said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
ready to accompany the French King to the Holy Land in order to fight against the Common Enemies of Christendom In the discussing and debating of these Articles the King of France was so zealously bent on the Holy War and such diligence was used by his Council not one at that time daring on the suddain to contradict that in the end a full Conclusion of the Peace on the Terms proposed was agreed on and Matters proceeded so far that Proclamation was order'd to be made thereof the next day in Paris and the Towns thereabouts But whether by the Fickleness and Inconstancy of King Philip or the Advice of some Scotch Pensioner in his Council or a sense of Generosity and a Commiseration of King David's exil'd Condition or by some secret Impulse of Heaven for the sins of Christendom and the punishment of France scarce were the English Ambassadors return'd to their Lodgings but they were remanded back again to Court where presently new Scruples were started which chiefly concern'd the third Article For thô as to the second Demand King Philip stood stifly against it at first unless all the Charges his Father Charles had been at in those Gascoigne Wars were repaid him by the King of England yet that when 't was made appear that the War it self was unjust he easily remitted But now as to the third Article King Philip answer'd peremptorily That he could not either in Honour or Equity desert his Friends the Scots in this their Oppression they being his Confederates and just Men Nor ought he to esteem King Edward worthy of his Friendship while he continued War against them That himself was as all Kings ought to be a Friend to Justice from which he should never swerve either for Affinity or Advantage or any other Consideration whatsoever but that he would to his Power vex and molest all the Disturbers of the Peace of Scotland For said he there will never be perfect Peace and Quietness in Christendom till the King of France shall stand as Umpire between the Realms of Scotland and England And therefore he briefly told the Ambassadors that having better consider'd of it he was resolv'd to conclude nothing as to Peace with England unless King David also might be comprehended in the same League so as that he might be restored to his Kingdom and the Bailiol wholly excluded Surely how gallant soever this Speech might seem 't was neither modest enough prudent nor seasonable For had he temporised so far as thereby to have obtain'd King Edward's Company in this Holy War the Bailiol might easily have been ruin'd by King David's Interest alone And it was more likely that then by fair means modest Reasonings King Edward might have been wrought upon by a personal Conference than by this rash and imperious way of Prescribing For from these peremptory Words the Breach became so wide that without bloody Wars Peace was not likely to be obtained Not to say that if King Philip did really intend this Holy Expedition he was not very wise to talk so high in such a juncture and if he did not intend it he was scarce sincere enough in his pious Resolutions However the English Ambassadors replied their Commission extended not so far as to reach to King David or to make any Concession to his Advantage so the whole matter was broke off and the Breach made wider than before Now the most exact Account of the first Original of these Unkindnesses between the two Kings of England and France which is by no Historian over exactly handled is to be found only in the publique Records of the Peace ten years before this made between King Edwards Father and Charles the Fair of France a Copy whereof was then sent to Pope John XXII and afterwards from the Library of Avignon brought into the Vatican and being seen and diligently weighed by my y Odoricus Raynaldus Continuat ad Baremum tom xv Ad an Christi 1327. §. 44. Author because from the Breach thereof the Wars which exercis'd England and France for so many Ages seem'd to take their first Occasion yield us these Observations In the Year 1325. which was the 19 of King Edward the II. of England by the diligence of Qu. Isabella with her Brother K. Charles of France together with the assistance of William Archbishop of Vienna and Hugh Bishop of Orange Nuntio's from the Apostolick Seat a Peace was made between the two Realms on this Condition z L. 9. c. 314. says Villani that what had been won by Charles of Valois in Aquitain should remain wholly to the French but in the publique a Extant in Arch. Vatican ex Avenion delat sign n. 10. in Chart. Pergam Records signed with the Seal of the King of France that Condition is not expressed but very cunningly cover'd with obscure and deceitfull Circumlocutions which when the Inventers of these politick Fetches contrived then they scattered the Seeds of a most inveterate Enmity between the two Realms to the infinite Dammage of France When the French wrested the Articles to their own purpose and the English exclaim'd that they were falsly and treacherously deceived for it was added that as to those Lands the French King should determin according to Law the King of England demanding his Right And so the Quarrel was not ended But now this Condition in that Treaty is evident that the French King should set over Aquitaine to administer justice a Person of integrity and one not suspected by the King of England and so the Armies on both sides should be disbanded and the King of England on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin should meet the French King at Beauvais and do Homage to the Crown of France for Aquitain which was then to be restored entirely unto him the foresaid Lieutenant being called back And this Agreement at the instance of Queen Isabell and the Pope was by consent of the Ambassadors of both Parties unanimously established in the Year aforesaid as appears by the Letters of both the Kings But now when afterwards King Edward II had conferr'd on his Son the Dukedom of Aquitain and a while after by Civil Tumults miscarried and Edward the III succeeded in the Throne the former Wars began to bleed fresh again our Young Edward being obliged to seek that Right by Arms which by Law he could not obtain but lest the Laws of Nature and the Peace of Christendom should be violated these Discords at the instance of the Pope who sent William Archbishop of Vienna and John Grandesson Bishop of Exceter for that purpose were composed on this Condition That as soon as might be what had been taken by the English in Aquitain contrary to the Form of the foresaid Agreement should be restored and on the other side that what had been taken by the French should be rendred to King Edward the said King Edward being to pay 50000 l. Sterling towards the reparation of Dammages and those Gascoigners who
and Bethune which three Towns the French King withheld from Flanders Upon King Edwards Request therefore Jacob van Arteveld came to this Parliament at Brussels with a great Retinue as if he had been Earl of Flanders and at his Motion all the Chief Burgesses of Gaunt and the other Good Towns of that Country by some called the Hanse-Towns of Flanders thô properly speaking they belong rather to the Four Provinces of Lubeck Cologne Brunswick and Dantzick All these were well pleased with the foresaid Promise of King Edward and thereupon desired to take Advice among themselves When having Retired and Debated sufficiently upon the Point they gave the King this Answer the Contrivance and Menagement of all which is Attributed to Jacob van Arteveld Sir You were pleased to require of Us that which of Our selves We would most willingly do if We might do it handsomly and without Loss or Dishonour But alas Sir We are Obliged both by Oath and a Bond of b Ashmole p. 650. Fox p. 340. Sandford p. 160 2000000 of Florens of Gold to be paid into the Popes Chamber never to make War against the King of France whosoever he shall be Which Forfeiture not only keeps Us in Aw but also the Danger of being Interdicted by the Pope if We break Our Oath made to him But Sir If You will but undertake to bear the Arms of France and Quarter them with the Arms of England and Own Your Self publiquely King of France as indeed You are and ought of Right to be Accounted then We will look upon You as the True King of France against whom We are not to make War and thereupon demand of You an Acquittance of Our said Bond which You may Grant Us as King of France By this means We shall be assured of Our Money and acquitted of Our Oath and then We will be ready to serve You in what You shall Command This Fine Trick was thus Invented by that subtle Demagogue Jacob van Arteveld to satisfie the unthinking Commons of the Equity of standing to King Edward against France notwithstanding all their Solemn Engagements to the Contrary However the King demurr'd at this their Answer For thô he knew he might Lawfully claim the Crown of France in Right of his Mother Queen Isabella yet he thought it neither Reasonable nor much for his Honour to take upon him the Arms and Kingly Title of that Realm before he had made Conquest of any Part thereof not being sure that ever he should be able to bring those Matters to effect On the other side he was very loath to refuse the Flemmings this their Desire because they might prove so Instrumental in his Service Whereupon he Advis'd in private with the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre the Earls of Juliers and Blankburg Mons and Bergen the Lords of Hainault and Valkenburgh the Lord Robert of Artois and his English Peers by whose Advice he return'd this Answer That if they would Swear and Seal to this Covenant and Engage to serve him upon all Occasions in his War he would then readily do all this since in Equity he might and further undertake to restore them those three Cautionary Towns of Lille Doway and Bethune which they had deliver'd as Pledges of their Faith to the French King. To this the Flemmings agree'd and d Joh. Villani l. 11. c. 108. Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 3. Hocsem l. 2. c. 25. so the 23 of January was appointed firmly to Ratifie these mutual Covenants and Conditions at Gaunt on which day the King and most of the forenamed Lords came to Gaunt where he was met by the Chief Burgesses of all the Towns of Flanders and then and there all the foresaid Agreements being ready Engrossed were rehearsed Sworn and Seal'd to and so the King took upon him the Style of France and Quarter'd the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England But thô e Speed p. 572. afterwards perhaps to gratifie the French Nation or because that was the more Ancient and Greater Monarchy he placed the Flowers de Lis in the Dexter and more Honourable Quarter yet it is highly probable that at their First Entermingling it was not so as appears not only by the Figure of this King in Armour trampling on a Boar by a Castle signifying France in a very Old Vellam M. S. now by me where the English Lions are ranged in the First and Last Quarters of his Shield but also from f Speed p. 572. a Seal of Queen Isabella this Kings Mother where the Arms of England as being those of the Husband's Line and therefore to have Precedence are Marshal'd where now the Flower de Luces shine But to put this out of all Doubt We shall further produce the Words of King Philip spoken at this time upon occasion of this Action of King Edwards to certain English Gentlemen sent to him about the present Affairs Our g Stâ—â— p. 236. Cosin says he doth wrongfully Quarter the Arms of England and France which notwithstanding doth not so much displease Us because indeed he is descended thô by the Weaker Sex of Our Kin and therefore as being a Batchelour We could easily be content to allow him part of the Arms of France but whereas in his Seals and Letters Patents he Styles himself King of England and of France in the One and sets the Quarter of his Arms with Leopards before the Quarter Charged with Lillies in the Other this is that which We disdain exceedingly For thereby it should seem he Prefers that Inconsiderable Isle of England before the Mighty Kingdom of France To this Complaint Sr. John Shoreditch the King of Englands Agent made Answer that it was the Custom of England to set the Title and Arms of their Progenitors before the Arms and Title of a Right derived from the Mother And thus said he doth my Lord the King of England Prefer his Paternal Coat both out of Duty and Reason But as it appears soon after they were alter'd even as now they stand at this Day only h Sandford p. 157. an Not. vid. eund ibid. in Notis p. 270. that when Charles the Sixth of France with Design to shew a Difference changed the Semee Flours de Lize into Three Our King Henry the V. also did the like and so it hath continued ever since Either at this time or soon after the King set at the Foot of his Shield beneath the Arms of France and England thus quarter'd this French Motto DIEV ET MON DROIT in English GOD AND MY RIGHT declaring thereby his Confidence to be only in God and the Equity of his Cause Which Motto with the Title of France hath been continued by the Kings of England his Successors even unto this day That King Edward might justifie his Title to the Kingdom of France whose Arms he thus undertook to Bear he sent his Ambassadors to the Pope with these Instructions following i Odâ—râ—â—uâ— Raynald ad hunc
annum §. 9. extat apud Benedict Tom. 6. Epist secr 302. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet sâ—â— incipiens Ut Sanctitati Domini nostri Summi Pontifiâ—is c. That it may be made evident to the Holiness of our Lord the Pope that our Lord the King of England doth justly by Hereditary Right claim the Kingdom of France the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the said King. The Matter whereupon the Lord Edward King of England saith He hath Right to the Crown of France is thus It is and hath been notoriously known that the Lord Charles the Younger Son of Philip King of France commonly called the Fair after the Death of the Lord Philip his Brother at which time the said Lord Charles immediately by Hereditary Right succeeded in the said Kingdom was true King of France and that unto him the said Kingdom of France was lawfully devolved by Right of Succession and that he the Lord Charles held and peaceably and quietly possessed the said Kingdom of France for the time that he Reigned as true King of France And that at last the same Lord Charles leaving no Brother then surviving deceased without any Heir Male begotten of his Body It is also certain de jure that in Hereditary Successions coming from one Intestate the next of Bloud to the Deceased being able at the time of the Decease to Succeed doth wholly exclude all the more remote of the Blood of the said deceased whether he was allied to the Deceased by the Person of a Male or Female And it is certain that at the time of the Death of the said Lord Charles King of France as aforesaid the foresaid Lord Edward King of England was his nearest Kinsman as who was Son of the Sister of the said Lord Charles namely of the Lady Isabella Queen of England being only removed from the same Lord Charles aforesaid in the Second Degree of Consanguinity But the Lord Philip of Valois who occupies the said Kingdom of France was Son of the Uncle of the said Lord Charles namely Son of the Lord Charles of Valois Brother to the foresaid Philip the Fair and so notoriously removed from the said King Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity And by Consequence in common Right the foresaid Lord Edward King of England Son of the Sister of the foresaid Lord King Charles deceased k The Original more full debait debet ought by Right of Succession to be preferr'd in the Succession of the said Kingdom to the foresaid Lord Philip of Valois who only is near to the said King. Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity l Hic in M.S. Dr. Stilling-sleet multa adduntur eâ— Pandect c. ad Jus Regis stabiliendâ—on allegata tum quâ—e sequuntar hic The Intention therefore of our Lord the King of England being founded on Common Right nothing remains but only to answer what may be objected And first it is objected on the part of the Lord Philip of Valois who bears himself as King of France against the King of England aforesaid that the same King of England did unto him as King of France make Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and for the Earldom of Pontive and did thereby recognise him the said Lord Philip to m The Original more full fore else be his Lord and King of France 2. It is also objected to the King of England that he made unto him Liege Homage and Oath and that of these things the foresaid Philip hath by him Letters sealed with the Seal of the foresaid King of England and moreover that these Letters were sealed in England 3. It is also objected to the foresaid King of England that he is not of the Blood of the House of France but by Means of a Woman namely of the Lady Isabell his Mother And that a Woman neither can nor ought an approved and lawfully prescribed Custom in the Realm hindring to be admitted to obtain the said Kingdom by Right of Succession and by Consequence by means of her her Son is not to succeed To answer these Objections the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the King aforesaid First that the Homage made ought not in effect to prejudicate the King of England because the same King of England at the time of making the said Homage was notoriously under Age nor had then compleated the 18th Year of his Age whereby he ought as other Minors when they are abused within the times provided by the Laws of Restitution to the full to be aided by a competent Judge if there had been a Competent Judge with the benefit of Restitution to the full But upon Defect of a Competent Judge the said King of England within the foresaid times of Restitution to the full used other Remedies of Law which ought to suffice him in this Part. Moreover the said King of England being under Age as aforesaid did before the making of his Homage by one of his Procurators especially constituted for that purpose protest openly and expresly that for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by the said King of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the County of Pontive he did not nor would intend to renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the said Right to derogate althô thereupon Letters should thereafter be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free Will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Losing the said Dukedom and County and because he feared that unless he should do such Homage unto him he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the Truth of the Premises the King of England caused by his said Procurator an Oath to be taken upon his Soul by laying Hands on the Holy Gospel before many Witnesses called thereto As to the Objection concerning the Oath which the King of England in his Homage ought to have made or that he should have sworn so to have declared saving the Objectors Reverence it is not true because neither the Lord the King of England nor any of his Progenitors did ever swear in the Performance of any Homage as will evidently appear by the Inspection of the Registers containing the Forms of the said Homages nor is it contained in any Letters sealed with the King of England's Seal that such an Oath hath been made Nor can it be said that in the Homage made by the said Lord the King an Oath was tacitly implied hereby that the Letters were sealed with the King of England's Seal wherein it was contained that this Homage was Liege because the word Liege doth by its signification no way import the same And as to what is said that these Letters were sealed
but they judg'd this sadness to proceed not from Love but from this that he had missed of the Scots his Enemies In the k Frois ibid. Morning however the King arose early resolving forthwith to follow after the Scots and to chase them out of his Realm Accordingly having taken leave of the Lady he put himself in the head of his Army and went after the Scots till he came to Barwick from whence afterward he proceeded till he encamped within four Leagues of the Forest of Gedeours whereinto King David was entred with all his Forces in confidence of that Impassable Wilderness For three days together King Edward lay there to see whether the Scots would come forth and give him Battle All this while there were divers skirmishes between the two Armies and several were slain and taken interchangeably on both sides thô the greater share of the loss fell to the Scots But Sr. William Douglas was the Man among them that did most harm to the English His Arms at that time are said to have been Azure a Chevron Argent Thô after upon the Encrease of the Honour of that House the Douglasses as * Vid. c. 4. §. 2. p. 57. We said before took the bloody Heart for their Arms in memory of Sr. James Douglas the Author of their Nobility who died in Spain as he was carrying King Roberts Heart to Jerusalem XXII Now for all these Skirmishes between the Scots and English during these three days l Frois c. 78. Du Chesne there were certain Noblemen on both parts who earnestly labour'd to compose matters between the two Kings And their Treaty took at last such effect that a Truce was agreed on for two Years provided the French King should give his Consent thereto For King David was so strongly confederated with King Philip that he could admit of no Peace without his Leave Which unless he should now grant then the said Truce was only to endure unto the First day of May following It was also agreed that the Earl of Murray should be quitted of his Ransom and Captivity if the King of Scots could so far prevail with the French King as that the Earl of Salisbury who was already at liberty but upon Parole should now fully be acquitted of all Obligations This Truce the King of Scots was by his Council earnestly advis'd to make that Scotland might thereby have some Breathing time to recover Strength from all its Miseries and that the Husbandmen might return to their care of the Fields which were now almost wholly neglected And King Edward for his part agreed the sooner not only because the Season of the Year began to call for a Respit but because he had Men of War at this time maintained at his charges in France in Gascogne in Ponthieu in Xaintogne in Bretagne and other Places besides his other vast Expences King David soon after by his Ambassadors persuaded King Philip to allow of this Agreement and moreover to send a Release to the Earl of Salisbury into England on sight whereof King Edward immediately return'd the Earl of Murray into his Country Only the King of France did by a caution oblige the Earl of Salisbury to pay him m Leland Câ—ll 1 Vol. p. 803. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 2 Vol. p. 48. 3000 l. Sterling to boot which before he had undertaken to do for the redemption and Fees of himself and of the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Son to the Earl of Suffolk In consderation of all which Charges we find that a Year after the Earl of Salisbury had his Liberty his good Master King Edward allow'd him leave to transport n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 240 Sacks of Wooll into Flanders as part of a Requital of what he had lost and suffer'd for his sake CHAPTER the TVVENTIETH The CONTENTS I. Charles of Blois layes Siege to Rennes in Bretagne II. The Countess of Monford sends for Succour to King Edward who orders the Lord Walter Manny to her Aid But he is detain'd at Sea 40 days III. The City of Rennes taken by Charles of Blois IV. He besieges the Countess in Hennebond with a notable Exploit performed by her in Person after which she is forced to ride off to Brest V. She returns again to Hennebond with a good Succour whereupon Charles of Blois leaving half the Army still there under Don Lewis of Spain goes with the other half and lays Siege to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against the Garrison of Rosternan VI. Hennebond being just on the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives the Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess VII The Lord Manny in a sally breaks the Enemies biggest Engine of Battery to pieces and gives them a brisk Camisade VIII Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois before Auray who sends him to take in Dinant In his way thither he takes Comper IX The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond X. The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who after that takes and sacks Guerande XI Auray taken by Charles of Blois XII He takes Vannes and lays Siege to Karhais XIII The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis killing 5700 of his Men the Don narrowly escaping XIV While the Lord Manny attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet takes and carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny pursues and besieges but hearing of a powerfull Succour approaching rises and goes homeward taking Gony en la Forest in the way The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement XV. Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who thereupon returns before Hennebond Don Lewis having obtain'd as a gift the disposal of the two English Knights Prisoners vows to behead them both in sight of their Friends in Hennebond XVI The Lord Manny hereupon calls a Council of War and propounds and effects the Rescue of the two Knights XVII Hereupon Charles of Blois raises his Siege again but takes Jugon by a wile XVIII A Truce taken between the Lord Charles and the Countess which latter comes to England with her Son where she is honourably received of the King. XIX The Earl of Salisbury conquering the Isle of Man is by the King of England crowned King thereof Pope Benedict the Twelfth dying is succeeded by Clement the Sixth I. WE have before given an Account of the Occasion and Beginning of the Wars in Bretagne how John Earl of Montford was taken at Nantes and deliver'd up as Prisoner to King Philip who committed him to the Louvre and that all that Winter the Lord Charles of Blois remained about Nantes intending to renew the War in the Opening of the Year Now therefore having remov'd out of the way the Matters of Scotland we shall return again to Bretagne where shortly we shall find England engag'd in a War. Early a Frois c. 79. in the Spring of this Year MCCCXLII
Christendom he sent r Odor c. Rainald ad 〈◊〉 annu◠§. 61. 62. his Letters to the Pope shewing how King Philip had despightfully slain and put to Death Good and Loyal Knights and Gentlemen upon his Account and for hate of his Person whereby he had notoriously violated the Truce lately taken between them which as he could not but highly resent so he was preparing to revenge it But yet if King Philip would according as Reason requireth retract for what he had done amiss and offer Satisfaction for these injuries he would at the time appointed send other Ambassadors to the Apostolick See and give them Instructions for making Peace The Pope having heard thus much return'd an Answer to this Purpose After having manifested to King Edward in how great Dangers the whole Christian World was tossed and that this Mortal War thus kindled between France and England did grievously afflict the Church he then told him that King Philip had granted Letters of safe Conduct as the English Ambassadors had required and as to the Death of the Lords Esquires and Others King Philip had wrote unto him that they for their enormous Crimes Murders and Rapines had been justly put to Death by him not thereby to break the Truce but by the fear of their Punishment to terrifie others from the Breach thereof and that he had added how the King of England's Garrisons had attempted many things against the Truce Then he begg'd the King to let him know his Secret Resolutions for that he would never divulge them but use his utmost to make a final Peace which was so profitable and advantagious to the Expedition against the Turks And he assured him that hitherto he had defer'd to dispence with the Canon-Law for the Marriage between his Eldest Son and the Duke of Brabant's Daughter in hopes that by that Bond of Affinity tied in France a sure Peace would ensue c. Thus the Pope neglected not to heal these Wounds of Bleeding Christendom but King Edward was too much exasperated by his Adversary to stop now since nothing of Satisfaction was offer'd but only frivolous and false Excuses Wherefore in order to enable himself the better to carry on this War he now held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster on the 7 Day of June being the Å¿ M.S. Pâ—t Pâ—â— p. 56 18 Ed. ◠§. 1. Sr. Râ—b Cottens Abridgment p. 44 c. v. Statute Bâ—cks Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity On which day in presence of the King certain of the Lords and Commons being then assembled in St. Edwards Chamber otherwise called the Painted Chamber and the Lord Chancellor at the Kings Command declared how sundry things of the last Parliament were left to be done at this And that the Archbishop of Canterbury had against the time of the said Parliament called a Convocation of his Clergy At which Parliament and Convocation sundry of all Estates were absent c. Whereat the King did no less muse than he was thereat offended Wherefore he charged the Archbishop for his part to punish the Defaults of the Clergy and he would do the like touching the Parliament Hereupon Proclamation was made that none should wear Armour or Weapons in or about London and Westminster during the Session of the Parliament Receivours of Petitions for England Gascogne Wales Ireland Bretagne Scotland and the Foreign Isles and other Places beyond the Seas Sr. Thomas Drayton appointed Clark of the Parliament and this is all was done that Day being Monday On the Tuesday the Names of the Lords of the Parliament were examined before the King that such as made default in being absent might abide the Kings Order On Tursday after the Chancellour in full Parliament in Presence of the King and of his Son the Prince of Wales declared the Cause of the same Parliament viz. The Articles of the Truce and the Breaches of the same by the French King which were there particularly instanced Whereupon the Three Estates were willed to advise upon the Premises and to shew their Opinion of them by Monday next ensuing The same Monday they had their time enlarged untill Wednesday in the Week of St. John being the 23 of June on which day every of the Lords and Commons by themselves with one Assent required the King to end the same War either by Battle or Honourable Peace And if the King shall attempt War eftsoons that he do not stay the same at the Letters or Requests of the Pope or of any whomsoever but to end the same by Dint of Sword. Whereunto the King agreed but forasmuch as the same could not be atchieved without Aid the Clergy of Canterbury granted unto the King a Desme Triennial And the Commons granted unto him Two Fifteenths of Counties and Two Desmes of Cities and of Towns on Condition that the same be leavied in such manner as the last was that the Commons Petitions be Granted and that the same may be imployed upon the Wars with the Assent of the Lords That the Prince and Sr. Edward Bailiol may lie on the North-Marches And because the King should pass over the Seas in Person to end this Quarrel they further grant unto the King a Third Fifteenth Then after the Petitions of the Commons and Clergy with their Answers the Commons by their Petition recite the Act of Provision made in the last Parliament and because no Penalty was provided therefore request that such as incurr the breach of the same by receipt procuring or Counsel in stay of any temporal judgement shall lie in perpetual Prison or be forejudged the Land And that all Justices of Assises Goal-Delivery and Oyer and Terminer may determine the same And that the Act of Provision may continue for ever That if any Archbishop or other Person Religieux or other do not present within four Moneths some able Clerk to any Dignity whereof any Person hath obtained from the Court of Rome any Provision but surcease the same that then the King may present some able Clerk himself That 〈◊〉 any Bishop Elect shall refuse to take such t Ità M.S. sed Brother in Sr. Rob. Cotten Bishop other than by such then such Clerk shall not enter nor enjoy his Temporalities without the Kings special Licence That the King shall dispose of all such Benefices and Dignities of such Aliens his Enemies as remain in such Countries of his Enemies and employ the Profits thereof to the Defence of the Realm That Commissions be sent into all the Kings Ports to apprehend all such Persons as shall bring in any such Instrument from the Court of Rome and to bring them forthwith before the Council to answer thereto That the Deanery of York which is recoverable by Judgement in the Kings Court may be bestowed upon some Able Man within the Realm who will maintain the same against him who holdeth the same by Provision from the Court of Rome being the Common Enemy to the King
Vain-glory For they had no manner of Conduct nor Skill in matters of War any further than their ordinary Trainings of the Militia in Peace might have instructed them with The English enter'd the Town with them Pell-mell where seising immediatly upon the Gates they held them open till the Earl of Lancaster and all his Men were enter'd And this is the manner as an ancient Author witnesses of Taking Poictiers tho p Frois c. 136. c. Froisard gives a different Account thereof which is this That the English having after the first Assault rested that Night in their Camp the next Morning certain Knights and Gentlemen of the Army by the Earls Order took their Horses and coasted about the Town to view it if peradventure any where they might find it more Assaultable These upon their return reported to the Earl that they had found a Place of more easie Access than ordinary by which they doubted not to carry the City Hereupon the Earl determin'd to renew the Assault the next Day in three several Places the greatest Noise and Show to appear elsewhere but the whole stress of the Business to lie there where it was most likely to succeed Now as Froisard also witnesses there was not in the Town any Captain of Name or Experience in matters of War nor were the Inhabitants of any great Skill or Conduct in making good a Defence whatever Courage they had in holding out thus long Wherefore the Assault being on the third Day renewed according to the former Device the English who attacked the weakest part enter'd by Force and so presently became Masters of the City When they within saw this they fled away in heaps at other Gates and escaped away because the Place as not surrounded but yet there were slain more than 700 of them for at the beginning all were put to the Sword who were found both Men Women and Children And the whole City was overrun and robbed as well of what the Inhabitants had owned as of what was brought thither from Parts adjoining for better Security Several Churches and Houses of Religion were robbed and defaced and many Rapes and other Licentious deeds committed and more had been but that the Pious Earl of Lancaster commanded the contrary on Pain of Death proclaiming that no House much less Church should be fired forasmuch as he said he designed to tarry there ten or twelve Days So that the Rage of the Souldiers being thus repressed far less Harm was done than would else have happen'd but however as it falls out in such Cases there was Plundering and Mischief enough Here the Earl tarried 12 Days and might have done longer if he had so pleased for there was none to resist him all the Country was in such a Consternation During his Stay here because the Place was of too large extent to be Garrison'd without great Numbers which he could not spare at that time he resolved to leave it void and so it was Dismantled given up to Plunder and laid wholly desolate except that they forbore to fire it the Souldiers finding so much Spoil they hardly knew what to do with it insomuch that they valued nothing but Gold Silver and Feathers for Men of War. From hence the Earl returned by easie Marches to St. jean D'Angely where he tarried a while treating and caressing the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town with Banquets and Collations besides Gifts of Jewels and other rich Presents and he behaved himself so gallantly amid these Sports and Revels that the People said He was the Noblest Prince that ever rode on Horseback After some short Continuance here during which time he took a new Oath in the King his Masters Name of the Mayor and Burgesses of the Town to keep and defend it as the Indubitate Right and Inheritance of the King of England he took his leave and return'd by such Fortresses as he had won before to the City of Bourdeaux where having largely satisfied his Men of War with Spoil Thanks Pay and Commendation he disposed them into their several Quarters the Winter being far entred at that time XIV When the Earl of Lancaster had thus respited the Country the Inhabitants of Poictiers who had escaped repaired again thither and fell with all their might to fortifie the Place And soon after being joyned with great Numbers of their Neighbouring Friends and headed with sufficient Captains they sent forth a strong Detachment of Men of Arms and others designing to surprise Lusignan the Garrison whereof hugely annoyed them But in this their Attempt thô q Giev Villani l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. treble the Number of the English they were with great Loss discomfited and their Captain the Earl of Monferrand with many others slain Which was look'd upon as another wonderfull Instance of King Edwards invincible Fortune CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip by his Ambassadors prevails with the King of Scotland to break the Truce with King Edward and to invade England II. King David resolves on a War with England The Number of the Scotch Army they begin to March. III. King David's Cruelty to an English Knight in cold Blood He encamps near the City of Durham IV. Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York in order to resist the Scots She sends an Expostulation to King David who prepares for fight The Order of the Scotch Army V. The Order and Number of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders VI. Queen Philippa encourages her Men who beat Earl Douglas and Sr. David Graham before the Battle VII The Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is forced to Retreat VIII King David is taken Prisoner by John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland IX The third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited X. The Time and Place of this Battle certainly assignned A gross Mistake of Hector Boethius the Scotch Historian XI The Duration or Time how long it lasted with an Account of the Loss on both Sides And the Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken XII John Copland bears away the King of Scotland to his Castle where he resolves to keep him The Queen sends to him for the King his Prisoner and She returning to York King Bailiol and the English Lords invade Scotland XIII John Copland upon refusal to deliver his Prisoner to the Queen is sent for by King Edward who upon full knowledge of his Reasons holds him excused and rewards him Royally XIV King David brought to London and put in the Tower The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed XV. The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to Calais XVI The Pope seeks to make Peace between England and France but in vain I. NOR were these all the Triumphs of this glorious Year King Edward's Good Fortune is providing another King to be Conquer'd and another Royal Army to be overthrown by his Successfull Arms. We spake in the former Chapter how King
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
c. 236. Caxton c. that not long before the King had sent the Ambassadors aforesaid to Avignon to require of Pope Gregory that as to the Reservation of Benefices of England made in his Court he would supersede Medling for the future that Clergymen might freely enjoy their Elections to Episcopal Dignities and that it might be sufficient for them to be confirmed by their Metropolitans as was the Antient Custom Upon these and the like Abuses they required Remedy of the Pope concerning all which Articles the said Ambassadors had certain Answers from his Holiness touching which the Pope enjoyned them upon their Return into England to certifie him by their Letters of the King's Will and of his Realm and also that they would press the King to let him first know what he and his Council design'd to do before they proceeded to determine any thing as to the Premises The Result whereof we shall refer to the next Year However in this Parliament it was Enacted That Cathedral Churches should enjoy their own Elections and that for the future the King should not write against the Persons so Elected but rather by his Letters endeavour their Confirmation if need were But this Statute availed not much afterward The o M.S. Ret. Par. ut ante Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Burgesses of Bristow in this Parliament require that the said Town with the Suburbs thereof may be a County of it self and that the Perambulation of the same with the Bounds thereof returned into the Chancery with all the Liberties and Charters thereto granted may be confirmed by Act of Parliament The King is content to grant that the Charters Liberties and Perambulation aforesaid may be confirmed under the Great Seal That no French Prior Alien be permitted to dwell within twenty Miles of the Sea-Coast for several Reasons there specified The King by his Council will provide therefore That Remedy may be had that Men be not called into the Exchequer upon Suggestion without Process contrary to the Statute made in the 42 Year of the King. Let any particular Man complain and he shall find Remedy After this the Lord Chancellor in the Kings Name gave great Thanks to the Lords and Commons and so this Session ended It is to be observed that the Printed Statute touching the Assize of Broad Cloath Cap. 1. agreeth with the Record As also that Cap. 2. touching Scottish Silver Coin. XVIII This Year it is reported p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 92. Odor Rainal ad an 1374. §. 13. ex Chron. Belg. Job Leyd c. that there happen'd in Italy France and England especially in the Lower Countries a certain Maniack Passion or Frenzy unknown to former Ages for those who were tormented therewith which for the most part were the Scum of the People stript themselves stark naked put Garlands of Flowers on their Heads and taking one another by the Hands went about in the streets and into the Churches dancing singing and turning round with such vehemence that they would fall down to the ground quite out of Breath This Agitation made them swell so prodigiously that within an Hours time they would burst unless some-body took care to bind their Bellies about with strong Swathing-bands Those who looked on them too earnestly were often tainted with the same Malady It was thought to have come by some Diabolical Operation and that Exorcisms did much prevail against it The Vulgar called it St. John's Dance XIX There died q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. b. about this time a valiant Baron of England named the Lord Miles Stapleton one * Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 7. p. 298. of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind Thomas his Son and Heir then of full Age who yet died also this same Year without Issue leaving his Sister Elizabeth his next Heir she being then married to Sr. Thomas Metham Which Sr. Thomas having at that time Issue by her and doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance There died r Walsing hist p. 183. Vid. Godwins Catal. Bish c. also this Year Dr. John Thoresby Archbishop of York and Dr. John Barnet Bishop of Ely besides the Bishop of Worcester of whose Death we spake at the beginning of the last Parliament Alexander Nevile succeeded in the See of York Thomas Fitz-Alan younger Son to the Earl of Arundel in that of Ely and Henry Wakefield in that of Worcester CHAPTER the ELEVENTH AN. DOM. 1374. An. Regni Angliae XLVIII Franciae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward inquires into the Livings then in the Hands of Aliens with his Letters to the Bishop of Winchester for that purpose II. He sends Commissioners to treat with the Popes Legates about the Premisses with the Copy of their Commission and the Effect of their Treaty III. The Duke of Anjou's Expedition into Gascogne IV. A Truce between the Dukes of Lancaster and Anjou V. The Lords of High Gascosgne yield to the Duke of Anjou who takes in all 40 Towns and Castles from the English VI. Becherel for want of succour yields VII Sr. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France is redeem'd with an Adventure between him and the Lord of Gomegines Captain of Ardres for King Edward VIII A Treaty at Bruges concerning a Peace between the two Crowns wherein Care is had of the Earl of Pembroke and others taken formerly by the Spaniards with the Death of the said Earl of Pembroke and some Observations thereon IX The Death of Francis Petrarch Laureat Poet of Italy and some other Considerable Persons of England X. An Account of Madam Alice Perrers who was falsly said to be King Edward's Concubine I. KING Edward being perpetually alarum'd as well in Parliament as otherwise by his Subjects who complain'd of the many great Abuses done unto Him and his Authority by the See of Rome as of their Reservations and other Arts whereby they entrenched upon his Prerogative Royal and the Liberties of the Church of England exhausting his Kingdom to enrich Strangers and such as were his Enemies the King I say being now throughly awaken'd at these Cries of his People among other notable Ways whereby he encountred these Usurpations began a Fox Acts Monum p. 560. at this time to require an exact Survey of all Benefices and Dignities Ecclesiastical throughout his Dominions which were then in the Hands of Italians Frenchmen or other Aliens with a true Valuation of the same and sent unto all his Bishops his Royal Commission to make such Enquiry the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Reverend Father in God William by the same Grace Bishop of Winchester Greeting Being willing for certain Reasons Us thereunto moving to be certified what and how many Benefices as well Archdeaconries and other Dignities as Vicarages Parsonages Prebends and Chapters within your Dioecese there be
