Castle but rather offend them to the best of their Power till they were reduced After this the Earl having proclaim'd that none should presume to do any the least harm to the Town or Inhabitants of Reole made his entry into the Place and immediately began to invest the Castle round about as much as he might and then raised his Engines which cast against the Walls Day and Night but to little purpose they were so thick and strongly cemented of most hard stone molten-lead and morter It is thought that this Castle of old time had been wrought by the hands of the Saracens who made their Works so strong that the later Buildings were no way comparable to them Wherefore the Earl seeing that with his Engines he could do no good called unto him the Captains of his Pioneers and gave them Command to make a great Mine under the Walls which yet was not expected to be done under many Days VI. Now q Frois c. 110. fol. 54. during this Siege and while the Mine was carrying on the Lord Walter Manny remembred that his Father who had been heretofore Assassined in his Return from a Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella was buried as he had heard in his Youth in Reole or thereabout Wherefore now being desirous to find where his Bones lay he enquired about the Town offering an 100 Crowns to any Man that could shew him his Tomb. Within a while there came an old Man of the Town to Sr. Walter who said Sir I believe I can bring You to the very Place where my Lord your Father was buried Sr. Walter told him if his Words proved true he would keep his Promise with him and something more The Lord Manny's Father is reported to have been slain upon this Occasion Almost 24 Years before this there was a Gascogner of the House of Mirepoix Bishop of Cambray in whose Days happen'd a Solemn Tournament before the City of Gambray in which on both Sides there were no less than 500 Knights It was the Fortune of the Lord of Manny an Hainalder Sr. Walter 's Father to just with a certain Knight of Gascogne who was near of Kin to the said Bishop But the young Gascogner was so roughly handled by him that he lived but a few Days after Wherefore the Lord Manny incurr'd the heavy Indignation of the Bishop and all his Kindred But two or three Years after some Pious Men by their great Diligence labour'd to compose Matters and to make a Reconciliation between the Lord Manny and his Enemies So that the Bishop and his Relations either did or at least pretended to pardon all and a Friendship was made only the Lord of Manny was enjoyned by way of Penance to go on Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella In his going thither he passed by Reole where he then found Charles of Valois Father to King Philip that now reigned laying his Siege to that Town which then together with all Guien and Gascogne belonged to King Edward II of England Having ended his Pilgrimage and returning the same way he gave a Visit to the said Earl Charles in the Town of Reole which by that time r Giovan. Villan l. 9. c. 169. was upon Composition yielded up to him by Edmund Earl of Kent He was entertain'd at Supper that Night by the said Charles Earl of Valois but going home late to his Lodgings he was set upon as was thought by some of the Kindred of that Gascogner whose Death he had occasion'd and there barbarously murder'd The Authors of the Murther could no ways be clearly proved thô the said Bishops Kindred were generally suspected But they were as then so high and the Truth was so dark especially the Lord of Manny having no Friend there to pursue his Quarrel that the matter was hush'd and by degrees quite put up However the Earl of Valois caused him to be decently interred within a little Chappel in the Field then without the Town but afterwards the Lord Charles having won the Place enlarged the Walls and so took in that Chappel also into its Compass Thus was Sr. Walter 's Father slain and the Old Man remembred all very well as one who then belonged to Charles of Valois and was at his Burial Sr. Walter therefore followed this old Man and went with him into the Chappel aforesaid where he shew'd him a little plain Stone of Marble which his Servants had laid over him and said Sir most certainly my Lord your Father lies buried under this Stone Then the Lord Manny drew near to view the Tomb and there he found a Latin Inscription which imported that the Lord of Manny's Body lay there He could not forbear Weeping to find this poor Remembrance of his Dear Father whom he could scarce remember to have seen alive for he was but young at his Death The old Man he rewarded as he had promised and two Days after took up his Fathers Bones and putting them in a rich Coffer sent them to Valenciennes in his native Country of Harnalt and there caused them to be deposited in the Church of the Fryars and his Obsequies to be kept Annually with great Solemnity which for many Years after were commemorated VII All this ſ Frois c. 111. while the Earl of Darby held his Siege before the strong Castle of Reole and now when it had held out near 11 Weeks the Miners were at last come under the Base Court but under the Dungeon they could not get by any means for it stood on an hard Rock Sr. Agoust de les Baux the Captain of the Castle perceived how he was undermined and told his Officers their Danger Then they said Sir the Peril is common to us all and we fear now inevitable unless you in your great Wisdom contrive a Remedy You are our Chief whom as hitherto we have obey'd so now will we follow your Determination But surely we have so long and so worthily held out already that if we could now come to any good Composition no man could blame us for Yielding at last Try if you can get the Earl of Darby to grant us our Lives and Goods and so to accept the Castle Upon this the Captain went down from the High Tower and looking out at a little Window made a sign that he desired to speak with some Body Being demanded what he would have he answer'd how he would gladly speak with the Earl of Darby or the Lord Walter Manny The Earl hearing hereof took along with him the Lord Manny and the Lord Stafford saying Come let us go to the Fortress and know what the Captain has to say now So they all rode to the Castle and when Sr. Agoust de les Baux saw them he took off his Cap and saluting them all three in their Order said My Lord of Darby I must confess the French King sent me hither to defend and keep this Town and Castle to my Power And you know very well how I have
as to recover those Places again with interest It is said how the Duke of Normandy is going to Rheims to be Crowned but perhaps we shall a little disturb the Solemnity The King of Navarre for his part was so glad that he had the Captal with him who was one of the most Renowned and Hardy Captains in the World and as we have shewn before one of the Knights Founders of the most Honourable Order of the Garter that he declared how he would forthwith make an Inroad into the French Pale and thereupon he sent forth his Summons and sent for Souldiers into all Parts where he thought to get any for Love or Money Among others there was at that time an English Knight in Normandy named Sr. John Jones a right Valiant and Expert Man of War who was Captain of three hundred Chosen Men and had before that drawn his Sword in the King of Navarre's Quarrel Noâ— again therefore he is invited to the same Service which be readily embraces and comes accordingly IX When the Duke of Normandy for so we beg leave to call him for distinction sake till we shall see him Crown'd understood of these hot Preparations of the King of Navarre and that the Captal of Busche was to be his General he wrote to Sr. Bertram Clequin desiring him and his Bretons to keep Frontier War upon the King of Navarre on which account he engaged to supply him with sufficient Forces to dispute with his whole Power and he commanded the Lord Bouciquault at the same time to stay with his Troops and keep Mante and Meulan According to these Orders Sr. Bertram went with his Troops of Bretons to Vernon whither shortly after the Duke of Normandy sent unto him the Earl of Auxerre the Vicount Beaumont the Lord of Beaujeu and divers other Knights and Esquires with a competent Number of choice Souldiers Besides at that time several Lords and Knights of Gascogne Subjects to the Prince of Wales and Aquitain went into France to offer their Service to the Duke of Normandy as the Lord of Albret the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Arnold of Cervoles the Arch Priest Sr. Petition Courton or Coutras the Soldiche of Estarrac and others to whom the Duke gave many thanks and order'd them to go into Normandy and joyn Sr. Bertram but the Lord of Albret only sent his Men himself tarrying behind with the Duke At the same time there lay on the Frontiers of Bretagne towards Normandy a Breton Knight of the French Interest named Sr. Beaumont de la Val who was Captain of fourty Spears besides Others all of his own Country This Knight rode one day and came before Eureux where he did much harm to the Out-houses and alarum'd the whole City and Castle also the Captain of which latter was Sr. Guy of Granville Son to the Lord William Granville who had so subtilly taken the Castle of Eureux by stratagem some Years before as we have related When he heard the first Noise of the Fray he presently armed himself and commanded certain of his Men to do the like and so mounted his Horse and took the Field by which time Sr. Beaumont de la Val having accomplished what he had designed was now marching off again But Sr. Guy rode after him in the Head of his Men crying aloud Beaumont you shall not go off thus you must first speak with them of Eureux that they may know you better against another thime Sr. Beaumont hearing this faced about like a Couragious Gentleman and setting his Spear in his Rest came roughly against Sr. Guy who sat ready to receive him on