he himself with the residue of his Standing Forces lying now in and about the strong City of St. Quintin After this King Edward went from Sarnaques to Morevil where he tarried one Night only the next Day he reached la Flamenguere where he lodged his Men all close about him l Frois c. 40. being in number more than Fourty Thousand strong And here it was resolved in Council that King Edward should abide his Adversary and give him Battle King Philip on the other hand being removed from St. Quintin with all his Army was gone to Vironfosse in Cambresis where he tarried his Forces dayly encreasing and protested That he would not stir thence till he had fought with the King of England and his Allies since they were now within two Leagues one of another When the young Earl of Hainault who was still at Quesnoy ready provided with Men of War understood that the French King his Uncle was with an Army Royal at Vironfosse resolved to give battle to the English he rode directly thither with 500 Spears and presented his Service to King Philip. But he might even as well have stay'd away for the Thanks that he had now or the Reward that he found after For King Philip was in his heart extreamly disgusted at him because he came but lately from the Service of his Adversary the King of England with whom he had been during the Siege of Cambray But the Earl excused himself so discreetly saying That what he did then was of meer necessity because he was bound to serve the Emperour or his Deputy within the Bounds of the Empire but what he did now was of his meer Choice and therefore ought to be taken as a token of his Good-will so that at last the King and his Council either was or seem'd to be content And so the Marshals of France order'd him his Station which either in spight or policy they appointed in the Main Battle thereby to fight against King Edward his Brother-in-Law Thus these two Puissant Monarchs lay both with their goodly Armies in the plain Fields between Vironfosse and Flemenguere within two Leagues one of another But as yet neither Army advanced King Edward therefore advising with his Lords in a Council of War asked them what they thought best to do for he said that his Intention was to fight it out without any more delay Then the Lords beheld each other and at last desired the Duke of Brabant first to open his Mind He like a Gallant Souldier presently advis'd to fight for otherwise said he we cannot part without some Blemish upon our Honour Wherefore I would counsel you to send Heralds to King Philip to demand of him a Day of Battle Accordingly an Herald of the Duke of Gueldre's being well-skill'd in the French Tongue was sent on this Errant he rode forth till he came to the French Host where being admitted before the King and his Council he spake aloud these Words Sir the King of England is here hard by in the Fields and desires to fight you Power against Power And if you please to appoint him a Day he will not fail to meet You upon the Word of a King. C. Lit. Dom. This Message being thus deliver'd on a Wednesday the 20 of October King Philip yielded either to give or take Battle two Days after to wit on the Friday ensuing and in token of his acceptance of the News richly rewarded the Herald with Furred Gowns and other Gifts bestow'd on him as well by himself as other the Princes and Lords of his Host and so dismissed him again Thus was the Day of Battle agreed on all the Lords and Captains on both Sides being informed thereof and commanded to be ready accordingly On the Thursday Morning being the 21 of October two Knights belonging to the Earl of Hainault the one the Lord of Faginelles and the other the Lord of Tupenay Mounting their Horses rode forth together without any other Company from the French Host with a Design to view the English Army So they rode along coasting from far the English Camp till upon their approach almost within shot of the first Battail the Lord of Faginelles Horse chanced to take the Bridle in his Mouth so strongly that his Master could not rule him Wherefore much against his Will he was carried by the Horse into the English Army among the Lords of Almaine who well saw he was not of their side and so took him Prisoner He and his Horse were taken by five or six Gentlemen of Almaine who straight began to examine him in order to appoint him his Ransom And when they understood he was of Hainault they asked him if he had any acquaintance with the Lord John of Hainault he answer'd yes and desired them for Godsake to carry him into his Presence for he said he knew well that he would acquit him of his Ransom The Almains did not care how soon their Money came wherefore they willingly carried him before the Lord of Beaumont who knew him presently and bought him of his Masters Thus was the Lord of Faginelles easily redeemed having his Horse also restored unto him at the Request of the Lord Beaumont Sr. John of Hainault No other Adventure worth our Notice happen'd that day On the Fryday early in the Morning m Freis c. 41. f. 23. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 648. both Armies prepared for Battle and every Lord heard Mass among his own Men making their Confessions and obtaining Absolution The English drew forth in the Field all ranged in three Battails on Foot their Horses and Baggage being put aside in a little Wood behind them which they had fortifi'd Their first Battail was led by the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord John of Hainault the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. William du Fort Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the whole Body consisting for the most part of Almains except 4000 English to the Number of 8000 in all 12000 Fighting Men ranged orderly under twenty two Banners and sixty Penons or Streamers The second Battail which in the March was the last the Duke of Brabant brought up accompanied with many Lords and Knights of his own Country as the Lord of Kuck the Lord of Bergen op Zoom the Lord of Breda the Lord of Rhodes the Lord of Bosleduc the Lord of Burgivalle the Lord of Stonenort the Lord of Wenden the Lord of Elka the Lord of Cassuben and Sr. John of Cassuben his Brother the Lord of Duysburg Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Sr. Ralph van Gratz Sr. John Iliffe Sr. Giles of Krainburg Sr. Walter of Horburg the three Brethren of Harlingen Sr. Henry Eam commonly call'd Sr. Henry of Flanders and divers other Barons and Knights of Germany who were all under the Duke of Brabants Banner that day as the Lord of Hailbrun the Lord of Guiten Sr. Hector Vilain Sr. John of Rhodes Sr.
the Earl of Warwick Thomas Son to the Earl of Oxford and John Son to the Lord Moubray On the 2d of November or rather on All-Saints Day which is the First as we shall prove by and by the King began his March from Calais towards St. Omers whither he heard the King of France was come from Amiens wasting all the Country as he went. As he was between Guisnes and Ardres there came to him h Frois c. 155. the Marshal D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and Others from King John that i R. Avesbâ—ry Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 20. under pretence of Discoursing Him they might take a full view of all his Forces And accordingly they returned with such a Report of his Strength that the French King was now determin'd not to hazard a Battle with him But rather to pass on before k Knighton p. 2610. n 60. breaking the Bridges behind him and gathering up or destroying all sorts of Provision that so the English might be forced for want thereof to return back for that time Whereupon l R. Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 30. Walsingh hist p. 263. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 229. as he design'd it came to pass for King Edward was so streightned thereby that he was obliged to return to Calais his Army having drank nothing but Water for three Days and all other Provisions being extream scarce The French Writers and Froisard m Frois c. 155. ibid. Mâ—zeray ad hunc an c. also himself for I am resolved to dissemble nothing say that King John by these Messengers offer'd King Edward to fight him either Body to Body or Power against Power whensoever himself should appoint but that King Edward declin'd the Offer and so went home again for England Surely I desire by no means to rob the French Nation of any real Flower of Honour but neither do I think it the part of a just Historian to receive any thing without an exact Scrutiny or to let Improbabilities and Indecorums to pass without the least Remark thô never so well attested It is evident both by the Challenge which King Edward sent formerly to this Kings Father as from sundry Authors of both Nations we n Vid. Lib. 1. c. 17. §. 2. p. 188. have shewn and from the nature of that Princes Circumstances as well as his ordinary Custom that it was better for him in his own Opinion to make a quick Dispatch of the War to which Opinion it must be allow'd his Courage was no way wanting so he could not have been brought over so often in Person without his own Will and that it was ever his Aim to obtain a Battle and that when offer'd he never refused to accept it and if he had had been laugh'd at by all the World since his only way was to win the Crown he claim'd by Fighting Nor was King John a better Man at Arms or better furnished for the War than his Father Philip or King Edward who was now in the Prime of his Manhood being but 43 Years old either of less Courage or Art or Strength either of Person or People than when he sent his Chartel of Defiance to King Philip of Valois That he should need to decline the same at this time And thô for this Assertion of theirs they bring no Record nor Authority but the Word of one ancient Author who might herein be misinformed yet we shall add to these our Reasons a more Authentick Testimony from our Records of Parliament which to establish my Opinion most expresly o M.S. Rot. Par. p. 86. n. 9. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm of the Recor. p. 90. n. 9. ad an 29. Ed. 3. n. 9. witness That on All-Souls Day the King marched toward his Enemy and profer'd him Battle which his Enemy by all means refused Wherefore having wasted and spoiled the Country seeing his own Army languish he returned to Calais where he made Honourable Peace and so came back into England to his Parliament Which he had summon'd to sit at Westminster on the p i.e. 12 Novemb Morrow after St. Martin the Bishop Now Froisard who happen'd by some Misinformation to give the first Authority to this Story q Frois c. 155. ibid. doth yet witness with Others that King Edward rode with a great Host as far as Hesdin where he brake up the Park and burnt the Houses within and about it thô he entred not either the Town or Castle And then as our Writers agree for want of Provisions he returned back to Calais on St. Martins Day being the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Eleventh after his Setting forth according to those who say He set forth on the 2d of November but the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Twelfth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls or All-Saints Day That same Day being * Lit. Dom. D. a Thursday and the 12 of November the Å¿ R Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. n. 40. a. Constable of France and other French Gentlemen came indeed to the end of the Causey of Calais with Credential Letters offering unto the King of England in presence of the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny to give him Battle on the Tuesday next following in answer to which Challenge the said Lords of England having full Power and Authority so to do offer'd unto the Constable in the King their Masters Name that he the said King of England to avoid shedding of Christian Blood would fight with the French King their Master Body to Body so to decide his Right or if that Offer should not take place then the two Kings to select Three or Four Knights apiece such as should be the nearest in Blood unto them and together with these to try the Matter But when both these Offers were rejected the English Lords offer'd to give Battle to the whole French Army either the next Day being Friday or on Saturday the Day after whether they would but the Constable and his Fellows continuing still in their first Demand refused both those Days Then at the last the English Lords said how they accepted of Tuesday the Day by them assign'd on this Condition That if they did not bring the King of England to a Battle on that Day then they would engage to yield themselves Prisoners to the French so that they would likewise undertake to yield themselves if their King kept not the promised Day To this equal but unexpected Proposal when the Constable of France having nothing ready to reply had made some Demurr at last upon
