„uerted to the benefite of his enemy The French King in the meane while hauing a great power assembled at Charires departed from thence with all possible hast and a right enemie-like affection following after the English Prince When he came neere vnto Poytiers newes was brought him that the English armie laie encamped not farre off Immediatlie herevppon calling his counsell he gaue direction for the setting of his men in order disposing his whole armie into three battalions In the first he placed â—he Duke of Orleans in the second Charles his eldest Son and himselfe led the reregard The number of his enemies was very small Assoone as he vnderstood by his scowts in what sort they were embattelled and how they had planted themselues in a place both by nature and their owne industrie stronglie fortified he gaue commaundement that all his people should fight on foote three hundreth or somewhat more onlie excepted who with their horses were appointed to breake the aray of the english archers He was accompanied in the field with his foure realme with great impunitie of vice as generally happeneth in such cases where scarce any are thought to remaine which by authoritie might represâ—e mischiefe punish offenders Theeues and robbers banding themselues together filled the country with repine and murder forestalling the highwaies and spoyling the passengers Besides this the Sâ—ates could not well agree among themselues for the nobilitie began to distaste the authoritie of the â—ix and thirty which were appointed to haue chiefe rule in the coÌ„mon wealth But most horrible of all other was that â—umultuous insurrection of the peasants which assembled in Champaine and the places thereabout whose companie by little and little augâ—enting through the daily concourse of such rascalles as resorted to them from all quarters at length encreased so farre that their number amounted to an hundreth thousand Their purpose was to have destroyed all the nobilitie and gentry of Fraunce And with this intent entring violently into the noble men and gentlemens houses they riâ—led them bound the Maisters to the postes â—auished their wiues and daughters before their faces murthered cruelly all the whole houshoulde and lastly consumed the houses with fire And now their barbarous outrage preuayling so â—arre that the women of greatest calling were compelled to forsake their dwellings and hide themselues in secret places vnlesse they would abandon their bodies to the beastly lust of most filthy varlets an army at length was raised and at the towne of Meaulx they were fought withall and euerie one slaine or drowned in the riuer Marne Charles the kings sonne perceiuing there was a secret conspiracie betweene the King of Navarre and the Prouost of Paris departed out of the towne and assembled his forces It seemed as if the matter would haue growne to a troublesome issue for hee besieged the cittie but by the mediation of certaine Bishops the Princes were reconciled The Prouoste neuerthelesse intending to set all in an vproare had plotted one night to dispatch all those of the contrary faction And the matter was brought to such forwaâ—dnesse that he had already agreed with ceâ—taine â—ho for the same purpose awayted their prey without the gates that at a time appointed in the night they should enter into the cittie But the treason beeing discouered hee himselfe was apprehended in the night season with â—he keyes of the towne in his hand and so slaine with soâ—e others that were partakers of his practise This Prouoâ—â—e during the troublesome state of those times was the first that enclosed Paris with walles and ditches and planted gates at the entrances into the cittie The King of Navarre beeing certified of this mans death whome he dearely esteemed in regard of the manifolde benefits he had receiued at his handes and partly moued with displeasure of the matter but â—ore neerely touched for that himselfe was commonly noted to bee chiefe author of that practise as well of his oâ—ne accord as by instigation of his brother Philip who had formerly vexed Normandy with warres desired nothing more then to â—orke mischiefe to the realme of Fraunce â—orthwith denounced warre and hotly pursued it making many excursions towards Seane and Marne and â—inning also diuerse townes and fortresses about Amienâ—e Arras The Prouost had furnished him with great sommes of money and therefore he might maintaine men of warre at his pleasure besides many fauoured his pretence and furthered his proceedings Hereby it camâ— to passe that oftentimes he tooke many townes and castles â—ith little or no difficultie insomuch that certaine of the principall toâ—nesmen of Amieâ—ce at an houre
agreed vpon in the night set open the gates of the towne for his soldiers to enter where then nothing else remained to winne but the castle But by good fortune certaine freâ—ch horsemen falling vpon them dissappoynted their purpose putting the aduentureâ—s to flight and the traâ—tors to execution Together with these euills as is wonte to happen ensued a wonderfull dearth and scarcitie of all things in such forte as the poorer people had much adoe to sustaine their liues and this plague continued fower yeeres For so long as the insatiable soldiers deuoured all mens goods of what estate or degree soeuer without controlment so long the husbandman might not apply his labour in safetie not the merchant exercise his trafficke without extreame hazard both of life and goods what other effect could ensue thereof but a generall common mischiefe and such a one as should concerne euerie particular person Certaine of the king of Navarres people beeing vpon a time surprised by their enemies at some disaduantage wheÌ„ they sawe that of necessity they must put their fortunes in tryall though farre ouermatched in number yet seeing no other remedy they betooke themselues to a little hill and putting off all their spurres pitched them in the ground before theÌ„ with the rowells vpward to hinder the aproach of their enemies But the euening came on so fast that it stayed the frenchmen from the'ncounter In the night time with great silence they conveyd themselues into the next village and there making fires as if they had purposed to tarrie all night they secretly departed contrarie to the frenchmens expectation who pursued in vaine but could not ouertake them Amongst other places the Navarrois held Melune vpon Seane To the besieging of this towne the Duke of Normandy sent foure thousand horsemen But by mediation of the Cardinals which wee spake of before a peace was concluded betweene them But Phillip the King of Navarres brother would neuer giue his consent to any conditions of peace whatsoeuer vpbraiding his brother that he was deluded with witchcraftes and enchauntments and therefore he retired himselfe to certaine holdes vppon the Sea coast which were in the kings of Englands subiection By that time the peace was confirmed betweene the Navarrois and the Frenchmen the three yeeres truce obtained by the Cardinals after the taking of King Iohn betweene Fraunce and England expired Therefore all such as had serued â—nder the King of Navarre repayred to the English Captaines for entertainment and so one mischiefe drew on many more successiuely ensuing each other Notwithstanding for that time the Englishmen were but ill entreated by the French though not without great daÌ„mage to the poore wretches that inhabited in the vpland country or in townes but weakly fortified For the Englishmen accompanied with forreine souldiers made spoyle of them at their pleasure When the time of truce as wee said before was worne out the king of England and his eldest Sonne with the French King and the Duke of Burbon conferred priuately together at London concerning a peace the articles whereof they sent ouer to the Duke of Normandy and he propounded them to the three estates of the kingdome But when the matter came to be debated in counsell these conditions were vtterly disliked and answere was giuen to the Ambassadors that they would rather choose to endure yet greater miseries then condiscend to such articles This answere was taken in very ill parte as well by the captiue King of Fraunce as by the King of England who immediately thereupon caused such an armie to be levyed as neuer any man saw passe out of England before Hee tooke landing at Calice accompanied with his foure sons But before his departure out of England he made open declaration of his intent before the whole army in effect that he had vndertaken this expedition in hope and full purpose to enforce the French men to receiue such conditions as should be both for the honour of his person the commoditie of his people and the dignity of his crowne And that he was resolued neuer to giue ouer nor returne again till such time as he had accomplished his affaires in such sorte as he desired Wherfore if any man disliked his pretence hee should haue free liberty to depart or tarrie But there was none amongst them all which did not willingly embrace these conditions From Calice the King of England marched to Rhemes which cittie when he found for the bignesse thereof to be strongly fortifyed he forbare to assault it because he wold not rashly hazard the losse of any of his men whome he reserued for greater seruices From thence after two moneths siege or somewhat more he tooke his way into Burgundy The Duke sent messengers to him requesting that his souldiers might not be suffered to spoyle his country The King of England beeing a very curteous Prince was easily entreated but vppon condition that the Duke of Burgundy should pay him an hundreth thousand crownes In the meane time Fraunce was miserably wasted partly by the King of England himselfe partly by the rest of his army left in Picardy and not a little by the King of Navarre who yet againe moued armes against the Duke of Normandy A certaine fryer of the order of Saint Frauncis prophesied at Avinion that both the Clergy should suffer much for their pride couetousnesse and ambition and that the kingdome of Fraunce should be extreamly afflicted by the invasions of strangers in so much that no part of it should be free from that miserie The Pope because he foretolde matters that displeased him cast this fryer in prison The King of England sent word to the Duke of Normandy that he would giue him battell but the Duke hauing no disposition to put himselfe to the curtesie of Fortune stayed still at Paris And because he well perceiued that the state could not long continue at this passe without the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe of the kingdome by aduise of his nobility counsell he sent ambassadors to the king of England to entreate of peace The matter was diuersly attempted but it seemed almost an impossibility to accord their difference For the King of England still absolutely maintayned that the crowne of Fraunce was his rightfull inheritance Whilst things were thus in consultation there suddainly rose a meruailous tempest about Chartres the violence whereof was such that it ouerthrew both men and horses The king was so moued with the consideration hereof that he made a vowe he would incline his minde vnto peace so at Calice the matter was concluded The conditions were these that the king of England his heyres and successours after him should hold enioy the Countyes Cities Castles holds Lordships Isles rents and revenues of all Aquitaine also the Cittie Castle county and whole seigniorie of Poytiers the Cittie and castell of Rochell and Limoges with all the country about it To these were added Angolesme aswell the
towne as the castle with all the territory thereto belonging Also Calice and many other places besides whereof as the number is great so the rehersall would be tedious Item that the king of Fraunce should renounce his title to all these and release all fealtie and right which he his heires or successors might by any meanes clayme therein that the king of England should hold them all frankly and freely without acknowledgment of any homage or superiority to the king of Fraunce or his successors in that behalfe Item that the king of England should againe for himselfe his heires and successors disclaime all title right and interest which eyther hee or his posteritie might pretend to the crowne of France Item that he should resigne all the portion which he challenged in the Dukedomes of Normandy Aniow and Turon also all his right to Britaine These and many other articles described more at large in my author both the Kings and their sonnes were solemnly sworne to obserue And for further assurance the French King gaue in hostage the Dukes of Orleance Aniow Berry Burbon besides some twelue Earles and Barons and diuerse personages of good account sent particularly from all the chiefe Citties of Fraunce These being all conveyed to London the French king was set at libertie and returned againe to Paris to the great reioycement of his subiects Immediately vpon his returne he directed forth letters to all his officers Lievetenants and Captaines to avoyd out of all such Townes Castles and holds as hee had departed withall to the King of England But it is wonderfull to report with what vnwillingnesse they all for the most part obayed this commandement for it seemed a very strange and difficult matter for them to vndergoe the yoke and subiection of the English But the French King beeing a iust and vertuous Prince would for no respect infringe his oath or swarue from his covenants Therfore he gaue commaund that all things should bee performed according to the expresse tenor of the agreement In like manner the King of England sent commissioners to surrender againe certaine Castles and holdes taken in the warres into the French kings possession When the townes and fortresses were in this sort delivered the soldiers which had now accustomed themselues so long time together to liue vpon spoyle and pillage considering that in regard of the wicked acts they had formerly committed it would bee little for their profit and lesse for their safetie to returne home againe determined from thenceforth to seeke their fortunes And thereupon assembling themselues together they ranged through Champaine and the places adioyning wasting and destroying all things before them and as it commonly falleth out their number daily encreased The French king beeing informed of their mischieuous proceedings sent Iaques