the Point of his Spear The two Knights met fully and performed their Course so gallantly that both their Spears shiver'd to pieces yet neither of them fell or was so much as moved Now as they had passed this first Course and were returning again with their Swords drawn both their Companies joyn'd in Fight at which Meeting many on both sides were overthrown The Bretons fought as well as was possible but Sr. Guy's Men fought so too and besides he was back'd with continual Assistance from the Town so that they were every Man either slain or taken Sr. Beaumont de la Val was taken by the hands of Sr. Guy himself who led him as his Prisoner into the Castle of Eureux together with the rest who remained alive For this Adventure Sr. Guy was greatly commended and grew much in Favour with the King of Navarre and the Men of Eureux whom he had so notably revenged X. We shewed before how King Peter of Cyprus after his Departure from the Black-Prince returned to Paris to the Duke of Normandy whom he found there with his Brethren the Duke of Anjou and the Lord Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundy all in Mourning and expecting the Body of the King their Father out of England Now King Edward having a pious Regard to the late Love and Good-will between King John of France and Himself attended his Death with due Sorrow and having y John Harding c. 184. caused his Bowels to be buried in the Cathedral of St Pauls and z Ex vet Cod. de Epis Pricrib Dunelm Eccles Walsing hist p. 173. Ashmole p. 665. Speed. c. appointed for him solemn Obsequies in divers Places of the Land he conducted his Body to the Sea-side with a Royal Magnificence and at his own Charges sent it over the Seas into France to be by his Sons deliver'd to the Sepulchre of his Ancestors The mean while the King of Cyprus was extreamly cast down at the News of King Johns Death especially because thereby his intended Expedition against the Infidels was in a manner wholly quash'd and so he put himself into Mourning also But a Frois c. 220. fol. 116. when he heard of the Herse's Arrival he went from Paris with most Part of the Clergy of that City on Foot and a little beyond St. Dennis met with the Royal Body which was attended thither out of England by the Earl of Artois the Earl of Dampmartin the Grand Prior of France and Others all who had been lately joyn'd with the Duke of Normandy and his Brethren And so in the Church of St. Dennis he was interred with great Solemnity on the Seventh of May being a Tuesday the Archbishop of Sens saying the Mass 〈◊〉 his Funeral after which succeeded a Magnificent Supper and the next Day all the Princes Lords and Prelates return'd to Paris where a Parliament was held by the Duke of Normandy to advise about Settling the Kingdom Here it was concluded that on Trinity-Sunday following b Pascha 24 Maâ—â—â— â—â—t Dâ—â— GF being the 19 of May the Duke of Normandy who hitherto had used no greater Title should be solemnly Crowned in the Cathedral of Rheims to which Coronation the Duke invited his Uncle Wenceslaus Duke of Brabant and of Luxemburgh and Son to Charles the Emperour together with Lewis Earl of Flanders and other
Natural Repose either make him fast or give him meats not such as he desired but quite Contrary often unsavoury always unwholesome and sometimes temper'd with loathsome Sauces and even Poison it self But the strength of his Excellent Constitution preserv'd him vigorous healthy and entire among all these Attempts and Difficulties For it is the Opinion of Galen that some strong Bodies may by the course of Nature evacuate such poisons as usually destroy those of a less firm and solid Vigour and contexture Howbeit we had rather attribute this to the Goodness of God lest had he died thrô excess of Grief and Melancholy or by these secret and lingring Poisons their Cruel Treason had not been so apparent to humane Notice Besides all this that they might the sooner provoke him to despair or impatience for these Devils incarnate not content to put him to a simple Death delighted also to torment his Soul whatever he said they would contradict or deride and scoff at telling him that he was a doting Fool and f Sr Tho. de la More distracted which might well have been true in these his Vexatious Sufferings but that the Divine Grace gave him Strengeth and Patience proportionable to his Miseries When therefore 't was understood at Court that his Health was not impair'd by all these hard Usages and that what was already done secluded the Authors from Mercy if by any means he should ever recover Liberty they send very smart Letters to his Keepers blaming them for giving him too much freedom and for allowing him too costly and delicate Fare adding some slight intimations that however he should be taken off it would not be unacceptable to those whose Lives were not safe till his Death was certain But who were of Power sufficient to requite any considerable Service And here that subtle Bishop of Hereford the ungracious Adam Orleton made use of that Famous Sophistical Sentence g Sr Tho. de la More Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Quā tamen eandem sententiam contra Johannam Philippi Pulchri uxorem ante haec tempora usurpatam memorat Gaguin l. 7 p. 125. Reginam occidere nolite timere bonam est Kill Edward never fear 't is Good. Which being pointed thus Kill Edward never fear 't is Good. Commands his Death But if thus Kill Edward never fear 't is Good. It Deterrs them from it For by this ambiguous while unpointed Phrase he hop'd as indeed he did to give sufficient Confidence to these Impolitick Villains to work his Death but yet to leave Room for his own Defence if ever he should be call'd in question Without this Sentence to intimate what they were to do and an Epistle from h M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 215. Mortimer himself who directed them how and in what manner they should dispatch him together with broad Intimations from the Queen Hereford and other Grandees whose concern it was to hasten the imprison'd King's Death with all their Seals annexed thereto they durst never have undertaken violently to have rid him of his Life since it was his Son that now Reign'd and that very Parliament that depos'd him had Enacted that no Violence should be offer'd to his Person But when his Keepers had these Authentick Abettors on their side they imagin'd all was safe and are presently possess'd with Diabolical Resolutions First they command the Lord Barkley to withdraw from his own Castle with all his Servants and whomsoever they were not well assured of Then they remove the poor Prince who was now well aware of his End and 't is reasonably presum'd by his Patience and Christianlike Deportment as well prepared for it into an high Turret of the said Castle This i Sr Tho. de la More p. ult l. 22. Room they surrounded with all sorts of Carrion and stinking Carcases piled upon the Leads and round about his Windows and on the Battlements either so by corrupting the Air he drew in to dispatch him or at least to keep their hands in by these Devilish Exercitations till they had pitch'd on some more exquisite way to destroy him Nor was this a poor Invention neither but argues the wicked Ingenuity of his Murderers who saw that nothing could be more loathsome to one of so refined and delicate a sense and Education And accordingly several Workmen who were labouring about the Castle heard him often with most passionate bewailings complain of this as the most insupportable affliction he ever yet had met with in all his Life But when the Tormentors saw that none of these Methods had any power to impair his Health or break his Patience much less to take him off they now set about the work in good Earnest On the 11 Calends of October that is after our Account the 21 of September and St. Matthews day when they had the most barbarous Design in the World against his Life they put on the best Countenance that ever they had yet shew'd him before They not only as on a Festival treated him well at Dinner but also k Graston p. 218 M.S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. in Cantab. c. 215 made very good cheer with him at Supper to make him less apprehensive of their intended Treason But at midnight they came softly into his Chamber where they found the Innocent Prince lying half asleep in his Bed. Here no less than fifteen sturdy fellows suddenly clap an huge Table upon his upper parts at the first apprehension whereof the affrighted King awaking turned his body so that then he lay groveling being in this manner held forcibly down by these wretches The mean while others raised the Bedcloaths from the Feetward up to his Body when they go about such an Execrable Fact that I am both sorry and asham'd to declare that ever this Nation could produce such Monsters For l M.S. ibid. c. 215. John Harding c. 177. Sr Tho. de la More emnes first they force a certain smooth hollow Pipe or Horn into his Secret Parts thrô which they immediately thrust a long red-hot Instrument of Iron which they turned and rowled about to his most inexpressible torment as his loud and bitter groanings which were heard by many did testifie till they had in this manner forced his Royal Soul to seek for quiet in another World. This they did to the intent that no wound should appear outwardly in the Princely Body whereby they or those who set them on might be lyable to any question And indeed none as yet appeared thô they had the Impudence to expose the Royal Corps to publique View many n Speed p. 566. b Abbots Priors Knights and Burgesses of Bristow and Glocester being sent for to see the same Such confidence had they in this their new-contrived Art of Murder But thô the Ordinary sort who saw the skin all over whole and unbroke concluded his Death to be no other than Natural yet Wise men could not
