albeit hee had a farre greater power then the King of England as hauing in his armye aboue an hundreth thousand men yet notwithstanding partly perswaded by his Lords but principally terrifyed by the letters of Robert King of Sicill his neere kinseman an excellent Astronomer hee withdrew himselfe and departed without giuing battell And so the King of England returned into Braband and the French King into his own Country much displeased with himselfe that he had refused to fight The King of England shortly after being well assured of the faithfulnes of his confederates passed ouer into his own kingdome About this time in the Citie of Gaunt a certaine person of the baser sort named Jaques of Arteuill purchased himselfe such estimation among the commons that in continuance of time there was none able to withstand his bold attempts no not the Earle of Flaunders himselfe The King of England to procure the good will of the Flemmings allyed this fellow vnto him as one that might affoord him much helpe in his warres hereafter Of this Iaques henceforth we shall often haue occasion to make mention The King of England before hee returned into his owne conntrey as is a little before declared had obtained a grant of the Flemmings to ayde him in his warres whereby himselfe might not onely assayle his enemie with the greater force but they also recouer their lost towns as Lisle Tourney and certaine others holden at that time by the French But the Flemmings pretended great difficulty in the matter before they would conclude this league with the English For they had formerly couenanted with the French King and bound themselues vppon the forfeiture of twenty hundreth thousand crownes neuer to beare armes against the King of Fraunce and these conditions were ratified by the Bishop of Rome Hereupon they perswaded the King of England to take vpon him the armes and stile of the Realme of Fraunce and in so doing they thought themselues discharged of their oath The King after much deliberation condiscended to their requests and so the league was established betweene them The French King hauing intelligence of the matter practised with the Flemmings by some friends of his as it were in the name of the Pope to forsake the King of England and adhere to him againe adding large promises of great reward all which notwithstanding they refused wherevppon presently ensued the Popes thunderbolt It made the Flemmings shrewdly affraid but the King of England so encouraged and hartened them by letters and messengers that they brookt the matter with the better patience Then beganne the warres to growe hot between the Flemmings and French men and the King of Fraunce sent his eldest Sonne as Generall who with a puissant Armye marched through the country euen as farre as Henault Whilste William Earle of Henault for the establishing of his affayres trauailed first into England and afterward to Lewis the Emperour the French men in his absence did meruaillously afflict his country by making continuall incursions vpon it But the Earle at his returne out of Germanie hauing associated himselfe with the King of England the Emperour and diuers Princes of the Netherlands raysed a mighty power and being also ayded by him who in a manner had the hearts of the Flemmings at commaund I meane Iaques of Artevile enforced his enemies to retyre So the Armyes on both sides being prepared to fight the Earle of Henault was very desirous to come to the encounter but the Duke of Braband was of another opinion and with weightie reasons disswaded him from hazarding the battaile till such time as the King of England were returned whome they accounted as Generall of this warre Assoone as the French King vnderstood the King of England was departed into his owne countrey he gaue commaundement that a fleete of Shippes should presently bee rigged and put forth to Sea to attend his comming backe and then to assayle him with great violence and bend all their forces to empeach his landing But the King of England encountring them in his passage put them valiantly to the worse and with fortunes fauourable assistance arriued safely in Flaunders Robert King of Sicill of whome wee haue formerly spoken foreseeing by the Art of Astrologie that the kingdome of Fraunce should sustaine great dammage by the English men for the great affection he bare to that Realme trauailed himselfe to Auinion and there made earnest sute to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinalls that they would set an attonement betweene those twoo puissant Princes They promised to employ their endeuours so the mindes of the kings were disposed according About this time the Brabanders Flemmings and Henowaies entred into a most strict league among themselues in such sort that if any of those countryes should happen to be molested with warre or afflicted by any other meanes the rest were bound to succour and assist them And if any dissention or variance chaunced they should arbitrate the matter among themselues or else if the case were such that they could not decyde it then it should bee determined by the discretion of the King of England into whose hands they were all sworne to put the controuersie and to abide by his arbitriment The King of England associated with the ayd of his confederates besieged Tourney with a strong army Many assaults were giuen but they preuailed not by reason of the valiant defence made by the Townsemen who were furnished throughly aforehand both with men and all thinges needefull to offend the enemye by commaundement from the French King who was ptiuie to a great part of the deuises and consultations among his enemies During the siege before Tourney the French King sending certain companies into Scotland ernestly entreated the captains left there in Garrison for the safty of their country by King Dauid to make some invasion vppon the English that by this meanes his enemie might bee enforced to rayse his siege and returne for the defence of his own country promising moreouer that he would send them store of souldiers whose seruice they might employ in that action The Scots stoutly vndertaking the matter wonne certain holdes and much endammaged their enemy The French King in the meane while levied a great armye to rayse the siege before Tourney There came to his ayde Charles King of Boheme the Dukes of Burgoine Britaine Burbon and Loraine the Earles of Bar Sauoy Geneua Alauson and Flaunders And besides these the kings of Nauarre and Scotland the one as confederate the other as feudarie to the crowne of Fraunce That the Earle of Flaunders followed the French King as we haue declared whilste the Flemmings tooke part with the English let it not seeme straunge to any for thus standeth the case This Iaques of Arteuill whome we spake of before was become so popular and growne to such authoritie amongst the commons that the Earle himselfe could finde no safe abyding in his own country but was constrained for that cause to commit
himselfe to the protection of the French King The siege of Tourney continued some three moneths during which space Iane os Valoys the French kings sister and mother to the Earle of Henault laboured very earnestly to procure a composition At length shee obtained thus much that a day was appointed for a meeting to be had betweene the Lords of Fraunce and England where they agreed vpon a truce for twelue months space with condition that each party should hold whatsoeuer he had gotten by battell Herevppon the armies were both dismissed And this further was concluded that at a certain time prefixed within the yeare another treatie should be had at Arras where commissioners from both Princes and from Pope Clement should meete together and this likewise was performed There the English men demaunded much and the French men profered nothing saue the Earledome of Ponthiew which was giuen before in dowrie to King Edwards mother when shee married into England More then thus was nothing done in this treaty onely another yeere added to the truce and the King of England returned into his Country When things were thus set at a stay and that the Duke of Britaine prepared to returne into his owne country he was seised vppon in his iourney by a most violent sicknes whereof in short space he dyed leauing behind no lawfull issue male to succeed him He had two brothers of whome the one which was Earle of Mountfort was his brother onely by the fathers side the other both by father and mother but he died before him leauing issue one only daughter whome the Duke of Britaine in his life time ioyned in marriage to Charles of Bloys sisters Son to Phillip the French King For the Duke fearing it might so fall out that after his decease his brother the Earle of Mountfort would seise the seigniory of Britaine into his owne handes and by that meanes dispossesse and as it were disinherite the lawfull daughter of his brother by the whole bloud thought good to prouide a stay for the Lady by marriage and therefore his desire was the rather to match her to the kings nephew because if the other should make any attēpt hereafter he might the easilier be resisted And so it came to passe For the Earle of Mountfort had no sooner vnderstanding of his brothers death but that partly by force partly by cōposition he possessed himselfe of the greater part of Britane And then the better to supporte his cause and stablish his estate he went ouer to the King of England where relating the whole discourse of his proceedings he receiued from him the inuestiture of his dukedome And the King of England considering that by this meanes he might haue a ready passage through Britaine into Fraunce promised both his councell and furtherance to the newe Duke against his enemie whether it were the French King or any other whosoeuer For he had lost the French kings fauor before euer since he brought in the Germaines to serue in his warres vppon whome he had spent such a huge masse of money withou◠accomplishing any notable enterprise And this is the true cause and originall ground of this warre Charles of Bloys being aduertised of the proceedings and enterprises of Mountfort made great complaint of him to the French King After consultation had the King commaunded that the Earle should be summoned to the Parliament of Paris The Earle came and after some debatings on both sides he was enioyned by the King not to depart the Citie for a certaine season Neuerthelesse he conueyed himselfe secretly away and so sentence was giuen with Charles It was a great blot in Mountforts case that he had been inuested in his Duchie by the King of England And thervppon the French King denouncing Charles to be rightfull heyre encouraged him with his own mouth to recouer by force of armes the seigniorie due vnto him both by iudgement of law and right of inheritance promising not only his owne ayde but procuring other Lords also to assist him in the maintenance of his rightful quarrell The warre was vndertaken in the behalfe of Charles with the power of the Peeres of Fraunce his friendly assistants Besides other at length the Citie of Nants the principall in those partes was forced by assault There Mountfort himselfe was taken prisoner and from thence conueyed to Paris to the King by whose commaundement being cast in prison he there ended his life His Lady in the meane time bearing her fortune with a true manlike resolution encouraged the fainting hearts of her people and both fortified with Garrisons and furnished with victuals the rest of the holdes yet vntaken by the enemie Vppon conclusion of the truce between the kings of England and Fraunce and dissoluing the siege before Tournay the King of England returning home perceiued what great annoyance the Scottes had wrought to his country in the meane while wherevppon he assembled an Armie The Scottes being pressed with great extremitie in the absence of the King purchased a truce of the English vppon condition that if within foure moneths space the King did not prouide for the rescue they should yeeld This was signified to the King of Scottes who therevppon returned and being ayded with forraine power wonne certaine holdes from the English Amongst other the Citie of Durham was one where no mercy was shewen to no sex age nor order whatsoeuer but the very churches and all were consumed with fire Afterward perceiuing that by further prosecutiug his enterprise he did but lose his labour and vnderstanding moreouer that the King of England approached with a mightie power vppon deliberation with his counsell he retired In the meane while ministring proffers of a truce which notwithstanding he had no intention to admitte till he had first taken aduise of the French King with whome he was formerly confederate The Lordes of Fraunce departing out of Britaine for no other respect but because the winter whether compelled them returned againe with their forces in the beginning of Sommer purposing to bring the rest of that Duchy in subiection Whereof the Lady of Mountfort being aduertised shee sent ambassadours to the King of England requiring ayde vppon this condition that her Son whome shee had borne by the Earle of Mountfort should take to wife some one of the kings daughters But the succours which he sent for the space of well nere twoo moneths together were tost vppon the Seas with stormes and contrarie windes in such sort as they could by no meanes attaine to their desired porte so that in the meane season certaine places were recoured by the French men But it is admirable to relate with what courrage and stowtnesse the Lady Mountfort demeaned her selfe Fot shee was not only content to fortifie stronge holdes and encourage her followers with comfortable speeches but shee also put on armor herselfe and attended with a troupe of horse came into the open field and prouoked her
