Armagnac with a great Power of Souldiers Tholouse is a City of a large extent strong fair and well-walled And there was none in our Host who perfectly knew the Ford of the River but yet by the Grace and Goodness of God we found it So then we mâ—ched thrô the Seigniory of Tholouse and took many good Towns enclosed before we came to Carcassone which We also took a Town greater stronger and fairer than York But as well this as all other Towns in the Country which We took were burnt plunder'd and destroy'd Now after We had marched by many journeys thrô the Country of Carcassone We came into the Seigniory of Narbonne which Town held out against Us but it was won by force and the same Town is little less than the City of London being scituate upon the u u i.e. the Mediterranean in ho◠〈◊〉 Greekish Sea which is not above two Leagues therefrom And there is there an Haven or Landing-place from whence the x x Aude Latinè Atâ—â— River goeth up to Narbonne And Narbonne is but 11 Leagues distant from Monpellier 18 from Aigues-Mortes and 30 from Avignon And may it please You to understand that our Holy Father sent Messengers to my Lord who being not past 7 Leagues from him sent a Serjeant at Arms who was Serjeant Attendant at the Door of our Holy Fathers Chamber with Letters to my Lord requiring of him a safe Conduct to come and declare to his Highness their Message from our Holy Father which was to treat of an Accommodation between my Lord and his Adversary of France But the Serjeant was two days in the Army before my Lord would vouchsafe to see him or receive his Letters The reason whereof was because He was informed that the Power of France was come forth of Tholouse toward Carcassone wherefore my Lord was obliged to turn back again upon them presently as He did But the Third day when We expected to have met them they understanding of our approach retired before day and gat them to the Mountains marching hastily toward Tholouse But the Country People who had been their Guides to lead them that way were taken by Us as they should have passed the Water At which time because the Serjeant at Arms was in my Custody I caused him to examine the Guides that were so taken and because one of the Guides so taken had been the Constables Guide and his Countryman He might well see and know the Countenance of the French upon this his Examination And I told the Serjeant that he might the better declare to the Pope and all those at Avignon what he had now heard or seen But as to the Answer which my Lord return'd to them who had been sent to treat with him You would be hugely pleased if You knew all the Matter For He would not suffer them by any means to approach his Person any nearer but He sent them word by their Serjeant that if they came to treat of any Matter they should send to the King his Father For my Lord himself would not do any thing therein but by command from my Lord his Father But of my Lords turning back to meet his Enemies of his repassing the River Garonne and of his taking Castles and Towns in this Expedition and of other things done against his Enemies in pursuit of them they were all Deeds Right Worthy and Honourable to be told as Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton can more plainly declare than I can write unto You For it would be too tedious to commit so much to writing Now my Lord rode abroad over the Country eight whole Weeks whereof He rested not above 11 days in all those places whither he came And know for certain that since this War first Commenced against the French King he never received such Loss and Mischief as he has in this last Expedition For the Countries and good Towns which were laid waste at this time supply'd the French King every Year towards the Maintenance of his War with more than half his Realm hath done beside except the Change of his Money which He maketh every Year and the Profits and Custom which he taketh of the Poictevins as I can shew You by good Records which were found in divers Towns in the Collectors houses For Carcassone and Limoux which is as great as Carcassone and two other Towns in the Coasts of Carcassone found to the French King yearly wages for a 1000 Men of Arms and an 100000 old Crowns to maintain the War beside And know that by the Records which We found those Towns of THOLOUSE which We have destroyed together with the Towns in the Country of CARCASSONE and the Town of Narbonne with others in Narbonnois did together with the Sums aforesaid find him every Year to the Aid of his War 400000 Old Crowns into his Coffers as the Burgesses of the great Towns and other People of the Country who are supposed well able to know have told Us. Wherefore by Gods assistance if my Lord had wherewithall to maintain this War to the King his Fathers Profit and to his own Honour He should greatly enlarge the English Pale and win many fair places For our Enemies are wonderfully astonished At the writing hereof my Lord hath resolved to send all the Earls and all the Bannerets of Quarter in certain places on the Marches to be ready to make inroads upon the Enemy and to annoy them My Lord at this present I have no other News to send but You may by Your Letters command me as Yours to my Ability My Right Honourable Lord God grant You good Life Joy and Health long to continue Dated at Bourdeaux the y y i.e. 22d Decemb Lit. Dom. D. Tuesday next before Christmas This Letter may very well be supposed to have been sent into England by Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton Knights who returned thither at the end of the foresaid Expedition especially if we compare what is mention'd of them both in the preceding Letter with what is seen in the Title of the Following which is dated a Month later The Tenour of a second Letter written by Sr. John Wingfield directed to Sr. Richard Stafford Knight who had been in Gascogne and there leaving his Family was now returned into England Right Dear Sir and truly Loving Friend Touching News here after your Departure You may understand that We have taken and forced to yield five Towns enclosed viz. Port St. Mary Clerac Tonneins Bourg z z Ita lego pro St. Pierre vid. Maps Sur Mer Chasteau Sacrat and Brassac also seventeen Castles viz. Coiller Buzet Lemnac two Castles called Bolognes which are near one another Montaut Viresche Frechenet Montendre Rochechalais Montpont Montignac Vauclare Cenamont Leyrac Plassac Montravel And please to know that my Lord John Chandos my Lord James Audley and your Men that are with them and the Gascogners that are in their Company and my Lord a
Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. the Twelfth of February the valiant English Lord Maurice Berkley younger Son to Maurice Lord Berkley and Brother to the Lord Thomas Berkley in the Camp before Calais to the extream Regret of his Master King Edward who set an high value upon his Services of which an Estimate may be from the Retinue he had at the time of his Death Which consisted of six Knights among whom p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 89. was Sr. Nicolas de St. Maure aliàs Seymour and 32 Esquires with 30 Archers on Horseback and 200 Archers on Foot. Three q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. days after his Death the King in contemplation of his singular Merits gave unto Thomas his Son and Heir a Grant of the Profits of his own Wardship as to his Lands and Marriage This Noble Family of the Berkleys is derived from Maurice the Son of Robert Fitz-Harding who was the Son of Harding one of the Royal Blood or as some say r Vetus M.S. in Castro de Berkley Leland Coll. 1 Vol. p 912. Youngest Son to the King of Denmark who came into England with William the Conquetour The foresaid Maurice Son to Robert Fitz-Harding had in Marriage the Lady Alice Daughter and at last ſ Dudg 1 Vol. p. 352. Godwins Catal. Bishops p. 500. sole Heir to Roger Lord Berkley so called from his Castle of Berkley in Gloucestershire and thereupon changing his Name became Ancestour to this Illustrious Family which since that Time hath flourished and still continues in great Honour to this Day X. I do not meet with any more Persons of Rank that died during this Siege in the English Camp but 't is certain that not a few of the Common Sort were wasted away as we said before The Loss of whom was notwithstanding easily made up by succeeding Recruits from England and other Places For many great Lords of Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Almain came thither to the Camp some indeed onely to pay their Respects to the King and Queen others to joyn with the English Forces And of all the Visitors none departed home again without an agreeable Gratuity from the King. Among all those Lords that won by the Kings Fame or otherwise came now to embrace his Service the Lord t Frois c. 141. Robert of Namur was not the least Considerable This worthy young Lord had lately received the Order of Knighthood at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by the hands of that Renowned Christian Souldier the Lord Lespentine and had thereupon continued for some time in the Holy Wars but was now newly returned into the Country of Namur and Liege He was as then in the first flower and vigour of his Age of good Discretion Courage and Conduct and had not since his Return been engaged by either of the two Kings of England or France but now of his own Accord he came gallantly attended and richly provided to the Siege before Calais and there offer'd himself to the Service of King Edward By him he was received very graciously as also he was highly welcome to the Queen and the English Lords but especially he won upon the Kings Affections on the Account of the Lord Robert of Artois his Uncle whose Name he bare and whose Person and Vertues seemed again to be revived in him Nor shall it be forgot that this Martial Knight was a great Friend to the Muses as we may learn from u Frois l. 1 a. 1. f. 1. ad finem Sr. John Froisard For whose laborious and noble History which for the most part contains the Heroick Acts of King Edward and his Children we are not a little beholding to this Sr. Robert of Namur Lord of Beaufort who requested him to set about that Laudable Work and both encouraged and assisted him in it Sr. Robert of Namur bare for his Arms x Ashmoles Garter p. 79. Plate 85. Or a Lion Rampant Sable Crowned Gules and in process of time became Knight of the Garter For from this time forward he became Liegeman to the King of England who thereupon gave him for the first Hansel of his Favour 300 l. per annum to be paid by Yearly Return at Bruges in Flanders and now he continued with his Troops amounting to 300 Men of Arms before Calais till the Place was taken About y Knighton p. 2592. Whitsuntide King Edward sent to all the Abbeys and Priories throughout England for an Aid of their Woolls and for a proportionable Support from all other Religious Houses as lately had been granted unto him in Parliament One z Odoric Rainald ad hanc an §. 24. ex Archivis Vaticani says that he seized on all the Ecclesiastick Wealth under the specious pretence of Borrowing it to maintain him in his Wars against France By whose Example King Philip to defend his own laid hands on the Revenues of all Priests except Cardinals not residing in his Kingdom and of other Benefices he took the Tenths Whereupon the Pope sent unto him Pastor Archbishop of Ambrun and William Bishop of Chartres to restrain him and the Gallican Clergy he exhorted to maintain the Liberties of the Church Threatning a Tem. 5. ep secret 1160. Clem. VI. PPae moreover to use his Pontifical Authority against him unless he would restore the Ecclesiastick Right to its pristine Splendour But we do not find that King Philip alter'd his Course of Proceeding for all this the Necessity of his Affairs calling for extraordinary Supplies XI Before we come to the Winning of Calais it is fit we should take notice of other Matters that happen'd elsewhere the mean while no whit less Worthy of Memory And first we shall enquire after the Condition of Scotland at this time We shew'd before how the preceding Year immediately after the Battle of Durham the English pursuing their Victory recover'd the Castle b Hector l. 15. f. 325. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. of Hermitage with all Anandale Marches Tweedale Tividale and Ethrick Forest besides regaining what the Scots had won in England enlarging their Limits as far as Cockburne's pit and Solway And all this was obtained in a manner with little or no Resistance for the Scots were now brought c Buchan ibid. so low since that blow they received near Durham that for a long while after they were unable to bring any considerable Army into the Field But now early this Year King Edward Bailiol in hopes to recover his Inheritance during this weak Estate of Scotland d Knighton p. 2592. Hector Buchan Holinshead Scotl. enters that Kingdom by Carlile with an Army of 20000 Men and the Lord Piercy with as many more by Barwick made a Road into Louthian and Cliddisdale whence he brought great Booty of Goods and Cattle while the Bailiol raged alike in Galloway Niddisdale and Carrick so that the Scots were at last compelled to yield unto him and accept him for their King. From hence when both the Armies