to undertake the Combat This granted he Arms himself and with his naked Sword walks forth fair and softly to meet the Enemy Before they joyn'd it is reported that a Monstrous Fierce black-Mastiff an t De Canibus belli societatem gerentibus vid. R. Sheringham de Anglorum Origine c. 1. p. 6. attendant of Turnbulls flew out against the English Knight who nothing daunted at the unexpected meeting of so uncouth an Enemy raising his Right Arm on High with a quick and sprightly pace advanced up directly before him till just upon the Shock he nimbly skips on the right side of the Mastiff and at the same instant let fall his Right Arm so strongly that he cut him in sunder at the Loins and as fully secure of his own unerring hand on he proceeds leisurely without once looking back to see what he had done This Resolution of Mind and this Activity of Body as it greatly comforted all his Party so it much disturbed the Bulky Challenger who could not but look on this as an unlucky Omen to himself But Honour and indeed Necessity oblig'd him now to Muster up all his Courage for by this Sr. Robert Benhale was at him wisely observing what part of his Body was most assaultable The Giant laid most Manfully about him and it seem'd that a few of his strokes might suffice to decide the Controversie But the Defendant was Young Vigorous and Nimble ever at him and yet ever at a distance from him still offering and never resolving to strike till he might once do it to purpose When Turnbull thought himself sure of his Head his Adversary was three paces out of his reach and yet it behov'd him to make use of all his skill to defend himself for immediately he was in upon him again Thus for a while it was a delightfull sight for the Spectators to behold how the Unwieldy Turnbull behav'd himself with as much Skill and Courage as was possible but the Active English Knight traversing his ground with no less skill and renewing his approaches with no less Courage breath'd his Bulk pretty handsomely All that beheld the Combat were full of Concern according to their several Interests but the English had the greater share of Hope when they saw what Methods their Champion us'd to tire his Antagonist and how neat a Master he was of his Weapon Turnbull well knew this Dilatory way was not for his Advantage and therefore resolv'd to take the first opportunity to strike home with a vengeance Sr. Robert who well observ'd his Eye and Hand together and easily apprehended his Design came one time briskly so near that the Scot was now sure to himself of good Fortune He strake at him with all his Might Sr. Robert suddenly eludes the Blow and while the Adversary bending down his Right side and Rearing at the same time his left Arm was recovering his overpois'd Body in that very instant Benhale steps boldly in and with one home blow divides his left Arm from his Body and just then to the Admiration of all while the Scot was lending a full stroke he avoided out of his reach And now had he so pleas'd he might have danc'd him to Death the Blood gush'd out so mainly But he had Courage as well as Activity and immediately counterfeits a Design at his right Leg many Falsifies he made toward his Head but seem'd chiefly to aim lower When the Giant considering his Condition requir'd dispatch and hoping to requite the Loss of his Arm with his Enemies Death Levels a deadly Vengeance at Sr. Robert's Head. This was also fully avoided because craftily invited when quick as Imagination he throws himself in upon him and with one full Blow to which he lent both his Hands cuts off Turnbulls Head. 'T was so suddenly done that it could not easily be judg'd whether the Giant rais'd his Arm before or after the stroke was given The Trunk stood some moments but presently yielded to Death falling forward to the Ground at which Instant the Heavens Rang with the Shouts of the English The Knight address'd himself forthwith to spoil the Body or at least to gather up the Head and sword of Turnbull When of a sudden a Troop of Horse from the Scots came forward upon the Spur to destroy him basely who had defended his Life with so much Honour King Edward was not aware of any such unworthy Action so that the Knight was well near surrounded by that time the King had commanded a Troop out to his Assistance However Fortune so well seconded his Valour that he escap'd alive from this Field for in the u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Tenth of this Kings Reign we find him again in the Wars of Scotland and two Years after in the Expedition into Flanders and two and twenty Years after that he had Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons of this Realm The Scots came freshly forward in Four Battails about the time of Evensong at which time the Floud was up at Barwick in the Water of Tweed so that none might pass over on Horse or Foot the River being between the English and the Realm of England Wherefore the Scots who were on the other side the English expected that those who fell not on their swords would be drown'd in the Water This was the Array of the Scots when they came in Four Battails against the Two Kings of England and Scotland In the Scotch Vaward x M. S vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 224. Knighton p. 2564. n. 10. were these Lords John Lord Murray who that day supply'd the Place of the Lord John Randulph Earl of Murray he being detain'd by sickness the Lord Andrew Fraisier with his two Brethren Simon and James Reginald Cheyne Patrick Graham John Graunt James of Carlile Patrick Parker Robert Caldecotes Philip Meldrun Thomas and Gilbert Wiseman Adam Gourdon James Gramont Robert Brady Hugh Park with 40 Knights new dubbed 600 men of Arms and 3000 Commons In the First half of the Second Battail of the Scots were these Lords Robert Steward of Scotland with his Banner James Stâ—â—rt his Uncle with his Banner the Earl of Menteith the Lord William Douglaâ—â—â—avid Lindsey Malcom Flemin William Keth Duncan Campbell with 30 Batchelours new dubbed and in the Second half of the said Battail were these Lords James Stuart of Colden Alan Stuart William Abernethy William Morrice William Friskin Adam Morest Walter Fitz-Gilbert John Gretton Robert Walthew the whole Battail amounting to 700 Men of Arms and 17000 Commons In the Third Ward of the Scotch Army were these Lords Hugh Earl of Ross Kenneth Earl of Southerland and the Earl of Strathern William Kirkeby John Cambron Gilbert Say William Ramsey William y Knighton l. Prendescit Prondegest Crispin Hard William Gourdon Arnold Ward Thomas Dulpin with 40 Knights new-dubbed 900 Men of Arms and 15000 Commons In the Fourth Ward of the Army of Scotland were these Lords Archimbald Douglas with his
pertinacy But they gain'd little and lost much for there were many good men of War within who defended themselves with much Resolution and Discretion So that the Scots were at last fain to leave off their Attack and the hopes of suddenly revenging their Dishonour in that place Wherefore that bold and lucky attempt of the Besieged being thus well back'd by a vigorous Defence was sufficient to perswade King David and his Council q Frois c. 75. that to dally about Newcastle was Dangerous and that if they could rest securely in their Camp yet there they had small likelihood to win either Profit or Honour the Place it self not being of Import equal to the Reputation of so great an Army Whereupon about Noon they decamped and entring into the Bishoprick of Durham burnt and wasted all before them At last King David came before Durham which he presently invested for he knew well there was great plenty of Goods and other Rich Booty in that City because in time of Danger all the Country thereabout was wont to fly thither for Refuge XVII As soon as Sr. John Nevil the Captain of Newcastle had seen for certain the Departure of the Scots he guess'd at their mischievous Designs and resolv'd what in him lay to prevent or at least revenge them Wherefore lie mounts a very swift Gelding and coasting wide of the Scots rode Post night and day till on the fifth day he came more than 200 miles to Chertsey in Surrey where at that time King Edward lay to whom he exactly related all he knew of the Scots The King immediately sent forth his Commissions commanding all Men between the age of Sixty and Sixteen laying aside all Excuses to draw Northward and to joyn him at York to aid and defend his Realm which his Enemies the Scots destroy'd The command was readily obey'd by all the Lords Knights and Esquires of England concerned therein who drew thitherward with as convenient speed as might be As for the King he would stay for no Man such an ardour of Mind and indignation with a desire of preventing his Peoples ruine hurri'd him on but he passed immediately Northward with the Troops of his Guards and those he had ready leaving the rest to follow him XVIII The mean while the Scots assaulted Durham with all the Fury imaginable for they were e'ne stark mad for the former Affront they had received at Newcastle when they lost the Earl of Murray so dishonourably They rear'd vast Engines to cast Stones with and other Devices they had whereby to approach the Walls under the shelter of certain Machines resembling the Ancient Testudo of the Romans or the Synaspismus of the Greeks and withall they had other Engines running upon Wheels wherein on Lofts as high as the Walls at least there were Crossbows and Others who kept the Besieged from their Defences So that after the Assault had been continually renew'd with all the vigour imaginable and on the other hand maintain'd with incredible Obstinacy for six or seven Days the Scots r Frois c. 75. Du Chesne p. 655. Martin p. 111. enter'd the City per force at which time King David in revenge of all his Losses for so many years preceding especially being urged even beyond his Nature by the importunate Instigations of his French Auxiliaries then with him commanded his Captains to put all to Fire and Sword. There