King of England afterwards bought of him that took them for twentie thousand crownes The Englishmen marching still forward passed ouer the riuer Seane towards Roane and their light horsmen scoured the country euen vnto the Suburbes of Paris where encountring the townsmen of Amience well appointed posting towardes Paris vppon commaundement from the King because of long time before they had been charged with no seruice for the warres they let fiercely vpon them and bereft them of their carriage The French King in the meane while notwithstanding the Parisians earnest sute to the contrary departed from Paris to Saint Dennis whither as then the rest of the Peeres were assembled From thence pursuing his enemie with a certaine vehement and wonderfull desire to fight he remoued to Amience The King of England assayed to passe his armie ouer the riuer Some but there was neither foord knowne nor bridge possible to be taken they were all so surely garded by the French men At length after proclamation of enlargement and reward to any French prisoner that should performe it a certaine young man taken by chaunce discouered a forde The French men suspecting they would passe ouer at the same place opposed themselues strongly against them and entertained them in the riuer with a sharpe skirmish Neuerthelesse the Englishmen waded through and put them to flight By this time the French King was come to Abbevile and the King of England wayted for him in the plaine fieldes to giue him battell When the time of battell approched the King of England made his prayers to God to send him an happy victory and diuided his wholy Armie into three parts In the vauntgarde was his Sonne in the reregard himselfe The fight was furious on both sides but at length the Englishmen obtained the victory which may seem a wonder considering the huge multitude of their enemies In this battell the King of England who awaiting oportunitie had not yet put himselfe in preasse being aduertised that his Sonne fighting valiantly in the forefront was wellnighe oppressed by the enemy he made answere to the messengers in this sort Demaunde no helpe of me this day so long as my Son liueth For I will that he now shewe some proofe of his valor and that the honour of the victory be wholy his and theirs that are appointed to attend him In this battell was slaine Henrie of Lutzenburge Father to Charles King of Bohemia who although he were blinde would needes adventure against the enemy notwithstanding Towards night the French King accompanied with very fewe withdrewe himselfe out of the field The King of England caused the dead bodies of the French men to be numbred and there were found slaine eleven Princes fourescore Barons twelue hundreth Knights and about thirtie thowsand others By commaundement from the King all the noble men were buried in the villages neere adioyning and three daies truce was graunted to giue buriall to their dead After the King of England had obtained this notable victorie he tooke his way directly towards Calice and environning the towne with a stronge siege there planted himselfe in purpose not to depart before he had constrained them to yeelde for famine Meane while the French King sent word to his Sonne the Duke of Normandy lying still at the siege of Aguillion that he should giue ouer his enterprise and conuey his forces againe into Fraunce to withstand the English men who subdued all things before them as they passed Before this aduertisement came to the Army there was another battell fought betweene the French and the English wherein was present Phillip son to the Duke of Burgundy who falling with his horse soone after departed this life During the siege of Aguillion wherof an English Baron was captaine the Earle of Derbie whome the King of England had before sent into Aquitaine remayning at Burdeaux Assoone as he vnderstood that the siege was raysed and the Duke of Normandy departed he assembled to the number of six thousand men and raunging through a great part of the countrie thereabouts at length tooke Poitiers by assault and then returning againe to Burdeaux dismissed his souldiers leauing no Garrison in Poitiers because the towne was vtterlie raced Whilste the King of England was busied about the siege of Calice David King of Scottes partly of his owne motion partly by procurement of the French King perswading himselfe that all the souldiers of England or at leastwise the greater part were gone a warfare with their King assembled his forces to the number of fortie thousand or there about and invaded England The Queene of England in the mean time behaved her selfe with great courage and discretion consulting with the Lords and Prelates of her Real me about the direction of her affaires So an armie was levied vpon the suddaine and the enemie fiercely encountred certaine Archbishops and Bishops of England being present in the conflict whose power notwithstanding it were sarre inferiour in number to the Scottes yet they obtained the victorie In this battell the Scottish King himselfe with many others were taken prisoners The number of them that were slaine amounted to fifteene thousand the rest saued themselues by flight After the accomplishment of this honourable victorie the Queene of England crossed the seas and went to visite the King her husband In the battell before mentioned amongst others was also slaine the Earle of Flaunders who by reason of the rebelliu of Iaques de Artevill was compelled to put himselfe into the French Kings protection He left a Sonne named Lewis at that time about fifteene yeeres of age Now the King of England was in great expectation that through the politicke assistance of Iaques de Artevill he should haue brought the Flemminges to receiue him for their soveraigne and that his Sonne the Prince of Wales with their generall acceptance should haue obtained the Lordship of all Flaunders But the author of so wicked a deuise was slaine as is already declared for the Flemmings would not disinherit the Son of their Lord though they loued not his Father The King of England therefore began to treate of a marriage betweene the young Earle who was then remaining in the French Court for he fled thither with his Father at such time as the state grew troublesome in Flaunders and a daughter of his named Isabell Against this match the Duke of Braband opposed himself for he also had a daughter at the same time whom he desired to match with the young Earle Meanes were found by the Flemminges to conuey the Earle from the French King and he returned into Flaunders in hope to recouer his Fathers possession The King of England in the meane while was nothing slacke in soliciting his sute with the Lordes of Flaunders By them the matter was mooued and the match profered to young Lewis But he vtterly refused it protesting that he would neuer marrie the daughter of him that had slaine his Father When the
AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ⧠Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
enemie Moreouer being besieged in a certaine Castle and put to great distresse when for the most part all that were about her perswaded to yeeld shee alone amongst men persisted in opinion to the contrarie and with this resolution held it out so long till at last the English forces which had wandred a great while vppon the Seas arriued to her rescue A certaine French captaine called Lewis of Spaine tooke the Citie of Dinant in Britaine by composition the Citizens hauing slaine their gouernour in the market place because he refused to yeeld it Another Citie neere adioyning named Gerand was taken by the same Captaine by force where not so much as Children and little infants nor the Temples consecrated to Gods seruice could escape the vttermost rigour of warre but were all destroyed with fire and Sword The Duke was much displeased with this impious cruelty and worthylie caused the authors of such wickednesse to be hanged He also receiued the citie of Vannes vppon composition without consent of the captaine and many other places besides To be short diuerse encounters passed both by Sea and Land with variable fortune on both sides A towne and Castle in those partes called Hamibout was assaulted with great violence but defended with more valour for therin at that time remayned the Duchesse of Britaine whome wee spake of before The French men perceiuing they spent their time in vaine and that Winter began to approach perswaded Charles of Bloys to dismisse his Armie and withall to take a truce and place his souldiers in Garrison It was so done and the Duchesse sayled ouer to the King of England who sent an Armie into Britaine against the French men About this time the noble men of England counselled their King to take a stedfast truce with the Scottes for three yeeres space if it might be shewing how great a burthen it would be to him to supporte so huge a charged of wars round about him in Scotland on the one side in Fraunce on the other Herevppon Ambassadours were sent to the Scottish King but nothing could be effected for he would determine vppon nothing without the French kings counsell The King of England mooued therewithall raysed a mightie power in purpose to bring the Scottes to vtter subuersion But in the meane time by the mediation of good men a truce was obtained stablished The English Armie which we spake of erewhile met with the French kings fleete well appointed vppon the coast of Britaine There they encountred one another and continued in fight till within the euening Somewhat before midnight there arose a very dangerous tempest which scattered them in such sort that they were separated more then an hundreth miles asunder In this conflict also the Countesse of Mountfort her selfe performed knightly seruice At length the English men recouered a hauen not farre from the City of Vannes at that time in possession of the French men where putting on land their forces they valiantly approched the Citie And in conclusion diuiding their army into three partes with two of them they fiercely assaulted the town in two seuerall places in the night season and whilste al men resorted thither to make resistance they brought the rest of their forces to a place vnfortified and so entred the