till the Truce was fully expired and then on the same 12 day of July to enter Scotland in Hostile Manner with his Forces the Chief Captains whereof under him were John Lord Warren Earl of Surrey in England and of Stratherne in Scotland Richard Fitz-Alan the Stout Earl of Arundel Henry Lord f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who it seems had made no Oath to the Contrary as the Scotch Writers affirm but was redeem'd from his Imprisonment by a good round Summe of Money as we shew'd before the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Percy were here also together with the Lords Nicolas Cantilupe and Ralph Stafford all Barons of great Valour and Conduct who thô Subjects of England being for the most part ally'd to King Bailiol with their several Retinues and a choice Band of lusty Welchmen enter'd Scotland on the One part at the same time that King Edward enter'd on the Other as it had been before appointed Two such Mighty Torrents of War were not likely to be much resisted by the almost-exhausted Powers of the Bruceans So that in a manner they ravag'd the Country at their Pleasure wasting and burning all before them On the 12 g Knighton p. 2566. c. of July being a Wednesday King Edward of England began his March from the City of Carlile passing over the Solway Frith and so entring into Scotland in good Order of Battle On the Tuesday following being the 18 of July the Lord William Montague with certain other Barons of England rode forth coasting on the left hand towards the Parts of Caerlaverock in Nidisdale to fetch in Prey for the Army and the next day they return'd all safe with some Hundred Head of Cattle On * Julii 20. Thursday the King passed the Ford of Anand which giveth Name to Anandale and then he rear'd his Banners Royal and made many Knights but to the Lord William Montague he granted his Crest with the Eagle and a gallant Courser with Caparisons adorn'd with the Arms of Montague which are Argent three Fuzils in Fess Gules Moreover he gave him the Reversion of the Mannor of Wodeton and Mersewode-vale with the Advowsons of the Churches as also of the Mannor of Pole with the Advowson of the Church after the Death of Robert Fitz-Paine and Ela his Wife without Issue paying to the King his Heirs and Successors upon Christmas-day wheresoever he or they should happen to be a sword of 3 shillings and four pence for all Services Encouraged with this Bounty of his Prince the Lord Montague pierced yet farther into Scotland making great Havock and Spoil and continually bringing in huge Quantities of Victuals and Prey to the Army On that same day a certain Knight of Heinalt Named Sr. Enend came before King Edward with a Present from his Father in Law William Earl of Heinalt which was a very Gorgeous and Princely Helmet Richly beset with Precious Stones and adorn'd with the Coronet and other things in the same manner as the Earl himself was us'd to wear it on Festivals and when he appeared in the Greatest Splendor The King was extreamly pleased with this Present and immediately Rewarded the Messenger with an Hundred Pounds sterling 'T is likely he wore it long after for the Sake of the Donor For I have seen several ancient Pictures that Represent him in such an Helmet On the * Julii 23. Sunday after St. Mary Magdalene King Bailiol on the other hand took a strong Castle of the Earl of Athols called Cambremouth which would hardly have been master'd so soon but that in time of the Assault whether by chance or from without there happen'd such a fire in the Castle as compell'd them to yield presently together with all their Ammunition and Provision lay'd up for a long time or else they had all perished by Fire or been put to the sword Here they found the Lord David Marshal with his Lady also the Relict of the Lord Archimbald Douglas and the Wife of Sr. Philip Moubray beside meaner Prisoners Yet all this while neither of the Kings found any Considerable Opposition For long h Frois c. 26. f. 16. now had the Scots been us'd to these Harassings and therefore the better avoided them at this time by retiring with the best of their Substance into their Fortresses among the Marishes and thick Forests This manner they were first taught by their King Robert Bruce who in the Days of King Edward the First being so hardly hunted and pursued that neither Town City nor Castle could or durst entertain him betook himself to these Forests with good Success And still when the said King Edward was return'd for England he would forth again and appear on his Countries Behalf with sword in Hand straight Rally his broken and scatter'd Forces and presently recover either by Strength or Policy all that he had lost as far as to Barwick Upon News whereof King Edward would return with his Power and win all again Thus King Robert wan and lost the Kingdom of Scotland by turns for four or five times together when being at last Chaced into i Martin p. 87. Fabian p. 148 Graften p. 192. Norwey his Mighty Adversary King Edward the First died in a good old Age at Burgh upon the Sands near Caerlile But while he lay on his Death bed he sent for Prince Edward his Son and gave him Counsel to be Mercifull and Just and Constant in all his Words and Deeds to love his Brethren but to avoid Flatterers and especially Piers Gaveston After this he made him k Frois c. 26. f. 16. b. swear upon his Blessing that when he should see the Breath out of his Body he should take his Corps and boyl it in a Cauldron till the Flesh should all come off Then to bury the Flesh but to keep the Bones in a Coffin and to bear them along with him whensoever the Scots should Rebell for whether by Imagination or Superstition or secret Revelation he promised certain Victory against the Scots as often as his Bones were carried into the Field against them We read indeed in profane Story many such Instances and particularly that the Turks had some such Opinion of Scanderbeg's Bones but however King Edward the Second either out of Filial tenderness or pure disobedience buried his whole Body at Westminster where it remains Honourably Entombed to this day yet surely he never prosper'd against the Scots besides that he came to an unhappy end as we shew'd in the beginning of this History whether for want of his Fathers Bones or his Blessing for generally the Blessing of God goes along with a Parents just Benediction But this by the by While after their old Manner the Scots thus again at this time to avoid King Edward's Fury retired into their Fastnesses the l Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 898. Welchmen who were with King Bailiol being Highly incensed for want of Opposition spared neither
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
e Frois c. 239. fol. 143. Fabian p. 250. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. departed out of England with a Princely Equipage and set sail for France being received at Boulogne by several Persons of the Highest Quality and by them conducted to Paris At some distance from the City he was met by the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy and the Lord Ingleram of Coucy Earl of Bedford his Brother-in-Law who convey'd him to the Louvre to the Presence of the King of France his Lodgings being provided in the Kings own Palace The first day he din'd and supp'd with the King at his own Table the next day he dined with the Queen at another of the Kings Houses near St. Paul and having danced after dinner with the Ladies and passed his time in such Amorous Gallantries and Recreations as young Princes usually divert themselves with in presence of that agreeable Sex he was again by the two foresaid Dukes of Berry and Burgundy conducted back to the Louvre where he supped with the King that Night also On the day following the two Dukes entertain'd him in like Manner at One of their Houses named Artois in Paris and the Day after he dined and supp'd again with the Queen and on the next Day being a Thursday he took his leave of the King and Queen who gave unto him and to the Chief of the English Lords in his Company sundry Gifts to the Value of 20000 Florens And so he was convey'd as far as Sens in Champaigne by the Earl of Tancarville and other Noblemen and from thence to the utmost Bounds of France by Knights and Gentlemen of that Kingdom to whom at parting he gave several Rich Gifts with many thanks Having thus passed thrô France he came into Savoy where he was very kindly received at the City of Chambery by the Generous Earl of Savoy whose Sister the Lady Blanch was Wife to Galeas Duke of Milain and Mother to the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel's Espoused Lady Having tarried there three Days which were all spent in Magnificent Entertainments Balls and Dancing with the Ladies and Gentlewomen he took his leave and began to set forward the Earl himself bearing him Company to Milain Where he saw his Niece Daughter to Duke Galeas given in Marriage unto Prince Lionel in the Famous Cathedral of Milain on the 29 Day of May f Lit. Dom. B.A. Pasch 9. April being a Monday and the next day after the Festival of the Holy Trinity in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXVIII Duke Galeas in Honour of this his Son-in-Law g Paul. Jovins in Galeatio 2 do p. 152. ex co Stow p. 267. Sandford p. 220. is said to have spent such abundance of Treasure as seem'd to surpass the Magnificence of the most Wealthy Monarchs For not to mention all the Sumptuous Feasts Balls Justs and Tourneaments and other stately and divertive Spectacles set forth on this occasion nor to summ up the great and large Gifts which were given to the Lord Edward Spencer and more than 200 other English Gentlemen who came out of England to wait on the Prince the Marriage Feast alone was so extraordinary that We may by that Conjecture the Largeness of Duke Galeas his Soul the full satisfaction he had in this Match and the Abundance of his Coffers For in that One Feast where Francis Petrarch the Laureate Poet of Italy was present being for Honour of his Learning seated among the Guests of the Highest Quality there were above 30 Courses of service upon the Table and between every Course as many Presents of unusual Magnificence intermixed all which John Galeas the Duke's Son and Prince of the Chosen Youth that waited that day presented unto Prince Lionel as they were brought up to the Table In one Course were presented Seventy Good Horses richly Adorned and Caparizon'd with Silk and Embroider'd Furniture and in the other Courses came up Vessels of Silver Ger-Falcons Hounds Armour for Horses Costly Coats of Mail shining Breastplates of Massy Steel Corslets Helmets and Burganets adorned with High and Rich Crests and Plumes Surcoats embroider'd with costly Jewels Knights Girdles and lastly Pictures of Gold beset with Gems and Purple and Cloth of Gold for Mens Apparel in Great Abundance And such vast Provision was there at this Feast that the Meats which were brought from the Table would have plentifully sufficed 10000 Men. II. But while the Accomplished Young Prince lived with his New Lady after the Manner of his own Country in continual Sports and Revellings besides the more boistrous Exercise of Tourneaments as forgetting or not regarding his Change of Air and what Diet was most proper for the Italian Clime within Five Months after his Marriage he fell into a grievous Sickness in the City of Alba Pompeia now called Longeville in Italy in the Marquisate of Monferrato in Piedmont in the House of his Father in Law the Duke of Milain Whereupon perceiving his Disease to be Mortal by h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. Sandford p. 221. his Testament bearing Date there upon the Third of October 1368 he bequeathed his Body to be buried in England in the Convent Church of the Augustine-Fryars at Clare in Suffolk before the High-Altar and gave thereto a Black-suit with all the Appurtenances as also his Black Cloth Embroider'd To his Lady Violantis He bequeathed his Vestment with Gold Coronets and all that belonged thereto Item to Sr. John Bromwick Knight his Courser called Ger-Falcon to Dr. John Capell his Chaplain a Girdle of solid Gold therewith to make a Chalice in Memory of his Soul to Thomas Waleis the Circle of Gold wherewith his Brother the Black-Prince was created Prince and to Edmund More the Circle wherewith he himself had been created Duke that we may pass over the many other Great Legacies which he gave to the Lord Edward Spencer Thomas Newborne Esquire and others then attending him in Italy And so being at that time i Vid. Ashmole's Garter c. One of the Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter he finally departed this Life k Sandford Dugd. ex Escaet 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 23 c. on the Vigil of St. Luke the Evangelist being a Tuesday and the 17 day of October the same Year not without suspicion of being * Knighton p. 2629 n. 50. poisoned by some subtle Italian trick to prevent that Glory which perhaps some Envy'd that he should attain He left behind him only One Daughter his Heir by Elizabeth his First Wife called Philippa then but l Sandford p. 222. 13 Years of Age and soon after given in Marriage to Edmund Mortimer the Third Earl of March of that Great Family from whom by the Mothers side came Edward the IV. Thô for the present he was deposited in the Chief Church of Pavia a City of Milain yet soon after according to his Testament his Body was brought over into England by Thomas Newborne
