deliberation he might declare whether they were to be accepted or rejected The third day after the King accepted the Universities Resignation and pardon'd them of all that the Scholars had done either in the said tumult or before as his Letters bearing z Pat. 29. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 26. date 20 of May and still remaining among the Archives of that University under the Kings Seal bear witness As to the Townsmen who were now also involved in the Censures of the Church upon the Intercession of several Nobles and the Heads of the University it self this Order was at last taken with them On * D. Lit. Dom. ad an 1355. St. Kenelmes day being a Friday and the 17 day of July a Ex Record Turr. Antiqu. Oxon. p. 176. Claus 29. Ed. 3. m. 23 Holiâ—sh p. 950. Antiqu Oxon. l. 1. p. 180. in the following Year Master Humphry Charleton Professor of Divinity and John Charleton the younger Dr. of the Laws and Thomas Neville Master of Arts on the behalf of the University of Oxford and John of St. Frideswide Mayor John Bedford and John Norton Bailifts of the said Town of Oxford on behalf of the Commonalty of the same Town came before the Kings Council into the Council-Chamber near the Exchequer where the Allegations on both sides being heard upon request made that it would please his Majesties Council according to the Submissions by both Parties made unto the King and to his Council to take order in the Matter in Controversie betwixt them concerning the late tumult and business which had chanced in the said Town by the disorder of the Commonalty of the same in breaking down and burning of Houses in taking and bearing away the Books and other Goods of the said Masters and Scholars and in committing other Transgressions The Council having consideration of the Premises to avoid the Decay that might ensue to the said Town made this end betwixt the Parties That the Commonalty of the said Town John Bereford being in the Kings Prison and Robert Lardiner only excepted should be bound to pay unto the said Masters and Scholars damnified in the said Tumult and Business for amends and reformation of Injuries and Losses sustained Death and Maim excepted two hundred and fifty pounds beside the Goods taken and born away to be restored again and this Money to be paid to the said Chancellour Masters and Scholars by the Feast of St. James or else sufficient sureties put in for the payment thereof at certain terms as the Parties should agree upon And in respect thereof John Bereford and John Norton shall be released out of Prison at the Bail of the said Mayor of Robert Minks and John Dimock till the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery on Condition that the said Sums of Money be paid or surety put in for the payment thereof as before is said or else the Bodies of the said John Bedford and John Norton shall be returned to the said Prison within three days after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula there to remain in manner as before they did It was also ordain'd by the Kings Council with the Assent of the said Humphry Lewis and John Charleton that all and every manner of Persons of the said Town of Oxford and the suburbs of the same indited and arraigned of the Felonies and transgressions aformention'd that should yield themselves to the Kings Prison to be tried by Law and also all others that were at that time present in Prison which the said Humphry and John Charleton should name John de Bereford and Robert Lardiner excepted may be let to Bail upon sufficient Sureties who should undertake for them body for body to appear at the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery there to be tried according to order of Law. And further it was order'd that all such Goods and Chattels as were taken and carried away from the said Masters and Scholars in the said tumult and business by the Men of the said Town and Suburbs in whose hands and in what places soever within the said Town and Suburbs by Inquisition Information or other means they should or might be found should be deliver'd unto the Chancellour and Proctors of the said University to be by them restored unto those Persons to whom they belonged This was the effect of the final Order taken at the day and place aforesaid before the Reverend Fathers John Archbishop of York Primate and Chancellour of England William Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer Thomas Brembre Lord Keeper of the Privy-Seal and David Wollere Master of the Rolls Henry Inglesby Clerk of the Council and other of the Kings Council there present XI This Year b Odor Rainal Continuat ad Baren ad hunc annum §. 31. M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Innocent VI. Gesta Innoc. VI. apud Boâ—qu Walsingh hist p. 161. n. 47. about Whitsuntide two Fryers Minors named John of Castillon and Francis at Arquata being accounted guilty of Heresie were seised by Order of the Pope and brought from Carcassone to Avignon where they were both burnt alive Of whom thus Henry Rebdorf in his Annals Being brought to Avignon and by the Popes Command examin'd they read their Confession in a certain long Paper containing many Articles about the Premises Nay they publiquely affirmed that Pope John the XXII and all his Successors and even Pope Innocent himself who affirmed the contrary to their Assertion were and had been Hereticks and Reprobates and had no Title to any Dignity or Benefice Ecclesiastical For which the said Minors being degraded of their Priesthood were in presence of the Pope deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt within the Octaves of Pentecost And as they went to the Stake they cried out with a loud voice Glory be to God on high And it was publiquely said that many of the said Order had been deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt in Gascogne and in Italy for the foresaid Articles whom the two Friers aforesaid affirmed to be true Martyrs And it was moreover said how there were very many Learned Persons of the said Order who defended the Question about Property and the Poverty of Christ and his Apostles Which also these two had done But it is also to be remembred for the Honour of the University of Paris which we find upon undoubted Authority c Bishop Vshers Answ to a Jesuits Challenge p. 428. eâ— Gâ—id Revâ—cat Errer fact Parisus Ano. 1354. Tom. 14. Bibl. Patrum Edit Colon. p. 347. that this Year a certain Augustin Frier named Guido for defending the Condignity of Mans Merit with God which is a Matter now generally owned in the Church of Rome was by Order of the Chancellour and the Theological Faculty at Paris to make his publique Recantation in this Form I said against a Batchelour of the Order of the Friers-Preachers in conference with him that a Man doth merit Everlasting Life of Condignity that is to say that
Spoil of the Field which they accounted their own The whole number of the Strangers was about e H. Knighton p. 2551. two Thousand Men of Arms besides the great Numbers of English that came in as Voluntiers above the appointed Musters such hopes had they conceived of their Prince's Conduct and Fortune The King f Frois c. 16. Grafton p. 219. assigned the Strangers convenient lodgings in the Suburbs of York but to Sr John himself and his Servants he allotted an Abby of White Monks in the said City He himself and the Queen his Mother being lodged in the stately Building called the Fryers where each of them kept house apart This g Frois ibid. S John of Heinalt was one of the most Gallant Knights in the World and he had first undertaken to defend the Queen and her Son against the Persecutions of the two Spencers even when her own Brother the King of France had deserted her quarrel so that he was very dear to the young King and his Mother and they resolv'd to entertain him in most Royal Manner Wherefore the King held all along a Great Court to do these Strangers Honour and there was every where much Plenty of Provision Good and Cheap for the City and Country were Rich and flourish'd with abundance For full six weeks did the King lie there with more than 60000 men yet all that while the price of Provision was nothing enhanced but every thing was sold as reasonable as before the Army came thither There was plenty of Rhenish Gascoign and Anjovan Wines with Pullen and other Provision at very ordinary Rates and Hay Oats and other necessaries for Horses were daily brought to the Strangers lodgings so that they were all extreamly satisfied with their entertainment But yet even this their Prosperity had like to have proved more fatal unto them then a Rout in Battel might have done For h Knighton p. 2551. presuming much hereby on the King's favour they carried themselves too Magisterially toward his Subjects whence arose such Contention as brought forth many sad effects and was not at last stinted without much bloodshed on both sides On Trinity i Frois c. 16. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantabr c. 213. Sunday the King for the sake of these Lords Strangers held a Solemn and Magnificent Feast at the Fryers aforesaid himself being attended with 500 of his Knights to which he then added 15 more and the Queen his Mother having more than threescore Fair Ladies of the greatest Nobility and Beauty in England about her Person to pleasure the young Lord of Beaumont and his Company There was that day a most Splendid Entertainment and a truly Royal shew of whatsoever was choice and excellent And now the Ladies themselves with many Noble Virgins were meditating the various Measures their skilfull Feet were to make the pleasant Aires their sweet Voices should warble and those soft Divisions their tender Fingers should strike on the yielding strings when suddenly as soon as ever the Feast was ended a strange and hideous noise confounded the Minds of the whole Court. For the Servants and Pages of these Foreign Auxiliaries had by their k Knighton p. 2551. insolence so exasperated the minds of some English Archers who lodged among them in the Suburbs that immediately a great Fray began among them which continually rose higher new abettors successively flowing in on each side till near 3000 of the Archers being gather'd together many of the poor Heinalders were slain and the rest betaking themselves to flight were fain to enter their lodgings and there to fortifie them in the best manner they could against the Fury of their enemies Most part of the Knights their Commanders were then at Court but on the first noise of the Fray they hasted to their lodgings to defend themselves and their People Some part of the City of York in the Hurlyburly was fired many of the Heinalders slain and more hurt nor less on the English side than l Stow p. 228. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. ibid. 80 Archers most of them Lincolnshire men fell that day who were all buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Fosegate But at last by the Authority of the King with the earnest endeavours of the Queen Mother who loved the Heinalders dearly and by the ready assistance of the Great Men who charitably took the Strangers parts the Archers thirst of blood was slaked and the quarrel ceased for that time But that Night the Strangers who had suffer'd most not so m Knighton p. 2551. much thinking of sleep as revenge being now headed by Commanders rose privately and joyning all together set suddenly upon the Archers of Lincolnshire and Northampton for the Men of each County were Marshall'd and lodged together by themselves where they slew about 300 of them Nor in the Morning had they paid cheaply for that desperate action for more than n Frois c. 16. fol. 7 8. 6000 Archers had combined together to burn or kill them every man in their lodgings or without by Night or by Day when ever they should obtain an Opportunity But that the King to secure the Strangers from their Fury had set strong Guards about them displacing the Archers from their former Quarters they themselves hardly ever daring to sleep without good Watch their Horses ready saddled and their Arms always near at hand or upon their Backs so well they knew it behoved them to look to themselves after such a Provocation of the Common Soldiers of England Now had King o Frois c. 16 17. Edward lain at York with all this Great Army in and about the City for the space of three Weeks and when in about three Weeks more after this sedition no final agreement could be made between the King's Council and the Scotch Ambassadors p Caxton who came thither after Trinity Sunday to treat of a Peace the Marshals of the Host by the King's Command Proclaimed thrô all the Army that by the next Week every Man should be ready to March against the Enemy and that such to whom the Care was left should provide Carts and Wagons for Carriages and Tents and Pavilions to lie in the field with all other matters necessary for the King's journey toward Scotland All things therefore being by the said time provided accordingly the King and all his Barons began their March from the City of York in good Order and gallantly armed with Trumpets sounding and Banners waving in the wind In this Expedition besides those at Newcastle and Carlile already sent thither to defend the Frontiers we have made shift to recover the Names of these Worthies q Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the King's Uncle John r Id. 1 Vol. p. 184. Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger ſ Id. ibid. p. 145. Mortimer Lord of Wigmore William