were Men Women and Children Old and Young Men of the Church as Monks Priests Canons and Others Holy and Profane all without pity or distinction put to Death Neither Churches Monasteries nor Shrines no not that of St. Cuthbert himself after it had repos'd there for more than 300 Years could reconcile the incensed Minds of the Souldiers to pitty not so much as one Soul was left alive within the Place so implacable and impartial is the Sword of War when sharpned by Unchristian Cruelty XIX When King David had left his high Resentments written at Durham in such bloody Characters he was advised to draw back with the Prey he had already gotten as having for this time sufficiently plagu'd the English and enrich'd himself with Booty and Honour This Counsel he obey'd not thinking it good to expect the King of England who was preparing to meet him with a Royal Army wherefore now he made back again for Scotland But in his Return toward Barwick he lay one night near a strong Place belonging at that time to the Earl of Salisbury called the Castle of Werk which King Edward had Å¿ Pat. 4. Ed 3. p. 1. n. 21. Esc 18. Ed. 3. n. 51. formerly granted unto the said Earl together with the Mannor thereto belonging on condition to repair the Fortress and defend it against the Scots It stands on the Frontiers of Scotland on this side the River Tweed in the utmost Limits of Northumberland about 9 Miles from Norham Castle and 18 from Barwick It was now well fortified by the care of the Earl of Salisbury and committed to the Custody of a Valiant Brother of his t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Sr. Edward not as most of our Historians name him Sr. William Montagu Which Sr. Edward and Dr. u Dugd. ibid. Godwins Catal. Bps p. 268. Simon Montagu at this time Bishop of Ely and a great Benefactor to our University of Cambridge were both Brethren to the said Earl of Salisbury Within the Castle was the Countess of Salisbury whom our Historians call Joan who was Sister to John Plantagenet at this time Earl of Kent and Daughter to Edmund late Earl of Kent King Edwards Uncle who had been ruin'd as we shew'd by the contrivance of Mortimer This Lady Joan I shall readily acknowledge to have been esteem'd the greatest Beauty of that Age Nor was her Discretion or Chastity any whit less notable But whatever our Historians talk of King Edward's Amours with her at this time 't is certain she was now but little more than Thirteen years old For by x Esc 26. Ed. 3. n. 54. inquisition made in the twenty sixth of this King she was then found to be hardly twenty four years of Age. Yet it is agreed on all Hands that by the special Favour of King Edward to one William Earl of Salisbury she was intended to be given unto him for Wife But it is most certain that that Earl William who was espoused to this Lady Joan was Son and Heir to this William and now also but y Dudg 1 Vol. p. 647. thirteen years of Age. His Mother the present Countess of Salisbury being the Lady Katherine Grandison a Mother of two Sons and four Daughters and was not only now living but surviv'd her Husband the Earl who died two years after this ten z Ashmole's Garter p. 180. ex Esc 28. Ed. 3 n. 19. years and lies buried at Bisham Abbey in Berkshire of the Earl her Husbands Foundation But the Lady Joan Plantagenet was indeed some Years after design'd to be married
and delighteth in peace-full-minded Men thereby to put an end to the foresaid Evils which no doubt do now grievously offend him Furthermore We have great cause to marvell that our Reverend Brother Annibald Bishop of Tusculum and our Beloved Son Stephen of the Title of St. John and St. Paul Priest and Cardinal of the Apostolick See being sent as Legates from Us and the said Apostolick See to treat of Peace thô they diligently and faithfully labour'd for the same as Lovers of Verity Justice and Equity and therewithall had an high regard to your Honour could not yet for all that obtain Licence as touching any Treaty relating to the said Peace to be admitted into your Royal Presence Wherefore We more earnestly desire your Princely Majesty and for the Mercies of God with more Ardency require the same that by taking up and preventing with the sweetness of Piety and Compassion the foresaid horrible Evils You may avoid the Vengeance of Gods indignation which were much to be feared if you should still persevere to foment those Evils which God forbid And as touching the Treaty of Peace for which the foresaid Cardinals were sent unto You howbeit secretly lest it might have been any Derogation to your Honour We desire You again to condescend thereunto and with your Affections to encline your Mind unto the same since Peace is so pleasing unto God so desirable to the World and so profitable both to You and the foresaid King and the whole Catholick Faith That so the said Peace being by Gods Assistance established and settled You may assay your puissant Valour about the Service of God in the foresaid Eastern Parts so good occasion as we said before being at this time offer'd which would be an apt Advancement of your Honour and no doubt a prosperous Augmentation of your Princely Name For We have heard of You that You are wont to behave Your Self servently and vigorously in all your Undertakings Thus We doubt not but that You will write unto Us again concerning the Premises and the Purport of your Intentions touching the same Dat. e e Ita Odor Rainald ex Copia Vatican malè ergo Fox 18 Febr. Avenion xviii Kal. Februarii Anno Pontificatus nostri V. This Letter was answer'd by King Edward in this Manner To the most Holy Father in God CLEMENT by Divine Providence Chief Bishop of the Holy Roman and Catholick Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet Most Holy Father We understand by the Letters of the Reverend Fathers in God Annibald Bishop of Tusculum and Stephen of the Titles of St. John and St. Paul Priest Cardinals and Legates of the Court of Rome as also by your Holinesses Letters sent unto Us that you have great marvel for that your said Legates being sent unto Us to treat of an Accommodation between Us and our Adversary of France We would not yet suffer them to talk with Us secretly for the safeguard of our Honour the intention of your Heart being in that manner to have made the foresaid Accommodation Wherein also You complain and bewail the Death of Christian People the loss of their Goods and danger of their Souls the dolefull Cries and Lamentations of the Poor Orphans and Widows and the Destruction of other wretched People with the sacrilegious Robbings of Churches and other Mischiefs innumerable especially the Decay of the Christian Faith in the East which by the Wars between Us and our Adversary of France is deplorably impaired as the said Letters do import And that forasmuch as God hath given unto Us Triumphant Fortune We ought so much the rather to abase and humble our Heart and be the readier to accept of and encline to Peace Now as concerning all these Things most Holy Father We give your Holiness to understand that both to your foresaid Legates and other your Messengers sent unto Us to every of them We have still offer'd Reasonable ways of promoting of Peace and We every Day declare the same and that not secretly but openly For We are not afraid nor asham'd to make our Purpose manifest For He that is the High Judge both of ſ Philip King of France Him and Us in whose Dispose all things are hath given unto Us the Crown of France as our Right and Heritage The which Right our foresaid Adversary hath for a long time by Force detained from Us thô We sought in peaceable Manner to obtain the same and yet do if by any Reasonable way We may obtain the same And this the rather for the Benefit of Christendom and that the foresaid Evils might cease which by His Injustice only have had their Birth and Continuance Yet notwithstanding as you know before this time We assented to a Truce upon certain Articles contained in Writing all this he hath infringed Neither doth the Wrong which he offereth unto Us in our foresaid Heritage suffice but he endeavoured also during the said Truce to invade our Realm of England and other our Lands and furthermore maintaineth the Scots and aideth them for the utter Destruction of Us our People and Lands aforesaid So that We were enforced for the safeguard of our People and Lands by such Lawfull means as We might to defend Our Selves and frustrate his wicked Design For which intent committing our Quarrel to the Hands of God We are come against him to conquer our Heritage of France since when God hath given Us divers Victories over him as We trusted he would in his most Righteous Judgment and as We knew he was able by his Almighty Power Which indeed he hath graciously manifested unto Us all Chance of Fortune set aside in respect only of our Just Title and without the least of our Deserts Whereface with all Humility of Soul We always give him Thanks praising his Holy Name most devoutly both Night and Day For We acknowledge that these things were not brought to pass by our Strength and Force Wherefore most Holy Father We desire your Holiness and as much as in us lies earnestly require You that You who supply the Place of the Son of God on Earth and have the Care of the Souls of all Christians and therefore ought to be Indifferent Upright and Equal towards all Men without any Respect of Persons that You I say will receive good and true Information concerning the foresaid Objections and will put to your holy helping Hand that as much as in You lies our said Adversary of France may be brought to acknowledge the Wrong which in this Point he hath done unto Us and which by your Aid may be redressed But that especially he may receive no Aid nor Countenance from You in this his wrongfull Dealing For if it be so We then appeal unto the Supream Judge of Judges who for a time may permit Wrongs to be done for the sins of Mankind but in the end redresseth the same neither leaving