towne putting all that were in it eyther to the Sword or to flight There were two French Lords which had the custody of this towne whome it full sorely greeued to see the Citie thus taken Therefore assembling such forces as they could rayse vppon the suddaine they gaue a fresh assault to the towne and so surprised it agine from the enemy In these conflicts Robert of Artoys admirall of the English fleete and Generall of the warre was wounded who being conueyed to London for the cure of his hurts in short space after there ended his life Whereat the king of England conceiued so great greefe and displeasure that of purpose to reuenge the death of so worthy a man so deerely esteemed he himselse sailed ouer with a mighty power of shipping into Britaine So great was the number of the English forces that at one instant they besieged three of the most puissant Cities in all that countrey Renes Vannes and Nants where Charles of Bloys with his wife at the same time remained besides the towne of Dinant which they tooke by force Charles of Bloys wrote to the French King concerning the state of his affaires the arriuall of the English the besieging of his townes earnestly requiring that he would succour him in this great distresse The French King sent his sonne the Duke of Normandy who with an Armie of some forty thousand tooke his way directly towardes Vannes at that time very streytly besieged by the English And had not the winter season brought great impediment to their purpose it had surelie come to a field battell But at length through the intercession of twoo Cardinals sent from Pope Clement a truce was agreed vppon for three yeares and a solemne o the taken of the Princes for the due obseruation thereof in the meane space So the King of England returned into his owne countrey Whilste the warres were yet open the Englishmen had laid siege to the Citie of Vannes latelie before recouered by the French and it was stoutly defended by twoo noble men the one called Lord Clisson the other Henrie of Lyon It was these mens fortune in a certaine light skirmish to be taken prisoners by the English and because there was a Lord of England also remaining among the French vpon conclusion of the truce communication was had for the exchange of prisoners The King of England for the redeeming of his deliuered to the French men the Lord Clisson detayning the other still prisoner Herevppon as is most likely some emulous obseruers of Clissons cariage raysed a suspition that he should be secretly affected to the English and that for this respect he rather then the other obtained his libertie To be short this iealousie encreased so farre that he lost his head for it at Paris And for the like cause diuers other noble men suffered the like punishment Sure it was a lamentable spectacle especially considering that Clisson in the recouerie of Vannes from the English had so honourablie performed the office both of an excellent Captaine and valiant souldier This act of the French kings was taken in so ill part by the King of England esteeming it done in his reproch that he commaunded Henrie of Lyon to be presently set at libertie and freely forgaue him his raunsome onelie enioyning him at his returne to signifie to the French King how he interpreted these proceedings no otherwise then as intended to his dishonour and that thereby he held the late truce to be violated wherefore he should expect no other from him but as an enemy This message was deliuered to the French King and the King of England sent an armie into Aquitane with certaine other forces
recovery of his helth and because he had taken part with his enemis apprehended him and detained him in prison for the space of certain yeeres after At length by the helpe of his friends and vppon the paiment of an hundreth thousand pistolets he procured his liberty and levying great forces against the king of Arragon the matter had surely come to a bloudy conclusion had he not againe fallen suddenly into a violent sicknes which in short space ended his life By this meanes therefore the occasion being taken away the warres ceassed Don Pietro the tyrant of Spaine whose history we haue discoursed already left behind him two daughters Constance Isabell whome certaine noble men of Spaine immediately vpon their fathers death conveyed by sea into Aquitaine The Duke of Lancaster by aduise and perswasion of his friends espoused Constance the elder of these sissters wherevnto he was the rather moved aswell in commiseration of the young Ladies miserie as in hope hereafter to obtaine the possession of their inheritance The King of Spaine having intelligence hereof fearing likewise that the King of Englands fift sonne would marry the other daughter addressed his ambassadors to the French King with whome he ioyned in most stedfast league of friendship the French King for his part promising him assured ayd against any enemy whatsoever and moreouer that he would never enter into other conditions of peace with the King of England but such as should be both to the honour and profit of the King of Spaine The Duke of Lancaster shortly after his marriage assembled the Lords of the country together and declaring to them his occasions and purpose of departure appointed such officers as should governe in his absence and departed with his wife into England King Edward vpon advisement with his counsell determined to send his sonne the Duke of Lancaster with an army into Picardy which wasting and destroying that country should from thence proceede forward into Fraunce Moreover he sent the Earle of Pembroke with another army into Aquitaine to make warre likewise in those parts that so the French men might not faile to haue their hands full on all sides But the French King hauing knowledge hereof by meanes of certaine English men that resorted vnto him forefortifyed with garrisons all places of Picardy and further vnderstanding by relation of those fugitives that the English fleete should arrive in Gascoigne he gave secret intelligence therof to the King of Spaine his new cōfederate The Spanyard performed the part of a friend sent 40 great Ships with thirteene others of lesse receyt well appointed to meete with the English men in their passage Not farre from Rochell the Spanish fleete encountred the English with great violence and the fight continued almost a whole day without intermission During which space the Rochellers stood like idle spectators beholding the conflict and being requested by their governors to helpe the English in their necessitie alleadged frivolous matters for excuse and refused For howsoever they dissembled outwardly to the worlde yet in their harts they vttterly abhorred the Englishmens government The next day they renewed their fight afresh and it was maintained with as great resolution as ever was any Notwithstanding in the end the Spaniards obtayned victory by reason that both in number of men and shipping and in the greatnesse of their vessells also they much overmatched the English Many were slaine and many taken prisoners amongst whom was the Earle of Pembroke himselfe and most part of the captaines in his fleete The ship likewise which carryed a great quantity of treasure for the maintayning of three thousand soldiers was swallowed vp in the sea After this battell was ended came a sufficient power out of Gascoigne to Rochell but it was too late when the matter had falne out so vnprosperously before Thus it came to passe that by little and little the King of England lost all his whole seigniory of Gascoigne the people partly rebelling and partly yeelding themselues willingly to his enemy Whilst these things passed there repaired to the French Kings court one Ivan the sonne of a certaine Brittish Lord making grevous complaint of great iniury done vnto him by the King of England both in causing his father Ammon Prince of Wales to be wrongfully put to death afterward in conferring the principalitie of the whole coūtry to his owne sonne Edward Vpon relation of his grevance the French King furnished him with a fleete of ships and some foure thousand men to serue him by whose helpe this Ivan entring into a certaine yland belonging to the English and comming to encounter with his enemies overthrew them in the field and put them to flight After which exploit he was recalled by the French King and sent into Spaine there to make provision of more Shippes that he might lay siege to the towne of Rochell This good successe of the French kings affaires both by the Spanyards and by Ivan gave him occasion to thinke that the rest of the English provinces would easily be brought to revolte especially if the English men should receive but another overthrowe or at leastwise be put to any extraordinary trouble or molestation Herevpon he sent the constable with a great power of the chiefest peeres of his kingdome to renewe the warres againe in his enemies countries Assoone as they came into the territory of Poytiers all the townes and castles thereabout rendred themselues into their subiection The townesmen of Poytiers being at variance among themselues addressed letters to the constable signifying their good affection toward him and earely in the next morning according to promise set open their gates to receive him into the cittie This example of the Poitevins diverse other townes tooke as a president for themselues to imitate In the meane while this Ivans whom we spake of before accompanied with the Spanish Admirall came with a well furnished navy out of Spaine and arrived at Rochell which towne notwithstanding sustained no damage at their hands because the townesmen hated the English and desired by all meanes to be againe vnder the French Kings government They had long since freed themselves from their forced subiection but that the English garrison which kept the castle held them alwaies in such awe as they durst never venter to put their purpose in execution At length contriving a stratageme politick enough for the time vnder pretence of taking a generall muster as well of the townesmen as of the garrison they allured the captaine who was a man of no great forecaste with all his company out of the hold Which done forthwith a great number of the townesmen breaking out from an ambush gaue assault to the forte and suddenly surprised it those fewe which made resistance being easily repressed The noble men of Fraunce were at the same time assembled at Poytiers and having intelligence hereof were desirous to be received by the Rochellers into