Talbot in deep Indignation that his Advise was so little reckon'd of hasted with some few of his Friends and Attendants for England but being surprised in the way by a strong Party of the Bruceans who knew well how to make their advantage of these private Dissentions after he had lost six men of Arms and many more Foot was himself taken Prisoner and so carried to the strong Castle of Dunbriton The Lord Beaumont in as great displeasure hies him to the Castle of Dundarg in Bucquhan u Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. of his Wifes Inheritance which having well victual'd and fortifi'd he not only by continual Excursions subjected to himself the Lands late in Controversie but all the Country round about him David Strabolgi goes to Athol with the same Discontent and there makes great Provision for his own Defence Hereupon King Bailiol too late seeing his Error and doubting not a little what all this might come to as also feating lest his only Protector the King of England might take these Proceedings in evil part by an action as weak as the other was rash revokes now his own former Sentence grants the Lord Beaumont the Lands in contest appeases the Earl of Athol with many and large Possessions belonging to the young Lord Robert Stuart who afterward was King and promised them both to ransom their Kinsman the Lord Talbot at any rate whatsoever Having thus with much adoe reconciled those great Personages to himself thô Sr. Alexander Moubray was again lost thereby he resolves if possible to be before hand with his Enemies whom he knew to make huge Preparations against him being the more animated by the late Accession of Sr. Alexander Moubray Suddenly therefore he comes before Reinfrew a City in the Province of Cunningham near the River Cluyd which he as suddenly reduces and having settled Matters there passes over into the Island of Bute where Sr. Alan Lile Sheriff of the Island presenting him with the Keys of Rothsay had the Castle and whole Isle committed to his Charge again After this he took the Castle of x Duchan l. 9. p. 291. Dunnow in Kyle whereby he terrified the greater part of his Enemies into a Compliance having seized on all the Lands belonging to the y Id. p. 292. Stuarts and lying in the Islands of Bute and Arran about Reinfrew Cunningham and Kyle besides what belonged to many others who like that Noble Family scorn'd to save their Lands by forfeiting their Loyalty Many of his own Friends he now rewards most liberally with Lands and Possessions taken from his Adversaries as well of his own Natural Bounty for he was a Prince of great Worth and Gallantry as with Design to bind them fast to his Interest At the same time he z Hector l. 19. fol. 317. c. made a narrow search after the young Lord Robert Stuart aforesaid that by his Death he might secure himself on that side as who was Nephew to the late King Robert Bruce being eldest Son to King David's eldest Sister and had even in the days of King Robert been sworn and own'd as the next Heir Apparent to his Son David For as for David who was then an Exile in France he thought himself pretty secure of him and now look'd upon this innocent young Lord who was so powerfull in Wealth and Allies and had the Right to the Crown of Scotland next after David as a most Dangerous Person But God had order'd it otherwise and the Hopefull Prince Robert being then scarce fifteen years of Age thrô the secret Goodness of Providence which destin'd mighty things for him and his Posterity with the great care and foresight of his Friends especially of Sr. William Heriot and Sr. John Gilbert was privatly by water conveyed to the impregnable Castle of Dunbritton and there earnestly recommended to the Care of that Loyal and valiant Lord Malcome Flemein who was still Governour of that Place In the mean time the Lord Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland for King David being lately redeem'd from England with a good round Summ of Money bestirs himself vigorously for his distressed Country and now at last having joyn'd Sr. Alexander Moubray who thrô displeasure had lately revolted from King Bailiol he strictly besieges the Lord Henry Beaumont in his strong Castle of Dundarg During this Siege 't is a Walsingh hypod p. 113. n. 24 said that King Edward of England himself upon news thereof with a great Power entred Scotland and relieved him The time indeed of this Siege may well enough agree with King Edwards Winter Expedition for thô upon good reason I have laid the foregoing Story together yet the whole Procedure took up more than the space of twelve Months but yet in this matter the Scotch Writers are more agreeable to Truth who say that he was forced to yield himself on certain Conditions Thô surely One was not as b Leland Câ—llect 1 Vol. p. 797. Leland says that he might have liberty to retire freely into England nor was he suffer'd as Hector says to depart upon parole only giving his Oath never to return into Scotland any more unless in King Davids Quarrel but he was fain to pay a good Ransom for his Liberty as it evidently appears from the c Pat. 9. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 22. Sr. Will. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Records which plainly shew that when about a Year after King Edward in requital of his Services acquitted him of all such Debts as were due from him to the Exchequer he especially forgave him among the rest four hundred Marks formerly lent unto him at York towards the Payment of his Ransom upon this his Imprisonment in Scotland V. The News of the foresaid Siege and of the taking of the Lord Richard Talbot was d Walsingh hist p. 116. Hypod p. 113. n. 14 brought to King Edward during the last Session of Parliament at Westminster which as we shew'd began about the 24 of September this Year Whereupon the late Resolution for the Holy Land was Suspended and his Majesty thought it necessary in Person to undertake one Expedition more into Scotland and not to desist till he had wholly subdu'd that untractable People and cut off from them all possibility of future Rebellion He was also extreamly exasperated e Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 22. at the News that David Strabolgi Earl of Athol had Revolted to the Bruceans the truth of which Business was That being as we shew'd before by large Gifts and Promises as well as by the Revocation of Judgement in the Lord Beaumont's behalf Reconciled again to King Bailiol he was f Vector fol. 318 n. 50. c. suddenly one time surprised by the Bruceans who then began to bestir themselves apace by whom thô for the present he escap'd them he was so closely Hunted and Pursued on all Hands that at last after he had with much Difficulty sustain'd himself with Roots and Water for a while he
Defence of the North even as they had already done And then several were appointed to follow this device and to prepare the Commissions for Array into divers Countries It is agree'd that the Inhabitants of Holderness in Yorkshire should be Arrayed and grant Aid for the Defence of those Marches as well as others of the County of York altho they be appointed by Commission to keep the same It is agree'd that the Commissions of Sr. William Wallingford and all other Commissioners for Purveyance for the King be utterly void And that all Officers of the Ports by the Kings Writ do refrain the exporting of k Alii legunt Coyne Corn. That the Earl of Richmond the Lord Clifford the Lord Roos of * M.S. Wake male Werke the Lord Moubray and Sr. William Daubeny should be commanded by Writ to repair towards their Lands for the Defence of the North Marches or if unable or otherwise occupy'd in the Kings Service then to send their Quota's thither to the Lords who were Captains there That the Writs of Summons for the next Parliament should charge every Sheriff to return for his County two Knights girded with Swords That every Archbishop and Bishop do before the next Session of Parliament take a Certificate of all Benefices being in the Hands of Aliens of the Value of each of them and of Residence or Non-Residence thereon That two Writs be issued out the One to call a Convocation of the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury and the other of York against Hilary Term following It is also determin'd that the Parliament should be Summon'd against the Octaves of St. Hilary then ensuing Of which we shall now take leave to discharge our selves that our following Discourse may find no Interruption When the time of the next Sessions of Parliament approached l Rot. Parl. M. S. ibid. p. 25. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 19. because the Duke of Cornwall Warden of England was busied about the Kings Weighty Affairs being as I shew'd with his Father beyond Sea there were appointed to preside in Parliament John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellour and William de la Zouch Archbishop of York m Philipet's Catal p. 33. Lord Treasurer with the Dean of York and Sr. John Willoughby Deputy Lord Chief Justice Sr. John Stonore Justice of the Kings Bench and Sr. John St. Paul any Four Three or Two of these by the Kings Letters Patents were appointed to begin continue and end the Parliament for and in the Name of the King and the Lord Warden of England and there to do all things which the said Guardian should do until his or the King his Fathers coming The Commission began Edvardus D. Gr. c. and ended Teste Edvardo Duce Cornubiae Com. Cestr Filio nostro Charissimo Gardiano de Angl. These n Jan. 20. Commissioners aforesaid caused sundry of the Lords and Commons to assemble in the Presence Chamber AN. DOM. 1340. An. Regni XIV because several of both Houses were not yet come they continued the Parliament from day to day till the * Dom. Lit. B. A. Monday next after the Octaves aforesaid during which time Merchants Owners of Ships and Mariners did attend That o Jan. 24. same day the Causes of the Parliament were declared to be the same as before namely for Granting the King an Aid for keeping of the Sea and for Defence of the North Marches whereunto the Commons require Respit until Saturday the 19 of February And then they unanimously offer'd to the King for Aid 30000 Sacks of Wooll on certain Conditions expressed in a pair of Indentures But for the better Expedition after some Debate they yielded to give the King presently 2500 Sacks of Wooll so as if the King liked the Conditions aforesaid the same should go in part of Payment if not they were freely offer'd unto him The Lords promised to send unto the King to know his Pleasure and in the mean time they also for their Parts grant that such of them or of their Peers as hold by a Barony should give to the King the Tenth of their Grain Wooll and Lambs and of all their own Demesnes As for the Merchants their Day was put off till p i.e. 6 Martii nam Pascha hoc ano. 16. April Monday in the First Week of Lent but the Mariners of the Cinque Ports promised to make ready their Ships before q i.e. 26 Martii Midlent viz. 21 Ships of their own and 9 of the Thames and to bear half the Charges themselves the other half the Privy Council promised to bear of their own good Will to their King and Country but not of Duty or that it should stand for a Precedent The Mariners of the West promise to set forth 90 Sail and 10 Ships of the Burthen of one Hundred Tunn or more and to bear the whole Charges if they could Two Sufficient Scholars were appointed to compute the Charges the One for the West and the Other for the Cinque Ports It was here order'd that all Ships of Portsmouth and from thence toward the West of the Burthen of one Hundred Tunn or upward should ride at Dartmouth the Admiral to be Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and that the Ships of the Cinque Ports and the Thames being of that Burthen should ride at Winchelsea the Admiral to be William Clinton Earl of Huntington The whole Fleet to be ready before the end of Lent. Command was given to the Admirals to stay all other Ships which might pass the Seas and to warn them to go into safe Harbours And to Furnish this Fleet with Souldiers beside those whose Duty was to attend and also those who were prest general Proclamation was order'd to be made that all Persons who had received of the King Charters of Pardon should now repair to the Sea-coasts for the Kings Service on pain of forfeiting the same The Lord Richard Talbot that Noble Warrier some of whose Valiant Acts we have mention'd in the Scotch War having in Parliament undertaken for the security of the Town of Southampton is now appointed Captain of the Town and allow'd for that Service 20 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers extraordinary at the Kings Wages and more upon occasion All which Souldiers to have one Months Pay beforehand and Sr. Richard one 100 Pounds by way of Gratuity Being also appointed to see the said Town forthwith fortified according to Covenants in a pair of Indentures and to levy the Charges of the Neighbours bordering thereabouts and if that shall not suffice of the Inhabitants The Bishop of Winchester who at that time was Adam Orleton the Traytor the Prior of St. Swithens and the Abbot of Hyde were order'd to keep at their Mannors near Southampton with all their Powers to be ready to assist the said Sr. Richard at his Call Also that two Pinaces the one at r Itâ— cerrigo pro Welbroâ—k in M. S. Sr. R. Cotton Milbrook