And in this manner his Battail consisting of 400 Men of Arms marched up towards the English They pretty well escaped the Archers by that sudden Device but Sr. Eustace received them so sharply that at the first Brunt he slew of them more than Threescore and had well-nigh totally discomfited the whole Body when of a sudden the second fresh Battail of equal Number with the former came on with great Resolution and at the same time the third Battail came on a Wing at their Lest hand both a Defence and Comfort to the other two The French were almost Four to One viz. 1200 Spears against 400 and 900 Foot against 200 but however the English played their Part gallantly and Sr. Eustace presently with his own hands slew four of the most Hardy among his Enemies When Sr. Broquart beheld this his Prowess he strack at his Vizor over other Mens heads till he beat out three of his Teeth but Sr. Eustace left not off fighting for the pain he then began to make his Enemies feel more severe effects of his Anger And still the English were so united in a close Phalanx that the French could as yet make no Impression upon them and the Archers of England shot so thick on the Enemies left Flank that they earst not approach to break them Then the French Men of Arms began to wheel about to the Left and as they went the English Battail faced them without once breaking their Order For all the File-leaders and Bringers-up were the Choicest Men in Front Flank and Reer But at that instant the 900 French Infantry came into the Field well covered with broad Targets who marching directly against the Archers wholly brake their Array for their Shot gave them but little trouble they were so well protected with the mutual Defence of their Shields When thus the Archers were broken the second Battail of the French Men of Arms rode in among them and took or slew most of them but a very few escaped After which they went against the English Valets and won all the Horses except those which the Valets carried away upon the Spur. The mean while the two remaining Battails of Men of Arms entertained the English on one side and the Fourth Battail of Footmen after they had beaten the Archers on the other side so that at last all their Array was broken and Sr. Eustace his Standard beaten down and torn in pieces and most of his Men taken or slain The Lord Eustace himself fell into the hands of a worthy Gentleman called Sr. Henry de Quingey a Burgundian who had much ado to save his Life for the Commons of Troye would fain have had him sacrificed because of the terrible Havock he had made among them in the Country of Champaigne With him were taken alive Sr. John of Paris and Sr. Martin of Spain with many other Knights and Esquires and those that escaped gat into the Fortress of Nogent but they were not many the greater Part not being able to quit the Field in any time because their Horses were all taken The Couragious Manny was left for dead among others in the Field but a while after the Battle when the Enemy was marched off thô grievously wounded and almost exhausted for want of Blood he chanced to open his Eyes and then being something reviv'd with the fresh Air he lifted up his Head a little but saw nothing about him except Dead Men lying on the Ground By and by he enforced himself so far as to rise as well as he could half way and so sat down a while and look'd about and found he was not far from the Castle of Nogent which was an English Garrison Hereupon he never left creeping by little and little till at last with much difficulty and much danger of Relapsing he came to the Foot of the Tower Where making signs to them that look'd down that he was a Friend he was received into the Fortress and had his Wounds presently dressed and carried himself so regularly and temperately that within a few Weeks he was perfectly healed This Battle was thus fought ſ Frois ibid. in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX on the Vigil of St. John Baptist or the twenty third of June VII After this Discomfiture of the Englishmen near Nogent sur Seyne the French Lords and Men of Arms return'd to the City of Troye with all their Booty but they durst not bring thither any of their Prisoners for fear of the Common People who sought to kill them wherefore they sent them to be kept in other French Garrisons But when Sr. Eustace Dambreticourts Men whom he had left in the Garrison of Pougny heard of this their Loss they presently trussed up Bag and Baggage and marched off into better Quatters for they were not enough to maintain the Place The same did those who held other Fortresses which depended on the Lord Eustance For they greatly doubted the Bishop of Troye and the Lord of Fenestrages But Sr. Peter Audley thô he had lost a good Neighbour of Sr. Eustace held his Garrison still at Beaufort Sr. John Segar at Nogent and the Lord de la Brett at Gye upon the Seyne About that time some of Sr. Peter Audley's Men rode forth and took a Neighbouring Town called Rosnay t Frois c. 200. while the Curate was at Mass an English Esquire is said to have gone into the Church and to have taken the Chalice wherein the Priest should have consecrated from the Altar Which Wine he poured out on the ground and being therefore with much Christian Gravity blamed by the Priest he strack him over the Face with his Gauntlet that the Blood gush'd out upon the Altar and so went his way with the Chalice and Patine along with him It is affirmed and I dare not omit so memorable an Instance of God's Judgments tho it displease never so many that this same Esquire being presently after mounted in the Field his Horse began suddenly to turn about and flounce and curvet so fiercely that none durst come near him till at last he and his sacrilegious Master fell both together Dead on the ground and soon after they crumbled away to Powder Whereupon all the other Souldiers that were eye-witnesses of this dreadfull Judgment were so terrified that they vow'd never more to violate any Church or Holy Place while they lived VIII In these days as if it pleased Almighty God to afford some short Breathing to the afflicted Realm of France before King Edward came over to add to her Afflictions the greater part of these licentious Plunderers of a sudden fell to decay and declin'd so fast that it was miraculous And first u Frois c. 200. in the strong Castle of le Herelle within four Leagues from Amiens the Lord John of Picquigny who had been so perfidious to his Lord and Master the French King was now in God's just Judgment repaid by his own Servant his Chamberlain by whom as