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
Philip heard first of this Loss Arrows prefer'd to Guns The Armies of France and Hainalt break up from before Thine l'Evesque King Robert of Sicily procures the Pope to write to King Edward to move him to Peace From p. 177. to p. 186. Chap. XVII King Edward in a Council of his Foreign Allies resolves to besiege Tournay and St. Omers He sends a Challenge to King Philip with Philip's Answer He sits down before Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies The Earl of Hainalt's Exploits and an Assault of the Flemings upon Tournay King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps near the Town The various Rencounters during the Siege A Parliament at Westminster Scotland recovers Breath The English Allies before St. Omers possest with a Panick Fear The Difficulties of both the Kings The Pope and the Lady Jane de Valois procure a Treaty and that a Truce Both Armies break up The Truce prolonged for 2 Years The Death of sundry Great Personages The King of Spain's Victory over the Moors Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 187. to p. 211. Chap. XVIII King Edward comes over in great displeasure into England where he displaces and imprisons several of his Chief Ministers of State. The state of his Quarrel with the Archbishop The Archbishops Letters to the King and to the Lord Chancellor His Remonstrance to the King and Council His Letter to the Bishop of London His Articles of Excommunication The King justifies his Proceedings in a Letter to the Bishop of London The Archbishop makes his Defence to the King. The King's Reply to the Archbishop's Defence A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop pardon'd The Revocation of a Statute From p. 212. to p. 235. Chap. XIX King Philip brings over the Emperour to his side The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward His Answer The Duke of Bretagne dying without Issue John of Monford and Charles of Blois lay claim to the Dutchy Earl Monford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a Parliament and takes in many places He goes into England and makes Homage to King Edward thereby to gain his Protection Being summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France he comes to Paris but steals away again The Dukedom adjudged to Charles of Blois King Philip confiscates the Earldom of Monford which King Edward requites with the Earldom of Richmond Charles of Blois takes his Rival and sends him to Paris The Countess of Monford renews the War. Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son Edmund of Langley Francis Petrarch crown'd Laureat Poet. The Lord Douglas takes Striveling King Edward marches into Scotland brings the Scots to Conditions King David of Scotland returns home invades England lays siege to Newcastle but rises King Edward prepares to oppose him Durham destroy'd King David lies before the Castle of Werk The Story of King Edward's Love with the Countess of Salisbury exploded The Captain of the Castle passes by night thrô the Scotch Host to acquaint King Edward with the matter On knowledge whereof the Scots retire King Edward comes before Werk and follow the Scots A Truce between the two Kings The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted From p. 236. to p. 255. Chap. XX. Charles of Blois lays siege to Rennes The Countess of Monford sends to King Edward for Succour Charles takes Rennes and besieges the Countess in Hennebond A famous Exploit done by the Countess Charles leaves half his Army with Don Lewis before Hennebond and goes with the other half to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against those of Rosternan Just as Hennebond is upon the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives with the English Succours The Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess The Lord Manny breaks the Enemies biggest Engine and beats up their Quarters Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois who sends him to Dinant He takes Comper in his way The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who takes and sacks Guerande Auray taken by Charles of Blois He takes Vannes and besieges Karhais The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis He attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny follows but cannot recover He takes Gony en la Forest and returns to Hennebond The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who renews his siege before Hennebond Don Lewis vows to cut off the Heads of the two English Knights who were taken by the Captain of Favoet But the Lord Manny rescues them Charles leaves the Siege in despair but takes Jugon A Truce being taken between Charles and the Countess the latter comes with her Son into England The Earl of Salisbury is made King of Man by King Edward Pope Benedict XII dies Clement VI. succeeds From p. 256. to p. 267. Chap. XXI King Edward provides for the Campaign Sends the Lord Robert of Artois along with the Countess of Monford And resolves himself to pull down the Scots He enjoyns his Clergy to pray for the Success of his Arms. A Biennial Truce between England and Scotland The Lord Robert of Artois engages with Don Lewis of Spain but a storm parts them The Lord Robert of Artois lands in Bretagne and takes Vannes by stratagem The English lay Siege to Rennes The Bloisian Lords retake Vannes by storm The Lord Robert of Artois dies of his Wounds King Edward vows to revenge his Death A Parliament King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Wales The Commons in Parliament complain of the Pope's Reservations The two Houses Address to the Pope The Pope writes to the King and his Council The King 's Notable Answer King Edward goes into Bretagne lays siege to Vannes Charles of Blois prepares to oppose him The King besieges him in Nantes and takes in divers Towns. The Lords of Clisson and Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis distresses King Edward's Navy John Duke of Normandy comes with an Army against King Edward The two Armies confront A Truce taken King Edward returns into England The Treaty fully ratified The Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Caius College in Cambridge From p. 267. to p. 287. Chap. XXII The Agents of France and England meet at Avignon Some Heads of the two Kings several Pleas which yet are more fully handled in the Fourth Book the fifth Chapter Paragraphs the VI VII VIII IX à p. 747. ad p. 758. but nothing done The Pope gains ground in the matter of Provisions King Edward begins his Round Table at Windsor With the Description Antiquity and gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip sets up another Round Table at Paris But King Edward's Round Table being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was instituted Anno 23. Ed. 3. The
said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and one more Antient and Mystical asserted The time of this First Round Table with the manner of its Solemnity William Montagu Earl of Salisbury dies his Praise Pedigree Issue King Edwards Buildings at Windsor his Institution of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER The Names of the XXVI Founders A short View of the said most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof King Edward hears how King Philip had put to death sundry Lords of Bretagne his Friends King Philip's Cruelty to the Messenger of these News King Edward's Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. King Edward sends a Defiance to Philip But is alarm'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and the Frontiers of Scotland He makes his Remonstrance to the Pope who endeavours to pacifie him A Parliament at Westminster The Earl of Darby lands in Gascogne His Acts. His Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philip's Lieutenant before Auberoche Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter named Mary John Earl of Monford acquitted his Prison The Lord Oliver Ingham dies his Issue From p. 287. to p. 312. Chap. XXIII King Edward tells the Pope that unless King Philip gives him Satisfaction he will renounce the Truce The Earl of Northampton commissioned to defie the French King. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce His New Commission to the Earl of Darby An account of his Actions in Gascogne this Year The Lord Walter Manny finds his Fathers Bones in Reole The Castle of Reole yielded The Earl of Darby's Victorious Progress and Return to Bourdeaux From p. 312. to p. 320. Chap. XXIV Henry Earl of Lancaster dies The motives and manner of Jacob van Arteveld's Fall. The Flemings appease King Edward The young Earl of Hainalt slain The Lord John of Beaumont brought over to the French side The Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts to England John of Monford amidst his Victories in Bretagne dies The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois and routs his Army The Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce The Death of one Lord and two Bishops From p. 321. to p. 330. BOOK II. CHAP. I. KIng Philip sends the Duke of Normandy against the Earl of Darby aliàs the Earl of Lancaster Duke John sits down before Angoulesme the Earl of Lancaster new Garrisons Ville-Franche and reinforces Aiguillon The Seneschal of Beaucaire wins Ancenis Sr. John Norwich escapes the Duke of Normandy by a quaint device The Duke of Normandy comes before Aiguillon with the Particulars of that Siege The French King's Seneschal of Guienne beaten by the Earl of Lancaster which Earl holds the Duke of Normandy short From p. 331. to p. 337. Chap. II. King Edward resolves to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament settles the Realm sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy and Knights his Eldest Son Prince Edward c. King Philip strengthens Caën against him A Cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to France King Edward marches thrô Normandy King Philip prepares to encounter him King Edward takes St. Lo and Caën Rejects the Cardinals Endeavours for Peace stays at Poissy to repair the Bridge and sends a Defiance to King Philip who goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives and replies to an Answer of King Philips to his Challenge His Progress thrô France His Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Inhabitants of Poix being found treacherous are put to the Sword. King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme A French Prisoner shews him the Passage at Blanchetteaque which yet he finds guarded but goes over and discomfits Godmar du Fay who kept the Passage King Philip rests at Abbeville King Edward encamps in the Fields of Cressy and prepares to receive him From p. 338. to p. 353. Chap. III. The Number and Order of King Edward's Forces the Names of his Chief Captains He creates 50 Knights King Philip goes out of Abbeville against him The Order of the French. King Philip advances his Oriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon The Battle of CRESSY The Earl of Warwick sends to the King for Succour with the King's Answer The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward against their Main Force routs the Marquess of Moravia kills the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers King Philip flies and leaves the Victory to the English The Number of the slain on both sides An Enquiry into the Antiquity of Guns King Philip retires to Broye thence to Amiens and so to Paris The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Bodies of the French defeated The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and care for the burial of the Dead King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais From p. 354. to p. 365. Chap. IV. The Description of Calais The strength of King Edward's Navy He lays a formal Siege to the Place Plenty of Provision in his Camp. The Earl of Warwick takes Teroüenne The Flemings besiege St. Omers Seventeen Hundred poor People being thrust out of Calais are relieved by King Edward The Copies of two Letters containing the summe of this Expedition from the Winning of Caën to the Siege of Calais The Duke of Normandy makes another attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss King Philip commands his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and perswades the King of Scotland to invade England The Duke of Normandy leaves the Siege of Aiguillon the Lord Manny cuts him off at the Reer His Agreement with a Prisoner of Quality The Prisoner brings him a safe Conduct and is set free The Lord Manny riding towards Calais in Confidence of this Conduct is seised by King Philip's Order But the Duke of Normandy saves his Life The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and Conquers in Sainctogne Rochellois and Poictou An Instance of this Earls Liberality and Munificence He wins Poictiers leaves it Desolate and Returns to Bourdeaux An Army of Poictevins discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan From p. 365. to p. 375. Chap. V. King Philip by his Ambassadors perswades the King of Scots to break with England King David resolves on a War Raises an Army and begins to march His Cruelty to an English Knight in cold blood He encamps near Durham Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York and sends an Expostulation to King David The Order and Number of the Scotch Army Also of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders Queen Philippa encourages her Men. She beats Douglas and Graham before the Battle Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is obliged to Retreat King David is taken Prisoner by
John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland The Third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited The time and place of this Battle certainly Assign'd A Gross Mistake of Hector Boëtius the Scotch Historian How long the Fight lasted the Loss on both sides The Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken John Copland bears away the King of Scotland the Queen sends to him for the King She returns to York and King Bailiol and the English invade Scotland John Copland being sent for to Calais by King Edward is Knighted and Royally rewarded King David secur'd in the Tower of London The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to the Siege at Calais The Pope endeavours for Peace in vain From p. 376. to p. 385. Chap. VI. A Parliament at Paris Another at Westminster The Pope writes to King Edward to perswade him to Peace King Edward's answer Odoricus Rainaldus refuted King Philip seeks to bring over the Flemings but misses his Aim The Earl of Flanders confin'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais The Earl of Flanders escapes into France Two Frenchmen put to Death for favouring King Edward's Right The Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel The frequent Attempts to relieve Calais frustrated The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. Sr. Robert of Namur enters King Edward's service before Calais An account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of DURHAM An account of the Affairs of Bretagne Sr. Charles of Blois taken Prisoner at the Battle of ROCHE D'ARIEN by Sr. Thomas Dagworth Roche d' Arien taken by the French and the English Garrison murder'd by the Commons of the Country The French Navy defeated Five hundred more poor People thrust out of Calais The Calisians send an Account of their Case to King Philip. The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philip's March returns to Calais The French Kings strength he desires leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings Besiege Aire but upon King Philip's approach rise King Philip comes to Sangate and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair The manner how Calais was yielded Calais settled by King Edward A Truce between the two Kings King Edward returns for England A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case From p. 385. to p. 415. Chap. VII The Glory and Prosperity of King Edward's Reign corrupts the Nation A Parliament Justs and Turneaments How Avignon came to belong to the See of Rome Philip of Valois and Edward of England could cure the Kings Evil. An Order concerning the Kings Purveyors The Truce between England and France prorogued for another Year King Edward solemnises the Translation of St. Thomas c. The Earl of Flanders does Homage to King Edward but afterwards rebelling is beaten King Edward being inform'd of a Design to betray Calais goes over privately and beats the Frenchmen He presents a Rich Chaplet to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont and sets him free Having settled Calais he returns for England The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The two Royal Widowers Marry again From p. 416. to p. 428. Chap. VIII Treats of the Great Plague that happen'd in the Year 1348. From p. 428. to p. 442. Chap. IX King Edward Founds the Chappel of St. George at WINDSOR with the Copy of his Letters for that purpose The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls The Progress in Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne The Lord Thomas Dagworth slain in Bretagne Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He brings the French to Terms A Famous Combat between 30 English and 30 French. Of certain who arrived to Great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry Savage who lived in Ulster A Grant of the Black-Prince's to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King he being then newly chosen one of the First Knights of the GARTER From p. 442. to p. 448. Chap. X. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the 100th to the 50th Year The Original of Jubilees King Edward forbids his Subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Pope's Expostulation thereon The Sect of Whippers rises and is supprest King Edward's Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. King Philip of France dies King John succeeds A Duel fought before King Edward between a Knight of Cyprus and the Bastard of France King John puts the Bastard of France and the Earl of Eu and Guisnes to Death Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in Order to King David's Redemption From p. 449. to p. 455. Chap. XI A Parliament wherein King Edward advances sundry of his Grandees to Honour The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle Sr. Robert's Acts. A Truce with France Another with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldan of Babylon King John of France renews the Order of the STAR The Castle of Guisnes taken by the English King John seeks to recover it in vain Sr. Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole The Lord Guy de Nesse slain by Sr. Walter Bentley The Earl of Stafford Lieutenant of Gascogne beats the French. The Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the GARTER King Edward provides for the Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries Mathilda Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick King Edward prepares against the French. Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London From p. 455. to p. 467. Chap. XII An Hard Winter Storms Drought and Dearth A Riot at Chester The Black Prince's Munificence King Edward Founds a College at Westminster A Treaty with Scotland A Treaty and Truce with France A Parliament The Names of the Lords summon'd thereto Another Parliament A Treaty at Avignon which begets a short Truce The Foundation of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge A Quarrel between the Town and Vniversity of Oxford Two Fryars burnt at Avignon And a Third recants at Paris From p. 468. to p. 477. Chap. XIII The King of Navarre Murders the Constable of France and Invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance
Skirmishes at the Barriers A Remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne intending to return to the Siege before Paris at a better season The Great Miseries of France whereby the Dauphin finds himself obliged to make certain Offers to King Edward for Peace The King being moved by a strange Tempest accepts the French Offers A Treaty ensues A Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny The two Eldest Sons of England and France sworn to uphold the Peace King Edward returns for England and sends King John over to Calais The Pope quickens him to finish the Peace which he does The Copies of both the Kings Letters The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides Other things relating to the Consummation of the Peace Endeavours to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne The Mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John goes to Boulogne King Edward returns to England The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton also of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Kent of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of the King of Cyprus From p. 575. to p. 607. Chap. VII The Methods of the two Kings to establish the Peace King John's Reception at Paris The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of the English Government King Edward makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in Aquitaine The said Lord's Praise and Character The Disbanded Souldiers turn Robbers and overthrow the Lord James of Bourbon The Pope gets them to be drawn off into Italy A second Plague in England The Death of the Good Duke of Lancaster of the Lord John Moubray and others with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh The Black-Prince Marries the Countess of Kent Prince Lionel made Lieutenant of Ireland with his behaviour there King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign From p. 608. to p. 619. Chap. VIII Ambassadors from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus entertain'd by the King with Justs and Tourneaments King Edward Creates his Son the Black-Prince Prince of Aquitaine The Copy of his Charter The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophesie concerning King Edward's immediate Successor The Prince his Reception in Aquitaine He settles his Court at Bourdeaux A Parliament at Westminster The Jubilee of King Edward's Age. He Creates his Son Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge His Acts of Grace to all his Subjects He holds a Solemn Hunting The Lord Fauconberg dies Sr. John Copland Murther'd From p. 620. to p. 626. Chap. IX King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of that County and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dies Urban V succeeds The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed The King of France being the Head thereof The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour The Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War. The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes The Duke of Anjou being one of the French Hostages makes an Escape The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edward's answer to the King of Cyprus when he ask'd his Company to the Holy War. A Parliament at Westminster A Convocation which retrenches the Excessive Number of Holy Days The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells A Man who after Execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. The King of Cyprus rob'd King David of Scotland comes into England A long and hard Frost From p. 626. to p. 633. Chap. X. King John comes into England King Edward welcomes Him. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at once The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitaine King John sickens and dies in England The King of Navarre stirs again Sr. Bertram of Clequin sent for to oppose him A Story of his Original He takes Mante and Meulan by stratagem The King of Navarre sends the Captal of Busche against Him. Sr. Bertram reinforced The Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville King John's Funeral Rights performed in England His Body buried in France A Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy The Famous Battle of COCHEREL wherein the Captal of Busche is overthrown and taken Prisoner by Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Guy of Granville redeems his Father by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims He makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Sr. Bertram of Clequin buys the Castle of Rolebois The Duke of Burgundy sent to reduce the rest The Army divided Acts separately Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois A Party of his surprises la Charité The Duke takes in several Places Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do as they please The Duke of Burgundy goes to oppose the Earl of Monbelliard La Charité besieged and taken From p. 634. to p. 650. Chap. XI The King of France helps Charles of Blois and the King of England John of Monford both who prepare for Battle The French Order their Men. The Lord John Chandos orders the English and gives a Reserve to Sr. Hugh Calverley The Lord of Beaumanoir obtains a short Truce in order to an Agreement The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty The Famous Battle of AURAY in Bretagne with the Death of Charles of Blois and the Number of the slain and Prisoners on both sides Earl Monford weeps over Charles his Body the Character and Praise of the said Charles Earl Monford gives a Truce to the Country and returns to the Siege of Auray which he soon takes A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge is dash'd by the French King's subtlety The Christians obtain a Cadmaean Victory against the Turks From p. 651. to p. 661. Chap. XII John of Monford reduces all Bretagne With King Edward's leave he holds the Dukedom of the French King. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre The Captal of Busche set at Liberty Is tempted to renounce the English Interest in vain The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre A Parliament at Westminster King Edward's Buildings and Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity-College The Pope demands King John's Fee-Farm Rent King Edward refers the Matter to his Parliament The Lady Isabella Daughter to the King given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy The King punishes sundry of his Judges for Male-Administration The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but leaves it again Dr. Thoroton twice corrected The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuaniâ—'s Son to
whom he is Godfather From p. 662. to p. 669. Chap. XIII A Parliament at Westminster wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Demand of the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid The Quarrel between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities taken up by the King. The Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford A Treaty of Marriage between Prince Lionel and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Duke of Milain Archbishop Islip dies his Foundation of Canterbury College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury On the French King's Complaint of the Companions King Edward prepares an Army against them But on the French King's being jealous desists The French King and the Pope endeavour to draw off the Companions into Hungary but it will not do From p. 669. to p. 672. BOOK IV. CHAP. I. DON Pedro's Character The Pope excommunicates him and legitimates his Bastard Brother The Companions joyn Sr. Bertram of Clequin and march against Don Pedro who being forsaken of all flies from place to place and absconds in Galizia Don Henry the Bastard is made King of Spain Don Pedro implores the Protection of the Black-Prince and arrives at Bayonne Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity The Reasons Pro and Con why the Prince should or should not assist him The Prince has his Fathers leave to undertake his Quarrel The King of Navarre is won The Copy of a Famous Grant of Don Pedro to King Edward and to the Prince and the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for Ever Prince Edward sends for his Captains who were then in the Bastards Service The Bastard's surprise at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram goes back into France to raise Friends Divers Opinions touching this undertaking of the Prince's The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon c. The Prince's Zeal for this War. The Lord of Albret engages to bring a 1000 Spears The Companions being besieged in Montabuan beat the French. James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to implore the Prince's Aid against the King of Aragon The Prince by Advice of his Council countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears From p. 674. to p. 694. Chap. II. A second Son Born to the Black-Prince named Richard. The Prince begins his March is joyn'd by the Duke of Lancaster He passes the Pirenaean Mountains the Order of his Army the Names of his Chief Captains Don Henry sends his Expostulation and Defiance to him The Lord Thomas Felton takes Navaret Salvatierra yields to the Prince The Lord Thomas Felton beats up the Bastard's Quarters and sends Intelligence to the Prince Don Henry goes forward but halts at St. Miguel The Prince expects him at Victoria The Earl of Sancelloni beats up the Prince's Quarters and takes the Lord Thomas Felton and all his Company The Discourse thereupon had in the Spanish Camp. The Prince passes the Ebro and answers Don Henry's Letters Don Henry's Resolution The two Armies move forward The Order and Number of the Spaniards The Lord Chandos made a Banneret The Prince's Prayer before the Fight The Famous Battle of NAJARA in Spain where the Bastard receives a Mighty overthrow The City of Najara taken The time and place of the Battle The Number of the slain on both sides The Prince obliges Don Pedro to grant a General Pardon All Spain comes in and submits to Don Pedro and the Prince The Prince demands his Souldiers pay of the King who goes to Seville but sends none The Great Renown of the Black-Prince after this Victory The Black-Prince returns home without his Money The first Change of King Edward's Fortune The Danish Fleet beaten by the English The Death of Don Pedro King of Portugal sirnamed the Justiceer From p. 695. to p. 718. Chap. III. Prince Lionel is Married to the Lady Violantis He falls sick and dies A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal A Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyder-zea Sr. Bertram by a Fineness obtains to be ransom'd The Companions wanting their Pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they go away and do much Mischief in France The Prince taxes his Subjects which occasions a Revolt From p. 718. to p. 725. Chap. IV. Don Henry the Bastard finding the Prince of Wales embroyl'd returns into Spain surprises the King Don Pedro beats him takes him and kills him with his own Hands The King of France being urged by the Discontented Gascogne Lords Summons the Prince of Wales to appear before him William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester c. The Prince of Wales falls sick of an incurable Disease He sends the Lord Chandos against the Gascogne Lords The French King surprises Ponthieu and defies King Edward Who in Parliament resumes his Title to France and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars The Black-Prince makes the Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is confirm'd by the King his Father From p. 725. to p. 742. Chap. V. The War begins in the Principality Mutual Losses and Gains The two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes their Rights argued The Pedigree of the Kings of France King Edward's Reasons for his Right and Title to France From p. 743. to p. 758. Chap. VI. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter Mutual Losses and Gains The Earl of Pembroke's Danger The Death of Queen Philippa The Duke of Lancasters Expedition The Earl of Warwick dies The Duke of Lancaster a Widower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester The French King raises a Tax From p. 759. to p. 782. Chap. VII The Death of the Lord John Chandos The War hot in Gascogne The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland The Genealogy of his Successor Robert STUART An Old Error concerning King Robert's Children confuted Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition into France The Black-Prince sacks Limoges and Sr. Bertram of Clequin made Constable of France Pope Urban dies Maximus Planudes flourishes From p. 783. to p. 812. Chap. VIII The Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols The Black-Prince his Eldest Son dies He returns into England sick The War in Gascogne A Parliament at Westminster King Edward beats the Flemings at Sea. James King of Majorica dies The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge Marry the Two Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Spain The Pope's endeavours for Peace The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl his Brother return with their Ladies into England From p. 812. to p. 826. Chap. IX The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny The War hot in Gascogne The Earl of Pembroke taken by the Spaniards Poictiers and Rochelle yielded to the French. Thoüars besieged King Edward sets sail to raise the Siege but the Wind will not serve so Thoüars is lost The Duke of Bretagne made
Southerland As for the former King John Baliol he liv'd at this time a retired life in France having only two Sons the Lord Edward and Henry who as yet had no Issue and therefore their Father had on certain considerations resigned and quitted and given over to King Robert his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland so that Robert was now quit of all fear on that part and otherwise very strong in the affections of his People who were then a great and flourishing Nation And this was the state of Scotland when King Edward the Third of England came to the Crown wherefore encouraged with their former success and despising King Edwards Youth r Rich. Sâ—uthwell on the very night of that day whereon King Edward was Crowned the Scots had intended to take the Castle of Norham Å¿ Grafton p. 173. between the Marches of England and Scotland by surprize and so well they managed their design that about t Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 225 sixteen of them had already mounted the Walls but the Captain Sr Robert Manners being warned of the Matter before-hand by one of his Garrison who was a Scotchman had so well provided to receive them that of those who had mounted he took five or six and put the rest to the sword their Companions below upon this disappointment retiring This seem'd a good Omen of King Edward's future Victories over the Scots by occasion of the Lord Edward Baliol who was himself a Scotchman Presently after King Robert Bruce supposing it now a very fit season to take some advantage against his old Enemies the English during this their Kings Minority sends about u Frois c. 15. Grafton p. 218. Easter a short and brisk Defiance to King Edward and all his Realm telling them that he would shortly with his Power invade the Realm of England with Fire and Sword and there do as he had done before in his Fathers Reign at the Battle of Bannocksborn near Striveling or Sterling where the English received that mighty Overthrow we spake of by reason of those x Sr Tho. de la More Ed. 2. p. 2. Holingshead hist Scotl. p. 217. Hector and Buchan Pits into which the Scots had intrapt them unawares I must not omit that the Scotch Writers attribute the occasion of this Defiance to some fraud or other wherewith the English had lately endeavour'd to ensnare them by foul Collusion of their Ambassadours but neither can it be imagin'd what necessity the King of England should have either by fraud or force to attempt to injure the King of Scots with whom he stood on no ill Terms before his own Affairs were in any posture of Settlement nor do any of their own Historians assign what this fraud or injury was nor indeed was ever the English Nation noted so much for fineness or subtlety as for down-right Honesty and blunt valour Nor is the consideration of King Robert's Age and sickness sufficient to conclude that of necessity there must be some great Cause given that could provoke so decrepit a Man to begin a War toward the End of his Life since thô his Person was weak his Mind was strong and vigorous and Scotland was never in better case than at that time and the Generals he intended to employ were Barons of great Fidelity Conduct and Resolution and he might reasonably hope to have at least as much advantage over this Young King as he had over his Father in his Full Age when attended with a most flourishing Army Nor is any great Captain thô never so satiate with Lawrels so unambitious after all but that in his weakest condition he would lay hold on any occasion of so probable success against a professed Enemy 'T is sweet to an old Warrior to end his days among Triumphs and Victories This is certain King Edward the Third neither did nor could send any Ambassadors to him before his Coronation yet even then we shew'd before that the Scots began to break the Peace by attempting to surprize a Castle thô no less than y Hâ—linshead hist Scot. p. 224. Ashmole p. 645. ex Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 2. Dâ—rs Nine years were to come of the last Thirteen years Truce struck up between this Kings Father and King Robert of Scotland four years before And besidâ—â— we find that there had been since the Coronation of this Young King an Agreement for a further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on the Sunday next before Ascension Day then ensuing But as I said before King Robert imagining to make an easie prey of the young Monarch neither much valued the old Truce not yet ended nor the new Agreement not yet perfected but resolves upon War. Hereupon soon after he invades the North Borders with an z Hector p. 307 b. n. 60. Army of Twenty five thousand Men a Bachan p. 273 all Horse that they might do mischief more speedily and retire with more expedition if by any necessity they should be so obliged VI. The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance and to secure himself for the future from the like Contempt immediately with all his Power addresses himself to defend his Reputation And first he b Frois c. 17. sends his Uncle Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England with a choice number of Soldiers to Newcastle upon Tine who there made his Musters as he was appointed on the c Ashmole p. 645. Monday next before the Ascension in like manner the Lord Robert Hufford and the Lord John Moubray were commanded away to the Reinforcement of the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth then d Dugd. Baron 1 Vol. 565. a. Governour of the Castle and Town of Carlile At the same time the King issued out his General summons to his own People and moreover by kind letters invited his noble Friend John Lord of Beaumont in Heinalt and brother to William Earl of Heinalt by whose aid chiefly the Queen had deposed her Husband and who was but newly return'd home again to come over to his assistance about the time of the Ascension Sr John Lord Beaumont hereupon came over to the King to the City of York the place appointed for the general Rendezvous thô Newcastle also was pitch'd upon for the assembly of other Forces a week before within three days of Whitsuntide accompanied with more than fourty Lords and Knights of Heinalt Flanders and Bohemia with other Knights from Cambray and Artois to the number of Five hundred Men of Arms all well Arm'd and gallantly Mounted Soon after Whitsuntide follow'd for the sake of this John of Heinalt the Lord William Son to the Duke of Juliers or Gulick and Sr Henry Thyrry afterwards Earl of Lewis and with them another goodly Company all expecting to purchase much honour under this hopefull Young King and no less profit as well from his Royal bounty as from the
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâ—l 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung â—t bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâ—uth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
Wherefore the Earl prayed heartily of his Holiness to grant him the favour that the foresaid Thomas Earl of Lancaster might be Translated Now 't is to be remembred that this Thomas who was Eldest Son to Edmund Crouch-back Second Son of King Henry the Third and Younger Brother of King Edward the First had been by King Edward the Second beheaded at Pontefract for Heading the Barons against the King But among the Common People he was look'd on as a Martyr for the Nations Liberties and meriting the name and honour of a Saint However the Pope answer'd Earl Edmund that he the said Thomas of Lancaster should not be Translated untill he should be better certified by the Clergy of England and had seen by their joynt Testimonies what thing God had done for the love of Thomas of Lancaster according to the Suggestion that the foresaid Edmund had made unto him And when Earl Edmund saw that in this request he should not succeed as to the Translation he then desired his Counsel in another matter relating to Edward of Caernarvon his Brother late King of England what he had best to do in order to his Deliverance from Captivity since it was a common Fame thrô England that he was alive whole and sound When the Pope heard him say that King Edward the Second was alive he commanded the Earl upon his Blessing to help with all the Power that he might to deliver him out of Prison and save his Body to the utmost of his Ability in order to which he assoyled him and all his Partakers ab omni poena culpa and promised to bear the charges of the whole Undertaking threatning him also with Excommunication if he did not make use of his best Endeavours to assert his Brothers Right and Liberty Soon after Earl Edmund return'd into England where he set himself about discovering as he thought the Truth more fully and then sent to Corfe Castle that Preaching-Frier of whom we spake One says x Leland Cell 1 Vol. p. 794. that he was also tempted by one of Mortimers Instruments who urging That King Edward the Second was alive and only wanted his Assistance to be deliver'd and restor'd to his former Dignity and the Earl thereupon promising his best Endeavours he was by the same Party accused of High-Treason Walsingham y Walsing hist p. 110. Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. produces an Imperfect confession of the Earl's which he made before Sr. Robert Howel Coroner of the King's Houshold and afterwards on the â—6 of March in the Fourth Year of this King's Reign own'd it for his Confession 1330. REGNI iv before the Lords assembled in Parliament at Winchester whereby we may perceive that he himself sought out to no Body but that others set on no doubt to ruine him came of their own accord to him as well to confirm in him the belief of the Old King 's being Alive as to pretend their Readiness and offering him their Service to deliver him But the whole Cheat will best appear from the Confession it self which amounts to thus much That the Pope had enjoyn'd him on penalty of being Excommunicate to use his utmost Endeavours to work the Delivery of his Brother late King of England promising himself to bear the whole charge of the Undertaking That a certain Predicant Fryer z R. Southwell's Addition to Adam Merimuth M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 213. named Thomas Dunhead in discourse with him at Kensington near London told him He had conjur'd up a Spirit which assured him that Edward his Brother late King of England was yet living That the Archbishop of York had sent him by his Chaplain Mr. Alleyn a trusty letter wherein he promised towards the delivery of his Brother five hundred Men or more William Iliffe also and William Warham Clerks and Thomas Bromfield Fryer promised him their Assistance in this Business Also that Sr. Ingelram Berenger had brought him word to London from William Lord Zouch that he was ready to lend him his help toward the Restauration of his Brother That Sr. Ingelram came to him again from the Lord John Peche proffering also his Service to the Work and saying that Henry Lord Beaumont and Sr. Thomas Rosselin who were sled the Kingdom for fear of Mortimer had at Paris in the Duke of Brabants Bed-chamber instigated them to this Attempt declaring they were ready to come into England to the furtherance of the same That Sr. Ingelram came unto him yet a third time at Arundel into his Bedchamber over the Chappel and assured him of the Bishop of Londons help That Sr. Robert Taunton brought him word from William Melton Archbishop of York that the said Archbishop had Men ready harness'd to compleat the design and that the said Sr. Robert with two Preaching Fryers Edmund and John Savage had a chief stroak in the Affair And that Sr. Fulk Fitz-Warine coming to him at Westminster told him 't would be the most honourable Action he could ever set about but to appear in the Attempt to which he had promised his best Assistance And lastly that the Letters which he had sent to Sr. Bogo of Bayonne and Sr. John Daverill were sealed with his Seal and that his Wife had wrote another Letter to the same effect and that all this was Truth so that he confesses he has offended and therefore he put himself upon the King's Mercy a M. S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 220. The truth of it is that by Mortimers cunning being induced to a belief that his Brother the late King was still living and in Corfe Castle he went himself to the said Castle and spake with the Constable thereof Sr. John Daverill and after many rich Presents desired secretly to know of him whether his Brother the late King was yet alive or dead and if he were alive that he might have a sight of him Now this Sr. John Daverill being Mortimers Creature answer'd that indeed his Brother was in health and under his Keeping but that he durst not shew him to any man living since he was forbid in behalf of the King that now was and also of the Queen Mother and of Mortimer to shew his Person to any One whatsoever except only unto them But the false Traitor lied unto him for the Old King was now in his Grave But Earl Edmund was so far deceiv'd by the Constables protestation that he deliver'd him a Letter desiring him to bear it unto his Brother which he promised to do but soon after carried it to Mortimer sealed with the Earls Seal It began thus To the Noble Knight Edward of Caernarvon Edmund of Woodstock worship and reverence with Brotherly Allegiance and Subjection Sr. Knight Worshipfull and Dear Brother if it please you I pray heartily that you be of good comfort for I shall so ordain for you that you shall soon come out of prison and be delivered of that Trouble which you are in And may