to come from the Pope to shew them That if they would return to their Duty and own themselves to hold only of his Holiness and of the Crown of France forsaking King Edward who as he said had enchanted them then he would forgive them all their Trespasses granting unto them a General Absolution and also quit them of 2000000 of Florens in which Summ they were bound unto him by a Former Obligation and that he would further procure them many Advantagious Privileges and Franchises The Flemings answer'd That they look'd upon themselves as fully acquitted already of whatsoever they were bound in to his Holiness Since they fought not against the King of France but the Usurper of that Crown King Philip being nettled with this Answer made his Complaint to the Pope and so well handled the Matter with him that contrary to the Opinion of St. Austin who says u Neque Multitudo neque Princeps Pepuli sunt excommunicandi August in Glossa ad Matth◠c. 13. That neither a Common-Wealth nor a Prince of a People ought to be excommunicated he too easily interdicted all Flanders insomuch that no Priest there durst say or sing any Divine Service while they should continue unreconciled to the Church Whereof when the Flemings complain'd bitterly to King Edward he sent them word that when he should come among them he would bring along with him Priests out of England that should sing Mass and perform Divine Service among them whether the Pope would or no For he said He had Authority and Privilege so to do And this Answer contented the Flemings But when King Philip saw he could not win them to his side by fair means then he sent command to his Garrisons of Tournay Lisle Douay and other Frontier Fortresses to make War on the Flemings and to overrun their Country According to these Orders the Lord Godmar du Fay Sr. John du Roy Sr. Matthew du Trie Marshall of Mirepoix and divers other Lords and Knights from Tournay Lisle and Doway collected a Body of 1000 Men of Arms 3000 Crossbows and Others who all together one evening setting out secretly from Tournay and riding about six leagues Northward came early the next Morning before Courtray By that time the Sun was risen they had gather'd together all the Cattel about the Town while a Party of them rode up to the very Gates and slew and hurt all whom they found without the Walls Then they return'd homeward with all their Prey which they carried clear off and found when they came to Tournay that they had got more than 10000 Sheep and of Swine Beefs and Kine as many more VII The Flemings were extreamly fretted at this Inroad of theirs but especially Jacob van Arteveld who swore to take a bloody Revenge within a little space And presently commanded the good Towns of Flanders to get ready their Quota's of Souldiers and send them to him to Geertsberg or Mount Gerard directly between Antwerp and Tournay by such a certain day in order to go with him before Tournay He wrote Letters also to the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk being then at Ipres desiring them to come and meet him there at the same time He himself against the Day prefixed went out of Gaunt with his Men of War and made his Rendezvous at Mount Gerard aforesaid being on an Arm of the Skell where he resolved to stay for the Lords of England and the Men of Frank and Bruges The foresaid English Barons thought it dishonourable to delay a Matter of such Importance especially the Flemings being so forward in what they themselves on behalf of the King their Master extreamly desired wherefore they immediately dispatch'd an Answer to Jacob van Arteveld signifying that they would not fail to be with him at such a Day There was then at Ipre a Lord of Almain named Sr. Vauflart de la Croix who for a long time had made War against the Garrison of Lille by the Dutch called Ryssel whereby he was well acquainted with all the Avenues and Passages of that Country Him now the two English Lords took for their Guide and when the time appointed drew near marched out of Ipre with 50 Men of Arms and 40 Archers in their Company But as they came toward the Town of Lille either by Treason of some among them or by the Enemies Spies their Approach was signified to those of the Town who sent out beforehand 1500 Men both Horse and Foot in three several Bodies that the English might by no means escape It is likely they had at least a strong presumption some time before of this their Coming for in such a certain place they had made a great Dike where there never was any before that their Passage might be the slower and they might not slip quickly by unperceived Sr. Vauflart had guided them well till they came to this Dike but here he began to smell a Plot and making an Halt said to the English Barons My Lords now I see well you cannot pass without peril from the Garrison of Lille For this way is but newly thus stopped and without fail they have had notice of our Coming Wherefore by my advice you would do well to turn back again and take some other way But the Lords answer'd him Nay Sr. Vauflart it shall ne're be said that we went out of the way for fear of the Men of Lille therefore ride on before in Gods-name for we have promised Jacob van Arteveld to be with him as on this day And saying so they began to move forward but then Sr. Vauflart repli'd Gentlemen you have taken me in this journey for your Guide and I have been with you all this Winter in Ipres where indeed for your kind Company and singular Favours I have been particularly obliged unto you But if the Men of Lille once appear without the Walls never expect that I should stand by you For I design to save my self as soon as I may because if I am taken by them I am sure to die for it And you must pardon me if I love my Life something better than your good Company thô you are my Friends The English Lords laughed heartily at him and said Well Sr. Vauflart if it be so we freely excuse you from further Attendance And truly just as he had imagin'd so it fell out for unawares they were even then in danger of the French Ambush who cri'd out Hold Messieurs you are not like to pass this way without our Leave and at that instant they poured in a whole Flight of Arrows upon them and came out in good Order against them The Lord Vauflart had no sooner espi'd them but he turn'd his Horse and got out of the Preass as hastily as he might and setting spurs to his Horse escap'd away But the English Captains thought scorn to flinch and so rode forward till finding themselves enclos'd with their Enemies
Marches and burnt and beat down the Mills on the River Rouelle and so came by Chartreux to their Host again But certain of their Company tarried behind at Marley to get store of Forage for their Horses Now there was a considerable Castle not far off formerly belonging to the Lord Robert of Namur in Right of the Lady Isabella his Wife who was one of the Sisters of the Present Earl of Hainault but now by exchange it was again reverted to the Earl. The Garrison within this Castle perceiving how these Frenchmen loytred thus behind their fellows in great Security and that the Army was now very far off before them made upon them a sudden and vigorous Sally wherein they slew the greater part of them recover'd all their Prey and without any loss return'd in Triumph to their Castle All this g Frois c. 47. fol. 28. while the Great Battail of the French was still on the Mount Casteres till now at last that all their Detachments were return'd from all Parts thô as we have shew'd not without loss they enter'd Consultation how they should proceed farther In the end it was resolved that since they were not sufficiently numerous to Storm so Great and Populous a City as Valenciennes they should content themselves for the present with what they had already done and so return to Cambray So that Night they reach'd Monchau and Fontaine au Tertre and the Abbey pertaining to the Lady Jane of Valois Countess Dowager of Hainault There they lodged that Night keeping good Watch as being still in the Enemies Country But the next Morning they decamped betimes some of those in the Rear upon their departure setting fire on Monchau and Fontaine together with the foresaid Abbey thô it belonged to the said Lady Jane Sister to King Philip of France This when Duke John her Nephew understood he was so displeased that he commanded those who began the Fire to be hang'd up immediately After this they burnt the Town and Castle of Tryche so lately rescued to no purpose and beat down the Mills also they set fire on Prony Romeny Thyaulx and all the plain Country between Valenciennes and Cambray Then the Duke proceeded to Escandure a strong Frontier Castle of the Earl of Hainalts standing on the River Skell the Garrison whereof had been a great Plague to the City of Cambray Sr. Gerard van Sanctius being the Captain But when the Duke of Normandy had lain before the Place six days it was deliver'd up unto him not without the Admiration of all who knew its strength and therefore vehemently suspected the Captain Sr. Gerard and an Esquire of his named Robert of Marmeaulx to have play'd the Traytors in this Matter However shortly after they both suffer'd a shamefull Death upon this account at Mons in Hainalt But the Garrison of Cambray rased the Castle to the ground conveying the Stones and Timber thereof into their own Town to help them in their Necessary Reparations IX After h Frois c. 48. this Desolation of Escandure Duke John return'd to Cambray where for the present he disbanded some of his Men and others he sent to reinforce the Garrisons of Doway Lille and other places As soon as these fresh Aids came to Doway the Garrison was so encouraged that they sent forth together with them of Lille 300 Spears whose Leaders were the Lord Lewis of Savoy Amè Earl of Geneva the Earl of Villers Sr. Galeas of Bausine the Lord of Vaurain and the Lord of Vasiers All these overran with fire and sword the fruitfull Country of Ostervandt in Hainault so that they left nothing untouch'd but the strong Castles At this the Three Brethren Captains of Bouchain were extreamly concerned as those who daily saw the fire and smoak and other ill effects of the Enemies Rage but were not strong enough to oppose it Wherefore they sent to Valenciennes to tell the Governour that if in the Night he would send forth 600 Spears to joyn him they would most certainly take a Notable Revenge upon the Frenchmen who lay scatter'd abroad without any Retiring place or shelter in the plain Country But whatever they alledged those of Valenciennes durst not stir out of the Town because the Earl had strictly enjoyn'd the contrary during his absence Wherefore the French meeting with no Opposition took great Booties and fired the Town of Nyche Descoux Escaudan Hery Monteney Senain Verlain Vargny Ambreticourt Lourge Salx Ruette Neville Lieu St. Amand and all the Villages of that Country from whence they brought off much plunder But as soon as they were return'd into Garrison those of the Garrison of Bouchain went forth and burnt a Moiety of Descon which was French and the Town of Desquerchine and all the Villages that held with France as far as to the Gates of Doway Thus on both sides were the Garrisons furnished with Men of War and daily mutual Advantages and Losses were exchanged between both Parties At the same time there was a Garrison of Germans in the Fortress of Mal-Maison which was but two Leagues from the Castle of Cambresis on the Selle being placed there by the Bishop of Cambray who held with France This Fortress on the side toward Hainault look'd directly upon Landrecy whereof the Lord of Poitrel was Captain for thô the Earl of Blois own'd it once yet on certain considerations he had lately parted with it to the Earl of Hainault before the Earl had broke with France These Germans of Mal-Maison aforesaid came one day to the Barriers of Landrecy and in sight of the Town began to drive away a great Booty of Cattle that grased thereabout The Lord of Poitrel understanding thus much Arm'd himself and all his Company and rode forth to the Rescue in the Head of his Men with his Spear in his Rest still crying after the Enemy Sirs it is a shame to fly away Now the Germans of the French side had among them an Hardy and Couragious Esquire of Almain named Albert of Colen who not enduring those biting Words immediately turn'd his Horse couched his Spear and ran furiously against the Lord of Poitrel giving him such a stroak on the Target that the Spear flew all to pieces but having presently recover'd another he redoubled his stroak with so much Fury that the Spear enter'd quite thrô his Armour into his Body just to the Heart so that the Lord Poitrel fell dead from his Horse But his Companions the Lord of Bausiers Sr. Gerard Mastin and Sr. John his Brother with their Troops renew'd the Chace against the Frenchmen so briskly that most of them were slain all the Prey rescued and their own Prisoners recover'd but a very few having the Good Fortune to escape So the Hainalders return'd again to Landrecy bringing along with them as a Qualification of their Victory the Dead Body of their Captain the Lord of Poitrel in whose place succeeded the Lord of Floron Thus various were the Rencounters between the Hainalders