of November he went thence to Monstrevil and thence Four Leagues farther to Hesdin and so to the Good City of Amiens where he tarried almost till Christmas On St. Thomas his Day being a Monday he rode thence to Paris where he was Honourably received of the Clergy with solemn Processions and the Universal Joy of all the People who convey'd him with great Demonstrations of Loyal Affection to his Palace Here He and his Son Philip and the rest of the Cavalcade alighted a most Royal and Magnificent Dinner being prepared for them But it is not my business to declare with what Welcome the French King was received by all manner of People at his return into his Realm For he was indeed a Better Prince than One would guess by his Ill-Fortune and had now been a Prisoner no less than Four Years One Month and six Days viz. from the 19 of September 1356 on which day the Battle of Poictiers was fought to the 25 of October 1360 when he was fully acquitted and went from Calais to Boulogne Wherefore his presence was much desired of all his Subjects and they welcom'd him where e'r he came with shouts and Viveleroys and presents of Gold and Silver and other Fair and Rich Gifts And the Prelates and Barons of all his Realm came to Paris to Visit and Congratulate him and they entertain'd him with Shews and Feasts and other Diversions to comfort his Mind according to their Duty And the King was hugely pleas'd with these things it being agreeable to have a Right Taste of Recreation after so much and so bitter Affliction III. Soon after this King Edward sent over the Sea such Persons as were Commission'd by Him to take Possession in his Name of those Lands Countries Earldoms Bayliwicks Cities Towns Castles and Forts that were to be deliver'd unto him by Vertue of the Peace and Treaty But this Matter was not over-hastily perform'd for divers Lords in Languedoc would not at first obey the French Kings Orders to yield themselves to hold of the King of England althô King John frankly quitted them of all the Faith Homage and other Tyes wherewith they had been bound unto Him It seem'd so hard to them to forget their Natural Lord and yield to obey Strangers Of this Humor especially were the Lords of the far Marches as the Earl of la Marche the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Chasbeau Darry the Vicount of Carmain the Lord of Pincornet and divers others all who were extreamly surprized that the French King should offer to acquit them of the Resort and Homage which they ow'd to him and enjoyn them to pay it to the King of England And some of them began to argue and said that the King ought not so to acquit them for they affirmed how there were in Gascogne Charters and Privileges above 500 Years old granted unto them by Charlemagne King of France which signified that their Resort and Allegiance should not be put to any other Court but his only And therefore at first they scrupled the Kings Commands but King John who was resolved to hold and perform the Articles of the Peace with all sincerity sent his Dear Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon unto them all severally who by good Words and found Reasons shewing them both the necessity of Affairs and that it was the Kings absolute Pleasure and Resolution perswaded the most part of the said Lords as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord De la Bret the Earl of Foix and many others thô much against their Wills to become Liege-men to the King of England The same Difficulty was found in the parts on the Sea-side as in Poictou Rochellois and Sainctogne Unto them this Composition of their King seem'd very grievous when they saw that thereby they were in a manner cut off from their Natural Country and that they must submit to the Government of strangers But especially the strong City of Rochelle would not of a long while admit of the English Yoke but excus'd themselves unto the King and beg'd earnestly of him still to continue their Protector and they wrote to him in the most endearing manner possible desiring him in their Letters and by their Representatives that for Gods sake he would please never to acquit them of the Faith that they ow'd unto him nor put them out of his Demaine into the hands of Strangers saying how they had rather be Taxed yearly even to the half of their substance than to be subject to the English which was a thing wholly insupportable to all true Frenchmen King John by these their frequent and humble Remonstrances saw well their Faith and Loyalty to him and was very compassionate of their case but he was a Prince of that Honour that he had rather lose half his Kingdom than break his Word and it was his ordinary saying That if Faith and Truth were banished from the rest of Mankind nevertheless they ought to be found in the Mouth of Kings Besides he was called upon by King Edward's Deputies for by this backwardness of the French Nation when it seems things were not made ready against Midsummer the First of the times appointed for compleating these Matters King Edward f Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. Franc. 35. Ed. 3. n. 3. on the 15 of November following constituted Sr. Thomas Vuedale Knight and Thomas Duncent Licentiate in the Laws his Agents whom he sent to Bruges with Power to make request to the King of France for the effectual Accomplishment of all things concluded on at Calais and to require that He and his Son should make the Renunciations and Transports according to all the foresaid agreements on the Reception whereof they were enabled to give Acquittance in the King their Masters Name These things quickned King John in his endeavours to reduce his People to acquiesce in his Determinations wherefore he wrote to those of Rochelle Desiring them to shew their Loyalty which they so much professed in denying themselves for his sake that otherwise the Peace would be broken upon their account which would be a great Imputation to his Honour and no less Prejudice to the whole Realm of France Hereupon when the Rochellers saw no other Remedy and that whether they would or no since their King would not admit of their excuses they should be compelled to undergo this hatefull Yoke then at last after much adoe they yielded full fore against their Wills the Honest Men of the Town saying to one another Well we shall then from henceforth obey the English but our hearts are tyed for ever to the French Interest And here it may be a matter of our Wonder how it came to pass that King Edward should ever expect otherwise from Frenchmen born but that they would bear a foreign Rider with a Mind always ready to fling him off upon the first occasion as afterwards it proved indeed Surely in this case I cannot tell what to say since that Prince's