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced 〈◊〉 but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing â—ypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâ—w p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much â—ncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â— Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
Fabian p. 205. Earl thinking to chastise them for their presumption gather'd all his Lords and Knights about him but soon after being met by the Commons in plain Battle after a long Fight they utterly routed him so that he hardly saved himself by flight and then entring into a strong Castle of his he began to fortifie with all diligence III. Things thus standing between the Earl and his people r Frois c. 29. fol. 18. there arose in Gaunt a Man of mean Birth to the Highest Command of all he was by profession a Refiner of Honey or rather as others say Å¿ Mezeray ad hanc an p. 14. a Brewer his Name Jacob van Arteveld or as the French call him Jaques d' Arteville but by reason of his great Wealth subtle Wit and boldness of Mind he had long been of some Authority among the People whereupon now he improv'd his former Popularity so far that of a sudden by his Dexterity he render'd himself more absolute than ever the Earl of Flanders was himself or any other before him He had all things entirely at his Command none having Courage or Power to resist him for undertaking to be the Peoples Patron those who would not appear his Friends were look'd upon as Common Enemies And he never walk'd in the Streets of Gaunt with under Threescore or Fourscore lusty Yeomen at his Heels among whom were Three or Four who understood his most intimate Secrets So that whenever he met with any whom he feared or hated that man was slain without Remedy For so he had precontracted with those his three or four Intimado's that upon meeting of any One if he should make such and such a sign to them they should immediately dispatch him whatsoever he was even thô himself should say to the contrary without any scruple question or demurr By this means of those that did not love him he was so feared that every body was glad to dissemble a complyance with any thing that Jacob van Arteveld had a Mind to These Yeomen at any time when they had brought their Master home us'd to go abroad for their Dinners after which they would return again into the Street before his Lodgings and there wait till he came out and so attend him till Supper time Their standing wages were four Flemish groats per diem for each man beside other profits which four groats the day was duly paid every Week And thus in every Town he had Souldiers and Servants for their wages at his Commandment who were to watch and espie if any person had a Design against him or so and to give him Information thereof Which having once received he would never leave till he had banish'd or destroy'd that man. Especially he took care to banish all the Lords Knights Esquires and Burgesses who were known or suspected to be Friends to the Earl Of all whose Lands he would levy one Moiety for his own use the other to the use of the Wives and Children of the said Exiles As for the Earls Rents and Profits he collected them every groat himself and expended them at his Pleasure without taking or making any Account Yet if he said he wanted Money the People either durst not or would not but believe him and where he had a mind to borrow of any Burgess he was refus'd nothing But it is very observable that when God permits any great Evil to arise among men his gracious Providence at the same time is creating a Remedy against that Evil So now at that very time when Jacob van Arteveld was rising to this Insolence of Power a Friendship was making up between him and the English Interest which at last was the occasion of his Downfall as hereafter we shall see IV. For the English Lords who still kept an Honourable Port at Valenciennes when they understood the Errant about which the King their Master had sent Sr. Bernard Bret and also heard of this new discord between the Earl and the good Towns of Flanders they immediately thought to make some Advantage of all this for their Masters service knowing it would be very acceptable unto him if by any means they might win the Flemings to their side Upon their advising with the Earl in this Matter he plainly told them That without doubt the aid of the Flemings could not but be of very great Importance But added he I verily think your endeavours to gain them will prove utterly ineffectual unless you can first make Jacob van Arteveld your Friend The English Lords resolv'd to do their best and thereupon departed for Flanders Being there they distributed themselves into Three Parties One for Gaunt another for Bruges and the Third for Ipres and they all kept so high a Port and spent so largely as if Gold and Silver flow'd from their Hands And yet beyond all this they made many great Promises and Liberal Offers to those whom they confer'd with about these Matters 'T was the Bishop of Lincoln's Province to be at Gaunt and he succeeded so well by help of his smooth Tongue and more Eloquent Hand that Jacob van Arteveld became forthwith his humble Servant By Jacob's means the Representatives of the good Towns of Flanders were often conven'd together before whom the Offers of the English Commissioners were propounded concerning many considerable Advantages Priviledges and Franchises on such Conditions to be Granted unto them by the King of England In short things were here so well menaged that it was fully agreed that the King of England or any of his might come into Flanders armed or unarmed and go at his or their Pleasure But as for themselves they added how they were straightly bound to the Pope in a Bond of t Ashmole p. 650. 2000000 Florens of Gold to be paid on peril of a general Interdiction never more to make War against the King of France And with this Answer they desired the English Commissioners to be content for that time Hereupon they return'd very well satisfied to Valenciennes whence they sent frequently to England to give the King an account of their Progress and he for his part most liberally supply'd them with Gold and Silver to bear their own Charges and to present to the Lords of Almaine who were very ready to receive whatever was offer'd of that kind At this time also the King sent an Orator to the Pope Requesting that with his good leave he might enter a strict League and Alliance with the Emperour of Germany because as then the said Emperour was not only Excommunicate himself but also all those who joyned themselves unto him were involved in the like sentence But to this Request of the Kings the Pope refused to consent and endeavour'd to disswade him from that Design by his u Extant apud Odâ—ric Râ—nald ad An. 1337. §. 7. Letters bearing date at Avignon 13 Kal. August An o Pontificatûs 3. Thô for all this we shall find the King to enter a League
rest all made Prisoners and the Bishop by chance wounded in the Head slightly thô being brought into Sandwich thrô that and his grief together he died soon after Besides this small Success the p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 138. Merchants of Bristow about this time took in fight a French Ship called the Christmas of which Sr. Thomas Lord Bradestan had a Grant from the King in requital of his good Services Now upon the safe arrival of the Ambassadors in England and their Complaint of the Garrison in Cadsant q Frois c. 30. Holinsh p. 901. King Edward said He would very speedily provide a Remedy against that And accordingly soon after he sent the Earl of Darby the Lord Walter Manny the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. 67. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 784. Reginald Cobham and divers other Knights and Esquires with 500 Men of Arms and two thousand some say ſ James Meire four thousand Archers who all went on Board at London in the River Thames The first Tide they went to Gravesend the second to Margate and with the third they took the deep Sea and made directly for Flanders They had Wind and Tide at will and so being come before Cadsant they prepared themselves for Battle and having placed the Archers on the Decks before them in the Name of God and St. George they sounded their Trumpets and sailed toward the Town The Men of Cadsant saw their Approach and knew well who they were but like good Warriers they ranged themselves along by the Dikes on the Sands with their Banners waving before them having for encouragement sake made 16 new Knights They consisted of 5000 Men of War valiant Knights and Esquires with their Retinues besides the Inhabitants their Chief being Sr. Guy the Bastard of Flanders who was an expert and hardy Captain and now earnestly desired all his Company to have regard to their Honour and to do their Devoire With him besides those mention'd before were present Simon and John Bouquedent and Peter of Anglemonster who were then and there made Knights with many other valiant Gentlemen The English were resolved to assail and the Flemings were as resolutely bent to defend But when the t Frois c. 31. fol. 19. English Archers with a great Shout began all at one instant to send among them a thick Flight of deadly Arrows they that kept the Shore recoyled back in great dismay leaving many dead but far more grievously wounded upon the place Insomuch that the English immediately took Land in very good Order and so came to Handy-Stroaks with their Enemies who fled not before them but having recovered their late Disorder came bravely forward to dispute their Landing Here the Earl of Darby behav'd himself worthy of the Royal Stock from whence he came but in the first Shock adventur'd so forward among his Enemies that in the Preass he was at last fell'd down to the Ground thô without any hurt for he was arm'd at all Points after the Manner of that Age Sr. Walter Manny was not far behind but saw when and where he fell and inflam'd with generous Valour prick'd forward so boldly and laid about him with his Battle-Ax so furiously encouraging also his Men to the Rescue with these Words Lancaster for the Earl of Darby that he clear'd the place by fine Force raised his General from the Ground and set him safe in the head of his own Guard crying all the while Lancaster for the Earl of Darby On the English Part beside the foresaid Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby and Son to the Earl of Lancaster and the valiant Lord Walter Manny who thus rescued him there were the Lord Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Robert Bourchier and the Lord John Norwich the Lord William Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Lewis Beauchamp his Cosin with other good Captains Upon this Rescue of the Earl of Darby both Powers joyn'd again with more Animosity than before the English to revenge the former Affront and the Flemmings in hope to succeed better now The Battle was surely fought on both Hands very well for the Flemings were Chosen Men and the English resolv'd not to part Stakes by any means but to win all at this their first Setting out or perish Many therefore were slain on both Sides but the greater number fell to the Flemings share But all the while the Archers of England flanking their Men of Arms shot with such violence and so wholly together that they were not to be endur'd so that at last the Enemies Ranks being made thin and broken they began to fly Sr. Guy the Bastard was taken Prisoner there were slain Sr. Duras Halvin Sr. John Rhodes the two Brethren of Bouquedent Sr. Simon and Sr. John who but a little while enjoy'd their Knighthood Sr. Giles Lestriefe and above 36 Knights and Esquires more and of the Common Souldiers more than 3000 what in the Haven Streets and Houses Besides all which about u Stow p. 234. Walsing hist p. 132. n. 10. 3000 more of the Inhabitants being fled for safety into a Church were by the enraged Welchmen burnt together with the Church it self For after the Battle they took the Town plunder'd it and then set it on fire and so with much Prey and many Prisoners return'd for England without any x Frois c. 31. f. 19. considerable Damage themselves King Edward received Sr. Guy the Bastard respectfully for he was a valiant Man and only taking his Oath to continue true Prisoner permitted him to walk abroad at his pleasure But y Frois ibid. he was so won with the Kings Goodness that that very Year of his own accord he became a Leigeman to him and swore Faith and gave him Homage as one who heartily embraced his Service However for him and for the rest of the Prisoners about two Years after King z Holinshead p. 901. E. Lit. Dom. Edward gave to the Lord Walter Manny the summ of 8000 l. Sterling This Battle between the English and Dutchmen was fought on the 9 of November being a Sunday and the day before St. Martin Of this Discomfiture at Cadsant * Frois c. 32. Tidings were immediately spread over all Flanders and generally the Flemings said They were e'ne serv'd well enough since without the consent of the good Towns nay and against their Wills only in Obedience to the Earls unreasonable Humour they had presumed to keep a Garrison against their Friends of England This was just as Jacob van Alteveld desired and thereupon he sends Messengers to King Edward to recommend him heartily to his Majesty and to request him to take the Sea and come ove◠forasmuch as the Flemings were impatient till they had a Sight of Him The effect whereof we shall see hereafter Nor even here was King Edward the First Aggressor for it appears that King Philip had * Foliet hist sen l. 6. already hired
many Ships of the Gibellines of Genua and the Guelfs of Monaco which took much Booty from the English and infested the Aquitanian Ocean and also by his Royal Edict he had a Tom. 3. Epist secret 306. Odoric Rainald ad an 1337. §. 21. recalled the Rights of the Dutchy of Aquitain to the Court of France and had actually with an Army which he sent thither seized on several Castles besides that he had fired certain Places on the Sea-Coasts of England with his Navy which he sent into Scotland IX Now whereas the foresaid b Ashmâ—le p. 647. c. ex Rot. Alman 11. Ed. 3. m. 4. Ambassadors of the King of England had in making all those Alliances and Retainers upon the Kings Account obliged themselves to pay sundry great Summs of Mony the King taking all upon himself indemnified them their Heirs and Executors of all those Summs and other Things whereto they were so engaged But this great Affair of strengthening the King with Alliances was again set on foot and to that purpose c 3 Octob. Rot. Alman 11 Ed. 3. n. 10. another Commission was issued to the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln and Earl of Salisbury to whom was added Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and John Lord Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshold with Power to any Three of them to treat thereupon with Lewis the Emperour Another d Ibid. n. 11. Commission of the same Date was made out to them and to Richard Winkele John Hufford Paul de Monteflorum John Montgomery and John Waweyn impowring them to treat with and to retain all Persons as well Nobles as Others for the Kings Service And yet as the King did by these Means endeavour to enable himself for the Recovery of the Crown of France so did he not neglect all Methods of Peace e 7 Octob. ib. n. 13. Particularly he constituted the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk and John Lord Darcy his Agents to treat with the Magnificent Prince the Lord Philip the Illustrious King of France as he is stiled in the Commission or his Deputies touching his Right to the said Crown to wit whether it ought to remain to him or King Edward And by another Commission of the same Date they were empower'd to treat upon all Controversies and Demands whatsoever relating to the Dukedom of Aquitaine or other Parts beyond Sea and also of an Happy and Perpetual Peace But in case his just Demands should not find an agreeable Answer on the same Day he prepared f Ibid. m. 1. another Commission for John Duke of Brabant and Lorraine whereby he constituted him his Lieutenant Captain and Vicar General in the Kingdom of France Where it is worthy Note that the King in this Commission where he challenges the Crown of France as devolved to him by Right of Succession and consequently become his Lawfull Inheritance did assume the Title of that Kingdom and Stiled himself Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae And by another Commission bearing even Date made of these Officiary Dignities to the said Duke he put France in the First place thus Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae c. but soon after he voluntarily laid this Title of France aside nor did he solemnly assume it again till the Fourteenth Year of his Reign over England as we shall see in due place By several other Commissions of the same g Ibid. Date wherein also the Titles of England and France were in like manner transposed did the King appoint to the same Dignities William Marquess of Juliers William Earl of Heinalt his Brother in Law and William Bohun Earl of Northampton and by another then Dated and directed to the Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons and all other Persons in the Kingdom of France having therein the Titles of France and England transposed as before they are commanded to receive the said Duke of Brabant as if it were the King in his own Person as also the said Marquess and Earls And further the said Marquess and Earls were by other Commissions severally constituted the Kings Special Ambassadors to make known his Title to all whom it should concern to challenge and prosecute his Right to require every Unjust Detainer to render unto the King whatsoever he so withheld from him to Displace and Punish such as they should think meet and lastly to Do and Execute all other Things which should be most necessary for the Recovery and Preservation of his Right Now it is to be remembred thô we also spake of this before that in the beginning of h Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m 29. in Dorso Knighton p. 2569. n. 10. this Year King Philip had sent Forces into Gascoign and thô not without considerable Loss to himself seised upon many of the Kings Castles and Fortresses notwithstanding that the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschall of Gascoign a noble wise and valiant Captain behav'd himself commendably against the French in all his Actions considering his small Forces Upon notice hereof King Edward gave i Rot. Vascon 11 Ed. 3. m. 40. Command to arrest twenty Ships in the Port of Southampton and thereabouts and to press Men to be ready at Portsmouth to set forward for Gascoign on Whitsun-Eve following to reinforce the Lord Oliver Ingham his Seneschall But it must not here be forgotten what is recorded of Sr. k Rot. Vasc 11 Ed. 3. m. 4. Raymund Cornely Lord of Abertha a Gascoigner that he made an Offer to the French King to fight with any Man living in Defence of King Edwards Right to those Countries for which he l 6 Jan. ibid. sent him great and particular Thanks Yet thô accordingly the King had raised a great Army to send into Gascoign he made withall several Fair Applications by his Ambassadours to the Court of France for Restitution of what had been seised on and Prevention of a War. His Offers were these 1. m Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 28. Dorsâ— To Marry his Eldest Son the Duke of Cornwall to the King of France's Daughter without Dowry 2. The Marriage of his Sister the Countess of Gueldre to his Son with a great Summ of Money 3. The Marriage of his Brother i. e. his Uncle's Son n Hear the Learned Esquire Ashmole reads his Brother the Earl of Cornwall whereas 't is plain that the Earl of Cornwall died the Year preceding as we have shew'd and also upon the Death of the Earl of Cornwall that Earldom was converted afterwards into a Dukedom and conser'd upon Prince Edward Nor is it strange that I here am forced not only to read Kent for Cornwall but Brother for Fathers Brother's Son since we find in the Records that this very King calls Richard the Son of his Eldest Son Prince Edward his own Son as thus * Summonitio Parliamenti 51 Ed. 3. old Sr.
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
the very Duty of our Apostolick Employment requires so much of Us but take Order to provide the best Remedy as to the Premises by proceeding against you which will be very troublesom and ungratefull to Us if it shall which God forbid be necessary as Justice so requiring both ought and may be done Given at Avignion under the Seal of the Fisher c. in the i i â—v apud Oderic v Year of our Pontificate on the Ides of November CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward summons the German Lords to meet him at Mechlin in Brabant II. Vpon their Meeting the King and They send their several Defiances to King Philip. III. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War and takes Thin l'Evesque which he garrisons for King Edward The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege IV. The King of France's Preparations V. The French Navy burn Southampton VI. King Edward lays Siege to Cambray VII But on News of King Philips Preparations rises and goes forth to meet him putting all to Fire and Sword as he goes VIII The two Kings face one another at Vironfosse in Cambresis A Day appointed for Battle with the Order and Number of both Armies IX The true Reasons why the French declined to fight and the sudden Departure of King Philip. X. King Edward returns to Antwerp where having sent for his Son the Prince to come to him he keeps his Christmas XI A Copy of the Pope's Letter to King Edward to move him to Peace XII King Edwards Answer thereto XIII Two notable Parliaments held at Westminster one by the Prince before his Departure out of England and the other by Commissioners empowered thereto by the King. I. BEfore the Return of this Answer from the Pope AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII King Edward immediately after the Date of his own Letters began his March to a Frois c. 35. Villenort in Brabant where he lodged his People partly in the Town and partly without in Tents and Pavilions along the River side Here he tarried from the 20th of July till the middle of August still expecting the Coming of the Lords of the Empire his Allies but especially of the Duke of Brabant on whom chiefly the rest did depend as to their resolution in this Matter But when his Patience was almost tired with fruitless expectation he was fain to send once more his special Summons to each of them commanding them to come and meet with him at Mechelen the Metropolis of Brabant on b 1 Septemb. St. Giles his Day following and then and there to shew him the Cause of those ill-boding Delays Now all this while that the King waited thus at Villenort for his Confederates he maintain'd idly at his own Costs and Charges 1600 Men of Arms all English and 10000 Archers of England besides all other necessary Provisions for his Court and beside the great Armies and Garrisons he had in other Places and upon the Seas and beside the vast Summs of Mony which he had dispos'd of to the Lords his Confederates The French King for his part was not unpurvey'd of necessaries for Resistance for beside his formidable Preparations in France Normandy and Aquitain he had set forth a Mighty Fleet of Ships consisting of French Normans Bretons Picards and Spaniards who had Orders as soon as ever the War should be once open and the Defiances made to land on some of the Sea-coasts of England where they could to their best advantage and to put all to Fire and Sword and Rapine So honourable in those days were Christian Princes as thô they manifestly prepared against each other not to begin open War till they had given mutual Warning thereof II. On the first of September or St. Giles his day according to King Edward's Summons these tardy Lords of Almain came all at last to Mechelen unto him where they immediately enter'd upon consideration of the present Affairs There was much Debate among them but in the end it was resolved that the King of England should set forward within fifteen days at farthest and to the intent their Cause should not appear unwarrantable they all agree'd to send their particular Defiances to the French King. First the King of England c Frois ibid. then the Duke of Guerles or Gueldre late Earl and William Earl of Juliers late Marquess but now advanced to higher Dignities by King Edward d Knighton p. 2574. n. 30. 40. then the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord John of Heinalt the Marquesses of Nuys and Blanckeberg the Lord of Faulquemont or Valkenberg as the Dutch call it Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the Archbishop of Colen Sr. Galeace his Brother and the rest of the Lords of the Empire All these had their particular and special Defiances written signed and sealed excepting of all the Confederates the Duke of Brabant only who said He would do the like by himself at his best Convenience Henry Lord Bishop of Lincoln was chosen to carry these Defiances into France being attended with the Herald Windsor who was Principal King at Arms of England in those days These presently carried them to Paris and there Windsor after the Defiances were deliver'd openly defi'd King Philip of Valois in the Name of the King of England his Master and then having Both performed their Business so discreetly that they could not justly incurr any reproach or blame thô inwardly King Philip boiled with Fury they demanded and obtained a safe Conduct and so return'd to the King their Master who tarried for them at Mechlin III. That very Week that the Lord Walter Manny understood for certain how the Defiances had been made he took to him fourty Spears e Frois c. 36. and rode thrô Brabant Night and Day till he came into Heinalt and entred the Wood of Blaton His Resolution and Design was not as yet known to any of his Followers but those few of his Friends only to whom he thought it necessary to Communicate his Purpose and to these he privately confessed how he had promised before some great Ladies in England to be the very first that after the War was Proclaim'd should enter the Confines of France and perform some notable Exploit of Arms That now therefore in pursuance of his Vow he resolves for Mortagne a Town and Fortress on the Confines of Heinalt two Leagues from Tournay towards Valenciennes which belonged then to King Philip and that therefore this he would endeavour to surprise So having passed thrô the Wood of Blaton he came early one Morning before Sunrise to Mortagne where by chance he found the small Door of the Great Gate of the Town standing open Hereupon alighting immediately from his Horse with all his Company having appointed certain to stand still and Guard the Gate against his Return he enter'd with all the rest and went thrô the High-Street with his Banner before him in good close Order till he came to
the other of Roger Normans do constantly attend the Pleasure of the said Richard in the Port of South-hampton Further that all the Inhabitants should remain still upon the Place to Defend the same on Pain of loosing all they have Sr. Richard was to have all the Ammunition and Warlike Furniture of the same Town to be deliver'd into his Hands by Indenture and was endued with a like Power in all things as the Earl of Warwick had been when he was Governour there The Sheriff of Southampton having a Writ of Attendance on him for Victuals and other Necessaries Mr. Stephen Butterly and Mr. William Weston Serjeants at Arms were to provide sufficient Timber Boards and other Necessaries for the said Town by Indenture Thus much for the Sea and the Sea-coasts Now as for the Defence of the Marches of Scotland and the Places thereabouts which might want Strength or Provision William Snoring and John at Fennes Merchants of Lynn-Regis Robert of Bayon and Henry Smith Merchants of Barton upon Humber do undertake at a certain Price and by a certain Day to deliver Ten Thousand Quarters of all kind of Grain at the Town of Barwick and in the Road of Leigh Every Quarter of Wheat and Malt at 9 shillings of Oats Beans and Pease at 5 shillings To which there was added a Caution that under Colour of this Licence they should not serve the Kings Enemies Sr. Thomas Rokeby who for finding out the Scotch Army in the first Year of this King was by him Knighted as we shew'd in due place being now a Person of great Reputation for Valour Wisdom and Fidelity took upon him to keep the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterling till Midsummer next ensuing And the Division of all the Grain aforesaid and of other Victuals for the said Castles and the Town of Barwick being proportionably made the greatest Share was allotted to the Castles Next in Order to preserve the Isle of Wight this Wise and Great Assembly provided First that the inhabitants of the same during the War should be respited the Payment of any Aid to the King and that None of them should by any Means be dispensed with to travel abroad or to absent themselves out of the said Isle nor should be impannel'd or warned at any Assise or Inquest during the said War. Also that due Provision of Wine Grain Coals and other Necessaries for the Castle of Caresbrook in the said Isle be forthwith made the Kings Butler being appointed to deliver the Wine to Sr. John Langford Constable of the said Castle and William of Rewinock was commanded to provide the rest of the foresaid Necessaries Sr. John Ferrers Captain of Jersey Island was now appointed to send thither a sufficient Deputy to whom like Rules were set and Provision allow'd for Defence of the same Command being also sent to Bayliffs there to seise upon the Goods of one William Payne late Jurate of that Isle who Revolted to the Enemy and to Choose another On the back-side of this Roll are seen the Numbers of such Souldiers as were arrayed and set out by certain Nobles Knights and Gentlemen of the Counties of York Nottingham Derby Lancaster Westmorland and Cumberland by their particular Rates which in the whole amounted to 7400 Men of Arms 200 Archers on Horseback and two Thousand Halberdeers Those of the three first-named Counties were order'd at the Costs of the Country to March to Newcastle upon Tine only and they of Westmorland Cumberland and Lancaster to Carlile only And the Captains and other being together shall lie and forrage upon Scotland and not upon the Marches of England A Clergyman was appointed for the defraying of their Wages having the Lords Percy and Nevile to oversee his Accounts and to speak with the Nobles Knights and Captains to execute these Orders and to bargain with Merchants for Shifts and returns of Money The Lord Richard Talbot who was late Captain of Barwick upon his undertaking the Charge of Southampton was now discharged for a while thereof Sr. Walter Clark being appointed to keep the same till Easter next ensuing Those who had directed unto them the Commissions of Array for Souldiers for the County of York were Thomas Lord Wake William Lord Roos Sr. Thomas Vghtred Sr. William de la Pole and Sr. Michael Wath only afterwards Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 541. because the Lord Wake had been appointed Guardian of the Sea-coasts in Lincolnshire and had in that Service many Souldiers under him for whose support he had been at great Expences he was in consideration thereof discharged from finding such Men at Arms Hobelers and others as for his Lands in Yorkshire he had else been lyable to be charged with Those who had Commissions of Array for Nottingham and Derby were the Lord Nicolas Cantelupe Sr. Richard Willoughby and Sr. Thomas Longvillers all Noble Barons of the Realm For the County of Lancaster Sr. Henry Heydock and Sr. Robert Radcliff For Westmorland and Cumberland Anthony Lord Lucy Sr. Pierce Filliol Sr. Hugh Delowthrey and Sr. Robert Perning For Northumberland the Lord Henry Percy and Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby Ranulph Lord Dacres of the North Sr. John Fenwick and Sr. Thomas Helpscots all who were empower'd to Place and Displace Captains upon Reasonable Cause This is the Substance of the Parliament held at this time especially in Matters Relating to Scotland the Discourse whereof we shall refer to another Place and also to France CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Parliament of his Allies at Brussels in Brabant Where he takes upon him the Arms and Style of France the Flemings entring an Alliance with him and rendring him their Homage thereupon II. The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt with the Mannâ—r of King James the Second's Pedigree by the Mothers side down from him III. King Edward Publishes his Letters Patents Monitory to his Subjects of France to own his Authority as of their Rightfull King and to come to his Peace and Protection with a True Copy of the Letters IV. King Edward returns into England with Design to hold a Parliament the time whereof he fixes on the Wednesday after Midlent-Sunday which then fell on the Twenty Ninth of March. V. King Edward informs the Pope of his Reasons for Vsing the Style and Arms of France with the Popes Answer I. THE Sacred Solemnity of our Saviours Nativity being now over King Edward by Advice of the Lords of the Empire his Friends went from a Frois c. 43. Antwerp to Brussels the Chief City of Brabant there to hold a Parliament and to consult with his Friends how to proceed farther in his French Wars These Lords being there met accordingly first perswaded the King to require the Aid and Friendship of the Flemmings in this his Cause and that for his Sake they would defie the French King and March whither he should lead or direct them For all which he should Engage to Recover Lisle Doway
in England and so without Fear it is answer'd that even so it was not without Fear when there was a fear of losing the whole Dukedom aforesaid by reason of an Army then ready to invade the King himself in the Dukedom and in England by the way of Scotland and that the said Letters were sealed while the said King was notoriously under Age as aforesaid not of the perfect Knowledge of the said King nor upon due Notice of his Right or Prejudice as neither by reason of the frailty of his Age could then be had Besides he the said King ought to be restored in full in this Case within the Times thereto limited if he had had a Competent Judge and because he had not a Competent Judge he used in due time other Remedies whereby there was taken better Provision as to his Right And the King of England would have our Lord the Pope to be more surely informed that the said King never did any thing on purpose to the Lord Philip bearing himself as King of France for which he ought to cease or desist from the Prosecution of his said Right or for which he thought or doth think his Conscience wronged in this part and that it was so He calls God to Witness As to the Objection wherein 't is said that the said Lord the King of England is not of the Blood of France but by means of a Woman who is not capable of the Right of the Hereditary Realm of France it is answerd that althô by the Custom of the Realm of France a Woman of the Royal Blood be excluded from the Hereditary Rights of the Realm of France yet hereby it doth not follow that her Son being a Male and able to Reign ought to be excluded from the Succession of his Forefathers devolved unto Lawfull Heirs because the King of England claims the Succession of his Uncle the Lord King Charles deceased according to the Prerogative of his Degree as next of Kin to the deceased King who ought not to be excluded from the Inheritance of his Uncle or his Grandfather by any Kindred more remote in Degree even althô the Mother of the said King by reason of her Sex should be excluded or put by And if it be said that some Nephews and Kindred of the Lords Lewis and Philip Brethren of the said Lord King Charles successively have been excluded from the Royal Succession upon that Account that they were only allied to the said Kings by the means of Females as also the King of England was allied to the said Lord King Charles by means of a Female only namely of his Mother it is answer'd that not upon that account were the said Nephews excluded but upon this that none of the said Nephews was in Being at the Time of the Death of the said King about whose Inheritance the Controversie was and this will evidently appear by matter of Fact underwritten For it is to be known that the Lord Philip the Fair King of France deceased leaving behind him three Brothers namely Lewis the Eldest Philip the Long the Second Born and Charles the Third and Youngest and one Daughter namely Isabell Queen of England Lewis the Elder Son succeeded his Father Philip the Fair immediately in the Kingdom of France and got one Daughter after which King Lewis died leaving the said Daughter which had no Issue during the Life of the said King Lewis and his Wife impregnate who after the Death of the said King brought forth a Male Child named John who after Nine Days wherein he was accounted King of France deceased And Philip the Long the Middle Brother of the said Three succeeded him immediately in the said Kingdom This King Philip begat three Daughters but no Male the Elder Daughter whereof was coupled in Matrimony to the Duke of Burgundy the Second to the Dauphin of Vienna the Third and Youngest to the Earl of Flanders Of the First Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy was born a Male Child called as is said Robert during the Life of King Philip but that Robert died before King Philip his Grandfather and so was not in Being at the time of the Death of the said Lord Philip his Grandfather Of the Second Daughter married to the Dauphin there was no Issue at all during the Life of the said King Philip as neither of the Other who was married to the Earl of Flanders After the Death of the said King Philip his Third and Younger Brother namely the Lord Charles immediately succeeded who in the end leaving two Daughters unmarried deceased without Issue Male. From all which it is evident that the said Lord Charles was True and Lawfull King of France and by Consequence that the Lord the King of England who was Son of the Lady Isabella Queen of England Sister to the said Charles as aforesaid ought as his Nearest Kinsman to succeed him in the Kingdom These Instructions were given to Nicolas de Flisco and his Son Andrew who were to be follow'd by others with Letters from the King to his Holiness sealed with the Arms of England and France which New Seal was not yet made But while the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco remained at the Court of Avignon under the Pope's Protection certain wicked Persons thinking to curry Favour with the King of France about Midnight on Good Fryday Eve enter'd his House by Violence broke open his Chamber and hardly giving him time to put on one thin Garment hurried Him and his Son and one young Gentleman away and carried them down the Rhosne to a certain Tower where they kept them close till Saturday and then convey'd them into the Parts of France At which Injury his Holiness was so moved that he began to thunder out the most heavy Edicts against the Authors and Accomplices of that Crime and put France under Interdict as appears by an Expostulatory Letter of King Philips to the Pope Wherein calling God to Witness that this Violence was neither done by his Command nor Will or Knowledge and that when he heard the English Men thus taken were within his Kingdom he had given Order to make diligent Search for them and to return them to Avignon again he complains that those Processes were too sudden and too rigorous since he was wholly innocent of the matter and so to the blackning of his Honour and that for the future he would not be so hasty in acting against him without giving him Notice c. Dated at Moncell near Pont St. Maixence 21 of Maii. To which the Pope return'd That he could never think the Knowledge of that Fact did belong to him however it was so horrid that the Severity which he had used was necessary But that his Paternal Affection toward him was no way diminished thereby nay he would rather conspire with him in a mutual Agreement of Good-will and kind Offices Dated at Avignon iii Kal. Jun. Anno Pontif. vi Soon after at King Philips Command Nicolas