the Infection But the Destroying Angel like that in the o Apocal. c. 10. v. 2. 5. Revelations had one Foot upon the Waters as well as on the Land for alas the very Air they breathed being tainted they drew in Death together with Life it self The horrour of these things made others to lock up themselves close in their Houses Gardens and sweet retired Places but the Evil they intended to exclude pursued them thrô all their defences and they had this onely difference to die without the Company of any that might serve or pity them No Physician could tell the Cause or prescribe a Cure and even what was saving to one was no less than fatal to another no Astrologer could divine how or when it would cease The only way left was to be prepared to receive it and the most comfortable Resolution to expect it without Fear Nay it is to be remembred to the Praise of God who correcteth the Body to save the Soul that all Men being awaken'd to the quick by so dreadfull an appearance of Death at their Elbow are said to have piously set themselves to bewail their sins and to amend their Lives and where they could to frequent the Sacraments and which was wonderfull that most were so touched with a sense of Piety Gods Grace sweetning the bitterness of Death with some small Taste of Eternal Felicity approaching that they even rejoyced as they were dying And p Nauclerus Gener. 45. Nauclerus says That it was some kind of Consolation in the midst of this general Grief that innocent Children being at the point of Death did for the most part joyfully set forth the Praises of God And that Sinners themselves before they perceiv'd any token of the Pestilence upon them had prepared themselves by an hearty Repentance So that they even willingly waited for Death IV. I shall notwithstanding this prolix Description of ours subjoyn hereto one far more graphical and authentick which came from the Royal Pen of John Cantacuzenus who was at that time Emperour of Constantinople and a great Sufferer thereby in the Devastation of his Countries This Plague says he q Joh Cantacuz Hist l. 4. c. 8. p. 730. 731. Jacob. Pentan ibid. Latin. id in Att. c. Bellar. par 1. Syntag. 6. Descript 9. p. 496. taking its rise from the Scythians called Hyberboreans overran almost all the Sea-coasts of the Habitable World and destroyed an incredible Number of People For it did not only pass thrô Pontus and Thrace and Macedonia but also thrô Hellas properly so called and Italy and all the Isles and Egypt and Libya and Indaea and Syria and in a manner all the World round about But it was such an unconquerable Evil that neither any Diet or Strength of Body could resist it For it pull'd down all Bodies alike as well the Strong as the Weak and those who were most diligently look'd after perished as well as those who wanted all things That Year was free from all other Distempers but if perhaps any one was sick before all other Distempers terminated in this Here the Knowledge of the Physicians was put to a stand For some enduring a little died the same Day some the same Hour but those that held out to the second or third Day were first taken with an acute Fever and the Distemper getting up into the Head were rendred speechless and insensible to all that was done and so dropt off as it were in a profound Sleep But if any ever came to themselves a little they endeavour'd to speak something but the Tongue was difficultly moved and so uttering many inarticulate things the Nerves being stupified in the hinder Part of the Head they presently died Others were not taken in the Head but in the Lungs these had an Inflamation in their Inwards which created acute Pains about the Stomach So that they sent up Blood and a loathsome and cadaverous Stink from within Their Jaws and Tongues were dried up with Heat and black and tainted with Gore and whether they drank much or little 't was all alike These could take no sleep but were in continual pain and disquiet Some had impostumous Ulcers and black Blisters bigger or lesser on their Arms and under their Armpits and some in the Cheeks and others in other parts of the Body And in others there arose black Nodes Spots or Tokens over all the Body in some more superficial and visible in others deeper and obscure And yet of both sorts all died alike For some had all these Symtoms together others more or less but to most even one of all was enough to do the Business Yet those few who recover'd were no more touched with the same Mischief but remain'd secure now For it never took any twice so as to kill Sundry times there were great Impostumes in the Thighs and in the Arms which being cut sent forth much stinking matter And so the Disease was carried off flinging forth together therewith all the noxious humours And yet some thô they had all these symptoms were beyond all expectation saved But there was no certain Remedy For what was good for one was to another in the same Condition fatal Yet he that cured another got his own death thereby and this made the greatest havock so that houses were emptied of Inhabitants even brute Creatures dying with their Masters Yet nothing herein seem'd more dismal than the Despair to which Men were reduced For when any one perceived himself sick he abandon'd all hopes of Recovery and thus they gave themselves over and died presently adding their defection of Mind as an assistance to the Disease Such a kind of Malady cannot be expressed and it was most manifest that it was not any Plague natural or usual to Mankind but a Scourge from Heaven Wherefore many also were much better'd thereby not only of those who died but as many as survived For then casting aside all their vices they applied themselves wholly to the study of Vertue and several gave all they had to the Poor But when any found themselves affected there was none so stony or so obdurate but that he repented heartily of his sins and thereby gave the Divine Goodness some occasion of being Gracious at his Tribunal Thus far the Greek Emperour V. And in this manner this terrible Slaughter taking its rise whether in India Tartaria Scythia or Arabia but r Giev Villani l. 12 c. 83. p. 892. Fâ—su pâ—re 〈◊〉 e châ—â—ra 〈◊〉 chesi ce 〈◊〉 clo un sacco 〈◊〉 di setterra evero che scondesse da cielâ— c. most certainly in that manner as we have related went sweeping along thrô the Indians Tartarians Saracens Turks Syrians Palestinians Persians Egyptians and Ethiopians Africans and the Parts about Tunts and Tribisond where it rag'd most furiously Then it proceeded over all the Levant thrô Mesopotamia Chaldaea Cyprus Candie Rhodes and every Island in the Archipelago scattering unspeakable Desolation all
up to Arques and the Gates of St. Omers and having sufficiently made known the Terror of his Arms he return'd Triumphantly with many Prisoners and much Booty to Calais But soon after the occasions of the late Breach between the two Kings were fully concerted and a further Truce was taken a Knighton p. 2603. n. 4. with this condition that either of the Kings might renounce it when ever he pleased III. The same Yeart b Stow p. 251. the Spanish Ships had liberty to come to England by Reason of a Peace established with that Kingdom whereas the Year before there was an Imbargo set upon them because of the late Breach But now a Truce was taken between the two Crowns for twenty Years before which time we shall find Don Pedro of Spain to stand greatly in need of Englands Friendship Whereas the foremention'd Truce with France was prolonged but for one Year further and yet did it hardly endure so long as we shall shew by and by However now both the Kings seem'd in good earnest to endeavour a final Peace c Fabian p. 228 Odâ— Raâ—nald ad hanc ann §. 37. and sent their Commissioners for that purpose to Avignon to conclude and perfect the Agreement on these Conditions That King Edward should wholly lay aside his Title and Claim to the Crown of France and King John should entirely yield up to him all the Dutchy of Guienne with the Dependencies and whatever was at any time before taken therefrom by his Progenitors and that King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England should freely hold and possess the same without acknowledging owing or paying any Homage therefore to any French King from that day unto the Worlds end But the Conclusion of this Matter was so long put off and delay'd by the Pope and such demurrs and other Artifices usual in the Court of Rome laid in the way that the Duke of Lancaster with the rest of the English Commissioners being wearied by those tedious tergiversations returned back to their Master without bringing the said Agreement to any happy Conclusion But d Oder Rainald â—d hunc ann Mezeray c. some say this Treaty was hindred by an occasion given by the English who took the Castle of Guisnes by Treachery of which we shall speak presently However King Edward hereupon prepared for War resolving to take the Field early next Year as soon as the Truce should be expired But upon the first of April before the last Truce was renewed for another Year the Lord Guy e 〈◊〉 c. 153. Meâ—â—â—y 〈…〉 p. 251 〈…〉 23. April Fâ—x Acts Men. p. 507. de Nesle Marshal of France went in Hostile Manner with a great number of Men of Arms spoiling and ravaging about in Xaintogne and near St. Jean D'Angely but was at last met with by Sr. Walter Bentley who together with Edmund Rous a Norfolk-Man and Captain of the Castle of St. Jean D'Angely making in all but 600 Men encountred him Valiantly and had such Success that he slew and routed the whole Body of them took Sr. Guy de Nesle himself and Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan together with the Lord William de Nesle the Marshals Brother and six other Knights of Quality and of Esquires and Gentlemen 140 Prisoners But yet f Frois c. 153. in the September following the Frenchmen recover'd the Town and Castle of St. Jean D'Angely after it had been in the Englishmens Possession 5 Years without one stroke given or taken For the Garrison being left low and without Provision was fain to yield up the Place on Equal Conditions because they had not wherewithall to live on IV. While thus matters were held in suspence between England and France and hot War g Vid. Oder Ramald ad hunc ann §. 