Spoil of the Field which they accounted their own The whole number of the Strangers was about e H. Knighton p. 2551. two Thousand Men of Arms besides the great Numbers of English that came in as Voluntiers above the appointed Musters such hopes had they conceived of their Prince's Conduct and Fortune The King f Frois c. 16. Grafton p. 219. assigned the Strangers convenient lodgings in the Suburbs of York but to Sr John himself and his Servants he allotted an Abby of White Monks in the said City He himself and the Queen his Mother being lodged in the stately Building called the Fryers where each of them kept house apart This g Frois ibid. S John of Heinalt was one of the most Gallant Knights in the World and he had first undertaken to defend the Queen and her Son against the Persecutions of the two Spencers even when her own Brother the King of France had deserted her quarrel so that he was very dear to the young King and his Mother and they resolv'd to entertain him in most Royal Manner Wherefore the King held all along a Great Court to do these Strangers Honour and there was every where much Plenty of Provision Good and Cheap for the City and Country were Rich and flourish'd with abundance For full six weeks did the King lie there with more than 60000 men yet all that while the price of Provision was nothing enhanced but every thing was sold as reasonable as before the Army came thither There was plenty of Rhenish Gascoign and Anjovan Wines with Pullen and other Provision at very ordinary Rates and Hay Oats and other necessaries for Horses were daily brought to the Strangers lodgings so that they were all extreamly satisfied with their entertainment But yet even this their Prosperity had like to have proved more fatal unto them then a Rout in Battel might have done For h Knighton p. 2551. presuming much hereby on the King's favour they carried themselves too Magisterially toward his Subjects whence arose such Contention as brought forth many sad effects and was not at last stinted without much bloodshed on both sides On Trinity i Frois c. 16. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantabr c. 213. Sunday the King for the sake of these Lords Strangers held a Solemn and Magnificent Feast at the Fryers aforesaid himself being attended with 500 of his Knights to which he then added 15 more and the Queen his Mother having more than threescore Fair Ladies of the greatest Nobility and Beauty in England about her Person to pleasure the young Lord of Beaumont and his Company There was that day a most Splendid Entertainment and a truly Royal shew of whatsoever was choice and excellent And now the Ladies themselves with many Noble Virgins were meditating the various Measures their skilfull Feet were to make the pleasant Aires their sweet Voices should warble and those soft Divisions their tender Fingers should strike on the yielding strings when suddenly as soon as ever the Feast was ended a strange and hideous noise confounded the Minds of the whole Court. For the Servants and Pages of these Foreign Auxiliaries had by their k Knighton p. 2551. insolence so exasperated the minds of some English Archers who lodged among them in the Suburbs that immediately a great Fray began among them which continually rose higher new abettors successively flowing in on each side till near 3000 of the Archers being gather'd together many of the poor Heinalders were slain and the rest betaking themselves to flight were fain to enter their lodgings and there to fortifie them in the best manner they could against the Fury of their enemies Most part of the Knights their Commanders were then at Court but on the first noise of the Fray they hasted to their lodgings to defend themselves and their People Some part of the City of York in the Hurlyburly was fired many of the Heinalders slain and more hurt nor less on the English side than l Stow p. 228. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. ibid. 80 Archers most of them Lincolnshire men fell that day who were all buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Fosegate But at last by the Authority of the King with the earnest endeavours of the Queen Mother who loved the Heinalders dearly and by the ready assistance of the Great Men who charitably took the Strangers parts the Archers thirst of blood was slaked and the quarrel ceased for that time But that Night the Strangers who had suffer'd most not so m Knighton p. 2551. much thinking of sleep as revenge being now headed by Commanders rose privately and joyning all together set suddenly upon the Archers of Lincolnshire and Northampton for the Men of each County were Marshall'd and lodged together by themselves where they slew about 300 of them Nor in the Morning had they paid cheaply for that desperate action for more than n Frois c. 16. fol. 7 8. 6000 Archers had combined together to burn or kill them every man in their lodgings or without by Night or by Day when ever they should obtain an Opportunity But that the King to secure the Strangers from their Fury had set strong Guards about them displacing the Archers from their former Quarters they themselves hardly ever daring to sleep without good Watch their Horses ready saddled and their Arms always near at hand or upon their Backs so well they knew it behoved them to look to themselves after such a Provocation of the Common Soldiers of England Now had King o Frois c. 16 17. Edward lain at York with all this Great Army in and about the City for the space of three Weeks and when in about three Weeks more after this sedition no final agreement could be made between the King's Council and the Scotch Ambassadors p Caxton who came thither after Trinity Sunday to treat of a Peace the Marshals of the Host by the King's Command Proclaimed thrô all the Army that by the next Week every Man should be ready to March against the Enemy and that such to whom the Care was left should provide Carts and Wagons for Carriages and Tents and Pavilions to lie in the field with all other matters necessary for the King's journey toward Scotland All things therefore being by the said time provided accordingly the King and all his Barons began their March from the City of York in good Order and gallantly armed with Trumpets sounding and Banners waving in the wind In this Expedition besides those at Newcastle and Carlile already sent thither to defend the Frontiers we have made shift to recover the Names of these Worthies q Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the King's Uncle John r Id. 1 Vol. p. 184. Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger ſ Id. ibid. p. 145. Mortimer Lord of Wigmore William
what should be the Meaning of this That always in my Passage for France the Winds and Seas befriend me but in my Return for England I meet with nothing but adverse Storms and destructive Tempests But however at last thô not without great difficulty and the loss of many Vessels Men and Horses he arrived safely at Land on the 14 of October and soon after went to London where he was received in Great Triumph of the Mayor and Citizens and by them honourably attended to his Palace at Westminster Among those Lords and Gentlemen that having served King Edward at the memorable Siege of Calais returned now home with him I must not forget the Noble Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare in Ireland who g Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 71 7â— being highly touched with a Sense of King Edwards Favours both to himself and to his Brother the Earl of Desmond went over the Sea in the Spring this Year gallantly attended with divers Lords Knights and Choice Horsemen and offer'd his Service to the King before Calais After the Winning whereof he now returned into his own Country in great Pomp and Honour XXII About the end of this Year the Lord Charles of Blois who called himself Duke of Bretagne was h Knighton p. 2596. n. 50. Frois c. 147. ad finem brought Prisoner to London by Sr. Thomas Dagworth his Conquerour and at King Edwards Command sent to the Tower where David King of Scotland was at the same time But shortly after at the Request of the Queen to whom the said Lord Charles was Cousin German he found so much favour as to be received upon his Word and Honour and had Leave to go any whither about London at his pleasure on Condition he should by no means so much as once lie out of London more than one Night at a time unless it should be where the King or Queen should then keep their Court. And sometime after he was set at Liberty i Frois pars ult c. 62. fol. 82. on Condition to pay unto the King of England 200000 Nobles for his Ransom For the true Payment whereof he left his Sons his Pledges There was also now Prisoner in London the Lord Ralph Earl of k Frois l. 1. c. 147. Eu and Guisnes Constable of France a most pleasant and noble Knight Whose Behaviour was so acceptable that he always brought his Welcom along with him wherever he went and was extreamly gracious with the King and Queen and all the Lords and Ladies of the Court of England In these l Knighton p. 2596. n. 60. Days the Nobles of the Land in all places were mightily addicted to Justs and Tourneaments and such was the Nobleness of King Edward that he permitted the French Prisoners at these Solemnities the Use and Exercise of Arms wherein they behaved themselves with much Honour But particularly the foresaid Earl of Eu and Guisnes gat great Commendation both from King Edward and his Son the Prince of Wales by whom he was held in high Respect for his Worth and Valour Nay we find that King David of Scotland thô he was confin'd as Prisoner in the Tower had such Favour from King Edward that he was also permitted at his Pleasure not only to behold but to exercise these Knightly Sports For m Ashâ—â—le p. 185. ex Rotul Liberat. Draper Offic. mâ—gn Garderch an 21. 22. Ed. 3. m. 11. penes Rememorar Regis against an Hastilude kept at Windsor he had an Harness for his Horse made of Blue Velvet at King Edwards Charge whereon was embroider'd a Pale of Red Velvet and beneath a White Rose after the Custom of that Age whereby one Knight was distinguished from another as well by the Harness of his Horse as by his own Shield and Surcoat About this time the Scotch Nobility sent to King Edward offering to Redeem their King from Captivity to whom he return'd Answer n Knighton p. 2597. n. 16. that forasmuch as they in Defiance of the Truce had made War upon him in his Absence unjustly he expected they should first give him satisfaction for all those Injuries and Damages they had done to him and his Realm in that War And this done they might proceed to the business of the Ransom Thô this Answer was but highly Reasonable it was so distastfull to the Scots that upon the Receit thereof they rose suddenly and in considerable Bodies enter'd the Marches of England where they ravaged the Country fired Villages slew poor People without Mercy and took many sleeping in their Beds whom they carried away Prisoners and set unreasonable Ransomes upon them Because of this the English Lords of the Marches Proclaim'd solemn Turneaments to be held at Barwick thereby to entice the Scots again within the English pale Who coming accordingly in their wonted Bravery were cut short in the way by a good Body of English Borderers who discomfited them and put many to the Sword. And presently after in Prosecution of this Revenge the Northern Lords went into Scotland and spoil'd and ravaged the whole Province of Carrick XXIII We have often made mention of the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria how he was Excommunicated by Pope John XXII and thô he made many Overtures in order to be reconcil'd we do not find that ever he was re-admitted into the Bosom of the Church But on the contrary it o Aâ—â—a Bâ—châ—lceti Isageg Chron. ad an 1346. c. appears that on Holy-Thursday the last Year Pope Clement Cursed him and pronounced him an Heretick and Schismatick and exhorted the Princes Electors to choose another Emperour Wherefore on the second of July Charles the Marquess of Moravia and Son to John King of Bohemia was elected at Rens in the Dioecese of Trier thô the Major part were not for him and all the Cities held for Lewis of Bavaria But now the said Lewis as he return'd p Abr. Buchelcerisageg Chron. ad hunc ann Iabbe Chron. Tech. â—d hunc an from hunting being taken with an Apoplexy fell off his Horse and soon after departed this Life on the 11 of October and was buried at Munchen a City of Bavaria By the irreconcileable Malice of his Enemies he had two Emperours Elected in Opposition to him Frederick of Austria in the beginning of his Reign and Charles Marquess of Moravia in the Latter end but for all this he Ruled the Empire in spight of the Pope's Curses and Combinations against him the space of 32 Years Upon his Death Pope Clement VI. in hate as some say to King Edward of England laboured q Knighton p. 2596. n. 30. all he could to have Charles King of Bohemia acknowledg'd Emperour hoping that thereby he would be enabled the better to Revenge the Death of his Father slain in the Battle of Cressy upon the English Nation Wherefore he sent Charles de la Cerda of Spain with his Papal Bull to the Archbishop of Colen with an Injunction to consecrate him Roman
what Condition soever they be Privileges Immunities Franchises Liberties and Indulgences perpetual and temporal whatsoever to give and to grant And if of old given and granted together with the Customs and Usages provided they be not contrary to the Peace and Accord last made between Us and our most Dear Brother the King of France by our Authority to confirm when and as often as you shall be required so to do and any other things whatsoever to do and exercise which the True Prince of the said Provinces might or should do for the Welfare and Government of the Inhabitants thereof and for the Quiet of his Subjects All and singular which Premises We will have given alienated granted bestowed authorized restored revoked pardoned remitted conceded confirmed done acted and performed by You and your Deputies and from this time as heretofore they shall have a like perpetual Validity as if by Us they were done acted and performed as aforesaid And moreover and above and as there shall be need for their greater Validity from this time as heretofore We commend allow and approve and by the Tenor of these Presents confirm them Datum sub Magni Sigilli Nostri Testimonio in Palatio nostro Westmonasterii die 19 Mensis Julii Anno Domini Millesimo Tercentesimo Sexagesimo Secundo Regni Nostri Tricesimo Sexto Now to take away all Doubts and Contentions which may arise hereafter about this Matter and to the end that the Affair may be more clear over and above and again We reserve to our Selves and to our Majesty Royal expresly and by Tenor of these Presents the Direct Supremacy and all the Sovereignty and Resort of the whole Principality of Aquitain and Gascogne and of all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places and of all Prelates Earls Vicounts Barons Nobles and other Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Provinces which We have given to our said Eldest Son and conveyed unto his Person by the Tenor of our Letters hereabove incorporated And We will and declare that the Immediate Supremacy the whole Sovereignty and Resort abovemention'd be and remain for ever to Vs and to our said Majesty to use the said Resorts in time and place as We shall think fit which We will not nor intend to leave nor convey to our said Son by the Title of a Principality nor by any other thing whatsoever comprised in our said Letters And for an evident Token and clear Demonstration that our said Son shall hold and ought to hold under Vs of our said Majesty and by Liege Homage the which he hath made unto Vs at present all the said Things and every of them He shall be obliged to pay unto Vs every Year at our Palace of Westminster on the Feast of Easter one Ounce of Gold whereof he hath already given Vs Possession and Seisin as in token and Recognition of our Supream Dominion The which thing by the Name of Revenue and annual Tribute We impose on and really and de facto ordain of certain Knowledge and of our Authority and full Power and will that he pay it at the Place and Time above said reserving unto our Selves express and especial Power to diminish or enlarge the said Imposition and annual Tribute or appoint it to be paid unto Vs in other things at other times and elsewhere as it shall seem good unto Vs to do for the time to come in gracious Consideration and Regard had to the Estate of our said Son and to the Charges which are convenient of necessity to maintain and support him in the Government of the foresaid Countries Donne per Tesmoignance de nostre Grant Seal a nostre Palays de Westmonster le XIX jour de Juyl lan de Grace Mill. Triscentes Sexante and Deux de nostre Regne Trente Sisme III. When the Prince of Wales had made his Homage to the King his Father for this Principality of Aquitaine and had received these Letters Charters the King order'd him to prepare his Family according to the Dignity that he now held and then to pass the Seas in the Name of God and enter upon his Government For he saw well that his Son was of great Conduct Prudence and Courage and in the full Vigour of his Youth capable for any Government whatsoever He intended also hereby to render him the better instructed and as it were Tutor'd with Experience against the time that by his Decease he should succeed to the Crown of England and he well understood that by the Acquisition of so great a Principality he would be able and Rich enough to keep as Royal a Court as any King should do for at this time not to mention the Earldom of Kent and the other vast Lands and Possessions which he had with his Princess He was Prince of Aquitaine and Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester The Young Prince readily obey'd his Fathers Pleasure and busied himself the remainder of this Year about preparing for the Departure of himself and his Lady the Princess with all their Family After Christmas the King and Queen and all the rest of their Children Sons and Daughters went to Barkhamsteed near London a Mannor of the said Princes to visit and take their last leave of him And there they were altogether for several days during which space there were many serious Debates between the King and the Prince and also many Notable and Royal Diversions and Entertainments Froisard the French Historian i Frois l. ult fol. penalt c. 299 was then present in the Prince's Court and he says that at that time he heard an Ancient Knight named Sr. Bartholomew Bruels in discourse among the Ladies say how he had seen a certain Book written by way of Prophesie called le Brusc in English the Broom alluding no doubt to the Sirname of the Kings of England Plantagenet which Henry the Second obtain'd from the Flower of the Broom named in Latine Planta Genistae This Book said He expresly declares that neither the Prince of Wales Eldest Son to King Edward nor the Lord Lionel Earl of Vlster nor the Lord Thomas of Woodstock should ever come to the Crown nor none of King Edwards Sons should ever come to the Crown But that the Realm of England should within a while devolve to the House of Lancaster Whatever this Book was or by whatever Art written in this it failed not For the Black-Prince dying before his Father and Prince Lionel also Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster usurped the Crown from Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir to the said Black-Prince and King of England at that time in whose House the Dignity Royal Remain'd to the Third Generation when the Yorkists wrested the Scepter into their own Hands and held it till the Uniting of both Houses But to return All things being now ready the Prince of Wales k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 233. Walsing hist p.
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
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
Earl of Richmond The Black-Prince growing worse and worse resigns Aquitaine to his father The Death of the Earl of Stafford Sr. William Molineux and Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller From p. 827. to p. 848. Chap. X. The Constable of France beats the English before Sivray and Conquers about in Poictou The War hot in Bretagne The Duke of Lancaster's Expedition and March thrô France A Treaty at Bruges A Parliament at Westminster A Prodigious Malady The Death of several Great Men. From p. 849. to p. 864. Chap. XI King Edward enquires into the Livings then in the hands of Aliens A Treaty at Bruges The Earl of Pembroke is redeem'd and dies The Death of Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet and others An account of Madam Alice Perrers said to have been King Edward's Concubine From p. 865. to p. 873. Chap. XII St. Saviour le Vicount yields to the French by Composition Edmund Earl of Cambridge and the Duke of Bretagne Conquer about in that Dukedom But are hindred by an unseasonable Truce from prosecuting their Advantage The Lord Edward Spencer dies A Treaty between King Edward and the King of Scotland Esquire Katrington being challenged of Treason for yielding St. Saviour le Vicount loses the day Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards The Death of two Earls Two Acts of Charity From p. 873. to p. 877. Chap. XIII The Lord of Coucy's Expedition into Austria A Treaty at Bruges which begets a Truce and that another King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it The JUBILEE of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster The Black-Prince dies His Will Character Burial and Epitaph The Captal of Busche takes it to heart and dies The Black-Prince's Praise and Children The said Parliament continued A Censure thereof Who the First Speaker of the House of Commons The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome From p. 878. to p. 895. Chap. XIV King Edward Creates his Grandson Richard of Bourdeaux Prince of Wales The Londoners entertain the Young Prince John of Gaunt associated to the King in the Government A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ An exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine The Duke of Lancaster for his sake falls out with the Bishop of London The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke The Bishop hardly restrains the People The Princess-Mother of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their excuse to the King. They and the Duke reconciled Sr. John Menstreworth executed for Treason The Lord of Coucy falls off to the French. King Edward Creates Prince Richard Knight of the GARTER The War open Sr. Hugh Calverley Captain of Calais Outwick batter'd with Cannon yields to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley's Acts. The English Commissioners returning for England find the King on his Death-Bed He dies A Story of the Manner of his Death refuted The French King commends him His Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character From p. 895. to the End. Errata sunt sic Emendanda PAG. 22. lin 5. read fast-asleep p. 54. l. 44. r. Nobles p. 58. l. 2. r. Turne-tabard p. 76. l. 2. r. tell for call p. 89. for Innocent r. John. p. 177. dele Parag. VIII IX in the Centents p. 270. l. 17. r. neck'd p. 276. l. 35. r. Chancellor of the Church of York p. 286. l. 37. r. strange p. 295. l. penult r. Father was named p. 302. l. 2. dele and. p. 303. l. 32. dele and. p. 354. l. 31. r. 16 years c. p. 356. l. 27. r. 20 in depth c. p. 373. l. 22. for Paragraph r. Chapter p. 402. l. 22. r. Vicount of Rohan sic semper p. 439. l. 46. r. Simon de Burchester p. 466. l. 14. r. no Charms about them took horse and so began c. p. 470. l. 13. r. Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth p. 484. l. 49. r. On the second of November being All-Souls day the King began c. p. 485. l. 12. r. for he could not have been c. ibid. l. 34. r. after his setting forth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls day p. 502. l. 34. r. Blew-Silk p. 531. l. 22. r. July p. 707. l. 18. r. keep it p. 721. l. 21. r. William p. 748. l. ult r. and bearing p. 750. l. 45. r. Inno. p. 751. l. penult be accounted the Off-spring p. 761. l. 45. r. having done a pious c. p. 806. l. 49. r. best word c. p. 814. l. 57. r. the Prince and Princess c. SAPIENTIA FORTUNAM EDWARDVS III DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIAE ET FRANCIAE ET DOMINUS HIBERNIA HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE EDWARD III. King of England France and Lord of Ireland He slew Two Kings in One Day routed a Third had Two Kings his Prisoners at one time Upon the Death of Lewâ— of Baitaria He had the offer of the Empire thó he declin'd it He took Calais from the French Instituted the Famous Order of the GARTER haveing Reigned in great Glory for space of 50 Yeares 4. Moneths 28. Dayes He Dyed at his Mannor of Shene in Surrey in LXV year of his 〈◊〉o. Dui MCCCLXXVII lyes Buried at Westminster ICH DIEN QUI SANâ—â—â—â—â— NOBIS HANC PATRIAM PEPERERE SUO POTENTISSIMUS EDWARDUS PRINCEPS WALLAE ET AQUI TANIAE DUX CORNUBIAE COMES CESTRIAE ET CANTIL Honoratiss Viro 〈◊〉 RICHARDO CHANDLER Armig. nuper de Cell Emanuel Aâ—M Amico plurimum Colendo Hanc Invic â—iss Hervis EDWARDI Principis Walliae cogno mento Nigro Imagine Observantiae â—â—mti Iudinis ergo D.D.D. Josua Barnes HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE HOUMONT The most Renowned Prince EDWARD sirnamed the Black-Prince Eldest Son to King EDWARD the Third Prince of WALES of AQVITAIN Duke of CORNWALL Earle of CHESTER of KENT He was in his life time the Flower of the Chivalry of the whole World. He wan the Battle of CRESSY wherein he overthrew King Philip of Valor slew the King of Bohemia also the Famous Batlle of POICTIERS wherein w th an Army of 8000. Men He overthrew the whole Power of FRANCE takeing the King IOHN de Valois Prisoner who was 4 years after Ransom'd at 3 Millions of Crowns of Gold Lastly he triumph'd in the Glorious Battle of NAJARA in Spaine where he overthrew the Bastard Henry Setled Don Pedro in his Throne He died in the 46 yeare of his Age An o Dom MCCCLXXVI lyes Buried at Canterbuâ—â— THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FIRST CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Circumstances of the Birth of King Edward the Third with his Education and Character II. He is made Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain beside the Titles of Earl of Chester Ponthieu and Monstroile He goes into France with the
manner of his coming to the Crown of England III. He is excus'd from being Guilty of his Fathers Deposition his peace is proclaim'd and a General Pardon IV. Twelve Guardians appointed him Mortimer's Greatness and the Queens excessive Dowry V. The Present State of Scotland the King whereof Robert Bruce sends a Defiance to King Edward VI. King Edward's Expedition against the Scots VII The Particulars of the Murder of King Edward the Second VIII King Edward the Third's Return to London the first Year of his Reign concludes with the Death of sundry great Personages Princes and Prelates I. KING Edward the Third of that Name from the Conquest AN. DOM. 1312. was the first Son of King Edward the Second of England sirnamed Caernarvon by his Queen Isabella the Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France a Frois c. 3. fol. 2. accounted in her time one of the most Beautifull Ladies in the world He was born at the Castle of Windsor whence he had his sirname after the manner of that Age on the b Sandford p. 158. thirteenth day of November at c Ashmole p. 644. fourty Minutes past Five in the Morning being the d Claus 6. Ed. 2. m. 22. Dorso Lit. Dom. B.A. Monday next after the Feast of St Martin the Bishop and the very day e H. Knighton p. 2533. n. 10. after the day of St Brice Bishop and Disciple of St Martin in the sixth year of his Fathers Reign and the year of our Lord God MCCCXII Prince f Walsingh hist p. 77. Lewis eldest Son to the King of France and Brother to the Queen of England being then with many of the French Nobility at the English Court labour'd earnestly that this Princely Infant might be named after King Philip but against this motion the English Nobility prevail'd and so on the Thursday after he was Baptised by the Name of Edward after his Father and Grandfather the Ceremony being performed by the hands of g Victorellus p. 839. ad hunc annum Arnold h Claus 6. Ed. 2. Priest-Cardinal titulo Sanctae Priscae in the old Chappel then of St Edward in the said Castle of Windsor his Godfathers being i Ibid. Ashmole p. 644. Richard Bishop of Poictiers John Bishop of Bath and Wells William Bishop of Worcester Lewis Earl of Eureux the Queens Brother John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond Emery of Valence Earl of Pembroke and Hugh le Despencer alias Spencer a Great Man in those Days The News of his Birth was k Walsingh ibid. an occasion of great Rejoycing over all England and the only thing l Speed p. 556. able to cheer up the mind of his Royal Father from that excessive sorrow which the late Death of his Favourite Piers Gaveston had flung upon it and from that Day the King forgot by Degrees his former loss rejoycing in his present Happiness For m Pat. 6. Ed 2. so pleasing to his Father was the Birth of this Hopefull Prince that on the Sixteenth of December following he gave to John Launge Valet to the Queen and to Isabel his Wife and to the longer liver of them for bringing to him so desireable News twenty four pounds per annum to be paid out of the Farm of London Within n Pat. ibid. Par. 2. m. 5. Ashmole ibid. few days after this Prince's Birth the King his Father granted him the County of Chester except the Mannors of Mecklesfield and Shotwike to hold to him and his Heirs Kings of England for ever And likewise the County of Flint and Rothelan to hold as before except the Mannor of Overton the Lands of Mailor Seysnoke and the Castle and Mannor of Holt after which he was thus stiled by the King Edvardus Comes Cestriae filius noster Charissimus But leaving his Infancy we will now proceed to his Youth and the occurrences that attended his Ripening years when we shall first have given some small taste of his Character the fulness thereof being purposely remitted till the end of his Life and this our Work because then it may better be consider'd from the whole tenour of his History From his Birth he was carefully bred up in all things that seem'd necessary or proper for Princes to excell in so that thrô the Vigour of his Parts being rendred very apt to imbibe the best Principles he made a speedy and extraordinary improvement in all Noble Qualities For he was of a very o Pitsaus de Illustr Angl. script p. 517. pierceing Judgment Sweet-nature and Good Discretion and considering the many weighty affairs that employ'd his whole Life not only kind to the Muses but much befriended by them as appears by those Learned Writings of which Pitsaeus says he was the Author When he was capable of receiving more ingenuous Education a Man of Great Reading Erudition and Honour was provided from Oxford to be his Tutor who thô commonly called p Godwin Catal. Bishops p. 661. Richard Bury from the place of his Birth was indeed Son to one St Richard Aungervile Knight but was afterwards by this his Royal Pupil made Privy-seal and q Philipot's Catal Chancellers and Treasurers p. 32. Treasurer of England then Dean of Wells and lastly Lord Chancellour of England and Bishop of Durham II. In a Parliament holden at York in the Sixteenth of the King his Father He was by him created r Speed p. 564. Holinshead p. 869. Catal. Honor p. 315. by Tho. Milles. Prince of Wales as some say thô he is no where found to have used that Title The occasion perhaps being because he was not long after invested with a Greater King Edward his Father ſ Ashmole p. 644. being often summon'd to the Court of France to do homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and still upon some account or other delaying till the French King had siezed thereon it was at length concluded that he should give unto this Prince his Son the said Dukedom for which he doing Homage should enjoy the Lands Whereupon preparation was made for his passing into France But before he went being then at Langedon Abbey near Dover the King his Father t Pat. 19. Ed. 2. p. 1. m. 25. Ashmole ibid. on the second of September in the nineteenth year of his Reign gave unto him his Heirs and Successours Kings of England jure haereditario in perpetuum the Counties of Ponthieu and Mutterel or Monstroile and on the tenth of the same Moneth he being then at Dover granted unto him the Dukedom of Aquitain and all the Lands he had or ought to have in the Kingdom of France Habendum as before Two u Claus 19. Ed. 2. m. 28. Dorse days after which our new Duke took shipping at Dover thence passed into France and performed his Homage to King Charles of France his Uncle In this his Journey it was thought fit that the Queen his Mother should bear him company in regard
her Lands in that Kingdom had also been seized on From which Sr Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore who having been clap'd into the Tower for Treason had made his escape into France as he was a most Politick and Vindicative Person took occasion to insinuate himself into the Queens Favour and by pretending to take her part against the Spencers the great Favourites of her Husband whom she extreamly hated involved her before she was aware into a Rebellion from which she could never extricate her self till she had ruin'd the King her Husband It is no way pleasant to me to relate the whole progress of that execrable Treason nor how the King of France being warned by King Edward durst not entertain any longer within his Dominions the Queen his Sister with this her Son Edward so that she was forced to flee to strangers for succour who being won by her charming tears adventur'd thô but a Few into this Kingdom where quickly encreasing their Numbers by a rash defection of the Giddy multitude they proceeded to the utmost Violations of Faith and Honour In short the old King at last was violently and illegally Depos'd and imprison'd thô with promise of security to himself AN. DOM. 1325. and the allowance of an Honourable Pension during life And our young Edward his eldest Son thô he could never be x Walsing hâ—st p 105. Hâ—â—â—nshead p 881. perswaded even to a Crown till he was made to believe his Father had desired it being at last won by the sight of his Father's seeming-voluntary Resignation which yet was extorted by fraudulent Promises and severe menaces took upon him the Crown and Government of this Kingdom III. Before this while the Realm was yet unsetled and the old King lay as then conceal'd in Wales y Sandford p. 158. He was by an Usurped Authority in an Assembly z Speed p. 564. Ashmole p. 644. of Lords met at Hereford the Queen and Sr Roger Mortimer being present made Custos or Lord Warden of the Kingdom by a common Decree bearing date the 20 of October whereupon all the Lords made him Homage and took an Oath of Allegiance to be Loyal to him as Lord Warden of England And on the twenty sixth of November following the Great Seal sent from the King his Father was deliver'd unto him at Martley Whereupon a a Walsingh hist p. 106. Sr The. de la Mere p. 8. l. 41. Parliament was summon'd to meet at Westminster about the Feast of Epiphany being called indeed in the old King's Name but the Briefs of Citation were signed by the Prince as Lord Warden of England In this Parliament thus called by his own Authority was the old King illegally depos'd when they had extorted his own consent to it by fair and foul means making so the young Prince believe that his Father had freely and willingly resign'd the Government of which matter we shall speak more largely when we come to relate the Murther of the said King Edward the Second But because many of our Historians lay some imputation upon the Name of King Edward the Third as if he was not wholly innocent of these Proceedings against his Father we are to consider the tenderness of his Age he being not then fourteen years old whereby he might very easily be impos'd upon by the treacherous subtlety of Mortimer and his Complices who were always about him also we should cast our eyes upon the severity he shew'd this same Mortimer when he understood the whole Treason nor is it a small sign of his innocence as to this point that he himself lived long and Reigned happily being blest with many Dutifull Children and that no other circumstance of his whole life can furnish us with any thing from whence we may suspect that he could be capable of so black and unnatural a Treason However b Ashmole p. 644 now the old King having resign'd the Crown great Preparations were made for this young Prince's Coronation he being on the 25 of January or the Conversion of St Paul and a c Lit. Dom. D. Sunday proclaimed King of England by Order and Consent of Parliament and Proclamations d Dugd. Warw. p. 165. a. were issued out in his Name declaring to the People that his Father the late King had made a Voluntary and free Resignation of his Regal Dignity to him as being his Eldest Son. And a week after by the direction of those who were Contrivers of this Revolution he was advis'd to Publish his Peace to the whole Kingdom which was done in these words Edward e Walsingh hist p. 105. Speed p. 565. Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 28. by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to N. Sheriff of S. Greeting Whereas the Lord Edward our Father late King of England by Common Council and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords as well as that of the whole Commonalty of the Realm did voluntarily resign the Government thereof willing and granting that We as his Eldest Son and Heir should take upon Us the Rule and Government of the Kingdom And We by the consent and advice of the Prelates Earls and Barons aforesaid yeelding herein to our Fathers good Pleasure have taken upon Us the Government of the said Realm and received as the manner is the Fealties and Homages of the said Prelates and Barons Desiring therefore that our Peace should be inviolably kept to the quiet and benefit of our Liege People We will and command that presently upon sight of these Presents you cause our Peace to be Proclaim'd thrô all your Bailywick charging all and every one in our Name under pain and peril of Disherison and loss of life and limb not to presume to infringe or violate our said Peace but every one to prosecute his Actions and Causes without any outrage whatsoever according to the laws and customs of our Kingdom For We are ready and ever shall be to exhibit and afford to all and singular Plaintiffs as well poor as rich full Justice in our Courts according to due Course of Law. Witness Our Self at Westminster l mo Februarii Annóque Regni nostri Primo On the f Sandford p. 158. H. Knighten p. 2550. Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 2. n. 13. same day being Sunday and the Vigil of the Purification was the young King by the hands of his Cozen Henry Earl of Lancaster first girded with the Sword of Knighthood at which time the King himself Knighted many others among whom were three g Sandford p. 109. Catal. Hono p. 575. Dagd 1. Vol. p. 145. 147. Sons of the Lord Mortimer That day he was Crowned at Westminster by the hands of h Ashmole calls him William by mistake vid. Godw. Catal. Bps. c. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury and thereupon as an Earnest of the many Advantages his People were to reap from his prosperous Reign a General Pardon