Realm Our Purpose is not to proceed rashly or by Our own Will but by the Discreet Advice and Counsel of the Peers Prelates Nobles and other Our Faithfull Subjects of the kingdom so far forth as shall make for the Honour of God the Defence and Advancement of the Church which in all fullness of Devotion We Reverence and to the Advantage both Publique and Private of all the Subjects thereof with full Execution of Justice by the Grace of God to be Administred unto all and Singular Persons We being earnestly carefull for the Honour Profit and Tranquility of You all For as the Lord knoweth nothing will be more acceptable to Us than that by Our carefull Solicitude Peace may be engendred in General among all Christians but especially betwixt Us so that by Our Concord the force and Strength of all Christian Princes may be united together for the Recovery of the Holy Land which Our Saviour and Redeemer hath dedicated with his own Precious Blood whereunto We will endeavour Our Selves thrô the Grace of the Holy Ghost And forasmuch as We have offer'd to the foresaid Lord Philip divers Friendly and Reasonable Conditions of Peace whereunto he would neither condescend nor agree to any Conformity nay rather he moveth against Us unjust War to the Utter Subversion of Our State We are of Necessity compelled to the uttermost of Our Power for Our own Security and the Recovery of Our Right to Defend Our Selves by force of Arms Not seeking any slaughter of Good and Humble Subjects but desiring their safeguard and Profit For the which Cause all and singular such Our Subjects of the Kingdom of France as shall submit themselves unto Us as unto the True King of France between this and the Feast of Easter next ensuing professing unto Us their Fealty and doing unto Us as unto the King of France of Duty it appertaineth so as Our beloved Subjects of Flanders have done already or shall be ready to offer themselves so to do All such We willingly Admit and Receive to Our Peace and Grace under Our Protection to be defended them to maintain as is convenient from all molestation and trouble whatsoever in Person or Goods hereafter to be inflicted by Us or by Our Officers upon whatsoever occasion of Rebellion afore-passed And forasmuch as the Premises cannot easily be intimated to all and singular Persons We have provided the same to be fixed upon Church Doors and in other publick Places whereby the Manifest Notice thereof may come to all Men to the Comfort of You that are to Us Loyal and to the Information of those who thrô the Sinister dealing of Our Enemies are otherwise informed of Us. Given at Gaunt the 8 day of February in the Year of Our Reign over France the First and over England the Fourteenth IV. Presently after King Edward had thus assumed the Arms and Style of France and had caused his Great Seal to be Changed leaving the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk in Flanders with his Queen and Children he took the Sea for England and Landed safe at x Claus 14. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 42. derso Orwell in Suffolk on the 21 of February at Nine of the Clock in the Morning on which very day that his New Seal might be made more Publique he caused y 21 Febr. ibid. m. 33. in derso Impressions thereof and of his Privy Seal which was also alter'd to be made and sent to all the Sheriffs in England to be Published in the several Counties in regard he intended at the meeting of the Parliament on the z 29 Martii Wednesday next after Midlent-Sunday to acquaint them with the Cause wherefore he had added to his Style the Title of King of France And on the First of March following he deliver'd his New Broad Seal to Sr. John de St. Paul in the Cage-Chamber at Westminster the Old Great Seal being then deliver'd up to him by the said Sr. John which he gave to William de Kildesby to be laid up in his Wardrobe But it is to be a Vid. hujus sigilli Imaginem Sandford p. 124 remembred that upon this Change there were two Seals made alike in all things but only One was circumscribed Edvardus Dei Gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae And the other was Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae Dominus Hiberniae the Style being varied in Respect of the Place as Our King is now in Scotland called Rex Scotiae Angliae but in England Anglia is put first But of King Edward and his Affairs in Parliament We shall not yet speak till We have given some account of other Matters of no small Consequence in other parts which fell after the two Armies had broke up at Vironfoss without engaging V. Only here We shall remember that the King of England upon this variation of his Seal to set forth the Equity of his Cause sent his Letters to the Pope wherein using the Style of King of France and the Lillies quarter'd he largely sets forth how the Realm of France was devolved unto him by Hereditary Right and that Philip of Valois had by Violence and Injustice usurped it M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet p. 1. apud Odoric Rainald ad An. 1340. § 4. ex Tom. 6. Epist Secret. 255. in Vatican to whom the Pope sent an Answer the Tenour whereof followeth Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction When lately the Letters of Your Royal Excellency were presented to Our Apostleship and the Contents thereof more fully understood as soon as ever a New Title therein described and the Impression of a Seal engraven with the Arms of France and England did at first view appear they Administred unto Us great Matter of Astonishment and Admiration For by how much We Embrace You with the Preheminence of a more Ample Charity by so much the more grievously are We afflicted inwardly while We perceive You to be led by Perverse and Deceitfull Counsels and to be induced to such things as are neither Expedient nor Decent Nor doth our inward Affection permit Us to be silent or dissemble but that We should set before the Eyes of Your Mind these things that You may be able more Discreetly and Profitably to take Care to Your self as to the Premises For it is affirmed for certain and undoubted that whereas the Custom hitherto kept inviolably doth not admit the Succession to the Realm of France by the Female Line the Succession is said not to be due unto You who as You know are descended of the Stock of the House of France by the Female Line And if no such Custom did forbid the c c Successâ—ne M. S. Successionem Odoric Successive Proceeding of the Female Line to the Crown of the
Hainalts Territories Whereupon the Earl sends him a Defiance V. After that the said Earl Marches in Hostile manner into the French Pale where being satisfied with Revenge for that time he passes over the Sea for England to enter a strict Alliance with King Edward VI. The mean while King Philip orders his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to Revenge this severely upon Hainalt and he himself having try'd in vain to draw off the Flemings from England to his side procures the Pope to Interdict Flanders and Commands his Garrisons that Border'd that way to make sharp War upon them which is done accordingly VII Jacob van Arteveld in Revenge resolves to go and lay Siege before Tournay and invites the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolks Eldest Son to come to such a Place and joyn him They in their Passage thither are intercepted and taken Prisoners by the Men of Lille and are sent to the French King who is hardly perswaded by the King of Bohemia not to put them to Death in cold blood VIII The Duke of Normandy Invades Hainalt with the various Rencounters thereupon IX He returning to Cambray Mutual Inroads are made into France and Hainalt by the Garrisons of either Party X. The Duke when the season of War was come Marches again from Cambray and goes before the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt coming home Marches with a great Army to raise the Siege I. NOW thô Philip the French King had upon good Reasons as we shew'd before declin'd to venture his whole Stock upon the chance of one Battle yet was he not wanting to shew himself both Active and Provident in offending his Enemy of England where he imagin'd any probability of Success He a Frois c. 46. fol. 26. therefore appointed the Lord Gaston Earl of Laille who was a right Valiant Leader and as then at Paris with the King to undertake an Expedition against the English in Gascoign and to act as his Lieutenant there making war against Bourdeaux and Boâ—â—delois and all the Fortresses that held still of King Edward At that time the worthy Baron b Walsingh hist p. 133. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 104. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1339. n. 15. Oliver Lord Ingham was Governour of Bourdeaux and the Parts thereabout who not much doubting any great matter from France in this juncture when the King of Englands Forces were in Flanders For King Edward upon his Departure into England had left in Flanders great Part of his Forces under the Command of the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48. Robert Hufford le Fitz eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk was notwithstanding suddenly surprized to behold a compleat Army of Frenchmen approaching the Walls of Bourdeaux to lay Siege thereto He was not ready enough prepared to make good the Place by pure Force nor had he sufficient Power at that time many of his Men being dispersed into Winter Quarters to man the Walls and make good all other Defences Only this was his Comfort that the Inhabitants were all entirely affected to the English Interest Wherefore putting all his own Men which were under 6000 into Arms in the most secret manner he commanded the Citizens to shew no Fear or Distrust but to follow their Occupations as in time of Peace Then immediately he set the City Gates wide open and rear'd upon the Walls both of Town and Castle the French Lillies The Enemy finding the Gates open enter'd peaceably but when they saw the Arms of France every where erected and also upon the Castle it self supposing the English Garrison fled and so secure now both they within and they without for the most part laid by their Arms but all went in without Order to rifle the Houses of the English and to seize the Castle But just then the Valiant and Politick Lord Ingham with his Men all well-arm'd and in good Order rush'd forth upon them flaying them down by Heaps and driving all before them At which instant the Citizens fell in upon them from all Parts with their Weapons in their hands so that it was impossible for them thô never so numerous to rally again and recover any Order Wherefore with great ease the Lord Ingham prevail'd and vanquish'd them utterly so that they were all either slain or taken almost to a Man the Earl of Laille hardly with a few escaping King Edward upon News hereof besides his Gracious Acceptance of Sr. Oliver's Service sent his Royal Letters of Thanks to his Subjects of Bourdeaux wherein he also promised them considerable Aid very speedily They began thus Edward c. You ought O most loving and loyal Subjects of Bourdeaux greatly to rejoyce for that by your Courage and Loyalty you have purchas'd unto your selves a Name that will be crown'd with immortal Honour And we nothing doubt but you will yet further endeavour to exalt your Glory more high by perseverance in those laudable Beginnings But as for this last piece of your Service to Us We shall take care to requite it with such Bounty that by example of your Rewards obtained from Us other of our loving Subjects may be rendred more prompt and willing to hazard in our Service both their Lives and Fortunes c. When the News of this Success was brought to King Edward it was also shew'd unto him that the Lord d Knighton p. 2575. n. 60. De la Brett and other Lords of Gascoign who had lately yielded to the French King had now for want of sufficient Protection from him return'd to the Obedience of the King of England and wasted the Lands of the French King as far as Tholouse About the same time the English e Stow p. 236. Mariners of the Cinque Ports to revenge in part those late Affronts done to England by the French Navy embarqued themselves in Pinnaces and small Boats well appointed and after the Feast of St. Hilary arrived at Boulogne upon the Sea-coast from whence is the shortest Cutt to Dover The weather was so misty cloudy and dark that they were scarce perceived when they were in the Haven So that by the Lower Town they burnt 19 Gallies 4 great Ships and 20 Small Boats with all their Tackling beside those Houses near the Shore among which one was the Block-House at that time full of Oars Sails Weapons all manner of Rigging and other Necessaries sufficient to furnish 19 Gallies and Men for them After all which they slew many of the Townsmen in a skirmish on the f Knighton p. 2573. n. 50. land set fire to the Lower Town hang'd twelve Captains of their Ships whom they had taken and so bad them farewell for that time II. The mean while King g Frois c. 44. c. 50. Astincle p. 651. Philip bestirr'd himself as One who was sensible how near all these matters concern'd his Honour and Estate Royal he mightily enforced and strengthned his Navy then
to come from the Pope to shew them That if they would return to their Duty and own themselves to hold only of his Holiness and of the Crown of France forsaking King Edward who as he said had enchanted them then he would forgive them all their Trespasses granting unto them a General Absolution and also quit them of 2000000 of Florens in which Summ they were bound unto him by a Former Obligation and that he would further procure them many Advantagious Privileges and Franchises The Flemings answer'd That they look'd upon themselves as fully acquitted already of whatsoever they were bound in to his Holiness Since they fought not against the King of France but the Usurper of that Crown King Philip being nettled with this Answer made his Complaint to the Pope and so well handled the Matter with him that contrary to the Opinion of St. Austin who says u Neque Multitudo neque Princeps Pepuli sunt excommunicandi August in Glossa ad Matth◠c. 13. That neither a Common-Wealth nor a Prince of a People ought to be excommunicated he too easily interdicted all Flanders insomuch that no Priest there durst say or sing any Divine Service while they should continue unreconciled to the Church Whereof when the Flemings complain'd bitterly to King Edward he sent them word that when he should come among them he would bring along with him Priests out of England that should sing Mass and perform Divine Service among them whether the Pope would or no For he said He had Authority and Privilege so to do And this Answer contented the Flemings But when King Philip saw he could not win them to his side by fair means then he sent command to his Garrisons of Tournay Lisle Douay and other Frontier Fortresses to make War on the Flemings and to overrun their Country According to these Orders the Lord Godmar du Fay Sr. John du Roy Sr. Matthew du Trie Marshall of Mirepoix and divers other Lords and Knights from Tournay Lisle and Doway collected a Body of 1000 Men of Arms 3000 Crossbows and Others who all together one evening setting out secretly from Tournay and riding about six leagues Northward came early the next Morning before Courtray By that time the Sun was risen they had gather'd together all the Cattel about the Town while a Party of them rode up to the very Gates and slew and hurt all whom they found without the Walls Then they return'd homeward with all their Prey which they carried clear off and found when they came to Tournay that they had got more than 10000 Sheep and of Swine Beefs and Kine as many more VII The Flemings were extreamly fretted at this Inroad of theirs but especially Jacob van Arteveld who swore to take a bloody Revenge within a little space And presently commanded the good Towns of Flanders to get ready their Quota's of Souldiers and send them to him to Geertsberg or Mount Gerard directly between Antwerp and Tournay by such a certain day in order to go with him before Tournay He wrote Letters also to the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk being then at Ipres desiring them to come and meet him there at the same time He himself against the Day prefixed went out of Gaunt with his Men of War and made his Rendezvous at Mount Gerard aforesaid being on an Arm of the Skell where he resolved to stay for the Lords of England and the Men of Frank and Bruges The foresaid English Barons thought it dishonourable to delay a Matter of such Importance especially the Flemings being so forward in what they themselves on behalf of the King their Master extreamly desired wherefore they immediately dispatch'd an Answer to Jacob van Arteveld signifying that they would not fail to be with him at such a Day There was then at Ipre a Lord of Almain named Sr. Vauflart de la Croix who for a long time had made War against the Garrison of Lille by the Dutch called Ryssel whereby he was well acquainted with all the Avenues and Passages of that Country Him now the two English Lords took for their Guide and when the time appointed drew near marched out of Ipre with 50 Men of Arms and 40 Archers in their Company But as they came toward the Town of Lille either by Treason of some among them or by the Enemies Spies their Approach was signified to those of the Town who sent out beforehand 1500 Men both Horse and Foot in three several Bodies that the English might by no means escape It is likely they had at least a strong presumption some time before of this their Coming for in such a certain place they had made a great Dike where there never was any before that their Passage might be the slower and they might not slip quickly by unperceived Sr. Vauflart had guided them well till they came to this Dike but here he began to smell a Plot and making an Halt said to the English Barons My Lords now I see well you cannot pass without peril from the Garrison of Lille For this way is but newly thus stopped and without fail they have had notice of our Coming Wherefore by my advice you would do well to turn back again and take some other way But the Lords answer'd him Nay Sr. Vauflart it shall ne're be said that we went out of the way for fear of the Men of Lille therefore ride on before in Gods-name for we have promised Jacob van Arteveld to be with him as on this day And saying so they began to move forward but then Sr. Vauflart repli'd Gentlemen you have taken me in this journey for your Guide and I have been with you all this Winter in Ipres where indeed for your kind Company and singular Favours I have been particularly obliged unto you But if the Men of Lille once appear without the Walls never expect that I should stand by you For I design to save my self as soon as I may because if I am taken by them I am sure to die for it And you must pardon me if I love my Life something better than your good Company thô you are my Friends The English Lords laughed heartily at him and said Well Sr. Vauflart if it be so we freely excuse you from further Attendance And truly just as he had imagin'd so it fell out for unawares they were even then in danger of the French Ambush who cri'd out Hold Messieurs you are not like to pass this way without our Leave and at that instant they poured in a whole Flight of Arrows upon them and came out in good Order against them The Lord Vauflart had no sooner espi'd them but he turn'd his Horse and got out of the Preass as hastily as he might and setting spurs to his Horse escap'd away But the English Captains thought scorn to flinch and so rode forward till finding themselves enclos'd with their Enemies
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annu◠Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
do what became his Wisdom and Courage but he was something surpris'd to be taken at such a time when most of his best Friends were absent with the Earl of Salisbury who lay then before Rennes but knew nothing of this matter it had been carried on so privately When the Besiegers had made good their Approaches and rightly fitted themselves they immediately fell on the Assault which they maintain'd with incredible Fury and Resolution For they feared lest the Earl of Salisbury should be informed of this their undertaking before they had effected their Design The Lords Henryds Leon and Sr. Oliver Clisson gave the greatest Encouragement and set the best Example so that never any Attack was carried on with more Ardour nor obtain'd better Success For there were so many places to be Mann'd and so few hands to perform that at last they wan the Barriers not long after the Gates and so they entred the City by force the English being now in their turn put to the chace many hurt and taken and more slain The Lord Robert of Artois escaped very narrowly thrô a Postern thô grievously wounded and with him the Lord Stafford who both got to the Countess to Hennebond The Lord Hugh Spencer was taken by the Lord Henry du Leon but so grievously wounded as Froisard says that he died within three Days after Thô this is a mistake for this Baron Spencer died not till p Dâ—dg 1 Vol. p. 395. six Years after as appears from the Records only indeed a Brother of his Sr. Edward Spencer we find to have departed this Life about this time But neither will I affirm that he was the Man for his Death is set a little more forward VIII Thus q Frois c. 93. fol. 47. b. was the City of Vannes retaken and fortified and repaired with all Expedition imaginable for fear of a Relapse so that within a short space it was much better provided to endure a Siege than ever before The Lord Robert of Artois tarried a while at Hennebond to seek remedy for his Wounds but neither did the Air agree with him nor the Physick For he found but little good there So he was advis'd to return into England where he might get more skilfull Chirurgeons But in his voyage the Sea and the Weather us'd him so unkindly that his sores fester'd insomuch that being brought to London he there died soon after Surely thô his High Spirit not being able to brook an injury from one whom He had in a manner raised to a Crown had urged him to open Enmity with his own Country yet for his Valour Conduct and Loyalty to King Edward he ought not to be deprived of his due Commendations especially since his fault against his Country may seem to have been expiated by his violent Death but the Worth of the Man may appear to have been considerable since his fall was bemoan'd as a Publique Loss over all England and King Edward himself being present at his Funeral in St. Pauls Cathedral perform'd his Obsequies as solemnly as if he had been his own Cosin Henry Plantagenet the most Noble and Valiant Earl of Darby Nor that only but he made a vow that he would severely revenge his Death and to that purpose would go himself in Person into Bretagne and bring the Country into such heavy desolation that it should not be recover'd of fourty Years He that could resolve to do so much for his sake after Death cannot but be supposed to have had an high esteem for his Person when living Althô I do not find that he had any Monument raised for him over the place of his Burial Perhaps King Edward thought as the late Noble Montross wrote for his Martyr'd Prince that it was more fitting To sing his Obsequies with Trumpets Sounds And write his Epitaph in Blood and Wounds However the Kingdom of France did not gain much by his Fall for her evil Genius soon after rais'd up another Native of her own who prov'd as great a Firebrand of the War against Her. IX But we must not omit a Memorable Parliament which King Edward held this Year at his Palace of Westminster die Lunae post Quindenam Paschae that is on * E. Lit. Dom. Pascha 13. April the 28 Day of April during the Sessions whereof viz. on the 12 of May being a Monday King Edward created r Ashincle's Garter p. 671. Adam Marimouth M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 226. ad hunc an c. his Eldest Son Edward who was now in the Thirteenth Year of his Age Prince of Wales investing him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a silver Rod And that he might be enabled to maintain a Port according to his Style and Dignity besides his former Titles and Profits annexed thereto he added several other Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William Emelden ordering him to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney together with this Dignity Further the King granted him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in and upon all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. At the same time the King Knighted several young Noblemen particularly Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. John Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick to whom he then gave an allowance of twenty pounds per annum toward his better support in the Kings Service Now it was Enacted t M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 50. §. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 38. §. 23. that the Statute made at Westminster 15 of Edward 3. which the King had soon after revoked as we have shewn should accordingly be utterly Repealed and lose the Name of a Statute as contrary to the Laws and the Kings Prerogative But forasmuch as the Articles there made were Reasonable it was Enacted that such Articles and others agreed on in this Parliament should be made into a Statute by Advice of the u i. e. of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. Justices X. In this Parliament it is Recorded x 17. Ed. 3. n. 59 in Dorso Vid. M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 54. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 41. Fox Acts Mon. p. 388. c. That the Commons of England made great Complaint of the Provisions and Reservations coming from the Court of Rome Whereby the Pope took up beforehand the future vacancies of Ecclesiastical Dignities for Aliens and such as had nothing to do within this Realm They remonstrated to the King the Manifold Inconveniences ensuing thereby as the Decay of Hospitality the transporting of the Treasure of the Realm to the Maintenance of the Kings Mortal Enemies the Discovering of the Secrets of the Kingdom and the utter discouragement disabling and impoverishing of Scholars Natives of the Land.
These Letters were dispatch'd away b Holinshead ibid. p. 922. Sandfords Geneal Hist p. 164. Walsingh hist p. 150. n. 20 hypod p. 116. Adam Murimouth M.S. to the Pope by Sr. John Shoreditch Knight a Man of great Gravity and deep Knowledge in the Law Who coming to Avignion and being conducted into the Pope's Privy Chamber where his Holiness then sat among his Cardinals humbly presented these Letters from the Three Estates of England assembled together in Parliament The Letters being once read the Knight made Answer to what the Pope thought fit to object against them and particularly he instanced in the Deanry of York which his Holiness had lately taken up for one of the Kings Enemies Whereat the Pope with some Emotion reply'd Well well it is not unknown to Us who made and endited these Letters and We are sensible how you are not the Author But there is one who endeavours to pinch us narrowly whom we shall find a way to bring down For we understand these Affairs well enough and will not suffer them to be too nicely handled by others He added that there was a Knight of England who accustomed himself to speak derogatory to the Church of Rome wherewith he could not but be highly offended especially since he saw his Honour invaded with Impunity In conclusion he promised to answer the Letters of the Lords and Commons of England in reference to the Contents thereof Whereat the Cardinals rose up and departed in great seeming Displeasure and the Knight having taken his leave left the Court and without longer tarrying went for Bourdeaux in Guienne about other of the Kings Business Either because he was so commanded or least otherwise on some Pretence or other he might have been detained there against his Will. The Pope never theless soon after sent an Answer directed to the King in Behalf of those Cardinals for whom he had before made Provisions which now the King by vertue of his Prerogative Royal had deprived them of The Tenour whereof followeth c Antiquitates Britannicae p. 237 n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 152 n. 10. Adam Murimuth c. XI CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ the Lord Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Lately after the Creation of new Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church having before taken a provident and mature Deliberation We judg'd it highly requisite both for the Honour of God and of his Holy Church and also for the publick Utility that those Cardinals who partake with Us of our Labours and Burthens in dispatching those great Affairs which from all Parts as to their proper Chanel flow into the Apostolick See should also have agreeably wherewithall to supply their Necessities according to the Dignity of their State and Condition Whereupon having consider'd of the most proper and lawfull Ways and Means whereby the said Provision might with less burthen to the Churches and their Clergy be made We gave out of Ecclesiastical Benefices then vacant in sundry Realms of Christendom and also of such as should from that time be vacant unto each of the said new Cardinals for their Support our Special Grants unto such a certain Summ and under certain Forms and Limitations so distinguished as We judged might be proportionable to the several Provinces Now since unto two Cardinals born in the Dukedom of Aquitain to wit our beloved Sons d d Victorellus de Vit. Pontif. p. 894 895. concerdat cum Histericis nâ—stris Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of St. Sabina Priests We have made the like Grants of Benefices within your Kingdom and Territories most Dear Son contained in Form for them and other the said Cardinals with great Deliberation ordained and they for the obtaining the said Grants have sent their Proctors and Ecclesiastick Messengers being Persons of Wisdom and Learning unto the Parts of your Kingdom of England the said Proctors and Messengers when being enter'd the said Kingdom they began there to pursue the Business of their said Lords were not only hinder'd in their said Business by the Kings Subjects and Officers but also confined and after that in very Disgracefull manner ejected the said Kingdom as We have too well understood by the too-unwelcome Relations thereof Truly most Beloved Son if the Premises which about the said Proctors We have premised are founded upon real Truth considering the sincere Devotion which You are known to bear towards the Lord and toward the Holy Roman Church your Motheâ— as the Kings of England your Progenitors of Famous Memory in their Days have born We cannot easily believe that they proceeded from your Knowledge But this is certain that not only in your said Kingdom and Territories but in a manner in all Kingdoms and Countries as well near as remote whereever the Catholick Faith flourishes We have made the like Grant to other new Cardinals Where notwithstanding except the said Rebellious Denial which if it be true We mention with grief of Heart We have hitherto heard of no manner of Refusal For We thought and still do think it sufficiently advantageous for your Royal Honour and Interest that Cardinals especially such who are naturally affected to your Royal Honour and Interest should obtain Ecclesiastical Benefices in your Kingdom and Territories Because thereby they may be induced more freely and frequently to promote your Princely Advantage And we wish to God that those who are fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments were not too probably suspected not without a Note of most Detestable ingratitude and to their own peril to have procured the foresaid impediments unto Her Whereby they have to the great hazard of their Souls rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons Which respect the happy Encrease of the Health Fame and Honour of your Majesty towards which if with Loyal Endeavours these Men had attended they would not by doing the contrary so eagerly hunt after their own filthy Lucre under the pretence of their Prince's Service Finally We entreat your Royal Excellence and most earnestly exhort You in the Lord that diligently within your Princely Breast considering the Premises and what else shall occurr to your Royal Wisdom You would graciously order those things which were done against the said Proctors and Others authorized by the said Cardinal Ademare who are reported to have been afterwards taken and confin'd to be decently amended and revoked and that your Royal Majesty would cause the said Proctors being upheld by the Royal Favour in the Prosecution of the said Affairs in the same Kingdom to rejoyce with full Security for the Reverence of God and of Us and of the said See not lending your Royal Ears to those things which may bring any Offence to God Dishonour to the said Church
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
devised by the Pope * Gaguin l. 8. p. 139. not as a Judge but only as a Friend to the common Peace of Christendom This Truce being sworn to by King Edward of England in his own Name and by the Duke of Normandy in the Name of the King of France his Father a Time was appointed in January following to treat more fully thereof at Malestroit in Bretagne where the Plenipotentiaries of either King were then to meet And so for that time both Armies brake up and King Edward having first made an Exchange between the Lord Ralph Stafford of England and the Lord Oliver Clisson of Bretagne went with his other Prisoner the Lord Henry du Leon to Hennebond where shortly after he took Shipping for England with the said Lord Henry and seven other Noble Bretons his Prisoners Upon his Return it is said that for five Weeks together he was tossed about with Tempests upon the Sea as we observ'd it to happen usually unto him so that he expected no less than inevitable Death Being at e Knighton p. 2583. n. 10. c. last cast upon the Coasts of Spain King Alphonso's Fleet that lay cruising about those Parts made up to him but beholding the Banner Royal of England they humbled themselves to Him and begg'd his Pardon For however Don Lewis of Spain of his own head assisted Charles of Blois there was Friendship between the two Crowns at that time The f Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 920. Dutchess of Bretagne with much ado got safe to Land in Devonshire Sr. Peter Vele and his Son Henry Vele and Sr. John Reyner were cast away together with their Ships and all therein the King himself after much difficulty landed at Weymouth and came safe to London to the Queen soon after where he set forth a Proclamation to give publick Notice of the g Ashmele p. 653. Truce late taken in Bretagne XVIII In the mean time the h Walsing hist p. 147. n. 40. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 920. Commissioners on both Sides met in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit a Town of Bretagne where by the Mediation of the Cardinals aforesaid these Points following were fully ratifi'd agreed sign'd seal'd and sworn to viz. 1. Imprimis That certain Nobles of the Blood of both the Kings of England and of France with others having full Power and Instructions to ordain confirm and ratifie a Peace shall be sent to the Court of Rome there to treat about all and singular the Controversies and Dissentions then impending between the said Kings by the Mediation of our Lord the Pope and of the said Nobles of either Party And the Parties shall say and propose their Reasons before our Lord the Pope but not as to any final Determination of the Controversie or Pronouncing of Sentence but only in order to make a firmer Treaty and Peace 2. Item That the foresaid Nobles who shall be sent to the Court of Rome shall be in the said Court before the Feast of St. John Baptist next ensuing and that the foresaid Negotiations with the Divine Assistance concurring and the Popes earnest Diligence be fully dispatched and agreed on with the Assent of the said Nobles before the Nativity of our Lord that Term by no means being prolonged Saving that if our Lord the Pope be hindred or shall not be able to reform the Peace between the said Kings however the Truce lately taken and sworn before Vannes shall remain firm to the Term hereunder appointed and be kept inviolably by all And to the end the foresaid Negotiation shall take fuller Effect let the Truce be granted unto the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing and from the said Feast to the full End of Three Years next to come after between the foresaid Kings of England and of France and also the King of Scotland the Earl of Hainalt the Dukes of Brabant and of Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers the Lord John of Hainalt and the Nation of Flanders and all their Adherents in all their Lands from the time of the Date of this present Truce during all the Time abovesaid 3. Item that the King of Scotland the Earl of Hainalt and other Noblemen Allies of the said Kings shall send their Envoys to the said Court with full power of Assenting and Confirming according to the Treaty to be had before our Lord the Pope in what belongs unto them against the foresaid Feast of St. John Baptist saving that if any of the said Noblemen Allies of the said Kings shall neglect to send their Envoys as is Premised to the Court of Rome the said Negotiation shall by no means be deferred upon that account 4. Item The foresaid Truce shall be kept in Bretagn between the said Kings and their Adherents even thô both Parties claim a Right to that Dukedom But that during the Truce the City of Vannes shall be detained in the Hands of the Cardinals in the Name of our Lord the Pope and the Truce ended they may do what they please with the said City 5. Item The Cardinals shall diligently do their parts toward the Absolution of the Flemings by taking off the Interdiction which they had again incurred and shall curiously study and labour that a good and rational way be found out therefore The Earl of Flanders as Lord without an Umpire and as Umpire without a Superior during the Truce shall remain in Flanders yet so as that it be done with the Assent of the People of Flanders 6. Item If any in Gascoigne or elsewhere during the Truce do raise War against their Neighbours or Enemies of either Party the said Kings shall by no means either by themselves or others directly or indirectly interest themselves nor shall the Truce be broken for this But the said Kings shall diligently apply their endeavours without fraud that the Subjects of the one Party during the Truce shall not any way move War against the Subjects of the Other either in Gascoigne or Bretagne and that the Subjects of the One during the Truce shall not be permitted to make League or Friendship with the other Party and that during the Truce nothing be either given or promised for the raising or maintaining of War directly or indirectly But that this Truce be firmly kept of all as well by Land as by Sea And that in Gascoigne and in Flanders the Truce shall be Proclaimed within fifteen Days after the Date hereof and in England and Scotland within 40 Days after 7. Item That all Prisoners of either part who have been taken from between the Sunday before the Feast of St. Vincent last past unto this present Day shall be Released their Goods taken restored and themselves as Reason requires set free 8. Item That no Damages or Invasions during the Truce shall be made between the Parties in prejudice or despight of the Truce 9. Item That the said Kings and their Allies during the Truce shall remain in the same Possession
Place they came to was Ville Franche in Agenois which together with the Castle was taken by Assault and here the Earl made an Esquire of his named Thomas Cook Captain whom thereupon he Knighted Thus the Earl of Darby without any Resistance overran the Country and conquer'd Towns and Castles and wan much Spoil and great Riches all which like a Noble Prince he distributed among his Men. IX From hence he rode to u Frois c. 113. Mirapont in his way toward Bourdeaux for all this while the Currours of his Army never went near St. Mary-Port which having held out three Days yielded on the Fourth and this Place he committed to the Care of a Valiant Esquire of his John Bristow Thence he sent out a Detachment which took in a little enclosed Town called Tonneins standing on the River Garonne and after that a strong Castle named Damasan a little lower on the other side the said River which was furnished with a convenient Garrison Then the Earl went up higher into Angoulemois and sat down with all his Forces before the great City of Angoulesme saying he would not stir thence till he had it at his Pleasure But the Citizens being terrify'd with his Successes made a Composition with him to send 24 of their Chief Burgesses their Hostages to Bourdeaux That he should give them Respit for a Moneth Within which time if the French King send a sufficient Captain to keep the Field against him then they to have their Hostages restored and to be acquitted of all Obligation But if no such Forces appear then they without any more adoe to submit to the Government of the King of England Upon this Composition the Earl rode to Blaye in Saintogne wherein were two Valiant and Hardy Captains Sr. Guischard alias Sr. Richard Dangle afterwards for the English and in time one of the Knights of the Honourable Order of the Garter and the other was Sr. William of Rochechouart of no less Courage and Loyalty These Knights answer'd the Earls Summons That they would yield to no Man living Wherefore he laid to them a strong and close Siege and in the mean time sent out a Detachment to Mortagne in Saintogne by the Sea-side whereof was Captain a Noble and Hardy Knight named the Lord of Bouciquault Who Defended the Place so well that the Earl's Men despair'd to take it Wherefore after some loss they wheel'd off to Mirembeau and after that as far as Aunay both which also they found too tough for them and so return'd to the Camp before Blaye Here no Day passed without some notable feat of Arms performed and now first did Sr. Richard Dangle begin to bear some kind inclination to the English Nation but here he held out gallantly So that by this time the Moneth being compleat the Earl of Darby remembring his Agreement with the City of Angoulesme sent thither his two Marshals to whom the Citizens sware Allegiance in behalf of the King of England their Master Whereupon their Hostages were restored the City indemnified and the Earl at their Requests sent unto them for their Captain Sr. John Norwich a Valiant and Politick Commander and a x Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 90. Baron of England thô y Frois c. 118. fol. 57. Froisard took him to be but an Esquire And now Winter being far enter'd the Earl seeing the stout Resistance at Blaye and the small Importance of the Place resolv'd to spare his Men for better Service and to raise his Siege till a more commodious season So he dislodged and repassing the River Garonne went back to Bourdeaux where he distributed his Men into Winter Quarters Now if any shall object that it seems incredible that all this while the King of France should lie still let such forbear their Censure till the beginning of the next Year where they will find that he sent a great Man against him but one who thought not fit to act at that time till he was considerably Reinforced as we shall see in due place CHAPTER the TVVENTY FOURTH The CONTENTS I. Henry the Old Earl of Lancaster dies c. II. Jacob van Arteveld having plotted to exclude the Earl of Flanders and his Posterity and to set up in his stead King Edwards Eldest Son proposes the Matter to the Representatives of that Country in Presence of the King. III. They abominate the Motion secretly but get off for the present IV. King Edward allows Jacob van Arteveld a Guard and pardons Sr. John Maltravers senior V. Jacob van Arteveld murther'd at Gaunt by the Commons VI. King Edward being angry therefore with the Flemings is appeas'd by their Ambassadors VII The Earl of Hainalt slain in Friseland VIII His Vncle John Lord Beaumont fetch'd over by the French King from King Edward's Service In whose room the Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts from France to England IX John Earl of Montford being at liberty and assisted by England prevailes in Bretagne but in the midst of his Victories dies X. The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois hand to hand and routs his Army at Morlaix After which he wins Roche D'Arien and so returns for England XI An Army of 30000 Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce XII The Death of one Lord and two Bishops I. DUring the last Campaign of which we spake in the preceding Chapter word was brought over into Guienne to the Earl of Darby a Knighton p. 2585. n. 30. how the Good Old Earl of Lancaster his Father was departed this Life and had left him with his Blessing and a Greater Title a Fair Inheritance He was Younger Brother and upon his Death without Issue next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster eldest Son to Prince Edmund Plantagenet sirnamed Crouchback who was Second Son to King Henry III. and Younger Brother to King Edward the First His Stile ran thus Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester Darby and Provence Lord of Monmouth and Steward of England His true Sirname was Plantagenet but his usual Torcol or de Torto Collo because his Neck stood something awry Which Title is thrô mistake by b Sandford Geneal Hist p. 112 p. 113. Patronage of John Wickliffe Whereas his Sons Sirname was Grismond and Wickliffe's Friend John of Gaunt He had married the Lady c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 783. Mill's Catal. Honor p. 323. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110 c. Maud sole Daughter and Heiress of Sr. Patrick de Cadurcis or Chaworth a Baron of the Realm By whom he had this valiant Son Henry Earl of Darby upon his Death Earl and afterwards created Duke of Lancaster and six Daughters Blanch Lady Wake Isabell Prioress of Ambresbury Maud Countess of Vlster Joan Lady Moubray of Axholme Eleanor Countess of Arundel and Mary Lady Piercy He died at Leicester and was buried in the Monastery of Canons there King Edward with his Queen Consort and the Queen Mother and almost all the Bishops and Barons of the Realm being present