Esquire and others of his Domesticks and interred in the said Church of the Augustine-Fryars at Clare aforesaid near unto the Pody of his First Wife Elizabeth de Burgh But the Lord Edward Spencer who doubted some foul play had been used towards him tarried still in Italy and together with Sr. John Hawkwood and his Englishmen called the White-Company * Walsingh Hyped p. 131. n. 23 Frois c. 242. fol. 146. made fierce War upon the Dukes of Milain in Revenge of his Masters Death till at last he was fully satisfied of their Innocence as to that point and their great and unfeigned sorrow for the untimely loss of so Noble a Kinsman This was the first unkind Stroke of Fortune that ever King Edward felt and that no small one neither But he bore it with such Courage as might have obliged her if that Fickle Goddess was to be won by Gallantry to be more Respectfull unto Him for the future Though generally she is observed when once she grows Adverse to be much more extream in her Hate than before she had been in her Love. The Young Lady Violantis tried indeed to tast of Happiness after this Loss of her First Husband and was again m Elias Reasnerus ΒΑâ—ΙΑΙΚΩΠGenealegici Auctarium p. 196. Married to Otho Palaeologus Marquess of Monferrato But she did not long enjoy him neither for he was stabb'd by the hands of a base Hostler on the Mountains of Parma III. Before these things fell out namely on the n M.S. Rot. Par. p. 100 c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 105. 24 of February King Edward had issued forth his Summons for his Parliament to sit at Westminster on the First Day of May then next ensuing On which Day being a Monday Dr. Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury declared to the Lords and Commons then assembled in the Painted-Chamber that it was His Majesties Pleasure to adjourn them to the Thursday following At which time the said Arch-bishop in Presence of the King Lords and Commons then all assembled in the said Painted-Chamber declared how the King yielded unto God Almighty his most hearty Thanks for having given him Victory over all his Enemies also for the peaceable and flourishing Condition of his Realm and for the great Loyalty of his Subjects and their constant Readiness to serve Him both in Body and Goods all which Blessings as he desired what in him lay to continue or rather to encrease so that he might the better succeed in that Resolution he had at this time called his Parliament to confer with them in Matters relating to the Premises So the remainder of that Day was spent in appointing Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales Scotland and Gascogne with other Foreign Places and Isles The next Day the said Arch-bishop declared how after a long Treaty between the Kings Commissioners and David Bruce King of Scotland King David at last made this Offer To preserve a perpetual Peace with England so that he might freely enjoy to Him and his Heirs for ever the whole Realm of Scotland in Fee without any Subjection or Vassalage which might be accounted a perpetual Reproach to that Kingdom Of which Terms of Peace the Lords and Commons being demanded their Advice gave in their Answers severally that they could not assent to any such Peace without Disherison of the King and his Crown and to the great Danger of their own Souls as who were sworn to uphold and maintain the same to their Power After which the said Arch-bishop in the Kings Name gave thanks to the Three Estates for their ready Compliance in assisting the Kings Wants by their Aids and Subsidies and shew'd them farther how at that time the King stood in as great need of a Considerable Supply as ever Whereupon the Lords and Commons granted unto the King for two Years of every Wooll-Pack 36 s. 8 d. for every Twelve Score of Fells as much and of every Last of Skins 4 l. over and above the usual Custom of 6 s. 8 d. for every Wooll-Pack and the same for every Twelve Score of Fells and of 13 s. and 4 d. for every Last of Skins Then certain New Statutes were prepared and made Law by the King and certain Old ones explained and confirmed as may be seen in the Printed Books referring to those Days which for the most part agree exactly with the Records The Londoners by their Representatives desired that no Foreigner should retail any Merchandise as Wine or any other Provision but this was not granted On the 21 of May the King gave Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their Coming and Aid granted and that Day all the Lords and sundry of the Commons dined with the King. After which Dinner Sr. John Leigh was brought before the King Lords and Commons such as dined there to answer certain Objections made against him and first to the Complaint of William Latimer as followeth The King had granted the Wardship of Robert Latimer the Son and Heir of Sr. Robert Latimer with certain Mannors during his Minority to Dr. Robert Wyvill Bishop of Sarum which Estate descending to the said William Latimer the King afterward granted to Sr. John Leigh during the said William's Minority The said William surmised that the said Sr. John being then Steward of the Kings House and of Power sent for him to London where by duress of Imprisonment he compelled the said William to surrender his Estate up into his Hands But the same Sr. John by Recognisance excuseth himself for that the Grant was made unto him which was not allowed foâ—â—hat the said William was not put out by due Process of Law. Another Matter was objected against the said Sr. John forasmuch as during the time he was Steward of the Kings House he should cause sundry Men to be attached and to come before him as before the Kings Council in such Places as he pleased where being out of Council he caused Men to answer as in Council And that he as Steward having Authority only within the Verge did notwithstanding cause sundry to be attached out of the Verge as John Goddard and Others making them to answer in the Marshalsea for things done out of the Verge and other some he had committed to the Tower of his own Authority as John Sibill Edmund o Urdsales Sr. Rob. Cotton Vrdsalls and others That he had also of his own Head against the Justices Command discharged out of Newgate Hugh Lavenham Purveyor who had appealed sundry Men of Felony That he had bargain'd formerly with Sr. Nicolas Lovaine for the Keeping of the Mannor of Raynham in Kent the which the said Sr. Nicolas claimed to hold during the Minority of the Son and Heir of John Staunton whereas the said Sr. John Leigh knew that the said Mannor was holden of the King in Capite as of the Castle of Dover Of all which Points because the said Sr. John could not purge himself he was
their Eldest Brother the Constable himself could not be there by reason of an Infirmity of Body there was also Sr. b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 145. vid. Ieland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 686. John Lord Molins Robert Lord Hufford Ralph Lord Stafford William Lord Clinton and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby Now while these men were devising how to Seise on Mortimer c M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 222. the same Mortimer in Order to their Destruction held a close Council in the Castle of Nottingham with the Queen-Mother the Bishop of Lincoln Sr. Simon Bereford Sr. Hugh Turplington and Sr. John Monmouth and other his Creatures how to bring to utter Ruine all those that had accused him of Treason and Felony But this close Carriage of Mortimer's was smoak'd by the Lord Montague and those of the Council concern'd with him especially because none of them were permitted to take up their Lodgings in the Castle wherefore they knew that Mortimer and his Complices were brewing mischief for them Then Sr. William Montague went and told the King that since neither he nor any of his Partakers were admitted to Lodge in the Castle they should never be able to Seise Mortimer without the Consent and Assistance of the Constable Sr. William Eland Now surely said the King I love you well and therefore advise you to go to the Constable in my Name and command him to be Aiding and Assistant to you in taking the Mortimer all other things lay'd aside on peril of Life and Limb. St said Montague then God grant Success And thereupon he went and found the said Constable to whom he told the King's will before the rest of his Partakers but only yet in general Terms that it was the King's Pleasure he should be assistant to them in a certain matter relating to the King's Honour and Safety And the Constable answer'd that the King's Will should be obey'd in what he could and that he would not stand out for fear of Death it self and then he swore to be constant and secret and made his Oath to the Lord Montagu and Montagu to him in the hearing of all the Assistants Now surely Dear Friend said the Lord Montagu to the Constable it behoved us to gain your acquaintance in order to seise on Mortimer since you are Keeper of the Castle and have the Keys at your dispose Sirs reply'd the Constable if it be so you shall understand that the Gates of the Castle are locked with the Locks that Queen Isabell sent hither and at Night she hath all the Keys thereof and layeth them under the Pillow of her Bed until the Morning And so I may not help you into the Castle at the gates by any means But I know an Hole that stretcheth out of the Ward under Earth into the Castle beginning on the West-side which Hole neither Isabell the Queen nor none of her Retinue nor Mortimer himself nor none of his Company know any thing of and through this Passage I shall lead you till you come into the Castle without the Espial of any that are your Enemies That same Night Sr. William Montagu and all the Lords his Partakers and the Constable also took Horse pretending to go out of Town which when Mortimer heard of he thought they were fled away for fear of him and devised further how to entrap them But about Midnight being * Lit. Dom. G. a Fryday and the day after the Feast of St. Luke or the 19 of October returning back again they all came to the Passage aforesaid and there following the direction of Sr. William Eland enter a certain dismal Cave not of a long while taken Notice of which opening its Mouth without went all under the Castle dug unequally thrô Stony and other sort of Ground till it came to the Rock on which the Castle stood thrô which it also passed with Stairs till it open'd it self above within the Keep or Chief Tower. This wonderfull d Drayton's Barons Wars l. 6. Stanz 46. Passage had been after this manner hewed and dug forth during the Danish Invasions by some of the Saxon Kings for their better Security in case of a siege But since the Action of this Night it hath purchas'd the e Speed Map. Nettingh §. 6. Name of Mortimer's Hole Whom without any great Noise and with little Resistance they at last took not in the Queen Mothers Chamber as many too ignorantly or too maliciously suppose but in another not indeed far from it in the Company of f H. Knighton p. 2556. Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln Before he could be seised the Lord Montagu finding some Resistance from his Attendants slew Sr. Hugh g Knighton ibid. Adam Marimâ—uth M.S. ibid. c. Turplington Steward of the King's Houshold and Sr. John Monmouth and at last Chiefly by the great Valour of Sr. William Eland took the Lord Mortimer's Person to be reserved to some more Publique Fortune On the King's Party Sr. John Nevil of Horneby was wounded but not as some say slain as will appear hereafter where we shall speak of the Reward the King allotted him for this piece of Service and also in the 15th Year of this King we shall find him Governour of Newcastle upon Tine Thô by others Sr. Hugh Turplington is made one of the King's Party and again both he and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby are by h Drayton's Bar. Wars l. 6. Stanz 63. Mr. Drayton mistaken for Mortimer's Friends and both said then and there to be slain But this I mention not as a Fault in so Great a Man since Poets are not obliged to be so Exact for Truth as Historians are The Queen Mother being then in Bed heard the Noise of this Rencountre and supposing what the matter really was and that the King himself must needs be there she called out to him in these Words i Stow p. 229 c. Bel Fitz Bel Fitz ayes Pitie du Gentil Mortimer Dear Son have pity on the Gallant Mortimer Or as the foresaid k M. S. ibid. c. 222. M. S. which takes no notice of the King 's being there reports her words more probably Now fair Sirs I pray you that you do no harm unto his Body for he is a Worthy Knight Our well-beloved Friend and Our dear Cozen. But for all this the Earl of March was hurryed away thence and brought before the King where he stood and presented unto him who strait commanded him to be put into safe Custody in the Castle whereof all the Keys are forthwith seised into the King's Hands that none might issue out to discover what had been done till the rest of Mortimer's Abettors were secured also So the next Morning by the King 's special Command l Knighton p. 2556. two of his Sons were seised in the Town Sr. Edmund and Sr. Geoffry together with Sr. Oliver Byngham and Sr. Simon Bedford or Bereford and Sr. John
a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