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
Standard of the Lord John Chandos who at the same time took a Great Lord of Bretagne Prisoner with his own hands called the Lord of Raix a Knight of approved Valour And by that time this Battail was thus open'd all the rest were quite discomfited and lost their Array and every Man began to flee away as fast as he might to save himself Except certain Valiant and Loyal Gentlemen Knights and Esquires of Bretagne who would not by any means forsake the Lord Charles of Blois but chose rather to die with him than to leave the Field with Dishonour Wherefore they all drew together about him in a Ring and disputed the Point to the last Man. Thus the Lord Charles accompanied with these Gallant Souls play'd his last Stake as bravely as was possible but 't was not likely those few should hold out against an Army newly flush'd with Victory especially since the rest of the Field being cleared the greaer Part of the English came thither against them So that at last they also were by fine Force broken discomfited and slain There the Banner of the Lord Charles was beaten down to the ground and he that bare it was slain and with him fell the Lord Charles of Blois himself with his Face towards his Enemies and by his side was slain a valiant Bastard Son of his called Sr. John of Blois and many other Knights and Esquires of Bretagne It is said that the Captains of England had agreed beforehand that if they had the better in Fight and Sr. Charles of Blois were found upon the Place he should not be taken to Ransom by any Man but slain outright And the same Design had the Frenchmen and Bretons upon the Earl of Monford if they should obtain the Victory For both Sides were resolved how that Day should make an end of the Controversie So when it came to the Rout there was a great Slaughter and many a Good Knight slain or taken which was the lot of the very Flower of all that Side but a few Men of Honour that escaped especially of the Bannerets of Bretagne There was slain first of all the Noble and Valiant Lord Charles of Blois who called himself Duke of Bretagne and his Son Sr. John the Bastard Sr. Charles of Dinant the Lord of Leon the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Lodeac the Lord of Malestroit the Lord of Ponto the Lord of Gargol and many others whose Names cannot be recovered r Walsingh hist p. 128. to the number of about a Thousand Besides whom there were taken Prisoners the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Vicount of Rohan Sr. Guy du Leon the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Raix the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Lomine the Lord of Quintin the Lord of Franville the Lord of Ravenal the Lord de la Fevilleé Sr. Henry of Malestroit Sr. Oliver Manny and divers Others Lords Knights and Esquires of Bretagne France and Normandy in all one Vicount ſ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. Walsin hist p. 128. Ashmole p. 703. two Earls Twenty seven Lords and fifteen Hundred Knights and Esquires On the English Part I can find but one Man of Honour that fell this Day t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 9. namely the Lord John de Nereford and the highest Account that appears any where is u Knighton p. 2628. n. 30. that there fell one Knight and five Esquires at the most there died but x Walsing ibid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Seven in all But many were grievously wounded To conclude this Discomfiture was great and wonderfull and many Gallant Men were put to the Sword as well in the Field as in the Chace which lasted eight long Leagues even to the Gates of Rennes There happen'd many notable Adventures as well during the Fight as the pursuit which cannot all be recounted and then Gentlemen were either taken alive or slain outright as they fell in the hands of those that were Courteous or Cruel This Battle was thus fought on the y Mezeray p. 71 Lit. Dom. G F. Twenty ninth of September being a Sunday and St. Michaels Day near to Auray in Bretagne in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV X. After the Discomfiture the Lords and Knights of England and Bretagne having sent out certain Troops to make good the Chace returned themselves and came to the Earl of Monford who had a rich Tent with the Arms of Bretagne thereon pitch'd up for him in the Field Thither came to him to his Tent Door the Lord John Chandos the Lord John Bourchier the Lord William Latimer Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton and Others who first had retired to the side of an Hedge and unarmed themselves when they saw the Day was unquestionably their own and the Chief of them set up their Banners and Standards on the Hedge and the Banner of Bretagne aloft on a Bush to direct their Men thither Then the Lord Chandos being attended with the other Knights aforesaid went to the Earl of Monford and with a Smile said unto him Sir Praise God and be merry for this Day you have conquer'd your Inheritance of Bretagne Then the Earl enclined his Body very respectfully and said aloud Oh! Sr. John Chandos this Prosperous Adventure that hath now befallen me was brought about thrô your great Conduct and Prowess as I know very well and so do all that hear me at this time Sir I pray drink with me And with that he reach'd him a Flagon of Wine of which himself had drank just before and when Sr. John had drank and deliver'd the Drink to another the Earl added Sr. John next to God Almighty and his Grace I ought to be most thankfull to you and do hereby own my self obliged to you above any other Mortal Man. And at that instant came up to them the Lord Oliver Clisson very much chafed and enflamed with his continual Action in the Fight and the long pursuit of his Enemies so that he had much ado to return again with his Men in any time he was so extream weary but he brought back with him many rich Prisoners And now he alighted and came to the Earl of Monford and refreshed himself and began to unarm and had a Chirurgeon called to dress his Eye when there came up to the Earl two Knights and two Heralds who had been to view the Field and to search among the Dead Bodies if so they might find the Body of Sr. Charles of Blois whether he was Dead or no. These Heralds spake aloud to the Duke Sir God give you Joy of your Dukedom of Bretagne for we have seen your Adversary Sr. Charles of Blois lying dead upon the Earth At that the Earl of Monford rose up from his Chair and said he would go and view him for he had
the Nativity of St. John Baptist next ensuing and all that Day till the next Morning at Sun-rise in manner and form following that is to say 1. That z Knighton p. ibid. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 348 Du Chesne p. 653. c. during the said Truce no evil Will or Mistrust of either Party of it self shall be prejudicial to the said Truce and Respit 2. Item That during the said Truce either of the said Princes their Helpers Coadjutors and Allies whosoever shall remain in such Possession and Seisin as they have at this Time of all Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold and have conquer'd howsoever 3. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce the said Princes their Aiders Coadjutors and Allies may safely go from one Country to another and all Merchants with all their Merchandise and all manner of their Subjects with their Goods and Purveyances as well by Land as by Sea and by Water freely as they were wont in the times of the Ancestors of the said Kings only paying therefore the Customes anciently used Except such banish'd Men or any of them as have been banished out of the said Realms for other Causes than the Wars between the said Princes But that the Barons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy of Guienne and other Persons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy that are banished may be comprised in this Truce so as freely to come and go from one Country to another during the said Truce 4. Item It is accorded that the said two Kings shall not procure nor cause to be procured either by Themselves or by any Other that any new Practice or Grievance be made by the Bishop of Rome or Others belonging to Holy Church whatsoever upon or against either of the said Kings their Coadjutors or Allies or upon their Lands or Subjects by Occasion of the said War or any other Cause nor for Services which the said Allies or Coadjutors have done to the said Kings or either of Them. And that if our Holy Father the Pope or any Other will do against the Premises the two Kings shall hinder him or them to their Power without any fraud during the said Truce 5. Item That the Truce be immediatly proclaim'd in both the Hosts that all who know and hear it may be obliged to keep and observe it 6. Item It is agreed that within 20 Days to begin from this day either of the Kings shall cause to be proclaim'd in Gascoign and the Dutchy of Aquitaine in the Lands which they hold the Articles of this Truce that they may be known and understood 7. Item It is agreed that if by either of the said Kings their Subjects Coadjutors or Allies any Siege be laid in Gascoign in the Dutchy of Aquitain or in the Isles of the Sea in Garnsey or Jersey the same Sieges shall be raised as soon as this Truce shall come to their Cognizance And that a This is omitted in Fos who also varies not a little from the Original French both here and elsewhere c. Fourteen Persons to wit Seven for each of the Kings shall enter every Town Castle and Fortress where the Sieges shall be and shall view their Store of Provision both of Men and Victuals to the intent that on the Day when the Truce shall end the said Towns Castles and Fortresses shall remain and be furnished with the like Number of Men and the like Quantity of Victuals as at first they were found to be by the foresaid fourteen Persons 8. Item It is accorded that the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders that have been on the Part of the King of France b Here the old French a little imperfect shall not return during the Truce and if they do they shall forfeit all the Goods they have in Flanders 9. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce all Prisoners taken in this War shall be released from their Prisons upon their Faith and Oath to return thither again if they shall not be ransomed within the term of the said Truce so as if the said Prisoners shall deny in their due times to return themselves back to Prison the said Truce failing that then upon the failure of every Prisoner his Lord shall constrain him to come and make restitution of his Person So that the Levies which were made before this Truce in time of War whether they be Goods Spiritual or otherwise shall remain without making Restitution during the Truce 10. Item It is agreed that a Truce be forthwith taken between the English and the Scots their Aiders and Allies untill the Feast of St. John Baptist aforesaid And that certain Persons shall be deputed by the said Parties to be at a certain Day on the Marches of England and Scotland to vouch and stand to the said Truce c Frois c. 63. fol. 35. But if the Scots or any other of the Allies on either Side shall refuse to admit of this Truce let them be at their own Choice however France Picardy Burgundy Bretagn and Normandy shall be bound to this Peace without any Exception So that during the Truce however the Scots shall obtain no manner of Aid or Reinforcement from the French. 11. Item It is accorded that this Truce shall be proclaimed in England and Scotland within 26 Days after the Date of these Letters 12. Item it is accorded that within this Truce shall be included and comprised the Spaniard the Catalaunian the Genouese the Provincial the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray and the Castles in Cambresis as also the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac Gaston Lord of Lille the Lord of Tricouleon Sr. John Vernon and the Lord of Roye In Witness whereof We the foresaid John King of Bohemia c. on the one Party and on the other B. A. Dom. Lit. have Sealed this Instrument of Truce and Peace and deliver'd the same accordingly in the Church of Spetelin on Monday the 25 of September in the Year of Grace MCCCXL d Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 912. Besides there was at this time Consideration taken of the Flemings the Summ of Mony wherein they stood bound to the Pope and the French King being now released unto them And as by King Philips means they had before been Excommunicated so now at his Request the Interdict was repealed and they again received into the Bosom of the Church Lewis Earl of Flanders being thereupon restored to his Country It was moreover at this Treaty e Freis c. 63. fol. 35. resolv'd that either Party should send four or five Persons as their Commissioners to meet at Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send 2 more who all together were to consult in order to a full Confirmation of the Peace between the Two Kings XII The Contents of this Truce were immediately proclaimed in both Armies whereof the Brabanders especially were wonderfull glad For they came at first but with an ill Will to