warres and vtter enmity against them In the meane season those citizens which were desirous of peace perswaded and preuailed with the rest that to mittigate the Earles displeasure they should make restitution of the towne they had taken and banish certaine of the chiefe authors of the enterprise This thing gaue the Earle some satisfaction And for example sake he put to death certaine commoners of the towne of Ipre which had been chiefe moouers of the late insurrection Vpon the report whereof the rebels and ringâ—eaders of mischiefe at Gaunt began to mistrust that all would be amisse on their sides also Wherefore following the counsell of one of their own stampe who was of opinion that liberty could not be procured but by subuersion of the nobilitie and gentlemens estates they ouerthrew and beat downe all the Castles and gentlemens houses they could come to and rifling their goods diuided the spoile amongst them The gentlemen mooued with this violent iniury and increased in number by the losse of their substance vppon complaint to the Earle obtained his licence and with such power as they procured made cruell warres vppon the Gauntoys Who fearing least the Earle should procure ayd out of Fraunce they sent messengers afore hand to the French King beseeching him that he would not take armes against their common wealth affirming that they contended with their Lord and endured the discommodities of warre not vppon any wilfull obstinacy but in desire to maintaine their liberty The french King being already scarce well pleased with the Earle of Flaunders for harbouring the Duke of Britaine both condiscended to their requests and gaue them encouragement Pope Clement also whome the Earle had refused to acknowledge was nothing forgetfull thereof but kept it in mind against occasion should serue to worke him as great a displeasure When the Duke of Britaine as we haue told you being called home by his subiects letters was returned into his country the King of England according to promise sent a number of souldiers to his succour but by violence of teÌ„pest they were driuen back into England The duke in the meane while not knowing hereof and wondering at the occasion of their delay sollicited the King againe for ayd Herevppon the King sent on of his vncles the youngest son of King Edward and with him six thousand men After he had passed through a good part of Fraunce when he approched nere his enemy the Duke of Burgundy the French Kings brother the Duke was desirous to haue giuen him battell but the French King for weighty considerations commanded the contrary presupposing it would come to passe that they might be disseuered of themselues And as he was indued with a kind of fortunate discretion for the managing of his affaires he practised by his letters as secretly as might be with the men of Nants a rich and populous Citie in those quaters putting them in remembrance of their dutie and earnestly desiring them that they would not take part with his enemies against him They in regard of their affection to Fraunce promised assurance of their good will and faithfull endeauour thereby discharging the kings mind of al doubts and that they might better make resistance against their enemies they requested him to send a conuenient number of souldiers to remaine with them in garrison The Englishmen after a combersome iourny and many difficulties at length arriued in Britaine My author reporteth that the Engligmen were wont to obserue this custome that when they went forth to warfare into any forraine country they were solemnly sworne to their King first to conceale and in any wise to keepe secret all counsels and purposes concerning the seruice vndertaken and then that they should conclude no absolute peace with the enemy but with the consent and approbation of their King and his nobility As the Englishmen according to my former speech were marching through the middest of Fraunce towards Britaine King Charles the wisest and most prudent Prince of his times fell greâ—uously sicke It is declared before how certaine of the King of Nauarres frends had giuen him poyson The opâ—… of which poyson was so violent that both his haire anâ—… nailes fell off and his body became so withered that scarce the image of a man remained Neuertheles the Emperour sent him a certaine Germaine phisition who abated the force thereof in such sort both nayles and haire and health also by little and little returned But his body could neuer be so cleerely purged but some part of the venome remained which being drawne into his arme distilled out at an issue made for the purpose And the phisition told him at his departure that whensoeuer that issue dried vp he should not liue long after Therefore despairing of health and feeling his own weaknes he sent for his brethren the dukes of Burgundy and Berry with the Duke of Burbon to whome he spake in this manner as for the Duke of Aniow because he seemed so gripple and couetous he desired not his presence I feele vndoubtedly my deere brothers that I cannot long continue amongst you Therefore I commend Charles my sonne to your tuition beseeching you that you will be alwaies assistant to him with your wisedome and counsell as it becommeth vncles to assist their nephew which must vndergoe the weight of so great a burthen and that in so tender yeeres as he can no waies be able to helpe himselfe Assoone as I am dead let it be your care to see him crowned for in you I repose all my trust and confidence Ye see he is but a very child and therfore shall stand in need of good bringing vp and wholesome instruction So let him be taught and trayned vp in all points pertaining to the office of a king as it may appeare to the world that you haue performed your duties And for a wife when time shall serue and yeeres be fitting let me entreat you to make his choice for birth and estate such a one as by her match the realme may rather be honoured then impayred I haue had much conference with a certaine Astronomer of great learning and iudgement who told me that in the time of his youth he should be put to much trouble and disquietnes and should escape many casualties of fortune Surely I haue often and very much considered with my selfe by what occasions such things should come to passe For at this present through the diuine fauour ye haue a state reasonable quiet and setled Of Flaunders I know not what to thinke the Duke of Britaine is subtill a friend to the English an enemy to vs therefore it is behoouefull that ye retaine the cheefe Cities of Britaine in loue and amitie for by this meanes shall the Dukes counselles be frustrate Surely the Britons deserue to be commended and are worthy to be well esteemed for they haue alwaies done me faithfull seruice both in defending my kingdome and pursuing my enemies Send into Germanie to
the truce to the King of Scotland But this was left vnperformed by what errour or negligence I know not It should seeme after the Earle of Flaunders death the duke of Burgoynes braiâ—e was so busied that he quite forgot it for all that inheritance was descended to him Certaine English gentlemen taking aduantage of this occasion made a rode into Scotland wasting the country as they went with fire and sword The Scottes who knew nothing what had passed meruailled much at the matter seeing no warre was proclaymed and so much the more because they had heard a certaine darke rumor of a truce But howsoeuer the case stoode they prepared to defend themselues When report hereof was brought to the french King the Peeres began to accuse one another of negligence in forgetting a matter of so great moment And because there was now no other remedy they sent certaine into Scotland which by declaring the true circumstances of the matter should giue them satisfaction The king himselfe was well inclined to peace but the Lords of his country made much adoe and were very hot vppon reuenge and in like maner rode forth into the borders of England to shew that they neither wanted courage nor ability to defend themselues and their goods from their enemies At length being pacifyed and the King perswaded the French ambassadors sent an herauld into England and so quieted the strife And when the truce was receiued and ratifyed on both parts it was proclaymed by sound of trumpet that no man should presume to transgresse the articles therein contayned But to perswade the king of England to this peace for he was highly offended at the late inuasion of the Scottish great meanes were made by the Duke of Lancaster who had formerly determined to make his voyage this yeere into Spaine with the assistance of the King of Portingale which warre he was the more desirous to accoÌ„plish in regard he had issue by his wife to whome he affirmed the kingdome of Spaine was both by the lawe of nations and nature it selfe of right apperâ—ayning It is shewed before with how great preparation puissance the Duke of Aniow passed into Italy When he came thither he found no opposition but onely in the Neapolitanes who would in no wise be turned from his aduersarie but Prouence Calabria and Apulia receiued him The Earle of Sauoy as I told you accompanied him in his iourney and about this time ended his life Now when he had retayned his souldiers for the space of three yeeres together being almost drayned dry with so great and coÌ„tinuall charges he requested his brothers that they would not faile him in these his affaires of so great honour and importance They out of their loue and honourable affection holding it not fit to abandon him in so â—ust a quarrell sent an army to ayd him which when it came to Auinion receiued certaine tydings that he was lately dead at a Castle not farre from Naples and so returned home againe After the death of the Earle of Flaunders the inheritance of that country descended to Phillip Duke of Burgundy which had married his daughter Now the Dutchesse of Braband whose husband Wenceslaus of Bohemia dyed lately before at Lutzemburge desired earnestly that Burgundy Henault and Flaunders might be vnited in perpetuall league and amitie The Duke of Burgoigne had a sonne named Iohn This Iohn marryed Margaret the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier and Henault at Cambray And William the sonne of Albert tooke to wife Margaret daughter to the Duke of Burgoigne The french king was present at these nuptialles And the Duke of Burgoigne gaue in dowry with his daughter an hundred thousand franks These allyances troubled the Duke of Lancaster who had a purpose to haue matcht a daughter of his to the sonne of Duke Albert. And therefore at such time as these matters were in treaty he endeauoured by his letters to Albert to haue hindred their proceedings but it preuayled not Concerning the Earles of Henault ye must conceiue that William the Lord of this seigniory had foure daughters Margaret Phillip Ione and Isabell and one sonne named VVilliam Margaret was married to Lewis of Bauier the Emperour Edward king of England marryed Phillip VVilliam was slaine in battell against the Phrisoners left no issue Therefore by his death the right of succession deuolued to Margaret the eldest sister and she enioyed the heritage till such time as Albert her sonne whom she had by Lewis the Emperour being growne to mans estate entred vpon the inheritance of his ancestors And afterward VVilliam the sonne of Albert married the Duke of Burgoignes daughter as is a little before declared The Duke of Aniow left behinde him two sonnes Lewis and Charles in whose right their mother by the counsell of Pope Clement and the French king made warre vppon the people of Prouence not without the French Kings assistance who supplyed her wants both with men and money The men of Manceilles were well affected towards her but all the rest opposed themselues against her and as it seemed would not accept her for their soueraigne before Calabria Naples and Apulia had done the same of which countries when she could showe her selfe to haue quiet possession they also offered to put themsel es vnder her obedience The truce by this time being expired the French King had a mervailous desire to bee doing with the King of England Hereupon leuying an army he sent the Duke of Burbon into Aquitaine that if it were possible he might expell the English men wholly out of Fraunce He sent another army also into Scotland vnder the conduct of his Admirall to the intent the Scottish power and his being ioyned together might put the king of England to the greater vexation But when the Admirall arriued in Scotland he found not such friendly entertaynement as he lookt for Charles the fift vpon his death-bed had requested his brothers to chuse a wife for his son of some noble family especially out of Germany that the allyance might be the stronger They did according to his desire For he married Isabell the daughter oâ— Stephen Duke of Bauier a Lady of most excellent beauty But the first meanes of this match was deriued from this occasion that Fredericke of Bauier her vnckle had followed the French king in his late warres against the English as hath beene already declared Shortly after the death of the Duke of Aniow who had attempted great matters in Italie dyed also his aduersary Charles surâ—amed the Peaceable It was supposed that he was made away by the Queene of Hungarie who hauing two daughters by her husband Lewis deceassed feared lest this Charles which was his brothers sonne should dispossesse them of their inheritance specially for that he openly tearmed himselfe King of Hungarie and therefore wrought meanes to dispatch him out of the worlde but whether this be a true report or a coniecture I cannot affirme Then