whether Florens were to be current with Sterling After which Declaration was made in the Kings Name that whoever of his Subjects should think themselves hardly used either by the King or his Officers upon Complaint and Proof made should have their Remedy The mean while the Archbishop in Order to be present at this Session of Parliament f Antiqu. Brit. p. 235. n. 56. came to London repaired secretly to the Bishops of London and Chichester by whom he is convey'd to the Kings Palace where the Parliament sat with a great Company of Clergymen and Souldiers Upon his Entrance into the House the Kings Steward and Chamberlain met him who in the Kings Name forbad him to enter the Parliament untill in the Kings Exchequer he had undergone a Tryal concerning Crimes laid to his Charge Canterbury lest he should move the King too much went into the Exchequer and there took a Copy of the Articles whereof his Accusation was framed to which he promised after a mature deliberation to return an Answer Then with the Kings leave he enter'd the Parliament and there before the Prelates and Lords of the Realm declared the causes of his coming to be for the Honour Rights and Liberties of the Church for the Profit and Commodity of the Realm and for the Interest and Honour of the King and lastly that he might clear himself in Parliament of several Crimes laid to his Charge and Published over all England That day there was nothing done but the Parliament being at the Kings command Adjourn'd every one went his way But from g M. S. ibid. §. 6. Sr. Rob. Cottons Exact Abridgement Thursday the 12 of April till Thursday the 19 the Parliament continued from day to day in debate upon this point that the Nobles of this Land should not be put to answer but before their Peers in open Parliament Whereupon are named Four Bishops Four Earls and Four Barons to draw up the Platform for the Kings View Their h Antiqu. Brit. p. 236. Godwins Cat Bps p. 136. Names were these the Prelates Ralph Stafford Bishop of London Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells John Grandeston Bishop of Exceter and Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford The Four Earls were Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon and Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk The Four Barons were Henry Lord Piercy Thomas Lord Wake Ralph Lord Basset and the Lord Ralph Nevill These being also to enquire concerning the Crimes laid against the Archbishop and to prepare them for the King among other things determin'd that the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer and other High Officers of State should be included under the Names of Peers and set down a Request that all Conditions and Estates might enjoy their proper and peculiar Liberties By that time these things were thus forwarded the Archbishop came again to the Parliament but was forbid by the Captain of the Kings Guard i Antiqu. Brit. Godw. ut supra Sr. William Attewood to enter Whereupon he spake thus to the People that flocked about him My Friends the King by his Writ of Summons hath called me to this Parliament and I who am the Chief Peer of the Realm and who next the King have the First Voice in Parliament claim the Rights of my Church of Canterbury and therefore require entrance into Parliament But when for all this being kept out by the Guard he could not enter he took his Cross in his own Hands and solemnly protested that he would not stir from that place till the King gave him leave to come into Parliament or a sufficient Reason why he should not While he stood there in this manner some that were by began to revile him telling him that he was a Traytor and had deceived the King and betray'd the Realm To whom the Archbishop The Curse of Almighty God and of his Blessed Mother and of St. Thomas and Mine also be upon the Heads of them that inform the King so Amen Amen In this hurry certain Noblemen chancing to come out he besought them to Request the King in his behalf and for the Right of his Church of Canterbury this they kindly promise him to do The mean while certain Articles cunningly contriv'd and so as they might stir up the hate of the Common People against him are scatter'd about in all places The Authors of this trouble of the Archbishops were thought to be that subtle Engineer Adam Orleton Bishop of Winchester the Lord Darcy and Dr. William Killesby but Winchester cunningly dissembled the Matter and the other two were his open Enemies However at last by the Intercession and Favour of the Lords the King gave leave for his Admission into Parliament where he offer'd to purge himself Lawfully in Parliament of the Crimes objected unto him But he was referr'd to the Consideration of the Twelve Peers who had his Cause in Hand at that time On the 19 of April being a Thursday k M. S. Ret. Parl. p. 41. §. 8. Sr. R. Cotton p. 31. ibid. the King came into St. Edward's Chamber commonly called the Painted Chamber before whom in sight of all the Lords and Commons the Archbishop humbled himself and required his Gracious Pardon which upon the whole Parliaments General Suit and Entreaty his Majesty granted After which the Archbishop desired that whereas he was publiquely defamed thrô the Realm he might now be Arraigned in Open Parliament before his Peers But the King answer'd he would first attend to the Common Affairs and after that examine lighter Matters However a little after without any more Accusation or Answer the King of his own accord declared him Legally purged and excused and ever after held him more Dear than before Thus ended the Archbishops Troubles the Matter being no more resumed he either appearing Innocent which is most likely or however made so by the Kings Pardon Thô at that time all things touching his Arraignment were deliver'd l M.S. Id. p. 45. §. 48. Sr. Rob. Cotton to remain with Dr. William Killesby Keeper of the Privy Seal who as We observ'd before was thought no very Good Friend to the Archbishop But the Gracious King it seems had a Mind not to destroy so able a Minister but only to humble him and break his High Prelatical Obstinacy which for a while seem'd ready to Cope with his Regal Power But upon occasion of this Contrast the m M. S. Id. p. 42. c. Clergy of England in this Parliament made these Requests to the King That the Liberties of Holy Church may be kept and the Great Charter be newly proclaim'd and by Oath confirmed The King answer'd that it was his Desire that Magna Charta should be observed but that it seem'd to him sufficient for either that or other their Liberties to be exemplifi'd under the Great Seal and that more Oaths were not necessary especially since already too many
tast of his Courage and a free Opportunity of Enriching his own Men and ravaging the Lands of his Enemies Nor could he intend to retreat for safety to his own Lands in the Earldom of Ponthieu as b Mezeray ibid. some say because they as well as others that belonged to him were now in the Hands of the French King as may appear by the King of Englands frequent Complaints thereof in his Letters As for the Army of the Flemings which Others c Glov Villani l. 12. c. 64. p. 874 say he went forth to joyn in Picardy we cannot think that any such Design or Appointment was had or made because no such Effect appeared afterward even thô all Impediments were removed X. However d Frois c. 125. when the Parisians saw such Dreadfull Fires so near their own Walls they were in great doubt of themselves And King e Mezeray p. 26. ad hunc annum Philip himself was extreamly incensed to behold from his Capital City the heart of his Kingdom in Flames Wherefore he resolved forthwith to remove to St. Dennis having first commanded all the Penthouses in Paris to be pulled down But when the Parisians saw their King ready to leave them they came flocking to him and upon their knees said Ah Gracious Prince What means Your Majesty thus to forsake Your Royal Chamber of Paris The King reply'd Good People fear you nothing For the English shall come no nearer to you than they are already Why Sir said they they are not above 2 Leagues off now and when they shall hear of Your Departure they will come and Assault us and without You we are not able to hold out against them Sir for Gods sake tarry here still and defend your Loyal City of Paris Speak no more said the King of this Matter For I am resolved to go to St. Dennis to my Men of War and I will encounter the English and give them Battle whatsoever chance shall betide me And thereupon f Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 65. p. 875. having left for the Guard of the City and of his Queen and Children 1200 Men of Arms besides the Inhabitants and Footmen he rode forth to St. Dennis about 2 Leagues Northward of Paris where he g Frois Du Chesne c. found the King of Bohemia and his Son Charles Elected King of the Romans the Lord John of Hainalt the Duke of Lorraine the Earl of Flanders of Namur of Bleis and other great Lords and Knights with their Troops ready to serve him All this time King Edward while his Men were repairing the Bridge lay at h Frois ibid. Du Chesne p. 664. Poissy in the Nunnery where he kept the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady on the 15 of August and sat in his Royal Robes of Vermilion Scarlet furr'd with Ermines without sleeves having the day i M.S. Vetust Latin. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr before published by Proclamation that for Reverence of the approaching Solemnity no man whatsoever should offer during that Festival to commit any outrage by Fire or Depredations on pain of Life and Limbs But that all should devoutly solemnize the Praises of the Mother of God. While this Bridge was thus repaiting by the English the French King k Fabian p. 222. sent thither 2000 Souldiers to hinder the Workmen but the Archers by their continual shooting with their home-drawn Bows slew the greater part of them So that the Rest flying the Work was brought to Perfection Wherefore the Day after this Feast the Bridge being ready King Edward passed over in his former Array having l Fabian p. 221. fired the Town of Poissy but spared the Nunnery in Honour of its Founder Philip the Fair who was his Grandfather by the Mothers side Being thus passed over the Seyne and entred into le Vexin Francois he marched toward Pont-Oyse which is a City of great Defence but the Vanguard being past the Town the Rere-guard Assaulted it and took it where more than 300 Men of Arms of the Enemy were slain The next Day one of the English Marshals namely the Lord m Frois c. 125. Du Chesne p. 664. Godfry Harcourt together with the Earl of Suffolk and the Lord Hugh Spencer riding out on one Hand with 500 Men of Arms and 1300 Archers met by chance with a great Number of Burgesses of Amiens on Horseback who upon King Philips Command were riding to Paris for the better Defence of that City in case of Necessity The English immediately fell upon them with great Coâ—rage and the French Defended themselves a while as Valiantly for they had four good Knights of Amiens to their Captains and they exceeded the English in Number and were all very well armed So that at the beginning many were reversed on both parts and the Skirmish continued something doubtfull But at last the English by their obstinate Valour and great Experience prevailed and then the Burgesses were well-nigh all taken or slain so that about n Ashmole p. 655. Martin p. 118. Frois ibid. c. 1200 of them remain'd Dead in the Field and all their Carriage Baggage and Harness o Sr Tho. de la More apud Stow p. 242. being 302 Carts and Waggons laden with Crossbows Quarrels Armour and Victuals fell to the Conquerours share besides 60 Gentlemen Prisoners Thus the p Frois c. 125. fol. 62. King of England marched in Hostile Manner thrô Vexin Francois into Beauvaisis burning and destroying all before him Now it is to be remembred that on the Second Day after King Edward had passed the Seyne he being then at Aunevil within 3 Leagues of Beauvais there q Ashmole's Garter p. 655. ex Record came Letters unto him from King Philip signifying that he would give him Battle as on that Thursday or else on the Saturday Sunday or Monday following On Condition he would in the mean while forbear destroying the Country In Answer whereto King Edward immediately sent him this Letter following EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland unto the Illustrious Lord Philip Earl of Valois r r Ex Original Gallico apud M.S. Vet. Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr cui titulus Acta Edvardi Filii Edvardi Tertii Ret. Norman 20. Ed. 3. m. 21. in Derse Sr. Philip of Valois We have read your Letters wherein you signifie unto Us that You will Combat with our whole Power between St. Germaine de Prez and Valgirart de la Paris or between Franconville and Pont-Oyse this Thursday or on Saturday Sunday or Monday next following provided that neither We nor our People do any Damage Spoil or Waste Whereupon We give You to know that thrô Assurance in God and the Clear Right which We have to the Crown of France which You Usurp injuriously to the Disherison of Us our Country God and Right We are come not in any Pride or Presumption into