said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
would there shortly return them such an Answer as should appear reasonable After this Answer having been first entertain'd with a Dinner in the Kings Chamber they departed from Windsor took up their lodging for that night at Colbrook and the next day went for London A few days after the King return'd to his Palace at Westminster and a certain Day was prefix'd to all his Council to attend him there The Council being sat the Embassadors of France were called in who again told the substance of their Message and withall deliver'd to the King their Masters Letters which he had refused to meddle with before They were thereupon order'd to withdraw while the Business was brought under Debate Some of the Lords alledged That in right of Queen Isabell his Mother the Crown of France belonged unto him and that therefore he ought not only not to acknowledge any Fealty at all but also openly to put forth his Claim to what was so evidently his Due But however pleasingly this struck upon the Spirit of King Edward yet the Major part of his Council were of the mind That it was too early for the King to embarque himself in so hazardous an Affair the Enemy being at that time so potent the Realm at home in a manner unsettled and the King himself under Age. However that hereby his Right and future Claim might not be prejudiced the King immediately b Ex Informatione per R. Edvardi nuntios Papae exhibita in Bened. Tom. 6. post Epist secr 302. in Bibl. Vatican apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1340. §. 9. vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 14. constituted one of his Council his Procurator in that Part by whom before all his Council he protested openly and expresly That for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by King Edward of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu he did not nor would intend to Renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the same Right to derogate even althô thereupon Letters should afterward be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Loosing the said Dukedom and Earldom and because he feared that unless he should do Homage unto the said Philip he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the confirmation of the Premises King Edward caused his said Procurator to take an Oath upon his Soul by laying hands on the Holy Gospell before all those of his Council present This Caution being made it was agreed That Doctor Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London a well-spoken Man should answer these Ambassadors for the King That He was ready in all Points to do as the Kings his Predecessors had done Then the Frenchmen being call'd in the Bishop spake in this manner Lords and Gentlemen Ambassadors from the Crown of France the Kings Majesty my Soveraign Lord hath heard your Message and read your Letters My Lords and Gentlemen our Master here present hath by Advice of his Council consented to go personally into France c Frois c. 24. to visit the King your Master his Dear Cozen who hath so kindly invited him And you are required to shew unto the King your Master that as to the Faith and Homage demanded he will do his Devoir in all that shall concern him And that he intends the first Opportunity to pass over into France to perform what shall appear equitable So having been well entertain'd and rewarded by the King with many gifts and Jewels of great value they left England returning with this Answer to their Lord at Paris King Philip was well pleas'd with the News not only because he saw so considerable a Monarch so ready to submit to him but because he had a great curiosity to see him whom he had heard to be a Prince of singular Majesty and Beauty That himself therefore might appear in more Pomp or to the intent to have more notable Witnesses of this Homage thus to be done to his own Person or to dazzle and awe the mind of the Young King with the number and greatness of his Friends and Allies He immediately directs his Letters to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia his Cozen and to the Kings of Navarre and Majorica certifying them of the time and place where and when the King of England was to do him Homage and desiring them by no means to fail of giving him the Honour of their company To which Letters they all severally agreed and came into France accordingly attended with an honourable Equipage Besides all the Peers Earls Barons and chief Lords of France as if to out-rival the English Nation resolv'd to be present at this Solemnity in the most gallant and splendid manner The place appointed for the performance of this Action was the great City of Amiens in Picardy wherein there was Extraordinary provision made for this August Appearance For the several Kings were made ready great Chambers Halls and Dining-Rooms The Inns and other of the best Lodgings were order'd to entertain the Dukes of Burgundy Burbon and Lorrain and the Lord Robert of Artois a mighty Favourite of King Philip's with the rest of the Peers of France and Princes of the Blood. There was also provision made for a thousand Horse-strangers besides six hundred Horse which they expected would come over with the King of England But He for his part exceeded herein their Expectation for He came attended with Dr. Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln all right politick Prelates There were also four Earls Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Lord Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Uncles Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Claus 3. Edw. 3. n. 35 not then of full Age and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex with the Lord Henry Plantaginet afterwards Earl of Derby the Kings Cozen the Lord William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury Reginald Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Nevil the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord John Moubray beside more than fourty other Knights and a thousand Horse of War. And thus having appointed his Brother the Lord John sirnamed of Eltham and now Earl of Cornwall his Lieutenant and Custos of the Realm during his Absence He took the sea at Dover with all this Company but was two Days upon the Water before he landed at Whitsand near Calais whence he went to Boloigne where he tarried one day to refresh himself It was now about the middle of August when King Philip hearing of his Arrival immediately dispatch'd away the Constable of France with a good company of
Town shall be rendred to King Philip to do with them after his Pleasure and as for the rest they may go come and tarry freely and have their Victuals for a days Journey but they may not supply Sainctes any otherwise than it is at this time This Treaty was followed with another made at Bois de Vincennes the Thirtieth day of May following and thereby it was further agreed that the Profits of the Land of Guyenne which for default of Homage were siesed by the late King Charles and converted to his Use after the Law shall be sequestred in the Hands of two Commissioners deputed on the behalf of either of the Kings Edward and Philip till both their Differences and Proceedings done since the Truce in the Year 1324 shall be amicably decided Finally King Edward having given that Declaration of his Homages which we have set down z P. 37. already went again in Person into France to appease the War at Sainctes At which time he requested of King Philip that he would remit unto him the Demolishing of the Castle of St. Croix and others which he then promised very Frankly to do and moreover granted unto him by a new Treaty made the 4th of July 1331 That the Town and Castle of Sainctes should be restor'd unto him in the same condition wherein they were and thirty Thousand pounds Tournois for his Interests and Damages notwithstanding the former Accord of the Ninth of March approved by his Majesty the Thirtieth day of April A Concession says Du Chesne which one would think ought to appease all disgusts whatsoever for a long time But the Murmurs which afterward began to run among the English that their King was nearer to the Crown of France than King Philip were so deeply rooted in their hearts that at last they occasion'd most Tragical and deadly Effects as we shall shew in due place V. On the a Knighton p. 2558. n. 60. seventeenth of the Calends of July being after our Account the Fifteenth of June and a Friday at b Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 181. Ashmole p. 670. ten of the Clock in the Morning the Queen Philippa of England was at Woodstock near Oxford deliver'd of her First-born Son a very Fair Lusty and well-form'd Infant who was Christened by the Name of his Father Edward Walsingham and Speed from him say indeed that he was Born on the 15 of June and on a Fryday but they place it a Year more forward both which notwithstanding are easily refuted if we consider that in the Year 1329 the 15 of June happen'd on a Thursday but this Year c Labbé Chron. Tecbn ad an 1330. G being the Dominical Letter it then indeed fell on a Fryday To which agrees that Ancient Writer d Jâ—h Tinemouth ec Aed Lambeth p. 229. John Tinemouth in his Golden History saying that this year on the Fryday before e St. Botolphi Ab. dies Junii 17. St. Botolph there was Born to King Edward his Son Edward the Fourth which Name Giovanni Villani the Florentine Historian calls him also by presuming that he would have lived to Succeed his Father So Welcome to the King was the News of his Birth that he gave to the Messenger thereof Thomas Prior a most Royal Reward and f Ashmole p. 670. Sandford Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Pat. 5. Ed. 3. p. 1 m. 33.4 Febr. 40 Marks per annum out of his Exchequer till he should settle Lands upon him to that Value And afterwards he gave very considerable Pensions to those who were concern'd in his Education as 10 pounds per annum to Joan of Oxford this Young Princes Nurse and 10 Marks annually to Mathilda Plumpton Bersatrix or Rocker to this Princely Infant Great hopes were immediately conceived of the Royal Babe by all that beheld the Beauty of his Shape the Largeness of his Size and the firm Contexture of his Body The Good Lady his Mother took such great Care of this first Dear Pledge of her Marriage Bed that she resolv'd to give him her own Breasts as indeed she did to all her Children after Yet for all that her Beauty and Flower of Youth was nothing impair'd thereby And truly it was not only the Manner of this Queen who exceeded most Ladies in the World for Sweetness of Nature and Vertuous Disposition thus to bring up her own Offspring her self But we find it Customary for the Queens of England and other Princesses to do so as well before as some time after However the Delicate Madams of our Time think it below their Care. And of the Empress g Gisb. Cuperi Apotheassis Homeri Inscripp p. 293. Theodora there is Extant a curious Medal wherein a Woman gives the Breast to an Infant with this Inscription PIETAS ROMANA whereby it is believed to be signified that Theodora gave suck to her Children her self according to the Duty of a Pious Mother which Plutarch and Favorinies do wonderfully commend This Laudable Custom was not quite laid aside in the Times of King Edward For of the Ladies of those Days in General it is observed in the Margin of h Mezeray Chr. Abbreg p. 78. vid. Bp. Taylor 's Life of the II. Jesus p. 18. ad p. 23. c. vid. lib. de Lib. Educ apud Gell. 12.1 Mezeray's History at the Year 1368 that even those of the Highest Rank were us'd to give the Breast to their Children And of the Lady Margaret Daughter of Philip the Bold Second Consort to King Edward the First this King's Grandfather this is Remarkably Observed that when i Walsingh Hist p. 46. ad An. 1301. Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 63. she gave her First-born Son Thomas of Brotherton the Milk of her own Breasts the Babe as if he had an antipathy against every thing that was French could by no means endure it but ever cast back again what he received yet when an English young Gentlewoman was brought to suckle him he took it eagerly and thriv'd kindly upon it And this because it had something of strange and unusual in it was often try'd with him but still it prov'd so that the English Lady's Breasts he freely took but his French Mother's he could never away with Whence it is reported the King his Father should say smiling God give thee Grace my Boy I see thou art right English in thy Nature and may'st one day shew thy self a notable Enemy to the French Nation Thô even this so probable Omen fail'd in part for Prince Thomas died just before the French Wars broke out as hereafter shall be declared But to return whence we have digressed The Birth of this young Prince Edward spread an universall Joy thrô the whole Land and was thought to make a good recompence for the late loss of one of the Kings Uncles Nay now as if all things conspired to make this Blessing more acceptable to the Nation a new Face of things began from this
15. p. 314. n. 60. report King Edward of England calls forth his Hostage Sr. Thomas Seton together with his brother William whom he had taken prisoner and erecting a Gibbet in fight of the Town sends an Herald to assure Sr. Alexander that unless he would forthwith yield up the Town they should both be speedily executed What should the Captain do in this case he had already lost his Bastard son who for his worth and valour was no less dear to him than One of these Both these who were now ready to die except he yeelded were also Young Men of great Hope and to a Father not less dear than Life it self Yet Manly honour and the Duty he ow'd his Country pleaded strongly against Fatherly Affection and now in a manner he is resolved to conquer importunate Nature and make her as is fit give place to vertue when e're he was aware casting his watry eyes toward the Gallows and beholding again both his Sons his only Hopes ready to be sacrificed by the Hangman the violence of Natural Affection return'd again and wholly master'd his Nobler Thoughts of Honour But just then as he is resolving out of Paternal piety to be Impious to his common Mother his Country behold his Lady the Mother of the young Men putting on the Spirit of a Man which her Husband had laid off began to confirm his late-wavering Mind by laying before him What Duty he ow'd to his King and Country and how untainted the Honour of his Family had hitherto been That thô these their Children should thus perish they might have Others for neither was he nor her self as yet uncapable of producing more which we shall examin by and by that thô they should now escape once they must surely die but if now the Name of Seton should be blackned with Treason no time would purge it from their Posterity That she had often heard from the discourses of wise Men the Praise of those who had voluntarily resign'd their Children to death for the sake of their Country Beside should he prove Disloyal in hopes to save their Lives how could he assure himself to preserve them thereby Or that the perjur'd Tyrant says she would then keep his Word who had broke it already the day being not yet come on which he was engag'd to yield But the Succour being ready at hand which ought to secure the Hostage That therefore he should not seek to redeem an uncertain or short satisfaction for a certain and perpetual Blot of Infamy This Speech settling the Good Man in his Loyal Resolution she withdrew him from the Walls that he might no more be stagger'd when he should behold the shamefull End of his dear Children To say the truth this is a very pretty Tale and would make as much for the Honour of that Noble Virago as it reflects upon King Edward a stain of Inhumanity and Injustice But as I said before it is no way credible if we consider the little Authority wherewith it is confirmed only Hectors and Buchanans Word for 't the utter Improbability that so Gallant a Prince should be so ungenerously Cruel the Inconsistence of that part of the Speech wherein 't is affirmed that they were both capable of having more Children when her youngest Son was now so great a Soldier as they make him in the Sally wherein he was taken his Elder brother Sr. Thomas having been given as Hostage and yet an Elder than him named Sr. Alexander was a great Captain and slain at Kingcorne when Bailiol first landed in Scotland two Years before But above all we shall find a few Pages hence that this Sr. Alexander the Father the Town of Barwick being yielded when among others he had his choice to go or stay chose rather to yield Homage to King Edward of England which certainly neither his Lady would have suffer'd him to do nor Nature it self had his Children been now so unjustly and barbarously put to death by that King. Not to take notice of the Declamatory Art wherewith this Ladies Speech is fraught she in one place alluding to the stories of Macaria or Iphigenia among the Greek Tragedians or perhaps to the Tragedy of Jeptha which Buchanan himself had put forth and yet Hector is much more florid and rhetoricall in the Speech he makes her and he says too that the Scotch Army was not yet come neither But having thus for fear of being thought willing to conceal any Truth told an Incredible story to the Honour of a Scotch Lady I hope I may be allow'd at the same time to tell another every whit as well attested of an English Knight Now it is to be premised that in these Days there were found in the Great Wood of Caledon a sort of huge wild white Bulls called o Gesneri Hist Quadruped Bisons with shaggy and curled Mains like p Hector Boeth p. 6. n. 70. Lions otherwise not unlike to ours These q Holinshead Descript of Scotland p. 13. c. 7. were so Fierce and Savage that they could never be made familiar nor would they taste of any Herb or Grass on which they found the Scent of a Man after many days o When they were taken which was very hard to do they would refuse all sustenance and starve themselves to Death Whatever came against them they would with great Fury and Violence run at neither fearing Dogs Nets nor any kind of Weapon It is said the late King of Scotland Robert Bruce who greatly delighted to hunt these Bulls was one time overthrown by one of them and in evident Peril of his Life When a certain young Esquire that was at that instant near his Person running up to his Rescue and seising upon the Bulls Horns by plain Force overthrew him to the Earth and so held him till the Hunters came up and slew him For this Notable Fact of his the King endued him with large Possessions and from that time his Name became Turnbull which is retained by his Posterity even to this day Now this Turnbull being at this time of such Renown as also of incredible strength and Courage and of unusual Stature resolv'd to venture his Life for the Honour of his Country and accordingly on the Vigil of St. Margaret being the r Lit. Dom. C. 19 of July and a Monday before the Battles joyn'd came out of the Scottish Host and standing between both Armies by an Herald ſ Stow p. 231. Sr. Rich. Baker in Men of Note in K. Edward's time Challenged to fight a Mortal Duel with any One of all the English While every Mind was busied about this bold Defiance a young Knight of Norfolk whom Baker calls Venile Stow Venale but by good Authority I find his Name was Sr. Robert Benhale the * Vid. l. 1. c. 4. §. 6. p. 64. same who in the Parliament An o 1331 was Fined for a Riot offer'd himself before the King of England and kneeling desired his leave
at this time was found to amount to One Hundred and Ten besides those in Ireland Aquitain and Normandy King Edward now thought fitting because of his Wars intended against France to confiscate unto his own Use all the Goods of the said Priories with all the Lands Tenements Fees and Advowsons of the same Letting out their Houses to Farm as his Grandfather before him had done in the 23 Year of his Reign upon the like occasion And this was Customary not only before this but also afterwards r id Clem. Reyner in Append Par. 3. p. 146. when ever the Wars brake out between England and France for the Kings of England to seise all the Possessions of the Cluniacks and other Aliens into their Hands and to put them out to Farm to the Religieux themselves on consideration of an annual Pension But when the War ended there was full Restoration made of all again as particularly we shall find four and twenty Years hence or in the 35 of this King. VI. While King Edward was thus busied at home and his Ambassadors equally concern'd in his service abroad there Å¿ Junii 9. obiit Vt apparet ex illius Historiâ in l. dicto Time's Storeh p. 720. Alii 6 Junii ponunt died at his Palace in Valenciennes William the Third Earl of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friseland Father to Philippa King Edward's beloved Queen who for his Great Mercy temper'd with Justice and other Princely Vertues was sirnamed the Good. One Example of his Exact Justice I shall shew whereby we may guess at his other Perfections The Deed was done not long before his Death upon a Bayliff of South-Holland t Vid. Time's Storeh p. 720. l. 7. c. 30. Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 153. who had unjustly taken a goodly fair Cow from a poor Peasant which had been the sole support of himself his Wife and Children As there are some Kine in that Country which can give twenty u To enforce the truth of this Relation a little Conradus Gesner hath these Words The Oxen of the Belgian Provinces especially in Friesland and Holland are of very great stature For it hath been found by experience that one of them hath weigh'd Sixteen Hundred pounds Trey Weight And when the Earl of Hâ—ochstadt was at Machlin in Friesland there was presented unto him a Fair Large Ox which being killed weigh'd above Two Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Pounds which I reckon to amount to 180 Stone and 8 Pounds Wherefore that succeeding Ages might not mistrust the Truth of so strange a Matter the said Earl caused the Picture of the said Ox to be set up in his Palace at his full Proportion with an Inscription signifying his Weight and the Day and Year when this Ox was deliver'd and killed Conrad Gesner Hist of Foursccted Beasts p. 70. Engl. folio Pottles of Milk and more in a Day The Earl lay then sick on his Death-Bed as it proved but it was his Custom never to Debar the meanest Suitors whether he was sick or well So that upon this poor Countrymans Complaint and Examination duly had the Bayliff was adjudg'd to give unto the Peasant an 100 Crowns of Gold for the great Wrong he had done him which was accordingly performed But then for his Affront to Publique Justice since he was an Officer and had thus abused the Authority entrusted to him the Earl sent for an Executioner and caused him to strike his Head off by his own Bed-side I shall only crave leave to add one more small digression of a matter happening in his Days which thô not pertinent to the History is yet well worthy Memory for its great Rarity In the Eleventh Year of this Earls Government which was the Tenth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Second of England and the Year of our Lord 1316 there happen'd even in England a great Scarcity of Corn as appears by x Walsing hist p. 83. our Historians but in this y Time's Store-house p. 720. Earls Country there was so terrible a Dearth and Famine that poor people fell down dead in the Streets for Hunger Many also were found Dead in the Highways and in Woods and Fields whither they went to seek for Herbs and Roots to stop the Importunities of craving Nature Little Children would die as they indeavour'd to suck at their starving Mothers Breasts and some Women could not refrain eating their Children In this time of Famine a certain Poor Woman of Leyden being extreamly opprest with Hunger came to a Sister of her own who was far better to pass begging of her for Godsake to lend her some Bread which she promised with Thanks to repay when it should please God to enable her The hard-hearted Sister deny'd her oftentimes notwithstanding the other was so importunate and withall told her that she was assured by her Countenance how she must needs have sufficient for her self if not to spare Hereupon the unmercifull Wretch lying both to God and her poor Sister said If I have any Bread to help my self withall I wish to God it may all instantly be turned into Stone It seems the heavy Displeasure of Almighty God laid hold on those rash Words of hers for going soon after to the Cupboard to relieve her self she found all her Loaves of Bread most plainly converted into solid stones so that she her self died for want of that which she had so wickedly deny'd her own Sister It is most credibly told us z Time's Stâ—â—ehouse ibid. that one or two of those Stone-Loaves are yet to be seen in St. Peters Church at Leyden in Memory of this most just and extraordinary Judgement However this Good Earl William King Edward's Father-in-Law having been all along a most Vertuous Prince Victorious in War Wise and Judicious Well-spoken and Learned a great Friend to Peace affable to all Men and universally Beloved after he had Governed his Provinces of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friesland for the space of 32 Years died as before we said and with a Frois c. 29. great Pomp was buried at the Fryers in Valenciennes The Bishop of Cambray himself sang the Mass and besides the English Lords there were present many Dukes Earls and Barons of sundry Countries as well for the manifold Alliances he had abroad as for that his Fame was Singular and his Memory Dear to all Men. He was succeeded by William the Fourth his Son and Heir who had Married the Lady Joan Daughter to John Duke of Brabant giving her for her b Vid. l. 1. c. 24. §. 7. Joynture the Land of Binche upon the Haysne a fair and goodly Inheritance As for the Lady Johanna Countess Dowager of Heinalt the young Earls Mother and Sister to King Philip of France she resolved to spend the rest of her Days in a Nunnery at Fontaine on the River Scheld where being soon admitted she gave her self wholly to Devotion Almsdeeds and other Pious Offices VII And now
unto the dispose of our Lord the Pope especially the Lords Cardinals being his Assistants the greater Part of whom and in a manner all are Natives of the Kingdom of France or there Beneficed either in their own Persons or in the Persons of their Nephews and have Revenues as well in Temporals as Spirituals and of whom a great part publiquely make against him as to the Affair now in Hand I should in Answer thereto declare the Good Will which our Lord the Pope hath particularly to the Person of the Lord the King and his Kingdom and that in such Matters not concerning the Church and its Patrimony he is not wont to require the Counsel of the Cardinals And in this Affair if it should be refer'd to him he would not care to require Counsel of others Besides this the Pope exhorted those of the Privy Council to both Kings to perswade them unto Peace particularly to the English Lords among other things he wrote thus We desire and require and exhort You all in the Lord that having before Your eyes God alone to whom all Hearts are open and all desires are known and from whom no secret is hid as to such and such hazardous Matters concerning as is premised the state of all Christendom what You shall with Good and Right Consciences believe to be wholsome profitable and expedient to the said King his Weal Honour and Profit and also to Christendom aforesaid You would endeavour to perswade and advise him Dat. Avin VII Kal. Septemb. Ano. Pontificatûs nostri VI. But all this had signified little to King Edward who was sensible of the Loss he always suffer'd by these Treaties which were then most vigorously offer'd when some Great Advantage was in his Hands had not there been a Lady of High Quality and Wonderfull Vertue and Piety whose Tears and Prayers could not be lost upon a Man whose heart was acquainted with Pity This was the Lady Å¿ Frois c. 63. Jane of Valois Countess Dowager of Hainault Holland and Zealand Sister-German to King Philip and own Mother to Philippa Queen of England Who since the Death of her Husband William the Good late Earl of Haâ—nault had withdrawn her self from the World and entred the Abbey of Fontaine au Tertre resolving there to spend the Residue of her Life in Works of Charity and Devotion This Pious Lady as the Greek Poets Report of Jocasta when Polynices and Eteocles were prepared for Battle and as our t Warner's Albion's England l. 3. c. 16. p. 73. English Poets Relate of the Mother of Belinus and Brennus two Brittish Princes when they were ready by unbrotherly War to decide the Right of a Kingdom went assiduously with great Zeal and Diligence between the two Kings humbly kneeling to the King of France her Brother whose Haughty and Resolute Temper she well knew and sweetly like a Vertuous Mother intermixing with her Son-in-Law King Edward Commands and Prayers and moving Tears and convincing Arguments at the same time labouring with the Duke of Brabant whose Son was to have Married one of her Daughters but for a Trick of King Philips and also with her Son-in-Law the Marquess of Juliers and with her late Husbands Brother the Lord John of Hainalt to joyn with her to move King Edward to accept of a Truce thô never so short At last by the Aid and Counsel of the Lord Lewis D'Augemont who was equally acceptable to both Parties she so far prevail'd that both the Kings agreed to send to a certain Place 4 or 5 Commissioners a piece to propose and consider of some Moderate and Equal Way to decide the Matter For which Treaty a Truce was to be had for three Days the said Persons the Commissioners from both Parties to Meet and Treat each day about the Premises in a little Church or Chappel standing in the Fields of Spetelin On Saturday the 23d. of September there came accordingly to the Place appointed on the French Part the Venerable Old Prince John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl of Armagnac on the English Part came John Duke of Brabant Henry Bishop of Lincoln Reginald Duke of Gueldre William Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord Beaumont All these at their first Meeting in the Chappel aforesaid began u Frois c. 63. with many Mutual Salutations and endearing Caresses as if they had been sworn Friends all their Lives Thence they fell upon the Mater in Hand and began to Propound and to Weigh divers Offers and Concessions and all the while the Incomparable Lady Jane of Valois was by earnestly entreating them for Godsake to lay aside all Prejudice and only to consider the Publique Good and the Weal of Christendom and be ready to accept of what should seem just and indifferent But for the first Day there was little or no Advancement made However they brake up with a Mutual Promise to Meet again at such an Hour the next Morning and in Conformity to the Day to dispose themselves towards the Entertainment of Unity and Peace Accordingly they Met and did at last unanimously Agree on certain Articles and Methods but not being able to draw them up at that time and to Compleat the whole Affair as it ought to be they deferred the Consummation of all till the last Day So being all Met again the Third Day they fully Agreed to hold inviolably a Truce for them and their Allies till the Feast of St. John Baptist following during which Term x Freis c. 63. fol. 35. certain Commissioners on both sides were to be sent to Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send certain Cardinals all these being to consult together about a Full Ratification of a Final Peace between the two Kings The Form of the Truce was this John y Knighton p. 2578. n. 44. Atouz ceur que cestez presentez lettrez verrent cue cieront Jean par la Grace c. by the Grace of God King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl 〈◊〉 Armagnac to all who shall see or hear these present Letters Greeting Be it known unto all that a Truce is given and confirmed between the High and Mighty Princes the Kings of France and of England for Them and for all their Friends by the Assent of the High and Mighty Lords the Duke of Brabant the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont on the one Party and of Us and of every of Us above-written on the other Party By vertue of Power delegated to Us and to those abovenamed from the said Kings So that we have drawn up Affiances with our own Hands between the said Kings their Friends and Allies whosoever they be to endure to both Parties from this time untill
The Occasion was given first in Bretagne For e Frois c. 63. fol. 35. after the Truce had been confirmed and sealed before the City of Tournay and every Man was gone his way the Lord John Dreux then Duke of Bretagne who had been there on the French Kings side in as gallant an Equipage as any other Prince whatsoever upon his Return homewards fell suddenly sick of a mortal Disease and died in little Bretagne and was buried at f Catal. Honor. p. 606. Ploermell in the Diocess of Nantes He had been thrice married first to Isabell Daughter of Charles Earl of Valois and Alanson and Sister to King Philip of Valois secondly to Blanch Daughter of the King of Castille and lastly to Margaret Daughter of Edward Earl of Savoy but yet died without any Issue From whence a lasting War was entailed upon his Country which occasionally also involved the Realms of France and England This same Duke g Frois ibid. Catal. Honor. had two younger Brethren the one by the Fathers side onely of a second Venter named John Earl of Montfort who was then living the other named Guy Earl of Pentebria his Brother both by Father and Mother side was dead indeed but had left one Daughter behind him named Jane which her Uncle the late Duke had before his Death married to the young Lord Charles Castillion Eldest Son to Guy Earl of Blois by another Sister of King Philip of France Upon which Marriage the said King promised after the Decease of her Uncle Duke John to uphold and maintain the said Charles her Husband in the Dukedom of Bretagne For the late Duke always suspected vehemently that his Half-brother Monford would struggle for the Inheritance after his Death against the Daughter of his own Brother Guy to whom he reckon'd it more justly belonged That she might therefore find an able Friend upon Occasion to abett her Quarrel he thus wisely to his thinking match'd her with a Son of King Philips Sister And accordingly King Philip however partial he was in King Edwards Cause who claim'd the Crown of France by a Title derived from a Woman yet without any Scruple undertook to defend the Title of his Nephew Charles to this Dukedom as we shall shew at large anon V. However John Earl of Monford had this Advantage that he h Frois ibid. first heard of the Duke his Brothers Death and thereupon resolving not to dally in a matter of such Consequence he rode immediately to Nantes the chief City in Bretagne where upon his fair Address to the Burgesses and those of the Country thereabouts he was forthwith received as their Chief Lord and had Homage and Fealty done unto him Then the Earl and his Lady Margaret Daughter to i Mezeray p. 19. Robert late Earl of Flanders and Sister to Lewis of Cressy the present Earl of Flanders a Lady of a most Masculine Spirit determin'd by Advice of their Council to call a Court of Parliament and keep a Solemn Feast on such a Day at Nantes against which time the Earl of Montford sent forth his Summons to all the Nobles and Representatives of the good Towns of Bretagne to be there to render their Homage and Fealty unto Him as unto their Soveraign Lord. But in the mean while before the time of the Feast came the Earl of Montford went from Nantes with a competent Number of Men of Arms unto Limoges the Chief Town of Limousin whereof the Dukes of Bretagne were Vicounts where he was informed that the vast Treasures which his Father Arthur had amassed together were securely kept Being come thither he enter'd the City in great Pomp and Splendour and was honourably received of all the Clergy Burgesses and Commons who then and there made Homage and swore Fealty unto him Here he handled the Matter so discreetly that he had all that inestimable Treasure deliver'd up to him which of a long time before his Father had gather'd and strongly secur'd with this Injunction left to his Son that he should not meddle therewith till he should be brought to some Extremity So having obtained this hitherto untouch'd Prize he brought it away with him to Nantes to the Countess his Wife as the most able Nerves of the War which he expected By this time was the Day of the Solemn Feast come but no Breton of any great Name or Quality was found to be concern'd at Monfords Summons onely one valiant and wealthy Lord named Sr. Henry du Leon came thither to yield him his Obersance However the Feast was continued for three Days with much Real Pomp but Feigned Cheer because it look'd so ill that his Cause was so universally discountenanced by the Nobility and Gentry After the Feast it was resolved that all the New-found Treasure should be set apart for Wages for Men of War both Horse and Foot which the Earl design'd to retain on all Hands as well to constrain the Rebellious as to maintain the Dutchy against his Adversary Being therefore as soon as might be well furnished with Men of War and Chosen Captains from divers Countries he resolved to March forth and either by Love or Force make himself Lord of all Bretagn The first Place he design'd to attempt was the strong Castle of Brest standing upon an Arm of the Sea the Captain whereof was the Lord Garnier Clisson a Noble Knight and one of the Greatest Barons of Bretagne Earl Monford all along in his Passage thither prest the Men of the Country to his Service none daring to refuse so that by that time he came thither his Forces were mightily encreased Brest and Nantes being distant almost the whole length of Bretagne one from another Being come to the Castle he sent the Lord Henry du Leon to summon the Captain to yield up the Place and to obey the Earl as his Lord and Duke of Bretagn The Captains Answer was short That he was not inclin'd to do any such Matter till he should be commanded so to do by the Right Heir of that Dukedom So the next day an Assault was given But within the Castle were 300 Men of Arms besides Others and all things were well disposed for Defence Wherefore the Captain full of Courage came to the Barriers with 40 good Men of Arms and made a very brave Resistance But so many of the Assailants came thither that at last the Barriers were won by fine Force the Defendants being obliged to retire toward the Castle in some Confusion having lost several of their Company But the Captain did so much that he secur'd the Retreat to the rest as far as the first Gate When those who kept the Ward thereof fearing from what they saw more mischief in an ill time let down their Portcullis and shut their Captain out with most of his Company who fought with him in the Reer with much Resolution and Bravery Thus they all remain'd without expos'd to eminent Danger for the Captain would never yield