22. c. raged between Casimire King of Poland and the Lithuanians and Tartars on one hand and the Christian States of Venice and Genoa tore out one anothers Bowels on the other and the King of Armenia's Territories were snatch'd away from him piece-meal by the Infidels the h Id. ibid. §. 25. Heathen Governour of Damascus with a design to render the Christians under him odious and so to fill his Coffers with their substance perpetrated a most cruel and Nero-like Action this Year For having himself caused the said City to be secretly fired in two several places he presently hurried away the Christians to the Rack as the only Authors thereof Some of these being rendred impatient by the exquisiteness of the torments confessed themselves guilty Whereupon immediately he condemns them all to die except such as would embrace Mahometanisme Most of them by large gifts appeas'd the Tyrants sury others unhappily renounced the Christian Faith But there remain'd two and twenty who refusing to do either were condemned to be Crucified However first the Tyrant commanded them to be brought before their Friends Parents and Children that so he might shake their Constancy But the Divine Grace did so powerfully assist them at that time that the Father who was to die despis'd the Prayers and Tears of his own Son who entreated him to live and the Faithfull Son upbraided his Apostate Father of wicked Inconstancy to forsake the True Religion for fear of Corporal punishment and call'd him his worst Enemy in that by tempting him with the transitory joys of this Life he endeavour'd to deprive him of the Rewards of Eternity Being therefore all hung upon the Cross for three days they were beheld both by Christians and Saracens to die a notable Example of Religious Constancy But the Tyrant had but a short Triumph for this his exploit For soon after the Innocence of the Christians as to the burning of the City being made manifest by the Soldan's Command he was put to Death after this Manner A Great-broad Anvil of Iron being ready prepared as red-hot as possible the Malefactor was brought near stark-naked from his Privy-parts upwards then two strong Men took and twisted a Towel below his Ribs and above his Hips round his Belly pulling and twisting till by degrees they had rendred him thereabout little more than a span round At which time the Executioner cutting him off with a sword at one Blow just above the Towel this Body was immediately set upon the glowing Anvil So that the Blood and Life together was held in till the Anvil growing colder the Body fell off being seised by Death With such signal severity can it please God. to Revenge the Blood of his Saints even by the hands of the Blasphemers of his Name V. This Year i Favâ—ne's Theatre L'Honne r l. 3. c. 2. p. 346. on the 8 day of September or the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary King John of France that in Magnificence he might not come behind King Edward of England who had lately instituted the Order of the Garter did also k Mezeray ad hâ—â—â— annâ—n institute or rather renew the almost obsolete Order
Inhumane and Unprincely Actions was Sirnamed The Cruel He had indeed b Rederic Sant Par. iv c. xiv §. 40 c. Vid. Marian. de Reb. Hispand 17. c. 7. many notable good Qualities and Perfections both of Body and Mind for he was Tall of Stature and of a strong and well-compacted Body of a Gracefull and Majestick Countenance and of a sharp and sound Wit He was Sweet and Persuasive of Language Affable and Judicious Able and Expert in Arms a severe Enemy to the Proud and Obstinate and especially to Thieves and Robbers on the High-way In short he had such Courage and other Endowments of Mind as set forth and adorn the Owner but cannot make him Happy without the Addition of Vertue For as to his Religion He either had none or seem'd to take no no ice of it but lived in continued Adulteries and rejected all Admonitions of his Clergy and united himself as was reported to the Moors and the Kings of Belmarine Tremisen and Granada He was always an inveterate Enemy to Pedro King of Aragon and had lately taken from him a part of his Kingdom intending at last to deprive him of the whole as indeed he had a desire to oppress all his Christian Neighbours Nay when c Oder Râ—inal ad an 1362. § 18. Ruffus Maurus King of Granada came to him under safe Conduct for Protection to his City of Sevil partly to obtain his Treasures which were reported to amount to 800000 pieces of Gold and also to gratifie his natural thirst of Blood he caused him to be carried into the Field on an Ass together with One and Fourty Moors his Servants and there he transfixed him thrô the Body with his own Lance and caused the rest of the Moors to be trod to Death by his Horsemen Moreover he had divorced and as some say caused to be dispatched his own Queen the Lady Blanche Daughter to d Philippus dicitur apud Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 16. Peter Duke of Bourbon and German Sister to the French Queen and to the Countess of Savoy whose Death was much bewailed by all that knew her especially those of her Family which was then one of the most Illustrious in the World. The occasion why he was so Cruel to a Lady of her Worth Youth and Beauty for she was but e Maria. de Reb. Hispan l. 17. c. 4 five and twenty when she died and once He himself lov'd her entirely is f Id. l. 16. c. 18. Innocent PP VI. Vitae Auther apud Bosq Vid. Oder Rainâ—l ad an 1353. § 16. attributed to the Enchantments of a certain Jew who at the Instigation of Don Pedro's Concubine Maria de Padilla by Magick so charmed a Rich embroidered Girdle which his Queen Blanche had given him that when he had it on it appeared both to himself and all others nothing else but a great and terrible Serpent From that time He could never endure his Queen who soon after either died for grief or as it is said was poisoned by him And thus being again at his own Dispose he took the said Maria de Padilla to Wife and made her his Queen Now this Don Pedro King of Castille and Leon had Three Bastard Brethren whom his Father Alphonso had gotten on the body of the Lady Leonora Gusman called the Ricco Drue the Eldest was named Henry Earl of Trastamare a Man who supply'd the Defect of his Birth by Vertue and an Honourable Inclination the Second was Tellius alià s Don Tello afterwards Earl of Sancelloni and the Third Sancho When these Three Brethren saw the many Murthers of the Prime Nobility perpetrated by the King their Brother and that he daily grew worse and how he had put to Death Three or Four of their Brethren gotten by King Alphonso on another Lady they began to doubt their own Lives and resolving to get out of his Reach fled for Protection to Pedro King of Aragon whom our Don Pedro so pursued with Bloody Wars that finding no further security there they were e'n fain to fly to the French King. Hereupon Don Pedro confiscated all their Estates and proscribed them as Traytors which prov'd an Occasion of his Ruine For now that all hope of Pardon was taken away they began to consider how by depriving him of his Life they might secure their own To which Resolution they were the more enflam'd because they heard he had lately put to Death the Lady Leonora Gusman their Mother having first caused to be burnt in her Presence a Jacobin of the Order of St. Domingo della Calcade g Favine le Parisien Theatre l'Henneur l. 6. c. 9 c. who had foretold that he himself should be slain by the hands of Henry of Castille Conde of Trastamare his Bastard Brother in Revenge of his other Brethren whom he had murdered About this time also the Prelates of Castille sent grievous Complaints to Avignon to the Pope importing that their King intended to overthrow Holy Church and had already taken away many Church Lands and Revenues and held several of the Clergy in Prison and oppressed the whole Land by Tyranny against all which they beg'd of his Holiness some Remedy And moreover having lately violated the Truce taken between him and the King of Aragon he refus'd to hearken to the Admonitions of the Pope who by his Letter bearing h Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 30 c. Dat. Aven Non. Februar Ano. Pontif IV. and sent unto him by William de Lynne alià s Lulimere Bishop of Chichester exhorted him earnestly to be at peace with the said King. Upon all these accounts Pope Urban being netled to the quick sent Messengers forthwith into Spain to the King citing him to appear by his Proxies in his Court there to answer what should be alledged against him and to excuse and purge himself of those horrible Matters laid to his Charge But Don Pedro in stead of bending a little for a while being full of Pride and Security not only flatly refus'd to obey this citation but also abus'd the Popes Messengers whereby he greatly incurred the Indignation of the Church and especially of the Chief Bishop thereof the Pope And in this manner he persever'd till at last i Frois c. 229. fol. 126. in the open Consistory at Avignon in the Chamber of Excommunication he was solemnly ejected from the Bosom of the Church and pronounced to be but as an Infidel And then after these Censures it was advised that he should be deposed by the Arms of the Companions who were at that time in France Hereupon the King of Aragon who was an Apparent Enemy to Don Pedro and Henry the Bastard who had little cause to be his Friend were sent for to come and confer with the Pope at Avignon Now this Henry the Bastard was a most Valiant and Couragious young Gentleman and had been many Years in France pursuing the Wars on the French Kings part with