Philip sought by his Ambassadors to provoke King David of Scotland to break the Truce made with England and with all Expedition strongly to invade the Northern Borders But this Matter however closely carried on came to be scented by King Edward who then lay before Calais Thô he resolved for all that not to quit the Siege as well because he had Confidence in the Courage and Sufficiency of those to whom he had left the Care of the Government in his Absence as because he had some hope that the Scots themselves either in Respect to their Faith given or thrô Remembrance of their former Losses would not easily venture to break the Truce so solemnly taken between them Yet however to prevent if possible the Calamities that might ensue upon an Invasion from Scotland he presently dispatched away from Calais certain of his Lords being Captains of great Experience either to perswade King David to a punctual Observance of the Truce or if that might not be obtained to help to defend his Subjects against him Among these were John Lord Moubray William Lord Ros and Thomas Lord Lucy of Ceckermouth who bare for his Arms Gules Three Lucies Hariant Argent These with other the Kings Ambassadors are said by the Scotch Writers a Hector l. 15. p. 325. Bachan l. 9. p. 302. Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 240. vid. Frois c. 137. Du Chisne p. 666. Mezeray Aiscues Hist of Scotland p. 178. Walsin Hyped p. 119. id Hist p. 157. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 75. vid. Odoric Rainal ad hunc ann §. 43. Adam Mâ—rimâ—uth c. to have offer'd King David in their Masters Name Not only to deliver into his Hands the strong Town and Castle of Barwick but even the Person of his old Competitor King Bailiol for whose Sake the War was first begun betwixt them on Condition that he would reject the Motions of the French King and agree to observe the Truce as both in Equity and Honour he was bound These Offers if the Scotch Authors do not enlarge them as we have good reason to doubt especially in that part which relates to the Delivery of the Bailiol being propounded to the King of Scotland in his Council caused the more Prudent Sort to advise their Master that in no wise they ought to be rejected Since the Friendship of a Conquerour especially on Conditions both Honourable and Advantageous was more preferable than to abett the Weaker Side both against Equity and Profit But David himself thrô the great Love he bore to the French King with whom he had also sojourned about seven Years during his Exile and the Major Part of his Nobility being such as had either Younger Heads or more Daring Hearts or who were either sway'd by their Princes Example or France's Gold were all desirous to take this Opportunity of King Edward's Absence to revenge themselves on the English Nation and so were fatally drawn to condescend to King Philips chargeable and hazardous Request and reject King Edward's more safe and profitable Offers II. Wherefore a b Du Chesne p. 666. Parliament of all his Earls Prelates and Barons of Scotland being met at St. John's Town it was concluded that England should speedily be invaded with a Puissant Army Now that King Edward being at Calais and such other of his Forces in Bretagne Gascogne and Poictou a pleasing hope of Success began to smile upon Scotland So a War was resolved an Army appointed to be levyed forthwith and Solemn Proclamation made that all who were able and fit to bear Arms should come to the King to the General Rendezvous at St. Johnston upon the Tay by such a Day well appointed Accordingly toward the latter end of September there came to St. Johnston the Earls Barons and Prelates of Scotland all ready to serve their King against their old Enemies the English Among other great Captains thither came c Ita Hector Buchan sed John apud Frois Reginald Lord of the Isles of Hebrides who govern'd the Wild Scots for they would not endure the Government of any Man else thô others desired to obtain it And he brought with him no less than 3000 of the most Couragious and Hardy People of all that Country There came also thither at the same time David Earl of Rosse with his Troops and made his Musters before the King But the Night following he treacherously slew the Noble Lord of the Isles with seven of his Kinsmen as they lay in their Beds and immediately fled thereupon and gat him into Resse At which horrid Fact as the Army was greatly troubled so it was very much weakned the Friends of both Parties for fear of a Civil Combustion between the two Families departing to their several Homes King David thô he was extreamly incensed hereby and eagerly bent and fully resolved severely to punish that insolent and daring Fact yet because he would not break off this Expedition defer'd the prosecution thereof till a more convenient Opportunity Althô the Lord William Douglas of Liddisdale us'd his utmost to perswade him rather for that time to defer this journey and first to Chastise these Insolencies 〈◊〉 Home thereby to allay those unkind heats that might else raise a General Conflagration in his Absence But all would not do the King was so hot upon his purposed War with England to which his Affection and Obligations to the French Nation and his own evil Destiny hurried him on continually When the whole Army was assembled at St. Johnston it amounted to between 50000 and 60000 Fighting Men with which Forces King David began his March from St. Johnston in the beginning of October about a Moneth after King Edward had lay'd his Siege before Calais On the first Day he reach'd Dumfermeling which was about 20 Scottish Miles onward The next Day passing a little Arm of the Sea he came to Sterling and thence to Edinburgh where again he muster'd all his Men and found them to be 3000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 30000 other on Geldings and Gallowayes besides the 15000 Crossbows of Genoua and the French Auxiliaries From Edinburgh he marched to Roxborough the first Fortress that was then on the English side that way The Captain whereof was a Famous Souldier Sr. Edward Montagu Uncle to the present Earl of Salisbury Of whose Valour We had occasion d L. 1. c. 19. §. 19. p. 251. c. to speak in the Fifteenth Year King David whether in dobut of a Man whom he had already experienced to be unconquerable even when in a Place of less strength and importance or rather because he designed greater things passed him by without offering the least Assault to the Castle and on the sixth of October began to enter Northumberland Upon his first coming to the Borders before he set foot within the English pale he made many new Knights to encourage and animate his Men But especially he created the Lord William Douglas the Son
Lewis Earl of Eureux and so held in her Hands at that time the Counties of Artois Boulogne Auvergne and divers other Lands and after the Death of Eudo Duke of Burgundy which happen'd this Year that t Favine l. 4. c. 3. p. 6. Dutchy also during the Minority of her Son Philip who was Heir thereof And thus King Philip remained a Widower not quite a Month and his Son John scarce out Half a Year CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. Several Prodigies forerunners of an Vniversal Plague which happen'd in these Dars as a Notable Conjunction Eclipse c. II. Divers other Presages as Comets Fiery Pillars Strange Births Inundations Earthquakes c. III. The Original of this Plague with its horrid Effects and Symptoms IV. A Description thereof from John Cantacuzenus at that time Emperour of Greece V. The vast Numbers of those that died thereof in the Heathen and Christian World. VI. It comes into England with the great Havock it makes there The Foundation of the Charter-house in London and of East-Minster by the Tower occasion'd thereby VII The Pope takes hence obcasion of exhorting King Edward to a Peace with France which produces a Truce VIII The Pope's Charity to the Living and the Dead at this time IX The Names of those few of the English Nobility and Clergy that died of this Visitation X. The Inferiour Clergy mightily exhausted thereby XI It comes into Wales and Ireland and how the Scots brought it to their own Doors XII Divers Miseries succeeding it as Murrain of Cattle Dearth of Corn and Insolence of Workmen and poor People which latter Mischief King. Edward represses by wholsom Laws XIII The Jews being falsly suspected as Occasioners of the Plague by their exquisit Arts of Empoisoning are most cruelly persecuted by the Christians The Plague ceases in England I. HAving toward the latter end of the preceding Chapter made mention of the Death of Sr. John Mongomery Captain of the Town of Calats and a Baron of this Realm who together with his Lady died a little after King Edwards Exploit there of a Pestilence that then began now We following the Example of no a Thaeydides who elegantly describes the Plague of Athens Thucyd. l. 2. Lucret. l. 6. Virg. Georg. l. 3. mean Historian are inclin'd to think it not unworthy of our present Work to insert therein a more particular Account of that Plague Since for its strange and manifold Prognosticks universal Contagion wonderfull and fatal Events and long Continuance it was not only as memorable as the Plague of Athens but perhaps the Greatest that ever happen'd in the World. Now in the b De hâc famosá Pestilentià vid. Francisci Petrarch de Rebus Famil Epistol l. 8 ep 7. Johan Cantacâ—zen l. 4. c. 8. Odoric Rainald ad Annum 1348. §. 1. 30. ad §. 33. Giovanni Villani Matth. Villani M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 228. Knighton Walsingham Fabian Holinshead Stow Lanquet Speed Fox R. Avesbury Godwins Catal. Bishops Sandfords Geneal History Mezeray Cluverius Epit. Hist Polydor. Virgil. l. 19. p. 377. Bâ—cholcerus Isagog Chron. Lampad Pezel in Sleidan c. Year 1345 being three Years before this Fatality came into England on the c Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 40. p. 848. 28 of March a little before Nine of the Clock according to the Adequation of a great Mathematician and Astrologer called Doctor Paulo di ser Piero there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 20 Degrees of Aquarius with those Aspects of the other Planets as we shall shew herereafter But According to the Almanack of d Profatius a learned Jewish Astrologer who wrote about an 100 Years before this time a Perpetual Almanack c. vid. Esq Sherburn's Catal. of Astronom at his Sphere of Manilius p. 33. Profazio a Jew and the Tables of Toledo that Conjunction should be fixt on the 20 of the said Month of March and the Planet of Mars was with them in the said Sign of Aquarius 27 Degrees And the Moon suffer'd a total Ecclipse on the 18 of the same Month in 7 Degrees of Libra And on the 11 of March when Sol enter'd Aries Saturn was in his Ascendant in 18 Degrees of Aquarius and Lord of the Year and Jupiter was in 16 Degrees of the said Sign of Aquarius and Mars in 22 Degrees of the same But if we follow the Equation of the said Dr. Paulo who was the most Eminent of the Moderns in those Days and says that by the Help of his Instruments he saw visibly the Conjunction on the 28 of March the said Conjunction being in an Angle of the East that the Sun was well-nigh in the Mid-Heaven a little declining to the Angle of 16 Degrees of Aries and in his Exaltation and Leo his House was in his Ascendant 13 Degrees and Mars was now already in 16 Degrees of Pisces Venus in 12 Degrees of Taurus her House and in the Mid-Heaven Mercury in the first Degree of Taurus and the Moon 4 Degrees in Aquarius But according to the Calculation of Mr. John Ashindon and Mr. William Read two English Astrologers of those Days of Merton College in Oxford which they made for the Latitude of Oxford e Vid. Antonii Weed Antiq. Oxon. Acad. l. 1. p. 172. on the said 18 Day of March the Moon was totally Eclipsed at fourty Scruples past Nine of the Clock the Sun being in 22d Degree of Aries and the Moon in the 22d of Libra But the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter was most notable in the 19 Degree of Aquarius on the 20 Day of March in the Evening at Eight of the Clock and one Scruple From which Eclipse the said Ashindon and Read and another Oxford Man named Geoffry de Meldis undertook to foretell Wars Famine and Pestilence Particularly Ashindon predicted that the Influence of that Eclipse should continue for eight Years and five Months but that the Effects of the Conjunction should prevail for the space of three Years onely And indeed the foresaid Conjunction with its Aspects of the other Planets and Signs according to the best Astrologers did naturally f Giov. Villani ibid. vid. Sr. George Wharton's Works put forth by Mr. John Gadbury p. 133 c. signifie God permitting some Grand Event to the World as Battle and Slaughter and remarkable Mutations of Kingdoms and People and the Death of Kings and Translation of Dominions and Alterations in Religion and the Appearance of some Prophet and new Errours and Fallings from the Faith and the sudden Arrival of New Lords and Strange Nations and Dearth and Mortality near at hand in those Climates Kingdoms Countries and Cities to which the Influence of the said Signs and Planets belongs and sometimes is attended with some Comet in the Air or other Prodigies or Inundations and Floods and excessive Rains Because that Conjunction being of it self important is so much the more to be feared from the Propinquity of Mars and
his Cardinals in Council yet it is likely that they enjoy'd the said Benefit at last h Odor Rainal ad an 1350. §. 2. for it appears that soon after the same was granted to King Edward of England and to his Son Edward Prince of Wales to the Queens of England Isabell and Philippa and to Elisabeth Queen of Hungary II. The Jubilee began i Knighton p. 2602. n 29. vid Walsingh Hist p. 160. on the 25 of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasted until the said Feast of the Year following during the most part of which space especially about Easter Ascension-Day and Whatsuntide there was such a crowding rather than concourse of People at Rome k Vid. Matur Annot. ad D. Antenin Chron. p. 355. that Francis Petrarch who was then present says how it seem'd the late horria Plague had done little or no harm there came thither every day such Incredible Multitudes of Christian People from all parts of Europe Althö few or none went out of England upon that account except the l Dudg 1 Vol. p. 550. Lady Margaret Mother to William Lord Res of Hamlake King Edward m Knighton p. 26â—â— n. 30 40 50 c. expresly forbidding it as of ill Consequence to his Realm very considerable Sums of Money being necessarily on such occasions transported out of the Kingdom When the Pope understood this he sent his Nuntio's to the King of England desiring of him First that he would not hinder the Passage of those who desired to visit the Places of the Holy Apostles Item that he would grant a Truce that so the Earl of Lancaster might not act any Hostilities in Aquitain to the himdrance of those who desired to visit Holy Places Lastly that he would not hinder or permit to be hindred those who were promoted by his Bulls at the Court of Rome from receiving Benefices so incumbent on them To the first Article it was answer'd that the King being busied in his Wars did therefore Want to be Aided of what was his own and that it was necessary to provide for the Treasure of his Kingdom lest while the War endured it should be exported out of the Realm to the Prejudice of Him and of his Subjects And further as to this point the King caused to be proclaimed that all Englishmen as well at Rome as any other place beyond Sea should make haste to return home as soon as might be on pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods As to the second Article relating to the Truce it was answer'd that the King of France had often acted Hostilities during such a Truce upon the Lands of the King of England treacherously to the destruction of his People and contrary to the Conventions contained in the said Truce And as to the Third Article respecting the Provisors it was answer'd that the King would graciously receive Clergy-men making use of Papal Provision who were of good Condition and worthy of Promotion but not others And with this Answer the Popes Nuntio's returned III. About the n Vid. Odoric Rainald ad an 1349. §. 18. Albert. Argent in Chron. Ianquet Chron. ad an 1350. Walsing hist p. 160. Stow p. 246. same time there arose a certain Sect of People who were seised with a pious Frenzy and went about in several Parts of the World whipping themselves with four-corded Whips and Preaching Singing and Praying with much seeming Devotion but it proved no better than Hypocrisie or misguided Zeal at the best as may appear to any that shall consult the Places quoted in the Margin Wherefore the Pope wrote his Letters to the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany Poland Sweedland England and France enjoyning them to extinguish this Sect of Whippers and also to the several Kings that by their Kingly Authority they would uphold the said Prelates in this matter Particularly there are extant to our King Edward Letters from the Pope wherein he writes thus concerning the Rise of these Whippers o Tem. 8. Epist seer p. 104. apud Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 22. Latclym the Parts of Almain under the pretence of Piety and doing Penance there hath arisen a Superstitious and vain Generation and so having at large declared how they had been condemned by the Apostolick Decree and that Patriarchs and Archbishops had been enjoyned to pluck up that poisonous Plant which the Heavenly Husbandman had not planted he adds these Prayers Do You therefore ô most Dear Son not only drive away the same Wicked Persons if perhaps they should presume to come into your Kingdom out of the Limits of your said Kingdom but also that they may repent of their Follies and Errours and return to Modesty correct and punish them That so the Purity of the Catholick Faith may always shine forth and the leaven of the Malice of these Men may by your provident Care be taken away from among all your Subjects Dat. Avenion III Non. Decembris Anno Pontif VIII About p 〈…〉 p. 〈…〉 2â— b. Michaelmas this Year above an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Others Natives of Zealand Holland and Hainalt in the same blind Devotion passing thrô Flanders came into England and at London sometimes in the Cathedral of St. Paul sometimes in other Religious Places of the City made their procession all together being coverd from the Loins to the Heels with Linnen marked with Red Crosses before and behind and on their Hats all the rest of their Bodies being bare they had every one a Three-corded Whip in his hand well knotted wherewith twice or thrice in a Day they beat themselves on their bare bloody Bodies most cruelly Four of them singing all the while in their own Language and all the rest making up the Chorus King Edward thô he strictly forbad all others from joining with them inflicted no other Punishment on them than what was the effect of their own Folly seeing how severely they chastised themselves and knowing such Smarting Devotion could not hold out long if no manner of notice was taken of them I remember to have read q Vid. Diâ—gen Lâ—ert that when Diogenes the Cynick stood naked out of an Ostentatious humour in a very cold Season embracing a Pillar of Marble and all the People slocking about him pitied the poor Mans Condition the Divine Plato passing accidentally by told the Spectators If they really pitied him they should take no notice of him but pass regardless on and then they should see the Vain-glorious Philosopher make haste away and gladly â—un to a Fire In like manner these Enthusiasts when they saw none took notice of them and that but a few of the Common People afforded them any pity or respect the most part of them also flouting and deriding their Madness began to cool in their warm fit of Penance and at last vanished away as ashamed of their former folly Certainly the soundest and most effectual Devotion consisteth not
up to Arques and the Gates of St. Omers and having sufficiently made known the Terror of his Arms he return'd Triumphantly with many Prisoners and much Booty to Calais But soon after the occasions of the late Breach between the two Kings were fully concerted and a further Truce was taken a Knighton p. 2603. n. 4. with this condition that either of the Kings might renounce it when ever he pleased III. The same Yeart b Stow p. 251. the Spanish Ships had liberty to come to England by Reason of a Peace established with that Kingdom whereas the Year before there was an Imbargo set upon them because of the late Breach But now a Truce was taken between the two Crowns for twenty Years before which time we shall find Don Pedro of Spain to stand greatly in need of Englands Friendship Whereas the foremention'd Truce with France was prolonged but for one Year further and yet did it hardly endure so long as we shall shew by and by However now both the Kings seem'd in good earnest to endeavour a final Peace c Fabian p. 228 Odâ— Raâ—nald ad hanc ann §. 37. and sent their Commissioners for that purpose to Avignon to conclude and perfect the Agreement on these Conditions That King Edward should wholly lay aside his Title and Claim to the Crown of France and King John should entirely yield up to him all the Dutchy of Guienne with the Dependencies and whatever was at any time before taken therefrom by his Progenitors and that King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England should freely hold and possess the same without acknowledging owing or paying any Homage therefore to any French King from that day unto the Worlds end But the Conclusion of this Matter was so long put off and delay'd by the Pope and such demurrs and other Artifices usual in the Court of Rome laid in the way that the Duke of Lancaster with the rest of the English Commissioners being wearied by those tedious tergiversations returned back to their Master without bringing the said Agreement to any happy Conclusion But d Oder Rainald â—d hunc ann Mezeray c. some say this Treaty was hindred by an occasion given by the English who took the Castle of Guisnes by Treachery of which we shall speak presently However King Edward hereupon prepared for War resolving to take the Field early next Year as soon as the Truce should be expired But upon the first of April before the last Truce was renewed for another Year the Lord Guy e 〈◊〉 c. 153. Meâ—â—â—y 〈…〉 p. 251 〈…〉 23. April Fâ—x Acts Men. p. 507. de Nesle Marshal of France went in Hostile Manner with a great number of Men of Arms spoiling and ravaging about in Xaintogne and near St. Jean D'Angely but was at last met with by Sr. Walter Bentley who together with Edmund Rous a Norfolk-Man and Captain of the Castle of St. Jean D'Angely making in all but 600 Men encountred him Valiantly and had such Success that he slew and routed the whole Body of them took Sr. Guy de Nesle himself and Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan together with the Lord William de Nesle the Marshals Brother and six other Knights of Quality and of Esquires and Gentlemen 140 Prisoners But yet f Frois c. 153. in the September following the Frenchmen recover'd the Town and Castle of St. Jean D'Angely after it had been in the Englishmens Possession 5 Years without one stroke given or taken For the Garrison being left low and without Provision was fain to yield up the Place on Equal Conditions because they had not wherewithall to live on IV. While thus matters were held in suspence between England and France and hot War g Vid. Oder Ramald ad hunc ann §. 22. c. raged between Casimire King of Poland and the Lithuanians and Tartars on one hand and the Christian States of Venice and Genoa tore out one anothers Bowels on the other and the King of Armenia's Territories were snatch'd away from him piece-meal by the Infidels the h Id. ibid. §. 25. Heathen Governour of Damascus with a design to render the Christians under him odious and so to fill his Coffers with their substance perpetrated a most cruel and Nero-like Action this Year For having himself caused the said City to be secretly fired in two several places he presently hurried away the Christians to the Rack as the only Authors thereof Some of these being rendred impatient by the exquisiteness of the torments confessed themselves guilty Whereupon immediately he condemns them all to die except such as would embrace Mahometanisme Most of them by large gifts appeas'd the Tyrants sury others unhappily renounced the Christian Faith But there remain'd two and twenty who refusing to do either were condemned to be Crucified However first the Tyrant commanded them to be brought before their Friends Parents and Children that so he might shake their Constancy But the Divine Grace did so powerfully assist them at that time that the Father who was to die despis'd the Prayers and Tears of his own Son who entreated him to live and the Faithfull Son upbraided his Apostate Father of wicked Inconstancy to forsake the True Religion for fear of Corporal punishment and call'd him his worst Enemy in that by tempting him with the transitory joys of this Life he endeavour'd to deprive him of the Rewards of Eternity Being therefore all hung upon the Cross for three days they were beheld both by Christians and Saracens to die a notable Example of Religious Constancy But the Tyrant had but a short Triumph for this his exploit For soon after the Innocence of the Christians as to the burning of the City being made manifest by the Soldan's Command he was put to Death after this Manner A Great-broad Anvil of Iron being ready prepared as red-hot as possible the Malefactor was brought near stark-naked from his Privy-parts upwards then two strong Men took and twisted a Towel below his Ribs and above his Hips round his Belly pulling and twisting till by degrees they had rendred him thereabout little more than a span round At which time the Executioner cutting him off with a sword at one Blow just above the Towel this Body was immediately set upon the glowing Anvil So that the Blood and Life together was held in till the Anvil growing colder the Body fell off being seised by Death With such signal severity can it please God. to Revenge the Blood of his Saints even by the hands of the Blasphemers of his Name V. This Year i Favâ—ne's Theatre L'Honne r l. 3. c. 2. p. 346. on the 8 day of September or the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary King John of France that in Magnificence he might not come behind King Edward of England who had lately instituted the Order of the Garter did also k Mezeray ad hâ—â—â— annâ—n institute or rather renew the almost obsolete Order
Homage of England Wherefore they heartily desired the King of England and his Council to consider of it and to propose unto them such Conditions as they might accept and not demand of them things so inconsistent and impossible and which appeared unto them far worse than Death This Request being but reasonable was back'd with a Truce and thus Matters rested for a while in those Parts V. Now k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 15. Stow p. 254. Pope Innocent the VI being newly settled in the Pontifical Chair when he saw Matters tending towards a Rupture between the two Realms of England and France interposed his Endeavours to make up the Breach and sent l Innoc. VI. Tom. 1. Epist Secret p. 22. Et an 1. Epist Curial l. 2. Epist 29 30 31. Guy Bishop of Porto and Cardinal of Bologna in his Name to promote the Treaty of a Final Peace in Order to which he empower'd him by his Papal Letters the Tenour whereof followeth INNOCENT the Servant of the Servants of God to his Venerable Brother Guy Bishop of Porto c. Among other things which by the Office of our Apostolick Service are incumbent on Us this We especially desire that between our Most Dear Sons in Christ the Illustrious Kings John of France and Edward of England the Fewel of Dissention being withdrawn Peace and Concord may be reformed Tranquillity may flourish the happiness of Quiet may abound and a Pacifick State may continue Considering therefore that You who as an earnest Well-Wisher to the Premises have at our Good Pleasure gone to the Parts of France and there Personally tarry do zealously interpose Your Diligence to the Reformation of the said Peace and Concord desiring also that if by his Grace who is the Author of Health and Peace Your Intention being as to the Premises conformable to ours may obtain a desired effect those things which shall be done may be firmly Ratified We grant unto your Brotherhood of whom in this and other things We have full Confidence in the Lord by the Apostolical Authority by Vertue of these Presents full and free Power of Confirming approving and Ratifying by the Authority aforesaid the Treaties and Conventions of the said Peace and Concord between the said Kings and also the Princes Lords Great Men Aiders and Followers of them and their Adherents nevertheless after that the said Treaties and Conventions shall by Gods assistance be finished and by the said Kings and others aforesaid freely received and approved of receiving from them and every of them Covenants Oaths and Submissions for the entire observation of the said Treaties and Conventions and of restraining the Contradictions by Ecclesiastical Censure without any Appeal notwithstanding if to them or any of them either together or severally it hath been granted by the Apostolick See that they should not be interdicted suspended or excommunicated by Apostolick Letters making full and express mention and Word by Word of such a Grant. Dated at Villeneufe of the Dioecese of Avignon III Id. Maii Ano. Pontif. 1 mo Besides this Cardinal Pope Innocent m M. S. in Bibl. Vatican sign N. p. 2040. apud Oder Rainald ibid. sent several other Prelates to both the Kings in Order to bring this Peace to its Perfection So that at n Stow ibid. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229. last it was agreed That the King of England should resign acquit and renounce all the Right he had or claimed to the Crown of France transferring it entirely to the French King and his Heirs in Consideration whereof He the said King of England should receive and enjoy the whole Dukedom of Aquitain with the City of Calais and the whole Counties of Artois and of Guisnes for Himself and his Successors Kings of England without ever doing any Homage or making any acknowledgement for the same to the Kings of France or without holding them in any subordinate Manner otherwise than he held the Crown of England it self namely of God alone To these Conditions thus agreed on King Edward yielded his Consent and for a firm Conclusion of the Premises Ambassadors were sent as well from him as from the French King to the Court of Rome then at Avignon A Truce being taken the mean while to be kept in England France Gascogne and Bretagne till Easter next ensuing during which time it was hoped a full and final Peace would be established But we shall defer the Prosecution of that Matter to its proper Place and speak of what happen'd at home before the Truce was in any forwardness VI. On the 15 of July o M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 70. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 83. King Edward sent forth his Writs of Summons to his Lords to meet him in Parliament at Westminster on the * Lâ—t Dom. F. Monday after the Feast of St. Matthew or the 23d of September following these being the Names of those to whom the Writs were directed Edward Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster William Bohun Earl of Northampton Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire William Clinton Earl of Huntington Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Vere Earl of Oxford Gilbert Vmphraville Earl of Angos Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk William Montague Earl of Salisbury Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford John Lord Mowbray Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Neville Richard Lord Talbot Robert Lord Morley Walter Lord Manny William Lord Hunting field Thomas Lord Berkley Thomas Lord Lucy Peter Lord Morley the Fifth Reginald Lord Cobham Reginald Lord Grey John Lord Willoughby of Eresby Roger Lord Chandos John Lord Charleton William Lord Zouch of Harringworth John Lord Bardolph William Lord Deincourt John Lord Tibetot John Lord Fitz-Walter Walter Lord Fauconbridge William Lord Greystock William Lord Dacres Thomas Lord Musgrave Thomas Lord Bradestan John Lord Grey of Rotherfield John Lord Grey of Codonore John Lord Darcy of Knayth Roger Lord Mortimer of Wigmore Robert Lord Colvile Bartholomew Lord Burwash Senior Guy Lord Brian Nicolas Lord Seimour Geoffry Lord Say. Michael Lord Poynz John Lord Beauchamp of Somerset John Lord Beauchamp of Warwickshire William Lord Ferrers John Lord Lisle of Rugemont Nicolas Lord Cantilupe John Lord Furnival Nicolas Lord Burnel Edward Lord Montague Thomas Lord Vghtred Robert Lord Scales Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Braose James Lord Audley Thomas Lord Holland Bartholomew Lord Burwash Junior Warden of the Cinque-Ports On the p Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 81. c. Monday aforesaid the Parliament being met Proclamation was made in Westminster-Hall that the Three-Estates warned thereto might take their ease from Wednesday until Friday then ensuing On which Friday Sr. William Shareshull the Lord Chief Justice shew'd that the Assembly was called for that the Staple should be removed from beyond the Seas and appointed within the Realm But for that we shall refer the Reader to the Statute of the
ensuing in order to hold a serious Treaty for a firm and final Peace On King i Knighton p. 2607 n. 50. c. Stow p. 254. b. Frois c. 154. fol. 76. Walsing hist p. 161. n. 33 Edwards Behalf there went Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel the Lord Guy Brian and other Nobles who coming with an Equipage of 200 Horse whereof 32 were cover'd with Harness toward Avignon were met on Christmas-Eve by the Archbishop of Roüen the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Armagnac the Lord Geoffry Charny and Others who were sent Ambassadors from the French King all who being thus joyned were received with great Honour by several Cardinals Bishops Nobles Citizens and Others to the number of 2000 Horse who met them within two Miles of Avignon and brought them into the New-town called Villeneufe to the Pope's Palace but the Pomp of the Cavalcade was so great that from three of the Clock till Night they had scarce time to pass the Bridge The Noble Duke of Lancaster at his Entrance saluted all the People and rode forth to the Pope's Palace Where alighting from his horse without the Gate he made his Approach to his Holiness with all due Reverence which he was perfectly instructed how to perform by his Court-like and Princely Demeanour After some brief Discourse as the Time would permit he went thence for that time and took along with him his Holinesses Blessing to his Lodgings which had been prepared for him beforehand All the time of his Residence there which was more than six Weeks he kept such Hospitality that he was admired by the whole Court having laid in an Hundred Tuns of the best Bourdeaux Wine before his Coming and behaving himself during his Stay so obligingly to all Persons especially to the Pope and his Cardinals that they said of him how he had not his Fellow in the World. But as to the Business about which all these Great Personages came thither that being openly declared in the Consistory before the Pope and his Cardinals the English Ambassadors requested to have those Covenants now confirmed which had before been concluded upon between them at Calais To whom the Duke of Bourbon and the Earl of Armagnac retracting what they had themselves agreed to and sealed and confirmed with their Oaths in the Presence of Guy Cardinal of Bologna replied now That gladly they would have Peace if they might but as to the Disposal of Aquitain and the forefaid Counties neither said they can the French King himself nor any other whatsoever by any means alienate them from the Crown of France Nor yet could they or any of them give their consent that they should be dismembred from the entire Body of that Kingdom since both the King himself and they also had been sworn to maintain them with all their Power But yet if the King of England would cease to bear the Arms of France they were content that the Dominion and Profits of the said Dutchy and Counties should remain with King Edward in like manner as his Ancestors had held Aquitain that is to say provided always the Regality of the Crown of France should be reserved in Witness whereof Homage should be made as of old to the Kings of France for those Places To these new and unexpected Demands the Duke of Lancaster replied That as for the Oath wherewith they pretended to be so strictly bound never to alienate those Places from the Crown of France they might soon for the sake of Peace be by his Holiness absolved therefrom For having so fair a Pretence to the whole the King of England was resolved to have at least these Parts absolutely to himself to be restored unto him without any Limitation otherwise that those Arms of France which by the Advice and Consent of his Liegemen of Flanders he had undertaken to bear he would never relinquish for the fear or pleasure of any Man living And that the King of England would never do Homage to a Person over whom by Hereditary Right from his Mother he claimed Superiority But yet if they could conceive of any more equal and rational way of Agreement and resolve to be more consistent with themselves and more observant of their own Concessions than now they seemed to be King Edward as a Lover of Peace will be ready to embrace what was reasonable At this the Lords of France in a Huff replied That if so they were both ready and able to defend their Country against the English for ever And so they offer'd to rise up but thrô the urgent Importunities of the Pope and his Cardinals this bitterness was soon corrected and at last they agreed so far k Frois ibid. as that another short Truce was taken to endure till the Feast of St. John Baptist following the Pope in the mean time to endeavour what in him lay to promote the Peace and for that end by his Messengers to both the Kings to require them again to send their Ambassadors to conclude on some other Conditions that might be more acceptable to either Party And so they brake up for that time on both sides and the Duke of Lancaster having with l Knighton p. 2608. n. 30. much adoe escaped the snares laid by the French to entrap him returned with safety and Honour into England together with the Rest of his Company except only Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who m Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. died at Avignon on Twelfth-Day and was there Honourably buried And that the perfecting of a Peace at this time was hindred by the French is witnessed by an n M.S. in Bibl. Vatican sign n. 2040. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 15. vid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229 c. Ancient Anonymous M. S. in the Vatican-Library at Rome which accuses the French King of all saying In this Popes Innocent's time the Lord Guy Cardinal of Bologna by the Consent of the Pope and of his own Proper Motion went into France at his own expences to Treat of a Peace with the said King of France and Edward King of England For which Treaty the Duke of Bourbon with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of France and the Duke of Lancaster with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of England came to Avignon in the time of Innocent VI in the first Year of his Coronation to finish and compleat those things which had been ordained by the said Lord Cardinal concerning the said Peace between the said Kings to be had But finally they could not agree and the said Dukes with their Ambassadors went away in discord from the Court to their several Countries And this was done thrô default of the King of France as was commonly said He then denying those things which had been Treated Engrossed and Sealed by them and sworn to in the Hands and Presence of the said Lord
with an Ax and to give Three Stabs with a Dagger And each of these Knights bare himself with such Expert Valour that they performed the Challenge without receiving any harm and so Honourably quitted the Field with equal stakes to their great Commendation from both Parties This while the Lord Charles of Blois being in the Country was very sollicitous to raise the Siege and besides his own Musters daily importun'd the Regent of France for a strong reinforcement But the Regent had his own hands so full that he was not at leisure to do any thing Material in that Case So the Siege lasted on and the City began to be greatly oppressed Wherefore q Knighton p. 2615. n. 44. on the 19 of June being the Monday before the Feast of St. John Baptist there came in all haste a Cardinal to the King at London who said My Lord it was agreed between your Son the Prince of Wales and King John when they were at Bourdeaux that the Siege before Rennes should be raised and a serious Treaty of Peace be set forward between the two Realms Now therefore if Your Majesty doth really design a Treaty command the Siege to be removed Hereupon the King by his Letters commanded the Duke of Lancaster upon forfeiture of Life and Limb and whatever else he could forfeit to desist from the Siege and to come home as soon as might be the French King also at the same time sending to his Subjects to desist a while from all Hostilities whatsoever This Cardinal r Ashmole p. 658. was Bishop of St. Jean de Maurienne in Savoy whose Letters of safe Conduct for himself and a Train of 30 Horse bore Date at Westminster the 26th of May this Year In that very juncture came Å¿ Frois c. 173. Knighton p. 2615. Walsing Hist p. 164. Ashmole p. 658. hither from Pope Innocent VI. Talayrand Bishop of Alby Cardinal of Perigort and Nicolas Cardinal of St. Vitalis to assist at a Treaty of Peace to be held about Midsummer this Year the Kings t Ashmole p. 658. ex Pat. 31 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 25. Letters of safe Conduct for them and their Train consisting of 200 Horse bearing Date the Third of June These two Prelates together with the other Cardinal lately come from Bretagne as aforesaid addressed themselves to the King at Westminster and having u Knighton ibid. made their Salute in a kind of Adoration as he sat in great and terrible Majesty on his Throne One of them began to preach upon this Text x Psalm 99. v. 4. Honor Regis Judicium diligit i.e. The Kings Honour loveth Righteousness After which they discoursed about their Commission which contained thus much that King Edward should have all the Lands which his Predecessors held in France on Condition that Peace and Concord might be settled between the two Kings To which King Edward answer'd briefly That althô some of the Lands of his Predecessors had been lost for a time yet he doubted not of recovering them again when it should please God But that he would have nothing to do with them unless they came to the point in hand concerning the Crown of France which he claim'd They answer'd their Commission extended not so far wherefore the Matter rested till they might hear from the Pope again which they did not till the 29 of August or the Feast of the Decollation of St. John. But in all these Treaties the Pope was so notoriously partial in the French Kings Cause that by reason thereof and because of those many miraculous Victories which even in spite of his Holiness by an especial Providence of God the English obtained there were Rhymes scatter'd about the Pope's Court at Avignon and in other parts of France importing thus much in English y Or est le Pape devenu Fâ—anceis Et Jesu devenu Engleis Or serra veou qui fra plus Ou le Pape ou Jesus Knighton p. 2615. vid. The Pope is on the Frenchmens side With England Jesus doth abide 'T will soon be seen who 'll now prevail For Jesus or the Pope must fail And the truth of this sufficiently appear'd at the Return of the Pope's Answer at this time For thô outwardly the Cardinals were enjoyned only to look to the Negotiation of the Peace yet at the same time they had x Knighton p. 2617. n. 50. with them a Bull from his Holiness enjoyning every Bishop by Papal Authority to make a Visitation throughout their several Dioeceses and to pay their Procurations to the Cardinals and it was said how this Summ was by the Pope intended for the aid and sustaining of the French interest At the same time his Holiness was pleased to demand of the Realm of England the annuity of 1000 Marks granted by King John of England to the Court of Rome at the time when he resign'd his Crown to the Legate Pandulphus declaring upon his resuming thereof that for the future he would hold it of the Pope But since his days the said Summ of 1000 Marks remain'd unpaid even for the space of an 140 Years all which arrearages were now demanded in hopes that King Edward would so be terrified into an easie Complyance in behalf of the French King. But He who besides his own Couragious Heart had both a more Loving Clergy and Loyal Baronage then had that unfortunate King John answer'd wisely and roundly a Knighton p. 2617. n. 60. That he would never pay any tribute to any Mortal whatsoever because he held his Kingdom and would hold it freely and without subjection to any One but only to God Almighty And yet we shall find that in the 39th Year of this King this Pope's Successor made the same Demand and upon refusal threatned to cite him by Process to answer it at the Court of Rome but the King being strongly back'd by his Parliament neither did the one nor the other The Work of Peace-making was it seems so chargeable that b Knighton ibid. n. 46. at Michaelmas the Cardinals had of the Clergy of England 4 d. in the Mark as well of Spirituals as Temporals and yet no final Peace was made Only c Freis c. 173. at last with much adoe they procured a Truce between the two Kings and all their Allies except the Lord Philip of Navarre and his Allies and also the Countess of Monford and the Lord Charles of Blois to endure until the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24 of June which was to be in the Year MCCCLIX Upon this Truce the French King had leave to remove with all his Houshold to Windsor Castle where he and his Son Philip diverted themselves with Hunting and Hawking at their pleasure But the other Prisoners continued still at London where they had the Liberty to go to Court when they pleas'd only they were sworn to be true Prisoners and by no means to endeavour an Escape About this time King Edward