sent she ambassadors to the French King requiring that her daughter might be matchd to his brother Lewis of Valoys This being not mislikte in Fraunce commissioners were sent into Hungarie to go through with the matter in the behalfe of Duke Lewis and others afterward sent from thence into Fraunce to fetch the bridegroome In the meane while Henry of Bohemia called the Marques of Blankford the naturall brother of Charles King of Bohemia disdayning that a king should be sought so farre off by the procurement of certaine Lords of Hungary and not without consent of his brother besieged the Queene and her daughter as they soiourned for their recreation in a certaine castle seated in a solitary place farre from resort of people By meanes whereof she was at length constrayned to giue him her daughter to wife The French kings brother who was proceeded on his iourney as sarre as Champaigne with all his houshold and retinue when he heard newes of this alteration in Hungary was not a little discontented with the matter returned again to his brother who seemed not greatly sorie for as much as Hungary by reason of the farre distance of the country from Fraunce could hardly afforde him any helpe at neede The Scottish king vnderstanding the Admiralles desire to be employed leuyed an army of thirty thousand men He himselfe would not be present in the iourney but he sent his nine sonnes who together with the French men set forth towards their enemies country and wasted the borders farre and neere But assoone as they vnderstood that the King of England approched with an armie of seauenty thousand men they made no longer abode but retyred and the English pursued after The Admirall perswaded to giue battell but the Scottish men in regard their enemies were more in number then they and because they knew likewise that the English were men of great practise and experience in armes by all meanes refused the encounter And it appeared the English were neuer almost more vehemently bent to doe the Scottish a displeasure then at that time because they had then waged forraine soldiers against them and that out of Fraunce wherwith the English men were exceedingly prouoked The Scottish men the better to satisfie the Admirall who still vrged them to giue battell brought him to a hill there by of exceeding great height from whence he might perfectly take a view of all his enemies forces Which assoone as he had seene he was content to followe their counsell that were of a contrary opinion to his owne Notwithstanding least they should seeme to haue performed nothing with both their powers ioyned together they inuaded the marches of Wales where they did somewhat more harme then they could in England The Duke of Lancaster and many others gaue counsell to followe after them but a certaine person of great credyt and authority quite diuerted the kings minde from that purpose suggesting into his conceit how the Duke sought to thrust him forth into this dangerous action to the intent he might perish in battell and so himselfe get possession of the crowne How much mischiefe this bringing the King in suspition of his vnckles bred afterward in England shall be declared in place conuenient The Gauntoys tyred with seauen yeeres warres were desirous of peace but it was priuately amongst themselues For Peter de Boys who knew it was most for his profit and reputation to haue the people alwaies in trouble contention held them vnder in such sort that scarce any man durst openly make mention of peace Neuerthelesse through the diligent endeauour of two well disposed cittizens men studious of the publike welfare and a certaine gentleman of vertuous qualitie who was well beloued and befriended in Fraunce their matter was brought to a peaceable conclusion and the Duke of Burgoigne who was lately become Lord of the country shewed himselfe very gentle and tractable which he did so much the rather because in the beginning of the next spring he was purposed to make warres in England My author makes a large rehersall of the Articles of this peace which here it shall not be needfull to insert When Peter de Boys vnderstood these proceedings he likte them so well that he left the Cittie and went ouer into England with an English gentleman whom the Gauntoys long before had procured vppon ernest entreaty to be gouernour of their towne For howsoeuer after the peace was confirmed it seemd he might haue stayed there in safetie yet not daring to trust the multitude he thought it his best course to conuey himselfe out of their danger The author of this worke after rehearsall of these matters discourseth how himselfe for his better knowledge and instruction of such occurrenty as happened in Spaine Portingale Gascoigne and the countries thereabout when he was of those yeares that he was able to endure the trauell of the iourney and of that capacity and vnderstanding that he could describe and register in writing such things as he learned by his owne or others obseruation came at length to the house of a Gascone Lord called the Earle of Foys a man of much honour and respect in those times by whome being familiarly entertayned for certaine moneths together he receiued diuerse informations both from the Earle himselfe and from other persons of great credyt and account which had bene present themselues at the doing of those things whereof they made relation Amongst the rest he recounteth a certaine sorrowfull aduenture and such a one as would make euen nature it selfe astonished the discourse is this The Earle of Foys an honourable and valiant gentleman held in custodie a certaine noble man whom he had taken prisoner by the lawe of armes who for his ransome couenanted to pay fifty thousand franks for which summe the king of Nauarre whose sister the Earle had married profered to become surety But the Earle suspecting the Kings credite wherewith perhaps he had beene too well acquainted would not but vpon better assurance deliuer his prisoner His wife displeased to see her brother no better respected was very importunate with her husband and would not be in quiet till she had perswaded him oftentimes making mention how there was a matter of as great value as that to be assigned to her brother in consideration of her dowry and therefore that he neede not feare to be deceiued The prisoner by this meanes being set at liberty as soone as he came home into his countrey to the intent to discharge his credite prouided the summe of mony and sent it at his day accordingly not to the Earle himselfe but to the King of Nauarre his surety which when the Earle vnderstoode hee maruelled much the mony was not brought him and by his wife who willingly vndertooke the iourney signified his minde to the King of Nauarre desiring him to remember his promise who vpon receit of the message answered his sister in this sort Sister this
in charge to make a perfect attonement betweene the father and the sonne But God knowes they came to late For the young Earle during the space of tenne daies that he was kept in prison had taken little or no sustenance though meate were set before him so as it should seeme through continuall musing vppon the strangenes of his misfortune he had conceiued so great gâ—eese as he desired nothing but death Whereof his father being informed by the keeper he entred in vnto him with a troubled mind holding a penknife in his hand wherewith he was paring his nailes and by what fatall aduenture I know not cut a vaine of his sons throat chiding him bitterly in the meane time for refusing his meate and so departed out of the roome Immediatly after the keeper comming in found him dead vppon the floore Which newes being brought to the Earle did maruailously afflict him though he were much disquieted before For this accident happened altogether beyond his intent and expectation Yee haue heard before of the death of Ferdinando King of Portingale in whose place was chosen not Iohn King of Castile the deceased kings sonne in law but another of the clergy Ferdinandoes base brother that rather by fauor of the cities theÌ„ of the nobility Whervpon the King of Spain sent ambassadors forthwith to the state of Lisbone the principall most florishing of all that country sharpely accusing reprouing them for so vniustly taking the inheritance of the crowne from him who had married the only daughter of their King Ferdinando and conferring the same vppon one which in right had no title at all to that dignity When this would not preuaile and that they shewed themselues themselues resolute to abide by their election he raysed an armie of thirty thousand men and besiegd their Citty But after a yeares continuance and more hauing performed no notable seruice he was constrained to returne into Spaine by reason of a pestilence which consumed wel-neeâ— 20000. of his men not long after there came succours to him to out of Fraunce wherewith both his power and his courage were anew reenforced Neuerthelesse when it came to consultatioÌ„ the Spaniards thought best to discharge the army but the French men being demaunded their opinion gaue counsell to fight with the enemy alleadging probable reasons for the same At such time as the King of Spaine retyred with his army from Lisbone certaine shippes of the Englishmen arriued in the hauen They were not sent thither by the King of England but of their own heads after they had roued about from place to place in Gascoigne and Guyen they assembled at Burdeaux and there taking shipping would needes goe serue the king of Portingale The king was very glad of their seruice and thereupon leuied his forces again in purpose to giue his enemy battell in the field But diuers of the nobilitie such as had not giuen their consents to his election being offended with the Cittizens of Lisbone whose authoritie in that behalfe preuailed refused to take armes at his commaundement The King hereuppon aduising with his counsell they perswaded him to make no longer delay in the matter but to go forth against his enemy with such power as he had already how there was no other meanes to set the Kingdome in quiet that it behooued him to make way for his fortunes by the sword and not be discouraged though his enemy were of greater puissance than he for oftentimes it fell out and examples were plentifull that great numbers were ouerthrowne by small handfulles lastly that he should propose to himselfe the example of Henrie the father of the king of Castile then raigning who by the sword had conquered that Kingdome and by the sword maintained his conquest Encouraged with these and such like speeches he brought his army into the field consisting of ten thousand men The Englishmen seeing themselues ouermatched in number gaue the King counsell that he should not abide in the plaines but seeke some place of stronge situation to encampe in where the enemy might make no approche but to his disaduantage Such a place was found which they likewise so fortifyed by their industrie and compast on euery side with sundry impediments that but by one onely entrance and that not very large there was no possible meanes to come at them In the Spanish army the French men carried greatest sway by reason of the kings fauour who ordered all his affaires by their counsell and direction which things stirred vp enuie in the Spaniards hearts as those that could by no means endure so great hope should be reposed in the ayd of strangers This also much encreased their grudge that when the King had brought his army to the place of battell the French men sued importunatly to haue the leading of the vauntguard When they approched neere their enemyes the French men perswaded to giue battell presently but the Spaniards counselled â—o deferre it till the next morning because night was then at hand But the Frenchmens perswasion tooke place who assoone as the signe of battell was giuen ran furiously vppon their enemyes and assayled them with great violence The fight was maintained with great force and courage on both sides but the valour and skill of the English archers here approoued it selfe as it had oftentimes done in other places For the showers of arrowes which they sent amongst the Frenchmen so galled their horses and distressed their men that the greatest part of them being slaine the residue were all taken prisoners The King of Spaine with the rest of his forces to the nomber of twenty thousand was two miles behind when the French men gaue this ouer-hasty onset and when word was brought him that they were dangerously engaged and in perill to be all slaine he was very desirous to haue come to their rescue but he could not bring his souldiers forward For it was determined amongst them that seeing the french men would needes seeme valiant aboue the rest and had vaunted themselues with so great brauery they would giue them leaue to goe through with their enterprise alone and disclaime all interest in the successe of their proceedings A little before night the King of Spaine drewe neere to his enemy who vppon aduertisement thereof first placed his men againe in order of battell and then gaue commaundement on paine of death that all such as had any prisoners should presently kill theÌ„ least in the ensuing conflict they might happen to recouer armes and ioyne with the enemy Surely it was a cruell sight and such a one as mooued even the conquerours themselues to pitty and teares but there was no remedy they must doe as they were commaunded There was about a thousand of these prisoners all which were consumed by a cowardly kind of death so as it appeared their fellowes which dyed valiantly before in fight were much more happy then they who being both by fortune and their