our said Realm of France holding our way toward You to make an end of the War between Us But that when it was in Your Power to have Battle You caused the Bridges to be broken down between You and Us so that We could not approach unto You nor pass the Water of Seyne till We were come to Poissy and there We took Order to Repair the Bridge which You had caused to be broken and We tarried there three Days waiting for You and your Power which You have assembled unto which Place You might have come either on the one side or the other at your Pleasure And because We cannot have Battle with You We have taken a Resolution to pass further into our said Realm to comfort those that are our Friends and Faithfull and to chastise those who are Rebellious unto Us whom You unjustly call your Subjects And surely We will stay in our said Realm without departing till We have atchieved our War as far as We may to our Advantage and the Grievance of our Adversaries Wherefore if You are desirous as your Letters report to fight with Us and to save those whom You claim as your Subjects if You will let Us know at what time You will come You shall find Us ready in the Field to Encounter You by the help of God Which thing We ardently desire for the Benefit of Christendom seeing that You will not vouchsafe either to offer or admit of any Reasonable way of Peace with Us. But We are not at all advised to be directed by You nor to accept of Place and Day of Battle from You on the Conditions above written Dated at Anneville this Thursday the 17th of August in the Year of our Reign of France the Seventh and of England the Twentieth That ſ Frois c. 125. ibid. Night the King of England took up his Lodgings in a Fair Abbey called Messene near Beauvais But being upon his March the next Morning as he chanced to look behind him and saw the Abbey on fire he straight commanded 20 of the Authors of that Fact to be hanged For at t Frois ibid. Ashmole p. 655. his first entrance into France he had commanded by Proclamation through his Army that no Man should presume on pain of Death to violate any Church or burn any Religious House Then he passed by the City of Beauvais without giving any Assault for the Reasons aforemention'd But his two Marshals while the King was drawing toward a little Town called Milly where he intended to encamp that Night went so close to Beauvais that they made an Attempt in three Places and gave a fierce Assault at the Barriers But the Town was so well Defended by reason that the Bishop was present with sufficient Forces that having only burnt the Suburbs close up to the very Gate they left off toward the Evening and proceeded and encamped in the Kings Field Thence the whole Army went and encamped at Granvillers and the next Morning as they passed by Argies finding it void they set it on fire and went directly to the Town of Poix which was furnished with two Castles XI In the Castles there were only u Frois c. 125. two Fair young Ladies with their Servants who were presently taken and had been villanously abused had it not been for 2 Worthy English Knights Sr. John Chandos and Sr. Ralph Basset of Sapcoat who preserved the Honour of the two Ladies and brought them with great Respect before the King their Master King Edward pittying their Youth and flourishing Beauty and carefull not to sully his Victories with any Ignoble Stain entertained them with Princely humanity and after a Noble Refection demanded of them whither they most desired to go They being encouraged by the Kings Royal Behaviour reply'd To Corbie Whereupon the King immediately caused them to be safely and Honourably conducted thither being little more than 9 Leagues distant from Poix and about four from Amiens Eastward and standing also on the Somme That Night King Edward lodged near Poix the mean while the Chief of the Town came to a Composition with the Marshals offering unto the King a certain Sum of Florens on Condition their Town might neither be burnt nor plunder'd neither then nor the next Day This being granted the King marched off next Morning with all his Army except some few whom he had left behind to receive the Money which the Townsmen had engaged to pay as a Ransom for their Town But when these Frenchmen perceived that the Army was gone off and out of sight and only these few Collectors left behind they resolved to pay never a penny and so rang the Alarum Bell and began to fall upon the English who had already sent for Succour to the Army and were not wholly unprovided for they had Harness under their Coats for fear of the Worst and a good Captain over them and were altogether in a Body as the King had order'd them When the Lords Sr. Reginald Cobham and Sr. Thomas Holland who had Charge of the Reer heard of this they returned back to the Town upon the Spur and as they entred cryed Treason Treason Being come thither they found their friends still fighting and hardly maintaining their Post The English Lords enraged at this falshood put all they met to the Sword ransack'd all the Town and Demolished the two Castles and so return'd with their Spoil to the Camp then at Airaynes leaving nothing but Blood and Fire behind them While the King of England lay about Airaynes he caused Proclamation to be made thrô his Host that on pain of Death no Man should do any harm to the Towns of those Parts for as much as He was minded to tarry there two or three Days to take Advice how he might pass the River of Somme For it was necessary for him to pass that River but as yet there appeared no means how it might be done for the Bridges were all broken down or strongly Defended XII King x Frois c. 126. Philip the mean while having gather'd all his Forces about him began to March from St. Dennis and went to Compiegne in his way to Amiens where he tarried a while waiting King Edwards Motions He for his part was well inform'd of the French Kings approach and resolved to abide him but thought it not fit to engage while he was enclosed between two Rivers the Seyne and the Somme in that Manner Wherefore he took great Care to get a convenient Passage For the River was Large and Deep and the Bridges as we shew'd before broken down and if any Place was suspected to be fordable that was most strongly guarded First therefore the two Marshals were sent forth with 1000 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers to view along by the River side if they could find or win a Passage These Troops Marching by Lompre came to the Bridge of Pont de Remy which was very strongly kept by a great Number of
Leagues as also they did to the Suburbs of Boulogne After this the King with the Prince his Son went and encamped by Wissan on the Sea-side about 3 Leagues from Calais And having tarried here one Day to refresh his Army on the d Du Chesne c. Thursday being the last of August others say the e Knighton p. 2588. 7 of September he came and lay down before the strong Town of Calais which had been of old a great Nuisance both to Him and his Kingdom CHAPTER the FOURTH The CONTENTS I. The Description Scituation and Strength of Calais Which King Edward blocks up by Sea and Land The strength of his Navy II. The Calisians not yielding upon his Summons he lays a formal Siege the Plenty of Provision continually in his Camp. III. The Earl of Warwick takes Terouenne the Flemings at the same time besiege St. Omers IV. The Captain of Calais thrusts out 1700 poor and impotent People whom King Edward in pity relieves V. The Copies of two Letters written by one of the King of England's Chaplains and containing the Summ of all this Expedition from the Winning of Caen to the Siege of Calais VI. Iohn Duke of Normandy makes another Attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss VII King Philip sends his peremptory Command to his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and also urges the King of Scotland to invade England on that Side so to divert King Edward from the Siege of Calais VIII The true Manner of the Duke of Normandy's Leaving the Siege of Aiguillon IX He is cut off at the Reer by the Lord Walter Manny who agrees with a Prisoner of Quality to let him go free so that he will procure him a safe Conduct to ride thrô France to Calais with 20 Men only X. The Prisoner brings him the Duke of Normandy's Conduct and is himself acquitted Sr. Walter Manny riding in Confidence thereof towards Calais is by King Philips Order secured But the Duke of Normandy changes his Fathers Bloody Intentions against him and saves his Life c. XI The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and wins Towns and Castles at his Pleasure in Xaintogne Rochellois and Poictou XII An Instance of the Princely Munificence of the Earl of Lancaster XIII He wins the City of Poictiers and leaving it desolate returns by St. Jean D'Angely to Bourdeaux XIV An Army of Poictevins utterly discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan I. THE City a Sâ—â—n p. 243. Frois c. 133. vid. Ferrarâ—um in titulo Caletam c. of Calais thô of no considerable Extent is a famous Market-Town Rich and strongly Fortified being scituate on the Marches of Artois five Leagues Northward of Boulogne and three Westward of Gravelines and but little more than fourteen from the nearest Coast of England or Dover Castle which it directly confronts And the Sea between is by the English called the Strait of Calais and by the French La Manche It is furnished with a strong Castle and a spacious Haven where a considerable Navy may take safe Harbour and is also enclosed about with a Double Wall and a Double Ditch besides that on the West-side from Risban to Cologne it is fenced with b Marish grounds which are only passable by Xeâ—land Bridge an Arm of the Sea in a Semicircular manner This Town and Castle are reported to have been first built by Julius Caesar the Famous Roman Emperour after he had brought all France to do Homage to his Eagles As he is also said to have built the Castle of Chepstow in Monmouthshire in Venodocia or South-Wales and that of Dover in Kent when he was about the Conquest of Brittain now called England Wherefore thô it was of incredible Strength as well for its advantagious Scituation as those wonderfull Accessions of Art which made it almost Impregnable by any human Power yet because it was a most convenient Landing-place for any out of England to set Footing in France and had also by its Piracies exercised on the English Seas done many great Displeasures to King Edward and his People he resolved to lay Siege unto the Place knowing that having already given such a Blow to France if he could not be able to reduce them by Force he might yet overcome them by Famine which enters thrô the strongest Fortifications All along as the King marched hither by Land his Fleet being return'd out of England took the same way by Sea under the Command of William Clinton Earl of Huntington and then Lord High c Weever's Fun. Mon. p. 259 Admiral of England together with the Lord John Mongomery Vice-Admiral which Two at the very Instant of King Edward's Investing the Town of Calais by Land came and block'd it up also by Sea with a Mighty Navy consisting in all of d Hacluit's Voyages 1 Vol. p. 119. c. 738 Ships wherein were no less than 14956 Mariners together wich Souldiers and Provisions of all sorts accordingly II. Now the e Frois ibid. King knew that the strength of the Place and the Courage of the Garrison were likely enough to give him some trouble but considering the Opportunities he had while he lay here of receiving Assistance either from England or Flanders he resolved to starve them if they would not otherwise accept his Mercy First therefore by his Herald he Summons the Captain to yield up unto him as Rightfull King of France that his Castle and Town of Calais otherwise that he would put them all to the Sword for their Obstinacy The Captain Answer'd He knew but One King of France who had sent him thither to keep the Place for his behoof and him only was he resolved to obey being ready either to live or die in his Service Thô upon Occasion he doubted not but to have sufficient Assistance from him Upon this peremptory Answer of the Captain King Edward began to entrench himself strongly about the City setting his own Tent directly against the Chief Gates at which he intended to enter then he placed Bastions between the Town and the River and set out Regular Streets and reared up decent Buildings of strong Timber between the Trenches which he cover'd with Thatch Reed Broom and Skins Thus he encompassed the whole Town of Calais from Ruban on the Northwest side to Courgaine on the Northeast all along by Sangate at Port and Fort de Nieulay commonly by the English call'd Newland-Bridge down by Hammes Cologne and Marke So that his Camp look'd like a spacious City and was usually by Strangers that came thither to Market called New-Calais For this Prince's Reputation for Justice was so Great that to his Markets which he held in his Camp twice every Week viz. on Tuesdays and Saturdays for Flesh Fish Bread Wine and Ale with Cloth and all other Necessaries there came not only his Friends and Allies from England Flanders and Aquitain but even many of King Philips Subjects and