the Pomp and Magnificence of this Famous Entertainment set forth as well King Edwards Greatness as any other Grandeur of State whatsoever But King John who expected by an high Ransom to pay something toward these vast Profusions said merrily b M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. ibid. That he never saw nor knew such Royal Shews and Feastings without some after Reckoning for Gold and Silver And we find that about the same time he made use of one shift to raise Mony for it was now set forth by Proclamation c Dugd. Warw. p 647. â— â—â— Pat. 32. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 25. that all such the Kings Subjects as were possessed of Lands or Rents to the Value of 40 s. should appear before the King there to receive the Order of Knighthood if he should so think fit under Penalty of being fined according to the Law And among others it is recorded that Richard Bermingham of Bermingham in Warwickshire paid a Fine of 10 l. for his Pardon because he did not obey the Proclamation II. A little before this the d Odâ—r Rainal ad hunc annum § 3. ex Tom. 6. Epist secret p. 6. Pope being concerned at the intestine Troubles of France and finding that the Presence of the King was necessary to allay them sent the two Cardinals of Perigort and St. Vitalis with Letters to the Dauphin bearing Date at Avignon VIII Kal. Januarii An o Pontificatûs VI. Wherein he admonished him to use his utmost Endeavours speedily to redeem his Father to compose all Civil Discords and to attend to the Cardinals Advice in those Matters The mean while King Edward e Knighton p. 2618. n. 10. as soon as the Solemnity at Windsor was over removed his Court to London and there began to treat so seriously with King John that all Men believed a Perpetual Peace would now take place between them Yet it was long before Matters could be brought to any tolerable Issue For King Edward f Da Serres c. required Homage of King John for the Realm of France as holding it of Him whose Right it was and upon this Condition he proffer'd him his Liberty and a perpetual Friendship But King John who had not lost either his Courage or Honour by this Adversity made this resolute Answer That he intended whatever came of it to leave the Realm of France free and entire to his Children as he had received it from his Fathers That Affliction might well engage his Person but not the inviolable Rights of his Crown nor the Liberty of that Country where he had the honour to be Born and over which neither the Imprisonment nor Death of any single Person had such Influence especially as to him who should always reckon his Life well laid down for the Immortal Preservation of France This Generous Magnanimity of King John gave King Edward occasion not only to commiserate his Calamity but also more tenderly to respect and honour him as a Person worthy of a better Fortune So that at last especially because his Dearest Son the Prince of Wales had promised unto him both in his Tent the Night of the Battle and afterwards at Bourdeaux that Peace and Concord should take place as much as in him lay if by any means he might prevail with his Father the King being willing to do his Son Honour yielded to more easie Conditions of Peace at least such as seemed so to King John who declared he was ready to pay any Summ of Mony as should be demanded but to subject the Crown of France to any Other that he should never yield to for all the Terrours imaginable So it was agreed g Holinsh Eng. Chron. p. 963. Matt. Villani l. 8. c. 51. l. 9. c. 9. That the whole Countries of Gascogne and Guienne Poictou Touraine Saintogne Perigort Quercie Limosin Angoulmois Ponthieu Boulonois Guisnes and Calais should remain wholly and entirely to the King of England and his Heirs for ever without any Homage or Duty paying therefore And in lieu thereof King Edward to renounce for Him and his Heirs all his Right to the Title and Crown of France as also his Claim which by any manner of Means he might have to the Dukedom of Normandy the Earldoms of Anjou and Maine The King of France being moreover to pay unto the King of England for his Ransom h Ita Authentica Articulerum copia Church-hill's Divi Britan. p. 242. Fabian p. 240. c. Three Millions of Crowns of Gold which amounts to 500000 l. Sterling Whereof 600000 Crowns to be laid down presently 400000 the Year after and the Remainder the next two Years following And that Fourteen of the Chief Nobility of France should lie as Hostages in England till the whole Summ is paid which done King John to be set at Liberty and honourably conveyed into his own Country These Articles were sent over to Avignon to be confirmed and ratified by the Pope and also to the Dauphin to be by him communicated to the Three Estates the success whereof we shall shew in due Place And so the two Cardinals who had now been more than a Year in England took their leave and went home again having the Kings safe Conduct as far as to Calais This Agreement between the two Kings was established by Oaths interchangeably made and with their mutual Kissing each Other and the Fame thereof was spread all about but however on one side or other Sincerity was supposed to be wanting Those Writers i Vid. Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 3. that favour the French Interest lay the blame upon King Edward saying that when he beheld the Commotions in France he did his utmost to foment them that so he might subject the Realm unto himself and that he might fling the Odium of the Breach upon the French he k Matt. Villani l. 8. c. 101. contrived to hinder them from raising the Mony which was to be paid ready down and that he secretly assisted the King of Navarre with Men to enable him the more to embroil that Kingdom But all this we shall easily prove to be the Invention of Malice or Mistake For as to the stopping of the Mony 't is l Knighton p. 2618. n. 56. c. affirmed by good Authority That soon after the Departure of the Cardinals there came certain Persons from France with m Forte esset 6 cent Mill. ut suprd twelve hundred thousand Crowns in Part of Payment for their Kings Ransom But King Edward refused the Mony for that they had not brought the Hostages with them as it had been agreed They in their Defence answer'd that a great Part of France was ravaged by the English contrary to the Form and Nature of the Agreement that the People of France durst not go to their own Houses The King told them that such Englishmen who tarried in France after the Agreement made were Outlaws Felons Murderers Theeves
and Robbers and Delinquents against the Laws of his Kingdom and as such out of his Protection nor could he justifie them And further there is found rather an instance of King John's Insincerity in this matter for the same n Knighton p. 2619. n. 24. Author assures us that when the English Ambassadors were returning from Avignon having compleated their Business it was found out that King John contrary to his Oath had sent Letters into France importing That whatsoever he had agreed to for Convenience sake in the present Necessity of Affairs it was never in his Mind to part with one Foot of the Land of France unto the King of England And the Bearer thereof was taken at Sea and upon Search these Letters found about him sealed with King John's Privy Seal Upon notice of this double Dealing King Edward thought fit to confine him a little more closely and so first order'd him to be convey'd to Hereford Castle from whence the next Year o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 168. 1 Vol. p. 3â—â— Heimâ—â— Engl. Chron p. 964. Knightâ—n ibid. Ashmole p. 659. his Keeper Sr. John Kirketon was order'd to remove him to Somerton-Castle in Somersetshire where also for some time he remain'd under Custody of the Lord William Deincourt and Sr. William Colvile who therein supplied the Place of his Brother the Lord Robert Colvile he being indisposed at that time And lastly he was removed thence to the Tower of London his Son Philip being constantly with him But as we said before these Removes were made the next Year when King Edward was in France III. The mean while as if all the Vials of Gods Wrath were now to be poured out all together upon that unhappy Prince's People there arose in France another Plague more terrible than any hitherto mention'd For whether on occasion of the Oppression of the Great Men or the intoâ—erable Presumption of the Poor soon after the Deliverance of the King of Navarre p Frois c. 182. f. 88. c. Mezeray Da Serres c. a sort of Rascally Clowns began their seditious Assemblies in Beauvoisin and Brie about Soissons and the River of Marne which threatned a total Destruction to all the Nobility and Gentry of France For they prov'd just such Levellers as some twenty three Years after in the Days of King Richard II Wat Tyler and Jack Straw were here in England At first they were not passing an Hundred or such a matter who gathering together out of the little Villages without any Head or Captain and being met somewhere in Beavoisin said among themselves How their Nobles Knights Esquires and Gentlemen were a shame and burthen to the Land and that it would be as laudable to destroy them for their Villany as profitable for their Wealth And they all cried out that it was true and said with one Voice A shame on him that doth not his best to root out all the Gentlemen of the Land. Being thus suddenly gather'd and agreed without either Captain or Weapons except what their own ungodly Madness armed them with as Prongs Staves and the like they went forthwith to a Knights house hard by which having broke up they slew him and his Lady and all his Children great and small and fired the House upon them which done they proceeded to another House a Castle where they took the Captain thereof a Knight and bound him fast to a Stake and ravished his Wife and his Daughter before his Face and then slew the Lady and her Daughter and the rest of his Children and lastly tormented the Knight himself to Death and burnt and beat down the Castle the like whereof they did to several other Castles and Gentlemens Houses And still as they went on they encreased like a rowling Snow-ball so that presently they were grown to above 6000 in Number for all ungracious Villains like themselves fell to them Wherefore all the Gentlemen about the Country with their Wives and Children fled away before them ten or twenty Leagues off for their better Security leaving both their Houses and Goods at the discretion of these base Rascals Thus did this disorderly Multitude range about robbing and burning of Houses Palaces and Mansions murdering and tormenting all Gentlemen they could lay their hands on and ravishing young Ladies and Gentlewomen and committing such horrid Villanies as can hardly be imagin'd And he of their Company who was most daring and exquisite in Câ—uelty and Wickedness had the highest Esteem among them At first they had no Head to follow or obey but now there was found among them one Jaques of Clermont in Beauvotsin who was so diabolically excellent at these Damnable Inventions of doing Mischief that as the most ungracious of all they chose him for their King and Captain naming him Jaques the Good-Man And thence their whole Tribe obtain'd to be called q Cotgrave in his Dictionary says they had the name of la Jaquerie or les Jaquiers from a short Country Jacket worn in those days 〈…〉 hâ—c arridet Opinâ—e the Jaquerie This incarnate Devil of a King having first cruelly slain a Noble Knight of those Parts caused him to be spitted and roasted at a Fire in sight of the Lady his Wife and Children and after that ten or a dozen had in most shamefull manner violated the Lady they compelled her to eat her Husbands Flesh and then put to Death both her and her Children And at this rate they raged and prevailed in Beauvoisin about Corbie Amiens and Mondidier destroying and burning more than threescore good Houses and Castles And at the same time the like Fury seised the Peasants and other villanous Wretches in Brie and Artois but especially in Brie so that all the Ladies Knights and Esquires of those Parts were fain to fly away to Meaux on the Marne for their Defence And among them were the Dutchess of Normandy and the Dutchess of Orleans the one Sister in Law and the other Daughter in Law to King John with several other Ladies and Gentlewomen all who were obliged to fly thither for preservation of their Lives and Honours And all the Country on each side the Marne as between Paris and Noyon and about Soissons and Cressy en Valois and on the other side as far as Mortmireil and Espernay was overrun by these Wretched Creatures and more than an hundred Castles and strong Edifices belonging to the Nobility and Gentry utterly defaced and ruined Wherefore the Gentlemen of Beauvoisin Corbois and Vermandois being alarum'd at the horrible Outrage of these People sent to their Friends in Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Luxemburgh for their Assistance Whereupon being speedily re-enforced they took Courage and rode about the Country in strong Bodies and whereever they met with any of these ungracious Levellers they slew them without Mercy and hanged them on the trees in Clusters and surely it was high time to take them up for if they had all been joyned together they had
also all the time of his Imprisonment here in England which was for the space of Eleven Years more She died at Hartford the Court being there at that time and was buried in the Gray-Fryers Church in London hard by the Body of Queen Isabell her Mother And lastly the Great Orchanes Son of Ottoman the Second Emperour of the Turks died g 〈◊〉 Chron. 〈…〉 ad ann 1359. either in the end of this Year or in the beginning of the next in the 760th Year of the Hegira Current after he had reigned to the great Dammage of Christendom 32 Years His Son Morat or Amurath the first of that Name sirnamed also Gazes succeeded him in the Empire of whose Death we shall not speak in this History because he outlived our King Edward reigning just the same Number of Years as his Father had done before him And thus as the Death of King Edward II was attended with the Funerals of a King of Scotland a King of France and a Turkish Emperour So his Dowager Queen Isabell was immediately followed by Joan Queen of Scots and Orcanes Emperour of Turky not to mention that Politick Death of King John of France whose Majesty lay now buried in Imprisonment XV. About this h Knighton p. 262. â—r 1. â— Walsingâ— hist p. 165. Godw. Cal. l. 〈◊〉 p. 269. Aâ—â— p. 〈…〉 p. 146. c. time there happen'd a great Quarrel between Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely and the Lady Blanch Plantagenet Sister to Henry Duke of Lancaster 〈◊〉 Relict of Thomas late Lord Wake of Lydel The Occasion was this the Bishops Men had burnt a Mannor of the said Lady Wakes and slain one of her Men whereupon she made her Complaint to the King of this Grievance The King sent his Justices viz. Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Shareshull and Others to make Inquisition in the Case And the Bishop being cited before them it appeared that he was altogether culpable because he had knowingly harboured the Murderer quod cum post perpetratam Felomam receptâ—sset scienter Whereupon Judgment being pronounced against him his Temporalities were seised into the Kings Hands and he obliged to give Sureties for his forth Coming He soon after made shift to get over the Sea to Avignon where he complain'd to the Pope how the King had seised his Temporalities against the Rights of the Church His Holiness hereupon by his Bull cited to appear at his Court the Kings Justices and their Adherents as Sr. Henry Green Sr. William Shareshull William Norton William Thorpe and Sr. Simon Drayton whom for refusing to appear he Excommunicated This Bull was sent to John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln to publish to the People with an Injunction that if any of the Excommunicate were dead he should cause them to be dug out of their Graves and cast them out of the Churchyard He did so to Sr. Simon Drayton who was then dead and buried and took him out of his Grave and drew his Body forth at a hole which he had dug in the Church-wall and cast it forth out of the Churchyard And hearing that the Lord John Engain who had been concerned in the said Affair was also l Dâ—â—d 1 Vol. p. 467. then newly dead he sent to the Abbot of Bury to do the same unto his Body but the Lord Thomas Engain his Son hindred the execution by Force When the King heard of these things he was very much moved and sent word to the Pope that nothing had been done but according to the Laws and Customs of his Realm and so at last thô not without some difficulty he obtain'd Absolution for them What some k Antiq 〈◊〉 C. du 〈…〉 l. Bish ibid. observe that the Original of this matter proceeded from the Bishop of Ely's boldness in Reprehending the King for setting up an unworthy Person to be Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield is to be look'd on as an Errour for that See was not void till almost two Years after this whereas the l Godwin ibid. Knighton ibid. Walsing ibid. Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 4. end of this Action is truly referred unto this Year However because some of the Persons Excommunicate had been of the Kings Privy Council Proclamation was presently made throughout the Realm that hereafter no Man should presume on pain of Death to bring into the Realm or to procure or publish any Papal Letters Citations Excommunications or Censures And some of the Bishop of Ely's Servants were clapt up in the Tower and others in Newgate where they died for presuming contrary to this Prohibition to deliver Letters to John Stepney Bishop of Rochester then Lord Treasurer of England But as for those threatning Letters which the Pope is said to have written to King Edward hereupon I believe nothing of them because Odoricus Rainaldus is altogether silent as to any such thing Now was m 〈…〉 ad hunc annum §. Walsingh hist â— 165. â—esâ—◠〈◊〉 Vl. 〈…〉 181. 〈…〉 Bil. V. 〈…〉 n. 376â— â— M.S. 〈…〉 Bo V. Speed p. 5â—3 also moved the famous Controversie between the Universities and the 4 Orders of Preaching Fryers which was on the behalf of Oxford managed at this time by that Learned Prelate Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate oâ— Ireland and Chancellour of the said University the said Richard arguing against the said Fryers before the Pope for that they were a Nuisance both to the Clergy and the two Universities and trusting to their Privileges by which they were admitted to receive the Confessions of dying Men they used to entice away young Men as well out of Publick Schools as from their Parents Houses whom having once brought into their Sâ—â—eties they would never after permit them to return to their Friends Whereby Men withdrew or kept back their Sons from the Universities lest these Fryers should thus steal them away So that says he n 〈◊〉 Acts Mâ—n p. 53â— whereas in my own Time there were 〈◊〉 Oxford 30000 Students within a while after there were but 6000. And indeed how excessively these Fryerly Swarms encreased in all Nations may appear from one Instance o Sâ—â—â—il Enne ad l. 6. where the General of the Franciscans Order promised to the Pope then about an Expedition against the Turk to bring him into the Field 30000 expert Warriers out of the Number of St. Francis his Order and yet that enough should remain at home to perform the requisite Devotions But at this time the Pope made such use of those Fryers that Armachanus prevailed not against them thô he maintained his Cause 〈◊〉 Nine Learned Propositions boldly and manifestly p Walsing Hist p. 16â— n. 20. Speed p. 5â—3 because the English Clergy stuck not to him as they had promised and the Fryers had great store of Mony whereby they were so far from losing Ground that they procured at this time a new Confirmation of their Privileges But those that desire more Particulars as
with unspeakable Boldness presently upon their coming assaulted the Town passed the Ditch mounted the Walls and took it the first Night When immediately the Lord Bartholomew who commanded in Chief knowing the strength of the Castle set a good Number of Pioneers at Work promising them Large Wages if they hasted to finish their Task effectually These Men encouraged thus by their Lord began to Work night and day till at last with much obstinate labour they had gone far under the Great Square Tower still setting up huge Props of Oak as they went along and canying the Earth out in the night So that the Besieged knew nothing of their being undermin'd In about sixteen days the Miners having done their Work so that the Tower was ready to fall when they pleased their Captains went to Sr. Bartholomew and assured him of their Success whereat he was well content but commanded them to proceed no farther till they heard from him For he was resolv'd in his Mind to try all fair means to reduce the Place before he would fire the Mine as thinking it more Honourable for a Christian Captain to overcome his Enemies than to destroy them Wherefore taking along with him the Lord John Botetourt he went toward the Castle and made offer to speak with some of those within The Chief Captain there at that time was one Sr. Henry de Vaulx a Knight of Champaigne who came to the Battlements of the Castle and demanded what they would have Sr. Bartholomew answer'd Captain I would that You forthwith yield your selves and all You have into my Hands for else You are no better than Dead Men upon my Word Pray how said Sr. Henry That 's a pleasant Matter indeed And therewith he began to smile We are proof against the hardest Siege and You ask us to yield up simply But surely Sir We are not so low either in Wit or Courage as You take us to be Well said Sr. Bartholomew then your Blood must lie upon your own Heads For if You knew in what Danger You are at this time You would yield up simply without any more adoe But if You have no Faith You cannot be saved Why Quoth Sr. Henry what Danger are We in I see none Unless it be that We are like to lose your good Company because You despair to take us Sir said the English Captain that You may then understand your Condition come forth your self with so many more as You please and I 'll shew You how I have You all at my mercy And after that if You shall be minded to hold the Castle upon my Honour You shall have liberty to return back unhurt and there to take your Fortune Sr. Henry with three more of his Captains came forth in confidence of the English Knight's Word and went to him and there he shew'd them all the Mine and how their great Tower stood only on Stages and Props of Timber When Sr. Henry saw this most imminent Danger in which both He and all his Men were he said with much Submission Honourable Sir it is true We were all at your Dispose when we thought our selves most secure Surely this Favour of yours extended to us proceeds from a Noble and Generous Spirit We therefore henceforth yield our selves and all We have to your pleasure Then Sr. Bartholomew took them as his Prisoners and all the Rest within the Castle and sent in Men to take all the Goods and what was of any Value and that done he caused Fire to be put into the Mine to burn the Props and at last the Tower clave insunder with an hideous Noise and fell suddenly into Ruines Look You now said Sr. Bartholomew to Sr. Henry and mark if I did not tell You the Truth Sir reply'd He We thank You for this great Courtesie For if some other had such an Advantage over us We should not have fared so well Thus was the strong Castle of Cormicy taken and overthrown and the Prisoners brought to the Camp before Rheims CHAPTER the SIXTH AN. DOM. 1360. An. Regni Angliae XXXIV Franciae XXI The CONTENTS I. The Duke of Normandy's Method to resist King Edward the French take land at Winchelsea and after doing much harm are beaten away II. The Kings Lieutenant in England takes Order against the like Mischief for the Future III. The King of England rises from before Rheims and marches in Hostile manner thrô Champaigne The Lord Roger Mortimer Earl of March dies IV. The great Pomp and Order of the English Army V. King Edward is bought off from destroying Burgundy and turns toward Paris VI. He sits down before Paris two Treaties offer'd at in vain Whereupon the King challenges the Dauphin forth to Battle the Lord Walter Manny skirmishes at the Barriers a remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne and to renew the Siege before Paris at a better season VII A Party from Paris worsted by an English Ambush VIII The great Miseries of France with the Predictions of a certain Fryar concerning the same IX The Dauphin finding a necessity for Peace sends overtures after King Edward who being moved by a Remarkable Tempest enclines to accept them A Treaty had thereupon X. A True and Authentick Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny near Chartres XI The two Eldest Sons of England and France solemnly sworn to uphold the Articles of the said Peace with the Manner thereof The Parisians not staying till the Conclusion of the Peace buy certain Fortresses of the English XII King Edward returns for England shews King John the Copy of the Agreement and sends him over to Calais XIII The Pope quickens King Edward to finish the Peace King John's difficulties for want of Money XIV King Edward goes over to Calais and consummates the Peace XV. The Copy of King Edward's Letters of Renuntiation wherein he lays down his Title to France XVI The Copy of King John's Renuntiation of certain Lands and Territories in lieu thereof XVII The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides XVIII The Copy of King Edward's Orders to all his Captains enjoyning them to deliver up their Respective Places to the French King. XIX Other things relating to the said Peace and also a step to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne XX. King John's joy at his Freedom and the mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John takes his leave of King Edward and goes to Boulogne XXI King Edward returns with the Hostages for England where he gives Order for their favourable usage The Pope congratulates the French King his Liberty XXII The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Also of the King of Cyprus I. IF any Man should ask me what the Duke of Normandy what the Lords and the Captains of France and what the Three Estates of that Kingdom did at this time now that
Places abovenamed which by this present Treaty ought to be deliver'd unto the King of England 29. Item It is agreed that the Towns Forts and whole County of Ponthieu the Towns Forts and whole County of Montrevil the City and Castle of Saincte the Castles Towns and Forts and all that which the King holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Sainctogne on this side and beyond the Charente the Castle and City of Angoulesme and the Castles Forts and Towns which the King of France holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Angoulesmois with Letters and Mandates of releasing of Fees being deliver'd to the King of England or to other especially deputed for him then the King of England at his own proper Costs and Charges shall deliver all the Forts taken and possessed by himself his Subjects Adherents and Allies in the Countries of x Lisle de la France France Anjou Touraine Maine Berry Auvergne Burgundy Champaigne Picardy and Normandy and in all other Parts Lands and Places of the Realm of France except those of the Dutchy of Bretagne and the Countries and Lands which by this present Treaty ought to belong and remain to the King of England 30. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall cause to be deliver'd to the King of England his Heirs or Deputies all the Towns Castles Forts and other Lands Countries and Places abovenamed with their Appurtenances at the proper Costs and Charges of the said King of France And also that if he shall have any Rebels and such as will not obey to render yield up or restore to the King of England any Cities Towns Castles Countries Places or Forts which by this Present Treaty ought to appertain unto Him then the King of France shall be obliged to cause them to be deliver'd to the King of England at his own Charges And in like manner the King of England shall cause those Forts which by this present Treaty ought to appertain to the King of France to be deliver'd at his own Charges the said Kings and their Subjects with them shall be obliged mutually to aid one another in this respect if they shall be thereto required at the Wages of the Party so Requiring Which shall be a Floren of Florence per diem for a Knight half a Floren for an Esquire and for others proportionably And of the surplus of double Wages it is agreed that if the pay aforesaid shall be too little respect being had to the Price of Victuals in the Country it shall be done at the Appointment of Four Knights elected thereto that is to say of two on the One Party and two on the Other 31. Item It is agreed that all the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of Holy Church shall in regard of their Temporalities be subject to that King of the two under whom they hold their Temporalities And if they have Temporalities under both the Kings they shall be subject to each of the two Kings for the Temporalities which they hold of either of them 32. Item It is agreed that good Alliance Friendship and Confederation shall be made between the two Kings of France and of England and their Realms in maintaining the Honour and Conscience of the One King and of the Other notwithstanding any Confederations which they have on this side or beyond the Sea with any Persons whether of Scotland or Flanders or of any other Country whatsoever 33. Item It is agreed that the King of France and the Regent his Eldest Son for themselves and for their Heirs Kings of France shall as much as may be done forsake and altogether depart from the Alliances which they have with the Scots and shall promise as much as may be that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of France for the time being shall give or lend to the King of Scotland or to the Subjects thereof present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the said King of England or against his Heirs and Successors or against his Realm or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Scots against the said King of England and Realm of England in time to come And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son so much as it can or may be done shall forsake and depart from all those Alliances which they have with the Flemmings and shall promise that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of England for the time being shall give or lend to the Flemmings present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the King of France his Heirs or Successors or against his Kingdom or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Flemmings against the said King and Realm of France in time to come 34. Item It is agreed that the Collations and Provisions made by the One Party and by the other of Benefices falling void during the War shall hold good and remain in Force And that the Fruits Issues and Revenues received and levied of any Benefices and other Temporalities whatsoever in the said Realms of France and England by the One Party or by the Other during the said Wars shall be quitted on both sides 35. Item that the Kings aforesaid shall be obliged to cause to be confirmed all the Matters aforesaid by our Holy Father the Pope and they shall be Ratified by Oaths Sentences and Censures of the Court of Rome and by all other Tyes in the most binding manner that may be And there shall be obtained from the Court of Rome Dispensations Absolutions and Letters touching the Accomplishment and Perfection of this Present Treaty and they shall be deliver'd to the Parties at the farthest within three Weeks after the King shall be Arrived at Calais 36. Item That all the Subjects of the said Kings which will study at the studies and Universities of the Realms of France and of England shall enjoy the Privileges and Liberties of the said studies and Universities in like manner as they might have done before the Present Wars and as they do at present 37. Item To the end that the Matters aforesaid treated and discoursed may be more stable firm and valid there shall be done and given these Confirmations following that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of the said Kings and of their Eldest Sons the best that can be made by the Councils of the said Kings And the said Kings and their Eldest Sons and their other Children and others of the Lineage of the said Kings and other Noblemen of their Realms to the number of Twenty on either Party shall swear that they will observe and endeavour to maintain as much as concerneth each of them without fraud or deceit the said Matters treated and agreed on and accomplish them without ever going to the Contrary and without empeaching the performance thereof And if there be any Persons 〈◊〉 the said Realms of France and of England
the occasion yet for the Eminence of the Person I shall not pass by the Murder of Sr. John Copland the same who at the Battle of Durham took the King of Scotland Prisoner as we have shewn already This Valiant and Worthy Gentleman upon what Quarrel doth not appear was this Year k Knighton p. 2626. n. 30. murder'd by the Lord John Clifford of Ewyas who thereupon was forced to fly the Land and could by no means obtain his Pardon till about 15 Years after or the last of King l Dagd 1 Vol. p. 341. Edward when upon the Testimony of divers English Peers in Parliament of his singular Valour and of his special Services in the Wars in France the King at last upon the instant Request of the said Peers and Commons of England then assembled in Parliament gave him his Charter of Pardon CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of the Country and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dying Urban V succeeds II. The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon to get and against the Saracens A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed whereof the King of France is made the General III. The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour the Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes IV. King Edward allowing the French Hostages some Liberty the Duke of Anjou makes his Escape V. The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edwards Answer to the King of Cyprus upon his demanding Assistance for the Holy War. VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII A Convocation wherein the excessive Number of Holydays are retrenched VIII The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells IX A Man who after execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. X. The King of Cyprus and the Shrine of St. Hugh of Lincoln robbed XI King David of Scotland comes into England upon a Visit A long and hard Frost I. AN. DOM. 1363. An. Regni Angliae XXXVII IN the preceding Year King John of France undertook a Journey to Avignon to visit the Pope and Cardinals but he chose to ride through the Dukedom of Burgundy because that Provence was newly fallen unto him by the Death of Philip the young Duke Grandson of Duke Eudes the VI and Son of that Philip who was slain at the Siege of Aiguillon and of the Lady Jane of Boulogne who afterwards was married to King John and died the Year before this her Son. In a Favine le Parisiens Theater t' Honour l. 4. c. 3. p. 7. his Person was extinct the First Branch of the Dukes of Burgundy being of the House of France which had produced no less than twelve Dukes and had lasted the space of 330 Years For this young Prince died b Paradin Annal Burgund l. 2. p. 348. about Easter 1362 without Issue himself being but Fifteen and his Lady Margaret of Flanders not above Eleven When therefore King John c Frois c. 216. fol. 112. was ready for his Journey and had appointed his Son Charles Regent and Governour during his Absence he began his Progress from Paris about the latter end of July 1362 having with him in his Company his Cousin the Lord John of Artois Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Bouciquault Marshal of France and many other Grandees Having by small Journeys and great Expence rode thrô Burgundy he came in the beginning of September to Villeneufe without Avignon where Lodgings were provided for Him and his Attendants He was entertained with great Magnificence of Feasting by the Pope and the whole College of Cardinals and many interchangeable Visits were made between the King and Them But in the heighth of all d Labbei Chronl Techn ad ann 1362. Pope Innocent the VI having sat Nine Years Eight Months and Twenty Days departed this Life at Avignon on the Twelfth of September Whereupon there arose much Difference among the Cardinals about Choosing of a new Pope for each of them aspired to the Dignity himself especially the Cardinal of Boulogne and the Cardinal of Perigort who were by far the Greatest and had most powerfull Friends Wherefore after much Altercation the rest of the Cardinals agreed to put the Decision of the Matter to these Two who finding thereby that neither of them could obtain the Papacy themselves agreed together that neither any of the rest should have it but rather that they would pitch upon some other Indifferent Person There was at that time in the Parts of Lombardy one e Vid. Odor Rainal ad ann 1362. §. 6. Ciacon cum Victor p. 925. c. who was employ'd thither by Pope Innocent about Affairs with the Lords of Milain named William Grisant by some named Grimoardi Abbot of St. Victor of Marseille a Devout and Holy Man of unblameable Life and eminent Learning who was called Anglicus whereupon f Walsing hist p. 172. many have believed him an English Man thô I rather believe he might obtain that name because he was a Gascogner and so by Birth subject to the King of England This Man the Two Ambitious Cardinals chose rather out of Envy to their Fellows than thrô any Love to Him or his Vertue He g Labbei Chron. Techn ad ann 1362. Lit. Domin B. was elected on the 28 or as Some say on the last of October and Crowned on the Sixth of November following being a Sunday at which time he took the Name of Vrban V. It is said of him h Walsingh hist p. 172. that having long waited at the Court of Avignon in fruitless expectation of Preferment he complained to a Friend of his saying I believe verily if all the Churches of the World should fall there would none fall upon my Head. Whereupon this Friend of his coming to visit him after his Coronation said all smiling You lately complain'd most Holy Father that if all the Churches in the World should fall yet none you thought would fall upon your Head. Behold now how God hath disposed things for all the Churches in the World are now fallen upon your Head together Soon i Frois c. 216. fol. 112. after this Mans Creation King John heard News that Peter of Lusignan King of Cyprus intended shortly to come to Avignon to give his Holiness a Visit and that in order thereto he had already passed the Sea whereupon he resolved to tarry still at Avignon till his Coming being very desirous to see him because of the great Renown he had heard of him both for his Valour and Piety and particularly of the great Honour he had won in the War against the Saracens and that among other his Successes he had lately taken from them Sattalia the chief City of Pamphylia and
his Ransom for till now thô at Liberty he was but a Prisoner upon Parole And indeed the French King began to shew himself wonderfull Gracious and Favourable to the Captal and gave him freely the fair Castle of Damemarie in Brie with all its Appurtenances which Gift was more than 3000 Franks per annum And by this seeming Generosity of that subtle Prince the Candid Gentleman was easily won to do Homage to the French King and to become his Liegeman thô only for that Castle wherewith King Charles was wonderfully pleased for he had an extream Value for all Men of Worth but especially he prized the Service of so Famous a Knight as the Captal was But that Service lasted not over long For when the Captal was returned into the Principality of Aquitaine and came before the Prince of Wales who had been fully informed of all that was done the Prince took him aside and chid him very smartly asking him how he could acquit himself Loyally and truly to two several Lords of different Interests and whether it was agreeable for a Man of Honour to taint his Mind with Covetousness and to sell his service for Bribes and indeed but to accept of Lands lying in France where he knew himself to be neither sincerely loved nor duly respected When the Captal heard these words and saw how he had unawares incurred an evil Opinion from his Natural Lord the Prince he was very much ashamed and began to excuse himself saying Sir I am not so strictly bound to the French King but that I may easily undo again all that I have done or promised since I acted only conditionally if it might so please you my Lord and the King your Father to whom the French King knows me bound by Ties far more strong and more early Then the Prince gave him his Hand and banished all evil thoughts of him and the Captal presently sent into France to the King an Esquire of his by whom he flung up all that had been given him and renounced to hold any thing of him whereby he might be tempted to divide the Service which he ow'd entirely to the Prince of Aquitaine He himself tarried still with the Prince at Bourdeaux for he was wholly acquitted of his Imprisonment by Vertue of the Articles of the Peace made between the Kings of France and Navarre By which Articles also the Cities of Mante and Meulan were to remain for ever with the King of France in Consideration whereof the King of Navarre had other Castles in Normandy restored unto him as an Equivalent V. About this time the Young Lord Lewis of Navarre took his leave of France and went into Lombardy having taken of the French King at his Departure 60000 Franks in lieu of certain Castles in Normandy which he deliver'd up What his business was in Lombardy I do not find for 't is certain g Frois c. 229. Froisard is in a mistake who says he went thither to Marry the Queen of Naples and that accordingly he did Marry the said Queen when as we are h Vid. Odor ad an 1362. § 10. 11. infallibly assured that Joan Queen of Sicily and Naples was at this time and 3 Years before and many Years after the Wife of James the Young King of Majorica However Prince Lewis of Navarre died soon after without any Issue of his Body thô he left behind him the Reputation of having been all along a most Valiant Courteous and Noble Knight which is a Character that Worthy Souls esteem beyond Life or Children VI. On the i M.S. Record Parl. p. 95. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 99 Fourth of December in the Close of the foregoing Year King Edward sent forth his Summons for the Parliament to meet him at Westminster on the Octaves of St. Hilary following On which day being assembled accordingly Proclamation was made in Westminster-Hall that for that Day they might depart but they were to return the next Morning into the Painted Chamber there to hear the Kings Pleasure At which time Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England began in a long and solemn Harangue to open the Parliament taking for his Theme that of the Royal Prophet Vera justitia c. Faithfull Judgement doth adorn the King's seat From whence he took occasion to discourse of the King his Master and of the great Prowess and manifold Victories which by Gods Assistance he had Atchieved in his Youth not forgetting the constant and dutifull Goodwill and ready concurrence of the King 's Loyal Subjects towards the Furtherance of those his Important Undertakings For which as now the King did by him return them his hearty thanks so he let them know that on his part he was resolved to seek the Common Peace and Tranquillity of all his People especially by enforcing a due Observation of all the good and sound Laws and by amending such of them as were faulty as also by Establishing New ones where Necessity should so require Then they proceeded to appoint Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other foreign Countries and Isles That same day the King declared with his own Mouth to the Three Estates how Citations and false Suggestions were daily made to the Pope for Matters determinable in his own Court within the Realm and for procuring Provisions for Ecclesiastical Dignities to the great Scandal of the Ancient Laws to the Derogation of his Crown to the daily conveying away of the Treasure of the Land to the Diminution of Ecclesiastical Livings to the Withdrawing of Divine Service Alms Hospitality and other Good and Acceptable Works and to the daily encrease of all Mischiefs wherefore no Person c. And the King by his own Mouth requireth them according to the old Statute heretofore to provide a sufficient Remedy Whereupon besides two former Acts made against the Popes Provisions the One k Vid. Statute-Book ad an 25. Ed. 3. ad an 27. Ed. 3. ad an 38. Ed. 3. 25 Ed. 3. and the other 27 Ed. 3. as may be seen in the Statute-Book another Act to the same purpose was made now which agreeth in all things with the Print c. 1 2 3 4. Only in the Record are more biting Words a Mystery says Sr. Robert Cotton not known of All Men. On the Saturday after being the Conversion of St. Paul or the 25 of January the Bishops Lords and Commons brought into the Parliament the foresaid Act and another touching the Preservation of the Liberties of the Bodies of Prelates and other Lords of the Parliament Then follow the Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That no Victuals or Corn be carried from the North-Marches into Scotland and that no Protection or Pass-port be granted to any Scot to pass thrô the Realm The King will provide therefore That the Fines of the Chancery may be as they were at the Kings Coronation The King would have