all the Props that were under the Wall and so by the time appointed the full Effect was wrought as was expected and there fell down a great Pain of Wall of near 30 Foot in length into the Ditch and so fill'd it up Immediately the English Footmen who stood ready ranged in the Field over against the Place gave a Shout and streight enter'd the Breach and ran directly to the Gates and beat them down with Axes and the Barriers also for there was no sufficient Resistance made the thing was done so unexpectedly Then the Prince of Wales high-mounted in his Chariot rode in at the Gates with his Guard of Partizans and Archers on Foot. With him went the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Pembroke Sr. Guischard Dangle and the other Lords with their Retinues of Men of Arms after whom follow'd a Party of the Infantry chosen out of every Troop ready to plunder the City and to slay Men Women and Children for so they were commanded by the Angry Prince Three Troops of Men of Arms and Archers stood at the Gates and as many at the Breach and a third Part of the Army remain'd in the Camp So that it was impossible for any Soul to escape out of the City Surely at such a time War is drest up in his most Dreadfull Habiliments and that Heart must be very strongly bair'd against all access of Pitty which would not relent at the sight when Men Women and Children with Hands and Eyes lifted up flang themselves upon their Knees before the Enraged Prince to entreat for Mercy But he was so immeasurably inflam'd with Anger at the false Treachery of the Frenchmen and at their insolent Obstinacy when he summon'd them to return to their Duty that now he would take no Notice of any of those wretched Objects So that his Footmen with their Halberts and Poleaxes dash'd out the Brains of all they met with and all manner of People were put to Death without any Distinction whether armed or naked opponent or suppliant even those that had never done any Treason or other sin of their own Nay there was so little regard to those poor Innocent Souls who could have no share in the Guilt that they had yet a greater share in the Punishment than those Persons of Higher Degree who had been chiefly concerned in the Offence But if ever Justice is blind much more is she so when she commits her Sword into the hands of War and Fury 'T was a Dismal slaughter and able to draw tears of Blood from the Hardest Heart if ever the least Pulse of Religion or Humanity had beat therein For that Day in the City of Limoges before the Prince put a stop to the slaughter there were slain and beheaded besides the Souldiers and Men of War more than k Mezeray 2 Part. 3 Tâ—m p. 87. 4000 Men Women and Children most of whom may well be supposed to have had no share in the Offence against the Prince but they suffer'd for the sins of others As thus the Prince entred the City there was dispatch'd a Troop of English to the Bishops Palace where they found the Bishop himself who had been the Occasion of all this Mischief Him they immediately carried before the Prince who beheld him with extremity of Anger and Disdain and for all his Pleading for Mercy the best that the Prince gave him was how he should lose his Head And so for the present he was hurried away out of his sight Now as for the Captains of the Garrison who were within the City as Sr. John Villemur Sr. Hugh de la Roche and Roger Beaufort Son to the Earl of Beaufort which Three were the Chief Captains of the City when they beheld the Desolation and Misery that so fast approached them they said to one another We are but all dead Men That is certain the Enemy gives no Quarter Wherefore let us resolve to sell our Lives dearly as it becomes Good Knights to do that so our Names may not die with us And therewithall Sr. John Villemur said to Roger Beaufort who was then but an Esquire Roger it is fit that you should now receive the Honour of Knighthood by my hands Sir quoth Roger I have not yet done any thing worthy of that Honour however I thank you for your favourable Opinion But if we survive this Day I shall hope to have deserved it Thus calm were these Worthies at the very instant of Death but no more was said nor indeed had they leisure to speak any more Wherefore they drew together in a convenient place with their Backs against an old Wall and there began to display their Banners being in all to the Number of Fourscore Chosen Men of Arms upon whom immediately came the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Cambridge and the Earl of Pembroke with their Men who all alighted from their Horses and encountred with these Resolute Frenchmen the Duke of Lancaster was pleased personally to engage with Sr. John Villemur who was a strong and hardy Gentleman the Earl of Cambridge in like manner undertook to deal with Sr. Hugh de la Roche and the Earl of Pembroke fought hand to hand with Roger Beaufort who thô but an Esquire was not easily overmatch'd by a most Valiant Young Prince These three Frenchmen did many gallant Feats of Arms while they fought long and well in single Combat with the Three English Princes their Men at the same time being hotly engaged one with another And the Black-Prince as he was riding by in his Chariot stopt to behold them and much applauded in his Mind their Skill and Courage And he was such a Lover of Martial Gallantry that this agreeable sight began to soften his Obdurate Heart so that for the sakes of these Three Frenchmen he commanded that no more slaughter should be made in the City and that the French Captains should not suffer beyond the Law of Arms. Then the French Captains paid their Reverence to the Prince of Wales and beholding their Swords said with one consent to their Antagonists Lords we are yours you have conquer'd us Do unto us according to the Law of Arms. Sirs said the Duke of Lancaster we expect no less and so receive you as our Prisoners Thus the three French Captains by their own exalted Courage sav'd their Lives but their Men were all slain they could not hold out against such Numbers of English especially their Captains being personally engag'd in that manner After this triple Combat by the Prince's Command an end was put to the Slaughter so that no more died that Day except perchance any one resisted the l Walsingh hist p. 180. n 40. rest were all taken to Mercy But the City was absolutely given up to the Plunder and rob'd and burnt and level'd with the Ground And now we had best to see what became of the Bishop of Limoges the chief Occasion of all this Mischief whom therefore the
to the Value of 437 l. But now at his Death he bequeathed unto them all his Plate prised at 2700 l. besides all Debts due unto him which amounted to 3954 l. 13 s. 4 d. Over and above all which he sent at the time of his Death unto the said Monastery the Summ of a 1000 Marks to buy 40 Marks per annum Land to encrease the Portions of Four Monks who were to say Mass dayly for the Souls of his Parents and Himself So that the Money which from first to last he bestow'd only upon the Abbey of Westminster is by a c tua Simon sunt data quendam Octingentena Librarum Millia Dena Monk of the same Place reckon'd to amount to no less than 10800 l. Sterling a Prodigious Summ in those Days For all which they caused d Vid. Philipet's Catal. of Chancell p. 42. Catal. Treasur p. 37. Gedw Cat. Bish v. 144. a Rhyming Epitaph to be engraven on his Tomb not worth Eight Farthings thô as Rich as their poor Wits could make it But the Reward of Charity lies in another World. And yet this Noble and Munificent Prelate could not avoid the stinging Libels of an Infamous Wretch who upon his Translation from Ely to Canterbury e Vid huâ—us Hist l. 3. c. 13. §. 3. p. 671. ten Years before set forth this Malicious Rhyme concerning him viz. Laetentur Coeli quià Simon transit ab Ely Cujus in Adventum flent in Kent Millia Centum There f Dugd. Bar. 1 Vâ—l. p. 677. Warwichsh p. 699. died also this Year Sr. John Peche a Valiant Knight of Warwickshire and Lord of Hampton in Arden leaving behind him John his Son and Heir then but fifteen Years old His Fathers Arms are said to have been Gules a Fess between Six Cross Croslets Argent with a Label of three Points in Chief X. This Year g Vid. Câ—aâ—â—n Victerel de Vitt. Pontiff Rom. p. 949. Odor Rainald an ann 1377. §. 1. Mezeray p. 95. c. Pope Gregory XI return'd the Papal Seat to Rome upon the Occasion which we mention'd before and at the Exhortation of St. Briget of Sweed and St. Catherine of Siena He left Avignon and embarqued at Marseilles on the 13 of September 1376. and after many great perils at Sea arrived at Rome on the 17 of January following where he was received with the greatest Pomp and Joy imaginable CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward creates his Grandson Richard the Black-Prince his only Son Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester whereby he shew'd him to be his next Heir II. The Citizens of London pay their Respects to the Young Prince in an Extraordinary Manner III. The King takes unto him John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Government IV. A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ c. V. An Exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine VI. The Duke of Lancaster favours him and upon his Account quarrels with the Bishop of London VII The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke of Lancaster VIII The Bishop of London with much adoe restrains the People from doing more Mischief IX The Princess of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their Excuse to the King and a Reconciliation is made between the Duke and Them. X. Sr. John Menstreworth taken and executed for Treason XI The Lord of Coucy King Edward's Son in Law cleaves to the French Interest XII A Treaty held at Bruges to no purpose XIII King Edward creates his Grandson Prince Richard Knight of the Garter XIV A further attempt for Peace being frustrated the War is again open Sr. Hugh Calverly made Captain of Calais and England prepares for War The Fortress of Outwick yielded to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley revenges on the French an Affront done to certain Englishmen XV. The English Commissioners with the Duke of Bretagne return for England and find the King upon his Death-bed He dies XVI A Story of Alice Perters and of the Manner of his Death refuted XVII The French King's Commendation of him his Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character I. NOW it is to be remembred that as We said heretofore AN. DOM. 1377. An. Regni Angliae LI. Franciae XXXVIII how the Prince of Wales desired his Father to inaugurate his Son Richard in his Life-time thereby to recommend Him to the Care of the Parliament and the English Nation so the last Parliament of which we spake in the preceding Year had made their Request to the King for that Purpose Whereupon soon after the said Prince's Obsequies were perform'd as We have shewn viz. a Mills his â—atal Hon. p. 315. on the 20 of November in that same Year the Young Lord Richard of Bourdeaux Onely Son living of the Deceased Prince of Wales being then not compleatly b Vid. harus Risi l. 4. c. 2 §. 