where at Candlemas he held a Royal Just and Turneament for the Honour of the young Noblemen of Gascoigne whom he trained up here in Feats of War And what Expert Scholars they proved under so great a Tutor We shall see hereafter in the Wars of France XIII On the a Walsingh hist p. 149. Sandford p. 357. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. fifth Day of June Queen Philippa of England was deliver'd of her Fifth Son at the Kings Mannor-house of Langley aforesaid near St. Albans this Young Prince being in August following Baptized by Michael Lord Abbot of St. Albans was called Edmund He was afterwards by his Father created Earl of Cambridge and by his Nephew King Richard the Second Duke of York from whom King Edward the IV was Lineally Descended King Edward as he always wish'd rather to have Sons than Daughters was mightily pleased at the Birth of this Boy and being now at Leisure from Wars resolv'd to express his Joy in a most Magnificent and Royal Manner at the time of his Baptism which was to be about the b Frois c. 89. Midst of August Against this time therefore he caused Proclamation to be made in France Scotland Hâ—â—nalt Brabant and Flanders that all Knights and Gentlemen who would please to come to his Feast to be at such a time held in the City of London should have safe Conduct for so many Days for coming staying and going I will not dissemble that all this by most Historians is said to have been done for Love of the Countess of Salisbury with whom they make King Edward to be at this time deeply in Love But this is a most Fabulous and Irrational Tradition as we shall shew in due place and utterly to be exploded of all Discreet Persons So that now the c Ferrand Spence's Countess of Salsbury p. 45. Romancers themselves are fain to confess that at least the Kings Pretence for this Feast was to Honour the Christening of his Son Edmund Not to say that it will appear the next Year how as yet the King had not received even that supposed wound of Love of which many Authors make such pleasant Tales However there were present at this Solemnity many Fair Ladies and Virgins of Prime Quality all Drest and set off in the Best Manner that could be expected from their Rank and Condition To this Tourneament of Foreigners came William the Young Earl of Hainalt Brother and the Lord John Beaumont of Hainalt Uncle to the Queen of England Henry Lord Eam of Brabant and many other Lords and Knights of several Countries But of the English Nobility the Greater Part was there particularly the Lord Henry de Tortocollo Earl of Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his Son Earl of Darby Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Earl of Northampton the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Arundel Glocester and Pembroke Suffolk and Oxford the Baron Stafford and Vicount John Beaumont which latter Froisard Reports to be slain in the Justs but indeed he d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. died not till the next Year whereas the Tourneament is e Id. 1 Vol. p. 576. rightly placed here There was also here the Often-mention'd Lord Robert of Artois called the Earl of Richmond Among others Sr. Maurice Barkley Brother to the Lord Berkley together with his Valiant and Inseparable Friend and Companion Sr. Thomas Bradestan did so well behave themselves at this Tourneament that in consideration of their High Prowess they were f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. now by the King advanced to the Dignity of Bannerets And as thus the Lords and Knights exercis'd themselves in Martial Feats so on the other hand the Ladies diverted the whole Assembly with their Songs and Dances the Solemnity being continued for 15 Days together So delightfully did this Warlike King intermix the Pleasures and Pastimes of Love and Peace with the more Laborious Toyls of War thereby to Encourage his Subjects and to Relax himself from the Cares of Empire XIV About this time there happen'd some new Commotions in Scotland whereof I shall presently take Notice when I shall have made one small Digression which I hope the Learned will pardon upon the account of its own Worth thô it hath little or no Relation to Our Matters The Name of Francis Petrarch the Famous Poet Historian and Philosopher of his Days cannot I suppose be unknown to any one that hath but heard of Rome and Italy This Man flourished in this Age being this very Year but g Natus enim A. D. 1304. vid. Hier. Squarzafaehum in Vitâ Petrarche 37 Years old He had at Avignon and especially about fifteen Miles thence in a Pleasant Valley so improv'd himself in the studies of good Learning that his Name was now grown considerable Insomuch that in h Id. ibid one Day there were brought unto him Letters from two very distant Parts of the World the One sent from the Senate of Rome the Other from the Chancellor of the University of Paris each of them containing an Invitation that he would come to the Respective Places and accept from their Hands the Honourable Crown of Lawrel The Glory thô of it self Great seem'd yet in those Days much Greater because that Ancient and Laudable Custom had been for so many Ages discontinued saving i Selden's Tit. Hen. 2 Part. c. 1. p. 406. that in the German Empire here and there we meet with an Instance or two of Laureate Poets Petrarch did not at all decline so generous an offer for he that despises True Glory is no Friend to Vertue but however by Advice of his Noble Friends the two Colonna's he chose rather to acknowledge this Favour to Rome once the Imperial City of the World than to Paris the Metropolis of one single Kingdom But withall being resolved not to arrogate an Honour that should not first be Worthily and unquestionably adjudged unto Him in his way thither He waits upon Robert King of Jerusalem Sicily and Naples the Great Philosopher of those Days who understanding the Occasion of his Visit and who He was receiv'd him with Princely Humanity and at last appointed a Time to Discourse him at large This Discourse thus held between this Learned Prince and Prince of Learned Men in Poetry History and Philosophy was continued for Three whole Afternoons By which time King Robert having also read a good Part of his Heroick Poem called Africa was so fully convinced of Petrarchs Abilities that he offer'd there at Naples to confer the Lawrel on him with his own Hands and desired him also on promise of a Gracious Acceptance and Bountifull Reward to Dedicate that his Poem to no other than Himself This latter Motion Petrarch with many Thanks readily embraced and has we see perform'd it accordingly in these and other Verses of that Work O Thou Tu quoque Trinacrii Moderator maxime Regni Hesperiaeque Decus atque Aevi Gloria nostri Judice quo merui
ran thitherward with the remainder of their Forces and made the others turn their Faces again and together with them renew the Assault This was a most vigorous and general Onset and Honourably performed but the Besieged still defended themselves most resolutely The Virago Countess was her self Armed Cap à pied and rode about on a large strong Courser from street to street desiring and commanding all Men to make good their Defence The very Women and Maidens she order'd to cut their Garments shorter and to carry Stones and Pots of quick Lime to the Walls to throw down upon the Enemy And she her self to set an Example of Hardiness to her Sex perform'd that day such an Exploit as few Ages can equal but all Writers joyntly attest g Frois c. 80. Du Chesne p. 6 6. Mezeray 2. part tom 3. p. 19. c. When she had thus set all hands to Work she mounted the Highest Tower to see how the Frenchmen were disposed without And there she saw how all the Army was engaged at the Assault and had left the Camp unguarded Hereupon she descended took again her Courser all Armed as she had been and Selecting 300 Horsemen went with them to another Gate which was not Assaulted Here she issued forth with all her Company and taking a Course dashed into the French Camp cutting down and setting fire to their Tents and Pavilions There was no resistance made against her for she met with no body in the Camp but Boys and Pages who ran all away with great outcries When the Lords of France looked back and heard this confusion and saw their Tents on fire they left the Assault and return'd to the Field crying Treason When the Countess saw them Returning she gather'd her Men together and perceiving that without great Danger she could not recover the Town again took another way and made toward the Castle of Brest which was above 22 French Miles from thence But soon after the Lord Lewis of Spain who being Marshal of the Host was returning that way toward the Camp when he beheld such a Company of his Enemies marching off followed after them with a competent Number of his best Horse and pursued the Countess so close that he slew and hurt several of her Men who could not keep up with her But however she and the greater part of her People rode so well that they gained Brest where they were all received with great joy V. The next day the Lords of France having thus lost most of their Tents and Provisions resolved to lodge nearer the Town in Bowers made of Trees But they were mightily surprised when they heard how the Countess her self had headed that daring Exploit However the Besieged were extreamly concern'd for their Lady for of five days together they heard no tidings of Her nor could any way tell what was become of Her. The mean while the Countess took such Care of her Affairs that she had gather'd together no less than 500 Men of Arms besides those whom she brought with her to Brest And having so done on the Fifth day from her coming thither she left the Town with all this Warlike Company and rode forward without noise till about Sunrise she came along by one side of the Enemies Camp to the very Gate whence she had before made that daring Sally which immediately upon knowledge of her Person was opened unto her And so both She and all her Company enter'd Triumphantly with a great noise of Trumpets and Clarious whereby the French Army was roused They admired much at this Rejoycing of the Besieged and made haste to give them a fresh Alarum as those within did to defend themselves For this seasonable Return of the Countess with so good a Succour brought such mighty assurance to the Town that now they made a most notable defence thô their Enemies held them hard at Work all that Morning At Noon the Assault ceased the French having by far the Worst of it as well now as at other times Hereupon it was determin'd in a Council of War that the Lord Charles of Blois and Guy Earl of Blois his Father the Duke of Bourbon and the Marshall of France Sr. Robert Bertrand should go with most of their Troops and lay Siege to the strong Castle of Auray upon the Morbihan which is said to have been built by the Famous Breton King Arthur And that the Lord Henry du Leon Don Lewis of Spain and the Vicount of Roue◠with all the Spaniards and part of the Genouese should tarry still before Hennebond and block it up for they despaired of taking it by Assault But however they sent to Rennes for 12 great Engines wherewith they might cast huge Stones into the Town and Castle Night and Day Thus the French Host was divided the One part lying before Hennebond and the Other before Auray This Fortress of Auray was now well fortified and supply'd with 200 choice Souldiers and Provision sufficient and the Countess of Monford had lately sent them from Hennebond two Valiant and Loyal Captains Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver his Brother About four Leagues from this Castle was the strong City of Vannes which still held for the Countess by whom the Lord Geoffry of Malestroit was made Captain of the Place Not very far off was the good Town of Guingand the Governour whereof the Lord of Dinant was now in Hennebond with the Countess but he had left the Town well provided both of a Captain and what else was necessary his Wife and Children being in the Town of Dinant whereof Sr. Reynald of Dinant his Son was Captain Between Guingand and Vannes stood a strong Castle belonging to Sr. Charles of Blois called Rosternan well Garrison'd with Souldiers of Burgundy whose Captains were Sr. Gerard of Morlaix and Sr. Peter de Portbeufe These two wasted all the Country about them and prov'd a great Nuisance to both the foresaid Towns so that neither Merchandise nor Provision could be sent to either of them without Danger of being intercepted and lost For one day they would ride toward Vannes and another toward Guingand and still when one Captain went forth the other kept the Castle One day among the rest it happen'd that Sr. Reynald of Dinant had laid an Ambush for these Prolers at which very time Sr. Gerard of Morlaix their Chief Captain being ridden forth had taken 15 Merchants with all their Goods and Commodities and was now driving them to his Castle of Rosternan But in the way he fell into Sr. Reynald's Ambuscade who took Sr. Gerard and Twenty five of his Men Prisoners rescued the Merchants and all their Goods and return'd safe to Dinant Whereby the Young Man deservedly got much Commendation VI. All this while h Frois c. 80. fol. 42. Sr. Charles of Blois gain'd no great Advantage at Auray But Don i Hecame from Prince Ferdinande Eldest Son to Alphonso X King of Castille and Leen and from
Fortress At which time the Countess who from the high Tower had seen all this brave Skirmish descended and came forth of the Castle with a glad cheer and in the Street she met and kissed Sr. Walter Manny and his Captains one after another twice or thrice as Froisard says like a valiant Lady VIII This bold and lucky Enterprise of the English Generals took off all hope from the Enemy of Prevailing wherefore the l Frois c. 82. fol. 42. b. next day Don Lewis of Spain called a Council of War and the Vicount of Rouën the Bishop of Leon Sr. Henry du Leon and Sr. Otho du Rue Master of the Genouëse to know their Advice in this Juncture They remembred how long they had lain already to little purpose before the strong Town of Hennebond they saw how mightily the Enemy was reinforced with these Men of Arms and Archers of England so that they were ready even to have bid them Battle at their Gates Their biggest Engine was broke many of their Men slain and wounded their Army weaker the Enemy much stronger So that on all these considerations they thought it but lost time to wait for any good Success there and thereupon concluded to raise their Siege the next day and to draw to the Castle of Auray where still Sr. Charles of Blois lay at Siege with the other half of the Army As they had agreed the next day they began their March for Auray whereat those of the Town made great Outcries and Shoutings after them and some adventur'd to follow them in the Reer but they were soon beat back again nor did they gain the Town without loss When Don Lewis of Spain came to the Lord Charles of Blois he gave his Reasons why he rais'd his Siege from before Hennebond which were allowed But Sr. Charles being of himself strong enough to maintain the Siege before Auray he sent Don Lewis to Dinant a Town not otherwise fortified than by Pales the Water of the River Rance and a Marish Ground The Spanish Leader in his way thither came to a Castle called m Sic corrigo Froisard Conquest Nam inter Auray Dinant nen reperitur Conquest sed immane quantum ab utrisque eccidentem versus distat Vt ex Tab. Geogr. Comper the Captain whereof was a valiant Knight of Normandy named Sr. Anthony Manson who had a pretty considerable Garrison under him This Place Don Lewis resolved to attack and gave them a fierce Assault which held till Midnight for it was begun but in the Evening the Defendants still making their part good The next Morning the Assault was renewed and the Ditches being then found not to be of any great Depth the Assailants approached by Wading and made a great Breach in the Wall whereat they entred by Force and slew all the Garrison but only the Knight their Captain whom they took Prisoner When Don Lewis had set here a new Garrison of 60 chosen Men under a good Captain he went forward and lay down before Dinant IX Now when first Don Lewis had sat down before Comper immediately one was dispatch'd away with News to the Countess of Montford who thereupon said to the Lord Walter Manny That if he could relieve that Place it would be as satisfactory to her as honourable to himself Sr. Walter agreed and the next Morning began his March towards Comper with most of the Forces of Hennebond About Noon he came to the Castle wherein now was a Garrison of Spaniards and French for it had been won the Day before Sr. Walter was vext when he saw that Don Lewis himself was not there for he came with a resolution to give him Battle However he said to his Men Gentlemen I am not in the mind to stirr hence till I know who are in the Castle and how they came there So the Assault was begun and the French and Spaniards within stood stifly to their Defence But the English Archers held them so short that the Ditch being now also gaged with Spears and found passable the Men of Arms came easily to the Walls and presently finding the Breach at which the French had entred before they also entred the Castle the same way and slew all they found there but ten whom they took to Mercy The Lord Manny would not leave any Garrison there for he saw well the Place was not tenable wherefore having set it on fire he returned with his English and Bretons to the Countess to Hennebond for he durst not go too far from that Fortress having almost drained the Garrison X. In the mean time Don Lewis lay at Siege before Dinant wherein was Captain the young Sr. Reynald of Dinant Son to the Lord of Guingand who had so well acquitted himself against Sr. Gerard of Morlaix as we shewed a little before He valued nothing the Threats of Don Lewis but always gave him his hands full of work when he came to assault them But Don n Freis c. 83. fol. 43. Lewis within a little while had got together several Boats and little Barks so that now he could attack the Place both by Land and Water at once Wherefore when the Burgesses of the Town saw their condition they resolved to yield and begun to perswade Sr. Reynald their Captain thereto but he disdaining their Motion protested he would never endure to be so basely disloyal Wherefore these Barbarous Wretches laid hands upon the noble-hearted young Gentleman and most inhumanly murder'd him in the open Market-place When thus Don Lewis had gain'd the Town he released Sr. Gerard of Morlais whom he found there a Prisoner and made both him and his Friend Sr. Pierce Portbeuf Captains thereof with a sufficient Garrison under them From thence Don Lewis marched back again till he came to a great Town on the Sea side between the Vilaine and the Loire called Guerande Where he found several Merchants Ships which had been come laden with Wine from Poictou and Rochel The Wine was all sold off but the Payment was not very good For Don Lewis seised on all the Vessels and what he found therein and having mann'd them assaulted the Town the next day both by Sea and Land. The Besieged could not make good their Defence both these ways at one time wherefore the Place was carried by Force the Town robb'd all the Souls therein both Men Women and Children put to the Sword without Mercy and Five Churches were violated and set on Fire Which last fact so highly displeased Don Lewis that he commanded 24 of those who had done it to be forthwith hanged for their pains In this Place there was found much Treasure and Riches so that every Man was master of more than he could bear away wherefore they were fain to pick and choose the most valuable things and leave the rest against their Wills behind them For it was a Town of great Traffick and Merchandise XI After this cruel Execution done at Guerande Don Lewis enter'd
Calamity both to Us and Our Subjects unless We take more sound and speedy Care in this Matter For the Right of Patronage which We and Our Subjects have in these Benefices is thereby infringed Our Court in which only Cases concerning the Right of Patronage to the said Benefices ought to be discussed is deluded and so the Rights of our very Crown are both shamefully and to our great Detriment invaded the Treasure of our Kingdom exported to Foreigners not to say to our Enemies perhaps with this subtle Intent that thus the Priesthood of the Kingdom being depressed and its Wealth exhausted the Realm it self may be rendred more weak against the Storms of Adversity All which Incommodities together with others which follow from the Premises were lately made manifest unto Us in our Parliament by the Community of the said Realm together with their Unanimous and Earnest Petition subjoyned that We would speedily prevent the foresaid Mischiefs which seem utterly insupportable to our said Community We therefore by this their Representation plainly beholding the Depression of the Church of England and the Disherison of our Crown with all the foresaid Evils which if longer dissembled would probably very much encrease do now refer them unto You who are the Successour of the Prince of the Apostles who received Command from Christ to Feed and not to Sheer the Lords Sheep and to confirm and not depress his Brethren heartily requesting that duly weighing and considering the Premises how of Right Magistrates are to be created from among the People and that according to the saying of the Prophet They shall make Vinedressers of the People from the same place Which We read to have been the Practise of the blessed Apostles when they set over the Converted Heathen Persons who had knowledge of their tongues And also remembring that Exuberance of Devotion wherewith our Royal Family and the Clergy and People of our said Kingdom have hitherto continued in the Obedience of the said See wherefore Your Paternal Affection ought not to heap Burthens and Grievances upon them but rather as a Father who lays up for his Children to alleviate the Weight of the said Impositions and Provisions and Burthens which thus arise from the Apostolick See Permitting further that Patrons may not lose their Right of Patronage and that the Cathedral and other Churches of the said Kingdom may have their free Elections and the Effects thereof Which Churches our said Progenitors have long since upon each of their Vacations freely of their Royal Prerogative confer'd on fit Persons and afterward at the Request and instance of the said See have under certain Forms and Conditions granted that the Elections should be made in the said Churches by the Chapters of the same which Grant was also on due deliberation confirmed by the Apostolick See. But yet now against the Form of the Concession and Confirmation of the said Churches the said See by these her Reservations and Provisions doth take away the said Elections from the said Chapters and from Us also our Right and Prerogative which according to the Form of the said Concession belong unto Us in this part wherefore by the Law of our said Kingdom since the Conditions of our Grant are not observed the Concession it self is revolved unto Us again and the whole state of the Matter reverts to its Original Upon the Premises therefore We pray that your Goodness would vouchsafe to the Honour of God and the salvation of Souls and also to take away the foresaid Scandals and Prejudices to provide a speedy and wholsome Remedy that We and our Subjects who desire as We ought to Revere your most Holy Person and the Holy Roman Church these Intolerable Evils being once removed may rest in the sweetness of your Fatherly Love and that our Devotion may flourish again being refreshed by the Clemency of your Pious Moderation extended unto Us The most High preserve You in the Government of his Church many and happy Days Given at Westminster the 26 of September in the 4 Year of Our Reign of France and of Engalnd the 17. This Letter is said to have been of such force i Walsing Brit. Antiq. in titulo hujus Epistolx that neither the Pope nor his Cardinals could tell reasonably how to answer it for that time wherefore they were obliged to comply therewith King Edward notwithstanding what Odoricus Rainaldus says by Advice of his Parliament k Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 922. proceeded to prohibit these Collations and Provisions in his Realm on pain of Imprisonment and Death it self Wherefore the Pope seeing him proceed with so High an hand thought fit somewhat to dissemble the Matter for fear of exasperating too far till at last by degrees his Compliance gain'd what by severity could not be expected However now We find that King Edward in the beginning of the next Year set forth his Royal Prohibition against the Popes Provisors bearing date 20 of January in the Year of his Reign of England the 18 and of France the 5. But this being extant in Adam Murimouth's Ancient M. S. We shall refer the Curious thither having already as We fear dwelt too long on this Matter And thus as my Author says had the King persevered accordingly he had utterly taken away all manner of Provisions but in such a noise of War as followed he thought it safer now and then to yield somewhat to so * Lat. tam irritâ—b lem patron powerfull a Father than to stand at open Defiance with him And now to the Wars of Bretagne wherein We shall find the King Personally Engaged about this time XIV King Edward according to the Vow he had made to take a severe Revenge for the Death of his Dear Friend the Lord Robert of Artois was within little more then a Moneth after his Death with a great Army ready to take the Sea at Sandwich On the l Ashmole p. 653. Fourth of October He went on board in a Ship called the George and landed at a Port not far from Vannes at the very place where the Lord Robert of Artois had landed after his Fight at Sea with Don Lewis The Kings Preparations m Frois c. 93. were so great that he was three Days in landing all his Warlike Provision and so on the Fourth Day he marched straight to Vannes which he intended to Besiege having before sent to view it the Lord Walter Manny who came to wait on him from the Countess then at Hennebond the Lord John Striveling and the Lord William Fitz-Warine le Frere who upon their return encouraged him to attempt the Place But they knew not how the City was now in an Extraordinary manner provided with all things necessary and many good Souldiers were there under the Command of the former Captains the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon n Knighton p. 2582. n. 40. to whom were added the Lord of Lomine and the Lord of
integrum consequeretur non obtinuit quod speravit ergò non nocet sibi Homagium Quia si Patroni filius petat Legatum relictum in testamento liberti excluditur c. Sed si non obtinuerit Legatum quod speravit petitio Legati sibi non praejudicat Praetereà indubiò non videtur quis juri suo tacitè renunciare ubi scit jus suum ubique durare c. Sed hìc scit Rex Angliae sus suum ubique durare quare non videtur indubiò Regno Franciae renunciare Sed Rex Angliae scit Jus suum ubique durare quod apparet quùm de Jure suo protestabatur quae protestatio conservat Jus protestantis c. Praetereà dictus Philippus Possessor Regni Franciae admisit Homagium ut Rex Franciae de facto qui Titulum in Regno non habuit Rege Angliae existente in proximiori Gradu ergò admissio Homagii non valuit cùm ea quae geruntur in Personâ illius qui Titulum non habuit nec habet nec valent nec praejudicant c. Praetereâ tunc quando praestitit Homagium in minori aetate erat constitutus c. As to the other Point the English Agents pleaded that not only the Dukedoms of Normandy and Aquitain with the Counties of Maine and Anjou were by Lineal Descent belonging unto the King their Master but that now also the whole Realm of France was his in Right of his Mother Daughter and now Heir of King Philip the Fair for thô the King doth not directly oppose their Salique Law as claiming not for his Mother but for himself as her Heir yet neither doth he want Arguments to invalidate the Authority of that Custom for as to the Words In terram Salicam Mulieres nè succedant he can prove against the French Glossers that the Realm of France was not to be understood thereby and that Pharamond was not as they pretend the Author of this Law For that the Land Salique is in Germany between the Rivers Elbe and Sala not far from Kuninghofen and that when Charles the Great who began his Reign 343 Years after the Death of Pharamond had overcome the Saxons he left there a Colony of Frenchmen who either in detestation of the dishonest Manners of the German Women or rather because a Masculine Government was more necessary for Souldiers made a Law that Females should not succeed to any Inheritance within that Land which is now called Misnia or Meissen by the Germans a Province in the Upper Saxony And further that this which now they call a Law was but a wicked and Usurpations Custom first of all introduced by f Mezeray Eng. fol. p. 27. vid. de his omnibus Franciae Historias Mich. Draytons Battle of Agincourt Stanza 19 20. p. 5. Clotaire the First to the Exclusion of his Nieces Chrotherge and Chrotesinda Daughters of his Elder Brother Childebert the First And further that even this supposed Law had not always been observed in France it self which was proved by several Instances As that King Pepin the Father of Charles the Great who deposed King Childeric the Third and last of the Merovean Race claimed the Crown of France of Pope Zachary as Heir General being descended of Blithildis Daughter of King Clotaire the First Further that Hugh Capet who upon the Death of Lewis V. usurped the Crown which was challenged by Charles Duke of Lorraine the sole Heir Male of the Line of Charles the Great to make his Title good pretended to come of the Lady Lindgardis Daughter of King Charles II. sirnamed the Bald who was Son of Lewis Debonnaire the Emperour and Grandson to Charles the Great Also that Lewis the IX who was Canonized but g Vid. Libbe Chron. Techn ad ann 1327. 45 Years before and hath been since called St. Lewis because he descended in a direct Line from the Usurper Hugh Capet could never be throughly satisfied in his Conscience how he might justly keep and enjoy the Crown of France till he was well informed and at last fully perswaded that Queen Isabell or Elizabeth his Grandmother Daughter to Baldwin of Hainalt was lineally descended from the Lady Ermingardis Daughter and Heir to the foresaid Charles Duke of Lorrain by which Marriage the Blood and Line of Charles the Great was again united and restored to the Crown of France So that it is manifest as day to those who are not wilfully blinded with Prejudice that the Title of King Pepin the Claim of Hugh Capet the Right of St. Lewis and consequently of the Royal House of France to that day were derived and conveyed from the Heir Female Thô now under pretence of such a Law they would debarr the King of England of his Right and Lawfull Inheritance Nor was Scripture forgot to be quoted in an Assembly where such Eminent Persons of the Clergy of both Nations besides the Head of the Church himself were present especially that fully decisive h Numbers c. 27. v. 8. Text so often upon this Occasion used wherein God himself declares That when a Man dies without a So◠the Inheritance should descend to the Daughter If a Man die and have no Son ye shall cause his Inheritance to pass unto his Daughter Which was made a standing Law by God himself in the Case of the Daughters of Zelophehad Much to this purpose was urged in King Edwards Behalf by the English Commissioners but the French alledged many things to the Contrary as the express Words of the Salique Law which they attributed to Pharamond and make to belong to the whole Realm of France and therefore it is matter of Fact that never any Woman was admitted to the Crown of that Kingdom And if no Female have any Right in her self much less can she transfer to another for nemo dat quod non habet also that he was a Stranger and so not to be admitted to the Government of that Realm which once before refused Charles Duke of Lorraine aforesaid upon that very Account thô he was unquestionably the next Heir They further urged the Judgment of the Twelve Peers of France who agreed the Crown to be King Philips Right also King Philips present Possession and long and peaceable Enjoyment and even King Edwards own Acknowledgment when he rendred Homage to him as to the true and lawfull King of France Thus on both sides Arguments were bandied with equal Facility the Judgment of the Law and the Opinion of the Doctors quoted the Niceties of Distinctions explained and the Strength of Objections foiled as may be seen at large in the foresaid MS. of Dr. Stillingfleet which Authentick Work was at the Command of King Henry V upon his renewing the Claim to the Crown of France collected and compiled by the venerable Father Thomas Beckington Dr. of Law and Dean of the Arches and afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells So nothing could be said on either side but an Answer was ready for
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
l. out of his Custom of the Town of Barwick upon Tweed till 500 l. lands were firmly settled upon him for him and his Heirs for ever And there it appears that the King gave him further for his good Service at the Battle of Durham with one hundred Men of Arms one hundred Pounds per annum out of the Custom of the Kings Port of Newcastle upon Tine till he should settle upon him so much in Land for him and his Heirs for ever After so truly a Royal Bounty King Edward enquired of him concerning what he knew as to the Particulars of that Battle and afterwards he was fain to repeat this News to a great many Lords and Gentlemen of the Army But on the third Day he went on Board and return'd for England and with him there went a q Knighton p. 2591. n. 20. Command from the King to all and singular High-Sheriffs and Others that no Scotch Prisoner should be deliver'd for any Ransom whatsoever but that they should be all kept in safe Custody and the King himself would satisfie all those who took them for the Redemption of all and every of their Prisoners And this Command of the Kings was generally published throughout all England to be observed on forfeiture of Life and Limb. XIV Sr. John Copland for so now we shall call him being come into England r Speed. p. 580. went to York where the Queen was and there made his Excuse before the Queen and the Lords of the Council in so dutifull and rational a manner that they were all very well satisfied with his Conduct in that Affair and immediately took Order how and with what Forces and at what time the King of Scots should be conveyed to the Tower of London After this Sr. John Copland went home to his own Castle of Ogle and assembled his Kindred and Friends who together with those of the North-parts and Others made up 20000 fighting Men With whom Sr. John Copland the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Piercy convey'd him to the Limits of Yorkshire Å¿ Ashmole p. 656. ex Ret. Sect. 20. Ed. 3. m. 2. Decemb. 20 mo where on the 20 of December he was deliver'd according to the Kings Command to Sr. Thomas Rokeby High-Sheriff of Yorkshire who received him from the Lord Ralph Nevill by Indenture And this Sr. Thomas Rokeby with all the Forces aforesaid conducted the King of Scots up to London where the said King being mounted on an huge Black Courser was at the Kings Command signifi'd in his Letters received by the Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London with great Pomp and Solemnity every Company in their Proper Liveries attending the Cavalcade from Street to Street vast Multitudes of People following him and infinite Numbers from Belconies and the Tops of Houses beholding this Triumphant Spectacle And being thus brought to the Tower of London he was lastly deliver'd up from the Hands of Sr. Thomas Rokeby aforesaid by t Ashmole p. 656. ex Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 1. Derso Indenture dated the second of January to the Lord John Darcy senior Constable of the Tower of London there to be kept in safe Custody King David himself was thus secured in a safe but respectfull manner and the rest of the Scotch Prisoners bestow'd in other Places of Safety But in February following u Knighton p. 2592. n. 30. Holinsh Scotl. p. 241. Stow p. 245. John Earl of Menteith forasmuch as he had done Homage and sworn Allegiance to King Edward of England and had now contrary to his Oath and Duty broken his Faith and taken up Arms in behalf of David Bruce against the King of England and the Bailiol was by the said King of Englands Command indited of High-Treason and thereupon arraign'd condemn'd hang'd drawn and quarter'd as also the Earl of Fife was at the same time condemn'd to the same punishment XV. This Winter the Noble and Valiant x Knighton p. 2592. n. 20. Earl of Lancaster and Darby together with the Earl of Pembroke and some of their Chief Knights and Captains things being first settled in Gascogne return'd for England In which Voyage on the 8 of December they were taken in a Storm and in great Danger according to the King their Masters Fate who usually was thus handled at his return for England But God deliver'd them also this time and they arrived safe whither they were bound After the Battle of Durham y Frois c. 139. fol. 68. b. Queen Philippa made good Provision for the Defence of the Cities of York and Durham for the Castles of Roxborough and Newcastle upon Tine and other Frontier Towns on the Marches of Scotland and having set the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill as Governours over that side of the Country she went from York to London Where having taken order for the safe Custody of the King of the Scots and the rest of the Prisoners she then went with an Honourable Company of Ladies of the Highest Quality whose Husbands Fathers Brethren and other Friends lay then before Calais and with a good Convoy among whom was the Bishop of Durham and many other great Personages took the Sea and had so good a Wind that She arrived safe in the Camp that same day being three days before the Feast of St. Andrew The King received her with extream delight and satisfaction and made a great and splendid Feast for all the Lords and Ladies that were with him especially for those that came with the Queen For the Sea being his own he had all things that might serve either for Use or Pleasure in great Abundance But the City of Calais began to be very much straitned for want of Victuals XVI And yet all this while many Overtures were made by his Holiness toward the Concerting of Matters insomuch that by the instant Mediation of the Cardinals of Naples and Cleremont five z 22 Octob. Rot. Norm 20. Ed. 3. m. 18. Ashmole p. 656. days after the Battle of Durham a Commission was made out to William Marquess of Juliers William Bohun Earl of Northampton Constable Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Marshall the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord Richard Talbot Steward of the Kings House Dr. Thomas Bradwardin Chancellor of London John Thoresby Canon of Lincoln and Andrew Hufford Canon of York either to all Eight or to any Seven Six Five Four or Three of them to treat and conclude with the said Cardinals of and upon all Quarrels and Controversies depending between the King and the Lord Philip of Valois and their several Allies But we shall say no more of this Meeting because it took no Effect the Concessions of France being no way answerable to King Edwards Demands So that this Year passed away without closing that Breach which threatned to prove an Inlet to many great Calamities the Year following CHAPTER the SIXTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip holds a Parliament at Paris II.