judicious Writer XIII Toward the End of the Year the Noble and Valiant Hero Thomas Earl of Warwick who had been in the Parts of Prussia g Hist M.S. Jehan Rous p. 253. c. return'd into England with his Retinue and the Voluntiers who accompanied him besides the King of Lithuania's Son whom as we shew'd before he caused to be baptized and called after his own Name Thomas he himself at that time standing for his Godfather Soon after that h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. Warwick p. 317. a. ex Claus 40. E. 3. m. 4. the said Earl of Warwick was sent by the King upon special Service into Flanders having an allowance of 7 Marks and an half per diem at which time also he had his Commission for Earl Marshal of England renewed CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1366. An. Regni Angliae XL. wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Citation to the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid thenceforward to the Pope The Quarrel taken up between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities The Kings Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford II. A Treaty of Marriage began between Prince Lionel King Edward's second Son living and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Lord of Milain III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury dies his Foundation of Canterbury-College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury IV. On the French Kings Complaint of the Insolencies of the Companions King Edward raises an Army to repress them but finding the French King jealous of his Designs desists in great anger The King of France and the Pope endeavour to have those Licentious Souldiers drawn off into Hungary but they would not stir till a business from Spain invited them that way the Relation of which Matter is refer'd to the beginning of the Fourth Book I. IN the beginning of this Year viz. a MS. Rot. Par. p. 98. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 102. sed ibi tempus aâ—â— gnatur esse The Monday next after the Invention of the Cross which is the 4 of May this Year quod mirè discrepat à M.S. on the 30th of March being the Monday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady King Edward held his high Court of Parliament at Westminster At the opening whereof Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in presence of the Lords and Commons the Reasons why that Parliament was called which in effect were these That since the King had sent his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales to govern the Country of Aquitaine as also the Duke of Clarence his next Son then living into Ireland to be his Lieutenant there his chief Care now was how he might best govern his Realm of England here at home And so having appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Isles and Places they adjourn'd till the next day And then the Chancellour in presence of the King Lords and Commons declar'd that he had the day before informed them in general of the occasion of their Assembling and that now they should know it more particularly there being a fresh Matter which the King was resolved to communicate unto them viz. The King had lately received Notice that the Pope in consideration of the Homage which King John of England acknowledged to the See of Rome for his Realm of England and Dominion of Ireland and because of the Tribute then by him granted unto the said See intended by Process to cite the King to the Court of Rome Then at Avignon to answer for his Default in not performing what the said King John his Predecessor had so undertaken for him and his Heirs Kings of England Whereupon the King required the Advice of his Parliament what Course he had best to take in case any such Matter should be attempted The Bishops by themselves and the Lords and Commons by themselves desire Respite to give in their Answer till the next day which was granted And then the Three Estates being met together with one Consent Enacted in effect following viz. That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring his Realm and People into such thraldom and subjection but by general Consent in Parliament which was not done and therefore what he did was against his Coronation Oath and moreover that he was notoriously compell'd by the necessity of his Affairs and the iniquity of the times besides many other Reasons if therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by Process or any other way that then the King and all his Subjects should with all their Force and Power oppose and resist the same Thus was this business quash'd for ever and it seems the King was so moved at the Insolence of the thing that over and above he caused it now to be b M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. ordain'd that from that time forward St. Peter's Pence should not be paid which the Noble King Ina sometime King of England of the West-Saxons who began his Reign about the Year of our Lord DCLXXV had first granted to the See of Rome in consideration of an English School there to be continued for ever That same day c M.S. Râ—t Par. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment ibid. the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Fryars of the Four Orders Mendicants within the said Universities made long and grievous Complaints by their Proxies each against the other to the King in Parliament But in the end they all submitted themselves to the Kings Order Whereupon the Lords having well deliberated on the whole Matter by full Assent in Parliament took Order that as well the Chancellour and Scholars as the Fryars of those Orders within the said Universities should in all Graces and School-Exercises use each other in Friendly manner without any noise and disturbance as before And that none of those Orders should receive any Scholar into their Orders being under the Age of 18 Years And that the Fryars should take no advantage nor procure any Bull or other Process from the Court of Ronie against the said Universities or proceed therein But that the King alone have Power to redress and determine all Controversies between them from thenceforth and the Offenders should be punished at the pleasure of the King and his Council The Parliament continued till d Lit. Dom. D. Vid. M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 99. §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 103. §. 13. Monday the XI of May at which time the Lord Chancellor declared how the King had given in Marriage the Lady Isabell his Daughter to the Lord of Coucy who had a Fair Estate as well in England as elsewhere and that it would concern the King's Honour to create him an
commanded to the Tower of London there to remain as Prisoner untill he had paid Fine at the Kings Pleasure And thereupon Command was given to Sr. Alan Boxhull Constable of the Tower to keep him accordingly And so the Lords and Commons departed But after that the said Sr John being brought to Westminster before the Kings Council and there examin'd concerning the Business of the said William Latimer made Answer that as freely as the King had granted to him the Wardship aforesaid so freely did he surrender the same into the Kings Hands whereupon it was order'd in Council that the said Wardship should be reseised into the Kings Hands and deliver'd unto the said William Latimer according to the Grant made to the said Bishop of Sarum and that all Recognisances and Conveyances made by the said William to the said Sr. John should be void saving the Kings Right IV. Thus ended this Parliament but it is to be observed that Dr. Simon Langham p Godw. Catal. Bish p. 143. Philpots Catal. Chancel Treasurers c. Archbishop of Canterbury who had been both Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of England and performed the part of King Edwards Spokesman in this Parliament was on the 21 of September following by Pope Vrban V. made Cardinal titulo Sti. Sixti whereupo he resign'd his Archbishoprick of Canterbury and went to Avignon where not long after he was made Bishop Cardinal of Praeneste by Pope Gregory the Eleventh and held divers Livings in Commendum as the Archdeaconry and Treasurership of Welles and others There he lived in high Estimation for about Eight Years at which time he died of a Palsie wherewith he was suddenly taken as he sat at Dinner Of his Bounty Magnificent Buildings and other Deeds of Liberality Bishop Godwin makes mention but what we have further to say of him we shall defer till we come to relate his Death In his Seat of Canterbury he was succeeded by Dr. William Wittlesey a Man of great Parts and Learning for that Age. V. It is credibly reported q Treasury of Time or Times Store-house p. 721. that about this time during a great Storm and an extraordinary high Tide there was seen a Mermaid or Sea-woman swimming in the Zuyderzee between Campen and Edam Who being taken and brought to Edam after she was well cleansed from the Sea-moss which by her long Continuance in that Element had grown about her was not only exactly like another Woman but endured to be Apparell'd and would feed on Meats as others did thô indeed she sought all Means to escape and return again to her Watry Habitation but she was always prevented by those who had the Care of her and watch'd her very narrowly She learn'd to spin and exercise several other Feminine Duties being dayly seen by vast Numbers of People many of whom gave undoubted Testimony of the Truth of the Matter both describing her Features and attesting that she lived 15 Years after she was first taken and was lastly buried there in the Church-yard of Edam If the Reader wants Faith to credit such Matters I entreat him to consider that an Historian is not obliged to gain an Infallible Assurance of all that he says but however r Vid. in Peireskii Vitâ à Gassend conscriptâ c. that since so great and so wise Men have confirmed such things unto Us he who will not allow such authentick and probable Testimonies not only wants Faith but perhaps Modesty and Discretion also VI. But to return to the Affairs of our History Now it is to be remembred that ſ Frois c. 239. fol. a. when the Prince of Wales was come from Spain into Gascogne and his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was gone home into England many of the French and Spanish Nobility were by the English and Gascogners put to their Ransome But Sr. Bertram of Clequin remain'd still a Prison◠with the Prince and the Lord John Chandos being not admitted to pay any Ransome which prov'd a great Trouble to Henry the Bastard because he durst not attempt any New thing against Don Pedro till he should have this his most considerable Friend at Liberty But by chance there was offer'd an Occasion of obtaining that which Counsel and Money were not able to procure for one Day among the rest the Prince who us'd much Grace and Respect to all his Prisoners sent for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to discourse with him Sr. Bertram How doth your spirit Brook this Confinement Sr. I thank God very well I was never at better eas ein all my Life And it is reasonable for me to think so since I am in the Hands of the most Generous Prince living and made a Prisoner by the most Renowned Knight in the World. Who is that said the Prince Sir said he that is Sr. John Chandos That is right replied the Prince therefore you may comfort your self for being taken since it is no dishonour to be conquer'd by a Gallant Man but what comfort have you now for being detain'd a Prisoner when most of your Fellows are put to Ransom O Sir quoth Sr. Bertram as to that matter I have this Comfort namely that it is reported in France and Spain how you stand in such fear of me that you dare not let me go which must needs be a considerable Honour for so mean a Knight as I am The Prince understood well to what end these subtle Words of Sr. Bertram tended and he also remembred that his whole Council had agreed by no means to let him have his Liberty untill King Don Pedro had fully paid all those Sums of Money wherein he was bound lest Sr. Bertram should again embroil the Matters of Spain and put that King out of a capacity of Paying But however he could not endure to be thought to stand in Fear of any one Living and besides he thought to ask such a Ransom as Sr. Bertram should not easily be able to pay wherefore he answer'd him thus Then Sir it seems you imagin that We detain you here for doubt of your Prowess and Chevalry But I would not have you think so for I swear by St. George it is no such matter Do but pay Vs for your Ransom an 100000 Franks and you shall be deliver'd immediatly Sr. Bertram who whatever he pretended defired much in his mind to be at Liberty hearing now on what Conditions he might go took the Prince presently at his Word and said Sir be it so in the Name of God I 'll pay no less a Ransome and thank you for the honour of Rating me so high Then the Prince would willingly have retracted his Words for he saw himself caught now and that by his means Don Pedro might be either deposed again or put to Death before he had satisfied him and besides some of his Council came to him and told him that he had not done well so easily to put him to his Ransom and would fain have perswaded
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
stirr for any News that he heard for so the King his Brother had strictly charged him by no means to make any War against the Prince till he should receive express Order so to do And all the while this Politick King was getting together good Captains and Souldiers in the most secret manner that it was possible and particularly he wan to his side certain of the Companions whom he sent into the Marches of Berry and Auvergne permitting them to live there upon the Country something loosely that they might not be suspected for Friends but withall he commanded them to make no War upon the Prince till they had his express Word for it For he took all the Care in the world not to create the least Suspition that he intended a War till all his Designs against the Earldom of Ponthieu should be ripe Nor without cause For if the King of England could but have guessed that the French King would have broke the Peace he could have very easily prevented the Losses which he received afterwards in Ponthieu and especially he would have made such good Provision for the City of Abbeville and all the other Garrisons in that Country that he should still have kept the Soveraignty thereof maugre all the Power of France And yet at that time the Seneschal of that County for King Edward was a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Louvain who was in great Favour with the King his Master as he well deserved For he was so True Loyal and Couragious that he would rather have been drawn in pieces by wild Horses than consent to any thing that might reflect upon his Faith and Honour Yet not only he but King Edward and all others were deceived at this time by the overreaching Devices of the French King who the more to amuse King Edward had a little before sent over the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman to adjust Matters fully with him and his Council and these Men the better to conceal the Malice they intended complained of Wrongs done as they said unto them for they declar'd unto the King and his Council how on their Part the Peace was but slightly kept at the best not only by reason of the War which the Companions who were generally Subjects of England had kept in France for about six whole Years but also upon divers other Accounts whereat the King their Master had no small cause to be disgusted These Embassadors King Edward detain'd in England for about two Months during which time thô he expected to settle a right Understanding between the two Realms they only made many frivolous Complaints to delay time which almost tired the Kings Patience but they were not much concerned at that because they knew they did but follow the Commission they had from their Master However they u Walsing hist p. 177. 178. made unto the King a Present of certain Vessels of Choice Wines and other Gifts from the French King as a Token of his Brotherly Love and Good will. The mean while King Charles having understood for certain that the Inhabitants of Abbeville were willing to own his Interest and that the Wars were already open in Gascogne and all his Friends stood ready to strike as soon as ever they had the Word for it resolved now to put things to the issue Yet however either being secure of the Advantage he had by taking this Start of King Edward or desirous as far as he might to avoid all Reproach lest Posterity might cry shame of him if he should invade any of the King of England's Lands or the Prince's without Defiance he resolv'd by Advice of his Council to send and defie the King of England and all his Adherents and so he did by his Letters Sealed which to his great reproach he gave to a mean Valet to carry And yet before this even while King Edward was giving his Audience of Leave to the French Ambassadors he heard a Rumour that the French King had sent Men of War into Ponthieu and that he had notoriously broken the Peace by certain overt Acts of Hostility whereupon in great Indignation he bad the Ambassadors get them Home with their Deceitfull Presents to their Deceitfull Master and commanded them to tell him how he detested from his Heart and Soul the dishonourable and unprincely Falseness which he had shewn For which he doubted not by the Grace of God but to make him repent before long Away went the Ambassadors with all speed and at Dover they met with the Valet who was come with the Defiance from France the Substance whereof he secretly told them as he was enjoyned to do that they might make hast Home But for all that they x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 10. were met with upon the Sea by some Men of War belonging to Calais who knowing the War was already begun on that side by the Frenchmen set upon them and took away their Wines and other Presents which King Edward had refused to accept and brought them to Calais the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman escaping away to Boulogne IX A little before this the y Frois c. 246. fol. 149. Prince of Wales had sent Sr. Guischard Dangle to Rome whither Pope Vrban z Vid. Oder Rainald ad hunc aun 1367. §. 2. c. was then gone for some while to confer with his Holiness about certain Matters relating to Aquitain and having found the Pope very complying in all his Concerns about this time he returned homeward when being upon the way he heard for certain how the Gascogners and Frenchmen made War upon the Prince and had already invaded the Principality He was extreamly surprised at the News and began to doubt how he should get home without being entrapped by his Enemies however first he went to the Valiant and Noble Earl of Savoy whom he found in the City of Pignerol in Piedmont making War against the Marquess of Saluzzo The Earl entertain'd Him and all his Company very honourably and gave the Chief of them many rich Gifts especially to Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he respected more particularly for the sake of his Abilities in War of which he had heard ample Commendations Having here taken his leave as he drew near to France he heard more and more of the Difference between the Prince of Wales and the French King So that he saw it impossible for him to return openly into Guienne he was so generally known Wherefore he gave the Charge of his Company to his Son-in-Law Sr. John of Issoire and he himself being disguised like a poor Priest in evil Habit and on an old Hackney took another way and so at last with much adoe came safe to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him with much joy But 't is now time to return to this French Valet who after the departure of the Earl of Salebruche and Dr. William Dorman out of England rode strait for London Where
also unworthy to be related The Earl of Flanders b Frois c. 253. fol. 153. himself was not unwilling and had also enter'd Solemn Engagements by Covenant to promote and effect the Nuptials But the Lady Margaret her Grandmother a Frenchwoman both in Blood and Affection opposed her self against this Alliance with all her Power being rather minded to fortifie the House of France Wherefore she prest her Son with all the Vehemence imaginable even so far as to threaten c Mezeray ibid. to cut off those Breasts of hers wherewith she had given him suck because they had nourished up such an ungratefull and unnatural Son. These Words of hers touch'd him to the Quick so that he resolved in his Mind to bestow his Daughter elsewhere As he had opportunity enough to do for many great Princes Courted the Young Lady with assiduous application but especially he was call'd upon by the French King to bestow his Daughter upon his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this Politick King had secretly so tamper'd with Pope Urban that he could by no means be prevail'd with to allow a Dispensation for the King of England's Son to Marry her for they were within the Degrees forbidden The Earl of Flanders therefore d Frois ibid. being thus press'd upon by his Mother as well as by the French King and finding by the Pope's obstinacy that the Marriage would not presently take with England especially considering that it was high time for his Daughter to be Married because he had no more Children and also believing that the Young Duke of Burgundy would be no improper Match for his Daughter who before had been Married to that Title upon these and the like accounts he sent certain Messengers into England desiring the King to acquit him from his Obligations since a Dispensation for a Marriage with his Son could not be obtain'd by any means King Edward who was not apt to suspect any fraud in Princes and Men of Honour considering withall that the Young Lady was not to lose her time since he could not hope for any timely Dispensation freely releas'd him of all Covenants to that purpose of which he gave his Letters wherewith the said Messengers return'd to Bruges and shew'd their Lord the Earl how they had succeeded which pleas'd him wondrous well And soon after the Marriage was fully agreed on between Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Earl's Daughter these being the Conditions That the Earl of Flanders in consideration of this Match should have 50000 Franks that the Towns of Lisle and Doway should be deliver'd up unto him in gage for certain Sums of Money which the French King hereupon undertook to pay to the Earl of Flanders Who accordingly had present Possession thereof and placed his own Subjects therein This Composition being made and Ratified they proceeded to the Marriage which was held and consummated in the City of Gaunt with great Pomp and Solemnity many High Lords Barons and Knights being present especially the accomplish'd Young Lord Ingleram de Coucy Earl of Bedford who was sent thither by the French King to add Grace to their Dancing Justs and Triumphs But when King Edward of England saw that the Earl of Flanders was by means of his Daughter allied thus to the House of France he knew not what to think whether or no the Earl would take Part against him for the sake of the Duke of Burgundy his Son-in-Law and Presumptive Heir For he doubted much what kind of Covenants might have passed on that Occasion between the French King and the Earl to his Prejudice Wherefore he became now more severe with the Flemings and vexed them more than heretofore both by Land and by Sea as they were about their Merchandise And at this the French King was not at all displeased but rather laughed in his sleeve for he hoped that thereupon a War would ensue between the English and the Flemings But however the Wise Men of Flanders and the most Wealthy Burgesses of the Good Towns had no mind to break with England not only because of their loss of Trade consequent thereupon but because in a manner all the Commons of Flanders were absolutely enclin'd to King Edward's Side and generally believed his Title to the Crown of France to be much fairer than that of the French Kings II. The mean while King Edward who was as busie to procure himself Friends as the French King was on the other hand to ballance this Loss of the Earl of Flanders sent to his Cosen Charles King of Navarre whom he knew to be at no good Terms with the French King Because he claimed a Right of Inheritance to certain Lands which he held concerning which both their Councils had often treated But still the King of France denied that he ought to inherit them and so Matters rested at this time both the Kings being not yet come to Daggers drawing but exceeding Jealous of each other Particularly the King of Navarre who was then in Base Normandy began seriously to fortifie his Towns and Castles in Coutantine and the Earldom of Eureux and other Parts of Normandy which came unto Him by his Mother the Countess of Eureux or otherwise He himself making his chief Residence at Cherburgh with Men of War ready in that as well as all other his Garrisons Among others at this time in his Service there was that Eminent Warrier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt who as then govern'd Carentan a City beyond the Passage of St. Clement in the Limits of Coutantine which belonged to the King of Navarre's Inheritance This Sr. Eustace was one of the King of Navarre's Principal Councellors but a Subject and Liegeman to the King of England wherefore King Edward sent now to him to sift the King of Navarre throughly and he so far prevail'd with him that at last the King of Navarre with a private Company went on Board an English Vessel called the Lynne and set sail for England where he was heartily welcome to King Edward And here at last it was agreed that the King of Navarre immediatly upon his return to Cherburgh should admit English Troops into all his Garrisons and also send and defie the French King. After which he returned with a strong Convoy of English Knights and Archers into Normandy where he dispos'd of most of the Men in Garrisons but those few who returned home with the Ships had but ill Fortune For they met with certain Pirats Normans and others who being far stronger set upon them fiercely and within a while took and slew them every Man they would not receive one to Mercy Which was a great Trouble as well as Loss to King Edward but the matter was past all Recovery III. Soon after the King of Navarre was return'd safe to Cherbourgh Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being sent for by the Prince of Wales took leave of him to go and serve the Prince according to his Duty thô the King was at
Parliament it was u M.S. Rot. Par. 45. Ed. 3. n. 7 11 13. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 111 c. agreed that a Staple should be held at Melcomb Regis in Dorsetshire after which the Petitions of the Commons not before answered were now read and answer'd before the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons which done the King licensed the Estates to depart and the Parliament ended Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That Magna Charta and the Charter of the Forest may be observed in all Points and also that every Petition now exhibited may be by some of the Lords considered It pleaseth the King. For that the Realm hath been of long time governed by Men of the Church to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons required that Lay-men only may be Principal Officers of the Kings Courts and Houshold and that none of the Clergy be saving as before unto the King his Free Election c. The King will therein do by Advice of his Council That all Lands holden of the King in Chief may be let for Life without Licence The King will do his Pleasure That there be no Fines for any Writs of Chancery The Chancellor shall consider the state of the Person That no Purveyance be made for the King but for ready Money and that the King be served by common Measure The Statute made shall be observed That no Eyre or Trailcbaston be used during the Wars It pleaseth the King. That in the Extracts of Green Wax mention may be made at whose Suits such Amerciaments were lost in what Term in what Plea and between what Parties Let the same be provided at the next Parliament That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Birth of any Man may be try'd as well of the Country where the Birth is alledged as where the Writ is brought The Law used herein shall stand That no Mayor Bailiff or any Sergeants be Victualler x i.e. Hosteller Diverserii Deminus Hostler or Taverner during their Offices on pain of 20 l. There is in this Case a certain Law. That the Easterlings may give Security to treat the English Merchants in their Country in such manner as they are here The same hath and shall be done as need shall require That all Merchants may pass over Wooll freely The King will be advised That such Statutes as restrain English Merchants from fetching Wines at Gascogne may be utterly repealed The Statutes heretofore made shall stand That all Corporations may enjoy their Liberties any Statute to the contrary notwithstanding Such as be grieved upon Complaint shall be answer'd The Commons affirm the Decay of the Navy to arise from three Causes First because several Mens Ships are stay'd for the King long before they serve whereby the Owners are compelled at their own Charges to find their Mariners to their undoing Secondly because Merchants the Nourishers of the Navy are often restrained their Shipping that Mariners are forced to seek out for other Trades to get a Livelihood Thirdly because Masters of the Kings Ships do take up Masters of other Ships as good as themselves so that most of these Ships lie still and the Mariners are enforced to seek out for a new Livelihood For all which they pray that Remedy may be had The King will provide a Remedy That all such Merchants as plead the Kings Pardon for Goods not Customed may have the same allowed The Grieved upon Complaint shall be heard That every Man may freely make Fortresses Towns and Walls y Vid. Skinner in vice Kernells à Cornelle c. Karnelled and Embattled The King will be advised That such as sue forth Assises be not obliged to pay for the Justices Patent The same shall be as formerly That the Commissioners for the Kings Affairs may be allow'd their Charges of the Profit of their Sessions The King will provide therefore That in Villengage alledged in the Plaintiff as regarding a Mannor the Issue may be where the Mannor is laid The King will be advised That no Man be put from his Possession by an Inquest of Office before the Escheator or other Justice by Commission untill the Right be try'd by Scire Facias The Statute made heretofore shall stand That no Sheriff or Escheator do remain above one Year The Statute made shall be kept That the Boys or Valets of France being here shall be used as Servants or Bondmen Let them stay till the next Parliament That the Statutes whereby Justices are not to defer doing Justice for the Great or Privy Seal or other Commandment and that no Man be put to answer but by due Order of Law may be kept Such as are grieved shall be heard That none of the House of Commons be appointed for Collecting the Subsidy The King will be advised That such as remain on the Sea-Coasts by the Kings Command may have Protections with the Clause Volumus c. The same is to the apparent Loss of the Commons That such as counterfeit any Mans Seal to any Deed may remain in perpetual Prison The Statute made therefore shall stand That all Scotch Money may be brought into the Kings Exchequer by a Day And that the Statutes of the Priests by Assent of the Clergy may be observed The Answer to both these Petitions cannot now be read from the Records IX During this z M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 23 p. Walsingh hâ—st c. Od. Rainal ad hunc an §. 1. Session there came from Pope Gregory two Legates the One having been Chancellor to the King of England and the Other to the King of France namely Simon Langham titulo S ti Sixti and John titulo Sanctorum Quatuor Coronatorum Priests Cardinals of the Apostolick See who were sent from his Holiness with Letters bearing Date VII Idûs Martii Anno Pontific I. to treat effectually with King Edward about the settling of Peace between the two Crowns of France and England But althô in this case the Pope shew'd how willing he was to follow the pious Footsteps of his Predecessor yet he also found no better effect than the other had And so the Breach continued as wide as before X. This Year King Edward a Frois c. 292. f. 177. Walsing hist p. 181. Ashmole p. 666. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 235. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr ad hunc ann l. 13. p. 190. sent the Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton to treat and confer with John Duke of Bretagne his Son in Law about some important Matters But because the War was open and the Seas infested with the Fleets of France and Spain there went in this Voyage many Noble and Valiant Knights of the Kings Houshold The Chief of these was Prince Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Youngest Son then about sixteen Years of Age who shortly
little longer and let them go on in Gods Name for thus they will never be able to wrest your Kingdom from You They will weary and spend themselves to no purpose but long they cannot subsist For behold when a Storm or Tempest ariseth if Men will but keep within Doors it wasteth away of it self without much harm doing and thus you shall see it will happen to these Englishmen And here we shall take our leave for the present of the Duke of Lancaster and what remains of this Expedition till we have Dispatched other Matters that fall in this place XIV It may be remembred y Frois c. 311. fol. 191. b. how we spake lately of Sr. Robert Knolles that he came to his Castle of Derval which was his Inheritance and that he wholly cancell'd and brake off the Treaty made between his Men and the Duke of Anjou who also laid claim to the same Castle as which had been formerly given unto him by the Lord Charles of Blois when he took to Wife the said Lord Charles his Daughter Thô after the Death of the said Lord Charles John of Monford the true Duke of Bretagne gave it to Sr. Robert Knolles a Knight of England to him and his Heirs for ever in Requital of his many signal Services done unto him in all his Wars Therefore now the Duke of Anjou went in Person before Derval resolving by Siege or Assault to win the Place But about the time he first came thither the French King sent hastily unto him to the Constable to the Lord Clisson and all the Knights of Bretagne Poictou and the low Marches and the rest that lay with the Duke before Derval commanding them to return with all their Power into France to assist his Brother the Duke of Burgundy in coasting and cutting short the Duke of Lancaster who was then marching thrô France Upon this the Duke of Anjou sent to those within Derval urging them to make haste and yield up their Castle as they had promised But when the Day was come and past whereon it was to be deliver'd and yet no such thing once offer'd the Duke began to wonder what they meant for thô he knew how Sr. Robert Knolles was got in with some Succour both of Men and Provision yet he hop'd they would not break the Obligation to which they were bound and thereby expose the Lives of their Hostages However not daring to linger much here because of the French Kings Letters he sent an Herald to Sr. Robert Knolles and especially to Sr. Hugh Bright who had made the Agreement with him which Herald being admitted into the Castle said Gentlemen my Lords have sent me hither to know the Reason why you don't take care to acquit your Hostages and deliver up the Castle according to Covenant to which Sr. Hugh you are bound by Oath To this Sr. Robert Knolles answer'd Herald tell your Masters that without my leave my Men could make no Composition concerning the Delivery of what was not their own Go to them again and tell them so from me The Herald return'd with this Answer and was sent back again with this Message Gentlemen my Lords send you once again word by Me how the Composition was that you should not receive any one into your Fortress till the day prefixed and yet since that Agreement was made and before the appointed term of two Months was ended they have admitted you Sr. Robert Knolles into their Fortress which they ought not to have done Wherefore Sir know for certain that unless you yield up the Castle forthwith your Hostages shall lose their Heads Herald answer'd Sr. Robert for all the Menacing of your Masters I will not lose my Castle so by God! Tell them they may do their worst but if so be that the Duke put my Men to Death let him know that I shall serve him like for like For here within I have both Knights and Esquires of France my Prisoners and thô I might have an 100000 Franks for their Ransom yet they shall surely die every Man of them if he offers to do so to the Hostages With this Answer the Herald went his way and reported what he had heard Presently whereupon the Duke of Anjou all enflam'd as he was with Anger call'd for the Executioner and caused the Hostages being two Knights and an Esquire of England to be brought before the Castle whose Heads were all immediately struck off in sight of Sr. Robert and his Men. Then the enraged Sr. Robert Knolles caused a broad board to be thrust out at one of the Hall Windows and four Prisoners which he had there with him Three Knights and One Esquire for whom he might have had a great Ransom all these he order'd to be brought thither and so the Executioner struck off their Heads flinging down their Bodies one way and their Heads another into the Ditch After this unhappy sight the Frenchmen brake up their Siege and went all into France the Duke of Anjou returning to Paris to the King his Brother But the Constable the Lord Oliver Clisson and the rest rode toward the City of Troyes in Champaigne for the English were then in the Marches thereabout having passed the Marne and directing their Course toward Auxerre XV. Now since the Christian Religion which might chiefly expect to be Defended by the Arms of the French and English being destitute almost of all Aid was in a manner overwhelmed by the Victories of the Infidels it is to be remembred that Pope Gregory XI had the last Year induced the Two Kings to hold a Treaty at Calais But that being dissolved without any good effect he again prevail'd with them to hold another at Bruges this Year and therewithall z Greg. XI Tâ—m 2. Epist sâ—â— p. 237 238 239. Vid Odâ—r Râ—â—nâ—l â—d hâ—â—c 〈◊〉 §. 22. sollicited both Edward and Charles to embrace peaceable Counsels To which that he might prepare the Minds of those Nobles who were to be on both sides at this Treaty in the Names of the Two Kings he directs his Letters also to them wherein having set forth the Miseries of Christendom in General arising from this Discord he gives them a shrew'd innuendo that those of them who shall be found to be in Fault if Peace doth not ensue are to expect no less then the Utmost the Church can inflict GREGORY the Bishop servant of the servants of God to his Dear Sons in Christ the Ambassadors of our Most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Commissioned to treat of and to reform a Peace between Him and our most Dear Son in Christ Charles the Illustrious King of France at Bruges in the Dioecese of Tournay Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Considering how much the Hostile Commotion of the Two Kings so long radicated and so hurtfull to the whole World hath been and is prejudicial to the Affairs of the Holy Land and not only induces the Babylonish Tyrant to
Durham another of Suffolk and another Archdeacon of York another Prebendary of Thame and Nassington another Prebendary of Yorkes in the Dioecese of York have divers other the best Dignities in England and have sent over Yearly unto them 20000 Marks over and above that which English Brokers lying here have That the Pope to ransom Frenchmen the King's Enemies who defend Lombardy for him doth always at his Pleasure levy a Subsidy of the b In M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton legitur Holy. Whole Clergy of England That the Pope for more Gain maketh sundry Translations of all the Bishopricks and other Dignities within the Realm That the Pope's Collector hath this Year taken to his Use the First-Fruits of all Benefices That therefore it would be good to renew all the Statutes against Provisions from Rome since the Pope reserveth all the Benefices of the World for his own proper Gift and hath within this Year created Twelve new Cardinals so that now there are Thirty whereas there were wont to be but Twelve in all and all the said Thirty Cardinals except Two or Three are the King's Enemies That the Pope in time will give the Temporal Mannors of Dignities to the King's Enemies since he dayly usurpeth upon the Realm and the King's Regality That all Houses and Corporations of Religion which from the King ought to have free Elections of their Heads the Pope hath now c Vid. Skinner's Etymolog accroached the same unto himself That in all Legations from the Pope whatsoever the English Clergy beareth the Charge of the Legates and all for the Goodness of our Money It also appeareth that if the Money of the Realm were as plentifull as ever the Collector aforesaid with the Cardinals Proctors would soon convey away the same For Remedy whereof it may be provided that no such Collector or Proctor do remain in England upon pain of Life and Limb and that on the like Pain no Englishman become any such Collector or Proctor or remain at the Court of Rome For better Information hereof and namely touching the Pope's Collector for that the Whole Clergy being Obedient to him dare not displease him it were good that Dr. John Strensall Parson of St. Botolphs in Holborn may be sent for to come before the Lords and Commons of this Parliament who being straightly charged can declare much more for that he served the same Collector in House five Years The Commons require that the Statute made in 14 Ed. 3. that the King's Ward should be committed to the next Heir of the Ward to whom the Lands cannot descend he yielding therefore as much as another would might be confirmed The King granteth thereto saving his Regality That time of Prescription in Writ of Right may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First and in Writs of Mort D'Auncester nuper Obiit d In hec lâ—co jus Cognationis significat Cosenage c Vid. Cowell in hac vece Ayel and such other Writs may be from the Coronation of the King now being The King will be advis'd for Changing the Law heretofore used That no Alien do enjoy any Living that hath Cure or requireth Residence This Bill is answer'd before in the two long Bills of Rome For that Errors had before Justices of Assise are Revocable before the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas they require that the Chief Justice there be appointed no Justice of Assise The King granteth when the Number may spare him That a General Pardon may be of all Misprisions and Intrusions made into any Lands holden of the King in Chief The King will shew Favour where him liketh That they may have an Action of Account against the Executors of the Guardian in Soccage The King will be advised untill next Parliament That Restitution may be made to Englishmen Farmers of any Religious Aliens House Touching Farmers abovesaid the King granteth so it concern Priors Churches Conventual Collegiate and Parochial but for English Governours the King will be advised That no Special Grant be made to any Man for singular Profit which may redound to the Disadvantage of the King or Realm Let them declare themselves more particularly That the Statute made for Buyers in f Inter Statuta Gallica M.S. Câ—ll Eman. ipud Cantabr ut Statata Anglica impressa nil tale occurrâ—â— sed potrus reseruntur ad An. 27. Ed. 3. c. 10. 36 Ed. 3. tit 10. c. may be kept and that Justices of the Peace may enquire of the same The Statutes therefore made shall stand and the Justices of the Peace shall determine the same That an Infant within Age levying a Fine may have Respit two or three Years after his full Age to reverse the same The King will be advised That no Alien be made Head of any Religious House belonging to Aliens and that during the Wars all French Religious Persons may be banished the Realm To this nothing was done Certain being taken Prisoners and unable to ransom themselves viz. Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Gregory Say Sr. Geoffry Werkesley Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. John Bourchier and divers other Good Knights and Esquires pray the King to ransom them The King is willing to do for their Comfort as far as Reason would The Commons of the County of Devon for divers Oppressions done by the Officers of the Stanneries there under Colour of their Liberties require the King by Parliament to explain his Grant to them made which being divided into particular Branches is done but too long to be here abridged The like Bill did the Commons of Cornwall exhibit for the Liberties of their Stanneries the Grant and Answer agreeing with the preceding but that also is too long for this Place The Commons of the County of Cumberland require Aid of the King for the Repairing the City of Carlile being in a manner spoiled and fallen down for that the Townsmen are not able to do the same and also for the Appointing of one to be Warden of the Marches there The Bishops and Lords together with the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Guy Bryan shall assemble and appoint reasonable Order therein The Inhabitants of the Port Towns in England pray that whereas it often happens that a Man or a Boy being in one of their Ships or other Vessels and by misadventure falling therefrom is drowned their Ship or Vessel is thereupon seised as a Deodand and that therein Remedy may be had If the Vessel be upon the Sea it shall be adjudged no Deodand if upon the Fresh-Water let the Owner complain to the King who will extend Favour The Watermen of London complain of leaving of Locks Stanks and Weares upon the River of Thames and namely of a Lock called Hamelden-Lock and for that there is Custom demanded of them passing the Bridges of Stains Windsor and Maiden-head and other Locks against their Franchises As for the Locks and Kidels the Statute made in the