of Burbon against them with an armie He found them encamped vppon a very high hill the scituation wherof was such that it was impossible to take any perfect view of their forces being indeed some sixteen thousand they appeared to his scouts not aboue 5000. When it came to the encouÌ„ter it was fiercely fought on both sides but fortune inclined to the worser party Many gallant gentlemen perished in this conflict the Duke of Burbon himselfe with Peter his eldest Son were verie sore wounded and being conveyed to Lyons died within three daies after When these villaines had obtained this victorie they tooke their waie directly towards Avinion at whose approche the Pope and his colledge of Cardinals were not a little affrighted for such was both their courage and their crueltie that no man durst oppose himselfe against them Neuerthelesse the Pope and his Cardinalls being thus driuen to their shifts and hauing no other meanes to represse this mutinous multitude to whome no mischiefe came amisse commaunded a croysie to be preached against them with a graunt of cleere remission of all their sinnes which tooke it vppon them Many assembled but when there was no mention of pay they shrunke away euery one The very same time the Marques of Mountferrat made warre vppon the Duke of Millaine The Pope therefore practised with him to lead away this rebellious rebell into Lumbardie And euen so it fell out for when the Pope and Cardinalls had paied them threescore thousand crownes and that the Marques also had promised them entertainment besides they followed him and did him good seruice in his warres The french King passed through the Dukedome of Burgundy which was then lately fallen to him by the death of the younger Duke towards Avmion to visite the Pope who in short space after deceassed And when they could not determine vpon a new election by reason of the inordinate strife which was chiefelie betweene twoo contending for the papacie at length a certaine abbot of Saint Victors in Marseilles a learned and godlie man was chosen and from thenceforth called Pope Vrbane The King of Ciprus the same time arriued at Avinion and made earnest intercession to the Pope and the french King for the vndertaking of an expedition against the Saracens and other enemies of the christian faith The Pope promised his furtherance and in a publike assembly propounded the matter Wherevppon the french King with a great part of his nobility tooke vpon them the signe of the crosse Afterward the King of Ciprus trauelled into Bohemia to the Emperour and from thence through Germante Brabant and Flaunders he came into England making the like petition to King Edward but he honourably excused himselfe Out of England he returned vnto Amience where the french King then soiourned and after that he repaired into Gascoine to the Prince of Wales who about the same time had a Son borne named Edward The noble men that were left in hostage for the french King began to grow discontented for the long restraint of their liberty and king Edward being of a gentle and curteous disposition had giuen them leaue to go ouer to Calice as well to recreate and refresh their mindes as also that from thence being so neere Fraunce they might the more commodiously dispose of their affaires in their owne countrey They sent oftentimes to the King and the Duke of Normandy his Sonne But the King was so busied about the preparation of his voyage against the Saâ—acens withall so troubled by the King of Navarre who still continued in armes against him that he could not convenientlie intend to dispatch them By meanes whereof it came to passe that the Duke of Aniow the kings Sonne leaving the rest of his felow pledges returned againe into Fraunce The french King had a mervailous desire to see the King of England againe because he had so honourably entreated him whilste he was his prisoner He was counselled to the contrary notwithstanding he still persisted in his purpose and so much the rather for that he would excuse his Sonne for departing without licence So he went and was entertained very royally But not long after
This tyrant in regard of the manifold crimes whereof he was often accused before the Pope had already prouoked all mens hatred against him Pope Vrbane therefore vppon good consideration sent for this bastard Henrie and Peter King of Arragon who was at continuall enmity with the tyrant as one that had bereft him of diuers Lordships to come before him at Avinion There Henrie the bastard was made legittimate and denounced King of Castile the tyrant being first excommunicate after desposed The King of Arragon promised free passage through his country and prouision of victualles to such armies as should be conducted into Castile against the tyrant intending also by the helpe of those forces to recouer his owne losses To this expedition resorted many honourable personages and by this meanes those souldiers that had so long annoyed the realme of Fraunce were conveyed into Castile The tyrant having intelligence of the armie that was comming against him betooke himselfe to flight with his wife his two daughters and one noble man onlie For he was so hated of the commons that not one of them would take armes in his defence so he was forsaken and left destitute of all men And Henrie the bastard arriving in Castile with great ioye and generall applause of the people tooke vppon him the administration of the kingdome After his coronation when he had received the othe of allegeance from the most part of the Nobilitie and Cities of the realme the noble men by whose ayde he had obtained the crowne tooke their leaues and departed for now all semed to be accomplished But he had not yet discharged those french make-shiftes because he purposed to make warre against the King of Granado The tyrant remaining in these perplexities by the aduise of that one noble man which attended him addressed letters to the Prince of Wales full of lamentable complaints concerning his misfortunes beseeching him to commiserate his estate and to releleeue him with succor Shortly after he himselfe not daring to trust his owne subiects repayred to Bayon The Princes counsell were of opinion that he ought not to be succoured in regard of his abhominable wickednesse and vngodly disposition nor that any daungerous enterprise should be vndertaken for his sake Contrarily the Prince iudged it an vnworthy thing that a bastard Sonne should vsurpe the inheritance of the crowne which was a very ill president and extended to the preiudice of other kings and princes Therefore when the tyrant came he receiued him courteously into the town of Burdeaux and promised him his assistance Neuerthelesse he sent inâ—… England to the King his Father declaring to him the whâ—… circumstance of the matter and requiring his couâ—… and direction concerning his proceedings The King of England in regard thâ—â— of long time before there had beene a league between 〈…〉 Spaniard and him encouraged his Sonne in the answâ—… of his letters to go forward with his purpose for the 〈…〉 him to his â—ing do 〈…〉 And so the iourney was 〈…〉 vppon betweene thâ—… But one thing was 〈…〉 in the waâ—… Their â—…assage lay through the King oSpanâ— varres country who had lately contracted amity with Henrie the newe King of Spaine Howbeit matters were so handled that a meeting was had at Bayon and vppon certaine conditions the King of Navarre was â—o well satisfyed that he promised all curtesy frendship and peace King Henrie being aduertised of these proceedings sent to the King of Fraunce forayd The Prince practised with the Captaines of those souldiers which before had been so troublesome to Fraunce now tooke paye of the Spaniard that they should forsake King Henries seruice and follow him There was about twelue thousand of them and as they were marching towards Gasâ—oine in the kingdome of Arragon they endured great distresse the wayes and passages being on all sides soreclosed and fortified Nevertheles they made way through all inconveniences and holding on their iourney till they came almost at Tholous they were receiued into Mount Albane a towne pertayning to the territory of Guyen The french men vnderstanding thereof besette the wayes rounde about that they might not issue foorth into Tholous or the places adioyning In conclusion it came to hand-strokes and the French men fought valiantly insomuch that they chased their enemies euen vnto the towne but by reason of the fresh supplies comming continually to their rescue in the end the French men were ouerthrowne and the greater part of them eyther slaine or taken prisoners In which number was the Earle of Provence who came at that time to ayde the men of Tholons and besides him diuerse others of great account both of Provence and Fraunce Hauing thus cleared their passage by the sword they proceeded to the end of their iourney The prince of Wales because he was loth to burden the people of Aquitaine with exactions for the maintenance of his soldiers borrowed no small some of money of his father besides that conuerted all his plate both gold and siluer into coyne Many prisoners as the custome is were discharged vpon their worde so was the Earle of Provence But Pope Vrbane for hatred he bare to those mutinous soldiers took vppon him to acquite the Earle of Provence and others that were set at liberty after the same manner from their ransoms so that they payd not one farthing but had a cleare dispensation from him of all bonds and obligations whatsoever Whilst the Prince was making preparation for the warres there arived at Burdeaux the King of Maiorica who made grievous complaint of the King of Arragon which had slain his father in prison at Barcelone and withheld all his possessions from him by force towards the reuenge of which iniuries and the recouerie of his inheritance he humbly implored the Princes ayd He had to wife the Queene of Naples The Prince vpon hearing of his complaint promised that so soone as he had finished this enterprise for Spaine he would vndertake his affaires and so bring to passe that either vppon reasonable conditions or by force of armes he should be restored to his kingdome Before the Prince set out from Burdeaux he had a sonne borne to whom the banished King of Maiorica was godfather He was named Richard and afterward came to be king of England Edward the Princes elder sonne being dead before his father In the beginning of Februarie the Prince departed from Burdeaux and within a little while after an vncertaine rumor was bruted abroad concerning the King of Navarre as if he had entred into a newe league with King Henry of Castile and that therevpon the Ptince and his Army shold be denyed passage through his country Herevpon letters were addressed to the King of Navarre who aduisedly alleadging the reasons that moued him withall declared his good affection to the Prince and the banished Tyrant The Prince marched with his army in three battels one following another the vauntgard was conducted by the Duke of
Lancaster sent lately from the King of England to assist him the King of Maiorica had the leading of the rereward and he himselfe accompanied with the tyrant marched in the maine battell As they passed through Navarre the King himselfe for their better direction became their guide and bare them company through a great part of his country At Pampelone also which is the chiefe citie of Navarre he entertayned the Prince with a banket Many feared that the armies should haue been stay'd assoone as they came within his kingdome but contrarie to their opinion the King still persevered in peace and friendship King Henry hauing advertisement of the army comming against him out of Aquitaine levyed forces in Spaine to the number of threscore thousand fighting men For he was exceedingly beloued and every man was willing to vndergo any danger for his sake Thē he sent an herault with letters to the Prince desiring to know what the reason was that he vndertooke these warres against him seing that for his parte he had neuer offered him any manner of offence or iniury The Prince vpon deliberation with his councell detained the messenger and marching still forwards arriued at a towne called Victoria nere vnto which both himselfe and his aduersarie encamped with their armies The king of Spaine had three thousand soldiers sent to his ayd out of Fraunce The Englishmen had planted themselues vppon a hill Counsell was giuen to the Spaniard that if he purposed to winne the victorie without slaughter and bloudshed he should need to take no other course but only to shutte vp the wayes that no prouision of victuall might be conveyd to his enemie For the Englishmen were enclosed as in a streight with small labour all passage might easily haue beene intercepted But the King of Spaine desirous to fight in regard of the greatnesse of his forces which were now growne to aboue an hundred thousand for their number daily encreased chose rather to abide the tryall of battaile When the Prince had rested some fewe dayes in that place because of the barrennes thereof he dislodged from thence and encamped in another ground more commodious And being not far distant from his enemie he sent backe the messenger whom he had now detayned almost three weekes with letters to the King of Spaine containing briefly this answere that for respects of great importance he was come to succour the banished King that he would willingly compound the difference betweene them but vpon no other termes then that King Henry should renounce the title and resigne the gouernment of that kingdome whereto he could pretend no lawfull interest and if this were refused that he should finde him prepared as well the one way as the other We shewed you before in what manner the Englishmen ordered their battells The spaniards in like sort divided their whole power into three parts The first was led by a certaine French Captaine of great esteeme and in it were about foure thousand men The second was commanded by the two brothers of King Henry and it contained some fiue and twenty thousand horse and foote The third by King Henry himselfe and his battell far exceeded both the other in number as hauing in it seaven thousand horse and threscore thousand footemen whereof a great part were armed with crossebowes The field was pitcht betweene Navarre and the towne of Navarette Seldome or neuer hath any battell beene fought with greater fury and violence