their Qualities Estates and Offices and ordained the like thrô the whole Kingdom They set also a general Tax upon the whole Clergy nor were they shie to make bold with what Sums had been gathered through France for the Holy War and with the Plate Shrines and other Riches and Profits of Abbeys and Monasteries Particularly the King having received a Subsidy which was required of the Monks of St. Dennis among certain other Jewels of that Place which he would needs have demanded a great Crucifix of Masse Gold standing over the High Altar of the Monastery But to this the Monks replied that it could not be taken away without great hazard of the Souls of those who should be concerned in that Action For Pope Eugenius the III more than 200 Years before had in the Days of Lewis the VII King of France solemnly accursed all those of any Degree whatsoever that should offer to lay violent hands upon that Crucifix sacrilegiously to take it away from its Place or to convert it to any Secular Use as f Fabian ibid. appeareth by a Plate engraven under the Pedestall of the Cross With which Answer King Philip was satisfied In this Parliament it was also Ordained that the King should send forth his general Summons throughout the whole Realm commanding all Persons who any way held of the Crown of France to be with the King at the City of Amiens by Whitsuntide next following g Kal. April Pasch Whitsunday falling on the 20 of May that Year there to attend at the Rendezvous with all their several Retinues in their best Array Nor did they forget to invite all the Friends and Allies of the House of France especially the Lord Charles of Luxemburgh Son to the late King of Bohemia and Elect Emperour or King of the Romans set up by the Pope and his Adherents against the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who again lay under the Censures of the Church And lastly to enflame the Minds of the French Nation more eagerly to prosecute their Revenge against the English King Philip h Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 894. caused to be brought from St. Dennis the sacred Banner of Oriflambe which of old was never taken down but in the Cause of Christ against Infidels or upon some great Distress or Necessity of the King and the Realm of France But now it was taken down to be used against King Edward and was committed to the Custody of a Burgundian Lord a Noble Gentleman and approved in Arms and having repeated his Commands to all Men to be ready to follow this Banner when he should require them for that time he dismist the Parliament II. Having seen in what manner King Philip bestirr'd himself to rear his Half-ruin'd Affairs let us now take notice how King Edward thô abroad influences Matters at home towards the Establishing what he had already done and was yet undertaking For both these Princes understood well that the time which was unfit for Action was the most proper for Counsel and that they could not better pass the Winter then in providing against the Casualties of the Summer Wherefore at King Edward's Command a Parliament was also called at Westminster by his second Son Prince Lionel then Lord Warden of England for the King his Father i M.S. Rec. Parl. 61. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridgment p. 46. which Parliament began the third Day of the New-year on the Monday next after christmas-Christmas-day as if it was the best Auspice not only to end the Old-year but to begin the New by wholsome Advice and Counsel On which Day Command was given by Prince Lionel that Proclamation should be made against wearing of Armour and using of Games in and about Westminster during this Sessions Then also a time was appointed for all such as would exhibit any Petitions and Receivers also and Tryers were constituted to take and consider of the several Petitions referring to England Ireland Wales Scotland Gascogne and other Foreign Parts and Isles and thereupon Sr. Thomas Drayton being appointed Clerk of the Parliament because several of the Lords and Commons were not yet come they adjourn'd till next Day At which time the House being informed that Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. John Darcy Lord Chamberlain Mr. John Thoresby and Mr. John Charleton were arrived as Messengers from the King then lying before Calais but could not be ready to make their appearance there till Wednesday next after the Morrow the Parliament was prorogued until that Day At which time Declaration was made in open Parliament that the Reasons of that their present meeting were because the King since his passing the Sea and his Attempts in France was now uncertain of his Condition that according to the Issue or Exigence of Affairs abroad Matters might be concerted at home for the safety of his Majesty and the Common Peace and Wealth of his Kingdom which latter was visibly damnified by the sufferance of false Money Then were produced the Kings Letters Patents Credential wherein among other Matters the foresaid Declaration was verbatim expressed the Letters bearing Date before Calais Which being read in open Parliament Sr. Bartholomew Burwash for and in the Name of himself and the rest of his Colleagues in presence of the Lord Warden of England and of the Three Estates declared the good Success of the King since his Arrival at la Hogue in Normandy as in surprising and taking of many Towns and Castles of War as well at Caën as elsewhere and also of the Great Victory obtain'd at Cressy where the whole Power of France was discomfited and how the King was now come before Calais from whence he intended not to depart till by the help of God he had won the same After which he intended to pursue the Enemy without return till the War should be fully ended This done he produced the Copy of an Order made by the King of France in reference to his Son the Duke of Normandy and others Nobles of that Country which was particularly recited being called the Ordinance of Normandy and was to this effect That the Duke of Normandy should pass as Chief with other Nobles of that Province into England with 40000 Men of Arms Knights Esquires and Persons of good Estate and 40000 Footmen Methods being there prescribed for keeping the Sea and an Order also added that the said Duke should remain in England with the said Forces for the space of ten Weeks And in case the Realm of England should in this Expedition be Conquer'd that then the Conquest should solely be to the Name Honour and Advantage of the said Duke and all whatsoever the King of England at that time had there should remain entirely to the said Duke and the Knights and Lords with him That all that which belonged to the Nobles and secular Persons of England should be bestowed on the Churches and Famous Towns of Normandy only of the Revenues of the Church of England the French King
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
Wherefore they took him out of Prison and suffer'd him to go an Hawking a Sport which he loved well on the other side the River Lys or Leye But still there were Persons appointed to watch him who were charged upon their Lives to look carefully to his Motions that he should not by any means steal away from them And besides his Keepers themselves were such as chiefly prefer'd the King of England's service so that he could not do the least occasions of Nature without their knowledge This new way of Imprisonment obliged the Earl to another Device he said at last as it were from his heart and of his own accord that he desired extreamly to Marry the Daughter of so Renowned a Prince as King Edward was but none of his Friends would endeavour to procure him that happy Promotion Of this immediately the Flemings sent word to the King and Queen then before Calais and appointed a Day whereon they should come with their Daughter the Lady Isabella to Bruges and they would at the same time bring thither their Lord the Young Earl and so the Nuptials should be solemnized between them in the Abbey The King and Queen x Frois ibid. Giov. Villant l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. who were well pleased with this Overture said how the Flemings had now done like true and honest Men and so prepared for the intended Meeting At the time appointed the most Discreet and Wealthy Burgesses of the Towns of Flanders came unto Bruges a Chief City of Flanders between Ostend and Sluys and brought with them the young Earl their Lord in great Pomp and State Here they found the King of England and his Queen who received them graciously The Young Earl enclin'd himself with great Demonstrations of Respect to the King and Queen and then King Edward took him by the Right Hand very courteously and lead him forward saying unto him As for the Death of the Earl your Father as God shall help me I am Innocent For I knew nothing of his being in the Field at the Battle of Cressy neither on the Day of Battle nor till the Evening of the next Day when the Heralds brought me an Account of the slain The Earl seem'd to believe this Protestation and to acquiesce in so just an excuse And thereupon other Communication succeeded and at last the Marriage was agreed and a Bond of Ensurance made certain Articles of perpetual Amity being on both sides sworn to and agreed on between Edward King of England and Lewis Earl of Flanders And then and there the Young Earl affianced the Lady Isabella King Edwards Daughter and promised on such a Day to Wed her So for that time they all brake up the Earl returning to Courtray and the King and Queen going back to the Camp before Calais where they made great Preparations against the Marriage for Jewels and costly Apparel and Presents to give away according to their Estate The mean y Frois ibid. while the Earl of Flanders pass'd away his time very pleasantly about the River Leye and seem'd so extreamly satisfied with the Person of the English Lady that the Flemings verily believing him to be in earnest took no such great heed to him as before But they did not understand the deep Dissimulation of their Lord for whatever appearance He made outwardly his Heart was wholly addicted to the French Interest and he resolved in his mind never to admit unto his Bed the Daughter of him who had sent his Father to his Grave A just Resolution had it been rightly grounded For indeed his Fathers Death ought not to have been imputed to King Edward but to his own Misfortune for taking part with King Edwards Enemies in that Battle where he was slain by chance of War and without any knowledge of the Kings as himself protested However the Earl having now obtain'd a little more liberty by reason of his fine conveyance for he made huge Preparations against the Marriage he never intended found at last an Opportunity to escape away which was done in this Manner In the Easter-week z Fibian p. 274. being that very Week that the Daughter of England was to be brought into Flanders and the Espousals to be solemnized he rode forth with an Hawk on his Fist by the River side after his Manner At last his Faulconer cast off a Faulcon at a Heron and the Earl presently cast off his Thus these two Faulcons were in chace of the Heron and the Earl followed as after his Faulcon But when he found himself to have got the start of all his Attendants with the Advantage of the Open Fields he then clap'd Spurs to his Horse and gallop'd right on till his Keepers had wholly lost him The Earl continued hard on the Spur till he came into Artois the next Province to Flanders and there he was safe Thence he rode at his Leisure into France and came to King Philip to whom he shew'd the Reasons and Manner of his Escape the King commended him and said he had done Worthily and Wisely But the Englishmen said He had falfifi'd his Oath and with the loss of his Honour and Interest betrayed and deceived them But for all this King Edward did not break with the Flemings For he saw plainly that they were extreamly offended with this Rash Action of their Lords and that they knew as little of this Cheat as himself And indeed they made their Excuse so well that either the King did really believe it or however thought best to admit of it for that time VII We must not omit a Gaguin l. 8. p. 142. Fabian p. 274. c. one memorable Matter which happen'd about this time concerning an Advocate of the Spiritual Court named Dr. Gawin de Bellomont an Inhabitant of Laon in Picardy Who intended as it was laid to his Charge to have betrayed the City of Laon to the English Which City of Laon being seated on a Mountain not far from Vermand stands very commodiously to make War upon all its Neighbours round about Now there was at that time a poor Man named Colin Tomelin who formerly had lived in good Fashion but some while before being fled from Laon for Debt had gone to Metz on the Borders of Lorrain where he made shift to live a miserable Life To this Man Dr. Gawin de Bellomont aforesaid resorted frequently and as it were in pity of his Condition relieved him considerably till at last when he thought he had him fast enough he began something to break his Mind unto him But only then told him in General that if he would be ruled by him he would not only restore him to his former Ease and Sufficiency but raise him to an Eminent Degree of Wealth and Prosperity Colin readily embraced the Offer and sware unto him Secrecy and Fidelity Whereupon Gawin shew'd him a Letter sealed up and gave it him to carry to the King of England lying as then before Calais
Commons required that all Petitions in this present Parliament may be presently answer'd Ans After Easter they shall be so Pet. That all Woolls and other Merchandise may freely pass without any Loans or other Subsidies besides the due and usual Customs Ans The Passage shall be free saving to the King his Due Pet. That no Eires of the Forest or other Inquiries except those of the Peace be kept during the Wars Ans The King may use his Pleasure therein Pet. That none of the Nobles or other Captains of Scotland being the Kings Prisoners be deliver'd upon any account d This Line out and the two following misplaced in the Print of Sr. Rob. Câ—ttens Abridgment the M.S. right Ans The same was answer'd the last Parliament Pet. That all that Aid which is leavied beyond the Trent may be employed in the Scotch Wars Ans The King will allow more for that Purpose if need shall be Pet. That no Appeals be received of any Felonies done in any other Counties than where the Appeals were taken Ans The King is not advised to make such New Laws Pet. That Redress may be had for that the Men of Bruges in Flanders have forbid all Merchants-Strangers to buy any Staple-Ware here Ans The King will talk with the Flemish Ambassadour Pet. That all Enquiries of the Ninths may cease Ans The King will be advised Pet. That the Order made that all Merchants for every Sack of Wooll should bring in two Marks of Bullion may be repealed For that the Exportation of Bullion is forbidden in Flanders Ans The King will learn the Truth of the Ambassadour here It is agreed that the Customs at Easter next stay the receipt of 2 s. of every Sack of Wooll Pet. That remedy may be found that no Accomptant in the Exchequer do run in Issues before he be warned Ans The Process shall be first a Venire facias then a Distringas and after a Writ out of the Chancery to the Treasurer and Barons Pet. That the Common Law may stand as to the Bill of the Navy exhibited in the last Parliament Ans The King will be advised Pet. Then they resum'd with some Alteration the former Petition that no Eires of the Forest or other Enquiries except those of the Peace may be kept for the space of three Years Ans It seems good for the Ease of the Subject if great necessity doth not require otherwise Pet. That the Marshal letting to Bail or at large any Person committed to him for the Peace do answer the Dammages himself Ans The King will be advised Pet. That no Man be barred by Non-claim Ans A Law must not be made suddenly Pet. That the Jurors in every Inquest and Grand Assize may say the Verity of the Fact as in Assize of Novel Disseizin Ans The Law shall be kept as heretofore Pet. That the Purveyors for all Victuals do take by Indenture with two honest Men where they shall purvey Ans The Laws made heretofore in that Case shall suffice Pet. That none who come to the Parliament by Summons be appointed a Sessor or a Receiver of the Fifteens Triennial Ans The King will appoint such as he shall like Pet. That the Erroneous Judgments in the Exchequer be reversed in the King 's Bench. Ans This was answer'd the last Parliament Pet. e Pur lieu Afforest de his Vecab vid. Skinneri Etymeleg Ling. Angl. Then was read a long Complaint against Foresters for Afforesting of Mens Purlieus for undue Trial and for Extortion To which was added a Request that Magna Charta may be observed and that all Men may enjoy their Purlieus according to the Perambulation made in the time of King Edward the First Ans The King wills that Magna Charta be kept inviolable and those that will complain in the Right of their Purlieus may have writs out of Chancery Whereupon Surry and several other Counties by their Representatives shew'd that upon Sute they could not obtain such Writs To which the King answer'd that the Order made the last Parliament should be kept and General or Special Writs should be granted to all such as shall sue for them So as equal Right be distributed both to the King and his Subjects Pet. That the Petitions declared by them in the last Parliament to which the King and the Lords agreed may be kept without Alteration under any Colour or Pretence whatsoever Ans The King with the Assent of his Lords answered that Laws and Process heretofore used could not be alter'd without making New Statutes which at this time they could not tend to do but shortly would at more leisure The f 22 Ed. 3. n. in dorso Worsted Weavers of Norwich and the Merchants there pray that the Letters Patents which the King had granted to Robert Pooley One of his Valets of Essay and One of the Alnage of Worsted in Norwich and elsewhere in Norfolk during the Life of the said Robert might be revoked and that they might have the same To which Petition this Answer was given That it seemed good to the Kings Council that their Request should be granted for the Common Benefit But of this Parliament We shall say no more because it was broken up without any great Effect and g M.S. Record p. 71. §. 4. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 73. §. 4. discontinued for three Years together by reason of a general Mortality that soon after came into England of which we shall speak in its proper Place III. In the easter-holy-Easter-Holy-days King Edward h Stâ—â— p. 245. Hecter l. 15. fol. 325 Euchan l. 9. p. 303. Heliâ—shead Scot. Hist p. 242. held Publique Justs and Tourneaments at Westminster where the Lord William Douglas Earl of Douglas and Sr. William Douglas of Liddesdale who were both taken Prisoners at the Battle of Durham by their Knightly Deportment and Valour gain'd such Favour in the Opinion of the King that having given their Faith and Homage and also an Oath to live peaceably at home they had both leave to depart And Sr. William as well as the other might have liv'd a long and happy Life in his own Country but that his Hands having been stained with Civil Blood could not be washed clean but by his own For as the Scotch i Hecter Bachan ibid. Writers say he had formerly upon Envy caused the Worthy Sr. Alexander Ramsey to be miserably starved to Death And besides that having lately heard that Sr. David Barklay a Knight of Scotland had slain his Brother Sr. John Douglas who was Father to Sr. James Douglas of Dalkeith he was so furiously bent on Revenge that even during his Imprisonment in England because he could not do it himself by Letters he procured Sr. John St. Michael to Murther the said Sr. David Barklay which accordingly one Night was performed at Aberdeen But not long after he himself being then deliver'd out of Prison one day as he was hunting in Ethrick
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
Prisoner and at that time had the Custody of him to deliver him up to the Bishops of Durham and Caerlile to William Earl of Northampton the Lords Henry Piercy and Ralph Nevill or to any Four Three or Two of them and at the same time another Command was issued out to them to deliver him under the form and upon the Conditions agreed on And so toward the latter end of October King David being at liberty upon Parole went into Scotland in hopes by his Presence to quicken his Subjects to come to a Composition with King Edward but not being able to accomplish his intention so soon as he had design'd x Knighton p. 2603. n. 1â— c. the Scots refusing also to redeem him on such Conditions as King Edward propounded he return'd into England about half a Year after at which time a Command bearing date y Râ—t Scâ—tâ—â— 26. Ed. 3. n. 3. 28 March an 26. Ed. 3. was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages of Scotland to Barwick they to be there in Quindena z Pasha 17. Aprâ—s B. Dom. Lit. Paschae it being the Day fixed for King Davids return to that Town And so he remain'd a Prisoner still in England CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1351. An. Regni Angliae XXV Franciae XII wherein the King advances several Great Men to Honour II. The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle His Acts a Truce III. A Truce with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner before the Truce with France IV. Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldane of Babylon V. King John renews the Order of the Star. VI. The Manner how the Castle of Guisnes was taken by the English of Calais VII King John of France endeavours to recover it in vain VIII The Lord Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole IX The Lord Guy de Nesle slain in Battle by Sr. Walter Bentley X. The Earl of Stafford created Lieutenant of Gascogne wins a Victory over the French the Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the Garter XI King Edward provides for Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries the Eldest Daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster XII The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick XIII King Edward prepares to resist the French. XIV Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London I. ON the a M.S. Record Parl. p. 71. c. Sr. Rob. Cottâ—n's Abridgment p. 73. c. Seventh of February being the Monday in the Vtas of the Purification of our Lady at the Opening of this Year King Edward held his High-Court of Parliament at Westminster Over which at first Prince Lionel the Kings Third Son was commission'd to preside because the King and his Eldest Son Prince Edward were then preparing to cross the Seas thô afterwards that Voyage being defer'd we shall find them both present at this Sessions Thô the Parliament began so early to sit yet by reason of several Continuations from Day to Day because many of the Lords were not yet come it was not open'd till Tuesday the 15 of February At which time Receivers being appointed to gather and Tryers to consider of the several Petitions from England Wales Gascogne Scotland Ireland Bretagne and other Foreign Isles and Places the Reasons for the Calling of the Parliament were declared in Presence of the King and his Nobles As first because the King having in the Twenty second Year of his Reign summon'd a Parliament was both hindred to continue that Session and also to b From hence it appears that the Printed Statutes pretended to be made anno 23 Fd. 3. are falsly dated call them to another by reason of the late dreadfull Plague untill this time Also that the Business of his Wars required their Concurrence because the Peace was not punctually observed and Domestick Matters were likewise to be taken into Consideration for that Labourers refused to do their Service at reasonable and usual Rates and lastly because the Treasure of the Realm was exported For these Considerations was the Parliament convened and hereupon to consult the King did especially command and require them and Sr. William Shareshull Knight the Kings Chief Justice repeated the Substance of all this to the Commons willing them to weigh all things well and provide for them effectually The whole Process and Matter following as it is to be seen at large in the Record was deliver'd by Dr. John Thoresby Bishop of c Ita emendo Winchester in M. S. Sr. Bob. Câ—ttâ—n ea I hâ—lpets Catal Chaccell Worcester then Lord Chancellour to John Codington Clerk of the Parliament at the Kings Command to be entred into the Rolls of the same Parliament In this d Godw. Catal. Bâ—sin Câ—nter §. 54. p. 14. Parliament the old Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York concerning Bearing their Crosiers began to be renew'd with the usual Heat but at last it was wholly referred to the King 's Hearing Who set down this final Rule to be observed for the future That the Archbishop of York might bear his Cross in the others Province saving the Preeminence to Canterbury but that in token of Subjection every Archbishop of York at his Entrance into that Bishopâ—â—ck should offer an Image of Gold to the value of Fourty Pounds at the Shrine of Thomas of Canterbury The same Image to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two Months after his Inthronization In this Parliament Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel by his Petition prayeth that his Restitution granted in the e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 6. p. 52. 53. Fourth of Edward the Third may be now better declared and confirmed Which the King in Consideration of the Equity of his Request and also of his many worthy Services done to the Crown most ready granted Whereupon the said Act made in the Fourth of Edward the Third Tit. 14 touching this Earl was read over and afterwards this Clause thereto adjoyned That it is by the King and Parliament Agreed that the said Restitution be Confirmed and shall remain of such full Force and Effect that John now Earl of Kent and his Heirs shall neither Challenge nor Obtain against the said Richard Earl of Arundel in any Court of England or in Wales by Writ or otherwise by any Petition in Parliament any of the Possessions or Titles that the said John or Edmund his Eldest Brother long since deceased ever had in or to the said Castle of Arundel or of any Part or Parcel thereof So as by this Restitution the said Earl Richard shall have the like Estate and Title as he should have had by Descent of Inheritance as well to all other Hereditaments whereof
who kept them before Thus at last the whole Castle was reduced into their power those in the Town knowing nothing of what had happen'd all this while In the Morning the English commanded the Workmen who came to work without the Castle to leave off their Work who thereupon perceiving the Castle to be won fled away carrying the News with them wherever they went. These new Lords however were so Civil as immediately to give the Ladies within the Castle leave to depart whither they pleased on Horseback together with their Apparel Writings and Muniments where they ought to hold their Fees. That same Day there came from Calais to their Assistance as many as they sent for by whose Aid they were now able to keep the Castle against Competent Forces About Three of the Clock the same Day there came thither two Knights from the Lord Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens and in Right q L. 2. c. 10. §. 7. p. 454. of his Wife Jane Daughter to Ralph late Earl of Eu and Guisnes Earl of Guisnes who demanding a Truce desired to know of those within the Castle who they were to whom they belonged and by whose Authority they kept the Castle so taken in the time of Truce To these Demands they within answer'd That being thus intruded they would not declare to any Man their Design till they had tried a longer Possession The Earl of Guisnes being thus sham'd off sent on St. Maurice's Day being the 22d of September Messengers into England complaining how in prejudice of the Truce the said Castle was unjustly taken and therefore by right of mutual Faith and Honour ought to be restored unto the true Owner King Edward answer'd That what was done was neither with his Knowledge nor Consent Wherefore he would send his Command that none of his Subjects presume any longer to detain the Castle of Guisnes but immediately on sight of his Letters to restore it entirely to the Lord thereof The Messengers being return'd with this Answer to the Earl of Guisnes he presently went to the Castle demanding of those within as at other times in whose Name and by whose Authority they held that Place They still affirming that they held it in the Name and Behalf of John Lancaster the Earl required to know if the said John were the King of Englands Liegeman and would obey him or no. Then John answer'd himself That as for his part he knew not what Messengers had been in England nor what Mischief might be brew'd for him wherefore while he was secure he resolved to keep himself so maugre all their subtle Devices At that the Earl offer'd unto the said John Lancaster 40000 Crowns or other Possessions in Exchange and an Indemnity from the King of France for ever To which he received this Answer That before the Taking of that Castle they were all good Subjects of England but now by this their Offence against the Truce and other their Demerits no better than banished Men and excluded from the Peace of their Lord King Edward Wherefore the Place which now they held they would willingly sell or exchange but to none sooner than to their Natural Lord the King of England to whom they would rather sell that Castle thereby to obtain a Pardon But if he should refuse to buy it then they would sell it to the French King or to Him that would offer most for it The Earl being thus mocked went away and the King of England soon after bought it indeed giving unto John Lancaster and his Fellow-Adventurers a Competent Summ which they demanded and also their Pardon for Refusing to obey his Letters so wisely to his Advantage For it was a place always much desired by King Edward as the best Neighbour to Calais if in his hands and the worst if not VII Hereupon King John charging him with Breaking the Truce he replied as we intimated before That there was no one Article in the Truce which prohibiteth Trafficking together or the Entercourse of Buying and Selling. These are the two Accounts of the Taking of this strong Fortress either of which the Reader may prefer at his Discretion thô indeed the French Writers do mostly agree that it was sold by a Frenchman the Captain thereof who afterwards received the Reward of his Treason However when King John and his Council saw r Stow p. 253. that by no means they could prevail to have it restored they advised to build another like unto it for a Bridle to that and a Defence of the Country thereabouts and accordingly they sent the Lord Geoffry Charny somewhile since redeemed out of England with Authority to build and fortifie as presently we shall declare Now as you travel from Guisnes to Calais there was then to be seen on your Left hand almost within Shot of the Town of Guisnes a Monastery called la Bastie of good strong Building but decayed with Age wherein was a Church certain Nuns residing there at that time upon which Account the English had hitherto spared it in Devotion This place might easily be made Defensible for it had very high Walls like a Castle and a large and strong Steeple for a Tower and lying in a Marish Ground might with small Labour be environ'd with a Ditch of great Depth and Breadth Wherefore about ſ Penteco to hec anno 27 Maii contigit Pascha 8 April Lit. Dom. AG. Whitsuntide Sr. Geoffry Charny aforesaid came with 20000 Men and began to lay Siege to Guisnes at the same time turning the Nuns away and making a Castle of the Church and fencing the Walls with a Ditch and Rampire For at that time of the Year the Waters being very low his Men were at liberty to work more freely in the Marish Now the English in Guisnes being thus besieged were not able to go abroad but in their Boats because the Ditches were full of Water and the Marish unpassable and all the usual Avenues stopt up by the French Neither were the Calisians as yet able to Victual them for the same Reasons and especially because of the Siege and the strong Army at la Bastie Yet often the Besieged would appear before the Town with their Arrows and Warlike Engines playing upon the Besiegers but they did no great Execution the Aim being uncertain at that distance and the Reach for the most part too short However one Day by secret Appointment the Calisians being joyn'd with those of Oye Marque and Hames on the one hand and those of the Garrison of Guisnes on the other set all together at one time upon their Enemies unawares with much Bravery and took some slew many and chased more so that the Siege being wholly raised they all together set upon la Bastie burnt it up dismantled it of its Walls and levell'd all to the Ground And thus was Guisnes secured to the English thô the French made huge Clamours thereupon how the Truce was first broken by the English VIII This same
and a gallant Retinue At Guisnes the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France met him with a Noble Attendance of Men of Arms in the o 11 Decemb. Quindene before Christmas and gave him an Honourable Reception conducting him with much respect as far as Hesdin Where the Lord James of Bourbon Count de la Marche met him also with another Honourable Train of Gentlemen and conducted him to Paris with extream Civility At his approach to Paris he was thirdly met by a very considerable Body of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of France who came by King Johns special Command to do him Honour There was then the greatest Number of Strangers that e'r was known at Paris to behold this Combat of two such Mighty Princes all who in their several Capacities gave due Honour to the Duke of Lancaster and King John himself immediately upon his Arrival sent for him to his Palace where he gave him a Princely Reception But above all his Kinsman p This Duke Henry was Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was second Son to Edmund second Brother to K. Edw. I and of Blanche the Relict of Henry de Champagne King of Navarre from whom also this Charles King of Navarre was descended Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 319. Charles the young King of Navarre shew'd him a very high Regard and Menaged his Affairs with great diligence and application Before the day of Battle there was much agitation to reconcile these two great Enemies but all overtures were ineffectual the English Duke maintaining the Truth and Reason of his Words and the Almain utterly denying the whole Accusation Wherefore on the day appointed the Lists were ranged out in a Field called q Fabian ad hunc an p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Mezeray p. 51. le Pré aux Clercs the two Combatants were brought into the place and the King of France with his Prime Nobility and an Infinite Number of People were present as spectators All things being ready the two Knights having as the Custom of Duellists in those Days was taken their several Oaths on the r Corporall Gallice Corporall Latin. Corperale idem qued Dominicale i.e. pulvinar Sacrosanctum Synden vel linteum qâ—o corpus Dominicum tegitur Corporall that their cause was just and that they had no Charms about them and so began to address themselves to the Combat The Duke of Brunswick bore in his shield Å¿ True Use of Armory Bibl. Cottonianâ p. 58 vid. Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 342. He came of Maud Eldest Daughter of K. Henry II of Engl. and Henry Leo D. of Saâ—eny whose V Son William of Winchester was Progenitor to the Dukes of Brunswick Hence this Dukes Arms so like England Gules Two Lions Passant Guardant Or and the Duke of Lancaster Gules Three Lions Passant Guardant Or being the Arms of England with a Three-pointed Labell of France Now 't is said that till now You could hardly find a more fierce or comely Man at Arms than the Duke of Brunswick nor one that promised better But presently as soon as he had taken his Oath his countenance changed and grew pale as Death whereby most People thought his quarrel was not so good as he pretended He took his Horse with a sad and ill-boading Countenance and as many spectators avouched had none of his former briskness and vigour remaining insomuch that he bare himself very awkwardly in handling his Arms and twice or thrice let fall his shield in receiving it But the Noble Duke of Lancaster sat ready Mounted with his Spear upright and his shield on his Arm in a decent and couragious manner with a sedate and resolute Countenance expecting to cope with his Adversary like a Knight who had Truth and Honour on his side so that all Men applauded his steady and gallant Behaviour Wherefore the Duke of Brunswick by advice of his Friends submitted his quarrel to the judgement of the King of France and proffer'd to withdraw his Challenge But the Duke of Lancaster absolutely refused to forsake the Combat saying How that before he had entred the Lists perhaps he might have been perswaded to an agreement but now that he was already Mounted and prepared before the King and his Nobles and such an extraordinary Confluence of People to defend the Justice of his Cause it would be an high Reflection both on himself and the English Nation if now he should depart the Lists without performing what Truth and Equity did require Wherefore he said he would not leave the Field for any Treaty or Composition whatsoever without Battle so as to derive the least umbrage of a suspicion upon his Honour Blood and Quality whereby either Himself the King his Master or his Country might suffer the least flaw in their Reputation Otherwise he would receive what Event or Fortune the Grace of God would allot him Upon this the Duke of Brunswick as a Man Conquered utterly renounced the Quarrel and refus'd the Combat without any reservation of his Honour wholly submitting himself to the award and disposal of the King of France to the great Glory of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Brunswick was generally more acceptable to the King and Court of France as who was much their Friend but however the Duke of Lancaster was not without his Interests among so many Honourable Persons who respected him thô an Enemy for his many Heroick Vertues and High Birth Among these his Counsellours and Abetters who stuck close to him at this time were the foremention'd Charles King of Navarre his Kinsman and Giles his Fathers Brother the Earl of Ponthieu the Earl of Flanders the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Saltzbourg the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France the Lord James of Bourbon the Lord Lewis of Navarre the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt the Lord John de Chastillon and the Lord Walter his Son with many more These Persons so wrought with the Duke of Lancaster that upon Duke Otho's absolute renunciation of the Quarrel he was content to go last out of the Field After which the King at a great Feast by the help of his Nobles partakers on both sides reconciled these two Dukes and took up the Quarrel between them for ever The next day he led the Duke of Lancaster about his Palace shewing him many notable and Rich Jewels of all which he offer'd him the choice But he for his part desired only one Thorn out of the Crown of our Saviour which he brought away and afterwards gave as a Relick to his Collegiate Church of our Lady founded by himself near the Castle of Leicester The third Day after he took leave of the French King and Court and return'd home into England unto the King who was then at St. Albans where he kept his Christmas at that time and received him with great Grace and Favour XIII This pious Heroe who at last by his Religious and Noble Carriage obtained to be called the t Tho.
pressing he flatly refused to make any such Bargain So that the English Lords perceived plainly how their Enemies meant not to afford them Battle as at first they pretended but only by Delays to seek Advantages and to put their Master to Charges thereby to make him weary of the War. However because of the Season of the Year the Commissioners on both Sides made shift to strike up a Temporary Truce t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. to endure till Easter which done they parted asunder without any more medling for that time King Edward stayed at Calais however till the Tuesday u 17 Novemb. following at which time having paid the Lords Strangers their appointed Wages because he saw no appearance of having Battle given him he embarqued for England where the next day he happily arrived and came to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster VI. This x M.S. Rot. Par. p. 85. §. 1 4 5 6. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90. c. Parliament first began to sit on the Day of St. Martin the Bishop being the very Day on which the King return'd to Calais from pursuit of his Enemies but upon the Account of the Kings Absence as well as for other Causes had been Adjourned first from the said 12 of November to the 23d and after from thence to 25th by which time the King was returned to his Parliament But before we enter upon this Affair it will not be amiss to dispatch other Matters out of the way in order to clear some Passages which follow Besides what we mention'd and the approach of Winter there was a further Reason why King Edward made so much haste home into England for while he was yet in Artois he had News brought him How on the Sixth of November the Scots came very early one Morning to Barwick and having by Surprize taken the Town thô with the Death of only three or four Englishmen whom they found upon the Watch they seised on all the Goods and Persons therein except those who had got into the Castle But the Castle they could not take the Bridge being drawn up Thô notwithstanding they held the Town as their own till King Edward drove them away as we shall shew in due place Now before King Edward was come into France King John had y Hector Bret. l. 15. f. 325. n. 40. c. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. Holinsh hist Scotl. p. 242 Knighton p. 2611. n. 1. c. sent the Lord Eugenie Garenciers with a select Number of Frenchmen and 40000 Crowns in Gold into Scotland to encourage that People to invade England thereby to give a Diversion to King Edward as soon as ever he should have left his Kingdom Whereupon Patrick Earl of March and the Lord William Douglas being accompanied with Fourty French Captains of Name beside the Lord of Garenciers marched silently towards Barwick and in a certain convenient Place not far off the two Earls planted themselves in a strong Ambush Then Sr. William Ramsey of the Dalehouse according to Order with 400 Light-Horse in his Company began to drive a great many Head of Cattle near the Town to decoy the Garrison into their Ambush The Souldiers of the Town seeing such a Booty sallied out under the Command of Sr. Thomas Grey as was expected and hardly pursued after the Cattle and their Drivers till e'r they were aware they fell into the Scotch Ambush where being suddenly surrounded after a stout Resistance they were all slain except Sr. Thomas Grey their Captain with his Son Sr. John Dacres and a few more Esquires and Gentlemen whom they kept to Ransom Thô the Scots themselves lost in this Skirmish several Persons of Quality as Sr. John Haliburton Sr. James Turnbull and Others z Hector l. 15. f. 325. n. 62. Hector says certain Frenchmen bought of the Scots the English Prisoners and then presently put them to the Sword in revenge of their Friends and Parents slain by them at Cressy and elsewhere But this I 'll not believe the French being naturally a People of more Honour Early the next Morning the Scots encouraged with this Victory approached the Town of Barwick and when the Watch was in a manner overcome with Sleep set their Ladders to the Walls mounted and enter'd the Place Those few English whom they found ready they fell upon and slew thô not without loss to themselves for by their Acknowledgment there fell on the Scots side Sr. Thomas Vaux Sr. Andrew Scot of Balvere Sr. John Gourdon Sr. William Sinclare Sr. Thomas Preston and Sr. Alexander Moubray And of the English Sr. Alexander Ogle the Captain of the Town Sr. Everard Grey and Sr. Thomas Piercy Brother as they say to the Earl of Northumberland thô as yet that Title did not belong to that Name and in the Genealogy of the Lord Piercy there is no mention of a Brother of his so named in those Days But 't is usual with the Scotch Historians to create Men and Titles and then to slay them to advance as they imagin the Honour of their Nation I 'll give but one Instance of Hectors Ignorance or at least indiligence speaking of the Battle of Poictiers which happened a little after he says a Hector Boet. Sect. Hist l. 15. f. 327. l. 27. c. The same time these things were done in Scotland Richard the Son of Edward the Third Prince of Wales He who afterwards as King of England succeeded in his Fathers Place having conquer'd John King of France and bringing him into England c. We may well expect wonderfull intelligence from this Man as to the Families of the English Nobility who is so grosly ignorant of the Name of the Greatest Prince Son to the Greatest King that England ever produced But to return Whatever the Manner was of Winning Barwick the Scots are said at this time b M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229. to have slain no more of the English but only those who resisted But when King Edward heard of the Loss of the Town he forthwith hasted into England to his Parliament as we shew'd before where for the ardent desire he had to recover the Town and save the Castle he tarried but three Days before he began to march for Scotland and yet in that time the Parliament performed Matters worth our Notice Of which now we shall speak briefly Only we must not forget c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. ex Rec. v. Stow p. 255. b.n. 46. c. that the Lord William Greystoch who had been constituted Captain of the Town of Barwick but was absent at the time of its Taking did then much incurr the Displeasure of the King therefore But it being clearly proved that his Absence was occasion'd by the Kings Command for he attended the King personally into France as he was order'd at the request of Queen Philippa he obtained his Pardon VII At the Opening of this Parliament d M.S. Rot. Par.