1. p. 695. Vbi natus 6 Jaâ— 1367. Ten Years of Age was by the King his Grandfather at Havering atte Boure created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester as his Father had been before him And thereupon the King declared unto his Sons the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Cambridge and the Lord Thomas of Woodstock that the Young Prince Richard was of Right to Reign over them after his Decease And so he caused them all to swear to uphold and maintain Him as their only Lawfull Lord and Undoubted Sovereign And on the Christmas Day following the King his Grandfather made him to sit down with him at his Table in Great State above all his own Children representing thereby that he was to be looked on as the Next Heir of the Crown and consequently King after his Decease II. This Conduct of the King 's gave a General Satisfaction to all the Land who hitherto retain'd a Gratefull Sense of the Black-Prince's Merit and were extream glad that his Son Prince Richard was to Rule over them And here I hope it may deserve a Pardon if I take liberty to shew in what an extraordinary Manner the Citizens of London expressed themselves on this Occasion On a Sunday the First of February and the day before Candlemas toward the Evening c Stâ—w's Survey of London p. 78. c. there were One Hundred and Thirty of the Prime Citizens who being all well Horsed and Disguised as for a Mummerie with the Sound of Trumpets Sackbuts Cornets Shaumes and other Minstrelsie rode with innumerable Torch-lights of Wax from Newgate thrô Cheapside and so over the Bridge thrô Southwark till they came to Kennington near Lambeth where at that time the Young Prince of Wales was with the Princess his Mother his two Uncles the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge also the Earls of Stafford d Ità corrigo pro Hertford quiâ— neque Hertford neque Hereford hec tempore Câ—mitem in vivis habâ—erit Warwick
but the known Piety and Moderation which King Edward used thrô all his Life and that he could not easily be at this time unmindfull of Death may appear in that many Years before thrô a Pious consideration of Human Frailty he close the Place of his Sepulture as a Lib. 3. c. 4 §. 14. p. 564. Ano. Regni 1359. we have shewn and likewise settled the Point of Succession afterwards and had also so lately seen his Gallant Son go the same way before him not to mention the many Instances of his Piety of which we shall speak by and by And as for that solitary manner of his Death it is every whit as improbable for the Court of the Next Heir being then hard by at Kennington and the Three Sons of the King being thereabouts all the while if Piety and Duty could not have kept his Servants about Him yet a Care of their own Interest must have caution'd them at this time not to shew too much neglect of the Grandfather of the Young Prince and of the Duke of Lancaster's Father Not to say any thing of the Earl of Salisbury the Duke of Bretagne and Sr. Guischard Dangle who as we shew'd were just come unto him a little before his Departure And besides He was so far from being totally neglected that every Moment of his Sickness was particularly observed by his Sons and Others So that on that very Day whereon he died before his Soul had left the Body the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London being certainly informed that his Case was now desperate sent certain of their Chief Citizens to Kennington where Prince Richard and his Mother resided to declare unto the said Prince their Loyal Affections to his Sacred Person and how ready upon his Grandfather's Death they should all be to accept of Him for their Lawfull King and Governour And yet had it been true that our Edward was thus left at his last Gasp by all his Waiters and Domesticks surely it would be very Hard Uncharitable and Unchristianlike to argue any thing against his Person therefore or to conclude his Death any whit the more miserable since then he could not be sensible of what happen'd and also it is very usual and ever will be for the Court to fall away from the Setting Sun and to turn toward the East XVII However thus died King Edward the Third of whom when his Enemy King Charles of France heard of his Death he gave this Testimony b Frâ—is c. 314. f. 196. Gallicè verò fol. 267. That He had Reigned most Nobly and Valiantly and well deserved to be added to the Number of the Antient Worthies And soon after he assembled all the Nobles and Prelates of his Realm with whom he Solemnly performed his Obsequies in the Holy Chappel of his Palace at Paris But in England there was great Sorrow made for his Death and immediately all the Ports were stopped lest the News thereof should reach France before the Affairs of the Kingdom might be settled A little before the Coronation of King Richard the Second the Body of King Edward was removed from Sheen and with a great Pomp of Sorrow his Three Sons John of Gaunt Edmund of Langley and Thomas of Woodstock and his Son-in-Law John the Valiant Duke of Bretagne and all the Barons and Prelates of England following the Herse was brought along thrô the City of London with Open Visage to Westminster where it was c Sandford p. 175. vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast solemnly interred on the South-side of the Royal Chappel in the Abbey of St. Peter near to the Body of his Beloved Queen Philippa as on her Death-Bed she had requested Where betwixt two Pillars parallel with the Tomb of King Edward the Confessor He hath his Monument of Grey Marble upon the Superficies whereof lies his Full Portraiture of Copper Gilt and upon the Verge of the Tomb these Old Verses are ingraven beginning on the North-side at the Foot being Latine Rhyme after the Manner of that Age. Hic Decus Anglorum Flos Regum Preteritorum Forma Futurorum Rex Clemens Pax Populorum Tertius Edvardus Regni complens Iubileum Invictus Pardus Bellis pollens Machabeum Prospere dum vixit Regnum Pietate revixit Armipotens Rexit Iam Câ—lo Coelice Rex sâ—t Tertius Edvardus Famâ super aethera Notus PVGNA PRO PATRIA MCCCLXXVII On both Sides of this Tomb are the Figures of all his Sons and Daughters in Solid Brass viz. On the South-side in several Niches are Edward Prince of Wales Joan of the Tower Entitled Queen of Spain Lionel Duke of Clarence Edmund of Langley Mary Dutchess of Bretagne and William of Hatfield under which their several Escutcheons of Arms Enamelled are placed And also under them the Arms of Saint George and of King Edward the Third interchangeably on Four large Shields of Brass Enamelled On the North-side were the Statues and still there remain the Arms of Isabell Lady Coucy William of Windsor John Duke of Lancaster Blanch of the Tower Margaret Countess of Pembroke and Thomas of Woodstock near unto which Sepulchre they will still shew you the Sword which it is said this King used in his Wars in France being only Cross-barr'd Seven Foot long and weighing Eighteen Pounds I will not dissemble d Cod. M. S. Misâ—ell R. Glover Somerset fol. 135. that there is somewhere attributed unto him one Natural Son besides his Twelve Legitimate Children named Nicolas Litlington who was Abbot of Westminster and lies buried in the said Abbey before the Altar of St. Blase But there are several Arguments which with me weigh down the Credit of this single Testimony as his Age he being made Abbot immediately after Simon Langham sixteen Years before this whereas usually Old Age is required for such and he survived King Edward but e He died 1386. Keep 's Men. West p. 52. Nine Years He bare for his Arms f Vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast p. 13. Quarterly Argent and Gules in the Second and Third a Fret Or on a Bend Azure Three Flowers de Luces of the Third His Character may best be gather'd from his History but however we shall again represent him in little according to those lively Colours wherewith the joynt Concurrence of the best g Walsing hist p. 189. Heur Knighton p. 2630. Foae Acts Mon. p. 394. Daniel's Hist p. 260. Ric. Dinothi Advers p. 92. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 144. Stow p. 269. Holinsh p. 999. Weever's Fun. Mon p. 466. c. Authors have represented him He was a Prince the soonest a Man and the longest that held so of any we meet with His Stature not exceeding the usual Bigness of Men but of the Middle sort h Vid. Hakewill's Apology for Providence p. 212. that is just six Foot or two Yards High his Limbs neat and well-made his Body strong his shape Exact his Visage something Long but exceeding Comely Gracefull and Angelical