Homage of England Wherefore they heartily desired the King of England and his Council to consider of it and to propose unto them such Conditions as they might accept and not demand of them things so inconsistent and impossible and which appeared unto them far worse than Death This Request being but reasonable was back'd with a Truce and thus Matters rested for a while in those Parts V. Now k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 15. Stow p. 254. Pope Innocent the VI being newly settled in the Pontifical Chair when he saw Matters tending towards a Rupture between the two Realms of England and France interposed his Endeavours to make up the Breach and sent l Innoc. VI. Tom. 1. Epist Secret p. 22. Et an 1. Epist Curial l. 2. Epist 29 30 31. Guy Bishop of Porto and Cardinal of Bologna in his Name to promote the Treaty of a Final Peace in Order to which he empower'd him by his Papal Letters the Tenour whereof followeth INNOCENT the Servant of the Servants of God to his Venerable Brother Guy Bishop of Porto c. Among other things which by the Office of our Apostolick Service are incumbent on Us this We especially desire that between our Most Dear Sons in Christ the Illustrious Kings John of France and Edward of England the Fewel of Dissention being withdrawn Peace and Concord may be reformed Tranquillity may flourish the happiness of Quiet may abound and a Pacifick State may continue Considering therefore that You who as an earnest Well-Wisher to the Premises have at our Good Pleasure gone to the Parts of France and there Personally tarry do zealously interpose Your Diligence to the Reformation of the said Peace and Concord desiring also that if by his Grace who is the Author of Health and Peace Your Intention being as to the Premises conformable to ours may obtain a desired effect those things which shall be done may be firmly Ratified We grant unto your Brotherhood of whom in this and other things We have full Confidence in the Lord by the Apostolical Authority by Vertue of these Presents full and free Power of Confirming approving and Ratifying by the Authority aforesaid the Treaties and Conventions of the said Peace and Concord between the said Kings and also the Princes Lords Great Men Aiders and Followers of them and their Adherents nevertheless after that the said Treaties and Conventions shall by Gods assistance be finished and by the said Kings and others aforesaid freely received and approved of receiving from them and every of them Covenants Oaths and Submissions for the entire observation of the said Treaties and Conventions and of restraining the Contradictions by Ecclesiastical Censure without any Appeal notwithstanding if to them or any of them either together or severally it hath been granted by the Apostolick See that they should not be interdicted suspended or excommunicated by Apostolick Letters making full and express mention and Word by Word of such a Grant. Dated at Villeneufe of the Dioecese of Avignon III Id. Maii Ano. Pontif. 1 mo Besides this Cardinal Pope Innocent m M. S. in Bibl. Vatican sign N. p. 2040. apud Oder Rainald ibid. sent several other Prelates to both the Kings in Order to bring this Peace to its Perfection So that at n Stow ibid. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229. last it was agreed That the King of England should resign acquit and renounce all the Right he had or claimed to the Crown of France transferring it entirely to the French King and his Heirs in Consideration whereof He the said King of England should receive and enjoy the whole Dukedom of Aquitain with the City of Calais and the whole Counties of Artois and of Guisnes for Himself and his Successors Kings of England without ever doing any Homage or making any acknowledgement for the same to the Kings of France or without holding them in any subordinate Manner otherwise than he held the Crown of England it self namely of God alone To these Conditions thus agreed on King Edward yielded his Consent and for a firm Conclusion of the Premises Ambassadors were sent as well from him as from the French King to the Court of Rome then at Avignon A Truce being taken the mean while to be kept in England France Gascogne and Bretagne till Easter next ensuing during which time it was hoped a full and final Peace would be established But we shall defer the Prosecution of that Matter to its proper Place and speak of what happen'd at home before the Truce was in any forwardness VI. On the 15 of July o M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 70. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 83. King Edward sent forth his Writs of Summons to his Lords to meet him in Parliament at Westminster on the * Lâ—t Dom. F. Monday after the Feast of St. Matthew or the 23d of September following these being the Names of those to whom the Writs were directed Edward Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster William Bohun Earl of Northampton Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire William Clinton Earl of Huntington Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Vere Earl of Oxford Gilbert Vmphraville Earl of Angos Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk William Montague Earl of Salisbury Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford John Lord Mowbray Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Neville Richard Lord Talbot Robert Lord Morley Walter Lord Manny William Lord Hunting field Thomas Lord Berkley Thomas Lord Lucy Peter Lord Morley the Fifth Reginald Lord Cobham Reginald Lord Grey John Lord Willoughby of Eresby Roger Lord Chandos John Lord Charleton William Lord Zouch of Harringworth John Lord Bardolph William Lord Deincourt John Lord Tibetot John Lord Fitz-Walter Walter Lord Fauconbridge William Lord Greystock William Lord Dacres Thomas Lord Musgrave Thomas Lord Bradestan John Lord Grey of Rotherfield John Lord Grey of Codonore John Lord Darcy of Knayth Roger Lord Mortimer of Wigmore Robert Lord Colvile Bartholomew Lord Burwash Senior Guy Lord Brian Nicolas Lord Seimour Geoffry Lord Say. Michael Lord Poynz John Lord Beauchamp of Somerset John Lord Beauchamp of Warwickshire William Lord Ferrers John Lord Lisle of Rugemont Nicolas Lord Cantilupe John Lord Furnival Nicolas Lord Burnel Edward Lord Montague Thomas Lord Vghtred Robert Lord Scales Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Braose James Lord Audley Thomas Lord Holland Bartholomew Lord Burwash Junior Warden of the Cinque-Ports On the p Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 81. c. Monday aforesaid the Parliament being met Proclamation was made in Westminster-Hall that the Three-Estates warned thereto might take their ease from Wednesday until Friday then ensuing On which Friday Sr. William Shareshull the Lord Chief Justice shew'd that the Assembly was called for that the Staple should be removed from beyond the Seas and appointed within the Realm But for that we shall refer the Reader to the Statute of the
Staple in the Statute-Book because it agreeth exactly with the Record containing 28 Chapters The Seventh day of October Sr. Bartholomew Burwash the Kings Chamberlain in the Presence of the King Lords and Commons sheweth how the King had attempted and pursued War against the French without Charging of the Commons And to end the same he had made great means to the Pope but that since he could not obtain any good end of the War he now required the Commons to grant him the Subsidy of Wooll who thereupon by whole assent granted him the same for Three Years The Print against Provisors that sue to the Court of Rome c. 1. agreeth with the Record the Print that all Suggestions shall be put into Pardons c. 2. agreeth with the Record The Print that Justices of the Peace should look after Victuallers c. 3. agreeth with the Record But the Statute of Wines in the Print c. 5 6 7 and 8. is not in the Roll nor in the Printed Calendar of Parliaments The Commons Petitions are as followeth viz. That the King would revoke the Office of Alnage and take three pence of every Cloth. Let the Commons talk with the Chancellour and Treasurer to the end good Recompence be made for the said Alnage That the Subsidies and other Aids granted may be employed only in the Wars It pleaseth the King. That the Coin may be reduced into old Sterling It was answer'd the last Parliament That the Staple may be appointed at Worcester Nottingham Hull St. Botolphs Stamford Lyn Ipswich and Canterbury One shall be at Canterbury and that only in Honour of St. Thomas That the Lords and Commons may by Easter following appoint out three Sorts of Wolls which shall then Commence The King will be advised That the outragious Fines taken by Sr. John Molins and such other Commissioners may be remedied Vpon Complaint Redress shall be had It is Enacted that all the Articles of the Staple shall be proclaimed throughout the Realm and confirmed at the next Parliament VII Thus this Year ended and on the 15 of March following King Edward sent forth his Writs of Summons to his Barons to meet him in Parliament on the Monday after St. Mark the Evangelist or the 28 of April On the q M.S. Rot. Par. 28 Ed. 3. m. 1. p. 579. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 85. Monday aforesaid the Lord Chief Justice Sr. William Shareshull in the Painted Chamber made open Proclamation before the King Lords and Commons that the Parliament was called for three Causes First For the Establishing the Staple within the Realm and for Confirmation of the Ordinances made at the last Great Council Secondly How they might treat of a Peace with France for that by War the King saw his Subjects greatly wasted and Thirdly For Receiving of Petitions and redress of Enormities all which without a Parliament could not be effectually ended Here Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore being Grandchild to the old Roger Mortimer Earl of March who had been executed for Treason r Vid. l. 1. c. 3 §. 6. p. 46. ad p. 54. An. 4. Ed. 3. twenty three Years before had such favour as Å¿ M. S. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Ashmole p. 692. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. upon his Petition to obtain a Reversal of the Judgment given against his Grandfather aforesaid as erroneous and utterly void for that he that said Earl was put to Death against Law having never been called to open Answer before his Peers Whereupon this said Roger from thence forward bare the Title of Earl of March and had again Restitution of the Castles and Lordships of Blenleveny and Bulkedinas whereof his Grandfather died seised as also all his other Lands which upon that Forfeiture coming to the Crown had been bestowed on William Lord Montagu and Others But the Charter of his Restitution t Tho. Mills Catal Hen. p. 576. bears a later Date viz. on the 19 of Novemb Anno Regni 29. 1355. In u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 317. M.S. Ret. Par. p. 80. §. 13. c. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 86 c. like manner Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel upon his humble Petition wherein he remonstrated that Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father had been unjustly put to Death was thereupon as Heir unto him fully restored And because the Death of his Father had been occasion'd by the means of Roger Mortimer Grandfather to the foresaid Roger Earl of March to prevent all further Heart-burnings between the two Families it was now x Dagd 1 Vol. p. 317. 〈◊〉 Claus 28 Ed. 3. in dâ—rse m. 10. by Indenture made betwixt this Earl Richard and the said Earl Roger agreed that Edmund Son and Heir to the said Richard should take to Wise Alice the Daughter of the said Roger and that she should have Three Thousand Marks for her Portion viz. one Thousand at the Sealing of that Agreement upon their Marriage at her Seventh Year of Age one Thousand more and at her accomplishing the Age of Thirteen the remaining Thousand Now before this as we have already observed the King in Council resolved to withdraw the Mart or Staple of Woolls from the Towns of Flanders because that People thô they received much Advantage thereby had not kept true Touch with him and accordingly he commanded the same to be kept at y Holinsh Engl. Chren p. 948. Statute-Beek p. 102. Westminster Chichester Lincoln Bristow Canterbury Hull and other Places In pursuance of which wholsom Device it was z M.S. Rot. Par. p. 80. n. 16. Sr. Rob-Cotton p. 86. ibid. c. now Enacted that all the Ordinances made in the last Great Council assembled at Westminster touching the Staple be confirmed to continue for ever It is Enacted that the Justices of the Peace shall be of the Best in every County that upon the Displacing of any of them others be placed at the Nomination of the Knights of the same County that they sit four times at least every Year That none be displaced without the Kings Special Commandment or Testimony of their Fellows It is Enacted that no Purveyor being arrested for any Misdemeanour shall have any Privy-Seal to cause such as arrested him to come before the Council to answer the King but have his Remedy at the Common Law. The Commons Petitions with the Kings Answers thereto were these That the Surplusage of the Fines of the Statute of Labourers may be entirely distributed among the Poor of the whole County and not to poor Towns only It shall be parted among the poor Towns only That the Writ of Estreat may lie in every Action where the Party shall recover Dammages of Estreats after the Writ purchased The old Law shall be continued That Remedy may be had in such Cases where the King receiveth the Profits of the Wards Lands as well of Soccage as otherwise where no part of the same is holden of him The Law heretofore used shall continue That it may be order'd