owne vertue preserued after assurance giuen by the enemy and receiued by them according to the law of atmes fell into extreame calamity at such time as they thought themselues most secure of life and safety and were slaine by the conquerour not enraged and angry as in the fury of battell but being now at peace with them and euen himselfe abhorring such an vnnaturall slaughter The Portingales through the great aduantage of their ground ouerthrew their enemies againe and in this second battell was mercy shewed to no man They that could saued themselues by flight the rest were all slaine The Spaniards mist of their number about seauen thousand Afterwards as the custome of Princes is when they haue performed many notable mischiefes a truce was agreed vppon So the King of Spaine dismissed his souldiers and the King of Portugale was receiued with great triumph into Lisbone About the same time the French men recouered all that was holden by certaine Brigants in the country of Tholous the places there adioining The Gascones for that the wars they made in France was greatly to their enriching did willingly serue vnder the King of England and if they had been gently and respectiuely vsed they would neuer haue changed their Lord. But the King of Englands Sonne by his straÌ„ge behauiour alienated the greatest part of the nobility from him in such sort that they forsooke him put themselues vnder protection of the French King Besides this his officers vsed the Gascones disdainfully as vnworthy to whome any charge in the common wealth should be committed Herevpon grew hatred betweene them and by this occasion Charles the fift recouered all againe as hath been already declared Whilst the warres were yet hotly pursued between the two Popes the souldiers of Clement had besieged Vrbane in a certaine castle of Italy and if money had come to content them he had surely beene taken But the Bishops treasure at Avinion was already so wasted that the suÌ„me of twenty thousand frankes which should be distributed amongst the souldiers could not possibly be raised This dissention betweene the two Popes drew almost all the Princes of Christendom into sundry factions as hath beene shewed before These miseries and many other wherewith the Clergie should sometimes be afflicted a certaine Franciscane Fryer had long since foretolde in the time of Pope Innocent and being for the same cast in prison at Auinion had lost his head for his labour but that he confirmed his sayings by authoritie of scripture We haue spoken of Ferdinando king of Portingall which left behinde him one onely daughter named Beatrice marryed to the King of Spaine Now my author declareth how he vnderstood afterward that she was begotten by the king of Portugall vppon a certaine Ladie whome he had rauished and whose husband he had chased out of the kingdome and that his daughter so borne was afterwards by Pope Vrbane made legitimate And moreouer at such time as the marriage was in treaty betweene this Lady and the King of Spaine this matter was also brought in controuersie But the King of Portugall to remoue all doubts dealt in such sort with his nobilitie and chiefest of the citties that they all solemnly promised him not to acknowledge any other soueraigne after his death then this his onely daughter neither to admitte any man else to the succession of the crowne but him that should haue her in marriage Assoone as he was departed out of this life the noble men were desirous the inheritance should passe to the King of Spaine but the citties for hatred they bare to the Spanyards aduanced him to the crowne of whom we haue oftentimes spoken before namely the base brother of the King deceassed And because at such time as the king of Portugall dyed the Ladies husband remayned still aliue most men thought that the childe begotten betweene them was borne in adultery Moreouer that couple had liued fiue yeeres together as man and wife wheÌ„ the king doting in his wicked and frantick affection attempted this dishonourable practise not only for a Prince but for any other person most vnworthy and shamefull The wretched husband being robbed of his wife gat him to the King of Spaine and after the King of Portingales decease returned againe to Lishone but receiued his wife no more following therein the â—ounsell of his frends who alledged great reasons to the contrary Afterward he was slaine in a certaine skirmish and it is likely he had small ioy of his life considering the extreame iniury and disgrace receiued from such a one of whom he had no hope to be reuenged At such time as Lisbone was besieged by the Spanyards the king of Portingale sent Embassadors into England exhorting and requesting the Duke of Lancaster to succour him in this great necessitie against such an enemy as both possessed a kingdome which was none of his owne and sought also by force to seize vpon the crowne of Portingale whereto he had no more right then to the other Vppon hearing of their ambassage it was concluded that the Duke of Lancaster should be sent into Portingale and all things were prepared and made ready for his voyage when suddainly the Admirall of Fraunce landing with an army in Scotland from thence made warre vppon the English as hath bene before declared Hereuppon the Dukes iourney was stayed Neuerthelesse the King of Portingale fought prosperously and vanquished his enemie in two battells as is shewed already And after this victorie returning to Lisbone by aduise of his counsell he sent Ambassadours againe to the king of England and the Duke of Lancaster desiring him if euer he meant to attempt any thing against his aduersarie the king of Spaine that he would not neglect the present opportunitie For twise he himselfe had already defeated him in battell and driuen him from the field now did he quake and tremble for distrust of his estate and it were an easie matter to ouerthrowe him whollie specially if they should assaile him with both their forces vnited together Scarce could he know on which side to turne him his affaires and his counsels would be all so confounded and that his state might be more violently shaken it seemed best in his opinion to make present inuasion vppon him befote he should recouer his strength or bethinke him of the danger When these and many other like matters had beene deliuered by the Ambassadors it pleased the King that the Duke of Lancaster should now at length proceede with his voyage before vndertaken So with a certaine number of horsemen and more then two thousand archers accompanied with his wife and children he tooke shipping at a certain hauen in Wales whither the Portingales vppon aduertisement from their ambassadors had before sent fiue and twentie shippes and Gallies to attend him And because he saw great likelyhood of troubles to arise in England that he was enuyed by many which were in authority about the King his nephew he
by compulsion The Duke following their counsell made restitution of all and besides put euery officer in his place againe as he found them when he first seized the castles into his possession The fame hereof being presently spred into Fraunce met the commissioners also vpon the confines of Britaine Who when they came before the Duke because of his owne accord he had already performed that which otherwise they should haue requested at his handes they proceeded to the other part of their commission which was to require him that at a day prefixed he would repaire to the towne of Bloys vppon the riuer Loire there to meete and conferre with the Kings vncles The Duke condiscended and being come thither accordingly they exhorted and entreated him that for assurance and confirmation of peace he would speake with the King himselfe and doe homage vnto him as all others had done he only excepted The Duke as one that was not ignorant how great enemies he had about the King namely the Constable and Iohn his Son lately set free out of England discreetly and earnestly excused himselfe Neuertheles after the Kings vncles had made him faithfull promise that he should both goe and returne in safety without any offence or interruption he was contented at length to beare them company to Paris When the Duke of Lancaster had sent many letters from Bayon into England for succours and could not preuaile seing all mens affections generally enstranged from the voiage of Spaine it was a mighty greefe and corrosiue to his heart considering with himselfe how strong and well furnished an army he had brought forth against his enemy through the puissance whereof he had conquered no small number of townes and fortresses and afterward how cruelly fortune had dealt with him and his ouerthrowing the whole course of his proceedings in such sort as he sawe no possible meanes left how euer to obtaine his inheritance of the kingdoÌ„e of Castile In musing vpon this his misfortune he compared it to that calamity which the Duke of Aniow suffered in Calabria who being come into Italy vpon large hopes and great expectation not only fayled of the endes whereto he aspired but spent his life also in the pursute of his enterprise This only was a comfort to him in all his discouragements that he had a daughter by his wife Constance whome he thought some French Lord of high estate eyther in respect of her birth or possibility would desire to haue in marriage Now the Duke of Berry was at the same time a widdower and his freinds now and then discoursing with him about a wife amongst others mentioned also the Duke of Lancasters daughter The Duke presently began to conceiue some good affection that way and therevppon aduertised the Duke of Lancaster of his intent whome when he had found nothing strange in the matter he sent CoÌ„missioners againe to negotiate with him further in that behalfe The Duke of Lancaster in the meane time politickly dispersed the fame hereof into all countries far and neere by sending to his freinds instructed for the purpose both the copyes of his owne and the Duke of Berries letters for he was well assured that these tydings would meruailously trouble and disquiet the King of Spaine Who indeed assoone as he heard of the matter began to enter into a deepe consideration with himselfe how great inconuenience might redound vnto him by this marriage