The spaniards vsed slings whose force was such that therewith they pierced the helmets of their enemies surely a cruell kinde of fight On the other side the Englishmen being most expert arches ouer whelmed them with the multitude of their shot One of king Henries brothers which as we told you had the leading of the vauntgard assoone as he sawe the Princes colors aduance towards him departed out of the battell and neuer strooke stroke against the enemie His example much discouraged a great many of the rest But King Henry himselfe wheresoeuer he sawe his men fainte or go by the worse preassed in thither calling earnestly vppon them exhorting and encouraging them and often putting them in remembrance both of his honour and their duty in so much that thrise in that one day did his vehemēt acclamations adde new life to his souldiers courage and thrise restrayned them from flying when they were euen betaking thēselues to flight Neyther did the common soldiers onely exercise their weapons that day but the Princes themselues also laying hand to their swords made honourable proofe of their particular valour The deposed Tyrant sought by all meanes he could to haue encountred King Henry The fight continued for a time very vehement cruell the soldiers on either part well expressing the hostilitie of their affection by the violence of their actions but at length the Spaniards vnable to withstand the vnited forces of the Englishmen and Gascones gaue themselues to flight neither could king Henry by his authoritie or perswasion cause them to turne head against their enemies So that perceiving himselfe to be more and more abandoned of his people he was constrayned to fly also for he made no question at all that he should be put to death if he had beene taken prisoner in the battell The Englishmen pursued the chace meruaillous destruction was made partly of those that were slaine partly of those that-perished in a certaine notable river thereby whereinto they chose rather to cast themselues hedlong then to come alive into the hands of their enemies When the chace was ended a generall view was taken of the dead bodies and there were found slaine little lesse then six hundreth horsemen and almost seaven thousand footmen not accounting them that were killed at the bridge or drowned in the Riuer After this battell the Princes came together to Burgis a towne of Spaine and thither resorted all the Nobilitie of the country from Toledo from Lisbone from Gallicta frō Sivill and from diuerse other places of Castile to sweare fealty to Don Pietro againe restored for well they saw it was not possible to resist such power as he had now about him These things dispatched Prince Edward delt with the Tyrant to provide money for the payment of his soldiers by whose helpe he had recovered his kingdome wherevpon Don Pietro tooke his iourney into Sivill there to levy mony for that purpose pretending to returne within fewe weekes after and to give satisfaction to all men For at such time as he was driven out of Castle came first to Burdeaux to implore the Princes ayd as we haue formerly declared hee made faithfull promise that assoone as he should be restored to his kingdome he wold giue liberall contentment to all that serued in his quarell and to the same effect became bound to the Prince that so the Prince might be his surety to the Captaines and gentlemen that were readie to vndertake the enterprise in his behalfe At his
the death of King Iohn The Duke of Berry through the King of Englands curtesie had intreated a yeeres respite to solace himselfe in Fraunce And vppon like fauour diuers others were licenced to depart for a season Some one or twoo onely by the payment of their ransomes purchaced their liberty Those that the King had thus dismissed after the wars began againe returned no more The french King proclaimed open warre against the King of England and committed the charge thereof vnto twoo of his brethren who mustered souldiers from all partes so that the number of them amounted to an hundred thousand men The French men made often incursions vppon the countrey of Poytiers and other of the Princes dominions And the Princes souldiers likewise invaded the Lordships of those who had given the first occasion of these warres and made complaint of him to the French King The french King published his cause and the necessity of this warre in diuers places by cunning persons with so well seeming circumstances as no man could otherwise iudge but that his proceedinges were grounded vppon most iust and reasonable occasions The same did the King of England also verily to this intent that by declaring the causes of the warre they might haue the people more at commandement to pay their subsidies and to beare the burden of their exactions Lewis Earle of Flaunders had no issue but one daughter The King of England sought by all meanes to haue obtained her in marriage for his youngest Sonne and the matter was laboured for the space of three whole yeeres together In the Earle himselfe was no want of good affection but Pope Vrbane in regard they were of his kinred would in no wise giue his consent to the marriage The Earle therfore perceiving this match might not go forward began to make meanes by his friends to Phillip Duke of Burgundy the French kings brother that the marriage might be made betweene him and his daughter This treatie tooke effect and so it came to passe that Burgoigne and Flaunders were vnited together The King of England considering how by meanes of this marriage the Duke of Burgundy should become heyre to the Earle of Flaunders practised with the King of Navarre who bare a secret grudge to the French King for certaine Lordshippes that he should denounce open wars against him The French king had provided a great power of shipping intending to send his brother the Duke of Burgundy with an army of choyce souldiers to make warres in England The King of England having intelligence thereof made preparation according and determined to receiue them with some entertainement in their passage Moreover he sent his Sonne the Duke of Lancaster with certaine forces to Calice which when the French King vnderstood by the advise of his counsell he altered his purpose iudging it the better course to encounter with his enemie when he had already passed the Seas of his owne accord Herevppon the Duke of Burgundy was set forth well appointed who at such time as he lay encamped neere his enemy notwithstanding he were of much greater puissance yet would he not adventure to giue him battell vnlesse he had expresse direction for the same from the king his brother My author reporteth that a certaine English captaine a man of approoved valour and discretion and withall very fortunate in his affayres hauing one day observed a faire oportunitie would haue attempted some exploit vppon the enemy and to the intent the better to effect his purpose had requested an English Earle to guard him with certaine horsemen for the performance of his enterprise Which when the Earle had condiscended vnto some followers of his gaue him counsell to the contrary perswading him that if the adventure prooved succesfull the reputation thereof would redownd to another and therefore that it were better for him to vndertake some service by himselfe the honour where of might be entirely his owne By this meanes the Captaine being disappointed was faine to leaue his desired enterprise vnperformed Thus we see envy and ambition hath some predominance in all places and oftentimes it falleth out that through private â—mulation whilste one will adventure nothing in anothers behalfe many notable occasions are neglected which perhaps the enemy afterward converteth to his owne aduantage When the French and English armies had thus a while confâ—onted one another the Duke of Burgundy by the kings commaund brake vp his campe and licensed all his souldiers to depart The Duke of Lancaster returned to Calice and when he had there rested some fewe daies to refresh himselfe reassembling his forces he tooke his way into Fraunce where having burnt vp certaine townes because the winter approched he dissolved his army and returned into England These long-lasting warres greatly grieved many noble men of Fraunce insomuch that divers of them conveyed away their goods housholdstuffe remooved theÌ„selus into other places where they might with more safety expect the comfort of a calmer season wisely mistrusting least in sitting still oâ— taking part either with the french King or the English they might haue taryed to their cost howsoeuer For so stood the caâ—e with many of them who had possessions in both Princes dominions that they could neither adhere to the one nor forsake the other without preiudice to their owne estate and apparant losse of whatsoeuer they held within either of their iurisdictions On the other side many Lords of Gascoine revolted from Prince Edward and ioyned with the french King Edward as he was a man of singular wisedome and stayed disposition foreseeing that this defection of the nobility from his Sonne would tend to much mischiefe addressed letters into Gascoine to this effect How he vnderstood that they all for the most part were discontented with the subsidy which his Sonne had lately imposed vppon them his mind was therefore to apply a remedy to this inconvenience and wholy to take away all occasions which might any way mooue dissenâ—ion or controuersie To which purpose and intent he had giuen commandement to his Sonne that he should surcease from all such exaction of money and that all those which found themselues oâ—er-charged or burthened either by him or any of his officers should haue satisfaction allowed them according to the dammage they had sustained And further he pardoned all such as had reuolted to the French King vppon condition that within one moneth after they should returne againe into Gascoigne requesting this only at their hands that they would not stirre sedition but calling to minde their promised faith and allegeance rest contented to conforme themselues to the present state of gouernment In so doing they should find him ready to make particular recompence to as many as could iustly complaine of oppression And for conclusion that this was the intention and desire both of himselfe and all his counsellours These letters were published in divers places of Gascoine but they wrought small effect for many were seen daily to
recovery of his helth and because he had taken part with his enemis apprehended him and detained him in prison for the space of certain yeeres after At length by the helpe of his friends and vppon the paiment of an hundreth thousand pistolets he procured his liberty and levying great forces against the king of Arragon the matter had surely come to a bloudy conclusion had he not againe fallen suddenly into a violent sicknes which in short space ended his life By this meanes therefore the occasion being taken away the warres ceassed Don Pietro the tyrant of Spaine whose history we haue discoursed already left behind him two daughters Constance Isabell whome certaine noble men of Spaine immediately vpon their fathers death conveyed by sea into Aquitaine The Duke of Lancaster by aduise and perswasion of his friends espoused Constance the elder of these sissters wherevnto he was the rather moved aswell in commiseration of the young Ladies miserie as in hope hereafter to obtaine the possession of their inheritance The King of Spaine having intelligence hereof fearing likewise that the King of Englands fift sonne would marry the other daughter addressed his ambassadors to the French King with whome he ioyned in most stedfast league of friendship the French King for his part promising him assured ayd against any enemy whatsoever and moreouer that he would never enter into other conditions of peace with the King of England but such as should be both to the honour and profit of the King of Spaine The Duke of Lancaster shortly after his marriage assembled the Lords of the country together and declaring to them his occasions and purpose of departure appointed such officers as should governe in his absence and departed with his wife into England King Edward vpon advisement with his counsell determined to send his sonne the Duke of Lancaster with an army into Picardy which wasting and destroying that country should from thence proceede forward into Fraunce Moreover he sent the Earle of Pembroke with another army into Aquitaine to make warre likewise in those parts that so the French men might not faile to haue their hands full on all sides But the French King hauing knowledge hereof by meanes of certaine English men that resorted vnto him forefortifyed with garrisons all places of Picardy and further vnderstanding by relation of those fugitives that the English fleete should arrive in Gascoigne he gave secret intelligence therof to the King of Spaine his new cōfederate The Spanyard performed the part of a friend sent 40 great Ships with thirteene others of lesse receyt well appointed to meete with the English men in their passage Not farre from Rochell the Spanish fleete encountred the English with great violence and the fight continued almost a whole day without intermission During which space the Rochellers stood like idle spectators beholding the conflict and being requested by their governors to helpe the English in their necessitie alleadged frivolous matters for excuse and refused For howsoever they dissembled outwardly to the worlde yet in their harts they vttterly abhorred the Englishmens government The next day they renewed their fight afresh and it was maintained with as great resolution as ever was any Notwithstanding in the end the Spaniards obtayned victory by reason that both in number of men and shipping and in the greatnesse of their vessells also they much overmatched the English Many were slaine and many taken prisoners amongst whom was the Earle of Pembroke himselfe and most part of the captaines in his fleete The ship likewise which carryed a great quantity of treasure for the maintayning of three thousand soldiers was swallowed vp in the sea After this battell was ended came a sufficient power out of Gascoigne to Rochell but it was too late when the matter had falne out so vnprosperously before Thus it came to passe that by little and little the King of England lost all his whole seigniory of Gascoigne the people partly