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
Craon Briciusgauth pro Bouciquaut prâ—pter 〈◊〉 M. SS Codicum leg tur Three Lords aforesaid namely the Lord of Craon the Lord of Bouciquaut and the Hermit of Chaumont besides the Captain of the Garrison who was there before and 240 Men of Arms the common Souldiers being let go and in this whole Expedition before the Battle of Poictiers there are p M.S. vet-An giiâ—in Biblieth C.C.C. Cantabr c. 23â— reckon'd to have been taken in all more than 6000 Men of Arms about in the Country as the Prince journey'd all whom he sent away Prisoners to Bourdeaux to be ransomed After the Taking of Romorantin the Prince marched on as before thrô the Parts of Touraine and Anjou on this side the Loire destroying the Country all before him till he came to the Place which was ordain'd to be remarkable to all Posterity for a Victory of his III. The French King q Fro s c. 159. f. 79. c. having already compleated his Musters at Chartres began his March about this time and went thence to Blois upon the Loire in quest of the Prince Where having tarried two Days he passed the River with all his Host a great Part whereof went over at the Bridge of Orleans Mehun Tours and Saumur or where else they might for all the other Bridges but those of the Good Towns were broken down by the French to hinder the Prince's Passage From Blois King John marched to Amboise and the day following to Loches where he heard how the Prince of Wales was on the Borders of Touraine and designed to return by Poictou to Bourdeaux For he had perpetual Information sent him in dayly by several expert Knights of France who continually coasted the English to observe their Countenance and Behaviour Hereupon King John marched from Loches to la Haye en Touraine resolving to give the Prince of Wales Battle with an Army consisting of 20000 Men of Arms Lords Knights and Esquires all muster'd and past for Men of Arms among whom were twenty six Dukes and Earls and more than 120 Banners with the Kings Four Sons who were all but Young as Charles Duke of Normandy and Dauphin of Vienna Lewis Duke of Anjou John Duke of Berry and Philip who shortly after purchased the Sirname of Hardy and became in time Duke of Burgundy At that instant Pope Innocent VI sent the Lord Talayrand Cardinal of Perigort and Nicolas Cardinal r Haec nomina tituli ecrum v. Victerell 1 Vol. p. 911. ad p. 923 Odâ—r Rainal Titulo Sancti Vitalis into France to treat of Peace between the French King and all his Enemies First between him and the King of Navarre for whose Delivery they had often before laboured hard with King John when he lay before Bretevil but all in vain and then to use their utmost Endeavours to compose Matters between England and France When these Cardinals came to Tours they heard how the French King was in eager Pursuit of the English wherefore they both made haste to the City of Poictiers for that way they understood both the Armies were bound The mean while the King hearing that the Prince made haste to get home and doubting lest he should escape his hands departed with all his Host from la Haye en Touraine and rode to Chauvigny on the River of Vienne where he tarried that Thursday with his Men in and about the Town between the two Rivers of Creuse and Vienne The next Day he passed the Vienne at the Bridge thinking to find the English before him on the other side but he was mistaken for they were encamped by a little Village higher on the Right hand of Poictiers But for all that King John pursued after with great heat and confidence and with him there passed the Bridge more than 60 Thousand Horse besides those that passed over higher at Chastelleraut who also took their way directly to Poictiers On the other hand Prince Edward had no certain knowledge where his Enemies were thô he concluded they were not far off because his Men could find no more Forage Whereby he began to be in great Want and then the English Souldiers repented much that they had made such Havock and Destruction as they had done before in Berry Anjou and Touraine and yet had laid up but small Provision for themselves against â—n evil Day IV. All that Friday being the day that the King passed the Vienne at Chauvigny Å¿ Frois ibid. censer cum Knighten p. 2614. n. 50. there tarried still behind in the Town three Great Lords of France the Lord Ralph de Coucy the Earl of Joigny and the Lord of Chauvigny Marshal of Burgundy with part of their Troops to the number of 240 Men of Arms. These early on the Saturday morning also passed the Bridge after the King who was then about three Leagues before and they took their way among Bushes by the side of a Wood which leadeth to Poictiers That same Morning Prince Edward had dislodged from about a little Village hard by called Bonmatour at which time he sent before him certain Currours to try if they could meet with any Adventure and to get Intelligence whereabout the French Army was These were in number sixty Men of Arms all excellently well mounted under the Leading of Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt a young Gentleman Son to the Lord Sanchio Dambreticourt who was Knight of the Garter with whom was joyned the Lord John de St. Guislain another Native of Hainalt and soon after their setting forth they met by chance with the Three French Lords aforesaid as they rode along by the side of the said Wood. The Frenchmen presently knew them for their Enemies wherefore they strait clap'd on their Helmets display'd their Banners and came a good round Trot toward the Englishmen But they seeing their Design and withall how far they exceeded them in Number determin'd to fly and suffer the French to pursue as knowing the Prince with his Horse was not far behind So they turned their Horses and took down by a Corner of the Wood with the Frenchmen at their Heels upon the Spurr crying out their Martial Cries with great Clamour But as they pursued thus eagarly unawares they came where the Prince was with his Battail expecting some News from those whom he had sent forth for that Purpose The Lord Ralph de Coucy rode so forward that he was suddenly under the Princes Banner where after a couragious Resistance he was taken Prisoner together with the Earl of Joigny and the Lord of Chauvigny and an t M.S. vel Ang. in Bibl. C. C C. Cantab. c. 230. Hundred Men of Arms as many more being slain only about Fourty escaped away by reason of the Covert of the Wood. This was the first lucky praeludium to that Famous Victory which was already destin'd for the English From these Prisoners Prince Edward fully understood the Condition of his Enemies and how they followed him so near that he could not
p. 59. Country also compounded with the King as Burgundy had done But he laid waste all the Country in Gastinois and Brie thrô which he marched toward Paris with an high Hand In this y Fabâ—an p. 238. March the Prince of Wales passed with his Battalia by a little Town on the Loing in Gastinois called Moret till he came to a strong Fortress named le Plessis aux Tournelles near the Forest of Provins which was then an English Garrison but had been beleaguered by the French for some time who having fortified their Camp with a strong Tower fenced with Ditches gave many fierce Alarms to the Englishmen And thô now they heard for certain that the Prince of Wales approached that way they had such Confidence in their Works that they would not stirr from the Place But yet they were deceived for the fifth day after the Princes Coming their Tower was won and most of them within put to the Sword no more than 47 who were the Chief among them being taken alive of whom were the Lord of Bonneville the Lord of Angreville Sr. John de Barrois and Sr. William du Plessis VI. Thus at length King Edward succeeded so in his Victorious Progress that on the last z ED. Lit. Dom. Pascha 5. April Day of March being the Tuesday before Easter he a Vid. Frois c. 210. Fabian p. 238. Mat. Villani l. 9. c. 85. 86. p. 759. c. came with his Army before the City of Paris and took up his Quarters at Bourg la Reine within two little Leagues of Paris the Army being encamped all along at Longemeau between Mont-lehery and Chastres and in the Towns thereabout even to Corbeil At sight of this Formidable Army Charles Duke of Normandy and Regent of France began to think of some Offers towards a Treaty especially because King Edward b Knighton p. 2623. n. 40. in reverence of the approaching Festival of our Lords Resurrection forbare all Hostilities intending not formally to lay his Siege till after Easter Hereupon c Fabâ—an Hoâ—â—st c. by the especial Intercession of Father Simon de Langres Provincial of the Jacobin Fryars and Legat from Pope Innocent VI King Edward yielded to admit of a Treaty to be seriously held at the Maladerie or Spittle of Longemeau on the good-Good-Friday following the Solemnity of the Day being look'd on as an Enforcement of so Christianlike an Undertaking At the Time and Place there appeared for King Edward Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord John Chandos the Lord Walter Manny and Sr. William Cheney and for the Regent of France there appeared the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France the Lord Bouciquault Marshal the Lord of Garenciers the Lord of Vignay en Vienne Sr. Simon Bucy and Sr. Guischard D'Angle But we pass by the Debates of this Treaty because they came to no good Effect Wherefore King Edward the rather to quicken the French to a sincere desire after Peace on d 7 April Easter-Tuesday removed something nearer to the City of Paris Whereupon on the Fryday following being the Tenth of April at the earnest Importunity of the foresaid Simon de Langres and of Androine de la Roche Abbot of Cluigny who was then newly come from the Pope for that Purpose another Treaty was appointed to be held but neither yet could Matters be brought to any good issue So that again they parted leaving the Breach as wide as ever Wherefore on the Sunday following King Edward drew down his whole Army before Paris and embattail'd them in a Field by St. Marcels in three Great Battalia's each Battalia being divided into Three Bodies and then he forthwith sent the Duke of Lancaster with his Heralds to the Regent of France who was within the City with a great Army to demand Battle of him assuring him e Walsing hist p. 167. n. 10. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. that if now King Edward should lose the Day He would never after claim or assume any Right or Title to the Crown of France But for all this the Cauteous Regent declin'd to answer his Desire While the Messengers were about this Demand the King honoured no less than f Speed p. 583. M.S. id ibid. 400 Esquires and Young Gentlemen with the Order of Knighthood among whom g Frois c. 211. were John Lord Fitz-Walter Robert Lord Vavasour Thomas Spencer John Nevil and William Torceaux but Collart Dambreticourt younger Son to Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt and Esquire of the Kings Body declin'd the Honour at that time by saying that he could not find his Headpiece and Corslet For he had made an Oath to do some notable piece of Service before he would accept the Order of Knighthood But when upon the Return of the Duke of Lancaster and the Heralds the King heard how he should not have Battle he was wonderfully displeased and upon the Lord Manny's Request sent him forth with all the new-made Knights and such others as were thereto appointed to skirmish at the Barriers and to burn what they could of the Suburbs so to h Meâ—eray ad hunc an p. 59. provoke the Frenchmen to come forth or at least to offer more ample Conditions The Assault was vigorous and lasted from Morning till Noon and the French defended their Post at the Gate and Barriers with Valour becoming their Circumstances nor would they have been content to have stood so long on the Defensive Part only for there were many Noble and Resolute Knights and Gentlemen within the City at that time but it was the Duke of Normandy's peremptory Command that no man on pain of his Head should presume to issue out of the Barriers without his Order So well had that Prince afterward sirnamed the Wise learn'd how to deal with this English Hannibal not only by the Example of the old Roman Fabius but of two nearer Relations even of his own Father and Grandfather whose frequent and great Losses proceeding from their too forward Courage taught him now to oppose a Shield to this Conquering Sword and not easily to put his last Stake to the Fortune of a Battle But however one i Knighton p. 2623. n. 60. says that after Noon when the Lord Walter Manny's Skirmish was over about 30 of these new-dubbed Knights went to the Barriers requiring a few Courses on Horseback according to the Law of Arms in those Days Against whom says he came forth 60 Frenchmen if the Number is not mistaken for Thirty as I rather believe and between these there arose an hot Skirmish But in the end the English by the Grace of God had the better having slain some grievously wounded others and obliged the rest to retire It is said that while the King stood before Paris the k Stow p. 264. Where he says this happen'd on the 14 of April and the Morrow after