namely that peace being established between England and Fraunce both those nations vniting their forces together would make warres vppon Spaine and so conuey the possession of the crowne to the Duke of Lancasters wife Wherefore vpon aduise which his counsell it was thought good to make a secret motion that the Duke of Lancasters daughter might be giuen in marriage to Henrie his sonne whome hee had by the King of Arragons daughter Herevpon a sew were sent and those slenderly accompanyed least the French men by whose friendship he possessed his kingdome should come to any knowledge of the businesse intended The Duke gaue good eare to their message And yet he put the French commissioners still in great hope euer making this exception that he would go through with nothing without the consent and approbation of the King of England his nephew to whome he had wholy referred the conclusion of these matters and with this answere he dismist them But he carryed himselfe much more familiarly towards the Spaniards through his wiues procurement who sawe by this meanes that her daughter without any empeachment or difficulty should orderly succeed in the inheritance of that flourishing kingdome for the obtayning whereof so many travailes and painefull aduentures had been sustained by her husband The hatred kindled euery day more and more betweene the Brabanders and Gelders and the Brabanders assembling about fortie thousand men besieged Graue a towne neere adioyning to the riuer Maze The duke of Gelders lying the same time at Nymmeghen because he had great confidence both in the townsemen and the Garrison left at Graue did not greatly passe for that siege Neuerthelesse he required ayde of the King of England sor so it was conditioned between them when he made his defiance to the French King But the state of England was so intangled with ciuill dissention and troubled with expectation of wars out of Scotland that no ayd could be obtayned from thence And the Brabanders seeing they wasted their time in vaine sent some tenne thousand of their men abroade to harry their enemies countrey The Duke of Gelders being certified thereof gathered together about three hundred horsemen and contrary to the perswasions of almost all his Counsell with that small company marched towardes his enemy with great courage esteeming it better to die fighting manfully in the field than to be shut vp within the walles of a towne and besieged Therefore when hee had put his men in array hee exhorted them to knightly prowesse and valiant demeaâ—our giuing so great encouragement by example of his owne resolution that setting sputres to their horses they all in one troupe ranne suriously vpon their enemies preuenting their expectation with such a desperat charge before they could settle themselues to any orderly resistance that they easily ouercame them and with small losse obtained an honorable victorie Many perished some slaine in fight others drowned in the riuer Maze such as escaped fled with all the speede they could make and carried tidings of their ouerthrowe to the campe before Graue Whereupon so great terrour rose presently amongst them that without further delay they abandoned the siege and for haste left all their prouision and baggage behinde them The French king being exceedingly desirous to take reuengement of the Duke of Gelders for those arrogant and reprochfull Letters he had sent him raised a mighty armie Many disswaded him from this voiage and among the rest his vncles but because the duke of Brittaine was now fully concluded withall insomuch that he had
repayd the money also that he had taken from the Constable the King would not by any meanes omit the present occasion of accomplishing his purpose And first he sent ambassadors to the emperour to acquaint him with the causes of this warre for so it be hooued him in regard of certaine couenants and articles made formerly betwixt the Emperour and him It was thought best to passe the army through Braband and the Dutchesse her selfe was well contented it should be so but all the people besides stoode stowtly against it and were readie to defend their frontires from admitting such a multitude as being once receiued would doe no lesse harme and annoyance to the country than if their enemies should waste and spoile it Moreouer they threatned the Dutchesse that if she gratified the Frenchmen in this behalfe they would neuer take armes against the duke of Gelders Then she aduise dly excused her selfe to the King imputing the blame to her people and beseeching him not to take anie offence at her deniall Therefore taking his iourney through Champaigne hee sent three thousand before to make way through the forrest of Ardenne which otherwise he could not haue passed Moreouer he sent vnto the Emperour a coppie of the Letter which the duke of Gelders would haue had carried into France when he made his defiance When the Emperour had seene that despightful and vnreuerent manner of writing he gaue answer to the ambassadors in such sort as might wel assure theÌ„ he would be no hindrance to the Frenchmens proceedings Who hewing their passage through the forrest of Arden entred into the territorie of Lutzemburge and when they approched neere the country of Liege the Bishoppe whose name was Arnold of the house of the Earles of Horne moued by the Archbishop of Colen made intercession to the King for the duke of Iuliers whose seigniory was like to be the first that should haue tasted the violence of that warre The King was not much against his request so the duke himselfe would come and shew how the matters which he alleaged for his excuse were iust and reasonable The duke being brought to the Kings presence protested that hee neither counselled his sonne to make that defiance nor had anie knowledge thereof before the letters were sent And for confirmation of his innocencie in this case promised that hee would perswade with his sonne to make his purgation aduisedly before the King and desire him of pardon which thing if hee could not effect hee would set open all his townes to the King that by meanes thereof hee might accomplish his warres with more aduantage This condition was accepted and the rather by the duke of Burgoigns perswasion The duke of Iuliers therfore accompanied with the Archbishop of Collen resorted to his sonne and ye will not beleeue what trauell and endeuour hee vsed to alter his obstinate minde For all his discourse sauoured of nothing but meere fiercenesse and contempt of the King whose puissance he perswaded himselfe that he should be able to withstand through the helpe of the English At length after many rebukes and sharp threatnings with milde speeches and gentle intreaties now and then intermingled betweene being forced as it were by assault hee condiscended to his father Then the duke drew him a forme of excuse to this effect that whatsoeuer hee had doone in this matter was by counsell and procurement of the King of England When the French King had seene the duke of Gelders and heard what hee had spoken for himselfe his mindeseemed to relent with a singular kinde of affection for hee not onely pardoned his fault but from thenceforth beganne to loue him and that much more earnestly than if he had neuer offended him When the Scottish men vnderstoode that discord was hatching in England and by continuance of time had gathered greater strength being daily more and more augmented to the intent to reuenge olde iniuries without acquainting the King with their purpose they assembled to the number of fortie thousand men They thought likewise to haue concealed it from their enemies by a pollicie but they were deceiued For the English hauing intelligence thereof made preparation to with stand them It came to a pitched field and neuer was battell fought with greater force betweene them The Scottish army being diuided in two partes came not with equall puissance to the encounter because they were separated one farre from an other neuerthelesse they went away with victory After the French mens departure the Duke of Gelders being one that tooke no pleasure in case and idlenesse raysed certaine forces and tooke his iourney towards Prussia It happened that as he passed through Germany hee was taken prisoner But the Lordes of Prussia rescued him againe by force and caused the party which had taken him to flie for his owne safety lest hee should haue fallen into the like miâ—fortune himselfe Now although he were set free by the helpe of his friends and as hee lost his libertie by the lawe of Armes so hee had recouered it by the same meanes againe yet bicause he would keepe faith with his enemy he came at a certaine time to a place appointed and compounded for his ransome The Duke of Lancaster as we shewed before kept the duke of Berry still a suter in great exspectation and yet he was all the while more affected to the Spaniard Amongst other doubts which he cast this was one that if the Duke of Berry should fortune to die his daughter should then remaine but a poore Lady in respect of her other sisters for the duke had children by his first wife which doubtlesse would goe away with the greatest part of his estate When the French King vnderstoode how the King of Spaine had put in a barre against the duke of Berrios proceedings hee was wonderfully offended so was the whole Counsell of Fraunce who knew well how highly Spaine was bound to the Kings of Fraunce for great benefites receiued many ages together For by the ayde of Charles the sift Henry the bastard being set in possession of the kingdome left the same after his decease to his sonne Iohn now raigning yet not in such sort that he was able to defend it against the English men and their confederates the Portingales if hee had not beene vpholden by the succour of the French men This ingratitude therefore being generally taken in very ill part Ambassadours were addressed to the King of Spaine with this message That he should take good aduisement and consider well with himselfe what hee did and with whome he contracted freindship sieldome any marriages were made but there passed leagues and confederacies betweene the parties There were yet extant counterpanes of the allyance between Henrie his father and his posterity on the one part and the Kings of Fraunce on the other Against the couenants whereof it were not good to transgresse if he did that he should thinke no wronge done him by the