rebelling and partly yeelding themselues willingly to his enemy Whilst these things passed there repaired to the French Kings court one Ivan the sonne of a certaine Brittish Lord making grevous complaint of great iniury done vnto him by the King of England both in causing his father Ammon Prince of Wales to be wrongfully put to death afterward in conferring the principalitie of the whole coūtry to his owne sonne Edward Vpon relation of his grevance the French King furnished him with a fleete of ships and some foure thousand men to serue him by whose helpe this Ivan entring into a certaine yland belonging to the English and comming to encounter with his enemies overthrew them in the field and put them to flight After which exploit he was recalled by the French King and sent into Spaine there to make provision of more Shippes that he might lay siege to the towne of Rochell This good successe of the French kings affaires both by the Spanyards and by Ivan gave him occasion to thinke that the rest of the English provinces would easily be brought to revolte especially if the English men should receive but another overthrowe or at leastwise be put to any extraordinary trouble or molestation Herevpon he sent the constable with a great power of the chiefest peeres of his kingdome to renewe the warres againe in his enemies countries Assoone as they came into the territory of Poytiers all the townes and castles thereabout rendred themselues into their subiection The townesmen of Poytiers being at variance among themselues addressed letters to the constable signifying their good affection toward him and earely in the next morning according to promise set open their gates to receive him into the cittie This example of the Poitevins diverse other townes tooke as a president for themselues to imitate In the meane while this Ivans whom we spake of before accompanied with the Spanish Admirall came with a well furnished navy out of Spaine and arrived at Rochell which towne notwithstanding sustained no damage at their hands because the townesmen hated the English and desired by all meanes to be againe vnder the French Kings government They had long since freed themselves from their forced subiection but that the English garrison which kept the castle held them alwaies in such awe as they durst never venter to put their purpose in execution At length contriving a stratageme politick enough for the time vnder pretence of taking a generall muster as well of the townesmen as of the garrison they allured the captaine who was a man of no great forecaste with all his company out of the hold Which done forthwith a great number of the townesmen breaking out from an ambush gaue assault to the forte and suddenly surprised it those fewe which made resistance being easily repressed The noble men of Fraunce were at the same time assembled at Poytiers and having intelligence hereof were desirous to be received by the Rochellers into
their towne Wherevnto they condiscended but vppon certaine conditions which were these 1. That it should be lawfull for the men of Rochell vtterly to race their Castle out of which they had often received so great displeasure and to lay it levell with the ground 2 That the French men should solemnely promise neverto erecte any castle there againe 3 And that Rochell from thenceforth should perpetually remaine a member of the crowne of Fraunce and never be alyenated to any other Lord by any possible meanes that might be devised according as times and states should happen to alter afterward When the King who was made acquainted with these proceedings by the Lords had confirmed and ratifyed these covenants Rochell became subiect again to the French and the revolting of this towne gave occasion to many other of their neighbours to doe the like The French kings captaines holding it discretion to follow their fortune vsed such industry that in short space they recovered all the territorie of Poytow and the country adioyning not without some helpe and furtherance from the Britons who were exceedingly inclined to the French King though their Lord wholly favoured the King of England as by whose meanes he had obtayned his Dukedome It happened not long after that the Englishmen immediately vppon their comming into Britaine burnt vp seaven great shippes of the King of Spaines as they lay there in harbour Herevppon suspicion arose that this matter was done by the Duke of Britaines consent and direction whereof the French king being advertised by certaine Lords of Britaine sent the Constable to make warres vppon the Duke and to conquer his country as one who had forseited his estate by entring into a league with the English men against him of whome he had received the investiture of his Dukedome and to whome as the custome is he had sworne homage and fealtie The Duke of Britaine in this extremitie distrusting his owne subiects fled into England And the Constable by the helpe of the Britons themselves brought much of the country in subiection David King of Scotland deceassed without issue and by right of succession the crowne descended to Robert It is said before that King Edward after his sonne the Duke of Lancaster was come with his wife into England had determined to send him ouer againe to make warres in Picardy But the matter was delayed For this yeere was the first time of his arrivall at Calice accompanied with the Duke of Britaine and thirteene thousand soldiers They raunged through a great part of Picardy putting all to fire and sword but they abstayned from besieging of townes for the French king had long before sufficiently strengthned them with garrisons And as they marched forward making havocke of all things the French army still followed without intermission notwithstanding they never came to ioyne battell but by intercession of the Popes legates a truce was taken and a time appointed for another meeting at Bruges in Flaunders there to treate of waightyer matters Before this truce was proclaymed the Duke of Britaine by the Englishmens ayd had recovered diverse places and was like to have gotten more had not the newes of this truce beene a stay to his proceedings Therfore discharging his army and leaving good garrisons in the places recovered he returned into England About the calends of November the ambassadors of both Kings repayred to Bruges that there by mediation of the Popes Legates they might treate of a marriage betweene Richard sonne to the Prince of Wales and Marie the French Kings daughter The matter was diversely debated but could not bee brought to any perfect conclusion Pope Gregorie taking offence thereat departed from Avinion and went to Rome About this time Prince Edward the King of Englands eldest sonne a most worthy and valiant gentleman ended his life at London After whose death king Edward assembling the rest of his sons and the nobilitie of his realme declared publikelie vnto them his purpose that Richard the sonne of his sonne deceassed should succeed in the inheritance of the kingdome And because he had long since imparted asmuch both to the noble men and the residue of his sonnes before he made his last voyage into Fraunce it was no hard matter to perswade them all to approve his determination and to confirme the same by oath Within a while after the King himselfe also departed this life not without great sorrowe of as many as knewe him for he was a Prince so renowmed that even the French King himselfe when he heard of his death gave this report that he thought him worthy to be numbred amongst the wisest of princes After his deceasse succeeded Richard his grand sonne according to his owne appointment in his life time and was crowned king of England the eleuenth yeere of his age Anno Dom. 1377. The Duke of Lancaster was chosen protectour and tooke vpon him the government of the realme during the kings minority who in the meane while was trayned vp vnder the instruction of a certaine noble man appoynted to that charge by generall election It is declared before how the French King the better to maintain his warres against England had made a league with the King of Navarre but it fell out afterward that two gentlemen of the house of Nauarre attending vppon the king of Navarres sonnes in the French court were had in suspition of giving poyson to the King Which fact when they had publickly confessed before the people they were put to execution for the same Immediately herevpon the French King sent an army into the sea coast of Normandy belonging to the King of Nauarre vnder the conduct of the Constable who easily subdued all that part of the country Besides this the King of Spaine the French kings new confederate made warre also vpon the King of Nauarre who beeing driuen to this distresse required ayd of Richard King of England of whome he accordingly obtayned it The Duke of Britaine remayning still in England made importunate suite to the young King from time to time for ayd but the king gaue alwaies a deaâ—e â—are to his request For the Duke of Lancaster aspiring to get that seigniory to himselfe assembled a power and sayled over into Britaine where he layd siege to certaine places but the French army wherof the Constable was generall compelled him to depart The second Booke IN the former booke is declared how the French men recouered a great parte of Aquitaine from the English There were many still notwithstanding in those places which stood stoutly for the King of England The Duke of Aniow therefore comming thither with an army subdued in a mannner all that euer remayned The Gascoignes had lately before sent into England for succour but by reason there was trouble and insuirection budding vp within the realme their sending was to none effect For the Duke of Lancaster who had all the authoritie in his hands was
to remit the rigour of his displeasure Whilst those men trauelled about the common benefite Lyon who sought nothing but trouble and disturbance to the intent he might know the certaine number of his followers mustred them without the towne and found them to be almost ten thowsand Then speaking to them in open audience many and diuerse things concerning the maintenance of their liberty he gaue them counsell to pull downe a certaine castle which the Earle had lately builded because from thence the citty might be much annoyed and it was no hard matter to perswade his seditious multitude So they easily wan it hauing no garrison to defend it and when they had rifled it they set it on fire Lyon in the meane time making showe as if he had beene sorrie for the fact pretending that it happened by mischaunce whereas in trueth it was committed of meere malice and set purpose These tydings so troubled the Earle that he would not endure to heare the messengers of the people speak crauing pardon for this offence as they had done for the other but there threatned them to punishment as the fact deserued For he had bestowed a great some of money about the building of this castle besides the reproachfulnes of the action wherewith his noble spirit was much more prouoked then by any other occcasion The Earle made greuous coÌ„playnt amongst a great company of noblemen knights assembled at Lisle in Flaunders of the intollerable pride of his rebellious subiects and of the vnworthy iniuâ—ies they had offered him wherewith he so moued their affections that they all with one consent promised him their vttermostayd and furtherance and to be ready prepared for any seruice wherein he would employ them Herevpon soldiers were forthwith placed in garrisons and warres begonne the very originall whereof is the same which wee haue already discoursed When the Earles minde was thus incensed against the Flemmings Lyon hauing thereby gotten greater opportunity after he had in open assembly slaunderously inveyed against the cruelty and obstinate wilfulnesse of the aduerse party and vnder that pretext perswaded the people that it was very necessarie to procure their neighbours to ioyne with them in league and confederacie he againe mustered his souldiers by the poule and found them to be nerehand twelue thousand Amongst others which followed his faction were the men of a certaine towne called Damme in which towne shortly after Lyon dyed very suddainly not without suspition of poysoning The men of Ipre were likewise of his confederacy into which towne the rebells entring by permission of the commons slue certaine gentlemen that lay therein garrison After Lyon was dead the Gantoyes created them newe captaines and being assisted by the men of Bruges and many other townes which tooke their parte their number encreasing to an infinite multitude they besieged a long while to little purpose the Castle of Teremund wherein the Earle of Flaunders at that time remayned Wherefore raysing their siege and ioyning those forces to the rest of their army they proceeded forward to the towne of Arde which they streytly beleagered and the townesmen as stoutly defended Notwithstanding when no way could be deuised to bring victuall to the besieged the Earle foreseing that the necessity thereof in conclusion would force them to yeeld wished secretly that some conditions of peace might be procured betweene them Hereunto also his mother the Lady of Artoyes was meruailously inclined who but lately before addressing most friendly letters to the Duke of Burgundy which had marryed the Earle of Flanders daughter earnestly besought him that he would employ his diligent endeauour to bring this matter of agrement to effecte For the accomplishment whereof a treaty being had at Tournay after fifteene dayes spent in debating of diuerse matters the Gauntoyes in that while shewing themselues very arrogant lusty at length it was concluded to this purpose That the Gantoyes should breake vp their siege before Ard and within one yeare next ensuing reedify the castle which they had lately raced and that the Earle laying aside all memory of former displeasures should come and make his residence at Gaunt The Duke of Britaine because he was loth by his long soiourning with the Earle of Flaunders to procure him the French Kings displeasure departed from thence as I tolde you before into England During his continuance there he receiued verie comfortable letters from almost all the states of his countrie solliciting his returne home againe wherupon by the King of Englands aduise he returned but not without English ayd for his better assurance and