are contained divers Passages intimating that You would gladly know why We take to our Friend and Lover your Enemy our Cousin the King Don Pedro and by what Title We make War upon You being enter'd with an Army Royal into Castille To this We now answer Know You for a truth that it is to sustain Right and Justice and to uphold Reason and Equity as it appertaineth to all Kings and Princes to do And also to cultivate and cherish the strict Alliances which the King of England our Dearest Father and King Don Pedro have of long time held together However because You are a Renowned and Right Worthy and Valiant Knight We are willing if We may to reconcile him and You together and We shall so perswade our Cousin Don Pedro that he shall yield unto You a considerable part of his Realm of Castille but as for the Crown and Inheritance Royal that You must Renounce for ever In which case Sir You may take Counsel and be advised And as for our entring into Castille We will enter and proceed as We think best at our own pleasure Dated at Groing the 30 of March in the Year of Grace MCCCLXVII X. This Letter being folded up and sealed with the Prince's Seal was deliver'd to the same Herald that brought Don Henry's Letters and had tarried for an answer now about three Weeks So the Herald was dismissed and rode on till he came to Najara where he found King Henry was encamped among the Bushes He went directly to the Kings Tent whither the greater part of the Chiefs of the Army went to hear what News the Herald had brought He for his part kneeled down and deliver'd the Prince's Letters to the King who took them and open'd them and caused them to be read before Sr. Bertram of Clequin and others of his Council Then Sr. Bertram spake to the King Sir said he be assured of this that now You shall have Battle speedily I know the Prince of Wales so well Consider therefore Sir advisedly on the Matter for 't is necessary that You take great Care of your Affairs and order your Battails in such manner as may appear best Sr. Bertram said the King be it so in the Name of God I value not the Power of the Prince For I have besides our Auxiliaries from Bretagne France and Aragon 10000 Barbed Horses which shall make two Wings to our Army and 20000 Men of Arms on lusty Genets the most Chosen that can be found in all Castille Galizia Portugal Corduba and Sevile and 10000 good Crossbows and 60000 others on foot with Pikes Halberds Launces and other Habiliments for the War And all these have sworn not to fail me thô they die for 't Wherefore Sir I trust to have the Victory by the Grace of God in whom is my Confidence and in the Right which I have in the Quarrel And so my Lords I desire You all to be of good Courage Thus King Henry and Sr. Bertram of Clequin talk'd together and no more was said about the Prince's Letters For King Henry who knew no Composition would be able to secure his Life resolv'd to be content with no less than a Kingdom and so prepared for Battle and took care that his Men should be well-order'd And all the while the Earl of Sancelloni and his Brother Sancho were mightily extolled thrô the Spanish Host for the Success they had against the English which added much to the Courage of all the Army On Fryday q Lit. Dom. C. Pasch 18. April the second day of April the Black-Prince began his March from Logronno or Groing upon the River Ebro and went forward in Battle Array to find his Enemies That day he advanced little more than two Leagues for about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon he came before Navaret where he encamped and then sent forth his Currours to aview his Enemies and to know exactly where they lay These rode so far that they saw all the behaviour of their Enemies and how they were lodged before the City of Najara whereof they brought Word to the Prince and He thereupon gave Order to be convey'd secretly thrô the whole Camp that at the First sound of the Trumpet they should all rise at the Second be armed and at the Third Mount their Horses and follow the Marshals Banners with the Ensign of St. George and that on pain of Death none presume to go before the Marshals unless they were commanded so to do XI As the Prince on the Fryday had sent out his Currours so did King Henry the same day on his part to learn where the Prince was encamped and when they had brought him the Certainty as to the Matter he called unto him Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and others and fell to advise with them what was next to be done 'T was here concluded that first the Army should be well supp'd and so order'd to take their repose to be the more fresh and lusty the next day at the hour of Midnight to be ready apparel'd and to draw into the Field to be ranged by their Captains in the Order as had been devised For none doubted but to fight the next day So that Night however hard the English fared and therefore the rather desired to come to a quick Decision yet the Spaniards who had plenty of Victuals and all other necessaries took their repast and repose as they themselves desired About Midnight the Trumpets sounded in King Henry's Host and then every man made him ready at the Second Blast they came out of their Lodgings and order'd themselves in Three Battalia's The first was led by Sr. Bertram of Clequin who r True Use of Armory in the life of the Lord John Chandos p. 79. bare for his Arms in a Field Argent the ſ i.e. Spread Eagle Sable Imperial Eagle over all a Dexter Battoon Gules With him was joyn'd the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan Marshal of France whose shield of Gules was charged with a Fez Checquee Argent and Gules between six spur Rowels Argent And in this Battail was the Lord Robert of Rochebreton the Earl of Denia in Valencia and all the Strangers as well of France and Bretagne as of Hainalt Aragon and of other Countries as the Lord of Dantoing and Sr. Alan Lord of Brusnel Sr. Guy Bailleul the Beague of Vilaine the Beague of Villiers Sr. John of Bergues the Almain of St. Venant who was then made Banneret with many Persons more of Note and Valour to the Number of 4000 Knights and Esquires all arm'd after the manner of France and 20000 Footmen The Second Battalia was led by the Earl of Sancelloni and his Brother Sancho with 5000 Genettours and 10000 Foot and these stood a little back on the Left-hand of the First Battail the Third and the greatest of all was govern'd by the King himself and he had with him 7000 Men of Arms and 60000 Foot with the Crossbows besides
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
Wickliff Greeting Directing our Eyes to the honesly of your Life and laudable Conversation and Knowledge of the Learning wherewith the Most High hath endued your Person who are Master of Arts and having great Confidence in your Fidelity Circumspection and Industry We set you over our Hall of Canterbury lately by Vs founded at Oxford as Warden thereof and do by these Presents commit unto you the Care and Administration belonging to the Wardenship thereof according to our Appointment in this Part reserving unto our selves the Receiving of your Corporal Oath to be by you made unto Vs and due in this Part. Dated at Magfield Vto Idûs Decemb. An o Dom. MCCCLXV And from hence it appears that Wickliff did not obtain this Place by any Ill means as some have said thô it is to be believed that when by this Archbishops Successor he was afterwards ejected no good Arts were used for as then g Anton. Wood Antiq. Oâ—ond 14. 183. nothing in the World was laid to his Charge but that he was a Secular which sure he that set him there first knew as well as they But whereas h Histor Monast D. Albani Fox Acts Mâ—n p. 392. An o ult Ed. 3. he is accused for that as an Hypocrite he resorted much to the Orders of Begging Fryars frequenting their Company and extolling the Perfection of their Poverty this must seem absolutely false and inconsistent to any who hath but once heard of i Eâ—tat in Bibliothâ—câ Publ. Aâ—adem Cantabr Fig. 19.10.13 that Notable Treatise of his now Extant which he wrote particularly against the Mendicant Fryars containing 50 Chapters However this is certain that his Tenets were not received by the Generality of the Clergy in those Days For he affirm'd sundry Doctrines very disagreeable to the Genius of that Age as k Fox Walsing Knighton Oder Rainald Antiq. Britan. p. 258. c. That the Pope had no more Power to Excommunicate any Man than another Priest That if it be given by any Person unto the Pope to Excommunicate yet to absolve the same is as much in the power of another Priest as in his He affirm'd also That the Temporal Power might and ought to take away from the Clergy what the Piety of former Times had bestowed upon them if they shall be found to abuse the said Goods or to approve themselves unworthy thereof and that he proved to have been heretofore practised in England by King William Rufus which thing said Wickliff if he did lawfully why may not the same be done now If unlawfully then doth not the Church err in Praying for him As for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist he proved against the Fryars who held the contrary Opinion l Wickliffe's Treatise against the Fryars c. 16. p. 33. That the Accidents of Bread remained not without the Subject or Substance i. e. that the Body of Christ is present not without the Bread. He m Speed l. 9. c. 13. §. 118. p. 610. also stoutly asserted the Regal Supremacy against Papal Vsurpation he wrote against the Mass Transubstantiation Merit Adoration of the Host of Saints Images and Reliques and against Pilgrimages and Indulgences He likewise held That the n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 5 Walsing hist p. 188. p. 205 Knighton p. 2648. Roman Church was no more the Head of all Churches than any other Church That no more Power was given to St. Peter than to any other Apostle and that the Pope of Rome had no more Power of the Keys of the Church than any Other who was in Priestly Orders That the Scriptures were sufficient for Salvation and that all other Rules of Saints under the Observation whereof there are divers Religious Orders do add no more Perfection to the Gospel than Washing a Wall over with Lime doth make the Wall more perfect As for his Arguments they may be seen at large o Fox Acts Monum Johan Hus Opera Walsing hist p. 200 ad p. 209. Hist Monast D. Albani Knighton p. 2644. Nicol. Harpsseldius in Histor Wickliffiana Holinsh p. 998. in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments and more of his Opinions may be consulted in the Authors quoted in the Margin thô it is to be given as a Caution that they all vary one from another both as to the Number Order and Sense of the Articles VI. It is said that he was supported and upheld in these his Opinions by King Edward himself but this is certain that John of Gaunt the Great Duke of Lancaster and Entitled King of Castille and Leon who had now the chief Government of the Realm during his Father's Weakness was an Open Favourer and Patron of John Wickliff and his Doctrine But at the same time his Opinions were so distastfull to the Clergy that now there p Fox Acts Mon. ex Histor Mon. D. Albani Nic. Harpsseldus in Hist Wickliff c. 5. p. 683. came forth from Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury a Process and Order of Citation for the Author to be brought before the Spiritual Court the Time and Place being formally assigned When the Duke of Lancaster heard that his Client Wickliff was to appear before the Bishops fearing that he being single might be overcome by the Number of his Adversaries he took unto him Four Batchelors of Divinity of Good Learning and Skill in the Scriptures to joyn them with Wickliff for his surer Support On the Day appointed q D. Lit. Dom. Pascha 29 Martii which was Thursday the Nineteenth of February Dr. John Wickliff being accompanied with the Four Batchelors in Divinity aforesaid and also his Mighty Patron the Duke of Lancaster going along with him for the greater Honour and Countenance of his Cause went toward the Church of St. Paul in London the Lord Henry Percy High Marshal of England going before to make way for his Lord the Duke and the Doctor And all the way as they went Wickliffes Friends animated him all they could and bad him not fear nor shrink or be daunted at the presence of the Bishops who said they are all Vnlearned in respect of You And that he should not dread the unusual Concourse or Clamors of the People for they themselves would assist and defend him so that he should receive no harm With these Words of the Duke and other Nobles with him Wickliff being much encouraged came to St. Pauls where there was such a vast Throng of People that the Duke and the Lords with him could hardly pass thrô the Church for all the Lord Marshal made way with his Officers When William Courtney Bishop of London saw the stirr that the Marshal and his Men made in the Church among the People he said unto the Lord Percy that if he had known before how he would have plaid the Master in his Church he would have hindred him from coming thither At which Words of the Bishop the Duke disdaining extreamly answer'd him