debasing of Your Royal State and Dignity And althô those who make themselves more than agrees with their Condition Rulers of the Land and Your Counsellors endeavour to perswade You that Your present Proceedings will be acceptable to Your People yet we most constantly averr that after this manner which You have begun there will happen nothing less and that Your Majesty will find at last And We doubt not a little that if You proceed as You have begun You will both lose the Hearts of Your own People and of Your Allies and also Your Just and Lawfull Right and will Raise up such Evil-will against Your Person here at home that Your will not be able to Maintain Your War whereby You will give occasion to Your Enemies of Rising against You to destroy You so that You will be in Danger to lose which God forbid both Your Good Name and Kingdom Wherefore Sovereign Lord I beseech You that for the Safeguard of Your Honour and Realm and the Maintenance of Your Quarrel You would Summon together Your Lords and the Wise Men of the Land and that Your Affairs may succeed more Prosperously take their Advice without whose Counsel and Aid You can neither Conquer abroad nor Rule happily at Home And because such as are near Your Majesty are not afraid to lay Treason and Falshood to Our Charge we hereby denounce that they shall be forthwith Excommunicate and as Your Spiritual Father We beseech You so to Esteem of them And whereas it is laid to Us that by Our Evil Administration of Affairs You both lost the Town of Tournay and much Honour also may it please Your Majesty to call together Your Prelates Peers and Nobles of the Realm in some convenient place where We may securely confer with the Prelates and make strict Enquiry into whose Hands from the beginning of Your Wars the Woolls Moneys and what else was granted to this Day came and how they were used and by whose Default the City of Tournay was not Won but left in that Dishonourable Manner and that so like a Good and Just Lord You will after their Demerits punish the Culpable according to Your own Laws And as for Us We shall ever be ready to submit Our Selves to the judgement of Our Peers the State of Holy Church of Us and of Our Order as We elsewhere have frequently Written still maintained And for Gods Sake Sir believe not either of Us or of any other Your Liege Subjects any thing but Good till the Truth be explored nor be too forward to lend Your Ear to any Man For if Men should be punished without answer given or the Truth known the Judgement would still be the same both to the Guilty and to the Innocent And Sir may it please You to Consider both maturely and seriously the Great Force of Your Foreign Enemies both of France and Scotland For if the Prelates Lords and Wise Men of the Realm should all without any difference with one consent both Night and Day joyn and combine wisely together to Menage Your Weighty and Arduous Affairs to Maintain the War You have begun and to preserve Your Honour and Kingdom 't would all be little enough Nor let it displease Your Majesty most Redoubted Lord that so rudely and grosly We declare the Truth unto You For the Great Love and Affection which We bear unto Your Person and Interest and ever by the Grace of God shall bear especially because We are tho◠Unworthy the Primate of all England and thereby Your Spiritual Father doth move Us to say Command and Provide for what may turn to the Benefit of Your Soul and the Advantage of Your People The Holy Spirit save and keep You my Lord both in Soul and Body and grant You the Grace both to hear and receive Good and wholsome Advice and moreover vouchsafe to give You Victory over all Your Enemies Dated at Canterbury January the First in the seventh Year of Our Consecration by Your Majesties Chaplain John Canterbury IV. Besides this the Archbishop for the further Declaration of his Innocence and Maintenance of his Authority wrote to Sr. Robert Bourchier then Lord Chancellor of England in these Words JOHN by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See Wisheth a Will to Conserve the Liberties of Holy Church and the Law of the Land entire For the Wise Man saith that the Truth being foreknown and foreseen doth cause Us to avoid great Dangers that else would happen Therefore We would have You understand that the Tenths of Holy Church last granted unto Our Lord the King for One Year by the Clergy of Our Province of Canterbury to be paid together with other Tythes then behind were granted on certain Conditions and certain Articles granted by Our Lord the King unto the said Clergy and confirmed by his Charter And moreover that the said Clergy for that time should not be burthen'd with any other Portion or Contribution to be made or granted unto our Lord the King. After this also in the Parliament Conven'd at Westminster on the Wednesday next after Midlent there were granted unto the King the Ninth Fleece the Ninth Lamb the Ninth Sheaf but on certain Cautions and Conditions namely that no Prelates or any of the said Clergy should be any way Obliged to the Contribution of this Ninth Part but only those who held by Barony and were bound to come to the Parliament And that the Prelates and Others of the Clergy paying the said Ninth should by no means be obliged to the Payment of the Tenth granted as aforesaid But yet certain Collectors of the Ninth of our said Province do endeavour by several Distresses to levy and raise the said Ninth of Prelates and Others of the Clergy who pay the said Tenth and hold nothing of the King by Barony nor are bound to come to the Parliament And on the other hand they exact the said Tenth of those who are obliged to the Payment of the Ninth by burthening Men of the Church contrary to God and Justice and the Grant aforesaid Wherefore we exhort and require you in the Lord that by no means You permit Religious Persons and Ecclesiasticks to be burthen'd and vexed unless according to the Form and Grant aforesaid Nor by any means yield either Counsel or Assent in prejudice of the said Charter or subversion of the Privileges and Liberties of the Church But that if any Brief Commission or Precept contrary to the Form of Magna Charta or the Privileges and Liberties aforesaid have already been issued out of the Chancery You cause them within ten days after the Receipt of these Letters as You are bound to be revoked and disanulled It is really the Will of our Lord the King to cherish and maintain the said Charter and the Privileges and Liberties of the Church as we are assured And it is not his Will nor ought to be that the Clergy should by any means be
thô not without some intermission by Reason of his many Wars continued to augment and adorn it with most Magnificent Buildings and Fortifications making it also the perpetual Seat of the foresaid most Noble Order So that even in his Days it became a very Famous and Illustrious Structure But since that in Memory of so Renowned a Conquerour and in respect to the Commodious Scituation of the Place as also for the greater Honour of the foresaid most Glorious Order succeeding Kings as Edward IV Henry VII and Henry VIII the Queens Mary and Elizabeth King James I and King Charles I have enlarged its Buildings Beautified its Prospect supply'd it with Water deriv'd from Blackmore Park into a Fountain of Curious Workmanship and made it more fresh and gay with constant Repairs pleasant Terrases and other Ornaments After all whom the late King Charles II out of a particular Respect to this Illustrious Place and in Imitation of all these his Royal Progenitors laid out vast Sums of Money upon its Repair and furnished it with a Curious and Gallant Magazine of Arms so well order'd and kept that it both Entices and Rewards the Curiosity of every Traveller that comes that way And thô the Seat be chiefly design'd for pleasure yet is it nevertheless beside the strength it receives from the foremention'd Arsenal fortify'd with deep Grafts and high Towers which command all its Avenues It is Scituate some twenty Miles from London upon the Banks of the Thames that furnishes it with Waters which embellish its Gardens with Fruitfull Currents Its circumference and extent is now so considerable that it may seem to vie with some Cities In short the Air is pure and serene the Architecture regular and well contrived all its Apartments Royally furnished its Gardens and Walks full of Diversion its Parks of Game and all things Worthy the Presence of the most Fortunate of Mankind The Scituation of this Place with its most Royal Fabrick thô Poetically is truly described by Sr. John Denham's ingenious * In Cooper's Hill. Muse after this Manner Windsor the next where Mars and Venus dwells Beauty with Strength above the Valley swells Into mine Eyes and doth it self Present With such an easie and unforc'd Ascent That no stupendious Precipice denies Access no Horror turns away our Eyes But such a Rise as doth at once invite A Pleasure and a Reverence from our sight Thy Mighty Master's Emblem In whose Face Sat Meekness heightned with Majestick Grace Such seems thy Gentle Height made only Proud To be the Basis of that Pompous load Than which a Nobler weight no Mountain bears But Atlas only that supports the Spheres In this Place King Edward at this time u Walsing Hypod p. 117. began to Erect a certain House called the Round-Table the Semidiameter of whose Floor viz. from the Center to the Circumference contained one 100 Foot so that the Diameter being 200 the whole Circumference comes to 600 Foot and about three quarters more For the Circumference exceeds the Diameter in like proportion as 22 bears to seven Towards the finishing of this Noble Work the King allowed an 100 l. Sterling to be expended Weekly thô afterwards by reason of his Wars he retrenched that allowance to 20 l. per Week But here it will not be amiss to speak something of the Original Use and Meaning of these Round-Tables And surely thô Arthur the Famous King of Britain is generally held to have been the Author of this Invention yet as we observed before in the Second Year of this History We find by Athenaeus that it was Customary for the Knights of Gaul to sit at Round-Tables to avoid Contention about Priority This Custom was renewed by King Arthur who from among x Ashmole p. 95. all those both Brittish and Foreign Worthies who came to his Court as to a Seminary of Military Discipline to give Evidence of their Skill in the Exercise of Arms selected certain of the most Noble and Expert Knights to the Number of 25 besides himself thô some say but 24 whom he united under him into a Fellowship or Order who sitting in their Chapters at a Round-Table were called Knights of the Round-Table The Place where the Founder first Instituted this Order was as y Frois l. 1. c. 100. Froisard witnesses Windsor thô not then called by that Name but by a Brittish Title Kaerguent And yet other Places were upon occasion allowed for the Assembly of the Society as z Vid. Selden's notes on Poly-Olbion Song IV. Winchester in Hantshire Cambelot in Somersetshire and Caer-leon in Monmouthshire To one of these every Whitsuntide these Knights made their repair where they held their Chapters and gave a due Relation of all their Actions and Adventures still attributing the Praise of all to God and the Virgin Mary We find these Round-Tables to have been renewed long after him a Ashmole f. 96. by King Stephen and Richard the First called for his couragious Soul Coeur du Leon or Lyon-Heart and We have also intimated before how in the Days of Edward the First the Lord Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore but not Earl of March as both Sr. William Dugdale and Esquire Ashmole inadvertently call him held the Celebration of a Round-Table with Tilting and Tourneaments which consisted of an 100 Knights and as many Fair Ladies of the Highest Quality And now King Edward the Third in like Manner designing b Vt Arturi memoriam resricaret Vincent Lupani de Magistratib Francorâ—m l. 1. to recover the Memory of King Arthur and to restore the Honour of the Round-Table that he might inflame the Minds of his own Lords with Military Glory and invite also to his side the bravest Sons of Valour from Foreign Parts resolved to hold a Solemn Justs at Windsor and caused this his Resolution to be c Frois c. 100. Proclaimed not only in his own Dominions but also in Scotland France Burgundy Hainalt Flanders Brabant and the Empire offering by his Heralds to all Knights and Esquires that would come to the said Feast his Royal Conduct for fifteen Days before and for as many after the Solemnity Which was to begin at Windsor on St. George's Day or the 23 of April as Froisard says then next ensuing But We shall prove hereafter that the appointed time was the 19 of January 1344 the full Institution of the Order of which that Saint was made the Patron not being till five Years after And in the Proclamation it was signified that King Edward himself would be there with the Chiefest of his Nobility Knights and Esquires and the Queen also to be accompanied with 300 of the Fairest Ladies and Virgins in their Richest Attire all of Noble and Honourable Families According to this Proclamation there came at the time appointed many Worthy and Valiant Knights from all the Parts aforesaid except France only For there King Philip gave a strict command to the Contrary and in hopes to
Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him but however the King of England and his Marshals sent out u Id. Mezeray c. 500 Spears and 2000 Archers on Horseback to scour the Fields and to see whether any Frenchmen were again gather'd together Now many Inhabitants of Abbeville and St. Requier in Ponthieu with the Commons of Rouën and Beauvais had early that Morning being the Day before joyned together come into the Field not knowing of the late Discomfiture Some say that the English had reared French Colours which they had taken in the Fight whereby those Frenchmen being deceived came up to joyn them as if they had been their Friends The English immediately made them know their Errour and set upon them so lustily that within a little while they put them to Flight and chased them and slew in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes more than 7000 Men nor had one of them escaped if the Day had been clear They had scarce wip'd their Swords and recover'd their Order when they had an other Occasion to bestir themselves For now they met with a more formidable Number of their Enemies who were conducted by two Noble Leaders the Archbishop of Rouën and the Grand Prior of France they also being ignorant of the Overthrow given to their Friends the Day before For they had heard how King Philip intended not to fight till the Sunday and therefore came thither now to his Assistance Upon these the Day beginning now to clear the Englishmen under the Leading of the Earls of Arundel x Vid. Michael Northburgh's Letter l. 2. c. 4. §. 5. Northampton and Suffolk set with a Courage which their last acquired Victory had doubled and fought so obstinately that after a Stout Resistance they gain'd a Compleat Conquest having slain the two Leaders with 2000 of their best Men upon the Spot and pursuing the Chace for 3 Leagues together Beside these two Successes they met with several Frenchmen who had strayed in the Dark night and not knowing where the King or any of his Captains were had lain about in the Fields But their Respit was not long for now they were all put to the Sword as many as were found and sent to bear them Company who were slain the Day before Whereby it was thought that of the Commons and Footmen of the Cities and Good Towns of France there fell now four times as many as were slain on the Saturday in the great Battle XIV That same y Frois c. 132. Sunday about Noon as the King came from Hearing Divine Service the Captains of this Brigade return'd and shew'd the King what they had seen and done and how they had succeeded and assured him that there was no more Appearance of any Enemy in the Field Then the King order'd the Lord Reginald Cobham and Sr. Richard Stafford Brother to the Lord Ralph Stafford with three Heralds in their Company to go and search the Field and view the Number and Quality of the Slain For in those Days every Great Man wore a Surcoat of his Arms over his Armour to distinguish him according to his Quality These visited in Order the Bodies of all them that were slain and when they had taken a full and exact Account of every Parcel certain Men who were thereto appointed of the King spoil'd their Bodies taking their Money and Rings and what else was most valuable but with so much Decency that they left their Apparel on to cover their Nakedness All which Booty the King caused to be distributed among his Souldiers by equal Portions These Lords with the Heralds returned from visiting the Dead and brought along with them all the Spoil of the Field just as the King was going to Supper and after Supper they reported to the King a just Account of what they had found namely that there lay Dead in the Field 11 Great Princes 80 Bannerets 1200 Knights and more than 30000 of the Common Souldiers The Contemplation of this Success made a z Giov. Villani p. 879. pious Historian of those Days break out after this manner O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts how great is thy Power in Heaven and Earth and especially in Battles Since sometimes nay very often he brings to pass that a small People and Power doth vanquish Mighty Armies thereby to set forth his own Power and to pull down the Proud and Arrogant and to punish the Sins of Kings Lords and People And particularly in this Discomfiture he shew'd his Power evidently for there were Thrice as many Frenchmen as English But yet this was not says he without just Cause that such Mischief should happen to the King of France Since among his other Offences that we may not instance in the Wrong done to the King of England and other his Lords in Usurping their Inheritance and Lordships but Ten years before being sworn to Pope John to undertake the Croisade and promising within two Years to go beyond the Seas and to regain the Holy Land he took the Tenths and Subsidies of all his Realm and yet made War against Christian Princes unjustly On occasion whereof there died and were taken Prisoners by the Saracens beyond the Seas of Armenians and other Christians above an 100000 who in Confidence of his Assistance had begun the War against the Saracens in Syria Thus far Giovanni Villani XV. The King of England kept the Field all Sunday-Night also and on the Mâ—nday Morning he prepared to March thence but a Frois c. 132. first by Proclamation granted a Truce to all the Towns thereabouts for Three Days that so the Country People might be encouraged to come forth and search the Fields of Cressy and to bury their Dead But as for the Bodies of the Kings and Great Princes he caused them to be taken up decently and conveyed along with him in solemn Pomp to Monstrevil were they were all deposited in Holy Ground in the Great Abby The King b Giov. Vill m. l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. Himself and his Chief Lords wearing Blacks at their Funerals especially for the Sake of John the Famous Old King of Bohemia whose Death he took heavily and prosecuted with Lamentations After which he sent his Body with much Honour to the Marquess his Son then at the Abby of Riscampo whence afterwards it was honourably conveyed to Luxemburgh by his Son aforesaid While the King lay thus at Monstrevil his Marshals made an Excursion towards Hesdin and burnt Campagne and Beauraine but they let the Castle alone because it required some time to win it and that Night they lodged by the River of Canche near Hesdin towards Blangy The next Day the whole Army began to March forward c Frois Knighten p. 2588. Da Chesne p. 665. towards Boulogne and by the way took St. Josse the Town of Estaples Neufchastel St. Estienne and burnt and wasted all the Country for about 8
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
Chron. ad an 1348. 14000 and so proceeded to Paris where as if it had been yet fasting it made a more Plentifull Banquet of no less than 50000. At Lubeck a City of Germany in one Year it swept away no less than l Cluverii Epit. Hist p. 573. Lampad Pezelan Sleidan par 3. p. 365. 90000 whereof 1500 are reported to have died within the space of Four Hours And thrô all Germany there are reckoned 1244434 to have died of the Plague only It would be both incredible to hear and almost impossible to declare the Wonderfull havock it made in other Foreign Parts even as we have said throughout the whole world Insomuch m Giov. Villani l. 12. c 83. p. 893 that many Towns and Cities nay whole Provinces were in a manner left desolate of Inhabitants Wherefore we shall have done with this Tragical Truth when we have shewn how our own Country fared thereby For at last this fiery scourge of God came over the Seas to afflict our World also VI. About the n Fox Acts Mon. Stow p. 245. c. First of August 1348 it began in the Sea-port Towns on the Coasts of Dorsetshire Devonshire and Somersetshire whence it ran up to Bristow So that the Glocestershire-men forbad all entercourse with the Bristolians But this Familiar Fury wanted no Medium to introduce it For as the Scripture says of the Pestilence that it walketh in Darkness or invisibly its Progress not being to be found out so unexpectedly and contrary to humane Precaution this Plague also walked or rather flew among the Glocestershire men whence it went o Anton-Wood Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 171. 172. â—ox Acts Men. ibid. Stow p. 246. to Oxford and about the First of November it reached London and finally spread it self all over England scattering every where such Ruine and Desolation that of all sorts hardly the Tenth Person was left alive In the p Annal. Ecclesiae Prior. Yarmouth apud Stow ibid. Church and Church-yard of Yarmouth were buried in one Year no less than 7052 Persons all of the Plague So that the Parsonage which before was worth 700 Marks per annum was hardly afterwards worth 40 pounds as it was certified to King Henry VII in the 22 Year of his Reign and was written upon the Gates of the Church of that Town In the City q Stow ibid. ex Registro Nâ—rvicensi Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 166. sed male ibi London pro Norwich Daniel's Hist p. 241. Godwin's Catal. Bps p. 427. Blome's Britan. p. 169. of Norwich from the First of January to the First of July which is but half a Years Space there died no less than 57104 or as others have it 57374. In the City r Knighton p. 2599. of Leicester out of the small Parish of St. Leonard there fell no less than 380 In the Parish of Holy-Rood 400 more then in St. Margarets 700 and so proportionably in other Parishes In the City Å¿ Tho. Stubbs apud Decem Angl. Hist Scriptores p. 1732. of York it raged most furiously from about the Ascension to the Feast of St. James the Apostle But in the Famous City of London Death was so outragiously Cruel that every day at least 20 sometimes 40 sometimes 60 or more dead Corpses were flung together into one Pit and yet the Church-yards not sufficing for the Dead they were fain to set apart certain Fields for additional places of Burial And yet even so those Offices were not performed with any usual Decency or Honesty for the Numbers of the Dead being so great they were fain to t M. S.Vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 228. make deep Ditches and Pits very broad wherein they lay'd a range of Carcasses and a range of Earth upon them and then another range of Dead Bodies which were all together cover'd and after this manner were all People buried at that time except those of the better sort Among those who charitably took care of the Dead in this manner we find u Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London p. 477. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bps p. 198. Monast Angl. Vol. 1. p. 961. that the Noble and Valiant Lord Walter Manny so often mention'd in this our History having a Pious Regard to Gods Judgements and the common Frailty of Humane Nature purchas'd a piece of ground adjoyning to a place called No Mans Land and lying in a place called Spittle-Croft because it belonged to St. Bartholomews Spittle or Hospital in Smithfield since that called the New-Church x Haw apud Veteres Yard sonat Haw containing 13 Acres of Land and a Rod and caused the same to be inclosed and consecrated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London In which one place besides those buried in other Church-yards Churches and Monasteries in and about London there were buried within one Year more than y Fabâ—an p. 227. Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London 478. 50000 Persons as I have read says Mr. Stow in the Charters of Edward III. The same Author affirms also that he had seen and read an Inscription fixed on a Stone-Cross sometime standing in the same Church-yard in these Words ANNO DOMINI MCCCXLIX REGNANTE MAGNA PESTILENTIA CONSECRATUM FUIT HOC COEMITERIUM IN QUO ET INFRA SEPTA PRAESENTIS MONASTERII SEPULTA FUERUNT MORTUORUM CORPORA PLUS QUAM LM PRAETER ALIA MULTA ABHINC US QUE AD PRAESENS QUORUM ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS AMEN But especially between Candlemas and Easter this Year there were buried in the place aforesaid about z Fâ—x Acts Mâ—n p. 507. Holinsh p. 945. ex Reb. Avesbury 200 Corpses per diem every day Wherefore the said Noble Lord Walter Manny in memory of the vast Numbers of Christian People there buried and in Pious Charity as he thought to their Souls caused afterwards on the same ground a Chappel to be builded of rare Workmanship with Design to make it Collegiate for 12 Priests and a Provost and to endow it amply a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. eâ— Mcnasi Ang. 1 Vol. p 961. And there for about twenty two Years Offerings were made in which time it is to be noted that above an 100000 Bodies of Christian People had been buried in that Church-yard For the said Sr. Walter Manny had purchased the Place for the Burial of Poor People Travailers and others to remain for ever and order was taken to avoid contention thereupon between That House and Parsons of Churches But in the Year 1371 the said Lord Manny changing his Mind in stead thereof obtained b Dugd. ibid. ex Monast Ang. ibid. a Licence to found a Monastery of Carthusian Monks to pray for the good Estate of himself and of Margaret his Wife during their Lives in this World and afterwards for their Souls As also for the Souls of Alice of Hainalt Michael Northburgh sometime Bishop of