safety When the Earle of Flaunders according to his former agreement was come to Gaunt he made an eloquent oration before all the people wherein he at large declared his good affection by the way lightly glauncing at their ingratitude and withall doing the office of a gracious Prince exhorted them from thencefoorth to maintaine peace and tranquility in the common wealth For his part protesting that he would so order all his affaires as no occasion of trouble should any way be deriued froÌ„ his proceedings Onely this he requested with great earnestnes at their hands that they would forbeare that fashion of wearing white cappes and cause the custome thereof to be discontinued To all the rest of his speech they gaue quiet attention but assoone as he talked of laying aside their cappes yee might haue seene the colours and countenances of most of them changed The Earle as it is likely perceyuing their mindes and considering with himselfe that the seedes of discord were generally dispersed amongst them dismissed his audience and departed out of Gaunt This was a pleasant spectacle to the seditious but the honestly affected were greatly greeued that this priuate grudge and inward debate should thus be more and more augmented After the Earle of Flaunders had forsaken the towne of Gaunt a certaine gentleman mooued with desire of reuenge for the death of the gouernour his kinseman lately murthered by the rebelles made defiance to the Gauntoys by occasion set vpon certain marchants as they were sayling vp the riuer of Skeld with corne for prouision of the towne He tooke theÌ„ and cut off their hands put out their eyes which fact of his was generally interpreted by townsmen as done by the Earles direction The seditious sort as if hereby a gap had been opened to doe what mischiefe they listed assembled to the number of fiue thousand men and suddainely surprised Arde which at that time was vnfurnisht for defence expecting no daunger in regard the peace was so lately concluded and when they had taken it beat down certaine gates and towers and that part of the wall which looked towards Gaunt Then the Earle being as it were ouercome and vanquished with their intollerable outrage after he had by his messengers directed into the Citie layed open in plaine tearmes before the people both their wicked proceedings and his patient forbearance proclaymed open
the Duke of Braband putting him in mind how vnfitting it were for his honour to attempt such an enterprise against a company of silly women vnable to make resistance partly by the iustnesse of his request and partly by intreaty and perswasion diuerted the king from his purpose It was covenanted between the King and the Parisians that the mony which they were to pay weekly shold be kept by the treasurer of the Citie and no part of it to be expēded about any other occasiō but only in time of necessity for the maintenance of men of warre Now the french King when he should send his succours unto Spaine required the treasurer to disburse an hundreth thousand franks for the vse of that seruice The treasurer neither refusing nor performing delayed the matter with friuolous excuses The duke of Aniow at that time standing in great fauour with the people to the intent the more commodiously to furnish himselfe for his iourney into Naples wrought secretly in such sort that no part of this money was sent to the King but hauing all the authority in his owne hands found meanes to bring the matter so about that the whole summe which the King demaunded was without any grudging deliuered to himselfe Being therefore plentifully furnished with all things needfull and hauing gathered together about thirtie thousand men he proceeded on his voyage When he arriued at Auinion where Pope Clement then remained he found the hearts of the noblity meruailously inclined towards him Afterward leauing Prouence he passed through Italy into Apulia and Calabria of which countries when with most earnest affection of the people he had taken possession he tooke his way towards Naples But the Neapolitanes were altogether addicted to his aduersarie Charles the King of Hungaries nephewe heretofore mentioned This Charles after the death of the Queene of Naples who left no issue of her owne to enioye her inheritance vsurped the title and dominion of all these seigniories affirming that the Popes gifte to the Duke of Aniow was for twoo especiall causes of no force nor value First because it was not in the deceased Queenes power to alienate those things that were not her owne which opinion of his the Neapolitanes and Sicilians stoutly mayntained And againe though it had beene most free for her to dispose of them all at her pleasure yet because in those countries they acknowledged Vrbane for chiefe bishop and not Clement to whome and from whome that conveyance was made the gift must necessarily be voyd and frustrate Charles had long before furnished with all manner of prouision a certaine castle called Leuf planted as the people say by art Magicke encompast on euery side with the sea and so impregnably fortified that by any other means then by such like skill it was impossible to be conquered Into this castle abundantly stored with all necessaries for certain yeares he withdrew himselfe and his retinue taking no great thought for the rest in regard he was wel assured that the Neapolitanes would neuer forsake him and as for Calabria though he lost it for the present yet after a yeere or two he made no question to recouer it For he knew the Duke must alwaies maintaine a great army in pay for feare of rebellion which he could not long continue but either want of money or victuall would force him to great inconuenience So that his power being weakened and his numbers dispersed he might easily be ouerthrowne and driuen out of the country But there was a certaine coniurer which promised the Duke of Aniow to blinde the eies of them in the Castle in such sorte as they should belieue there was a bridge made ouer frō the main land by meanes whereof they should be compelled to yeeld for feare But by procurement of the Earle of Sauoy who accompanyed the Duke in that expedition he was put to death for a like peece of seruice which he had done long before The Englishmen and Gascones hauing taryed almost nine moneths in Portingale without performing any notable exployt like men that hated such slolthfulnes determined once againe to aduenture sorth against the Spaniards Their Captaine the Earle of Cambridge when they acquainted him with the matter was against it but they neuerthelesse went forward with their purpose and hauing good successe brought certaine townes in subiection After their returne they complayned that their entertaynment was not payd them The king of Portingale halfe angry because they aduentured without his commission made shew as if he would not haue contented them Whereupon some counselled to forrey the country take out their wages in pillage but others of more stayed iudgment and sounder discretion perswaded the contrary and so at length by intreaty they obtayned that which they were purposed to haue gotten by violence After this the King of Portingale leuyed an army of fifteene thousand besides the English and the King of Spaine hauing a power of thirty thousand bad him battell Both their forces came into the field and many dayes together light skirmishes passed betweene them But the king of Portingale because his enemies forces were more in number then his would in no wise ioyne with him in a sette battell The Duke of Lancaster whom this matter chiefly concerned in regard he marryed the eldest daughter of Don Pietro had promised his brother at his setting forth towards Spaine that as soone as he had dispatcht his affaires in Scotland he would come thither also himselfe and bring an other army His comming the king of Portingale expected But by reason of the late insurrection the state being somewhat troublesome in England the King thought it not conuenient to send his men of warre out of the Countrey The King of Portingale therefore seeing no more succours come began to treate with the Spaniard of peace though altogether against the mindes of the English whose Generall highly offended with the matter returned thereupon into England and tooke with him his sonne also to whome the king of Portingales daughter named Beatrice a Lady of 10 years old had beene lately betrothed The nextyeere following the King of Spaines wife which was the King of Arragons daughter deceassed and the King of Spaine marryed this Beatrice whom the Earle of Cambridge had in a manner cast off and forsaken This marriage was ratifyed by the Pope Not long after also dyed Ferdinando King of Portingale in whose place not the King of Spaine which had marryed his daughter but a bastard brother of his succeeded being admitted to the crowne rather by fauour of the clergy and authoritie of the citties then by election or approbation of the nobility Vpon this occasion much trouble and great warres ensued afterward When the Gauntoys through the Earle of Flaunders procurement were kept streitly from victuall out of all places adioyning certaine of their towne to the number of twelue thousand passing through Barband came to Liege and were there relieued with corne and
sent she ambassadors to the French King requiring that her daughter might be matchd to his brother Lewis of Valoys This being not mislikte in Fraunce commissioners were sent into Hungarie to go through with the matter in the behalfe of Duke Lewis and others afterward sent from thence into Fraunce to fetch the bridegroome In the meane while Henry of Bohemia called the Marques of Blankford the naturall brother of Charles King of Bohemia disdayning that a king should be sought so farre off by the procurement of certaine Lords of Hungary and not without consent of his brother besieged the Queene and her daughter as they soiourned for their recreation in a certaine castle seated in a solitary place farre from resort of people By meanes whereof she was at length constrayned to giue him her daughter to wife The French kings brother who was proceeded on his iourney as sarre as Champaigne with all his houshold and retinue when he heard newes of this alteration in Hungary was not a little discontented with the matter returned again to his brother who seemed not greatly sorie for as much as Hungary by reason of the farre distance of the country from Fraunce could hardly afforde him any helpe at neede The Scottish king vnderstanding the Admiralles desire to be employed leuyed an army of thirty thousand men He himselfe would not be present in the iourney but he sent his nine sonnes who together with the French men set forth towards their enemies country and wasted the borders farre and neere But assoone as they vnderstood that the King of England approched with an armie of seauenty thousand men they made no longer abode but retyred and the English pursued after The Admirall perswaded to giue battell but the Scottish men in regard their enemies were more in number then they and because they knew likewise that the English were men of great practise and experience in armes by all meanes refused the encounter And it appeared the English were neuer almost more vehemently bent to doe the Scottish a displeasure then at that time because they had then waged forraine soldiers against them and that out of Fraunce wherwith the English men were exceedingly prouoked The Scottish men the better to satisfie the Admirall who still vrged them to giue battell brought him to a hill there by of exceeding great height from whence he might perfectly take a view of all his enemies forces Which assoone as he had seene he was content to followe their counsell that were of a contrary opinion to his owne Notwithstanding least they should seeme to haue performed nothing with both their powers ioyned together they inuaded the marches of Wales where they did somewhat more harme then they could in England The Duke of Lancaster and many others gaue counsell to followe after them but a certaine person of great credyt and authority quite diuerted the kings minde from that purpose suggesting into his conceit how the Duke sought to thrust him forth into this dangerous action to the intent he might perish in battell and so himselfe get possession of the crowne How much mischiefe this bringing the King in suspition of his vnckles bred afterward in England shall be declared in place conuenient The Gauntoys tyred with seauen yeeres warres were desirous of peace but it was priuately amongst themselues For Peter de Boys who knew it was most for his profit and reputation to haue the people alwaies in trouble contention held them vnder in such sort that scarce any man durst openly make mention of peace Neuerthelesse through the diligent endeauour of two well disposed cittizens men studious of the publike welfare and a certaine gentleman of vertuous qualitie who was well beloued and befriended in Fraunce their matter was brought to a peaceable conclusion and the Duke of Burgoigne who was lately become Lord of the country shewed himselfe very gentle and tractable which he did so much the rather because in the beginning of the next spring he was purposed to make warres in England My author makes a large rehersall of the Articles of this peace which here it shall not be needfull to insert When Peter de Boys vnderstood these proceedings he likte them so well that he left the Cittie and went ouer into England with an English gentleman whom the Gauntoys long before had procured vppon ernest entreaty to be gouernour of their towne For howsoeuer after the peace was confirmed it seemd he might haue stayed there in safetie yet not daring to trust the multitude he thought it his best course to conuey himselfe out of their danger The author of this worke after rehearsall of these matters discourseth how himselfe for his better knowledge and instruction of such occurrenty as happened in Spaine Portingale Gascoigne and the countries thereabout when he was of those yeares that he was able to endure the trauell of the iourney and of that capacity and vnderstanding that he could describe and register in writing such things as he learned by his owne or others obseruation came at length to the house of a Gascone Lord called the Earle of Foys a man of much honour and respect in those times by whome being familiarly entertayned for certaine moneths together he receiued diuerse informations both from the Earle himselfe and from other persons of great credyt and account which had bene present themselues at the doing of those things whereof they made relation Amongst the rest he recounteth a certaine sorrowfull aduenture and such a one as would make euen nature it selfe astonished the discourse is this The Earle of Foys an honourable and valiant gentleman held in custodie a certaine noble man whom he had taken prisoner by the lawe of armes who for his ransome couenanted to pay fifty thousand franks for which summe the king of Nauarre whose sister the Earle had married profered to become surety But the Earle suspecting the Kings credite wherewith perhaps he had beene too well acquainted would not but vpon better assurance deliuer his prisoner His wife displeased to see her brother no better respected was very importunate with her husband and would not be in quiet till she had perswaded him oftentimes making mention how there was a matter of as great value as that to be assigned to her brother in consideration of her dowry and therefore that he neede not feare to be deceiued The prisoner by this meanes being set at liberty as soone as he came home into his countrey to the intent to discharge his credite prouided the summe of mony and sent it at his day accordingly not to the Earle himselfe but to the King of Nauarre his surety which when the Earle vnderstoode hee maruelled much the mony was not brought him and by his wife who willingly vndertooke the iourney signified his minde to the King of Nauarre desiring him to remember his promise who vpon receit of the message answered his sister in this sort Sister this