his Company On the Third Day he rode to Canterbury where also he stayed for some time and here the French King and the Prince of Wales made their Offerings at the famous Shrine of St. Thomas Becket The mean while King Edward being informed of the Arrival of his Son with the French King in his Company d Speed p. 582. gave Command to Sr. Henry Picard then Lord Mayor of London to make ready the City Pageants and to prepare for the Reception of King John with all their Formalities in the most honourable Manner that might be And now Prince Edward rode from Canterbury to Rochester from thence the next day to Dartford and the day after to London whither he came on the 24 of May being the Wednesday before Whitsunday and was met in Southwark by more than a Thousand of the Chief Citizens on Horseback King John being clothed in Royal Apparel was mounted on a large White e Ita Meâ—erâ—y ad aâ—n 1378. where Charles King of France had an Enterview with Charles the Emperour He entertained him says he with all the magnificence imaginable paid him all manner of Respects but such as denote Sâ—veraignty c. And at his Entrance into Paris the King affected to be mounted on a white Hâ—rse and order'd a â—â—â—k one for the Emperour Courser in token of Soveraignty and to be the more Remarkable the Generous Prince of Wales riding by his side on a little black Hobby as one that industriously avoided all suspicion of a Triumph They took their way over London Bridge and rode directly for Westminster and in all the Streets as they passed the Citizens of London set to publick View all their Riches as Plate Tapestry and the like in honour of the French King but especially they f Knighton p. 2615. n. 19. boasted of their Warlike Furniture and exposed that Day in their Shops Windows and Belconies such an incredible Quancity of Bows and Arrows Shields Helmets Corslets Breast and Back-Pieces Coats of Mail Gauntlets Vambraces Swords Spears Battle-axes Harness for Horses and other Armour both Offensive and Defensive that the like had never been seen in Memory of Man before The g Walsingh hist p. 164. Hyâ— p. 124. Speed p. 182. Concourse of People that came from all parts to behold this rare Spectacle was so great that the Solemnity of the Cavalcade held from Three of the Clock in the Morning till High-noon about which time the Prince got to Westminster-Hall where he presented unto the King his Father then sitting in Great Majesty on a Royal Throne the Person of King John his Prisoner King Edward could not long retain the Severe Majesty of a Conquerour for when the French King had humbled himself with such a serious thô Manly Submission as became his present Fortune he was immediately touch'd with a due Consideration of the Instability of his own Affairs by the instance of so great a Prince whom now he beheld in so low a Condition and so rising hastily from his Throne he h Mezeray p. 49 ad 〈◊〉 ann Caressed him with as much Honour and Respect as if he had only come to give him a Visit And the Father and the Son did so exactly resemble each other as well in Generosity as Valour that King Edward being now fully acquainted with the Particulars of his Sons humble Deportment after the Battle of Poictiers declared that he was more sincerely satisfied therewith than at the Victory it self Nor did that Great King make use of this solemn Entrance of his Royal Captive as a Matter of his own Triumph but rather of a devout Procession For i Polyd. Virg. l. 19 p. 381. n. 42. by his Order that very Day the Clergy of London came forth with their Crosses and singing Anthems to meet the Prince and after that for two Days together publick Supplications and Prayers with Thanksgivings were celebrated thrô the Cities of London and Westminster That Day King Edward treated the French King his Son Philip and the rest of the Noble Captives at a Princely Rate and order'd for the King an Apartment of his own Court to lodge in for the Present till the Savoy should be prepared for him being at that time a most splendid and magnificent Structure belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster and so called k Pol. Virg. p. â—82 n. 3. Speed l. 539. from its first Founder Peter Earl of Savoy Father to Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury who was Uncle to Eleanor King Henry the Third his Queen To this Palace soon after he was convey'd and there Honourably attended King Edward himself his Queen and the Prince giving him frequent Visits and devising all the ways they might both to Honour and Comfort him But nothing is perfectly agreeable while Liberty is wanting and therefore thô King John could not expect either more Diversion or more Respectfull Behaviour in the Court of his Brother in Law the Emperour yet something hung upon his mind which was not possible for him to shake wholly off till he should find himself at his own dispose 'T is said l Pol. Virgil. l. 19. p. 382. that when the King of England and his Son having often observed such a cloud of sorrow to obscure much of that serenity which was expected from him at those Princely Diversions wherewith they entertain'd him asked him thereupon to lay aside all Melancholy Care and sorrowfull thoughts he made this Answer with a smile m Psalm 137. v. 5. Quomodo Cantabimus Canticum in Terrâ alienâ i. e. How shall we sing a Song in a strange Land Thus was King John and his Son and the Chief of the Captive Nobles of France entertain'd in England n Pol. Virg. ibid. of the other Prisoners some were presently released upon King John's security in their behalf and the rest were severally bestow'd in safe Custody II. While things went thus in England Henry Duke of Lancaster lay at the Siege before Rennes in Bretagne which he had begun on the o Mezeray ad hunc annam Third of December in the preceding Year and had made many Assaults but to little purpose as yet the Place was so well defended For within was a good Garrison set there by the Lord Charles of Blois under the Viscount of Rouën the Lord de Laval Sr. Charles du Digne and others There p Frois c. 175. sol 87. was also in Rennes at this time a Valiant young Batchelour a Knight of Bretagne called Sr. Bertram du Clequin who soon after became a most Renowned Captain and was at length sirnamed the Restorer of France During this Siege there passed a Challenge between this Sr. Bertram and a young Baron of England named Sr. Nicolas Dagworth a Valiant Son of that Valiant Lord Thomas Dagworth of whose Actions and Life and Death we have already spoken The manner of the Combat was to run Three Courses with a Spear to strike Three Blows
made above an hundred thousand Men. When any were taken and question'd why they did such Devilish deeds they had nothing to say but that they could not help it they only did as they saw others do it being their design to destroy all the Nobles and Gentlemen in the World. One day the King of Navarre slew of these People above 3000 near Clermont in Beauvoisin and at the same time there came out of Prussia from the Holy War Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Cousin John Greilly Lord of Kendale and Benanges and Knight of the Garter commonly called the Captal of Buche a true and constant Lover of the English Nation When the Truce was taken between the two Realms this Noble and Valiant Gentleman with the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Walter Fauconberg an English Baron and several others as well French and Gascogners as English went into Prusses to fight against the Enemies of the Christian Religion and being now upon their Return on the Borders of France they heard of the great havock these unhappy Multitudes made among the Nobility and that the Dutchess of Normandy and the Duke of Orleans and his Dutchess with more than 300 other Ladies and Gentlewomen were in great fear fled unto the City of Meaux for refuge Wherefore the foresaid Lords agreed to go and comfort these Ladies and to offer their Lives in their service for thô the Captal and other English Lords were there yet a Truce being now between the two Kings they might safely ride thrô any part of that Kingdom and besides the Cause it self was able to justifie them all the Country standing in need of such Protectors They were in all Threescore most accomplish'd Men of Arms Lords and Knights besides their Esquires and servants all who were well provided for War and being come in time to Meaux they were heartily welcome to the Duke of Orleans and the Ladies with him and immediately the French Lords and Gentlemen thereabouts joyn'd them The mean while the Rascals of the Jaquerie hearing what a Number of Ladies Gentlewomen and Noblemens Children were gather'd together in Meaux taking unto them the Rebels of Valois and some of the Commons of Paris marched thither as to a certain Prize Upon their first setting forth they were about 9000 and every day they encreased as they passed on till they came to Meaux the Commons of which City out of Fear as they pretended or rather in connivance at their Wickedness set open their Gates and gave them leave to enter Immediately all the Streets were full of them even to the Market-place where all the Nobles Knights and Ladies were lodged in a strong house environ'd by the River of Marne Yet notwithstanding the Presence of these Valiant Knights when the Ladies saw such Multitudes of the Rabble coming against them they were in an heavy taking for doubt of their Lives and Honour But at that instant the Earl of Foix the Lord John Greilly the Lord Fauconberg and their Company being all gallantly mounted rode toward the Gate that looks to the Market-place and sallied forth in Warlike Order setting fiercely upon the Levellers who were but indifferently Armed and held but little Array being more ignorant in the Arts of War than in the Practise of Brutish Cruelty Besides the Three Lords aforesaid there was also the Duke of Orleans with his Banner and their whole Number exceeded not 500 but they were all well-armed Expert and Gallant Men and led on by Captains of High Courage and Conduct Wherefore when this Rascally Rabble saw these Warriers all in shining Armour sallying forth on their Barbed Horses ready to Defend the Place the foremost of them gave back in great Confusion and the Gentlemen fell in upon them with swords Spears and Battle-Axes But when the Barbarous Clowns felt and saw the mighty stroaks they gave and how nothing they had could resist them they all began to turn their backs and for haste fell foul upon one another Then all the Noblemen having quitted the Barriers and won the Head of the Street rushed forth in good Martial Order and flew in with great Fury among the thickest of their Enemies whom they beat down by heaps and slew them like Beasts driving them before their faces so hastily that Hundreds of them leap'd into the River In short they slew of them that day more than 7000 and not one of them had escaped but that the Victors were so wearied with the Execution that they were not able to follow the Chace and pick them up from all parts where they were scatter'd Now at last when all these Men of Arms were return'd to the Town with one consent they set it on fire and burnt it to the ground and all the Commons of the Town whom they could enclose therein because they had so perfidiously taken part with the Jaquerie and let them in at their Gates Their Captain Jaques the Good-man being here taken alive was sent to the Dauphin ſ In Gestis Innocent VI. apud Besqu vid. Odor Rainald ad ann 1359. §. 1. who understanding that he had assumed the Name of a King caused him to be Crown'd with a Trevet or the Three-legged Frame of an Iron Skellet red-hot and so to be hang'd in Requital of all his Barbarous Cruelties After this notable Discomfiture and the terrible Example done upon Meaux they were never able to make any considerable Head again For the young Lord Ingelram de Coucy a Valiant Baron both of t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. England and France with certain flying Troops of both Nations scoured about thrô all the Country and still as fast as he could pick them up he put them to Death without pity IV. But neither yet were the intestine Broils of France allayed for by reason of the King of Navarre's popularity especially because he presum'd to retain certain Englishmen at his wages within Paris it self the u Frois c. 183. Duke of Normandy doubting the Event of such open Insolence as also the seditious Designs of the Provost of the Merchants and his Abettors left the City in Displeasure with those Friends he had about him and rode to Pont-Charenton on the River Marne where he began to Muster Men of War and presently sent his Defiance to Stephen Marcell the Provost and all his Partakers The Provost was mightily startled at this and doubted greatly that some time or other the Duke would come upon them in the Night and over-run the City for at that time Paris had neither deep Trenches nor any other Defence in a manner except those Walls of Bone her Inhabitants Then immediately he set Labourers and Pioneers to work about the City who made large and deep Trenches and began High Walls and strong Gates and Bastions and other Defences there being 300 Men continually employed about the Work for the space of one whole Year Surely it was a Mark of Extraordinary Greatness to furnish an Army and at
the Bridge and the English Archers passed over on the Joists of the Bridge and shot so fiercely together that the Citizens began to despair of making good the Place much longer While the Skirmith lasted thus there came thither on the City side Sr. Otho de Granecy with four or fire Captains of Quality and 60 Men of Arms in his Company Immediately upon his coming being rightly informed of all things he march'd straight to the Bridge and display'd his Banner being very desirous to meet the Navarrois At l Frois c. 196. his coming the whole City was refreshed and followed his Banners gladly But when Sr. Peter Audley saw these Burgundians ready to assist the Citizens he retreated the same way he came and finding his Valets with the Horses in their expected Place he and his Men remounted without any Impediment and so return'd with small winnings to Beaufâ—râ— Castle Of their Retreat the Citizens of Châlons were heartily glad for they had been in a bodily Fear and thanked God and the Lord of Grancey also for the Good-will he had shewn them for which they made him an immediate Present of 500 Franks besides double Pay for a Month both for him and all his Men And then they desired Sr. John Sars who was there present and their Neighbour to come thither by such a time with so many Men to Counsel and Defend them To this their request he agreed for such and such Wages for himself and his Men and then he fell to Repair the Fortifications of the City where it needed the Charges whereof the Town paid IV. At the same time the Garrisons of Veilly and Roucy made among themselves a secret Rendezvous and went and took by Assault the Fortress of Sâ—ssone where they set a good Garrison consisting of several Nations Over all whom they made Chief Captain One Hanekin Francois a lewd barbarous Fellow of Colen on the River Rheyn He was a most bloody Putcher indeed not knowing any Mercy for those whom he overcame for he burnt and ravaged in the Country thereabouts putting to the Sword without any just quarrel or provocation Men Women and Children if they paid not such Ransoms as he asked Now it happen'd that the Earl of Roucy who mightily laid to heart the loss of his Town and Castle of Roucy which the Navarrois as we shew'd had taken from him the last Year apply'd himself so effectually to the French Knights and Esquires about him that at last he gat together an 100 Spears besides Fourty Men of Arms from the City of Laon and the Earl of Poreren the Lord Gerard of Corncy the Lord Montigny in Ostervandt and several other Persons of Quality in his Company These all riding toward Sâ—ssone found by the way certain Navarrois of the same Garrison who were burning of a Village and prepared to set upon them When Hanckin saw these new-Comers he commanded all his Men on Foot and placing the Archers in the Front began the Battle boldly At the first Brunt the Fourty Laonnois basely deserted their Friends and â—an away upon the Spur however the other Frenchmen stood still to their tackle and fought long and couragiously Yet Fortune was not for them for the Navarrois were far more Expert and at least equal to them in Number So that there the Earl of Rouer being sore wounded was again taken Prisoner this being the second time he was so served within the space of less than a Year and with him were taken the Lord Gerard of Coincy the Lord of Montigny in Hainalt and many others the rest except a very few that fled being slain in Battle V. Not long m Frois c. 197. after the yielding up of St. Valery in that manner as we have related the Duke of Normandy sent three Thousand Spears besides others to go and lay Siege to Melun on the Seyne which was then held by the Navarrois This Army was commanded in Chief by the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and with him were the Earl of St. Paul the Lord Ingleram de Coucy the Bishop of Troye the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages a Lorrainer Sr. Peter du Barre and Sr. Philip of Dormois and others who came and sat down before Melun There were then present in the Place three Queens two of them being Queen-Dowagers of France namely Jane formerly Consort to King Charles the Fair and Aunt to the King of Navarre and Blanch late-Consort of King Philip de Valois and Sister to the King of Navarre and the Third was the Queen of Navarre her self Sister to the Duke of Normandy The Navarrois themselves were not a little surpriz'd when they beheld the Place fâ—rmally Besieged by so considerable an Army But the Three Queens were extreamly affrighted at the Engines and Springalls which being brought thither from Paris play'd upon the Fortress continually Wherewith together with the frequent Assaults the Ladies were so terrified that they desired at any rate to be rid of that trouble whatever it should cost the King of Navarre their Kinsman and earnestly entreated the Captains who were the Lord James Pipe and Sr. Hugh Calverley English Natives to yield up the Place But they comforted the Ladies all they could and told them how they had no need to fear any thing for within a few days they should see the Siege happily Raised For said they the King of Navarre who is now at Vernon and Prince Philip his Brother have sent us word that they have gather'd a great Army about Mante and Meulan and will shortly bring them hither to raise the Siege and that rather than fail they would drain all their Garrisons for that purpose On the other side the Duke of Normandy who knew all this to be true entertain'd in his pay Souldiers from all Parts whom daily he sent to reinforce the Siege at Melan So that in all probability it must have come to a bloody Battle each Party sending their utmost strength that way But that the Cardinals of Perigort and St. Vitalis being assisted by other well-disposed Personages on either Part laboured now so effectually that at last they obtain'd a temporary Truce between the Parties in order to the carrying on of a Treaty at Vernon Thither on a day appointed came the Duke of Normandy and his Council and the King of Navarre with his Brother Philip and his Council In short there was now a Peace made between these two Princes the King swearing for the future to be true to the Crown of France and the Duke obliging himself to pardon 300 Knights althô yet some few were excepted from the Peace whom the Duke would not Pardon by any means But Prince Philip of Navarre would not concern himself about this Peace but rated the King his Brother smartly telling him how he was enchanted with these Flattering Overtures and proved very forgetfull of the King of England's Favours to whom he was by Oath and Covenant engaged and who had always shew'd himself
sins of the World Grant us thy Peace Charles the Dauphin and Regent of France went up to the Altar and laying his Right Hand on the Paten wherein lay the Holy Eucharist and his Left on the Gospel he took his Oath in these Words We Charles do swear upon the Holy Body and the Gospels of our Lord firmly what in us lies to keep this Peace and Concord thus formed between the two Kings and by no means to go against the same So help Vs c. And the like Oath was afterwards taken by the Prince of Wales in presence of Four Barons of France in the Church of Louviers in Normandy Of both which there were made Letters Patents bearing Date that at Paris on the Tenth Day of May and the other at Louviers on the Sixteenth of the said Month Anno Domini MCCCLX Who brake this Sacred and Solemn Oath first we shall see hereafter and throughly discuss the Occasion which I doubt will appear too frivolous to be excused in that manner as is done by some French Historians This mean while the Parisians b Du Chesne p. 692. by the Dauphins good Leave redeemed the Fortresses of Herelle la Neufville in Haye Pont St. Maixence Lyhon Frescheville Deiteville Baslieu le Sicq Chevreuse and la Ferte sous Jouërre because of their Importance for the price and Summ of 24000 Florens of Gold of the Coin of King Philip of Valois which they paid to the Earl of Warwick and the Captal of Busche not enduring to stay till the Peace being confirmed they should be rendred gratis XII Within a few Days after the first Form made at Bretigny was established King Edward being sincerely desirous to hasten the Accomplishment and Perfection thereof having raised his Camp from about Chartres marched by Pont de L'Arche over the Seyne and by Abbeville over the Soame in peaceable manner and so went to Calais where he gave order for the embarquing his Men. In this Town he made his Offerings and paid his Devotion in the Church of St. Mary after which repairing to the Port of Harfleur in Normandy he thence took Shipping with his Sons for England and landed at c Ashmole p. 662. Rye in Kent on the 18 Day of May in the Evening having left the Earl of Warwick to look to his Men of War at Calais in Guienne and elsewhere and to see that on his Part the Peace which had been already proclaimed thrô France was duely kept The next Day the King being come to London d Du Chesne p. 692. caused King John to be brought privately from the Tower to his Palace of Westminster in the Chappel whereof he shew'd him the Treaty made and sworn to by the Regent his Son whereat he who desired nothing more than Liberty at what Price or Composition soever he obtained it thanked God for his Bounty and Goodness in this matter and readily agreed to ratifie and confirm it in his own Person After this he rode with the Prince of Wales from London to Windsor to pay a Visit to the Queen and having received many great and splendid Entertainments from the King he return'd again to London and paid his Devotion at the Famous Cathedral of St. Pauls where he made large and Princely Offerings e Dugd. Hist Cathedr St. Paul p. 21 22. at the Shrine of St. Erkenwald once Bishop of London it having been newly Beautified about 3 Years before The manner whereof as well in Memory of that Prince's Piety as for the rarity of the Matter and also that thereby we may make a guess at the great Wealth of the several Shrines in those Days we shall here more particularly set down King John therefore at this time having heard Mass at the High Altar made his Approach very devoutly to the Shrine of St. Erkenwald where he offer'd 12 Nobles at the Annunciation he laid down 12 more at the Crucifix near the North-Door 26 Floren Nobles at his first Approach to the High Altar Four Basons of Gold and at the hearing of Mass after the Offertory he gave the Dean then Officiating 5 Floren-Nobles and lastly he gave in the Chapter-House 50 Floren-Nobles to be distributed among the Officers of the Church The mean while King Edward g Ashmole p. 662. issued out his Warrant bearing Date the 17 of June to the Lord John Beauchamp then Constable of Dover-Castle and of the Cinque-Ports forthwith to arrest and equip a sufficient Number of Ships to carry over King John and his Family to Calais within the time agreed on and accordingly all things being now ready for his Departure he was by King Edward himself honourably conducted to the Sea-side the Lord Philip his Son and the other Lords of France Prisoners being with him He embarqued at the Downs being attended by the Black-Prince the Duke of Lancaster the Lord John Chandos and many other Great Barons who all arrived at Calais on the Ninth of July where the King was honourably received and lodged in the Castle there to expect King Edwards Coming XIII Now before these Things were brought thus far the Pope having heard how forward the Peace between the two Realms was sent his Letters to King Edward h Vid. Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 2. ex Tom. 8. p. 1. Epist Secr. p. 93. bearing Date Prid. Non. Julii An o Pontif. VIII Wherein he expresses his great Joy for the happy Prospect of a lasting Peace and quickens the King to a Consummation of the Affair and that he would shew himself not only Willing but Liberal as to the Redemption of the French King. All this while was King John at Calais but King Edward remained still in England till he might hear that the first Payment was in some readiness for Him For it is to be remembred that according to the XIV Article there ought to be paid Six Hundred Thousand Crowns of Gold before King John could be permitted to go from Calais A great Summ and which could not soon be collected by his Officers thô but a small Part of that excessive Summ of 3000000 which amounting to 500000 l. Sterling was so vast a Matter in those Days that it i Vid. Cotgraves Preface to French Diction p. 5. is thought to have given occasion for this French Proverb Jâ—ay payé tous mes Anglois i. e. I have paid all my English that is my Creditors which is us'd when with much ado a great and heavy Debt is fully cleared Wherefore King John was k Du Chesne p. 693. forced now to stay almost 3 Months of the limited Four e'r he could raise the foresaid Summ during which time notwithstanding he had frequently News from the Dauphin and his other Children who at his desire were now at Amiens 'T is said l Du Chesne ib. Mezeray ad an 1361. that Prince Galeas Lord of Milain and of divers other Towns in Lombardy furnished this First Payment on Condition that King John should give
Aquitaine To all our Captains Keepers of Towns and Castles Subjects Adherents and Allies being in the Parts of France as well in Picardy Burgundy Anjou Berry Normandy Bretagne Auvergne Champaigne Maine Touraine as in all the bounds and limitations of the Demaine and Tenure of France Greeting A final Peace and accord having been made between Us and our Brother of France our Allies and Adherents comprising all the Debates and Discords that have been in time past or may be to which We have sworn on the Body of Jesus Christ and also our Eldest Son and our other Children and others of our Blood with divers Prelates Barons and Knights and the most Noble of the Realm of England and in like manner hath sworn our said Brother and our Nephew the Duke of Normandy and other our Nephews his Children and divers Prelates Barons and Knights of the Realm of France to keep the said Peace Yet lest it might so fortune or fall out hereafter that any Men of War of our Realm or of our Subjects should take upon them to do or attempt any thing contrary to the Peace in taking or with-holding Forts Towns Cities or Castles or in taking of Pillage Prisoners or Merchandise or any other thing against the Peace the which to Us would be right Displeasant and We neither may nor will suffer any such thing to pass under the shadow of Dissimulation in any manner of wise but will with all our Power in all the said things find a Remedy We therefore Will Require and Ordain by the Advice of our Council that None of our Subjects of whatsoever State or Condition they be presume to do or endeavour to do any thing contrary to the said Peace in taking any Pillage or in taking or withholding any Forts Prisoners or Goods whatsoever pertaining to the Realm of France or to our said Brother his Subjects Allies and Adherents or any other whatsoever they be And whosoever shall be thus Guilty of Doing against the said Peace and will not leave or cease so to do or will not restore again the Damages by them done within a Month after they shall be thereto required by our Officers Serjeants or Publick Persons that then by that Deed alone without any further Process or Condemnation they be all reputed for out-law'd as Men cast out of our Realm and Protection and also out of the Realm and Lands of our said Brother and all their Goods shall be forfeited to Us and to our Demaine and if they may be found within our Realm We Will and Command expresly that on them Punishment be forthwith taken as on Traytors and Rebels against Us according to what is accustomed to be done in the Crime of High-Treason without giving in that case any favour or remission sufferance or pardon And in like manner to be done to our Subjects of whatsoever Estate they be who in our Realm on this side the Sea or on the other take occupy or hold any Fort whatsoever against the Will of those to whom they should pertain or that burn or ransom Towns or Persons or commit any Robbery or take any Pillage in Violation of the Peace and in moving War within our Dominions or on our Subjects And We do hereby command and expresly enjoyn all our Seneschals Bailiffs Provosts Governors of Castles and other our Officers in avoiding of our high Displeasure and on pain of losing their Offices that they publish or cause to be published these Presents in certain notable Places within their Rules and Precincts and that this our Command once seen and heard no one be after that so hardy to remain longer in any Fort pertaining to the Realm of France and exempted from the Ordinance of the Treaty of the said Peace on pain of being proceeded against as an Enemy to Us and to our said Brother the French King and that they see all these Things be duly and punctually observed And We give all persons concerned to know that if they be negligent and fail thus to do beside the foresaid Penalty We shall cause them to make good all Dammages unto those who by their Default or Negligence shall be so grieved or endammaged And moreover We shall inflict such further Punishment on them as shall make them an Example to all Others In Witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patents Given at Calais the 24 Day of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLX XIX Besides all this there were several other Letters of Alliance made even for the space of 15 Days together which was the time that these two Kings their Sons and Councils were at Calais all which time was chiefly spent in Conferring Devising and Settling new Ordinances not contrary to the old but such as should better explain and confirm them And for the greater Security all the Letters bare one Date All which were enrolled in the Chanceries of both the Kings but as it is tedious to refer them hither so also is it needless All these mutual Renuntiations Covenants and Agreements were drawn up sworn to and sealed at the same time but e Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. de Tract Pacis Franc. 34. Ed. 3. n. 7. 8. not as yet Exchanged because as yet the King of France was not at Liberty and the Towns Castles and other Places could not as yet be deliver'd But it was now nevertheless agreed and promised that they should be surrendred to the Special Deputies on both Sides by Midsummer following if it might be and the Renuntiations sent at the Assumption of our Lady next ensuing to the Church of the Augustin Fryars at Bruges to be deliver'd to those deputed to receive them Or if they were not sent till Allhallontide after then they were to be deliver'd in the said Church on St. Andrews day following at which Time and Place both Kings engaged to send thither and cause to be deliver'd to the Deputies of both Parties their and their Eldest Sons Renuntiations But if they were not then deliver'd not any thing agreed on was to take Effect There was also another Instrument Dated at Calais at the same time whereby King Edward was obliged to deliver up to the French King before Candlemas come Twelve Months all those Castles and Towns which he now held being Places that by Vertue of the Treaty were not to remain with him the Particulars whereof from the Records are to be seen in my worthy Friend Esquire f P. 663. c. ex Râ—â—praed de Tract Pacis Franc. m. 5. Ashmole's Elaborate History of the Garter For the Surrender of all which the King of England made forth Commissions to several Persons bearing Date at Calais as aforesaid Now g Ashmole p. 664. ex Rot. Tr. Pacis Franc. 34 Ed. 3. n. 6. also the two Kings made a League for them their Heirs and Successors of perpetual Friendship and Alliance to become thenceforward Faithfull Friends and to assist each other against all Persons whatsoever except the
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
Wisdom is by no means rashly to be call'd in Question unless that he thought it reasonable to expect as true Service from these Men as he had his Ancestors had constantly found from the Inhabitants of Gascogne and Guienne and besides being himself a Just and Gracious Prince he might have a confidence by his Good and easie Government to bind them unto him for ever as surely he did several and had done all had all been alike capeable of being justly affected with Obligations But indeed nothing is more changeable and irrational than the Vulgar and more forgetfull of Benefits IV. However thus the King of England had now the Possession and Seisin of the whole Dutchy of Aquitain even from the River Loire to the Pirenean Mountains and on the other side toward Flanders of all the Earldom of Ponthieu and Guisnes and of all the Lands which he ought to have on that side the Sea that is to say in the Realm of France by Vertue of the said Treaty And so this Year the Lord John Chandos passed over the Sea as Regent and Lieutenant for the King of England in whose Name he began to take Possession of all the said Lands and received the Faiths and Homages of all the Earls Vicounts Barons Knights and Esquires and had deliver'd unto him by the Lord James of Bourbon all the Towns Forts and other Places which were to be deliver'd by the Tenor of the Peace And every where he set Captains Constables Bayliffs and Officers such as he thought good to ordain But himself resided for the most part at Niort a strong and great Town on the Borders of Poictou standing on la Sevre Niortoise g Ita Ferrar. in Neverâ—gus i. e. Nicrt about Nine Leagues from Rochelle Where he kept a Court like a Prince having an allowance sufficient for that purpose For King Edward who understood Men as well as any King in his Days sent him thither upon the account of his Sweet and Winning Behaviour which being accompanied with exquisite Prudence and unparallel'd Courage and Conduct made him appear the fittest Person to enter first upon that Government And because he knew Authority would grow cheap without external Pomp and Splendor he allow'd him to keep an house like a Prince and set the highest Marks of Honour upon him empowring him h Asâ—â—â—le p. 7â—2 even to grant Pardons for Treason Murder and Felony the King promising to Ratifie under his Great Seal whatsoever he should do in such cases Nor was this Noble Gentleman unworthy of this Advancement For as Froisard says he was a Good Knight Courteous and Benign Well-shap'd Liberal Heroick Wise and Faithfull in all Matters And had worthily behav'd himself among all Lords Knights Ladies and Damsels so that there was no Knight in his Days more generally beloved and praised of all People V. Now the mean while i Frois c. 214. fol. 109. b. that the Deputies of the King of England were taking Possession of the foresaid Lands according to the Tenor of the Treaty there were certain other Deputies appointed by the said King on the Marches and Limits of France and elsewhere who being joyned with others commission'd from the French King for that purpose were to deliver up unto him all that which being then in Possession of the King of England ought to go now to the King of France In order thereto these Deputies began to cause all manner of Men of War to avoid and depart out of the Holds and Garrisons which they held for the Kings Command ran strictly that all such who held of England should on peril of their Lives and Goods and of being reputed as Enemies and Traytors to the said King immediately leave and deliver up such Forts as they occupied to the French King and his Deputies they being his by Vertue of the Peace Now those Captains Knights and Esquires who were natural Subjects to the King of England and who valued their Duty readily obey'd the Kings Command and rendred up or caused to be rendred the Places under them But some refused to obey pretending now to make War in the Name and Title not of King Edward but of the King of Navarre thô that King was now a Friend to the House of France There were also many Strangers great Captains and Robbers who would not depart upon any account as Almaines Brabanders Flemings Hainalders and others besides some wicked Renegadoes both of England and France who being poor thought it the best way to enrich themselves by making War still in France And moreover many Hundreds of Common Souldiers whom their Captains having resign'd up their Fortresses according to King Edwards Command had dismissed and disbanded gather'd themselves now together again as thinking it better to continue the Wars with others like themselves than to return home to their poor Trades and perhaps many of them durst not go home again they were guilty of such Villanies or so mightily in Debt These Men being thus gather'd together elected from among them new Captains the main Qualities which recommended them to their Choice besides Courage and Skill in Arms being Cruelty Lust and Love of Rapine At first they rode about in small Companies and made their general Rendezvous in Champaigne then in Burgundy where they assembled in great Numbers being called Les Tard-Venus or the Late-Comers in respect of the other Companions who had before pillaged and destroy'd the Flower of all the Country These Robbers for their first Handsell went and took by Surprise the strong Fortress of Joinville where they found great Riches for all the Country thereabouts had entrusted the best of their Goods to the strength of that Place The Spoils taken here were estimated to the Value of an hundred thousand Franks aâ—â— given up wholly to the Conquerours who kept the Castle for some time overrunning and wasting from thence the Country of Champaigne and the Bishopricks of Verdun in Burgundy and Langres in Champaigne and when they had sufficiently ravaged these Parts then they sold the Castle of Joinville to those of the Country for 20000 Franks This done they enter'd into Burgundy where they rested themselves expecting a Reinforcement of Men like themselves all which time they were not idle but practised many Villanous Deeds For they had among them several Knights and Esquires Renegadoes even of those Parts who directed where and how to get Plunder and do Mischief They lay a long while about Besancon Dijon and Beaulne chief Cities of Burgundy and robbed and commanded all the Country about for there were none to encounter them After this they took the Town of Givry in Bresse which they plunder'd and so tarried thereabout because that was a plentifull Country and daily their Numbers encreased For all the Common Souldiers that came out of English Fortresses and had leave of their Captains to go whither they pleased drew thitherward continually so that by Lent they were in all about 16000 strong Now when
rightly consider'd according to the best of our Judgment they exceed not five or six Thousand nor are they very well arm'd neither Look you there now said the Lord of Bourbon speaking to Sr. Arnold of Cervoles the Arch-Priest Sir you told me before this that they were to the Number of 16000 Fighting Men and now you all hear to the Contrary Sir said the Arch-Priest I never believed them to be under that Number I 'll assure you But if they be God be thanked it is so much the better for us Therefore now consider what you will do In the Name of God said the Lord of Bourbon we will go and be the Aggressors and with that he order'd his Battails and set them in good Array for now he might see his Enemies before him Then he made certain New Knights as the Lord Peter his Eldest Son whose Banner was raised that Day also his Nephew the young Earl of Forestes the Lord of Tournon the Lord of Malinier and the Lord Groslee of Dauphiné besides whom there were present at this time the Earl of Vzes Sr. Reginald of Forestes the Lord Lewis of Beaujeu and Sr. Robert of Beaujeu his Brother Sr. Lewis of Challon sur Saone Sr. Hugh de Vienne and divers other Good Knights and Esquires to the Number m Frois c. 215. f. 111. b. of 2000 Men of Arms all desirous to advance their Honours and to overthrow these Companions that thus ravaged the Country without any pretence or reason The Arch-Priest and divers of the most expert Knights that were present said plainly how it would be best to wait till their Enemies had left that Mountain and so they should have more Advantage over them But this Counsel being overrul'd Sr. Arnold Cervoles the Arch-Priest had order to begin with his Battail for he was a good Commander and had with him 1600 Chosen Men. Now the Companions on the Mountain saw well all the French Order but the French could discover nothing of them but only those who being evil arm'd were set there to amuse and deceive them And yet even those Men were very advantagiously posted for the Ascent of the Hill was difficult and they had among them a 1000 Cart-load of great Stones which did them that Day extraordinary good Service The Frenchmen who are naturally soon wrought into Security and a confidence of Success were very eager to set upon their Enemies But for all that they could do they could not ascend the Mountain directly to come to them it was so steep wherefore of necessity they were obliged to coast about till they came almost unto them But then this worst-arm'd Battail of the Companions who had by them a vast provision of sharp and heavy Stones began to cast them down on them that approached with such Violence that they beat down slew hurt and maimed a great Number Insomuch that they neither could nor durst approach any nearer Wherefore presently the first Battail of Frenchmen was so sore beaten bruised disorder'd and trampled on that all the Day after they were able to do but little Good. To their succour therefore came now the Lord James of Bourbon his Son and his Nephews with their Banners bringing up the other two Battails who all went forward with great Courage only to be flung away as we shall shortly see so that 't is a great pitty they had not taken the Arch-Priests Advice and order'd their Affairs more discreetly Now as the Lord James and the other Lords with their Banners and Penons before them approached valiantly coasting the Mountain the worst-armed Battail of the Companions entertain'd them with their old Trade of flinging Stones so fiercely that the boldest of them was glad to stand at a Bay. And while the French were thus attempting to get forward and their Enemies to keep them off the great fresh and well-armed Battail of the Companions consisting of 10000 chosen Men which had not yet been seen found a way and came about the Mountain well ranged and having cut their Spears to six Foot length came on with a great Shout and fell in among the Frenchmen of whom at the first Meeting they overthrew Hundreds to the Earth Truly for such a Surprise the French did their Devoir and fought valiantly but the Companions had the Advantage by the suddenness of their Attack and were in a manner equal to them in Number but above all they fought with such Ardour and Courage that it was wonderfull And still the Stones came thundring on the Frenchmens Helmets and Shields riveing of Bucklers and striking down bruising and maiming of Men So that the Victory presently enclined to the Worse Side and a Righteous Cause miscarried for want of Discretion The Arch-Priest did all that a good Captain and a Valiant Gentleman was capable of doing but at last he was there taken Prisoner having first received many grievous Wounds and with him several Knights and Esquires of the first Battail The Lord James of Bourbon Earl of la Marche and his Son Sr. Peter were both very much wounded the young Earl of Forestes his Uncle Sr. Reginald the Earl of Vzes Sr. Robert of Beaujeu Sr. Lewis of Challon and above an 100 Knights more were taken Those that fled from the Battle escaped to Lyon whither also thô not without much labour and difficulty the Lord James of Bourbon and his Eldest Son Sr. Peter were brought on Shields by their trusty Servants For their Hurts all the City was very sorry and the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town went themselves to visit them and to dress their Wounds but within three Days the Lord James of Bourâ—on died and Sr. Peter his Son followed him a little after to the general Regret of all Mankind especially of the King of France Yet neither he nor any else had any other Remedy but Patience and a Resolution to revenge their Death This Battle was thus fought at Brignais near Lyon on the * C. Lit. Dom. Pasch 28 Mart. 26 of March being a Good-Friday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXI VII At this Disaster all the Country was struck with horrour and it was generally feared that the Companions would be rendred invincible by these Successes and would also grow more numerous thereupon unless it should please God to put a speedy stop to their mad Career But as for them they grew more insolent and wicked than ever being now strong and formidable and rich also with the Booty of the Field and the Ransoms they were to have for Prisoners And immediately after this Victory having surmounted all Opposition they overspread the whole Land of Forestes and rob'd and ravag'd and did what they pleased wherever they came For now they were so strong that hardly here and there a few of the most Desensible Fortresses were able to resist them Wherefore within a while after that the Desolation which they carried along with them had render'd the Country unable to bear them any longer they