the sword Neuerthelesse in conclusion a meanes was found to make amity and peace betweene them The French king gaue his daughter in marriage to the Duke of Brittaines sonne and the sonne of Iohn of Bloys the Constables son in lawe married the Duke of Britaines daughter Verily for the most part to such comicall conclusions come the tragicall contentions of Princes Guy Earle of Bloys had rich and ample inheritance both in Fraunce and other countries But after the death of Lewis his sonne who deceased very yong he had no one certaine heire but diuerse in diuerse places according as his lands lay separated one farre from another Now the duke of Touraine the French kings brother by the meanes of his wife which was daughter to Galâ—as Duke of Millaine had a greatmasse of money lying by him And because he was desirous to bestow it to some benefite he would neuer rest till he had perswaded the Earle to sell him al the lands pertaining to the Earledome of Bloys It was a hard matter to compasse and good reason why but being ouercome at last by the intreaty of his wife the Duke of Berryes daughter whom the French king had suborned when he saw no hope of issue he solde him the reuersion of his Earledome for two hundred thousand franks Gascone Earle of Foys whose singular wisedome and liberality my Author dooth oftentimes commend fell sodainly downe dead one day when he was come home from hunting as he washed his hands to go to dinner By what mischaunce his onely sonne perished we haue shewed before Now of his base sonnes he loued one so well that he was earnestly in hand with the French King for his legittimation that he might haue made him his heyre and if suddaine death had not preuented him perhaps he might haue brought the matter to passe as he desired The next of his kinted to succeed him was the vicount of Chastillon but as long as he liued he alwaies hated him to the intent to doe him displeasure besides his purpose and endeauour to haue conueyed the inheritance to his bastard sonne he also borrowed of the French King when he had no need fiue hundred thousand frankes because if euer he happened to become his heyre he would be sure to charge him with a heauy burthen Assoone as the Earle was dead there wanted not some to perswade the King that in regard he deceassed without issue and was indebted to him so great a summe of money he should seize all the Earldome into his owne possession After the matter had been diuersly debated at length by inter cession of the Duke of Berry the King was contented to depart with the Earldome to the Vicount vpon these conditions that he should pay vnto him threescore thousand frankes and twenty thousand more to such as had trauelled and taken paines in his behalfe for the obtainment of his sute and finally that by the censure of indiffereÌ„t persons he should deale friendly and honourably with the Earles two bastard Sonnes that remayned After the French men were returned out of Barbary vppon relation which many made of the occurrents they had seene the King was enflamed with a meruailous desire to goe into those countries to conquer the Barbarians and there were diuers that prouoked and put him forward to the action as an enterprise fitting a Prince of such puissance But it was generally thought necessary that the church should first be setled in quiet before this expedition were vndertaken And that could not otherwise be brought to passe then by suppressing the new Pope lately chosen at Rome This counsell was well approoued and there vppon proclamation made through all Fraunce that the King would addresse himselfe to the warres at the beginning of the next spring Now when this voyage was thus fully resolued vppon ambassadours arryued out of England signifying how their King was very desirous of peace This newes wonderfully reioyced the French King and therevppon a meeting was appointed at Amience The King of England sent thither two of his vncles the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke but the Duke of Gloucester the great aduersary of peace he kept still with himselfe at Douer The french King was present in person at this treaty The Englishmen demaunded againe all Aquitaine which King Iohn had departed from by the law of armes and besides fourteene hundred thousand frankes which remayned yet vnpayed for his raunsome The French men offered them a part of Aquitaine namely that they had already in possession and nyne Bishoprickes For the payment of their money they required three yeares respit and that Calice might be raced to the ground The conditions were reiected on both sides For although the Englishmen enclind wonderfully to peace yet without their kings consent they would not conclude vpon any thing for that was beyond the limits of their commission It seemed the King of England did not greatly disallow the rest of the articles sauing only the racing of Calice But the Duke of Gloucester the disturber of peace and enemy to all agreement made vehement opposition affirming that it was impossible euer to drawe the French men to any accord which might be for the profit and honour of England And because in these affaires of so great consequence the King alone had not authority sufficient to confirme the articles of peace though he likte them neuer so well without consent of the three estates of his kingdome assembled in Parliament it was agreed that to the former three yeeres truce another tweluemonth should be added that in the meane time conuenient leisure might be had to consider and determine of the matter at large Neuerthelesse at the Duke of Lancasters departure the French King discouering his minde shewed him how earnestly he was desirous of peace to the intent that by this meanes he might bend all his forces against the Turkes and Barbarians who had lately both driuen the King of Armenia out of his country and also entred with great cruelty into the Kingdome of Hungary The Duke well disposed of himselfe and mooued with the Kings most curteous and honourable discourse promised him his faithfull furtherance and that he would neuer cease the imploying of his best endeauours till he had brought the matter to such a conclusion as by the King especially and by all well affected people was generally desired The french King made an exchange with his brother Lewis for the Duke dome of Toureine in liev whereof he gaue him the duke dome of Orleance which was much greater but with this condition that all his heyres and successours should do homage and fealty to the Kings of Fraunce for the same A certaine gentleman of the Court called Peter of Craon was highly in fauour with the Duke of Orleance who besides his wife bare secret affection to another Lady of excellent beauty and this matter was not vnknowne to that friend of his whome he vsed so familiarly It so
much hated by the commons which afterward was the occasion of much mischiefe in England Thus when no forces came from thence to their rescue the Gascones destitute of all succour were constrayned to yeeld themselues to the enemie The French King being a wise and politicke prince held correspondence with all men which might stand him instead or from whome he expected any commoditie or furtherance considering therefore with himselfe how the king of England was yet vnder age and that trouble and part-taking were growing within the realme he sollicited Robert King of Scotland and put him often in remēbrance by his letters to make warre vppon the Englishmen now while so great opportunity was offered that being thereby busyed at home they might not haue so good leysure to passe ouer into Fraunce The scottish King moued with these instigations and partly of himselfe desirous to reuenge old iniuries especially whilste the King of England was yet in his nouage vppon consultation of the matter sent commaundement for the assembling of his people to meete him at a certaine time ready furnished and appointed for the warres vppon the borders of England and Scotland When they were come together a certaine Scottish Lord desirous to shew some proffe of his vasor and bold courage associating himselfe with some fewe others in the night season whilste the watch were all sleeping or negligēt without any great difficulty surprised the castle of Barwicke When the gouernour of the towne vnderstood it he gatherd together a company of the townsemen and early in the morning assoone as any daylight appeared first brake downe the bridge which was the onely passage to issue out and then environed the castle round about with a siege so straightly that it was impossible for his enemy to make any evasion The people of the country being also certified by him how the matter stood brought in ten thousand men to his ayde At the tydings whereof the Scottish men raised their campe to come and rescue their besieged companions But they were so terrified with the greatnes of the English army that they would not aduenture the curtesie of fortune So in conclusion assault was giuen the castle recovered and all that were in it were put to the sword saue onely the captaine himselfe vppon whose authoritie this enterprise was vndertaken After the Castle was thus gotten againe it seemed good to the Englishmen to pursue their eniemies in their retreyte which they likewise did though it fell out to their own deadly disaduantage fortune fauouring the Scottish Pope Gregorie in time past had made a solemne vow that if euer he attained to the Papacy he would neuer keepe his residence any other where then are Rome This was very offensiue to some of the Cardinals which bare scarce good affection to the Romaines and it was nothing pleasing to the french King who was desirous to haue had the Pope his neerer neighbour Therefore he sent his brother the Duke of Aniow to Avinion to perswade with him but he was not able to diuert him from his purpose So he went to Rome the place he desired and within a while after there ended his life When the Cardinals as the custome is were assembled together for the election of another the people of Rome began to make great tumult in the court threatning violent effects of their displeasure if they made choyce of any other to be Pope then such a one as was both by birth and ancestors a Romaine And therewithall rushing in amongst the Cardinals and with their fury interrupting their businesse it came to passe by meanes of this disturbance that one was chosen for Pope which was 100 yeeres old This man the Romanes hoysed vp vpon a white Mule and with great solemnity led him about the Citie But the crooked old man wearie with this troublesome kind of curtesie and tyred with this tumbling vp and downe within three daies afeer gaue vp the ghost Wherevppon ensued another hurliburly the Romaines therein with arrogant threates shewing themselues more outragious then before At length a Romaine borne was elected and called afterward by the name of Vrbane the sixt About the same time dyed the Queene of Navarre the french kings sister and by her decease a certaine seigniory in Normandy fell to Charles and Peter the King of Nauarres sonnes which were brought vp in the french Court. Many counselled the french King to seize into his hands all the King of Navarres possessions in Normandy and to hold the same till his sonnes were come of age The King of Navarre mistrusting as much requested to haue his Sonnes sent home pretending that he was purposed to bestow the elder of thē in marriage with the King of Spaines daughter Answere was returned by the french King that his sonnes could not be in a better or more honourable place then in his Court. For he would bring them vp in all respects as was fitting for the Sonnes of a King and such as were alyed in bloud to himselfe This answere was taken in displeasure by the King of Navarre who therevppon fortified those places of Normondy against the force of the french men Many important occasions mooued the french King to conceiue offence against the King of Navarre but especially that matter of poisoning which we told you before was confessed Wherefore sending an army against him he subdued Mountpelier and the country about it which at that time were vnder the King of Nauarres subiection The King of Navarre being thus molested both vpon the frontiers of his owne kingdome and in Normandy for the French King had sent an army thither also made request to the King of England by ambassadours that he might be receiued into his frendship The King of England sent him answere how he thought it expedient that if he would deale seriously and effectually in matters of such importance he should come into England himselfe This motion was well accepted by the King of Nauarre and accordingly he repaired into England where recounting his misfortunes after the matter had been debated in counsell he was receiued into league and amity with the King of England vppon these or the like conditions 1. That from thenceforth euer after he should take part with the English 2. That he should neuer make peace with the french King or the King of Spaine vppon any tearmes whatsoeuer without consent of the King of England and his counsell 3. That he should fortifie the Castle of Chirburg in Normandy and maintaine a garrison in it for three yeeres space to the vse of the King of England 4. That if it should happen the Englishmen to recouer any townes in these quarters from the french then the King of England to haue the profits of the same the propriety of the places remaining to the King of Navarre And this especially was most acceptable to the English because from thence they might alwaies haue accesse into France at their pleasure It