as lief see him Dead as Alive and so he went thither with the Knights who were about him Being come to the place where he lay cover'd with a Shield he caused his Shield to be taken off and then beheld him with much Compassion and having look'd stedfastly on him a while he burst out in these Words Ah! Sr. Charles my Fair Cousin by your indiscreet Obstinacy how many Evils have fell out in Bretagne And yet so God help me as I am sorry at my Heart to find you in this Condition But now it is past Remedy And with that he began to weep over him not that he was not well satisfied with the Victory he had so hardly obtained but that this cruel and costly Decision of his Quarrel did much affect his Generous Mind considering his own Case might have been the same But Sr. John Chandos quickly drew him out of this melancholy and unseasonable Humour saying Sir pray come away and thank God for this fair Adventure thus happily fallen to You For without the Death of this Man you could never have enjoyed your Inheritance of Bretagne and perhaps he would have been content to have found You here in his stead Then the Earl gave order that the Corps of his Cousin Sr. Charles of Blois should the next Day be conveyed in Great State to Guerande a City of Bretagne where he was honourably interred as he was well worthy For he was a most Noble Courteous and Valiant Knight so that a while after he obtain'd the Reputation of a Saint being reported to have done many Miracles after his Death whatever Bloodshed he occasion'd in his Life-time But 't is a Mistake of Froisard's z Frois c. 226. ad sin where he says how he was Canonized for a Saint by Pope Vrban V. When as the Truth is that thô indeed he had some such Matter in his Mind and there are a Tem. 6. Ep. secr p. 160. Vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1368. §. 11. extant Letters of his to John Duke of Bretagne to that Purpose yet when he understood that by the manner of his Death he was not to be look'd on as a Martyr he was very angry with those who presum'd without the Approbation of the Apostolick See to give such Honours unto his Memory and by his Letters to the Bishops of Bretagne enjoyned them in their several Dioeceses to prohibit that any such thing be done for the future Dat. apud Montem Flasconem XVII Kalen. Octobris Anno Pontificat VI. Which agrees with the Year of our Lord 1368 being the Fourth Year after his Death XI Now when all the Dead were spoiled and the Englishmen were all returned from the Chace the whole Army drew off to their former Camp and unarmed themselves and took their ease having first set a good Watch and secured their Prisoners and caused the Wounded to be well dressed On the Monday in the Morning the Earl of Monford caused Proclamation to be made to the Citizens of Rennes and all the Towns and Villages thereabout that he would most inviolably grant them a Truce for Three Days following whereby they might be emboldened to come forth and gather up the Dead Bodies and bury them in Holy Ground which Christianlike Proclamation was both well accepted and also generally prepar'd the Hearts of the People in his behalf Then the Earl return'd to his Siege before Auray saying that he would not stir thence till he was Master of the Place And soon after it yielded unto him The mean while Fame was very busie in carrying tidings abroad into Divers Countries that the Earl of Monford by the Assistance and Conduct of the Englishmen had won the Day against Sr. Charles of Blois and discomfited slain or taken all the Cavalry of Bretagne such as were against him The Lord John Chandos especially had great Renown every where for all manner of People Lords Knights and Esquires as well Foes as Friends that had been present in the Field agreed together in acknowledging that chiefly by his Conduct and Great Valour his side had got the better But at this News all the Friends and Assistants of Charles of Blois were extreamly cast down and especially the French King for this Loss concerned him very nearly as well because of the Death of his Kinsman Sr. Charles as also because many of the best Knights of his Realm were either there slain or taken as Sr. Bertram of Clequin whom he highly favoured and the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and all the Barons of Bretagne none excepted Wherefore presently he sent his Brother Lewis Duke of Anjou to the Marches of Bretagne to animate the Country which was utterly dejected and cast down with this great blow and also to comfort the Dutchess of Bretagne as she was called Relict of the Lord Charles who took on so extreamly for the Death of her Husband that it was a great Pity to behold her comfortless Condition The Duke of Anjou had newly Married a Daughter of hers and therefore thought himself the more strongly engag'd to this Office And indeed he promis'd faithfully to afford unto all the Good Cities and Castles in Bretagne his best Counsel Comfort and Assistance in all Cases whereby the Poor Afflicted Lady whom he called Mother and all the Country that held for her had for some while a little Confidence yet to see better times Till the French King to avoid worse Inconveniences took other Measures as we shall see hereafter The Earl of Monford wrote the News of this Victory to his Father-in-Law King Edward of England five days after the Battle was ended His Letters bearing Date from before Auray the Fourth of October were shortly after brought unto the King then at Dover by a Pursuivant at Arms who had been in the Battle And the King was so well pleas'd with the News that immediately in reward thereof he b Frois ibid. Aâ—â—mâ—lâ— p. 703. made him an Herald at Arms by the Name of Windesor But it will not be amiss briefly to declare the Occasion why King Edward was then at Dover XII About Three Years before there began a Treaty concerning a Marriage between Prince Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge King Edward's Fifth Son and the Lady Margaret Daughter of Earl Lewis of Flanders To which Match the said Earl had lately given his Consent on Condition there might be a Dispensation obtain'd from Pope c Rot. Fr. nc 38. Ed. 3. m. 8. Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Fros c. 227. Vrban V because of their Proximity of blood And so a Contract was made between the Parties And on this account the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother had lately passed over the Sea into Flanders with many Knights and Esquires in their Company to visit Earl Lewis of whom they were received very Honourably and with special Tokens of Peace and Love. Insomuch that upon their Return the Earl of Flanders accompanied them