at Westminster the Sixth of February in the Thirty Fifth Year of our Reign The like Letters of Restitution were granted to all the rest of the Houses of Aliens thrô England All which Priories Aliens were many Years after g Weevers Fun. Monum p. 339. utterly suppressed and dissolved by another Martial King Henry the Fifth and their Lands given by him and his Son Henry VI to Colleges of Learned Men in Cambridge and Oxford and to other Monasteries CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. An Embassy from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus whom King Edward entertains with Justs and Tourneaments II. King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Aquitain with the Copy of his Charter III. The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophecy concerning the next Successor to the Crown after King Edward The Prince's Reception in Aquitain he creates Officers and settles his Court at Bourdeaux IV. A Parliament at Westminster the Jubilee of King Edwards Age He creates his Sons Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge and bestows many large Favours upon his People V. The King holds a solemn Hunting with great Royalty The Lord Faulconberg dies Sr. John Copland murthered I. AN. DOM. 1362. An. Regni Angliae XXXVI IN the beginning of this Year there came into England an Honourable Embassie of Gallant Knights of Armenia and of Cyprus sent from the two Kings of those Countries who were now engaged hotly in a War with the Saracens to request the King of England for his Aid either in Men or Money or in both towards the carrying on of those Holy Wars or at least-wise to prepare the Kings Mind against the time that the King of Cyprus should come hither for that purpose which he did not long after The King received them graciously and they were in a fair way to succeed with him according to their desire and he for his Part as well to entertain these Gentlemen Strangers as to divert the Princes and Lords of France now in Hostage with him began a Walsing Hist p. 172. Stews Survey of London p. 421. on the First of May to solemnize a Royal Justs and Tourneament in Smithfield which was held with great Honour for Five Days together the King himself the Queen and their Children being present with the most Part of the Nobility of England and those Noble Guests of France Spain Cyprus and Armenia II. A while after King Edward advised with his Council about the better Establishing of his Affairs and it was resolved b Frois c. 216. that since the Prince of Wales was now upward of Thirty and a Married Man the King his Father should give unto him the whole Dutchy of Aquitain to hold by Homage of the Crown of England Especially because the Lords and Knights of those Parts althó the Lord Chandos was not only blameless but dear among them did perpetually importune the King to send his Son the Prince unto them It is easily remembred that in the late Treaty of Peace among other things it was agreed and sworn to both by the French King and his Eldest Son afterwards called Charles V that all the Dutchy of Aquitain should from that time forward for ever remain to King Edward of England and his Heirs and Successors in such manner as that they should not owe or pay any Homage or Resort unto the King or Crown of France therefore but to be held by Them with all Freedom and Liberty perpetual as Sovereign Lords Allies and Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any kind of Superiority or making any Obedience Homage or Subjection and without yielding in time to come any Service or Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for either the Whole or any Part of those Lands whether Cities Earldoms Castles Countries Lands Isles Places or Persons named in the Articles of the said Treaty Now therefore King Edward having a full and peaceable Possession of the said Dutchy of Aquitaine according to the Tenor of the said Agreement c M. S. â—et Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Historici omnes resigns and gives unto his Son the Black-Prince by his Royal Charter all the Land of Guienne and Gascogne by the Name of a Principality for his Life in which Charter he created him Prince of Aquitain and Gascogne and also granted unto him those other Castles Towns and Counties of Poictou Saintogne Angoulesmois Agenois Limosin Quercy Rovergue and all other Places on the Borders of Gascogne which by Vertue of the Peace were to fall to King Edward reserving to himself Power of Erecting Guienne into a Kingdom and retaining also to himself the Resort and Sovereignty both over the Principality and the Rest that went with it And this Charter was Dated the 19 of July 1362 being the 36 of Edward the Third But besides this Charter of Donation and Creation there was another bearing Date the same Day of Explanation whereby the King more particularly declared the Sense of his Reservation of the Resort and Sovereignty and besides of an Ounce of Gold Yearly payable unto him by the Prince at his Palace of Westminster on Easter-Day The Charter of Creation is incorporated in that of Explanation the Margin of the d Ret. Vascen 36 Ed. 3. m. 18. n. 17. Roll being Pro Edvardo Principe Aquitaniae Walliae i. e. For Edward Prince of Aquitain and of Wales The Charter of Explanation is French and that of Creation Latine in the Originals which the Reader may find in e Seldens Titl Honor. Part. 2. ch 3. p. 487. c. Mr. Selden I shall here take leave to render the whole in English The King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas this present Day We have given to our Right Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales the Name Renown and Title of the Principality of Aquitain transferring unto his Person for his Life only all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places which We have and ought to have by Vertue of the Peace last made between Vs and our Right Dear Brother the King of France in the Country of Aquitain and also those which We have and hold or ought to have and hold in all Gascogne together with the Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patrenages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral Abbies Priories Monasteries Hospitals both Secular and Regular and of other Benifices of the Church appertaining unto Vs by Cause or on Occasion of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all manner of Rights and all other Appurtenances and Appendages as entirely and perfectly as We hold them or as any of our Progenitors have held them in any time past to hold under Vs
carried out of the Field in a condition almost as hopeless as the Vicount Beaumonts The Lord Baldwin Danekin Master of the Cross-bows of France was slain together with Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and divers others On the part of the Navarrois Sr. John Jones who began the Fight did that day all that was possible for a good Knight to perform but at last after he had received many grievous Hurts he was taken Prisoner by an Esquire of Breton of Sr. Bertram of Clequins Retinue and by him born out of the Field but he died of his Wounds before next Morning With him was slain the Lord of Salses and most of his Men and as we have shewn the Lord Bascels of Mareville there were taken the Lord William of Granville the Lord Peter of Samville the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon Sr. Bertram de la Franque and many Others and in short few or none of the Navarrois escaped being now ranked either among the Prisoners or the Dead This Battle was fought in Normandy h Mezeray Chr. Abridg. Tâ—m 3. Part. 2. p. 70. near to a Place named Cocherel and la Croix St. Leoffroy almost exactly between Eureux and Vernon on the Wednesday before Trinity-Sunday being the 15 of May in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV XII After this Discomfiture when all the Dead were spoiled and the Wounded dressed and the most part of the French Army had repassed the Bridge to draw to their Quarters to rest and refresh themselves after this hard Service there appeared in the Field another Body of Men marching up against them The Captain of this Company was Sr. Guy of Granville Son to the Lord William of Granville who had that morning left his Garrison of Conches and with fifty Spears rode with all convenient speed to the Captals aid if by any means he might come time enough to the Battle When the Frenchmen saw him they call'd out to their Fellows that had passed the River and sent several over to acquaint the whole Army saying Gentlemen turn hither again for here is a Fresh Body of our Enemies coming hitherward Now Sr. Bertram of Clequin and his Troops were still on this side but every of them extream weary However when Sr. Bertram saw this appearance of more Navarrois he raised his Standard on high upon a Bush that his Men might all draw thitherward and sounded his Trumpets and faced about toward the Enemy setting his Men in order with great Diligence But when Sr. Guy of Granville heard them cry our Lady of Clequin and saw neither the Captal nor any other of his Friends there but many Dead Men lying on the Ground he concluded that his Party had lost the day and so return'd back without doing any thing And surely this Valiant young Gentleman thô he came not time enough to save his Father from being a Prisoner did yet make a shift both to save his Life when he was in Danger of losing his Head and also to redeem him from Prison afterward For Charles the King of France i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 129. who not being of that Honourable Disposition with his Father John was rather enclin'd to subtlety and unprince-like Cruelty shortly after caused the Lord Peter of Samville to lose his Head and had done the like to the Lord William of Granville the same who by stratagem won the strong Castle of Eureux in Normandy thô Prisoners of War and none of his Subjects But Sr. Guy of Granville sent word to the French King that if he put his Dear Father to Death or to any Bodily loss or pain he would serve the Lord De la Val a considerable French Nobleman then his Prisoner in the same manner and also all other Frenchmen that should ever after fall into his Hands By this means the Valiant young Gentleman commendably sav'd his Fathers Life and shortly after he was deliver'd in Exchange for the foresaid Lord of Bretagne The k Frois c. 222. Night ensuing the Battle the Frenchmen lodged in their own Camp on the other side the River and took good Care of their Prisoners and then there was much speaking and enquiring after the Archpriest it being now known that he was not present at the Fight but his Men excused him as he had directed them However they could not presently clear him from all suspicion of Treachery for his Courage no Man there could doubt in the least The next day the Frenchmen dislodged and went to Rouën where they left the greater Part of their Prisoners but the Captal was convey'd from Vernon to Paris XIII This was an auspicious Hansel to King Charles now upon the entrance of his Reign and we shall find him hereafter to have frequently such Successes against his Enemies thô mostly by Fineness and Stratagem and altogether without his Presence as this happen'd On the l Frois c. 223. Labbe Chron. Techn ad hunc ann Mezeray p. 69. Trinity-Sunday following this Success being the 19 of May Charles Duke of Normandy Eldest Son and Heir to John late King of France was Crowned and anointed King of the said Realm in the Cathedral Church of our Lady at Rheims and together with him his Beautifull Consort Queen m Mezer. p. 106 Jane Daughter to Peter Duke of Bourbon and the Lady Isabella de Valois The Ceremony was performed by the hands of the Archbishop of the said Place And it is n Mezeray p. 69 remarkable that the Emperours Son Wenceslaus of Bohemia Duke of Luxemburgh and Brabant John Duke of Lorraine and Robert Duke of Bar notwithstanding they were Strangers and Vassals of the Empire thô indeed related to the King did at that time perform the Office of Peers of France the first representing the Duke of Normandy the Second personating the Earl of Champagne and the Third the Earl of Tholouse The Duke of Burgundy which Philip his Brother was now in Title and Designation and Lewis Earl of Flanders held their usual Places and Lewis Duke of Anjou represented the Duke of Aquitaine Besides these Great Personages there were present at this Solemnity o Frois c. 223. Peter King of Cyprus Waldemar King of Denmark the Earls of Eu and of Dampmartin of Tancarville and of Vaudemont with the Chief Prelates of that Kingdom and many other Lords all who were Feasted for five days together On the Fryday following the New King return'd in great Pomp to Paris where he was received with infinite expressions of Publick Joy and satisfaction And then he put his younger Brother Philip into Possession of the Dutchy of Burgundy p Paradin Annal de Bâ—urgegne l. 3 p. 3â—2 who shortly after rode into those Parts with a great and splendid Retinue and took Livery and Seisin of the Country and received Homage of all the Barons Knights Cities Castles and good Towns of the said Dutchy and having settled all things there return'd to
Swords Daggers and Axes Helmets Habergeons Shields and all manner of Weapons and Armour For they expected to use them very shortly But the Chief Captains especially drew together in Council being thereto called by the Lord John Chandos to whose Conduct all the rest submitted themselves not only on the account of his Quality but also of his known Wisdom and Experience in the Wars besides which he had a secret Commission from the King of England to be the Chief Captain in this action With him was the Lord John Nereford an English Baron William Lord Latimer the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Valiant Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt all who were of the Opinion that the Earl of Monford should rise from the Siege and take the Field early next Morning and so expect his Adversary and if he came forward give him Battle This being resolved on in Council all the Captains of the Army were acquainted therewith who told it to their respective Officers by whom the whole Army was informed that the next Morning they were to be all ready to take the Field to fight the Enemy Before six the next Morning being a Saturday and the Eve of St. Michael the Englishmen and Bretons left their Trenches and marched forth in Battle-Array the Lord John Chandos leading them to a convenient plat of ground behind the Castle of Auray And soon there came toward the same place the Lord Charles of Blois who had left Vannes the Evening before with all his Army which was disposed in the best manner imaginable For 't is said they rode in such good Close Order that if any thing had been cast among them it must have rested on their Spears points so that the f Frois c. 225. fol. 121. Englishmen were extreamly delighted to behold them The Frenchmen being come in sight of their Enemies made an halt as they were in Battle-Array before them choosing their Field among the Bushes and the Marshals gave Command that no man should stir forward without Order Wherefore both Armies stood still confronting each other being ready ranged for Fight which they all eagerly desired IV. The Lord Charles of Blois with the advice of Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was an experienc'd Captain and well belov'd by the Barons of Bretagne made Three Battails and a Rereguard The first was led by Sr. Bertram himself who had with him more than a 1000 Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires of Bretagne The Second was headed by the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and the Lord of Prye with the French Auxiliaries consisting of 1500 Spears and upwards The Third was brought up by the Lord Charles of Blois himself with whom were the Chief Barons of Bretagne that held of his side as the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Leon the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit and divers others as aforenamed In the Rereguard or Fourth Battail stood John the Bastard of Blois a most Valiant Young Gentleman with Eight or Ten stout Barons of Normandy and many other Knights and Esquires and in every g Frois c. 225. fol. 121. b. Battail there were at least a 1000 Men of Arms besides others And the Lord Charles of Blois rode about to every Battail earnestly desiring them all to do their utmost that day and for their better assurance he took it on his Soul and on his part in Paradise that they were to Fight in a Righteous Quarrel and moreover he promised to reward every Man liberally according to his Performances V. Now on the other part the Lord Chandos who because of his Abilities in the War was the Principal Captain thô the Earl of Monford was head of the Cause began wisely to consider how he might with a lesser Number overthrow a greater in plain Field where no advantage of ground might be had Especially his concern was now encreased because the King of England his Master had given him such a Charge to look most carefully to the Business of his Son in Law for the Earl of Monford had h Speed p. 590. Sandford's Geneal hist p. 179. Ashmole's Garter p. 669. Married the Lady Mary his Daughter Wherefore like a Loyal Gentleman he fully determin'd with his utmost diligence to advance the Affairs of the Earl of Monford and to stick close to him that day He had perfectly noted the exact order and discipline of the Frenchmen upon their approach and hugely applauded to himself the great Conduct and Discretion that appeared among them and therewithall said aloud to his Friends the Lords and Captains about him Gentlemen it is high time for Us to order our Battails For our Enemies are giving Us an example Those who heard him answer'd Sir You are in the Right But this is your Province You are our Chief Master and best Counsellour therefore order Us at Your pleasure for no Soul here shall contradict You since we know the King has committed this Charge to You and surely You have the most experience in these Affairs of any among Us. Thereupon the Lord Chandos began also to form Three Battails and a Rereguard The First he committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet and Sr. Richard Burley with whom was the Lord John Nereford the Second was led by the Lord Oliver Clisson who i True Use of Armory in Chandes his Life p. 62. bare Gules a Lion Rampant Argent Crown'd Or with him were the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt and Sr. Matthew Gournay whose Arms were k Id. p. 67. Or Three Pales Azure The Third was govern'd by the Earl of Monford who himself was governed by the Lord Chandos and here was William Lord Latimer and in each of these Battails were 500 Men of Arms and 400 Archers But when Sr. John came to the ordering the Rereguard he called unto him Sr. Hugh Calverley and said Sr. Hugh You must be Governour of the Rereguard with 500 Men of Arms in your Company But you are to stand on a Wing and by no means to quit your Station for any thing that may happen unless you see an absolute necessity As when any of our Battails are disorder'd or broke by the force of our Enemies if you think there is Danger then come you on with your Battail and entertain the Enemy till our Men are rallied again And when you have done thus much draw off and keep your former Post till such another occasion calls to a like assistance For surely this will be the best piece of Service You can do Us this day When Sr. Hugh Calverley had fully heard the Lord Chandos his Words he was asham'd and displeasâ—d in his Mâ—nd and said My Lord pray commend this Rereguard to some other Man besides me For I have no desire to meddle with it And Sir I admire in my heart what You have
Reason hath made War upon the King of Aragon and also upon the King of Navarre and would have thrust them from their Inheritance by force of Arms and indeed his unreasonable Cruelty to his Bastard Brethren have forced them in their own defence to take Arms against him till now at last by his own Demerits he is thrust out of his Kingdom Wherefore Sir You are to consider that what he now suffers are but as so many Rods and strokes of Divine Vengeance to chastise him and to set him as an Example for all Christian Kings that they may be afraid to do as he hath done With these Words or the like was the Prince advised before Don Pedro arrived at Bayonne and the Prince was well enough satisfied of the truth of what was laid to his Charge but this was the thing that he was chiefly moved at to see a Bastard usurp a Crown from the Right Heir and so the Fundamental Law of Succession to be broken which he look'd upon as a Matter of high Concern to all Kings and Princes and that so ill a Precedent was not to be suffer'd My Lords said he I verily believe that this Advice of Yours is Cordial and proceeds from a good purpose and I question not but that You all intend my Honour and Interest as much as in You lies Nor will I deny but that I am well informed of the Life and Manners of this King Don Pedro and also I know and believe that He has committed horrible Crimes without Number whereby he has reduced himself to this forlorn Condition But that which stirreth Vs up and gives Vs Courage to take his Part is this It is no way convenient that a Bastard should hold a Kingdom as by Inheritance and thrust out his Legitimate Brother true Heir to the Land. For this violent and unlawfull Interruption of Rightfull Succession is a Matter which no Kings or Kings Sons ought by any means to permit or so much as connive at Because it is of unspeakable Prejudice to the State and Dignity Royal and of evil Example Not to say that the King my Father and this King Don Pedro have for several Years been ally'd together by frequent and manifold Confederations So that by all means We are bound to assist him in case that he require Vs so to do Thus was the Prince disposed in his Mind and thus he answer'd his Council and they could by no means remove him from his purpose for he was more and more resolved upon the Matter VIII But when King Don Pedro was now come to the Prince himself and was with him in his City of Bourdeaux he raised much Compassion also in the Prince and confirmed him much more in his Resolution For he humbled himself before him greatly and offer'd him many Royal Gifts promising to make him Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Vrdiales and also to make his Son Edward King of Galizia and that he would present unto him and his Captains and Souldiers all his Goods and Riches which he had left behind him in the Realm of Castille because he durst not trust them under so small a Guard as his whole Retinue made But that they were in so sure Keeping that none knew where they were but himself And these Golden Promises especially pleased the Knights and Captains thereabout for most Men are moved by the consideration of Advantage but chiefly the Common sort of Souldiers who fight more for Booty than Honour Particularly Don Pedro declared publickly and solemnly before the Prince and his whole Council how Gratefull he would be and how he would not only be just but bountifull in satisfying every Man if the Prince would but undertake to bring him again into his Kingdom Then the Prince was advised to call together all his Barons throughout the Principality of Aquitaine and so Letters were written and Messengers sent forth and the Lords and Knights of the Country Summon'd in from all Parts as the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Cominges the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Carmaine the Captal of Busche the Lord of Cande the Vicount of Chastillon the Lord del'Esparre the Lord de Lescar the Lord of Rozen the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Mucidan the Lord of Courton the Lord of Pincornet and all the other Barons and Knights of Gascogne The Earl of Foix also was Summon'd in but he desired to be excused because of a disease in his leg which hindred him from riding however he sent thither certain of his Council to act and do as should seem requisite in his Name To this Parliament thus holden in the City of Bourdeaux came all the Earls Vicounts Barons and Wisemen of Aquitaine as from Sainctogne Poictou Quercy Limosin Gascogne and Guienne who being all met held a Council for three days about the business of King Don Pedro of Spain who was all the while present among them with the Prince his Cousin arguing and reasoning to confirm them on his side At last they advis'd the Prince to send into England to the King his Father to know his pleasure what was best to be done in that case So there were Four of the Prince's Knights pitch'd upon to do this Message to King Edward as the Lord Roger de la Warre Sr. Neale Loringe Sr. John Pamiers and Sr. Elias Pamiers and so for the present the Parliament brake up every Man returning home to his own place But King Don Pedro tarried still at Bourdeaux with the Prince and Princess who Honoured him and Feasted him Magnificently IX The mean while the Four Knights above named went on board and arrived safely at Southampton from thence they rode to London where they heard the King was at Windsor Being come thither they were extream Welcom to the King and Queen both for their Son the Prince's Sake and also their own for they were Persons of noted Worth and Honour Then they deliver'd their Letters to the King who open'd and read them and after a little pause upon the Matter said unto them Gentlemen go You for the present to your Lodgings and when I have confer'd with my Council I 'll return You an answer With these words the Knights were well satisfied and return'd the next day for London shortly after which the King also return'd to Westminster and with him the most and Chiefest of his Council as his Sons John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel William Montagu Earl of Salisbury the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Piercy the Lord Ralph Nevil and several others besides these Three Prelates Simon Sudbury Bishop of London William Edington Bishop of Winchester and John Bokingham Bishop of Lincoln By all these after a long and serious debate upon the Subject of the Prince's Letters and the Request which he had made unto the King his Father it was at last concluded to be a thing both just
Navarre and James King of Majorica and that they gave Rich Gifts unto the Babe But this is only a far-fetch'd Allusion to the History commemorated by the Day and so I shall leave it However the Name of Richard was given to the Princely Infant and He was called after the manner of that Age Richard of Bourdeaux his Sirname being taken from the Place of his Birth and after the Death of his Father and Grandfather he became King of England the Second of that Name On the very Day of this Princes Birth as Froisard the Historian sat at Dinner in Bourdeaux g Frois l. ult c. ult f. 391. he says how Sr. Richard Pontchardon a Valiant Knight of England and one who was very well skill'd in Astrological Science came to him within two Hours after the Child was born and said Froisard write down and put in Memory that this Morning my Lady the Princess is brought to Bed of a Fair Son this twelfth-Twelfth-Day which is the Dâ—â— of the Three Kings and thô he is but Second Son to a Kings Son yet he shall be King. Which Saying of his fell out exactly for the Lord Edward his Elder Brother dying at the Age of Seven Years and his Father the Black-Prince following before the King his Father this Richard succeeded his Grandfather King Edward to the Crown and wore it about two and twenty Years II. On the Sunday h Froisâ—c 233. fol. 133. Vid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. 233. c. following being the Tenth of January after the Hour of Prime Prince Edward left the City of Bourdeaux with a Royal Equipage thô the greater part of his Army was passed onward before and lay about the City of Dax in Gascogne to which place the Prince also came in the close of that Sunday Here he tarried three days because he had sure Intelligence how his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was hasting after him having passed the Sea five days before The said Duke took land with all his Troops at a Port in Bretagne from whence he rode to Nantes where his Brother-in-law the Duke of Bretagne received him with great demonstrations of Joy Love and Respect as also did his Sister the Dutchess From Nantes having passed the Loire he marched thrô Poictou and Sainctogne till he came to Blaye where he also passed the Garonne and so went to Bourdeaux He gave order for his Men to march forward after his Brother the Prince but he himself rode straight to the Abby of St. Andrew where the Princess at that time lay in and having given her a short and kind Visit he took leave of his Sister the Princess and so rode on with his Servants and presently overtook his Men and rode along with them till he came to Dax where he found the Prince his Brother The two Royal Brethren were extreamly satisfied at this their happy Meeting for they loved together entirely and then the Meeting of Friends is most agreeable when they are both ready to partake of Honourable Dangers in like manner their Captains and Officers caressed and made much of one another as also their Men as many as could meet together Soon after the Duke of Lancaster's Coming there came also Gaston Phaebus the Earl of Foix to pay his Respects and to offer his Service to the Prince his Lord and to his Brother the Duke and the Prince who was no Novice in returning Salutations shew'd him much Honour and gave him many Thanks for his Readiness to serve him However because of his known Valour and Conduct as also because he was generally belov'd over all the Country the Prince gave him in charge to stay at Home and upon occasion help to defend the Land in his Absence desiring him to reside in Aquitain till his Return together with his High Seneschal the Lord James Audley This Charge the Earl very readily undertook and so after Thanks for the honour of that Trust took his Leave and rode to Bourdeaux where the Princess and the Lord Audley were But the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster his Brother tarried still in the City of Dax diverting themselves a while and all their Men spread abroad in the Country about the Entry of the Passages that lead into Navarre for as yet it was not known whether they could be permitted to pass that way or no Althô the King of Navarre had solemnly engaged to have the Avenues ready open for them For there ran a Report thrô the Army how since that he was reconciled to the Bastard Henry whereat the Prince and his Council wondred greatly and King Don Pedro was extreamly displeased And thô there was no such Matter yet this Rumor gain'd so much Credit that Sr. Hugh Calverley with his Troops went up to the Marches of Navarre and took the Town of la Puente de Reyna or Queens-Bridge and the City of Miranda in that Kings Dominions which terrified all the Country and the News thereof flew presently to the King of Navarre When he perceived hereby that the Companions would enter his Land by Force he was infinitely displeased and complain'd thereof by his Letters to the Prince but the Prince seem'd to take no notice of the Matter because as he thought the King of Navarre kept not punctually the Promise made to Him and King Don Pedro. Whereupon instead of answering to his Complaints he wrote to him that he must first clear himself of what was laid to his Charge for it was generally discoursed that he had revolted to King Henry and it but too plainly appear'd that he had not left his Country open as he had promised At this Charge of Treason the King of Navarre was more vexed than before whereupon he sent a Lord named Sr. Martin Carre unto the Prince who being come to Dax behaved himself so discreetly in excusing the King his Master that the Prince forgat all his Displeasure on Condition that he the said Knight should return to the King of Navarre and oblige him to come to St. Jean Piè de Port whither the Prince should send some of his Council to confer with Him or else to send Messengers with sufficient Powers to the Prince at Dax So Sr. Martin Carre took leave of the Prince and returned to the King of Navarre to whom he recounted all that had passed between the Prince and him and so perswaded him for the further Vindication of Himself to go to St. Jean Piè de Port which having brought to pass he himself rode forward to Dax to inform the Prince thereof When the Prince knew that the King of Navarre was at St. Jean Piè de Port he sent his Brother the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord John Chandos with a small Company of Knights who all rode together with Sr. Martin Carre to discourse the King at the said Town The King of Navarre made them very welcome and there after some Consultation it was agreed that he should
Chandos when he found not the English Lords where he had left them before Domme rode after them so long till at last he lighted on them as they lay before a certain Fortress in Quercy When these Lords saw the Herald they received him with Honour because of his Office and demanded of him what News from Angoulesme He said how the Prince saluted them all heartily and desired much to see them and therewithall produced the Princes Letters which the Lord Chandos took and read in full Council and there 't was found How the Prince would have the Lord Chandos the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche to come speedily unto him to the City of Angoulesme But that Sr. Robert Knolles and his Men with all the Companions might tarry still where they were and make War as they had done When these Lords who were the Principal of all understood thus much they began to look one on another and demanded what Course they had best to take Then they said with one Voice to Sr. Robert Knolles Sir you see and understand how our Lord the Prince hath sent for us and hath order'd you to tarry here in this Country as Chief General of all the Army Sirs answer'd he my Lord the Prince puts me to more Honour than I would desire But Gentlemen be sure of this that without your Company I will not stay For if You go I 'll go along with You. So in short they all agreed to return to the Prince together to know his further Pleasure and then they brake up for that time to the abundant satisfaction of the People of those Parts who had felt much but dreaded far more from them Only upon their Departure they sent Sr. Perdiccas of Albret to the Town of Roquemadour to defend the Frontiers there against the Enemy And as for the other Captains of the Companions they spake unto them such Words as these Gentlemen You have heard how the Prince hath sent for Us with what Design we know not But however we shall direct you what to do the mean time You shall all keep close together with your Companies and enter the Marches of Limosin and Auvergne and there make War for without War you cannot live And Sirs this we promise you upon our Faith that if you win Castle Town or Fortress whatsoever it be and it chance that you or any of you be therein besieged We will by no means desert You but will assuredly take Care to bring you such Assistance as shall raise the Siege and set you free When the Captains of the Companions heard this Promise they said Well then Gentlemen we will do to the best of our Power in Confidence of this your Promise For perhaps we shall some time or other stand in need of such an Assistance Thus they parted and the Lords that were sent for went to Angoulesme to the Prince who received them with great joy A little before which time the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke and the Lord John Montague were also return'd from the Siege of Bourdeilles which they wan by stratagem as we have shewn XII Of those Companions whom the Lord Chandos had sent toward the Marches of Limosin there were three Notable Captains above the rest who were Valiant Esquires Hardy and of vast Experience in the Wars especially for Assaulting and Scaling Towns and Fortresses namely Edmund Ortingo Bernard Wiske and Bernard de la Salle These Three resolved not to lie still all the Winter but to do something whereby to get Advantage and Honour too if they might With this Resolution they went toward Limosin the Seneschal and Governour whereof under the Black-Prince was Sr. John Devereux and there they studied day and night to get some Castle belonging to their Enemies At last they heard of a strong Castle in Bourbonnois called Bellepeche wherein the Lady Isabella Mother to the Duke of Bourbon and to the French Queen was in a manner all alone without any good Watch or Guard for the Constable of the Castle as they heard would often ride abroad at his Pleasure taking little or no heed to the Safeguard of the Place Whereupon these Captains having selected a competent Number of their Assistants slept not long after they had been informed of these Matters but rode hard for a Day and a Night till in the Morning early coming to the Castle of Bellepeche they suddenly took it by Scalado and the Good Lady Isabella de Valois therein And then finding the Fortress to be both fair and strong and to stand in a fertil Country they fixed themselves there saying they trusted to keep it against all the World. The Night of that same Day they took another Castle called St. Sever upon the Marches of Limosin which they committed to the Care of Sr. John Devereux When it was noised about in France that Bellepeche was taken and the Queen's Mother therein by the English the King of France was extreamly vexed and so also was the Queen her Daughter and the Duke of Bourbon her Son but as yet they knew not how to mend the matter In these Days the Lord Lewis of Sancerre a Knight of notable Courage and Conduct was made one of the Mareschals of France instead of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan who was yet alive But so old and batter'd by the frequent Use of Arms for many Years past that he could not well perform his Office thô upon occasion he would after that bear Arms and go into the Field XIII All that Summer had King Charles of France spent in equipping a Royal Fleet in the Port of Harfleur for he design'd to send a mighty Army into England being encreased with a sufficient Number of Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires under the Conduct of his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this great Design took him up so wholly that he lay all along in the City of Roüen thereby to be nearer at hand to inspect and hasten the Work and every Week he would go two or three times to view his Navy he had such an Affection for the Business And his Command was so general thrô all the Realm that there came in Men of War in such Numbers that 't was admirable and dayly huge Quantities of Provision was brought in for the Fleet as if they were going to Castille or Portugal or some other Far Country And yet the Lord Oliver Clisson who was now one of the Chief of the French King's Council was always against this Expedition and dehorted the King and all the Nobles of the Realm against Enterprising any Voyage for England telling them how the Frenchmen were not accustomed to make War abroad as the English had been and alledged the eto divers Reasons as one who was better acquainted with the Nature and Conditions of that Nation and with the State of England at that time Notwithstanding he could by no means dissuade the King from this Undertaking but still He
Lord John Chandos had given them such a Promise by the Consent of all the English Lords there present and so he said he would most certainly bring them speedy Succour and that he might succeed the better he promised forthwith to go to Angoulesme to the Prince and the English Lords there nothing doubting but to perswade them so as that Bellepeche should have timely Assistance With this News the Valet return'd and Sr. John having left his Fortress in sure Keeping rode to Angoulesme where he found the Prince the Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Pembroke the Captal of Busche the Lord Thomas Percy the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord John Montagu Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Robert Knolles and many more Before all whom he succinctly declared How the Companions were besieged in the Castle of Bellepeche by the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of St. Paul and others How it was for their sakes those Men had reduced themselves so far and in confidence of their Assistance that they refused now to yield The Lords of England gave good Attention to these words and said how they would surely endeavour to relieve them as they had promised and the Prince himself sent forth his Summons to all his Subjects within such and such Precincts that upon sight of his Letters they should with all speed hasten to the general Rendezvous at Limoges The Earl of Cambridge and the Earl of Pembroke were Captains of this Enterprise and so when they had assembled their Forces amounting to 1500 Spears and 3000 others they lead them forth and came to Bellepeche and began to encamp on the other side the Fortress opposite to the Frenchmen who lay still within their Fortifications which were environ'd with a deep Ditch and as Defensible as a considerable Town The English Foragers had much ado to get any Victuals but that want was supply'd from Poictou and other Parts behind them for the Enemy commanded the rest of the Country Upon this Arrival of the English Army the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France sent News thereof to the French King and to the Knights of his Court and caused Writings and Bills to be set up upon Posts and Gates importing to this effect All you that are Knights and Esquires and desire to pursue Honour in the Field We certifie you for a truth that the Earl of Cambridge and the Earl of Pembroke are come with an Army before Bellepeche with design to raise the Siege laid there by the Duke of Bourbon and our Men who have endured much Trouble for a long while till at last we have brought them to that streight that of necessity they must either yield up the Place or venture all upon a Battle with us You are therefore desir'd to come hither with all speed for here you shall be sure to find Noble Deeds of Arms and you may be certain of this that the English do not lie in any good Order and besides are in such a place where they may easily be incommoded by us Given from the Camp before Bellepeche c. VI. Upon these and the like Invitations of the Marshals several Valiant Knights of France came to the Siege particulatly Sr. Allart of Coutances Governour of Blois came thither with 50 Spears so did the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh de Porcien his Brother Now u Frois c. 273. when the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke had thus faced the Frenchmen for the space of 15 Days and saw that they would by no means come forth out of their Bastion to give them Battle as they had expected they resolv'd to send the Herald Chandos unto them which they did and he being fully instructed said thus Messieurs my Lords and Masters have sent me to you and they give you to understand by me how they all wonder extreamly that since you cannot but know of their being here now these 15 days before you yet you will not come forth of your Fortress to fight them Now therefore they send you Word by me that if you will come forth against them they will permit you freely to choose a plat of Ground to fight and then let them have the Victory to whom God shall please to send it To this the Duke of Bourbon answer'd Chandos you may tell your Masters that we do not design to fight with them at their Discretion or Appointment 'T is true I know very well they are there But for all that I will not stir hence nor break up my Siege till I shall have the Castle of Bellepeche in my Power Sir reply'd the Herald I shall tell them what you say and so he left them and return'd to the English Lords to whom he shew'd the Duke of Bourbons Answer and they thought it most shamefull and dishonourable Then having taken Counsel they call'd in Chandos the Herald saying Go once more to yonder French Lords and tell them thus and thus and so they declared unto him what he should say The Herald being admitted into the Duke of Bourbons Tent spake thus before Him and his Council Messieurs my Lords and Masters once more send you Word by me that since you will not afford them Battle they have now resolved the Third Day from hence at nine a Clock in the Morning or else at Noon in the open Day to set the Lady of Bourbon on Horseback and so to convey her away before your Faces and in sight of You my Lord of Bourbon who are her Son. And then Sir they bid you rescue her if you can Well reply'd the Duke to see the Lady my Mother carried away will be to me no great Pleasure but for all that we hope to recover her again when we may And yet Mr. Herald since you have said thus much unto us tell your Masters again from me that if they will send into the Field fifty of their Men We shall send against them as many of ours and then let that side win the Day that can Sir said the Herald I shall shew them your Challenge with all my Heart And so Chandos left them and returned to his Masters to whom he declared what the Duke had said and the Substance of his Challenge but of that they would not admit because they said 't was but a Vapour and a pretence for gaining of Time till mutual Security might be given and the Laws of the Combat settled Wherefore they stuck to their first Resolution of Marching away the Third Day after with the Lady of Bourbon and all the Companions in the Castle who had suffer'd much by the Enemies Engines of Battery On the day appointed early in the Morning x Frois c. 274. fol. 167. Gallicè fol. 228. they sounded all their Trumpets and arm'd themselves and all their Men and so drew out into the Field in Battle Array on Foot and on Horseback ready to Fight the Frenchmen with their Banners and Penons waving before them But at Nine of the Clock their