London and of all his Ancestors And this c Stâ—w Survey 〈◊〉 p. 478 479 480 481 c. House of Carthusian Monks he the said Founder willed to be call'd the Salutation and that One of the Monks should be called Prior and he gave them the said place of 13 Acres and a Rod of Land with the Chappel and Houses there builded for their habitation He also gave them the three Acres of Land lying without the Walls on the North-part betwixt the Lands of the Abbot of Westminster and the Lands of the Prior of St. John Which three Acres being purchased enclosed and dedicated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London as aforesaid remain'd till our Fathers days by the Name of Pardon Church-yard and served for burying of such as desparately ended their own Lives or were executed for Felony But now it is an Hospital for poor Men and Children of the Foundation of the Worthy Thomas Sutton Esquire still called by Corruption the Charter-house and for its Revenues and decent Provision for young Scholars and others excepting that Royal Foundation of Christ-Church Hospital in London to which I owe my Education the most notable in all this Kingdom About the same time and upon the same occasion that this Work of Charity began in West-Smithfield One d Stow's Chron. p. 246. 277. and Survey of London p. 117. Mr. John Corey a Godly and Learned Divine purchased of Doctor Nicolas Prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate one Toft of ground near East-Smithfield by the Tower of London for the Burial of them that died with condition that it might be called the Church-yard of the Holy Trinity which ground by the aid of divers Devout Citizens he caused to be enclosed with a Wall of Stone In which place afterwards namely in the Year 1359 King Edward III in contemplation of a vow which in a Tempest at Sea he had made to build a Monastery to the Honour of God and our Lady of Grace if God would graciously bring him safe to Land did by the consent of the said Prior and his Convent build and found the Abbey of St. Mary of Grace causing it to be named East-Minster thô it was also called by the Name of New-Abbey placing therein an Abbot and Monks of the Cistertian Order VII The mean while in consideration of this grievous Mortality e Stow Chron. p. 246. all Suits and Pleadings in the Kings Bench and other places ceased and all * M. S. R. P. p. 71. §. 4. Sr. Rob. Cotten's Abridgement p. 73. §. 4. Ano. 25. Ed. 3. Sessions of Parliament for the Space of more than two Years were hindred Pope Clement for his part being alarum'd with these heavy and prodigious Judgements of Almighty God never ceased * Knighton p. 2598 Odâ—r Rainald id an 1349. §. 26. c. ex Tom. Epâ—st Secret. ep 72. 73. by his Letters to both the Kings of England and France to exhort them as he doth most earnestly to a final agreement that they might so avoid the severe stroke of Gods Vengeance Assuring them that all these things happen'd as a Punishment for the Sins of Mankind But especially he entreated King Edward to send his Orators to Avignon f Oder Rainald ibid. ex Tem. 7. Epist Secret. ep 102. having says he our confidence in him in whose hands are the Hearts of Kings We resolve by no means to desist from the prosecution of the Treaty already begun But intend by so much the more effectually and carefully to promote it by how much the more the miserable state of the World which the jealous God and the Lord of Vengeance being provoked with the multitude of Sins which Charity doth not cover but wrath encreases doth consume in sury by a general slaughter of an unheard-of Pestilence doth most especially require an agreement between you and the said King of France and is known to want it extreamly Lest which God forbid that small Flock which the Saviour of the World who woundeth and healeth hath like Seed-corn preserved from this Destruction should now be drown'd in the Waves of Commotions and swallow'd in the miserable Tempest of War c. Dat. Avin XV Cal. December Ano. Pontif. nostri VIII Upon this Pious Exhortation King Edward was so far prevail'd with as to g Stow p. 246. Holinsh p. 945. send his Commissioners who were William Bateman Bishop of Norwich the Earls of Lancaster Suffolk and Northampton the Lord Walter Manny the Lord h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. Robert Bourchier the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Richard Talbot These all arrived at Calais in order to Treat with the French Commissioners who were then come as far as St. Omers to meet them together with the Bishop of Lyons the Abbot of St. Dennis and the two Cardinals who came on the Pope's behalf to moderate Matters between the two parties Being all met in a Convenient place half-way between the Towns of Calais and St. Omers the Frenchmen still insisted on the restoring of Calais or rasing it down to the ground But neither of these would the English admit of However at last by the urgent Prayers and Intercession of the Cardinals it was at last agreed that certain Commissioners from both the Kings of England France should enter upon a Treaty of Peace to be held from the time that this Treaty ended unto the Month of September following By which if then a final Peace could not be had that the Crown of France should be brought by the Consent of both Partys to a certain convenient place within that Realm and there without any other Tryal or Appeal the Right thereof to be decided by a Pitch'd Battle This Truce and Agreement was thus made on the i Ashmole p. 657. Tenth of March * 13â—â— / â—â— 1349 / 50 but the Conditions came to no Effect the whole project being null'd on occasion of the Death of Philip of Valois who died a Month before the limited time to wit on the k Mezeray ad an 1350. 22d of August the Year following VIII During the rage of this horrid Pestilence the Pope l Matth. Villani l. 1 c. 3. Odor Rainald ad an 1348. §. 33. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 83. p. 893. to raise the Faithfull to a Christian-like Constancy by the hope of a Glorious Immortality gave Authority to all Priests of absolving the Penitent from all their sins and granting them the benefit of Indulgences And in his Diploma bearing date the XIV Kal. June the Year foregoing he proposes great Indulgences to those Priests who should administer the Sacrament or other Ghostly Comforts to the sick as also to all those who should perform any good or friendly Office to the Dying or to the Dead either in Physick Burial or the like And further because many were like to be deprived of the Benefit of Priests Conversation he now by his Bulls m Knighton p.
and that he may be the more obliged to serve Us before any other to bear such a regard unto him whereby he may the better maintain his Estate have given unto him the Annual Rent of one Hundred Marks during his Life to be received out of our Mannor of Bradinuch in the County of Devonshire every Year at the terms of Easter and of St. Michael by equal Portions of the hands of the Keepers of our said Mannor for the time being the Offer and Promise aforesaid being in all points held and kept And We will also that at what time and as often as his said payment shall be upon arriere in part or in whole without term assigned it shall be Lawfull for the said Sr. Henry to distrain on the said Mannor and to have what is so distrained until he shall be fully payed so much as shall be found due unto him upon arriere as aforesaid In witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patent Given under our Seal at Westminster the 18 day of January in the Year of the Reign of our most Dear Lord and Father the King over England the 21 and over France the 8. We n i.e. the King. allowing and approving the foresaid Grant do by the Tenour of these Presents confirm and ratifie the same unto the said Henry during his Life as the foresaid Letters do import In witness whereof c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium XXVIII die Junii Anno Regni nostri Angliae 23 Regni verò nostri Franciae 10. Per ipson Regem CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1350. An. Regni Angliae XXIV Franciae XI The CONTENTS I. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the Hundredth to the Fiftieth Year with an Account of the first Original of a Jubilee II. King Edward forbids his subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Popes expostulation thereupon III. The sect of Whippers arises and is supprest IV. King Edwards Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. V. King Philip of France dies and is succeeded by his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy VI. A Duel fought before King Edward between a Cypriote Knight and the Bastard of France VII King John puts the Bastard to Death together with the Earl of Eu and Guisnes for envy because they commended the Carriage of King Edward of England VIII Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in order to King Davids Redemption I. THis Year being the Fiftieth of the Fourteenth Century accounting from the Nativity of our Lord being held as a Solemn Jubilee at Rome we shall here make some short enquiry after that Matter And it appears from the Sacred Records that God Almighty himself was the First Institutor of this great Solemnity For He having appointed the Sabbath-Day or the Seventh of the Week to be kept Holy in Memory of the Creation of the World which was by his Word alone compleated in the space of six Days did afterwards at the promulgation of the Law from Mount Sina a Levitic c. 25. v. 2 3 c. add unto the Jews a Sabbath of Years to be observed that so the Land of Palestine having been tilled and manured for six continued Years should be left fallow every Seventh Year without any manuring tilling reaping or dressing And seven of these Sabbatical Years or Fourty Nine common Years being compleat God commanded the Jews to proclaim thrô their whole Land a Festival Year by sound of the Holy Trumpets to be universally held as the great Sabbatical Year a Year of general Release and of Religious Rest and of Joy and of Exultation as a Type of that Eternal Rest Relaxation and Liberty which the Messias was to procure unto the Sons of God Which Fiftieth Year was called the Year of Jubilee from a b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Joh. Buâ—tor f. Lexicon Hebr. in hâc vote p. 293 c. Word in Hebrew which signifies a Ram because it was proclaimed with the sound of Trumpets made of Rams-horns Unless some had rather derive it from a Word of Latine-Original which signifies to Rejoyce This being the First Institution of the Jubilee among the Jews deliver'd by their great Prince and Law-giver Moses Pope Boniface VIII brought it in also among the Christians c Labbxi Chron. Techn ad hunc aâ— Pâ—lydor Virg. l. 19. p. 385. in the Year of our Lord MCCC which was the sixth of his Papacy and then ordain'd that it should be solemnly kept every Hundredth Year Althô we find that in the Year of our Lord CCXLVII which was Ab U. C. Annus Millesimus the Emperour d Dr. Cave's Apâ—stâ—l ei in tabalâ— Chronel Philip the Second kept a Festive Year in Memory of the first Foundation of the Imperial City of Rome with all imaginable Splendour and Magnificence And this althô it had not the Name was indeed no other than a Jubilee But now e Odor Rainald ad an Christi 1349. §. 11. c. ad an 1350. §. 1. c. Pope Clement VI because it was not likely that any Man who had seen the first Bonifacian Jubilee should live to see the Return of another and also in that the Fiftieth Year was more consonant to the Mosaical Law at the Instant Request of the Roman Ambassadors granted that on this Year and every Fiftieth Year following the Jubilee should be celebrated at the Holy City of Rome at which time he granted by his Apostolical Power many great Indulgences to all those who should devoutly Visit the Churches of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and also the Lateran called S to Giovanni Laterano the Dignity of which Church doth sufficiently appear from this Ancient Inscription in Marble in the Porch thereof at Rome Dogmate Papali datur simul Imperiali Vt sim cunctarum Mater Caput Ecclesiarum The opinion that these Indulgences were of no small Advantage did so mightly prevail that infinite Numbers of both Sexes went on Pilgrimage to Rome there being reckoned no less than f Matth. Villani l. 1. c. 58. 1200000 Thousand Strangers passing too and fro in the City at One time among whom were many Persons of extraordinary Quality and some Princes Dukes and the like But g Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 9. Kings and Persons of an higher Station who were by their great Affairs detained at home being desirous to be made partakers nevertheless of these Sacred Privileges wrote their Letters Supplicatory to the Pope that in them the Good-Will might be taken for the Deed and that thô they could not tend to go in Person yet since they so devoutly desired it they might obtain of his Holiness the same Indulgences as others who performed that Pilgrimage among which there was the King of Castille and Leon the Kings of Aragon Portugal and Cyprus Albert Duke of Austria and others And thô the Pope defer'd a while to answer their Requests till he might confer thereupon with