his Council made High Constable of all the Realm of Castille IV. All this while was r Frois c. 231. poor Don Pedro in the strong Castle of Corunna on the Sea and with him his Wife his three Daughters and the Loyal Don Hernando del Castro and his Retinue only But when he heard how his Bastard-Brother had made himself King and that all the Land freely own'd him for their Lord he began to be in fear of his Life For he knew that if Don Henry once heard where he was he would besiege him so close by Land and by Sea that it would be impossible for him to escape Wherefore one Night he took his Wife and his Daughters and Don Hernando and his Lady ſ Pavine le Parisien's Theatre l'Honneur l. 6. c. 7. p. 148. Joan of Castille natural Daughter of King Alphonso XI and all the Gold and Silver that he had with him and set Sail designing for some other place But the Wind was so contrary to him that he could by no means get off from that Coast and so he was fain to re-enter the Castle of Corunna Then in a great Agony he demanded of Don Hernando his only Counsellor what Course now he had best take to preserve himself and those poor Reliques of his Family complaining bitterly how adverse Fortune was against him After some study the Knight spake thus May it please Your Majesty before You leave this place of Safeguard it would be well to send to your Cousin the Heroick Prince of Wales and of Aquitaine to know whether he will be willing to entertain You or no and to request him in meer pity to consider a little Your sad and necessitous Condition For surely besides that he is noted for a Person of extraordinary Courtesie he will think himself something obliged to take notice of You upon the account of those strict Alliances made between Your Father and His. And althô indeed the Lady died before Consummation yet he cannot but remember that his Sister the Lady Joan t Vid. Lib. 2. c. 8. §. 9. p. 438. was given in Marriage to You about 17 Years ago And certainly the Prince of Wales is so Noble so Courteous and withall of such exalted Courage that when he shall be fully informed of your Affliction he will take some Compassion on You. And if but once He undertakes to set You again in Your Throne there is no Man in all the World can do it better He is so Valiant and Successfull in War and so feared respected and beloved by all Men especially the Souldiery And Sir for the present You are here in a good strong Fortress able either to conceal You or defend You till You may hear News from Aquitaine This Counsel Don Pedro readily embraced and fell immediately to write Letters which he did all with his own hand so pathetical and full of pity as none but one in his Condition or as bad could easily endite These Letters Don Hernando gave to a Knight and two Esquires of his with Instructions concerning the whole Affair and so they went on board and sailed happily till they came to Bayonne a City of Gascogne on the River Adour belonging to the King of England Here they asked tidings of the Prince and were informed that he was then at Bourdeaux Wherefore they took Horse and rode thither and chose out an Inn to lodge in and changed their Apparel and so went to the Abbey of St. Andrew where the Prince kept his Court. There they gave out that they were Spaniards and came from Castille on a Message from King Don Pedro. When the Prince heard thus much he said he would see them and learn their business So they were introduced before him and kneeled and saluted him according to the Custom of their Country and humbly recommended the King their Master unto him and so deliver'd the Letters into his Hands The Prince presently raised the Messengers from the ground and received their Letters and then stepping aside a little read them over leisurely wherein he found how pathetically King Don Pedro wrote unto him declaring his great Misfortune Danger and Poverty and how his Bastard-Brother by the Alliances he had made with the Pope the French King and the King of Aragon with the Assistance of the Companions had violently expelled him from his Inheritance of the Realm of Castille Wherefore he humbly and heartily desired the Prince for Gods sake and out of his great Generosity to help him in this his deplorable Condition and to provide him some Counsel and Remedy whereby he would atchieve Grace of God and Honour of all the World. For said he it is a thing not to be allow'd in Christendom that a Pope or a King should disinherit a true and lawfull Heir and by force of Tyranny invest a Bastard with the Right The Prince whose Wisdom was no way short of his Courage having read thus much closed the Letters again in his Hands and spake thus to the Messengers Gentlemen You are heartily Welcome to Us from our Cousin the King of Castille Tarry here a while with Us and before You go You shall have our answer With that the Prince's Attendants who knew well their Business conducted the Spanish Knight and the two Esquires to an appartment ready for them and the Prince tarried still in his Chamber seriously musing on these fresh Tidings Presently he sent for the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton two of the Chief of his Council for the First was High-Constable of Aquitaine and the latter Seneschal thereof At their entrance into the Presence the Prince said smiling My Lords You shall hear fresh News out of Spain The King Don Pedro our Cousin makes Grievous Complaint of the Bastard Henry who hath taken from him his Inheritance and hath thrust him out of his Kingdom as no doubt You have heard reported by sundry that came from those Parts And now he instantly requireth Us to lend him our Aid and Assistance as it appeareth here by his letters And with that the Prince read over the Letters to them word for word two several times and these two Lords heard all very distinctly Having done with the Letters he proceeded Sr. John and Sr. Thomas You two are the Chief of my Council and those on whose Fidelity and Wisdom I more especially rely Wherefore now I demand Your Advice what You think is best for me to do in this Case Shall I after the manner of the World neglect a Man in Adversity Or shall I as Vertue requires lend an helping Hand unto him Here is Quiet attended with Silence or Infamy and there is Labour Crown'd with Honour and Immortality As they stood silent looking upon one another the Prince continued My Lords tell me Your minds freely and plainly what is fit to be done in this Matter Then they both agreed that it would be convenient for his Highness to send some Ships of War to King Don
Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. in the Month of June there appeared in the Northern Sea a great Navy of Danes who purposed to come into England and overrun rob and slay as their Ancestors had done in the time of the Saxon Kings But they were encountred and met with at Sea by a good Fleet of English Mariners and other Valiant Men who overthrew and scatter'd them and made them return inglorious into their own Country But among others there was a Mighty and Strong Ship called the Denmark which being oversailed by the Englishmen was taken and sunk and in her was found the High-Steward and other Great Officers and Lords of Denmark who being brought into England were by Order from the King and Council cast into Prison Shortly after there came certain Danish Deputies to negotiate for the Delivery of the foresaid Lords of their Country with their Goods but receiving an answer no way pleasing unto them they return'd home again having left behind them in their Inns written on Scrolls and Walls this threatning Verse Yet shall Danes Ering you n Despair or Loss ab AS Wanian to Diminish wanes Which Rhymes being seen by an English Poet he immediately wrote underneath them Here shall Danes o i.e. Fetch or find Frett their * Destruction Banes. XXIV And now We shall close close up this Active Year when We have first made mention of the Death of a Person whose Memory ought not to be forgotten This was Don Pedro Son of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal who for his love to Equity obtain'd the Honourable Sirname of The Justiceer This Man that p Joseph Teixera de Origin Regum Portugallix he might remove the Fuel of Contention compell'd the Lawyers Pleaders and Proctors of his Kingdom to till the Land thô he himself was a most strict Observer and Maintainer of the Laws He punished two Forsworn Traytors by causing the Heart of One to be thrust out at his Breast and of the other out at his Back both which at his Command were torn in pieces It is attributed unto him as his Familiar saying q Vid. Marian. l. 17. c. 9. Odor Rainald ad hunc ann §. 19. that a Prince did seem unworthy of the Name of a King on what day he had done no Grace or Kindness to any Body AN. DOM. 1368. An. Regni Angliae XLII He died this Year having Reign'd Nine Years as many Months and Eight and Twenty Days and left behind him his Son Hernando or Ferdinando who r Odor Rainald ibid. soon after sent his Complement to the Pope after the Custom of Christian Kings newly come to the Crown and received an answer full of Good Counsel and Ghostly Admonitions CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. Prince Lionel is married to the Lady Violantis Daughter of Galeacius Duke of Milain with the Magnificence and Splendor of the Nuptials II. He falls sick his Testament Death and Burial III. A Parliament at Westminster IV. The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal V. A strange Relation of a Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyderzee VI. Sr. Bertram of Clequin by a pretty Conveyance obtains to be admitted to Ransom VII The Companions waiting for their pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they depart and go into France where they do much Mischief VIII The Prince to recruit his exhausted Stores ordains a Tax throughout Aquitain which occasions a Revolt of some Malecontents I. IN the Fourtieth Year of King Edward it may be remembred how We spake of an Overture made by Galeacius the second Duke of Milain unto the said King about a Match to be struck up between the Daughter of the said Duke and Prince Lionel second Son living to the said King Edward The Negotiation concerning this Affair had been carried on till this time when all Conditions were fully adjusted on both sides among which these were not the least considerable a Paul. Jovius in Galeacio 11. p. 151. That together with the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel should receive 2000000 Florens of Gold together with the Cities of Mons Regalis or Mondovi and Alba Pompeia by the Name of a Dowry I shall not here be particular in relating how the two Brethren Dukes of Milain Galeacius and Bernabo recover'd from those troubles whereunto John Marquess of Monferrato had some Years before cast them Nor shall I insist on the Eminent Worth and Military services which Sr. John Hawkwood an English Knight performed for them in those their Wars with such considerable Advantage that Duke b Paul. Jovius in Barnabâ p. 159. Bernabo gave unto him the Lady Donninia one of his Natural Daughters in Marriage with a Portion of 1000000 Florens Let it suffice for this place that the two Brethren Dukes being assisted by this Valiant Knight Sr. John Hawkwood began again to flourish in great Prosperity which that they might the better preserve to their House and Family it was thought fit to enter Affinity with King Edward of England at that time by many Degrees the most Powerfull and Renowned of all the Princes in the World. And so when all things were fully adjusted the Marriage c Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was concluded at Windsor on the 25 of April at which time the King acquitted the Duke of Milain of 10000 Florens by him paid in consideration of the said Treaty and then with all speed the Prince made his Preparations to go over the Sea and to consummate his Nuptials It is said d Joh. Harding c. 186. fol. 186. that the two Dukes of Milain the Marquess of Monferrato the Dukes of Venice Mantua and Florence the Lords of Genua Pisa and other chief Princes of Italy had with the unanimous Consent of the whole Senate of Rome sent their Ambassadors to King Edward before this to assure him that upon this Marriage of his Son Prince Lionel with the Duke of Milain's Daughter all the Princes and States of Italy should own him for their Lord and by their joynt Interest at last raise him to the Title and Dignity of Emperour For besides the Reputation of the King his Father's Glory he himself was generally fam'd and extoll'd for one of the most Accomplish'd Personages in the World. Of Stature he was beyond the Ordinary Proportion of Men Tall and streight as a Palm-Tree exceeding Well-set Shap'd and Featur'd in his Chamber Modest and Gentle as a Virgin Affable Sweet and Pleasant in Conversation but Bold and Fierce as a Lion in the Field So that for all Accomplishments of Mind and Body he had not his Fellow in all England except only his Elder Brother the Prince of Wales than whom he was yet eight Years younger being now in the very Flower of Manhood in the Thirtieth Year of his Age. Thus about the latter end of April the Lord Lionel Duke of Clarence and Earl of Vlster Third Son born but the Second living of King Edward the Third
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