more willing to open to an Enemy that fought for their Friends than to continue under their English Friends to whom in their Hearts they were Enemies fell into secret Communication with Owen of Wales and the Admiral of Spain With whom having discover'd that they only wanted the Castle to shew themselves true Frenchmen they agreed for a mutual Forbearance the Spaniards to do no injury to the Rochellers nor they to the Spaniards But however the Navy lay still thereabout at Anchor and had their Spies abroad all over the Country of Poictou and Sainctogne to enquire and know what was done or resolv'd in every Place But as yet the English held the Castle of Rochelle which commanded the Town the Captain thereof for the Lord John Devereux being Philip Mansel a Valiant and Loyal Esquire of England but a Man of no great Reach as we shall observe by and by The mean while the Constable of France being at Poictiers which he had newly taken sent forth the Lord of Pons and Tibauld du Pont with 300 Spears to the Castle of Soubize a strong Fortress in Sainctogne about five leagues from Rochell Southward toward Broüages standing on the Sea-side by the Mouth of Charente where that River falls into the Sea. Within the Castle at that time was the Lady thereof with a small Garrison wherefore upon the first apprehensions of Danger she sent an Esquire to the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche and Constable of Aquitain who was then at St. John D'Angely requesting his timely Aid and Succour The Captal immediatly upon this Message sent for Sr. Henry Haye Seneschal of Angoulesme Sr. William of Marvejols Nephew to Raimund Lord of Marvejols to the Lord Thomas Percy and to Sr. John Cresswell to come unto him and they all came accordingly Now of this Rendezvous and of the Siege of Soubize Owen of Wales had secret Intelligence as he lay with the Spanish Fleet before Rochell Whereupon presently he took 400 of the most select Men of Arms the surest and best Arm'd of all his Company and disposing them into k Ita Gallicè Three verò Angl. edit thirteen Barges he left the Admiral and the rest of the Fleet before Rochelle and so together with the Lord James of Monjoy and Morilett his Brother row'd away secretly toward Soubize and came on the other side right over against the Lord of Pons as he held his Siege who yet knew not that he had a friendly Ambush so near him no more than the Captal of Busche who was now mustering his Men at St. John D'Angely for if he had had the least Hint of any such Matter he would have taken with him more Men than he did Whereas now he sent back a great part of those whom he had summon'd and left another part of them in St. John D'Angely and so rode toward Soubize with only 200 Spears and no more Toward Night being come near to the French Leaguer and the Castle he order'd his Men to alight a while beside a little Wood to rest themselves and their Horses and that done he commanded them to horse again and caused his Banners and Penons to be display'd and so riding forth they suddenly dash'd in amongst the Frenchmen crying their Cries and beating down all before them There was a great slaughter and Confusion and many a Frenchman grievously wounded for they were taken at unawares So there the Lord of Pons and Sr. Tibauld du Pont with sixty of the best of their Company were made Prisoners and all the rest either slain or put to Flight But while some of the Captals Men follow'd the Chace and others were busied about the Spoil or had unarm'd themselves as after a compleat Victory there came an unexpected Mischief upon them For at that instant Owen of Wales having passed the Charente with the Barges came on with his 400 chosen Spears there being a great number of Flambeaus Torches Firebrands and other Lights with him for the Night was exceeding dark These fresh and lusty Men came suddenly upon the Captal and his Men English and Gascogners who thought they had finished their Exploit and were now scatter'd abroad and busied in the Chace or Spoil or looking to their Prisoners So that of meer necessity they were presently beaten down discomfited slain and taken Then there pricked forth an hardy Esquire of Vermandois named Peter Daniel and he among others adventur'd so near to the Captal that at last he took him Prisoner by true Feat of Arms And this Captal was the only Knight either of Gascogne or England that the French King desired to have in his Power if not at his Service For he was one of the most Considerable Barons of his Age for Personal Valour and Good Conduct With him there were taken the Lord Thomas Percy who was Prisoner to a Welch Priest named David Sr. Henry Haye and Sr. Moubron of Linieres with others Sr. Walter Hewett escaped with much difficulty but Sr. Petiton of Coutras Sr. William Ferenton and Carmil fled directly to the Town of Soubize where by good Chance the Lady of the Place being present she caused the Barriers to be open'd for them so that they had timely Admittance with others who fled along with them But the next Day Owen of Wales brought thither all his Barges and began a fierce Assault both by Land and Water the Lord of Pons and Sr. Tibauld du Pont whom he had rescued from the Captal joyning with him Yet for that Day the Besieged behaved themselves resolutely enough and without any great Loss but at Night both they and the Lady consider'd that the Town was not strong enough to hold out any long space and that all their Hopes of speedy Succour were quite cut off now that the Captal and the Lord Percy were taken Whereupon the Lady by advice of her Council and with the Consent of all the Knights and Captains within fell to a Treaty with Owen and the French Lords The Effect whereof was That all the Men of War within the Place might freely and without any Dammage or Impeachment go to Niort Sainctes Lusignan or whither else they should please and that the Lady of Soubize should submit Her self and her Lands to the Obedience of the French King. All which was put in execution the English and Gascogners were safely conveyed to what Places they desired and the French took Possession of the Town the Lady doing Homage and swearing Fealty unto Owen in the Name of King Charles of France XVI After this Success of Soubize Owen of Wales Sr. James Monjoy and their Company went to their Barges again and so return'd with the Captal and other their Prisoners to the Fleet before Rochell But the Lord of Pons Sr. Tibauld du Pont and the other Bretons and French with them made all the haste imaginable to ride forth with a fresh Company such as the Constable of France had newly sent to joyn them as the Vicount of Rohan
Falvesle the Lord John Willoughby the Lord John Burwash the Lord John Mohun and the Canon Robsart all who were notoriously in this Expedition And indeed our g M. S. vet Ang. in Bâ—ll C.C.C. Cantab. c. 236. old M. S. so often quoted makes this Expedition into Flanders and that which We have treated of to be the same in these Words Soon after the Duke of Lancaster with a great Host went into Flanders and passed by Paris thorough Burgundy and thorough all France till he came to Bourdeaux without any manner of withstanding of the Frenchmen c. XVII But now it is time to look a little at Home where Matters concerning the Government were concerted and from whence indeed all Publick Actions had their first springs and Motion King Edward had h M.S. Rot. Par. p. 112. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 115. 116. Lit. Dom. B. summon'd his High Court of Parliament to meet Him this Year at Westminster on the next Day after St. Edmund the King that is on the 20 of November which fell then on a Sunday To which Parliament as Dr. William de Lynne alià s Lulimere Bishop of Worcester i Godw. Catal. Bish p. 444. was taking Horse to ride he was suddenly seized with an Apoplexy whereof he died soon after viz. on the 18 of November two days before the Parliament was to sit On the Sunday k M.S. Rot. Par. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Morning Proclamation was made in Westminster Hall that all those who had been summon'd to the Parliament might for the present depart but so as to be ready the next Morning in the Painted Chamber to hear the Causes why the King had call'd them together Accordingly the next Day Sr. John Knivet Lord Chancellor of England before the King Prince Lords and Commons declared How because the Peace was broken by the French the King to resist his Adversaries and to obtain his own Right had sent over several considerable Armies and now lastly his Son the King of Castille and l Aragon in M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton malé Leon and Duke of Lancaster who had atchieved many great Exploits to the Overthrow of his Enemies and had acquitted himself right Nobly How further his Majesty had set forth a Royal Navy of Ships towards all which thô the Subject had for his Part given a liberal Supply yet the Prince was at infinite more Charges than that amounted to He put them also in Mind that such Nobles and others who hazarded their Lives for the Defence of the whole Realm ought speedily to be reinforced with new Supplies and Assistance and the rather because the Enemy never made himself more strong by Sea and by Land than at that time Wherefore the King willed them throughly to weigh those Matters considering that because the Winter Season began to wear away their Resolves ought therefore to be the more speedy as to the next Campain Upon this they were all licensed to adjourn till the next Day Then certain of the House of Commons coming unto the House of Lords requested that certain of the Lords whose Names are in the Records of this Parliament would vouchsafe to confer with the Commons To which the said Lords condescending went presently into the Chamberlain's Chamber there to treat with the House of Commons On the Thursday in the Week before the Feast of St. Andrew being the 24 of November the Lords and Commons after Consultation had agreed upon a Grant to the King for aid of his Wars as is contained at large in a Schedule Indented thô without any Seals thereunto annexed the Effect whereof followeth viz. The Lords and Commons grant unto the Kings Majesty two Fifteens to be paid in two Years of every Twenty Shillings of Merchandise coming into the Realm or going out Sixpence for two Years except of Wooll-Skins and Wooll-Fells also the Subsidie of Wooll for two Years on Condition that if the Wars do cease within two Years then the latter Payment of all their Grants to cease And they humbly pray that these Grants may be employ'd upon the Wars and they pray that every Ship may have their Commissions without any thing paying also they pray further that none of the House of Commons may be appointed to be a Collector of any of these Grants This Schedule being deliver'd to the King was read before him after which the Commons requested an Answer of their Petitions which was promised the chief whereof were these That the Great Charter and Charters of the Forest be kept It pleaseth the King. That the City of London and all other Cities and Towns may enjoy their Liberties any Statute notwithstanding Let any shew the breaches in particular and they shall be answer'd That the Staple be kept in Calais and no Patent or Grant be made to the contrary The King will appoint the Staple as to him and his Council shall seem best Certain Counties there named do pray that for their more easie Carriage of Woolls a Staple may be at Lynne The King granteth thereto so that still the Staple at Yarmouth shall continue That as for the Tythe of Wood above Twenty Years Growth it may be Enacted that no Tythe shall be due and that in all such Cases a Prohibition may be granted Such Prohibition shall be granted as hath heretofore been used That Remedy may be had against the Chirographer because he will not engross any Fine within the Terme untill the Foot of the Fine be fretted unless he may have Three Shillings and Four Pence or n Ita M.S. sed 40 s. Sr. Rob. Cotton Four Shillings more than his due Fee of n Ita M.S. sed 40 s. Sr. Rob. Cotton Four Shillings Let the Aggrieved come to the Common-Pleas and he shall have Right That the Statute of Labourers may be executed four times in the Year and that the Justices may be removed for not doing their Duty The King granteth thereto That Villenage may be only tried where it is laid and no where else The King meaneth not to alter the Law as to this point That Masters of Ships shall be paid their Wages for them and their Mariners from the Day of their being appointed to serve the King. The taking up of Ships shall not be but upon Necessity and the Payment shall be reasonable as heretofore The said Masters of Ships request that they may have Allowance for the Tackling of their Ships worn out in the King's Service Such Allowance hath not been made heretofore The Commons request Remedy against the Provisions of the Pope whereby he reaps the First-Fruits of Ecclesiastical Dignities the Treasure of the Realm being thereby convey'd away which they cannot bear The King hath already Honourable Ambassadors at the Court of Rome touching these Grievances before whose Return he cannot well answer as to that point And it is to be understood n Walsing hist p. 183. n. 20. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab.
Francis Petrarch the Laureat Poet of Italy of whom We have spoken b Lib. 1. c. 19. §. 14. p. 247. in the former Part of this History in the seventieth Year of his Age wherefore Squarzafichus the Writer of his Life is to be corrected who acknowledges him to have been of that Age and that he was born in the Year 1304 but yet that he died Anno 1364 which is a palpable Mistake Upon the Thursday next after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr there departed this Life that Valiant Baron Sr. John Charleton Lord of Powis leaving John his Son and Heir at that time 14 Years of Age and another Son named Edward aged about Four Years behind On the c Vid. Thorn's Chron. apud 10. Angl. Script p. 2148. p. 2150. Walsing hist p. 183. Hypod. p. 133. Godâ— Catal. p. 146. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 236. 5th of July D. William Wittlesey Archbishop of Canterbury departed this Life presently after whose Death the Monks of Canterbury elected for their Archbishop one Adam Easton d Ità Scriptâ—res nostri sed bis térve evolventi Victorellum nullus mihi cecurrit Cardinalis horum temperum Adam nominatus a Cardinal who was an Englishman born but thoroughly Italianated as having lead his whole Life in a manner at the Court of Rome Wherefore King Edward was so offended at this Choice of the Monks that he determin'd to banish them out of the Realm and to confiscate their Goods But then Pope Gregory thô he favour'd this his Cardinal yet to shield the poor Monks from the Danger of this Tempest was content to annull their Election and to bestow the Archbishoprick by way of Provision on Dr. Simon Sudbury then Bishop of London whom he knew the King liked well enough This Man was the Son of Nigellus Tibalds a Gentleman of Suffolk but being born in the Parish of St. George in Sudbury a Town of the said County he took his sirname thence after the manner of many Clergymen in those days He was a Man of Excellent Parts great Knowledge Judgement Wisdom and Eloquence and among many Works of Charity he e Speed's Maps in Kent c. 3. §. 8. built the West-Gate of the City of Canterbury and all the Wall from that Gate unto North-Gate commonly called by the Name of the Long-Wall an Act of no less Advantage to the City than of Expence and Charge to the Builder About seven Years after he yet ended unhappily being barbarously Murder'd together with Sr. Robert Hales Treasurer of England by the Rebels who were headed by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw in the Days of King Richard the Second neither his Age nor Dignity nor Eloquence nor Piety being able to mollifie the Minds of those Wretches who had already cast away the Bonds of their Allegiance X. About this time a certain Lady named Madam Alice Perrers being a Person of extraordinary Beauty f Stow's Survey of London p. 421. was therefore made Lady of the Sun and rode from the Tower of London thrô Cheap-side accompanied with many Lords Knights and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord or a Knight by his Horses Bridle till they came into West-Smithfield where presently began a Solemn Justs which held for seven Days together But because hereafter we shall have occasion to speak further of this Madam Alice Perrers especially since by our Vulgar Historians she hath constantly been misrepresented I shall here once for all make a more particular Enquiry who and what She was That She was not King Edward's Concubine as most of our Writers one taking it from another too boldly affirm may appear not only from the utter Improbability of the Matter it self which we shall shew but also from the Reputation of her Person which was so great that after this She was g Dudg Warwickshire p. 434. taken in Marriage by a considerable Baron of this Realm the Lord William Windsor h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 509. who in the Fourty Third of this King was Constituted his Lieutenant of Ireland but afterwards became much more notable Now I say 't is neither probable that King Edward who never else is said to have gone astray even in the Flower of his Age especially while his beloved Queen lived which was within five Years of this time except only that Story of his being enamour'd on the Fair Countess of Salisbury which We have utterly exploded should now in the very impotence of his Age burn in Flames to which he had so seldom indulged And it is as improbable that so Noble a Baron as Sr. William Windsor should afterwards take in Marriage so notoriously infamous a Woman had she been thought at that time such a lewd and impudent Strumpet as many would make her But the i Rot. Par. 1 Ric. 2. n. 41. c. Vid. M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 158. n. 41. Records themselves are nothing so severe upon the Reputation of this Lady as appears from these Words Dame Alice Perrers was introduced before the Lords and by Sr. Richard Scroop Knight Steward of the Kings Houshold charged for pursuing of Matters contrary to order taken two Years before namely that no Woman should for any Advantage present any Cause in the Kings Court on pain of losing all they had and being banished the Realm for ever That particularly she had procured Sr. Nicolas Dagworth to be called from Ireland whither he had been sent and at the same time procured from the King Restitution of Lands and Goods to Richard Lyon Merchant of London whereas the same Lands having been forfeited by him had been given to the Kings own Sons To all which the said Dame Alice reply'd that she had not pursued any such thing for any Advantage of her own Whereupon divers Officers Counsellours and Servants to King Edward the Third being examin'd prov'd that she made such pursuit and that in their conceits for her own private Gain And so the Lords gave judgement against the said Lady that according to the Order aforesaid she should be banished and forfeit all her Goods and Lands whatsoever But as Sr. Robert Cotton goes on to say truth of the Devil is counted Commendable and therefore surely says he the Record against the said Lady being very long proves no such heinous Matter against her only it shews how she was in such Credit with King Edward the Third that she sat at his Beds head when others were fain to stand at the Chamber Door and that she moved those things unto him which they of the Privy-Chamber durst not And further says he those two Points for which she was condemned seemed very honest Only her Misfortune was that she was Friendly to many but all were not so to her The Record is strange and worthy of perusal Thus much by the by for clearing of injur'd Innocence and stopping the Mouth of Popular Calumny thô this Matter of Record happen'd
after the Death of King Edward I suppose that being very dextrous in humoring the old King and tending him carefully in his sickness she thereby prevail'd so upon him as to be able to influence his Favour more powerfully than others of Higher Condition Whereupon thô she did much good and took thence many Advantages to assist the Oppressed she was in the end only rewarded with these Envious Reflections for her Labour Thô the Year k 2 Ric. 2. n. 36. Vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 177. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 510. after Sr. William Windsor and his Lady pray'd a Revocation of this Judgement for the Errors therein and at last by their Attourneys Edmund Clay and Robert Brown obtain'd a Reversal of the same CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. St. Saviour le Vicount being prest by the French Compounds II. AN. DOM. 1375. An. Regni Angliae XLIX Franciae XXXVI King Edward sends his Son Edmund Earl of Cambridge along with the Duke of Bretagne with his Conquests in those Parts The Duke of Bretagne lies down before St. Brieux III. While the Lords of Bretagne on the French side besiege Sr. John Devereux in New-fort who is rescued by the Duke IV. The Duke of Bretagne having an Advantage over his Rebel Lords is forced by a Truce to lose it and so returns into England V. The Death of the Lord Edward Spencer VI. A Treaty between King Edward and King Robert Stuart of Scotland VII The French take St. Saviour le Vicount notwithstanding the Truce VIII Esquire Katrington that deliver'd it up challenged of Treason loses the day IX Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards X. The Death of two Earls two Acts of Charity I. ABOUT the Declining of the last Year a Frois Anglicè c. 312. fol. 194. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. when the Knights of Bretagne and Normandy had taken in Becherel according to the Composition made that if it was not rescued by the Feast of All-Saints it should then be yielded up by the French Kings Command they all went and laid Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantin in Normandy which once belonged to the Lord John Chandos but after his Death was given by the King to Sr. Alan Boxhull who was at that time in England having committed the Town of Coutances together with the Fort of St. Saviour to the Custody of an English Esquire named Thomas Katrington He had now for his Assistants two Valiant Knights Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs and Three Brethren Mauliverers with about Sixscore other Valiant Men. But Sr. John de Vienne Admiral of France kept the Sea-Coasts near those Parts and about the Mouth of the River Carentan to hinder Provisions from being brought to them by Water while the Lords and Knights of Bretagne and Normandy Besieged the Fort by Land with a very Great Army the Constable himself and Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France being there together with the Earl of Harcourt the Dauphin of Auvergne Sr. John Bull Sr. Mouton de Brianville and many other Men of Name The Constable caused his Engines to be reared up against the Fortress and put the Besieged very hardly to it But however the Captain Esquire Thomas Katrington held out Valiantly against them all till about the beginning of March when being much streitned by the continual playing of Engines among which 't is probable that there were Pieces of Ordnance at this time he began to enter a Treaty with the French and in short obtain'd a Truce to endure to Whitsuntide in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXV b Pasch 22. April Lit. Dom. G. which was about Fourteen Weeks after on this Condition that unless within that term the Frenchmen should be fought withall and the Siege raised they should then yield up the Fort their Lives and Goods saved So the French Army lay still before the Place but committed nothing of Hostility all the while Now Katrington in making this Agreement had respect unto the Duke of Bretagne whom he expected shortly there to raise the Siege for he heard He was preparing then to return into Bretagne with an Army out of England as now we shall shew leaving Esquire Katrington's business to another time II. While the Frenchmen c Frois Anglicè c. 313. fol. 194. sed Gallicè f. 265. lay at Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount and the Negotiators of England and of France were yet at Bruges in consultation about a Peace the Duke of Bretagne who having left his Lady in the strong Castle of Auray was gone over into England as we shew'd before did daily importune his Father-in-Law the King for some Powerfull Assistance against his Enemies At last the King said unto him My Fair Son I know well that the Love of Me hath overballanc'd all your own Concerns and that for my sake only You are cast out of your Lands and Princely Inheritance But rest You satisfied with this that You shall most surely recover all again For I will never make Peace with the French King unless You may be comprised therein and entirely restored to your Dominion The Duke humbly thanked him for this his Gracious Promise and the King resolv'd to do as he had said For he presently fell to raise competent Forces which he intended to send into Bretagne with his Son-in-Law the Duke giving him Commission to act as his Lieutenant and at the same time joyning his Son d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Ashmole p. 667. Edmund Earl of Cambridge in Commission with him in the Lieuteanncy of France and other Foreign Parts And on the e Rot. Franc. 48. Ed. 3. m. 7.18 Novemb. 18 of November of the preceding Year Commands were sent forth to arrest Ships for the Passage of these Forces into Bretagne to be ready at Dartmouth and Plimouth with all speed thô notwithstanding the earliness of these Preparations they went not till the f Claus 49. Ed. 3 m. 46. Spring of this Year The Rendezvous was at g Frois ibid. Southampton where the Duke found 3000 tall Archers who by the Kings Command were all paid their wages for half a Year besides whom there were no less than 2000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires the Chief whereof besides the Duke himself and the Earl of Cambridge were these the Lord Edmund Mortimer Earl of March Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford the Lord Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Eldest Son to the Princess of Wales by her former Husband the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord John Mohun the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Hugh Hastings the Lord Thomas Grandison Sr. Nicolas Camois Sr. Richard Pontchardon Sr. John Lascels Sr. Edward Twiford and many more of the English Nobility and Gentry for h 8 May Claus 49. Ed. 3. m. 46. Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 667. whose Good Success Publick Prayers were appointed to be made With these Forces the Duke of
Duke of Anjou tarried still at St. Omers From King Edward there came John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster John Dreux commonly called Monford Duke of Bretagne William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and William Courtney Bishop of London Sr. Robert of Namur was also with the Duke of Lancaster and waited on him to do him Honour while he staid in Flanders and the two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras went between the two Parties and took much Pains shewing many weighty Reasons to induce both Sides to Moderation but all to no purpose the Lords were so far asunder in their Resolutions For the French King demanded back again 1400000 Franks which had been paid for the Redemption of King John and also to have Calais rased and beaten down to the Ground To neither of which would the King of England by any means consent Then the f Fabian p. 258. c. French Deputies required Licence of the Legates that they might ride to Paris to declare more particularly unto the King the Offers made on the English Part after which they promised to return with an Account of his Pleasure as to the Premises Upon this Demand it was at last resolved that certain sufficient Persons for that purpose appointed should go and shew unto King Charles How the English Negotiators besides that they absolutely refused to refund the Money or to rase Calais as aforesaid stood stifly for the Absolute Sovereignty which they said belonged to the King their Master and that the King of England and his Heirs Kings of England should for ever enjoy all the Lands comprised in the former Peace made between Him and King John without any Homage or Resort or any other Duty paying or owing therefore Upon this King Charles summon'd his Peers and Nobles about him and there came many Lawyers and Doctors of Divinity unto him to Paris to hold a Debate and Argument on this Matter And here at last it was peremptorily determin'd that the King might not part with his Right of Sovereignty without great Peril of his Soul because he was so manifoldly engaged to maintain the Rights of his Kingdom This Report being brought to Bruges the Treaty immediately fell to pieces without any further Effect but only that by the earnest Intercession of the Legates the Truce however was prolonged to the g Rot. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. m. 16 21. Last of June then next ensuing and afterwards was lengthen'd out farther to the First of April of the Year MCCCLXXVII to give notice whereof to the English Subjects h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. a Proclamation was set forth So these Lords on both sides tarried at Bruges the Remainder of the foregoing h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. Winter and most part of the Lent following keeping great State especially the Dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy But in the Spring they all return'd to their several Countries except the Duke of Bretagne who tarried still in Flanders with the Earl Lewis his Cosen k Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. who made him extream welcome for the space of a Year i Fabian p. 258. But we must not forget to make mention of the great Good-will which King Edward and his Children still manifested to the Person of the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who being taken as we have related before Soubise was all this while kept a Prisoner in the Tower of the Temple at Paris Him they l Frois c. 315. earnestly labour'd to get at Liberty and made frequent Overtures to that purpose but especially now by their Ambassadors and Negotiators at Bruges they offer'd in Exchange for him Valeran the young Earl of St. Pol and Three or Four other Knights besides m Frois c. 332. fol. 210. b. Gold and Silver in Abundance But the French King and his Council would by no means consent to deliver him n Frois c. 315. fol. 196. b. Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 194. unless he would swear Never more to bear Arms against the Crown of France To which Proposal the Loyal Gascogner stoutly reply'd That thô he was sure otherwise to die in Prison yet he would never make any such Oath But of this Valiant Prince's Death we shall speak hereafter III. This Year being the Fiftieth of King Edward's Reign over England he kept o Daniel's History p. 256. a Second Jubilee in consideration thereof and gave Pardons Immunities and Graces and shew'd many Notable Acts of Bounty and Goodness to his People as in the First Jubilee which was the Fiftieth Year of his Age. A singular Blessing which very few Monarchs have ever arrived to either before or since that time Soon after viz. on the 28 of April p M.S. Ret. Par. 50. Ed. 3. p. 116. n. 1 c. Item Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 120. c. being the Monday after the Feast of St. George FE Lit. Dom. the King of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster On which Day there was a considerable Appearance both of Lords and Commons before the King in his own Chamber Royal. But because divers of the Lords and some few of the Commons were not come Proclamation was made in the Great Hall at Westminster that all such who had received Summons to Parliament should be there the next Morning by Eight of the Clock At which Day Sr. John Knevet Knight Lord Chancellour of England §. 2. declared before the King Lords and Commons the Causes of the present Parliament to be Three viz. To enquire how the King should best provide for the Government of the Realm Secondly for the Defence of the same as well beyond the Seas as on this side both by Sea and by Land and lastly how he might prosecute his Quarrel against his Enemies and make good the same the Chancellour adding That as the King had always in all his Attempts follow'd their Good Counsel so now he meant to do no less Wherefore in the King's Name he wish'd them to go together the Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves and speedily to consult and return an Answer So when there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places and Isles beyond the Seas Tryers of the said Petitions after the Custom being subjoyned §. 3 4 5 6 7. the * §. 8. Commons were willed to depart to their accustomed Place being the Chapter-House of the Abbot of Westminster whither they went accordingly And then certain of the Lords and Nobles who are particularly named in the Records were order'd for the quicker Dispatch of Affairs to go and consult with the Commons In consideration of the necessary
the Parliament b Dugd. ibid. he went to the King then at Havering at the Bowre and totally submitted himself unto his Grace whereupon thô he had been Fined at 20000 Marks the King was pleased wholly to remit both his Fine and Imprisonment and the Year following the Lords and Commons themselves representing to the King that he had been deprived of his Offices and put from the Privy Council by undue suggestion he was restored unto them again However some weak Historians who resemble the Common People in Clamour and want of Judgement say how that was done in the Kings Declining Age after the Death of Prince Edward when he had taken his Son John of Gaunt to be his Assistant in the Government whom it seems the Vulgar could not endure But however at this time the Commons proceeded in their warm beginnings § 31. and besides this Noble Peer One William Ellis of Great Yarmouth was accused of sundry Extortions by him done when he was Farmer of the Kings Petty-Customs there and Deputy to Richard Lyon aforesaid for the Subsidy of Six-pence in the Pound granted unto the King by Parliament To which accusation it seems that the said William Ellis made a sufficient Answer § 32. But it was not then allow'd to be so For he was notwithstanding condemned to be Imprison'd and Fined at the Kings Pleasure Also John Peachie Fishmonger of London § 33. Vid. was accused for procuring a Licence under the Great Seal that he only might sell sweet Wines c Stow's Survey of London p. 255. and that under Colour thereof he took Four-Shillings Four Pence per Tun of every Man which notwithstanding he justified by Law as indeed he might yet judgement was given that he should be committed to Prison during the Kings Pleasure and make Recompence to all Parties Grieved The Lord John Nevill also was accused § 34. that while he was of the Kings Privy Council he should buy certain Debts due by the King namely of the Lady Ravensham and of Simon Love Merchant far under the Value and for receiving of the King more wages and for a longer time for an Hundred Souldiers in Bretagne than was due To the first he answer'd of the Ladies own Good-Will he confessed that for the obtaining of her Debt he had received Ninety Five Pounds As to Love's business he denied that there was any such thing Upon which Love himself being call'd into the Parliament he also wholly acquitted the said Lord. But because the Day before Love had confessed so much to two Knights of the House he was now committed to Prison So that this Accusation fell of it self and as to the other of receiving Wages the Noble Lord wholly cleared himself Yet notwithstanding Judgement of Imprisonment and Loss of Lands Goods and Offices was given against him in like manner as against the Rest and that he should make Restitution of the Ninety Five Pounds to the Executors of the said Lady then lately deceased The Bishop of Norwich supposeth an erroneous Judgement to be given against him in the Common Pleas for the Archdeaconry of Norwich belonging to his Presentation and prayeth that those Errors might be heard for redress thereof Whereunto Answer was made that Errors by Law in the Common-Pleas are to be corrected in the Kings Bench and of the Kings Bench in Parliament and not otherwise As well at the Complaint of the Men of Laystoff as at the pursuit of the Commons the Grant lately made by the King to the Town of Great Yarmouth that one Place in the Sea call'd Kirklerode be annexed to the Port of Yarmouth shall be utterly repealed saving all other their Liberties Adam Bury Alderman and sometimes Mayor of London was accused of divers Deceits and wrongs by him done while he was Mayor of Calais and Captain of Belingen a Castle in Picardy between Ardres and Guisnes in the Marishes But he was not minded to abide that Tryal where Innocence it self would not avail unless Power would please to own it Wherefore upon his Non-appearance after Summons it was agreed that all his Goods and Chattels should be arrested and so they were The King ordaineth that from thenceforth no Woman should for Maintenance or Lucre present any matter in any of the King's Courts and particularly Alice Perrers on pain of Forfeiting all they have and being banished the Realm for ever IV. During this Parliament the d Frois c. Gallice s 266. b. Flower of English Chevalry that Most Renowned Hero Edward Sirnamed the Black-Prince being utterly exhausted and worn out with a lingring Sickness which gradually grew upon him till it ended in an High Calenture or Violent Burning Fever to the infinite Regret of all the World departed this Mortal Life in the King his Father's Great Chamber in the Royal Palace of Westminster on the Eight day of June e Lit. Dom. FE Pasch 13. April vid. Sandford p. 187 Walsingh p. 186 omnes being then Trinity-Sunday f M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 238. omnes which Festival in whatever Place He was He constantly all his Life held the most Sacred and Solemn of all the Days in the Year In Memory whereof his Anniversary g Ashmole p. 151. Obit was afterwards appointed to be held at Windsor on the Eighth of June for ever He died in the Fourty Sixth Year of his Age even in the same Month wherein he was born Ripe for Heaven and Full of Honour And thô falling short in Years of his Great Father and many Renowned Captains yet thereby in my Opinion happily exempt from the Imperfections and Errors of Old Age which too often qualifie preceding Glories Upon which Account Servius Tullus h Vid Id. Montaigne's Essays l. 1. c. 57. c. ult dispensed with those Knights who were Seven and Fourty Years of Age from all voluntary Services of War Augustus afterwards reducing the Term of being emerit to Fourty and Five However he died too soon for the English Nation who had conceited much Happiness to it self under his expected Government And also for his Father who desired above all things to leave so great a Successor behind him as likewise for his Son Richard who extreamly wanted to have his tender Youth Cultivated with the Seeds of those Vertues which had so prosperously flourished in this his Father thrô the whole Course of his Life A little before his Death i Mr. John Gadbury in his Astrolog Judgm on the Nativity of the Black-Prince M.S. penes me there was celebrated a famous Opposition of Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius and Leo the Abject Parts and Places of his Geniture which was according to Astrologers no small Cause of so great a Calamity Besides which the Year before his Lamented Expiration he was called for by a Bearded Comet of considerable Magnitude It is not altogether beneath our Consideration to observe Four Remarkable Stages of his Life all well-nigh