Armenia who had been driuen out of his country by the Tartars and came lately before into France being not a little sory that so great dissension should grow between two such puissant Princes as the French King and the English of a certaine godly zeale and good disposition sayled ouer into England to make a tryall if he could doe ought in establishing a peace between them The King of England gaue him patient eare in discoursing his miseries and banishment and how the power of the Turkes and Barbarians daily encreased through the mutuall wars and dissention of the Christian Princes And when by occasion hereof he descended to the point to exhort to loue and concord the King answered that he should first deale with his aduersary to discharge his great army and that done for his part he was not so peruerse but he would willingly embrace whatsoeuer was agreeable to equity and reason Herevpon he returned to the French King who seemed nothing affected nor inclinable to peace The third Booke IT fortuned in Fraunce that a certaine gentleman of the Earle of Alaunsons house rauished another mans wife whilste her husband was absent in a forraine country Assoone as he returned the sorrowfull Lady with teares in her eyes and shame in her countenance declared vnto him the violence shee had suffered Her husband complained to the Earle of Alaunson and the party accused denied the deed Now the Earle shewing himselfe more fauourable to the offender then to him that had the iniury the plaintiffe appealed to the Parliament of Paris A whole yeere and more the matter was there caâ—uassed and in conclusion when the one still auouched the fact and the other stood stoutly in denyall it was decreed that the controuersie should be decided by combate So at a certaine day which either themselues had chosen or the iudges appointed they encountred one another firston on horse-backe after on foote Not blind fortune which otherwise is wont to beare sway in such cases but iustice and true valour shewed their force in this conflict For he that held his wiues chastiâ—y deerer then his owne life and was not affraid to venture his head in defence of the same by his aduersaries destruction made it manifest to the worlde that there is a God of vengeance which will not suffer secret wickednesse to escape vnpunished After he was slaine the hangman drew his bodie to the gallowes and hung it vp whereas if he had fortuned to gâ—t the victorie the woman for falsly accusing him should by decree of the Parliament haue bene burned and her husband after his death put to the same reproch which now was vsed to his aduersarie The whole company of honourable spectators highly exstolled the conqueror and applauded his victory with deserued commendation Moreouer the French king out of a certaine princely respect and inclination not suffering so worthy an acte to passe vnrewarded gaue him presently a thousand franks and from thenceforth a pension of two hundreth pounds by the yeere during his life About this time deceassed the King of Arragon who a little before his death calling his sonnes vnto him exhorted them to mutuall loue and concord for as much as in so great partaking of Princes he onely had stood indifferent betweene the two Popes he desired his sonnes that they would doe the like and not apply themselues to any faction till the truth were more manifestly discussed Neuerthelesse when he was dead Pope Clement and the French king drew Iohn his eldest sonne to their party But when he came to be crowned the citties would not consent vnlesse he were first solemnly sworne not to leuy any tributes or exactions of money other then such as had bene formerly accustomed Edward Prince of Wales as long as he liued was for his noble chiualry and glorious fortune held in great admiration and many sought his friendship and alliance AmoÌ„gst others there was also a league betweene him and the King of Arragon vnder these conditions That the Englishmen should at no time make warres vppon the realme of Arragon and in consideration hereof that the King of Arragon should yeerely send fiue hundreth horse to serue the Duke of Aquitaine against any enemy whatsoeuer or if he could not conuenâ—ently finde so many horsemen he shold pay him a certaine summe of mony Now for the space of ten yeeres he had neither done the king of England any seruice nor payd him any money The Duke of Lancaster therefore to whom at his setting forth towards Portugall the king his nephew had giuen authority to demaund all rights and seruices belonging to the Dukedom of Aquitaine either from the king of Arragon or any other thinking that so great a masse of money would much pleasure him in his present affaires wrote letters requiring those arrerages and sent them to the King of Arragon by the Archbishop of Burdeaux Who at his coÌ„ming found the King very sicke so as he dyed within few dayes after The Archbishop neuerthelesse still prosecuted his suite and the new king offended with his importunity cast him in prison at Barcelone Whereof when the Duke of Lancaster was informed he gaue commandement to the English garrison at Lourde which is the only strong and impregnable castle in those quarters that they should infest the Arragonians with warre and doe them as much displeasure as they could They were nothing slack in performing his commaund and wrought great annoyance to the country especially to the merchants whom they intercepted at euery passage and spoyled of their commodities The people of Barcelone being vexed with their daily excursions and caught vp as a prey by the rauenous souldiers made such meanes to their king by intercession of the nobility that he was content to release his prisoner After that by perswasion of the Duke of Berâ—y the voyage into England was deferred as we haue shewed a little before assoone as the spring came on it was appointed that the Constable of Fraunce with twelue thousand men should be sent to inuade England and besides that certaine forces should be likewise conueid into Spaine to the reliefe of King Iohn against the Englishmen Portingales Vppon this occasion a new subsidy beeing sessed againe through all Fraunce ye might haue seen many country people and towne-dwellers which not knowing how otherwise to helpe themselues abandoned their lands and tenements and departed either into Henault or into the Bishoprick of Liege because those places at that time were free from the burthen of such intollerable exactions The succours sent into Spaine were six thousand horsemen vnder conduct of the Duke of Burbon We haue told you before how the king of Portugall expecting the successe of the English warre dissembled politickly with the Duke of Lancaster in the meane while Now when he saw that England was discharged of the daunger and that the French kings army was dissolued he sent some forthwith to affiance the Duke
by compulsion The Duke following their counsell made restitution of all and besides put euery officer in his place againe as he found them when he first seized the castles into his possession The fame hereof being presently spred into Fraunce met the commissioners also vpon the confines of Britaine Who when they came before the Duke because of his owne accord he had already performed that which otherwise they should haue requested at his handes they proceeded to the other part of their commission which was to require him that at a day prefixed he would repaire to the towne of Bloys vppon the riuer Loire there to meete and conferre with the Kings vncles The Duke condiscended and being come thither accordingly they exhorted and entreated him that for assurance and confirmation of peace he would speake with the King himselfe and doe homage vnto him as all others had done he only excepted The Duke as one that was not ignorant how great enemies he had about the King namely the Constable and Iohn his Son lately set free out of England discreetly and earnestly excused himselfe Neuertheles after the Kings vncles had made him faithfull promise that he should both goe and returne in safety without any offence or interruption he was contented at length to beare them company to Paris When the Duke of Lancaster had sent many letters from Bayon into England for succours and could not preuaile seing all mens affections generally enstranged from the voiage of Spaine it was a mighty greefe and corrosiue to his heart considering with himselfe how strong and well furnished an army he had brought forth against his enemy through the puissance whereof he had conquered no small number of townes and fortresses and afterward how cruelly fortune had dealt with him and his ouerthrowing the whole course of his proceedings in such sort as he sawe no possible meanes left how euer to obtaine his inheritance of the kingdoÌ„e of Castile In musing vpon this his misfortune he compared it to that calamity which the Duke of Aniow suffered in Calabria who being come into Italy vpon large hopes and great expectation not only fayled of the endes whereto he aspired but spent his life also in the pursute of his enterprise This only was a comfort to him in all his discouragements that he had a daughter by his wife Constance whome he thought some French Lord of high estate eyther in respect of her birth or possibility would desire to haue in marriage Now the Duke of Berry was at the same time a widdower and his freinds now and then discoursing with him about a wife amongst others mentioned also the Duke of Lancasters daughter The Duke presently began to conceiue some good affection that way and therevppon aduertised the Duke of Lancaster of his intent whome when he had found nothing strange in the matter he sent CoÌ„missioners againe to negotiate with him further in that behalfe The Duke of Lancaster in the meane time politickly dispersed the fame hereof into all countries far and neere by sending to his freinds instructed for the purpose both the copyes of his owne and the Duke of Berries letters for he was well assured that these tydings would meruailously trouble and disquiet the King of Spaine Who indeed assoone as he heard of the matter began to enter into a deepe consideration with himselfe how great inconuenience might redound vnto him by this marriage namely that peace being established between England and Fraunce both those nations vniting their forces together would make warres vppon Spaine and so conuey the possession of the crowne to the Duke of Lancasters wife Wherefore vpon aduise which his counsell it was thought good to make a secret motion that the Duke of Lancasters daughter might be giuen in marriage to Henrie his sonne whome hee had by the King of Arragons daughter Herevpon a sew were sent and those slenderly accompanyed least the French men by whose friendship he possessed his kingdome should come to any knowledge of the businesse intended The Duke gaue good eare to their message And yet he put the French commissioners still in great hope euer making this exception that he would go through with nothing without the consent and approbation of the King of England his nephew to whome he had wholy referred the conclusion of these matters and with this answere he dismist them But he carryed himselfe much more familiarly towards the Spaniards through his wiues procurement who sawe by this meanes that her daughter without any empeachment or difficulty should orderly succeed in the inheritance of that flourishing kingdome for the obtayning whereof so many travailes and painefull aduentures had been sustained by her husband The hatred kindled euery day more and more betweene the Brabanders and Gelders and the Brabanders assembling about fortie thousand men besieged Graue a towne neere adioyning to the riuer Maze The duke of Gelders lying the same time at Nymmeghen because he had great confidence both in the townsemen and the Garrison left at Graue did not greatly passe for that siege Neuerthelesse he required ayde of the King of England sor so it was conditioned between them when he made his defiance to the French King But the state of England was so intangled with ciuill dissention and troubled with expectation of wars out of Scotland that no ayd could be obtayned from thence And the Brabanders seeing they wasted their time in vaine sent some tenne thousand of their men abroade to harry their enemies countrey The Duke of Gelders being certified thereof gathered together about three hundred horsemen and contrary to the perswasions of almost all his Counsell with that small company marched towardes his enemy with great courage esteeming it better to die fighting manfully in the field than to be shut vp within the walles of a towne and besieged Therefore when hee had put his men in array hee exhorted them to knightly prowesse and valiant demeaâ—our giuing so great encouragement by example of his owne resolution that setting sputres to their horses they all in one troupe ranne suriously vpon their enemies preuenting their expectation with such a desperat charge before they could settle themselues to any orderly resistance that they easily ouercame them and with small losse obtained an honorable victorie Many perished some slaine in fight others drowned in the riuer Maze such as escaped fled with all the speede they could make and carried tidings of their ouerthrowe to the campe before Graue Whereupon so great terrour rose presently amongst them that without further delay they abandoned the siege and for haste left all their prouision and baggage behinde them The French king being exceedingly desirous to take reuengement of the Duke of Gelders for those arrogant and reprochfull Letters he had sent him raised a mighty armie Many disswaded him from this voiage and among the rest his vncles but because the duke of Brittaine was now fully concluded withall insomuch that he had