his Study to Physick as being an Art most Worthy of a Gentleman and a Candid Nature whereby he should be enabled to do good to the afflicted Bodies of his Fellow-Creatures But above all his Inclination prompted him to Travel especially into Asia and Africa two vast Portions of the World which together with Europe made up the whole Terrestrial Habitation for in those days the New-found World of America was not known Being therefore well provided with Necessaries and having taken Care for Bills that would pass among Merchants of most Nations he set forward resolving with Vlysses to discover the Government and Manners of many Nations Thus having with much labour carefully survey'd the Greater and the Lesser Scythia Armenia Tartaria both the Countries of Libya Arabia Syria Persia Media Mesopotamia Illyria India Graecia Egypt and other Kingdoms and not only informed his Mind with many Curious and notable Observations but also with the Knowledge of several Languages lest all this inestimable Treasure should perish together with his Life he wrote exactly in the Latine French and English Tongues his Itinerary of Thirty Three Years a Book of the Wonders of the World and a Description of the several Countries he had seen And at his Return into England as he seriously noted the Abuses of the times the Pious Gentleman would say In these our days We may say more truly than ever That Vertue is neglected the Church is trampled on the Clergy is led away with Errour the Devil reigneth Simony beareth sway Greatness is abus'd by Flattery Diligence Learning and Vertue are despised Vice and Impudence are exalted c. At last he departed this Life at Liege a City in the Bishoprick of Liege in Germany and lies buried in St. William's Convent without the Gate of the said City with this m Crtelius in Itiner Pitsaus p. 511. 512. Latine Inscription Here lies the Noble Gentleman Sr. John Mandevil otherwise sirnamed Knight of the Beard Lord of Kempten born in England a Professor of Physick very Devout in Prayer a most Bountifull Bestower of his Goods to the Poor who after he had travelled almost over the whole known World ended his Life at Liege in the Year of our Lord 1372 the 17 of November Besides which Inscription there was engraven on the Stone the Image of an Armed Man with a Forked Beard a Lion at his Feet and at his Head an Hand blessing with these Words in French Vos Ki passeis for mi Pour l'Amour Deix Proiez por mi. All you that pass by Pray for me of Charity The shield of his Arms thô void of late days is said to have been cover'd with a Plate whereon his Arms were depicted being Azure with a Bordure indented Or a Lion Rampant Argent with a Crescent Gules on his Breast Formerly there were to be seen the Knives Spurs and the Horse-Furniture which he us'd in his Travels thrô the World. It seems he was a Person of much more Credit with the Germans and French who have many Years perus'd his Writings in their own Languages than here in England among his Countrymen 'T is said of him n Engl. Atl◠3 Vol. p. 302. that after he had seen most of the Cities in the World he prefer'd Liege to whatever he had before met with and resolv'd as he did to spend the Residue of his Life in that Place But surely thô vulgarly the Books that go under his Name are reckon'd full of Incredible Stories either We must look on them as greatly falsified and differing from the Original or if once convinced of their Authority ought to be carefull in censuring rashly For this Man had the Reputation of being as Eminent for Piety and Integrity as for Knowledge CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1373. An. Regni Anbliae XLVII Franciae XXXIV The CONTENTS I. The Constable of France lays Siege to Sivray An Army of English comes to raise it but are beaten II. Hereupon the Constable takes Sivray and after that Niort and Lusignan But Chastellacher obtains a Respite at the Request of the Lady thereof after that taking in Mortimer and Didonne he returns to Paris and is highly caressed by the King. III. Becherel in Bretagne and St. Saviour le Vicount in Normandy besieged by the French. IV. King Edward sets forth a Fleet which burns a part of the Spanish Fleet. V. King Charles confiscates the Dutchy of Bretagne because the Duke adher'd to England and sends the Constable to take Seisin thereof VI. The Duke of Bretagne thró distrust of his People retires for England leaving Sr. Robert Knolles behind as his Lieutenant VII The Constables Conquests in Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles puts himself into Brest VIII The Constable comes before Brest and the Lord Clisson lays Siege to la Roche sur You in Poictou a Detachment at the same time being sent to take in Derual which was the Inheritance of Sr. Robert Knolles IX La Roche sur You yielded Derual compounds and gives Hostages Nantes recieves the Constable on certain Conditions X. Sr. Robert Knolles compounds for Brest that it shall be rescued in 40 Days or yielded XI The Earl of Salisbury being reinforced resolves to succour Brest by the Day appointed and to give the Constable battle but the Constable deceives him XII Sr. Robert Knolles goes to Derual XIII The Duke of Lancasters Expedition and March thrô France XIV Sr. Robert Knolles refusing to hold the Agreement made by his Men about yielding up Derual the Duke of Anjou strikes off the Heads of the English Hostages in revenge whereof Sr. Robert Knolles strikes off the Heads of 4 French Prisoners in sight of the Duke XV. Pope Gregory XI having obtain'd a Treaty to be held at Bruges writes unto the Commissioners of both Kings to prepare them and sends two Legates to compose Matters between the Duke of Lancaster and the French King. XVI The Difficulties of the English Army the Duke arrives at Bourdeaux XVII A Parliament at Westminster XVIII A Prodigious Malady call'd St. John's Dance XIX The Death of sundry Great Personages I. NO a Frois c. 306. f. 186. b. sed Gallice f. 255. sooner was the unactive season of Winter past but Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France began to take the Field marching from the City of Poictiers with 14000 fighting Men whose Chief Captains besides the Constable were Sr. Alan de Beaumont Sr. John de Beaumanoir Sr. Arnold of Limosin Sr. Geoffry of Ricon Sr. John du Lanconet Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel and others With this Army the Constable went and laid Siege to b Sireth Frois Tizeth Du Chesne c. Sivray enclosing his Camp with Pales and a Ditch to avoid being troubled by Excursions in the Night During this Siege Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot who were Captains of the Place and had defended themselves with great Valour against the Attacks of the Frenchmen sent secret Word of their Condition to Sr. John Vbrues and to