and Suffolk besides many other Lords and Ladies In the First Division of these Mummers there rode Fourty Eight habited like Esquires Two and Two together all clothed in Scarlet Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendal with comely Visards on their Faces After whom went Fourty Eight Knights in like Order and in the same Livery of Stuff and Colour Then came One richly Arrayed like an Emperour and some distance after him Another Gorgeously attired in Pontificalibus representing the Pope with Twenty Four Cardinals attending him In the Reer of all came up Eight Persons with Black Visards and strange as if they had been Ambassadors from some Foreign Princes These Mummers being enter'd the Court of Kennington alighted all from their Horses and went orderly into the Great Hall Whereupon the Young Prince his Mother and the Great Lords who were acquainted with the Matter came out of the Chamber into the Hall and received the Salutations of the Mummers They by a pair of Dice flung upon the Table signified their Desire to play with the Young Prince and upon his Accepting their Motion they so obligingly contrived the Dice that the Prince always won whether He cast at Them or They at Him. Having thus lost some considerable Sums of Gold then they set to the Prince Three Jewels one after another viz. a Bowl of Gold a Cup of Gold and a Ring of Gold all which the Prince wan at three Casts Then they set to the Lady Princess to the Duke the Earls and other Lords to every One a large Ring of Gold which as the Dice were order'd those Illustrious Personages also wan After Play succeeded a Splendid Entertainment accompanied with most exquisit Musick the Prince and the Lords dancing on the One part and the Mummers on the Other And then all being concluded with a Banquet of Wine and Spices the Mummers departed in Order as they came III. Now it is to be observed that althô King Edward was something recover'd from his Sickness yet not being very Current and especially because of his great Age he had lately associated unto Himself his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Regency Who thô perhaps he might be Ambitious enough yet being of too Rough and Martial a Temper to please the People was not thereby in any great likelyhood of Injuring the Right of the Young Prince of Wales who besides the Advantage of his Title was also for his Great Fathers Sake most strongly rooted in the Affections of all True Englishmen However the Duke of Lancaster being thus advanced shew'd himself Terrible to all his Enemies especially to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester whom he hated mortally for what Cause I shall not here enquire and caused him e Fex p. 392. to be deprived of all his Temporalities with a Prohibition not to come within 20 Miles of the Court. And not being well assured of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March at that time Marshal of England with a Design to remove him out of the way he commanded him in the King's Name toward the End of the preceding Year to haste over unto Calais according to his Office and there to take a diligent View of the Castle and Town of Calais as also of all the Castles and Forts in the Marches thereof and to cause such Repairs to be made as should seem needfull and likewise to see them well Manned and Victualled But the Earl of March who saw how hereby he was set as a Mark for Envy declin'd the Matter and chose rather to yield up his Rod with the Office of Marshal thereto belonging than obey in so hazardous an Employ The Duke gladly accepts his Rod and gives it with the Office to his sure Friend the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the First of that Name and Family who was then f Dagd 1 Vol. p. 276. b. assign'd to the same Employ thô he had not full Commission till this present Year IV But now a Parliament is summon'd to meet at Westminster D. Lit. Dom. as on the Quindene of St. Hilary being the Tuesday g Vid. Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. M.S. praedict p. 143. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 144. next after the Conversion of St. Paul that is the 27 of January the Writs of Summons bearing Date at Westminster on the 1 of December preceding And here for instance-sake I shall set down the Names of those Peers to whom the Kings Writs were directed with a Copy of the Writ it self as taken from the Latine only premising that the King herein calls his Nephew Prince Richard by the Name of Son as well to set the higher Character upon him as because he was now in Law to be look'd on as his Son being come into the Place of his Deceased Father EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to his most Dear SON Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting Whereas concerning divers and Weighty Matters relating especially to Us and the State of our Realm We intend to hold our Parliament at Westminster on the Quindene of St. Hilary next ensuing and there with You and others our Peers and Barons of the Realm to consult about the Premises We command You upon the Faith and Allegiance which You owe unto Us firmly enjoyning that at the said time and Place all other Business laid aside You be personally present there to consult and advise about the Premises with Us and other our Peers and Barons and that this You omit by no means Teste meipso apud Westmonast primo Decembris Ano. Regni nostri Angliae 50 Franciae verò 37. Per ipsum Regem The like Letters were directed besides the Clergy to these Peers following viz. John King of Castille and Leon Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Cambridge Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas of Woodstock Constable of England Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos William Vfford Earl of Suffolk William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Henry Lord Percy Marshal of England William Lord Latimer William Lord Bardolph Guy Lord Bryan Roger Lord Beauchamp John Lord Clinton Gilbert Lord Talbot William Lord Botreaux John Lord De la Warre Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Nevill Thomas Lord Rous of Hamlake Richard Lord Stafford Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin John Lord Grey of Codnovre Henry Lord Grey of Shereland Nicolas Lord Burnel William Lord de la Zouch of Harringworth Roger Lord Clifford And the Lord Almaric of St. Amand. The Quindene of St. Hilary as We said before was the First Day of the Parliament At which time the Noble and Puissant Lord Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester together with the Bishops Lords Justices Commons and others summon'd to the Parliament assembled at the Palace of Westminster in the Painted-Chamber where
Personal harm saying further Sr. Henry if you can bring this about I shall love you the better for it whilest I live Presently he had his 500 Men allotted him with whom he rode forth before the Army and toward the Evening arrived before Hennebond When the Captain Sr. Oliver Penfort heard and saw and knew that his Brother was there supposing he came with that force to his Assistance he immediately open'd the Gates and received him with all his Men himself hasting forward joyfully to salute him in the street When Sr. Henry saw him he hasted forward to meet him and taking him suddenly by the Arm for the first Complement said Brother Oliver now You are my Prisoner How so cry'd his Brother amazed Did I put my Confidence in your Kindness expecting you were come to my Assistance in defence of this place and am I now deceived Brother reply'd Sr. Henry the matter is nothing so I am come hither to take Possession of this Town and Castle for my Lord the Earl of Montford who is now Duke of Bretagne and follows us just at our heels To him I have made fealty and Homage and the greater part of the Country obeys him as You also are like to do now But surely it were better for You to do it of choice than by compulsion and You will receive more thanks for your pains for the Duke is a Gracious Prince I 'll assure you Upon these and the like Words together with the Consideration of his present Condition Sr. Oliver presently consented and so the Earl without one stroke given or taken was admitted into Hennebond where he set a good Garrison Thence he marched with all his Army to Vannes another considerable City which after a small Treaty upon Fame of his Success open'd her Gates and received him for her Soveraign Lord. Here having in three days time Established all manner of Officers and given necessary Orders he went thence and laid Siege to a strong Castle called la Roche Bernard on the other side the Vilaine whereof Sr. Oliver Clisson Cosin German to the Lord Clisson was Captain The Siege here lasted ten days but the place was too strong to be won by force and neither threats nor promises could work upon the Governour Wherefore the Earl thought fit to rise thence for the present and go and attempt the Castle of Auray about 10 Leagues Westward from la Roche Bernard and very considerable for its strength and scituation it standing on an Arm of the Morbihan between Vannes and Blavet The Captain thereof at that time was the Lord Geoffry de Malestroit who had with him another Valiant Knight Named Sr. John de Triguier The Earl gave them two notable Attacks which they as worthily sustained so that when he saw he might lose more there than he could hope to win he thought to try them by fair means and so gave them a Truce for one Day at the Request and Advice of the Lord Henry du Leon who was always near him This short time Sr. Henry made so good use of that by his fair Words and Perswasions they were content to hold the Castle for the Earl John and to yield him their Homage as their True and Lawfull Lord. This done the Earl left them still Captains of the place and the Country about and then passed forth to another strong Castle called Gony en la Forest which they prepared to Assault The Captain thereof saw well what great forces the Earl had with him and how in a manner all the Country fainted before him so that by the perswasion of Sr. Henry du Leon with whom the Captain had kept good Company formerly in the Holy War in Prussia and Granada and other Foreign Parts he was at last contented to keep that place for the Earls behoof for the future to whom he then made his Homage After this the Earl went to Karhais whereof at that time a Bishop who was Uncle to Sr. Henry du Leon was Governour But he by means of his Nephew was brought off to own the Earl for his Lord till some other should come who could shew more Right to that Dutchy VI. Thus Earl m Frois c. 68. John conquer'd almost whereever he went and seriously took upon him the State and Title of Duke of Bretagne but by Advice of his Council he was perswaded to have recourse to some Powerfull Protector that upon occasion might uphold him against the French King who doubtless would take the Part of his Nephew Charles of Blois Having therefore bestow'd his Men about in Garrisons and provided sufficiently for the Defence of his Country he took shipping for England with some of his Chief Lords in his Company and arrived safe at a Port in Cornwall where upon Enquiry understanding that King Edward was at Windsor thither he went and was very welcome to the King Queen and Lords of England There he declared to the King and his Council How he had taken Possession of the Dutchy of Bretagne devolved unto him by Right of Succession upon the Death of his Elder Brother the late Duke But that he feared lest the Lord Charles of Blois by help of his Uncle the French King would at last force him from his Right Wherefore he said He was come thither to receive and to hold that Dukedom of the King of England as true King of France and his Soveraign Lord by Fealty and Homage for him and his Heirs for ever Desiring him to Defend him in his Quarrel against the French King or whosoever else should molest him about that Matter King Edward consider'd that his War with France should be much furthered by the Accession of so great a Prince and that there was no way more Commodious for him to pass into France than by Bretagne especially remembring that the Germans and Brabandens had done him small or no service but had made him spend much Money to little purpose and that now since the Emperour whose Letters he had just then received was also fallen off there would be little good done for him by any Lords of the Empire upon these Reasons He readily condescended to the Earl of Montford's Request and then and there received Homage of him as Duke of Bretagne Which done in Presence of all the Lords as well English as Bretons that were there he promised to Aid Defend and Sustain him as his Liegeman against either the French King or any other whatsoever This Homage and this Promise being interchangeably Sealed and deliver'd the King and Queen presented the Earl and his Company with such great Gifts and so Royally entertain'd them that they accounted King Edward to be a most Noble Prince and Worthy to Reign in much Prosperity After this the Earl took his leave of England and arrived in short space at an Haven in lower Bretagne whence he went to Nantes to his Lady who applauded his League with England as likely to be of most Advantage to his Affairs But
the Matter was kept very close and none but his Council knew certainly of it for he had not been above Eight or Ten Days abroad in all and the Nantois thought he had visited some other Parts of his Dominions that while VII When the Lord n Prois c. 69. Charles Castillion commonly called Sr. Charles of Blois who look'd upon himself as true Heir of Bretagne in Right of his Wife heard of all the Conquests that the Earl had made in that Country which he took for his own he addrest himself to his Uncle King Philip to complain of these Injuries The King deliberating what course to take in this Affair was in the end counselled to summon the Earl of Montford by sufficient Messengers to make his Personal Appearance at Paris by such a day there to answer to what should be objected against him in the Chamber of France Messengers were accordingly sent who found him at Nantes keeping of a Solemn Festival Here he treated them highly and then having well understood their Errand answer'd that he would punctually obey the Kings Commandment Soon after being prepared for his Journey he rode from Nantes toward Paris with a Princely Equipage of 400 Horse in his Company The next day after his Arrival he rode with this Great Attendance to the Palace Royal Where the King and the 12 Peers with other High Lords of France expected his coming with the Young Lord Charles of Blois in their Company The Earl was conducted to the Kings Chamber being highly regarded and civilly saluted in his Passage thither by all the Lords for the Fame of his great Exploits and the Grandeur of his Person When he 〈◊〉 before the King he enclin'd his Body something low and said Sir I am come hither in Obedience to your Command and Pleasure The King answer'd Earl Montford for that you have so done I give you thanks But I wonder how you durst take upon You the Dukedom of Bretagne whereunto you have no Right For there is another nearer than your Self whom you seek to disinherit And to maintain your unjust Quarrel by Violence you have been with mine Adversary the King of England to whom as I am enformed you have done Homage for the same The Duke who thought it impossible that the King should know this Conveyance of his reply'd not without some Confusion Sir I beseech your Majesty not to believe any such Matter for You are not rightly informed as to that Point But Sir as for the Right which You mention saving your Displeasure You do me wrong to question it For Sir I know of none living so near to my Brother deceased as my Self And if it can be made appear by Right Law and Judgment that there is any Person nearer than I am I am not He that should rebell against Reason or be asham'd to renounce what I had unjustly usurped Well Sir rejoyn'd the King you say well But I command you in whatever you hold of me not to stirr from this City of Paris these Fifteen days in which space the 12 Peers and Lords of my Realm shall consider impartially on the Matter And then you shall know where the Right lies And if you shall presume to do otherwise be assured we shall not be Friends The Earl having promis'd all should be at his Pleasure went from the Court home to his Lodgings to Dinner But having din'd he mus'd much with himself in his Chamber and thought he had done too rashly in coming thither where he should be oblig'd to stand to the Award of such as were byass'd another way At last being o Mezeray p. 18. disguised like a Merchant and only three in his Company he privately took horse in a clear Night and leaving the City got home into Bretagne before the King or any else knew what was become of him Being come to Nantes he shew'd unto his Countess what he had done and wherefore and then by her Advice he rode about to all the Towns and Fortresses which he had won and set over them Vallant and Loyal Captains with sufficient Numbers of Souldiers Horse and Foot and gave them large Wages before-hand VIII For some p Prois c. 70. time the Court of France thought he had been detain'd in his Lodgings by some Indisposition seeing his Servants constantly about the House and tending his Affairs as if present But they also getting off by degrees when his Departure was fully known it may be guessed how deeply King Philip resented this Affront But for all that he kept so much decorum as to tarry till the 15th Day came whereon the Peers were to give their final Judgment concerning the Dukedom of Bretagne At the time appointed the Case was adjudged clearly in behalf of Sr. Charles of Blois his Lady Jane who was Daughter and Heir to Guy Earl of Pentebria Brother German to the Duke last deceased and therefore was now declared to have more Right than John Earl of Monford q Catal. Honer p. 6â—4 who was Younger Brother to the said Ladies Father by a second Venter namely by Violanta sole Daughter and Heir of Almaric Earl of Narbon and Montford They alledged further that althô the Earl of Montford had had the Right yet now he had forfeited it on two Accounts First because he had received the Dutchy of another Lord than of the French King of whom only he ought to hold it and secondly because he had broken the Kings express Command and disobeyed his Arrest in going away Wherefore neither would they r Mezeray p. 18. admit of his Request which was to accept of his Procuration whereby he had left One as his Deputy to manage this Matter in his Behalf From which Judgment it being manifestly influenced by King Philips Authority that Prince was much Å¿ Giov. Villani l. 11. c. 142. censur'd of injustice by those who allow'd the Ancient Order and Custom of the Baronages of France and the Salique Law especially since it was contrary to that very Judgment by which He himself had been Declared and Crowned King of France Since if Charles of Blois had the Right to the Dukedom of Bretagne by his Wife Daughter to the last Dukes Brother German much more had King Edward of England the Right to the Crown of France by his Mother sole Daughter and Heiress after the Death of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair her Brethren of Philip the Fair King of France But Prejudice is so strange a thing that it byasses the Minds of the Great and the Wise Men of the World by representing Falshood and Injustice under the specious Titles of Fair and Equitable unless there be present an Awe of Religion and a Sense of Honour and Conscience to suppress those selfish Considerations IX However as soon as this Judgment was thus given King Philip called unto him the Young Lord Charles of Blois and said to him Fair Nephew you have a fair and large
were at the Mountain where contrary to their expectation they found no Body With that they sent certain Horsemen to go up to the top and look about and see if they could view any thing of them and after a while these Men came down and told them how they saw them marching towards Esgurande and Milvaches and believ'd they design'd for Limoges The French Lords at this News being out of hopes to overtake them brake up their Expedition for that time and disbanded their Men Soon after which there was a Match made up between the young Lord Beroald Dauphin of Avergne and the Earl of Forestes his Daughter which he had by the Duke of Bourbons Sister After this Expedition Sr. Robert Knolles who by these unlawfull Wars in time of Truce was g Walsingh hist p. 166. risen to the Wealth of an Earl began to reflect upon himself how heinously he had offended the King his Master and thereby was become outlaw'd and now that the Wars were open again between England and France being very desirous to recover his Royal Favour that so he might be admitted to bear Arms upon a more just Account he began to make Friends in the Court of England and sent great Presents to the Prince of Wales and other the Kings Sons earnestly entreating them to move the King in his Behalf and unto the King himself he h Knighton p. 2619. n. 65. c. absolutely offer'd whatsoever he had any way acquired in France whether Castles Towns Goods or Chattels or any other thing he willingly submitted them all to his Liege Lord to dispose of at his Pleasure only desiring his full and gracious Pardon and if it should please his Majesty to permit him to hold any of his Acquests as a Royal Demesne and only Durante Bene placito he should think himself happy in being thereby somewhat enabled to serve his Majesty according to his Hearts Desire This handsome and humble Submission extreamly pleased the King and his Sons and so he not only obtain'd a full Pardon but also a Grant of many Castles and Lordships in Consideration of his Abilities for the War and because he had so entirely put himself upon the Kings Goodness Yet that same Year he fell into the hands of his Enemies about Michaelmas but as they were leading him away he had the good Fortune to be rescued by his old Friend Hanekin Francois who by chance rode that way and not only saved his Friend so opportunely but overcame his Enemies of whom he took Fourty good Prisoners XI This mean i Knighton p. 2620. n. 56. while the Commons of Flanders being wrought upon by the French King and their own Earl Lewis rebelled against King Edward whom before they had acknowledged for their Supream Lord and drove away the Merchants of England into Brabant and refused to admit the Easterlings to traffick within their Precincts and all those Citizens of Bruges whom they found firm to the English they either banish'd or imprison'd not a few of them being beheaded at the Command of the Earl of Flanders Whereupon King Edward issued out his Royal Proclamation commanding that all Flemmings of what Condition soever except only the Kings Farmers should be ready to take the Sea so as to void the Realm by the Feast of k 20 July St. Margaret then next ensuing on pain of Death without any more Delay And because the War was now open between England and France the Frenchmen were also envolved in the same Penalty with the Flemmings at the same time XII Now was King Edward busie in providing for the War which he design'd in his own Person to carry beyond the Seas and had already sent his peremptory Command over all the Realm to his Commissioners of Array in all Counties toward the Equipping of a Royal Army worthy to attend him who resolved now wholly to reduce France to his Devotion or to die in the undertaking Nor yet was this Magnificent Prince so absolutely taken up with this grand Affair but that his Active Soul was as much at liberty as in the most Halcyon Days of Peace For in the l Pascha 21 April Lit. Dom. F. Rogation Week being the latter end of May a solemn Just was proclaimed to be held at London for m M. S vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p 963. Walsingh hist p. 165. c. The Names of the Mayor and Sheriffs vid. apud Fabian p. 236. Stows Survey of London p. 553. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 147. three Days together in which Proclamation John n Alâ—as Loufkin Luffin Mayor John Barnes and John o Al as Baris Bury the Sheriffs with their Brethren the other one and twenty Aldermen as Challengers undertook to hold the Field against all Comets But at the time appointed in their Name and in their Stead came the King privily with his four Sons Edward the Black-Prince Lionel John and Edmund which latter was then in the 18 Year of his Age together with 19 other Great Barons of England The King represented the Mayor the Black-Prince bore the Person of the Senior Sheriff John Barnes Prince Lionel acted the Part of John Bury the other Sheriff and so the whole Corporation of London was personated by the Royal Family and Nobility of England in Presence of the Kings of France and of Scotland and an infinite number of Spectators They were not now armed as Princes or Barons but the King and his Sons and the rest of the Challengers bare the City Arms both on their Shields and Surcoats and held the Field the whole three Days with great Honour especially to the satisfaction of the Citizens while they took them really for what they seem'd but they were extreamly ravish'd with joy when they understood that the King himself and his Children had done them the Honour to fight so gallantly under their Cognisance XIII The Sunday before Rogation-Sunday being the p Walsing hist p. 166. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. c. 14 of the Kalends of June that is after our Account the 19 of May the Lord John Plantagenet from the Place of his Birth sirnamed also of Gaunt who was the Kings Third Son and Earl of Richmond being now in the 19 Year of his Age took to Wife by Vertue of a special Dispensation from the Court of Rome the Lady Blanch his Cousin Second Daughter to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster The Solemnity of the Marriage being kept at Reading in Barkshire about 16 Miles from Windsor a Week before the Tourneament which we have just now mentioned XIV About this time King Edward and the Prince his Son in great Devotion visited most of the Shrines and other Holy Places in England offering up their Prayers every where for a Blessing upon their Arms or for an happy lasting and honourable Peace And one day among the rest while the King was in the famous Abbey
of Westminster visiting the Ancient Monuments of his Predecessors he q M. S. Vet. Angl. â—n Bill C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. chose a Place for his own Sepulture and Burial in the Chappel of St. Edward hard by the Shrine of that Royal Saint and Confessor Commanding his Son the Prince and his other Children upon his Blessing when it should please God to call him out of this transitory Life to a better to lay his Body there and no where else And thô the Prince his Son died before him yet we find the rest of his Sons were not forgetfull of this his Fatherly Injunction for there he lies buried to this Day as we shall shew more particularly when we come to treat of his Death which happen'd 18 Years after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Foreign Succours being come to Calais King Edward sends thither the Duke of Lancaster who leads them forth thereby to ease the Town II. King Edward follows the Duke with an Army of an 100000 Men. III. The Names of his Chief Leaders with the Numbers and Order of the Army the King marches from Calais toward Rheims in Champaigne IV. An Adventure between the Lord Galahaut de Ribemont French and the Lord Reginald van Boulant English V. The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes the French Master of the Crossbows King Edward lays Siege to Rheims VI. The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt sends Relief to the English Army Cernoy en Dormois and other Places taken by Detachments from the Camp before Rheims VII The King of Navarre breaks with the Dauphin again The Lord of Gomegines taken Prisoner by the French. VIII The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes Cormicy and rases it I. ALL this while the whole Realm of England and the Dominion of Ireland were hot in Preparations for War and King Edwards Friends wherever they were resolved at this time to embark with him in this bold Enterprise especially such Lords and Knights of the Empire as had served him before These Men a Frois c. 205. fol. 99. made great Provision of Horse and Arms and other Necessaries according to their Degrees and Qualities and when they were ready they all came together by the way of Flanders to Calais and there waited till the King should come from England But he did not come thither so soon as was expected because he had so many weighty Matters to settle before he could leave his Kingdom During therefore this time of their Stay many more Strangers flocking thither there was hardly room in Calais for Lodging or Stabling for the Horses and besides Bread and Wine Hay Oats and other Provision was very scarce so that they could hardly be got for Gold or Silver wherefore there b Knighton p. 2621. n. 10. were some insolencies committed by the Strangers as is usual in such cases But still the general Comfort was King Edward would presently come thither and the News ran always that he would be there the next Week And yet if he had been there all things would have been much dearer and Lodgings harder to be got onely indeed then 't was expected that the King would draw off presently into the Field Thus the Lords of Almain Bohemia Brabant Flanders and Hainalt tarried there at their great Charges from the beginning of August till October so that many of them were fain to sell the best part of their Jewels and some had spent almost all they had Whereupon some Quarrels arose between them and their Hosts and some Mischief was done and more had been if the King finding now that his Affairs would not be ripe till after the time he had appointed which was the 8 of September had not sent over the Great Henry Duke of Lancaster with 400 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers to lead these Strangers forth lest they should eat up the Town of Calais For he had heard c Frois ibid. that many more were come than either he expected or desired hoping belike to enrich themselves by the Spoils of France The Strangers received the Duke upon his Arrival with great Joy and asked him News about the King and when he would follow and complain'd a little how they had been disappointed The Duke excused unto them the Kings Delay by telling them that it was not possible so soon to furnish so great an Army as the King design'd to bring over with all manner of Necessaries for so long a time as he intended to stay in those Parts And says he surely Gentlemen to lie here idly till then is neither honourable nor profitable I am therefore resolved to ride forth into France and do something the mean while Only I desire of you so much Money as will pay off your several reckonings here at your Quarters and I 'll furnish you with Provision of Victuals to carry on your Sumpters These Gentlemen were asham'd to deny the Duke what it seems they had deny'd their Landlords and so they all satisfied their Hosts punctually and new shod their Horses and trussed up their Baggage and rode forth with the Duke and went to St. Omers being in all 2000 Men of Arms besides Archers and other Footmen St. Omers they passed by without Medling and so they went to Bethune which they left likewise and rode forward about 6 French Leagues further till they came to Mount St. Eloy a large and rich Abbey within two Leagues of Arras Here they tarried four Days to refresh themselves and their horses for they found Provision enough in the Abby and then they marched about ten Leagues further and passed the River d Leland Collect. Vol. 1. p. 824. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 788. Frois ibid. Knighton p. 2621. n. 40. c. Somme and began to assault Bray sur Somme a considerable Town in Picardy where the Duke caused his Men to wade up to the shoulders that they might get to the Walls and so a fierce Attack was made in which Sr. Thomas Murrers an English Banneret was unfortunately slain with a shot from the Walls and several others wounded For the Inhabitants made a good Defence by the Assistance of the Earl of St. Paul and the Lord of Rayneval and other Gentlemen who a little before came into the Town at a back-Gate with 200 Spears The Duke of Lancaster therefore failing here went along by the River Somme in great want both of Bread and Wine till he came to Ceresy a Town on the same River between Bray and Corbie where he found good Plenty of both and having supplied himself therewith he repassed the River in the same place for the Bridge was not broken and went to Chipilly where he tarried to refresh his Men the remainder of that Day and all Night it being then the Feast of All-Saints On that very Day he had notice that King Edward was arrived with all his Forces at Calais and commanded him on sight of his Letters to draw thitherward to meet him II. Now e Frois c. 206.
he would have them order their Men. All the Carriages and Pages he sent into the Wood for their Security and so ranged his Troops into three Battalions all on Foot in most decent Order In the Front stood Sr. John Jones with his 300 Men of Arms and Archers of England and his Friend d Trâ—â— Use of Armory p. 120 Sr. James Planchine with 200 more both Archers and Men of Arms and these were all Chosen and Resolute Men. The Second Battail he led himself with 600 Fighting Men and with him was the Lord of Salses a lusty young Knight of Navarre the Lord William of Granville and the Lord Peter of Samville The Third he committed to the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon the Lord Bertram de la Franque and Sr. Bascels of Mareville and that Battail also consisted of 600 Men. Being thus order'd he took the Advantage of a little Hill hard by on the Right hand between the place where he order'd his Men and the Wood. And on the Brow of the Hill he stood in Battle Array directly before his Enemies with his Banner raised high on a Bush of Thorn about which stood sixty Chosen Men of Arms for its safeguard To the intent that if his Men should be scatter'd they might repair thither and rally again and so he determin'd not to descend from the Mountain for any Cause whatsoever but to let his Enemies come to him if they intended to fight him The Captals Banner war Or Five Escalopes Argent on a Cross Sable which Arms were richly depicted on his Shield and on the Crest of his Helmet was a dreadfull e True Use of Armory p. 110 p. 147. uâ—â— tamen maâ—â— legitur Midas Head Vid. Ashmoles Garter Plate 5. Medusa's Head Sable the Snakes Argent By this time were the Frenchmen also orderly ranged in three Battalia's besides a Rereguard or strong Body for a Reserve The f Frois c. 221. f. 117. First was lead by Sr. Bertram of Clequin and all his Bretons and he was design'd to oppose the Captal The Second was govern'd by the Earl of Auxerre with whom were the Vicount Beaumont and the Lord Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows and several other Knights of France Picardy and Normandy as Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and Others The Third was commanded by the Lord Arnold of Cervoles commonly called the Archpriest with whom were the Lord of Châlons the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord John de Vienne and Others and in the Rereward were all the other Gascogners as the Lord of Pamiers the Lord Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Perdiccas of Albret with the Lord of Albrets Troops but he himself was not there together with the Lord Petition of Courton and several Others These Gascogners observed particularly the Behaviour of the Captal and how his Standard was raised high on a Bush and the Guard that was set to defend it Whereupon they agreed that when the Armies were hotly joyn'd in Battle they should themselves endeavour to conquer the Captals Banner believing if they might gain that Point to be soon Masters of the Field And besides they had another Device which proved that Day very serviceable to the Lords of France For while in a Council of War they held a long Debate how to behave themselves so as morally to secure the Victory a certain Gascogner Lord let fall a Word which was very seasonable and well accepted Gentlemen says he We all know well that the Captal is as Worthy a Knight as can be found in any Land and that as long as he is able to endure he will be very terrible to Us both by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Conduct Let us therefore set apart Thirty Chosen Men of Arms on Horseback and let these Thirty mind nothing else this Day but to set upon the Captal at the same time that our Rereguard attempts to win his Standard and so by the strength of their Horses to break the stress till they can get to him to take him immediately upon which to bear him out of the Field For otherwise I cannot bode any good end of this Battle the Person of the Captal is that whereon all his Men do wholly depend If he is safe they win all if we win him the Victory comes to us of Course The Knights of France and Bretagne approved hugely of this Project and resolved to put it in Execution so they selected accordingly Thirty of the most Valiant Men of Arms and mounted them on Thirty of the best Horses in all the Company and drew them out on one side of the Field well informed before-hand what to do and all the rest of the Army remained on Foot in Battle Array as they had been ranged Now as yet there was no one that pretended to have the Chief Command over all in the French Army because there were several Persons of far higher Quality than Sr. Bertram of Clequin Wherefore in this Council of War they consulted what should be their Word that Day and to whose Banner they should all repair At last they all agreed to cry our Lady of Auxerre and to make the noble young Earl of Auxerre their Captain But he began with great Modesty to excuse himself saying Gentlemen I most heartily thank you all for the great Honour you are pleased to confer upon me but certainly as for my Part I shall by no means at this time accept thereof No I am too Young and Unexpert to sustain so great a Charge for this is the First Expedition that ever I was concern'd in Here are many good Captains as Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of Gervoles the Master of the Crossbows the Lord Lewis of Chalons the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Edward of Renty and the like These have all been in many great Hazards and also have held considerable Employs in the Wars and I am sure understand Military Conduct far better than as yet I do Wherefore Lords I desire your Pardon at this time Then the Lords and Captains began to look on one another and at last said O Noble Earl of Auxerre you are the most Eminent among us all and therefore it is all the Reason in the World You should now be our Head For Nobility reconciles Authority to a Captain Certainly Gentlemen replied the Earl You say after your Pleasure But this Day I am resolved to be but as one of your Companions and till I shall be able to rule will learn to obey Come Life come Death I promise to share with you in this Adventure but as to the Chief Rule You shall never perswade me to that Then again the Captains beheld each other and at last unanimously agreed that since Sr. Bertram of Clequin was the most practised in War among them all they would for that Day obey him and the Word should be our Lady of Clequin And thus the Tuesday was spent and both Armies prepared to fight
the next Morning Early the next Day the Frenchmen being drawn out in Battle-array into the former Field came and presented themselves before their Enemies and stood a long while without receiving any offer of Battle They beheld the Navarrois on the heighth of the Hill who seemed resolved not to stirr thence but rather to expect them to attack them there in their Strength which was very displeasing to the Frenchmen because it was apparently disadvantageous to mount the Hill and the Sun was also very hot and the best of them began to grow faint and weary For they were in a manner Fasting having neither taken Wine nor other Victuals that Morning because they imagin'd to have Battle presently but they mistook their Aim and so the Day was nigh half gone before things were brought to a Resolution For when the French Lords perceived the Captals humour they went to Counsel again to learn what was best to be done and whether they should go and fight with their Enemies or no. Some were directly for it and said it would be a great dishonour to do otherwise But the more sober and best advised maintained the Contrary saying If we go and fight them in that advantageous Post which now they hold it will certainly redound to our great Dammage if not utter Loss for upon our Ascent of every Fifteen of us Three are sure to fall if not more And when once Men drop fast in an Army the Terror and Ruine spreads far over all that Side Thrô such hazardous Representations given forth by the most experienced Officers they were withheld back and the Captal in all Probability had succeeded if not for one small Matter which however seem'd well done by him but contributed not a little to his Overthrow The Captal had with him certain Knights and Esquires Normans his Prisoners whom when he saw the French ready to come upon him lest in Battle they might turn against him he let go now upon Parole These Men stole privily into the French Host where being brought before the Lords then in Council they said Gentlemen consider what you do For if you let this Day pass without Fighting your Enemies will be much stronger by to Morrow it being confidently discoursed among them that Prince Lewis of Navarre will joyn them by that time with 400 Men of Armes These Words greatly animated them to set upon the Navarrois forthwith but still the Discreeter sort held them back saying Gentlemen let us but wait a little longer and see what they 'll do first For their Hearts are so bold and presumptuous that they would as gladly fight with us as we with them and since we are so weary and fasting and many of our Men chafed by standing thus long in our Armour surely if after all we attempt the difficult Ascent of that Hill we are no better than lost You see it is now Noon therefore let us withdraw for the present to our Lodgings and there having refreshed our selves we may take other Counsel against to Morrow These Considerations much shook the Resolution of the stoutest Men there for they were loth to defer Fighting till the Enemy might be rendred more strong and yet they durst not attack him in that Place because many of their side were faint and weak and to go up-Hill against an Enemy requires the greatest Vigour that may be At last Sr. Bertram of Clequin their General pitch'd upon the Right Counsel for he said Gentlemen we know well our Enemies are desirous enough to fight with us and yet we see that they intend not to leave their Post unless we draw them thence by the means that I shall shew you Let us make an Offer as if we design'd to retreat and not to give them Battle this Day and to that end we will send our Valets with our few Carriages and Horses over the Bridge and pretend all to march back to our Quarters But still as we go we must all be ready to return upon Occasion And so we shall try what they will do If they are willing to fight us they 'll come down the Hill in pursuit of us And if once we gain that Point we shall readily Face about upon them and deal with them more easily But if they come not our own Men will be more encouraged to see them stand in fear of us and however we shall be the Fresher for to Morrows Service This Counsel being approved by all the Chief Captains they went to their several Ensigns and caused a Retreat to be sounded and commanded all their Valets to repass the River before them and take over their Carriages and these were followed by some Troops of Men of Arms who for the greater blind went over in a careless Manner faintly When Sr. John Jones who was an Experienced Knight thô now he committed a fatal Errour and had always a huge desire to give the Frenchmen Battle saw the manner of their Retreat he said to the Captal Sir let us immediately pursue them Don't you see how they fly they fly by St. George Ah! said the Captal Sr. John Sr. John never believe that For what they now do is by Stratagem only to deceive us to our Ruine Sr. John seem'd content with the Captals Opinion but being come among his Men in the first Battalion he said aloud St. George they that love me let them now follow for I am resolved to go and fight these Frenchmen that are stealing away from us And with that he grasped his Spear in his hand and went forth in the Head of his Men before all the Battails and made such haste that he had got down the Hill with most of his own Troops before the Captal knew any thing of the Matter But when now he understood and saw that Sr. John Jones was gone down the Hill against the Enemy without the Consent of his Chief Captain he thought it proceeded of Presumption and Contempt of Martial Discipline However knowing it not a time to chide as then nor to dishearten his Men by vainly complaining of the Rashness of the Action he said aloud to those that were about him Sr. John Jones shall not fight without me this Day Courage my Friends and Banner advance in the Name of God and St. George And therewithall the other two Battails began to march in good Array down the Hill into the open Field When the Frenchmen saw all their Demeanor and how the Enemy voluntarily quitted their Place of Advantage they were very glad and said one to another Lo now we may see what we have so much desired all this day And with that they all faced about in their appointed Order and returned to meet their Enemies being ranged on Foot except those Thirty Horsemen who had Orders to seise the Captal But as soon as Sr. Arnold of Cervoles the Archpriest saw that a Battle must needs ensue he said to his Standard-Bearer and to all his Officers I charge you all as you