to their enemies in regard of their great number but rather suffer them quietly to encampe and settle themselues before the Citty for it was strong ynough to abide the violence of their siege for a long season Therefore let their enemies roast themselues abroad in the heate of the scorching sunne beames whilst they being fenced from the iniury of the weather with houses and shadowy places rested at their ease within the Citty For it would come to passe that when their prouision by little and little was consumed themselues tormented with heate and tyred with a thousand other discommodities they would get home againe without speeding of their purpose The olde mans counsell was well liked and the citty being besieged both by sea and land many light skirmishes were daily interchanged The Barbarians sent an Ambassador desiring to knowe for what causes this warre was mooued against them The French men made answere that the chiefe reason was because their forefathers had put the Sauiour of the world to a shameful death for that they excluded baptisme were blasphemers of God and spake vnreuerently of the holy Virgine mother of Christ these were the occasions why they bent their forces against them as the common enemies of christendome This answer seemed but a mockery to the Moores so farre were they from any thoght of misliking their religion The Sicillians and other countries neere adioyning brought corne wine and other prouision aboundantly into the campe of the besiegers But by reason of the hotenesse of those countrey wines and the extreame intemperatenesse of the ayre it could not be otherwise but that very many fell into most dangerous diseases Amongst these inconueniences the duke of Burbon now altogether out of season beeing haughty prowde and cruell and such a one as no man almost might presume into his presence would remitte no parte of his seueritie insomuch that through his default shewing himselfe alwaies rough and intractable many notable exploits were omitted After two moneths siege when they had bestowed all their labour in vaine virtaile waxing scant and scarcitie being feared because the winter approched and their watching grew painefull for the Barbarians did continually molest them in the night the pestilence being also mistrusted to hang ouer their heads most were of opinion that the best course was to dissolue the army This also was another thing which they suspected that the Genowayes perhaps might fall to agreement with their enemies and ther was already such a rumor spread through al the camp Vpon these considerations therefore the French men raysing their siege which greatly displesed the Genowais addressed themselues homeward Wherupon the Barbarians resuming greater courage began to conceiue large hopes and to promise themselues the performance of great matters heereafter And that they might be able to repulse their enemies with greater force another time they ioyned in league with the Princes that bordered about them Iohn king of Spaine within two yeares after his sonne had married the duke of Lancasters daughter departed this life leauing the succession of the Crowne to Henry his sonne Moreouer at such time as the marriage was concluded this also was one couenant betwixt them That the King of Spaine should yearely pay to the Duke of Lancaster and his wife a hundred thousand crownes and for assurance therof should deliuer as pledges foure of the chiefe Earles of his kingdome Galeas duke of Millaine surprized his vncle Barnabas by treason and put him to death The sonne of this Barnabas tooke to wife the Earle of Arminackes sister And Lewis duke of Orleance brother to King Charles the sixt had maried Valentine the daughter of Galeas Now the Earle of Arminacke vpon the incessant importunity of his sister assembled an army of the companions in France and leading them into Italy layd siege to Alexandria a towne pertaining to the Dutchy of Millaine Galeas who soiourned the same time at Pauy sent thither fiue hundred horsemen to lie there in garrison for his enemies were not then of so great number that they could enuiron the towne round about The Captaine of those horsemen being a skilfull man of armes after he had laine a while at Alexandria issued forth one day with 300. horse to draw his enemies to some disaduantage for he knew well they would proffer some skirmish to the townes-men Therfore at his going out he gaue commandement that in their fight they should retire from the enemy and suffer him to pursue them till they had drawne him within compasse of their danger He was nothing deceiued in his opinion for as they were skirmishing after their ordinary maner the townesmen gaue backe till they came to the place where their fellowes lay in ambush who incontinently brake foorth with great violence The French men thus vnexpectedly engaged behaued themselues with great courage and valour but being ouerwearied with trauell and faint with heate of the Sunne they were vnable to sustaine the reviewed force and fury of their enemies The Earle himselfe hauing gotten out of the preasse to take ayre found a brooke there by whereof he drunke so aboundantly that he was sodainely taken with such a sicknesse as both presently bereft him of his speech and within few houres after of his life His souldiers by this means discouraged made as much haste as they could to get themselues out of Italy But many of them being intercepted slaine in their passage the rest when they came to the confines of Fraunce were by the Kings commaundement prohibited to enter The Duke of Britaine who had larely beene at Paris and done his homage according to the custome being vnable to change the disposition of his nature though he had bin oftentimes reconciled to the French King yet in his heart he could not choose but hate him and loue the King of England At such time as this attonement was made at Paris hee promised from thencefoorth to become a Clementine But assoone as hee was returned into his owne countrey hee performed nothing lesse And when the Kings Officers were sent vnto him hee would not admit them to his presence carying himselfe altogether in such a fashion as it might plainely appeare hee sought new occasions of warre and contention Many counselled the King to leuie armes against him to abate his pride and arrogancie which was in tollerable But the Kings vncles and especially the Duke of Burgoigne whose wife was the Duke of Britaines kinswoman employed their trauell to this effect that a day certaine might be assigned for communication So a meeting was had at Tours and certaine pointes were there rehearsed wherein the Duke might seeme to haue contemned the kings authority The Duke answered respectiuely to euery of them and sharpely enough glauncing couertly somtimes at certaine persons of base linage in the Court vpon whose counsell and opinions the King much depended Such difference and alteration was about the matter that it seemed not likely to be otherwise ended than by
his people the Archbishop of Canterbury by generall consent of the State was addressed to the Erle of Derby to bring him againe into England vpon most assured hope and expectation of the Crowne The Bishop vndertooke and perfourmed this charge so secretly that none knew of his going saue those that were interessed in the action and when he came into Fraunce not any man there could coniecture the true cause of his comming The Earle of Derby politikely dissembling the matter requested leaue of the French King to goe into Britaine to visite the Duke with whome he made no long tarriance but tooke shipping and within few dayes after arriued in England By reason of the Archbishops presence and authoritie hee found no interruption in his passage but trauelled along towards London And when they approched neare the citty they sent a messenger before to giue notice of their comming At which tidings the Cittizens sodainely surprised with ioy came flocking out of the gates in great companies to welcome the Earle from thencefoorth couenaunting to receiue him for King of England Soone after a certaine number well appointed were sent foorth against king Richard to apprehend him and bring him to London Many of the Kings followers when they vnderstood of the Londoners comming soone changed their seruice and chose them new Masters At first the King made some shew of resistance but seeing his people forsake him by counsell of his friends hee retired into the castle of Flint When the Earle drewnigh accompanied with some two hundreth men and the rest of his army following after he approched the Castle gate and sent word to the king how he required to speake with him wherevpon himselfe onely and twelue more were admitted entraunce As soone as hee sawe the King without yeelding him any reuerence Sir saide he you must this day prepare towardes London for so the people are fully purposed What should hee doe in this distresse Being destitute of succour and beholding his enemies forces before his face to escape the fury of the people he yeelded him selfe to the Earles mercie As they carried him towardes London he requested one thing very earnestly which was that hee might not be led through the Citty His request was graunted but the people much offended As soone as he came thither he was conueyed to prison New officers and seruants were placed about the Queene and other Ladies and Gentlewomen appointed to attend her all the French being dismissed and sent home into their countrey The Earle hauing brought his matters to this passe the first thing hee did hee recalled the Earle of Warwicke and certaine others that were banished And shortly after hee caused to be beheaded foure of the chiefe that had bin about King Richard by whose counsell hee confessed himselfe to haue been principally ruled in those matters which were obiected against him They were drawne to their execution vnder the prospect of his windowe of purpose that he might see them The Lords that accompanied him in prison bewailed their miserable estates and the King himselfe with the consideration of his heauie misfortune burst foorth into aboundaunce of teares and with bitter sighes cursed the day and houre that euer hee was borne to come to such an end as now entred into his cogitation He was perswaded by his partners in misery that to appease his aduersary and to purchase the assuraunce of his owne safety and such as were about him hee should renounce his royall state and dignity Herevpon he required to haue communication with the Earle to whome when hee had declared his mind after the acceptance of his offer the Erle fell into a bitter reproofe of his former life making a large repetition of his offences and besides vpbrayded him with bastardy for many reported that he was begotten by a Priest Within few dayes after King Richard in open assembly of the Lordes at the Tower of London with all ceremonies and solemnities incident to such occasions resigned the Crowne and Scepter with all his right and interest in the kingdome to Henry of Lancaster reducing himselfe into a priuate estate without assurance of his life after he had raigned two and twenty yeares This alteration of the State in England so troubled the French King that hee fell againe into his olde disease But the Counsaile of Fraunce sent certaine Ambassadors to visite the Queene his daughter and to vnderstand in what state shee remained The Duke of Burbon was likewise sent into the country of Burdeloys which seigniory since King Richard to whome the people in those partes were wonderfully affected was fallen into this calamity the French men went about to recouer againe to themselues But when the chiefe of the Citties had propounded the matter to the Commons they could not preuaile For the people feared much to be oppressed againe with the often taxes and â—allages which they had endured of olde tâ—me vnder the French men Certaine great Lords of England had secretly conspired against Henry their new King but their practise being discouered they were all put to death The French King raising a puissant army determined to haue inuaded England But it hapned about the same time that King Richard ended his life at London My Authour reporteth that he could not learne certainly by what means he came to his death but that Henry the late crowned king was incessantly called vpon by the people to dispatch him out of the way because otherwise the realme should neuer want matter of trouble and dissention Neuerthelesse he addeth further that the King in regarde hee had giuen him a faithfull promise of his life would not condiscend to their requests Now when the matters betweene Fraunce and England seemed thus to tend toward a sorrow full issue by mediation of good men a truce was obtained and confirmed for sixe and twenty yeares The French men were the rather inclined to peace by reason of their Kings infirmitie Mention hath beene made of the earle Marshall of England banished by king Richard vpon occasion of his quarrell with the Earle of Derby As soone as he vnderstoode that Henry of Lancaster had obtained the Crâ—wnâ—e and that King Richard was dead hee conceiued so great griefe and displeasure therevppon that incontinently he fell sicke and died at Venice Moreouer Pope Benedict because that after so many advertisements he would not incline to the will of the Princes was depriued of his honor and Pontificall dignitie Her name was Isabell 1326. Robert of Artoys commeth into England and the occasion of his coÌ„ming Cambray besieged King Edward taketh vppon him the title of Fraunce Tournay besieged A truce taken for twelue moneths Prolonged for twelue moneths more The occasion of the warres in Britaine Charles of Bloys Durham take sacked by the Scottish 1342. The gallant carriage and warlike behauiour of the Lady Mountfort Vannes wone by the English Recouered againe by the French The death of Robert of Artoys 1343. A truce