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
ever We Will and Consent that if any Pacts Confederations Alliances and Covenants howsoever they be called shall be any way Prejudicial to the said Peace at this Present or in time to come even suppose they be confirmed and deliver'd on certain Penalties or by Oath or ratified by Authority of our Holy Father the Pope or any other they shall notwithstanding be ipso facto cancelled and of none effect as contrary to the Common Good to the Advantage of the Publick Peace unprofitable to all CHRISTENDOM and displeasing unto God And all Oaths made in such Cases shall be released and disannulled by our said Holy Father the Pope that none be obliged to keep and hold such Oaths Alliances or Covenants to the intent that in time to come the like may not be done and if any endeavour the Contrary that it be immediately void and of no effect and rendred null and of no Vertue And as for our parts We shall punish all such as Violators of the Peace both in their Bodies and their Goods as the Case shall require and Reason willeth And if We procure or suffer to be done the Contrary which God forbid then We will that We be held and reputed False and Vntrue and We will incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We swear on the Body of our Lord JESUS CHRIST to hold keep and accomplish the things aforesaid and not go contrary thereto neither by our selves nor by others in any manner of Case In Witness whereof We have caused these present Letters to be Sealed with our Seal Given c. in the Year of Grace 1360. And because that the said things and every of them may be held and accomplished from point to point and in form and manner aforesaid We bind Us and our Heirs and all the Goods of Us and of our Heirs to our said Brother of England and to his Heirs and We swear on the Holy Gospels by Us corporally touched that We will perform hold and accomplish in the foresaid Case all the said things by Us promised and accorded as is aforesaid And We will that in case our said Brother and our said Nephew shall have made the said Renunciations and sent and deliver'd them as is said and our said Letters shall not be deliver'd to our said Brother at the time and place in form and manner aforesaid then our present Letters and all that is comprised therein shall have as much Vigour Effect and Fruit as have had our other Letters by Us promised to be deliver'd as aforesaid Always saved and reserved by Us our Heirs and Successors that the said Letters above-incorporated be of none effect nor bring unto Us any manner of Prejudice or Damage untill the time that our said Brother and Nephew have made sent and deliver'd unto Us the foresaid Renuntiations according to the manner above devised and that these our Letters be not against Us our Heirs and Successors in any manner of Wise but in the case aforesaid In Witness whereof We have set our Seal to the Present Letters Dated at Calais the XXIV day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX XVII Besides these there were several other Letters devised and set forth bearing the same Date as b M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet Another Copy of King John's Renuntiation and a more Correct Form of the Peace bearing King Edward's Name which the King sware to a new and these Great Men following as it is worded in the form Our most Dear Eldest Son Prince of Wales and our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Vlster and Edmund of Langley and our Cousins Monsieur Philip de Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Lord of Manny Guy de Brian Reginald de Cobham the Captal de Buche the Lord of Monferrant James Audley Roger de Beauchamp Ralph de Ferrers Captain of Calais Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John de Moubray Henry de Piercy Nicolas de Camborthe Lord of Cominges Richard Stafford William de Grandison Ralph Spigurnel Gaston de Greyly and William Burton Knights So likewise on the King of France's side were then sworn his Sons the Dukes of Anjou and Maine and of Berry and Auvergne the Duke of Touraine the Duke of Orleans his Brother and his Cousins the Duke of Bourbon and James de Bourbon John de Artois Peter of Alenson John of Estampes Guy de Blois the Earl of St. Paul the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Joigny the Earl of Salebruche the Earl of Breme the Lord of Coucy the Lord of Craon the Lord of Fiennes the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord of Monmorency William de Craon the Lord of St. Venant Besides all which both the Kings undertook to make the rest of their Children and the greater part of their Nobility Prelates and others to take the same Oath in order to uphold the said Peace XVIII These Letters c Frois c. 212. fol. 107. called the Charter of Peace and Letters of Renuntiation as well of the One King as of the Other being all fairly drawn up engrossed and sealed were then read openly in the Council Chamber in Presence of both the Kings their Eldest Sons and their Councils and seemed to either Party to be right good and well-ordained And then again the two Kings and their Eldest Sons sware solemnly on the Holy Gospel by them Corporally touched and on the Body of our Lord to keep and perform and by no means to violate any of the Premises And yet further by advice and at the request of the French King and his Council and toward the latter end of their Conference the King of England was urged to give and send a General Commission to all those who as then under colour of the War held Towns Castles and Forts in the Realm of France whereby they should be commanded to avoid and depart And King Edward who at that time desired nothing but that Friendship Good-will and Peace might be nourished between him and his Brother of France as he had sworn and promised readily agreed to this Reasonable Request and thereupon forthwith Order'd his Council to draw up a Commission in the Best Manner that might be according to the very Mind and Intent of the French King and his Council whereupon the Chief of both the Kings Councils drew aside with their Scribes and Secretaries and between these by Consent of both Parties two Commissions were drawn up and engrossed the d M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet One at Large and particularizing the Places so to be deliver'd and the other more General but such as being sent to all and singular of his Captains in all parts of France was no less effectual the Tenour of which Letter followeth EDWARD * * Frois ibid. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
Matter of Tythes under the Name of Chattels be depending before any Temporal Judge the Ecclesiastical Judge affirming the Contrary shall decide the same That upon any Conditional Consultation the Ecclesiastical Judge may take upon him the very true Understanding thereof and so proceed therein That no Man shall have any Prohibition unless he do bring to the Chancellour the Libell signed with the Judges Seals before whom it is hanging for the more perspicuity thereof That no Clerk or his servant being with him be arrested by any Officer while in the Church-yard or other Sacred Place or in carrying the Communion to any Man. The King granteth the same so as none do keep himself in the Sanctuary by Coven ¶ The Commons of the Town of Calais pray that the Staple may only be holden there and in this their Request it appears by the Records that when the Staple stood there upon all Roads or Excursions made by the Captain of Calais the Mayor of the Staple furnished him out of the Number of Merchants and their Servants with One Hundred Bill Men and two Hundred Archers Wherefore the King granteth that the Staple shall be holden there and no where else in the Parts beyond the Seas as well of all Staple-Ware as of Lead Tin Worsted Butter Cheese Feathers for Men of War c. That the Old Charter of Maud Countess of Artois which was confirmed by the King may be allowed except the Tryal of Land and Liberties of Staple The King will be advised in this Matter That in stead of Bayly-Eskmins and Cornmans granted in their Old Charter they may have a Mayor and twelve Aldermen and the Mayor one of the Twelve at their Election as in London And whereas the Mayor heretofore without any charge had two Hundred Pounds Fee that he may have now but one Hundred Pounds bearing the Charge of six Men as every Alderman now doth They shall have such Mayor and Aldermen so as they be English and bear the Reputation of the Payments and such like Charges af the Town towards the bearing whereof they shall have the Office of Wine Beer and Ale the Stallage of Drapers Mercers and Butchers the Pickage in the Market all Issues Fines Profits and Amercements of the Mayors Court excepting to the King the Fines of Strays and Bloodshed and Escheats of Lands and Goods they to be discharged of all Watches and Wards but only before their own Houses Many other Liberties are also to the same Town of Calais granted not unworthy to be seen especially if that Place had still bore the same Relation to England as in those days and 200 Years after even till the Reign of Queen Mary The Commons upon Delivery of the Bills aforesaid required that they might be executed That done the Chancellour willed them to sue their Writs for their Fees according to the Custom After that the Bishops arose and took their leaves of the King and so this Parliament ended at Eltham having been continued from day to day until Thursday the Tenth of July in the whole Ten Weeks and more VIII And thus ended this Notable Parliament commonly by our Historians called the Å¿ Daniel's hist p. 257. Good Parliament thô more upon the Account of those many convenient and usefull Statutes than for that Popular Air and Quarrelsom Humour which appeared therein For we find the very next Parliament condemned their Proceedings as to that Point and it is said t Walsingh Hyp. p. 134. n. 30. how upon that and the like Accounts Sr. Peter de la Mere was committed to perpetual Imprisonment in Nottingham Castle thô about two Years after he was again released But that vulgar Error of our Historians which makes this same Sr. Peter de la Mere to have been Speaker at this time in the House of Commons must not pass here without Correction For it is undoubtedly u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 203. ex Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. m. 87. recorded of Sr. Thomas Hungerford that in the Year following he was Speaker of the House of Commons in the Parliament then held at Westminster that being the First Parliament in which that House had a Speaker he being then a Knight But indeed the Year after that being the First of King Richard the Second x Rot. Par. 1 Rich. 2. m. 15. Vid. M.S. Rot. Par. p. 157. Sr. Râ—b Cotten p. 155. we find this Sr. Peter de la Mere as it were in Reward of his Imprisonment or in Despight of the Duke of Lancaster to be the Speaker of the House of Commons IX Dr. Simon Langham once Archbishop of Canterbury when by Vrban V. he was created Cardinal Titulo St. Sixti upon which he resign'd his Archbishoprick and afterwards by Pope Gregory XI was made Bishop-Cardinal of Praeneste being suddenly after Meat taken with a Palsie and loss of Speech four Days after y Godw. Catal. Bish p. 144. Walsingh hist p. 187. departed this Life viz. on the XI of the Calends of August being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen and after our Account the 22d of July in this Year z M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 238. ad finem He was first buried in the Church of the Carâ—husians whose House he himself had founded at Avignon with this a Ciacon Vict. de Vit. PP Rom. p. 963. Epitaph HIC IACET DOMINVS SIMON DE. LANGHAM DE. ANGLIA QVONDAM ARCHIEPISCOPVS CANTVARIENSIS S. R. E. PRAENESTINVS EPISCOPVS CARDINALIS QVI. ISTAM ECCLESIAM DE. NOVO. CONSTRVXIT ET OBIIT XXII MENSIS IVLII ANNO. DOM. MCCCLXXVI ORATE PRO. EO But however b Antiq. Britâ—n Matth. Parkerâ— p. 250. Godw. ut suprá three Years after according to his own former Appointment his Bones were taken up and buried the second time at Westminster in a goodly Tomb of Alabaster And well ought his Body to find Repose there where during his whole Life his Heart seem'd to rest For not to mention his other Acts of Munificence nor to speak of the foresaid Monastery of Carthusians at Avignon it is almost incredible what wonderfull Bounty and Liberality he shew'd to the famous Abbey of Westminster all along When he was first made Abbot there he bestow'd all that ever he had gathered together while he was Monk and Prior in paying the Debts of that House which amounted to the Value of 2200 Marks But all this he wholly discharged besides divers other Sums of Money which particular Monks ow'd here and there And as for them he constantly tender'd and nourish'd them as his own Children never taking any thing from them but rather Augmenting their Portions and Dividends out of what was his own Due When he was Lord Chancellour and Treasurer of England he purchased divers good Pieces of Land which he gave unto them and their House for ever And upon his Departure out of England he left them in Books to the Value of 830. l. Copes Vestments and other Priestly Ornaments