was very glad and desirous to goe this iourney His first landing was in the hauen of Brest which towne because the Englishmen refused to restore to the Duke of Britaine was at that time by the Britons and Frenchmen together beseiged But the Duke of Lancasters puissance enforced the Britons to raise their seige Then directed he his course towards Cologne a towne in Spaine For after much deliberation it was generally thought more honour to land first in their enemies country then to go streight to their friends But the towne was so strongly fortifyed as their atttempt and endeauour was vaine Therefore loosing from thence they sayled to Compostella into which towne after some parly they were honourably receiued Assoone as the King of Spaine heard tydings of the Englishmens arriuall he tooke counsell with certaine French Lords whome he chiefly fauoured concerning his affaires and what they thought of the Englishmens proceedings They were absolutely of opinion that the king of Portugale should marry the Duke of Lancasters daughter and therefore that it behou'd him to require ayde of the French king who both in respect of his owne good disposition and the most strict and auncient alliance betweene Spaine and Fraunce would not faile of his friendly dutie in that behalfe Moreouer assuring him that there were a great number in Fraunce so ill affected to idlenes that nothing could happen more according to their desires then to meete with any occasion of millitary employment When they had giuen him this counsell they further aduised him to take order that all weake holds churches and such like whereinto the country people had conueyed their goods for feare of the forraging souldiers should be beaten downe For those places were such as could not be defended and if they were taken the prey and pillage therein would afforde greate profite and aduantage to the enemy The King to whoÌ„ this counsell seemed not amisse authorised the French men to cast downe what they thought good at their discretion and withall to seize whatsoeuer they found in them after a day prefixed to their owne commodity The French king being solicited by the king of Spayne for ayd required him to be of good courage for within short space he would bend all the forces he was able to make against the English nation who being once subdued he would send store of souldiers into Spaine by whose helpe he should be enabled not onely to brydle and restrayne but to breake and confound the puissance of both his aduersaries Whilst the Englishmen wintred at Compostella they made often rodes into the country and brought certaine townes vnder their subiection In the meane time the king of Pontingale wrote diuerse Letters to the Duke of Lancaster full of great kindnesse and affection But counsell was giuen the Duke that he should delay the matter no longer nor negociate with the King any further by letters that it was very behooueful for him now he had proceeded thus farre to goe through with his affaires as speedily as might be the French men were subtle fellowes the Spaniards had small faithfulnes and it might so fall out that the French men by whome the King of Spaine was wholy carryed would perswade him to agreement with the King of Portingale vppon some indifferent conditions These reasons were approoued and therevppon the Duke sent word to the King of Portingale that he was desirous to speak with him whereto he condiscended and so they met at a place appointed After much communication it was concluded that the Duke of Lancaster should stay all the winter at Compostella sending abrode his souldiers to forrey the country in the meane while and assoone as the spring time approched to aduance their Standards both together against the enemy in what part of the Kingdome soeuer he remayned Also that the King of Portugale should take his choyce which of the Dukes daughters he would haue in marriage He chose Phillip the Dukes daughter by his first wife The matters thus accomplished the duke returned to Compostella The King of Spaine being disquicted by the English souldiers which wasted his country and forced his townes to yeeld meruailed much that there came no ayd all this while out of Fraunce but the French Lords alwaies encouraged him putting him in comfort that assoone as the wars in England were dispatched he should not faile of sufficient succours The French King vppon a meruailous desire to inuade England assembled the greatest puissance he could possibly make There were numbred of noblemen and gentlemen aboue twenty thousand and more then fifteene hundred shippes abundantly furnished with all necessaries euen to smallest trifles And although this preparation was such as a greater or more sumptuous had not been seen in mans remembrance yet as it often happeneth in such occasions the report thereof in England farre exceeded the truth and was extended aboue measure In so much that publicke prayers and supplications were daily offered to God that he would auert and turne from them this imminent mischeife All the hauens and port townes where they suspected the French men might land were strongly fortified and planted with Garrisons and an vnmeasurable masse of mony was leuied amounting to the â—umme of twenty huÌ„dred thousand floreÌ„s so as there was no man in the whole kingdome which felt not the waight of this heauy burthen All good and well disposed persons bewayled the present state of their country but idle vnthrifâ—s male-contents and such as had nothing to take to were of nothing more desirous The French army was now fully furnished and all things put in a readines in the hauen of Sluse in Flaunders nothing was wanting but onely the Duke of Berryes presence He neuer allowed this enterprise and at his comming thither when consultation was had about setting forward on their iourney he perswaded the contrary with diuers reasons as the roughnes of the winter weather for it was then about Christmas and the tender age of the King whome he thought in no wise was to be committed to the vncertainty of winds and seas at that vnseasonable time of the yeere His counsell preuailed and therevppon the voyage was put of till the next spring the preparation whereof stood Fraunce in little lesse then thirty hundred thousand Frankes It was oftentimes reported for certainty to the King of Portugale that the French Kings army was already entered into England Wherevppon some gaue him counsell that he should not be to forward in marrying his wife which he had lately affianced but rather to exspect what issue the wars would come to for if it should happen the King of England to go by the worse as it was likely enough at that time the Duke of Lancasters friendship would then do him small pleasure The King following their aduise dissembled his marriage and for a while made nomotion at all thereof but with kind letters and costly presents still continued the Dukes fauour for his aduantage Leo King of
French King in forsaking his freindship which notwithstanding was the thing that he studied by all possible meanes to preserue and continue The King of Spaine answered that indeed there had beene debating of certaine matters in his name with the duke of Lancaster but it should be in no wise preiudiciall to the state of Fraunce and that he would neuer attempt any action whereby in the least degree he might seeme to haue broken the bondes of freindship and alliance between them Assoone as he had dismissed the ambassadours with this answere immediatly after he went through with the marriage and therevppon the Lady Constance to put the matter out of question conueyed Katherine her daughter into Spaine and there marryed her to Henrie the yong Prince of Castile Which done shee made diligent serch for her fathers bones and when the place of his buriall at length was discouered she caused them to be taken vp and honourably entumbed againe at Siuill Through the trauell and industrie of certaine well disposed persons communication was had concerning a truce betweene the Kings of England and Fraunce with their confederates viz. Spaine Portugall and Scotland Now because the Scottes lately before had some good successe against the English there was much adoe to draw them to any agreement neuertheles their King being well inclined to quietnes in the end they also changed their copie So a truce was concluded for three yeeres in such sort that whosoeuer should by any meanes infringe it should be accounted as a wicked and periured person We haue spoken before of the Duke of Ireland who being driuen out of England and lately through faire promises allured out of the low countries into Fraunce remained there a while but could not purchase any setled aboade or continuall resting place For the Lord Cowâ—y a man of great authority about the French King vppon iust and weighty occasions hated him extreamely For the Duke of Ireland hauing taken to wife this Lord Cowâ—yes daughter fell afterwards in loue with an other woman and by dispensation from Pope Vrbane who was ready by all meanes to pleasure the King of England diuorced his wife and marryed his paramour The Lord Cowey therefore father of the wronged Lady being deeply mooued with such dishonourable iniury would neuer be in quiet till he had bayted out of Fraunce this man whome the world charged with more crimes then that alone See here the â—bbing and slowing of humain estates the affections of Princes and the ends of wicked persons The French King was perswaded by some about him to make a progresse into the furthest partes of his kingdoÌ„e as a thing so acceptable to the people as nothing could be more effectuall to winne their hartes So he tooke his iourney through Campaigne Burgoigne and other prouinces till he came to Avinion and when he had visited the Pope went from thence to Mountpelyer Which Citty although by reason of trasicke and merchandize it be very wealthy yet it had been so oppressed with tributes and exactions that as then it was much impouerished For as long as king Charles the fift liued the duke of Aniow had the rule of all those countries to the great enriching of his owne cofers And at such time as in pursute of greater fortunes he vndertook his voyage towards Naples by consent of the Peeres the duke of Berry succeded in his gouernment But assoone as the king came to one and twenty yeares of age he displaced his vncles from their authority and tooke the administration of their offices into his owne hands Now when he came into Prouince and the places adioyning many grieuous complaints were preferred against his vncle of Berry who had beyond measure polled the poore commons of their goods and brought them in a manner to extreame desperation Yee might daily haue seene great numbers of suters putting vp petitions and supplications complaining of deceyt iniury violence rapes extortions and proscriptions It greiued the King exceedingly to see the miseries of his people and therefore for an example to terrify others he caused the Duke of Berries treasurer the cheifest man in those quarters to be burnedâ— for there came many accusations against him of great wrong and oppression which he had done in the country The Duke of Berry by his letters made earnest intercession to saue his life but he could not preuaile When the King vndertooke this iourney he would in no wise be accompanyed by his vncles wherewith they were greatly offended but especially because they sawe some others of meane estate to growe in great reputation about him About this time departed Pope Vrbane out of this life whereof Clement being certified within ten dayes after at Avinion he earnestly commended his cause to the French King desiring him that now vpon this occasion he would vse his credit with the Emperour the King of Hungary and other Princes to the intent that all discord being remooued peace and quietnesse might at length be established in the church He was in good hope that now when his aduersary was dead the supremacy would entirely haue falne to him But he was farre deceiued for the Cardinalles created Boniface of Naples The Moores and Barbarians made often excursions vppon the Genowaies and the Citties and Ilands vnder their subjection Which thing they might more commodiously doe because vppon the confines comming from Genoa towards their country they held a very strong and defensible towne called Affricke Out of this towne they issue forth against their enemies by sea with great ease and aduantage and if need require they haue recourse againe into the same as a most safe harbor receptacle The Genowayes therfore enforced through the coÌ„plaints entreaty of their freinds began to consider how they might worke redresse And because they vnderstood there was a truce lately concluded between Fraunce England and the kingdomes conconfederate they sent ambassadours to the French King requiring him of succour The King was so inclinable to this warre that he not only vndertooke it himselfe but solicited diuers of his neighbour Princes to set their helping hands to performance of the enterprise Therefore assembling no small power out of Fraunce Britaine Artoys Flaunders and England he sent it into Lombardy vnder the conduct of Lewis Duke of Burbon with whome he ioyned in commission the Lord Cowcy a man of most knowledge and experience and in greatest iudgement and direction in military affaires that liued in those times These taking shipping together at Genoa at length ouercame the contrary waues and tempests which encountred them at sea and arriued safely in their enemies country Now as the Moores were consulting because they saw that the Genowayes vppon this redoubling of their puissance by the comming of the french and other forraine nations to their ayd would besiege their Citty a certaine graue old man amongst them descended of a noble family gaue counsell in this manner That they should not giue battell