sudden there t Frois ibid. Du Chesne p. 649. started an Hare near the Frenchmen whereat those that saw her rais'd a Loud shouting so that the Hindermost thought thereby that the Armies were now upon the Point of Engaging Wherefore hastily they clap'd on their Helmets and took their Spears in their Hands and after the Manner to Encourage their Men to the Battle many New Knights were thereupon made especially Fourteen were then Created by the Earl of Hainault who were afterward in Derision called Knights of the Hare And some have made more Abusive Observations thereupon But all this while both the Armies stood still King Edward because he was unequal in Number and had beside a Promise to have Battle presented unto him if he would abide in the open Field and also because he could never imagine that so Glorious an Army with Four Kings their Leaders and such a Number of the Prime Nobility of France should ever refuse an Enemy that expected them took no thought of being the Aggressor and King Philip as yet doubted on the foremention'd Reasons whether he should proceed or no just at which time there were brought in to the Host Letters of Recommendation from Robert King of Sicily and Naples to the French King and his Council which dash'd the whole business Now this u Freis ib. c. 42. Mezeray p. 15. Du Chesne p 649. Asumcle p. 650. P. Amyl p. 275. c. exteri serè cinnes King was look'd upon in those Days to be the most Famous of all Men for his extraordinary Skill in Astrology whereby with the help of a good Genius he could shrewdly to say no more guess at many Notable Events He therefore when he saw the Wars between France and England open and that with all his own Personal Endeavours and Travels with the Pope at Avignion he could no way prevent it set himself to seek out earnestly some foreknowledge of the Event if he might by any means comprehend any thing of the Fortune of these two Princes Whether from consideration of their several Nativities both which are attainable and as for Our King Edward's together with that of his Son the Black-Prince I think to present them to the Reader in the Close of this Work or from what else he took his Opinion I know not but surely he succeeded so well that either he found out or thought he did that if the French King should Fight with King Edward of England in Person he must infallibly expect to be discomfited and that he saw those many ill Consequences which would fall on the Noble Realm of France by so Fatal a Miscarriage Wherefore being a Prince extreamly addicted to the Interest of France as one who had not only adventur'd but lost his Only Son in the Quarrel of that Kingdom as I shew'd in the Battle of Southampton he sent frequent Letters to King Philip his Cosin and to his Council of all whom he was held in great Esteem for his Piety Learning and Knowledge in Judicial Astrology as well as other Curiosities of Nature earnestly desiring that by no means they would adventure to give Battle to the English whenever King Edward should be Personally present especially at this time that he saw many Dreadfull Calamities to be threatned to France I take no notice here of the pitifull Cavils of the Ignorant or Prejudicated Critick but reckon it my Duty to relate Matter of Fact attested so credibly as this is and I am ready to believe that such a thing might proceed from the Infinite Goodness of Almighty God towards Christian People that by these Warnings King Philips fierce Mind might be rendred more susceptible of Offers of Peace and all those Miseries which were else to follow be thereby prevented Yet for all this King Philip was not absolutely perswaded from giving Battle he was too Wise to give an Implicit Faith to things apparently of no great Authority But however as the Morning was wholly spent in the former Debates so upon occasion of these Letters and the Discourses ensuing thereon the Afternoon was also taken up and the Day in a manner quite worn out So that at last leave was given for every Man to withdraw to his former Lodgings in the Camp. When the young Earl of Hainault saw by this Dishonourable delay that now no Battle was like to happen he immediately went off with all his Men in Displeasure and that Night reach'd Quesnoy Now toward the x Knighton p. 2575. n. 10. Evening of this Day three French Spies being brought before King Edward and separately examin'd declared that King Philip Design'd on the Saturday following to Present him Battle and that he was not encamped above a League and an half off On the Saturday therefore King Edward descended into the Field again as before and in the Forenoon there were taken certain of the French Scouts who said that the French were ready ranged in the Field and Resolved to give them Battle At which Report the English were well pleased as desiring above all things to bring the Matter to a full Tryal But in the mean time some of our Scouts were taken and among them a Knight of Almain who confessed in Order the whole Array of the English Army and their Ardent Desire to Fight Hereupon the first Battail of the French was Order'd to Retreat and they began to set up their Tents and to encompass the Camp with a Ditch and to cut down great Trees to lay between them and the Enemy to hinder all sudden approach But the English on the other Hand stood all Day in the Field on Foot always looking for the coming of the French but in vain Wherefore toward the approach of the Evening the Marshals of the Host and others considering that they had waited enough that Day of all Reason and that it was better to encamp by Daylight commanded to Horse and so went off on the Right hand towards Avesnes en Hainault But at the time of their removal King Edward sent to the French King telling him that all the Sunday following he would expect him as before in the same place Which also he did do But he heard no more of him but that on the Saturday when the English took Horse with Design to go into their Night Quarters the French Scouts without consideration believing that they intended to fall on their Army return'd in all haste with such a Report so that the King of France thinking fit to retire to a more secure Place there happen'd in the Reer such a y Walsingh hist p. 128. Knighton ibid. Panick Terror that for pressing over hastily on one another there were lost in a certain Miry Place more than a Thousand Horse Yet when after this the Army was disbanded because being late in the Year little more could now be done when King Philip reflected on the whole Matter he was extreamly displeased with himself that he had thus declin'd fighting But
part of Almains and Brabanders These 3 Battails assaulted the Town at one time in three several places with much Vigour and Gallantry the Archers all the while both from within and without letting fly their Arrows and Quarrels without sparing The Earl with his Battail came up near to the chief Gate which for a while was worthily defended by the Vidame of Chalons who there and then Knighted three of his Sons and obliged his Men by words and example to do gallantly But yet at last both he and they were by the Earl beaten back again into the Town in some Confusion The Earl carrying the Barriers by fine Force and keeping them The mean while his Uncle the Lord of Beaumont was fighting with like Valour and Success at the Gate toward Chimay where after a sharp Conflict which yet was well manag'd by the Lord de la Bonne and the Lord of Bresne he forced the Enemy to retire into the Town and thereby wan both the Barriers and the Bridge also Yet what they had as it was not cheaply won was not easily maintain'd For the Besieged being beaten into the Town came now to revenge that Affront upon the Walls whence they cast down barrs of Iron Stones Timber Darts and Pots of quick Lime which did a great deal of Mischief An Esquire of Hainault had such a stroke with a stone upon his Target that it was quite cloven in sunder with the blow and his Arm so shatter'd and broken that it was long before it could perfectly be healed The next morning being Saturday the Assault was again renew'd on all sides with far more fury than before so that althô they within did their utmost to defend themselves at last all their Barriers and Defences were beaten down and the Town was carried by Force Sr. John the Earls Uncle enter'd first with great noise of shouting and Trumpets his Men of Arms beating down all before them At this dreadfull sight the Vidame of Chalons like a Noble Knight withdrew himself into a fair spacious place before the Minster where he stood with his Men in a square Battail resolved as it should seem to sell his Life dearly But as for the Lord of Bresne when he saw all was lost knowing he had so much displeased Sr. John by his late Incursion into his Lands about Chimay that if he were taken no Ransom would be accepted for his Life he determin'd to save himself by flight and presently taking a good Horse fled away without any Order upon the spur Sr. John hearing that his Capital Enemy was escaped immediately with a good Brigade of Horse sped after him but the Lord of Bresne had got the start of him so much that finding the Gate of his Town ready open to receive him he made shift to enter and close the Gates again just as Sr. John came up to the very Walls thrô eager pursuit with his Sword drawn in his hand Wherefore seeing his Enemy had escap'd him he return'd back to Aubenton but in his passage thither meeting with many of the Lord of Bresne's Men following their Master he put them all to the Sword without mercy The mean while in the Town was the young Earl and his Men hard fighting with those who were drawn up before the Minster and there the Vidame of Chalons did Wonders in Arms and so did two of his Sons and all his Company plaid this their last Stake gallantly and with honour but the Hainalders were as cunning Gamesters besides that they were more animated with Success so that at last the Vidames Party being opprest by numbers of Men no less valiant and desperate than themselves were slain upon the spot every Man not one was taken to ransom and the Vidame indeed scorn'd to be taken and his Sons were of his Mind and so they all fell with their Swords in their hands And of the whole Town not one escaped but only those who fled away with the Lord Bresne so that there died about 2000 People of the Town besides the Souldiers After this bloody Execution the Town was rifled and plunder'd and all the Goods sent away to Chimay and the residue committed to the Flames From Aubenton these incensed Warriers went to Maubert Fontaine which they presently wan and spoiled the Town and then ras'd it to the ground after that they took and burnt the Town of Aubigny and Signy the Greater and the Less and all the Hamlets thereabout to the number of above 40. And then at last the Earl of Hainalt being as the manner of War is rather overrevenged of his wrongs return'd to Mons well pleased and having satisfied his Men with Thanks and Prey gave them leave to depart for a while because the season was not yet come to keep the Field But considering that these his Actions would shortly call a War upon him from France having constituted his Uncle Sr. John Deputy Governour of Hainault Holland and Zealand he immediately shipt himself for England with design to make an Alliance Offensive and Defensive with his Brother-in-Law King Edward that so he might be the better able to withstand the Power of France But the Lord John of Hainault staid at Mons where like a good Provident Captain he took care for all Parts and retain'd Souldiers and strengthen'd all his Nephews Castles and Fortresses with Men and Ammunition And first he sent to Valenciennes the Lord of Engien the Lord of Vergny the Lord of Gomegines and Sr. Henry of Hofalize To Landrecy he sent the High-Steward of Hainalt with an hundred Spears to Bouchan in Ostervandt three Captains Brethren Knights of Almain named Courrars instead of the two Mannys who were removed to the Castle of Thine as Å¿ Huâ—us cap. §. 3. p. 164. we shew'd before To Escandure he sent Sr. Gerard van Sanckins and the Lord of Valkenburg to the Town of Avesnes the like care he took of St. Amand and of every Fortress fronting on France VI. But when King t Frois c. 46. fol. 26. Philip heard how the Hainalders had wasted the Country of Tierasche and had slain and taken his Captains and destroy'd utterly his good Town of Aubenton he presently in a great fury commanded his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to make a notable Inroad into Hainalt and there to harrass and destroy all the Country that the Memory of his severe Revenge might remain for ever And him we shall leave about his vast Preparations to execute his Fathers Command His Father the mean while to provide against the Storm which he expected from England reinforced his Navy greatly at this time and commanded his Admirals to cruise about the Coasts of Flanders and by no means to suffer the King of England upon his return to set Footing there on pain of their Heads And because he now understood for certain that the Flemings had made homage and Fealty to the King of England his Adversary he sent unto them a notable Prelate who pretended
at the East-end of his Cathedral toward the North At whose Feet there lies his Brother Sr. Robert who was a Great Souldier in his time and also a Son of Sr. Robert's Named Bartholomew There died also this Year two Famous Old Barons of England the a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 639. One was Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire of almost 90 Years of Age who left behind him his Son and Heir of the same Name then about Thirty three Years Old. The Other was the * Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan in Scotland He left behind him John his Son and Heir then Twenty two Years of Age and a young Daughter Named Elizabeth afterwards Married to Sr. Nicolas Audley Son and Heir to the Lord James Audley of Heley Besides these two there Died about the same Time at Gaunt in the Kings Service the Lord Chief Justice of England Sr. Geoffry Scroop He had been very Loyal to King Edward the Second as appeared by the joynt Testimonies of the Prelates Earls and Barons in b Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 22. Parliament whereupon he Obtain'd much Grace with King Edward the Third whom he also Served till his Death with Indefatigable Industry Admirable Discretion and Untainted Loyalty In Consideration whereof among other Princely Favours bestow'd on him we find that the King Advanced him to the Degree of a c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. Knight Banneret with a Gift of two Hundred Marks per annum for his better Support and that but this very Year he d Stow's Survey Lond. p. 249. gave unto him the Great House call'd the Erbar by the Church of St. Mary Bothaw near Dowgate-Street in London He lest behind him together with a Good Name and a Plentifull Estate Henry his Son and Heir at that Time Twenty five Years of Age who prov'd a Valiant and Noble Knight in his Days and John a Younger Son who many Years after Married Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of David Strabolgi Son to David Earl of Athol slain in Scotland five Years before We shall conclude this Chapter with a short Relation of a most signal Victory obtain'd this Year on the 30 of October over the Saracens Moors and Africans in Spain In the foregoing Year e Câ—â—â—â—n Victorell de PP Reman p. 884. p. 887. Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon being hardly put to it by the Barbarians begg'd aid of the Pope and all the Great Princes of Christendom From France and England went but few or none because of the Wars then hot between the two Realms But from other Parts many gallant Knights and Gentlemen went against those Enemies of God being especially encouraged thereto by the Pope's Bulls wherein he granted large Indulgences to those who undertook this Expedition Alphonso therefore being now reinforced with a small but well-compacted Army and joyned with his Neighbour Alphonso the Brave King of Portugall gave Battle to the Moors in the Plains of Tartessos vulgarly called Tariffa from a Town of that Name in the Boetic Province which enclines to the River called Rio Salado near the Herculean Sea. The Forces of Alphonso were 35000 Foot and 14000 Horse but the Army of Allibohacen King of Morocco with those of Granada under their Miramolin and three other Kings of the Moors consisted of 600000 Foot and 80000 Horse And yet thrô the Divine Assistance the Christians wan the Day f Jos Teixera de Orig. Reg. Port. and with the Loss of no more than g Joh. Mariana l. 16 c. 7. 20 Men slew in the Fight and in the Chace above h Vasaus Hist Hisp Genebr l. 4 Chronog vid. Odâ—ric Raynal ad hunc annum §. 40. usque ad §. 56. 200000 of the Infidels besides an incredible number of Prisoners taken Thô Others reckon no less than 450000 to have fallen that Day among whom were two of the Sons of Allibohacen In Memory of which Miraculous Victory the said 30 of October hath ever since been kept as an high Festival in Spain being dedicated to the Honour of the Holy Cross which was at this time so successfully advanced against the Enemies of Christendom King Alphonso after this Exploit having first and chiefly return'd his Thanks to Almighty God now also in token of his Gratitude to the Pope sends him for a Present to Avignon out of the Spoils he had taken an 100 gallant Horses of Barbary in rich Trappings with an 100 Saracen Slaves to lead them an 100 Morisco Cimitars and an 100 Shields of Tann'd Leather plated Also 24 Military Ensignes and the Horse and Standard of King Allibohacen which he used in this War together with many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver and Jewels of great Price besides his own Horse on which he fought and his own Royal Standard which he follow'd in that Battle i Ita Literae Pontis gratulatoriae ad Alphonsum neminant John Martin Don Leyva and Pedro Didaci de Corduba the Spanish Ambassadors who brought all these Presents were received with extraordinary Pomp by the Cardinals and other Prelates at their entrance into Avignon And the next day his Holiness k Victorell ib. himself celebrated Mass and after that made a notable Sermon wherein with great Eloquence he magnifi'd the Kings Victory and exhorted all present to praise God therefore and to pray for the Kings Health and Perseverance in Prosperity And to enable him the better to maintain his Wars against the Moors he then granted unto him the Thirds of the Tithes of all his Subjects which the Kings of Spain enjoy to this Day From this happy Success of the two Alphonso's Kings of Spain and Portugal against Jutzeph King of Granada and Allibohacen King of Morocco the Pope took an Occasion to exhort our King Edward of England to dispose himself towards a l Odoric Raynald ad ann 1340. §. 55. Peace with his Rival of France that they might both unite their Forces against the general Enemies of Christendom These Letters bear Date from Avignon the xv of the Kalends of January i. e. 18 of December in the Close of this Year being the VI of his Pontificate The Copy of which Letter is to be seen in the Ecclesiastical History of Odoricus Raynaldus at this Year 1340. King Alphonso presently after this Victory lays Siege to the great Town of Algezira belonging to the Moors and lying upon the Streights of Morocco on the Frontiers of Granada Which after a long Siege was enforced at last thrô Famine to yield to the Christians Thô still the Saracens held Footing in that Kingdom till having lost the City of Granada to Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain they were at last finally expelled that Kingdom by Philip III. Because we may not disturb the intended Order of our Discourse which follows in the next Chapter we take leave in this place to tell the Reader that the Fruitfull Young Queen of
false Accusations against any Person but especially all those who should bring an Archbishop or any other Bishop of his Province into the Kings Hate or Anger and him or them of Treason or any other Notorious and Capital Crime falsly Accuse And having Published these Articles in his Church he commanded the Bishop of London and all the Suffragans of his Province to Publish the same in their Churches and Dioceses Presently hereupon the King that he might some way obviate these High Proceedings of the Archbishop wrote to the Bishop of London setting forth that at the perswasion of the Archbishop he had undertaken so doubtfull and Difficult a War to Recover his Right and Inheritance But that He who had been the Author of the War having now conspired with his Enemy the French King had at last perswaded him that after the profusion of such vast Expences to no purpose he would lay down the Claim of his Right and disband his Army That he had not as he promised purvey'd sufficiently for his Army nor satisfied his Foreign Creditors of whom upon his Security vast Summs of Money had been taken up for support of his Wars and who were continually importuning the King and his Lords That at last he had demanded of him an Account how he had Administred the Realm which he cunningly under Pretence of Excommunications and Censures hath eluded After this Ralph Lord Stafford was by the King sent unto the Archbishop who taking along with him John Burton Advocate and John Faringdon publique Notary warn'd him again in the Kings Name that without more delay he should Repair to the King there to Advise together with other Prelates and Lords about the War and Matters Relating to England and France the King o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 159. ex Walsingbam offering him a safe Conduct to that purpose to the end he might understand what Defence he could make for that his Neglect But him also the Wary Archbishop put off saying only that he would consider of it A little after there came out of Flanders to Canterbury Messengers from the Duke of Brabant who when the Archbishop would not be seen by them declared the Cause of their coming in Writing fix'd up at Noon-day upon the High Cross without the Gate of the Priory of Canterbury importing that John Archbishop of Canterbury was Cited and Warned into Court by the Duke of Brabant that so he might Lawfully answer in Flanders for the Debts of the King of England for which he stood Engaged there to remain according to Oath in that Part by him made till his Lords Debts were fully cleared In this hurry comes a Letter from the King to the Prior and Convent of Canterbury being the same with those Letters which he had wrote to the Bishop of London with a Command to read it out Publiquely before the People and Clergy of Canterbury The Prior and Convent having received it inform the Archbishop thereof and shew him the open Letter He on Ashwednesday following before all the People and Clergy gets up into the Pulpit in Canterbury Church and there in a Sermon spake Largely of his Loyalty and Integrity in Menaging the Kings Affairs Then he commanded the Kings Letters wherein the King had laid Heavy things to his Charge to be Read Openly Which done he dexterously takes off each Crime and Accusation in Order After which the Answer that now he gave by Word of Mouth being Digested into Writing he Published over all his Province of Canterbury All which Letters because of many Excellent Sayings therein and for that they make much for the Clearing the Story I have thought fit to set down at Large from Stephen Byrchinton or Brickington a Benedictin Monk of Canterbury who flourished in that Age and others of good Authority And first we shall produce the Archbishops Letter to his Majesty taken from the Original Latine for Mr. Fox is not Exact in his Translation III. MOST Dear Lord may it please Your Majesty to consider p p Walsingh hist p. 136 Fox Acts and Men. p. 350. that the most special thing which keepeth Kings and Princes in the most Flourishing Condition is Wise Counsel And therefore says the Wise Man Where there are many Counsellors that is Good Ones there is safety And it is written in the Book of Kings that Solomon the Wisest of Kings took unto him the most Ancient and Sagest Persons of his Realm by whose Advice temper'd with his own Judgement he continually preserved the Land of Israel in Peace and held all his Neighbour Kings round about him as his Tributaries and Vassals Now when he was gone the way of all Flesh his Son Rehoboam Reigned who despising the Counsel of the Elders who had stood before his Father adhered to the Young Men who were willing to please him whence he justly lost the whole Kingdom of Israel except a Twelfth Part reserved unto him of the Lord. In like manner many Kings as well of Israel as of other Countries being led by Evil Counsel have been reduced to great extremities And sir you well remember saving your Royal Pleasure that by the Sinister Advice taken by Our Late Lord the King Your Father whom God assoile against the Law of the Land and Magna Charta of the Peers of the Realm and others some he imprison'd some he put to Death siesed on their Goods and vexed others with Intolerable Fines And what happen'd thereby unto him Your Majesty well knows After his Days also by means of Evil Counsellors which were about Your Person Your Majesty had almost lost the Hearts of Your People but from them as it pleased him the Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered You. From that time by the Good Advice and Prudence of Your Prelates Peers and Counsellors of the Land Your Affairs are so well Menaged that You now entirely Possess the Affections of Your People and Your Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal have given unto Your Majesty greater Aids than to any of Your Progenitors So that by the means of Good counsell the Votes of Your People and the special Grace of Almighty God You have obtain'd many Glorious Victories over Your Enemies of Scotland and France and are at this Day Reputed the most Noble Prince in Christendom But now Your Majesty by the Perverse Counsel of some Men who are rather known to Respect their own Profit and Advantage than either Your Majesties Honour or the Welfare of Your People have caused Clergymen and others of Your Subjects to be siezed and undue Processes to be made against the Laws of the Land which by Oath made at Your Coronation You are bound to observe and also against Magna Charta which whosoever shall presume to infringe are by the Prelates of England and the Popes Bull which we are known to have by Us to be Excommunicate All which things as they are to the great Peril and Danger of Your Soul so also alas are they to the great
that of the Wise Man g g Ecclus c. 11. v. 5. Many Tyrants have sat on the Throne and a Man unthought on hath wore the Diadem The Sword being thus in the Hands of Madmen not thrô any proud Arrogance or Disobedience but by wisely * * Currenti cedende Furori yielding to the Course of Fury we have hitherto defer'd our Access to You that just Fear excusing us which might fall upon the most Resolute being notwithstanding ready to obey your Majesty in all things the Honour of God and of Holy Church and of our own State and Order being always in all points preserved But truly in the mean while during the Power of these Tyrants to the rooting out whereof let Him that ariseth from on high vouchsafe to assist You that the word of the Wise Man may be fulfilled h h Wisd c. 16. v. 4. For it was requisite that upon them exercising Tyranny should come Penury which they could not avoid Lest the clamour of our Infamy should grow higher to the manifesting of our Innocence we answer to the Articles contained in those Letters or infamous Libels not sophistically but truly in form following viz. For the Beginning of your foresaid Letters The Archbishops Answer to the first Article or of the foresaid infamous Libell being full of Reproach containeth That your Majesty being formerly exalted to the Royal Throne in the Years of your tender Youth and desiring at your first Vndertaking that Princely Charge to be directed by wholesom Counsel did make use of our Spiritual Advice in matters concerning the Health of your Soul and also of our Temporal in Affairs relating to the Augmentation and Conservation of your Kingdom And that afterwards when by Right of Succession the Realm of France was devolved unto You and by the Lord Philip of Valois de facto manifestly usurped we perswaded You by our Importunities to make a League with the Lords of Almain and Others for the Recovery of your Right and that You should only take care to provide Men of Courage and Skill sufficient for the War because we would effectually supply you with Monies for the Necessities of You and Yours and for Wages for the Army And because You altogether wanted this due Assistance you were fain to submit to the heavy burthen of Vsury To these things most Excellent Prince even thô we hold our Tongues and speak not a word the notoriety of the Fact knows how to give a fit Answer For in the beginning of your Reign while we presided over the Church of Winchester by whose Counsel your Majesty was directed is known to the whole Kingdom For He who is ignorant of nothing knows that when the Question about the Kingdom of France after the Death of King Charles the Brother of your Serene Mother i i Vid. l. 1. c. 2. §. 2. p. 28. was handled and discussed in the Parliament then held at Northampton and it was thereupon ordained that the Bishops of Worcester then now of Winchester and of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and in your Name claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois who according to this Ordinance taking then upon them the Legation enjoyned them went into France which very Embassy gave the greatest Occasion of this present War we had at that time no concern in the Government of You or of your Youth as others had who directed You both in Spirituals and Temporals because neither as then did we any ways intermeddle in the Kings Business but remained at Court for what cause God knows hated by all the Courtiers But afterwards in times of Unity since it pleased Your Majesty that We also together with others of Your Council should confer about Your Affairs toward the Establishing of Peace between the two Realms of England and of France considering the Perils of Souls Bodies and Goods that were impending from the Devouring Gulf of War We labour'd with all Our Power and to that end frequently crossing the Sea not without many Dangers Toyls and vast Expences We together with other Prelates and divers Peers of Your Realm have sought the Personal Presence of the said Philip and have effectually offer'd him We say not Measure sufficient enough but even running over as before this it hath been known for the obtaining of Peace But the said Philip like the Deaf Adder stopping his Ears and not willing to hearken unto Us there were sent unto him on Your Part two Spiritual Ambassadors to wit the Bishop of Durham and of Worcester then now of Winchester for the obtaining of his Peace And another time the Lords Henry of blessed Memory Bishop of Lincoln and William Mountagu and William Clinton now Earls of Salisbury and of Huntingdon who yet could neither obtain Peace nor any delay from War But while the said Ambassadors were yet in the Parts beyond Sea the the said Philip of Valois presently sent divers Commissions to all his Maritime Coasts to kill and destroy the Men and Ships of England wheresoever they could be found at Sea and with all Expedition sent an Armed Band to Invade your Country of Gascoign And so the War being begun by the said Philip and not by Us according to the deliberation of Your Parliament at Westminster Summon'd on that Occasion and not on Our Account only but on the Account of the great Cruelty and Obstinacy of the Haughty Mind of the said Philip who Invaded the English and refus'd all manner of Agreement and for the obtaining of Your Right in the Realm of France which was wickedly Usurped by the said Philip it was Ordained and Agreed that an Alliance should be struck up with the Almains and others But as for the Wages in this part to be paid to Your Forces in a certain Council then for that end called at Stamford there were certain Agreements made with certain Merchants of Your Land We being present the Form whereof may plainly appear in Your Chancery Which if they had been observed together with other Subsidies given by the Clergy and People to the Aid of Your War and the great Customs of Woolls not only in our Opinion but in the Judgement of all Your Counsellours would have sufficed for this whole War. And Your Majesty well knows that the foresaid Agreements were neither Violated nor Changed by Us and that the Subsidies by no means came to our Hands If then any Misfortune happen'd for want of Money for which We are sorry this is to be wholly imputed to those who brake the said Agreements and wickedly wasted and embesel'd the said Subsidies and not to Us who bore the Burthen and Heat of the Day and especially for this Cause that after Your first Crossing the Seas We have made no long abode in this Kingdom But with the Reverend Fathers the Lords Cardinals and the Bishop of Durham We went into France for the Reformation of the
by a Commotion of War between Us and Him have offer'd to the said Philip divers Friendly Methods of Peace not without a great Diminution of our own Rights that so we might as we desire pursue the War of Christ in the Holy Expedition beyond Sea against the Blasphemers of the Christian Name which alass is too much neglected to the no small Ignominy of Christendom he by his Fox-craft driving us off with Incertainties would in effect yield nothing unto Us but still by feigned Treaties hath abundantly heaped Injuries upon Injuries Wherefore not willing to neglect the Gift of God who in the Devolution of the said Kingdom hath shewed unto Us his marvellous Kindness but desiring as it is fitting in hope of the Divine Assistance and a Confidence of our Righteous Cause to take pains about the Recovering and Maintaining of our Hereditary Rights since by peaceable Ways we could not prevail Necessity so requiring we descended with an Armed Power into Bretagne to reform the Injuries done and to prevent those that otherwise by him would be done unto Us and also to the Obtaining of our Hereditary Rights Being willing to set forth powerfully to the Succour of those that adhered unto Us rather than to expect at home the Dangers threatned unto Us. And while thus we were occupied in our Wars there repaired unto Us the Reverend Fathers Peter Bishop of Palestrina and Annibald Bishop of Tusculan Cardinals Nuntio's of the most Holy Father in Christ Pope Clement VI and of the Apostolick See desiring us in the Name of the said Lord the Pope to admit of a Truce with the foresaid Lord Philip for a time during which space there might be a Treaty held before the Lord the Chief Bishop concerning a final Peace and adding that the said Lord the Pope did believe to find out a way whereby a Peace might very well be reformed And in hope of an Agreeable Peace to be made by his Holy Mediation and especially for Reverence of the said Lord the Pope and the said See We consented to the said Truce And moreover We took care to send Commissioners endued with sufficient Power to his Holinesses Presence and accordingly there was a Truce taken between Us and the said Lord Philip so that a was to be observed every where within the Dominions of both Parties especially within the Dukedom of Aquitain between Us and the said Philip and our Acherents and his even thô they should pretend to have a Right in the said Dukedom of Aquitain and that all Coadjutors and Allies of the Parties should remain in such a Possession of Things and Goods as they had in the time of making the Truce and under other Forms and Conditions more fully expressed in the same And when thrô a smiling hope of Peace in Confidence of the said Truce returning into England having sent a few of our Servants into Bretagne for the Governance of those Parts and of our Coadjutors there we had designed to send our Commissioners to the Presence of the said Lord the Pope in order to a Treaty of Peace there came unto Us certain News not a little stinging our Mind namely of the Death of certain Noblemen our Adherents who were taken in Bretagne and by the special Command of the said Philip contrary to the Form of the said Truce shamefully and tyrannously put to Death at Paris And also of the great Slaughter and Devastation of our Liege People and Places in Bretagne Gascogne and elsewhere and of his subtle and secret Treaties held with our Allies and Subjects whom so he endeavoured to take off from Us and to Bind unto himself and of other his Injuries not easily to be numbred and of his Offences against the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip done and attempted both by Land and by Sea whereby the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip is notoriously known to be dissolved And althô the Truce being thrô Fault of the said Philip thus broken we might as even yet lawfully we may have justly resumed War against him forthwith Yet notwithstanding to avoid the ill Effects of War being desirous first to prove if by any Amicable way we might obtain a Reparation as to the Premises more than once we sent sundry our Ambassadors to the Presence of the Lord the Pope as well to treat of the Peace aforesaid as to require Reformation of the said Abuses attempted and done within the Limits appointed for the said Treaty for that Purpose also frequently prolonging the said Term reserving always unto our selves a Liberty of Resuming the War by Default of the said Philip sought out against Us. And truly the Terms appointed for the Treaty are now past and no Reasonable way of Peace hath yet been opened unto Us or our said Ambassadors Nor hath the said Philip in the least taken care to reform the said Abuses althô he hath been thereto required and admonished by the Letters of the said Lord the Pope as the said Lord the Pope by his Letters unto Us hath written but there are always multiplied against Us Tyrannies Conspiracies and Alliances to our Subversion by the said Philip who subtily practises against the Form of the said Truce Not to say any thing of the excessive Enormities of the Pope's Legate lately sent into Bretagne for the Conservation of the said Truce who more earnestly rais'd the contention which he ought to have allayed not approving himself a Conservator of the Truce but rather a Party against Us and Ours Concerning which the said Lord the Pope by his leave did apply no Remedy althô as was fitting he was thereto required Wherefore We ought to be excused before God and his Holiness if when We can receive no other Remedy We endeavour to repell the Violence and Injury done unto Us Especially since We have a most just Cause and which is most notorious to the world And therefore esteeming the foresaid Truce to be as indeed it is dissolved and broken from the Causes aforesaid which we know and in place and time will-prove to be True by the foresaid Philip and his Adherents especially those who in the said Dukedom of Bretagne pretend to have Right and that We are free and acquitted of the Observance thereof Him the said Philip as a Violator of the said Truce and our Enemy and Deadly Persecutor and an Unjust Usurper of our Kingdom of France and a Rash Invader of our other Rights justly Necessity so requiring We defie protesting that We will not attempt any thing to the Offence which God forbid of his Holiness or of the Apostolick See which by all means We desire to revere as we ought nor to the injury of any One but only with due Moderation to pursue our Rights and to defend Our Selves and our Rights For it is always our Intention amicably to admit of a Reasonable Peace when We may obtain it But these things g g The Letter to the Pope differs from this
Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him but however the King of England and his Marshals sent out u Id. Mezeray c. 500 Spears and 2000 Archers on Horseback to scour the Fields and to see whether any Frenchmen were again gather'd together Now many Inhabitants of Abbeville and St. Requier in Ponthieu with the Commons of Rouën and Beauvais had early that Morning being the Day before joyned together come into the Field not knowing of the late Discomfiture Some say that the English had reared French Colours which they had taken in the Fight whereby those Frenchmen being deceived came up to joyn them as if they had been their Friends The English immediately made them know their Errour and set upon them so lustily that within a little while they put them to Flight and chased them and slew in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes more than 7000 Men nor had one of them escaped if the Day had been clear They had scarce wip'd their Swords and recover'd their Order when they had an other Occasion to bestir themselves For now they met with a more formidable Number of their Enemies who were conducted by two Noble Leaders the Archbishop of Rouën and the Grand Prior of France they also being ignorant of the Overthrow given to their Friends the Day before For they had heard how King Philip intended not to fight till the Sunday and therefore came thither now to his Assistance Upon these the Day beginning now to clear the Englishmen under the Leading of the Earls of Arundel x Vid. Michael Northburgh's Letter l. 2. c. 4. §. 5. Northampton and Suffolk set with a Courage which their last acquired Victory had doubled and fought so obstinately that after a Stout Resistance they gain'd a Compleat Conquest having slain the two Leaders with 2000 of their best Men upon the Spot and pursuing the Chace for 3 Leagues together Beside these two Successes they met with several Frenchmen who had strayed in the Dark night and not knowing where the King or any of his Captains were had lain about in the Fields But their Respit was not long for now they were all put to the Sword as many as were found and sent to bear them Company who were slain the Day before Whereby it was thought that of the Commons and Footmen of the Cities and Good Towns of France there fell now four times as many as were slain on the Saturday in the great Battle XIV That same y Frois c. 132. Sunday about Noon as the King came from Hearing Divine Service the Captains of this Brigade return'd and shew'd the King what they had seen and done and how they had succeeded and assured him that there was no more Appearance of any Enemy in the Field Then the King order'd the Lord Reginald Cobham and Sr. Richard Stafford Brother to the Lord Ralph Stafford with three Heralds in their Company to go and search the Field and view the Number and Quality of the Slain For in those Days every Great Man wore a Surcoat of his Arms over his Armour to distinguish him according to his Quality These visited in Order the Bodies of all them that were slain and when they had taken a full and exact Account of every Parcel certain Men who were thereto appointed of the King spoil'd their Bodies taking their Money and Rings and what else was most valuable but with so much Decency that they left their Apparel on to cover their Nakedness All which Booty the King caused to be distributed among his Souldiers by equal Portions These Lords with the Heralds returned from visiting the Dead and brought along with them all the Spoil of the Field just as the King was going to Supper and after Supper they reported to the King a just Account of what they had found namely that there lay Dead in the Field 11 Great Princes 80 Bannerets 1200 Knights and more than 30000 of the Common Souldiers The Contemplation of this Success made a z Giov. Villani p. 879. pious Historian of those Days break out after this manner O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts how great is thy Power in Heaven and Earth and especially in Battles Since sometimes nay very often he brings to pass that a small People and Power doth vanquish Mighty Armies thereby to set forth his own Power and to pull down the Proud and Arrogant and to punish the Sins of Kings Lords and People And particularly in this Discomfiture he shew'd his Power evidently for there were Thrice as many Frenchmen as English But yet this was not says he without just Cause that such Mischief should happen to the King of France Since among his other Offences that we may not instance in the Wrong done to the King of England and other his Lords in Usurping their Inheritance and Lordships but Ten years before being sworn to Pope John to undertake the Croisade and promising within two Years to go beyond the Seas and to regain the Holy Land he took the Tenths and Subsidies of all his Realm and yet made War against Christian Princes unjustly On occasion whereof there died and were taken Prisoners by the Saracens beyond the Seas of Armenians and other Christians above an 100000 who in Confidence of his Assistance had begun the War against the Saracens in Syria Thus far Giovanni Villani XV. The King of England kept the Field all Sunday-Night also and on the Mâ—nday Morning he prepared to March thence but a Frois c. 132. first by Proclamation granted a Truce to all the Towns thereabouts for Three Days that so the Country People might be encouraged to come forth and search the Fields of Cressy and to bury their Dead But as for the Bodies of the Kings and Great Princes he caused them to be taken up decently and conveyed along with him in solemn Pomp to Monstrevil were they were all deposited in Holy Ground in the Great Abby The King b Giov. Vill m. l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. Himself and his Chief Lords wearing Blacks at their Funerals especially for the Sake of John the Famous Old King of Bohemia whose Death he took heavily and prosecuted with Lamentations After which he sent his Body with much Honour to the Marquess his Son then at the Abby of Riscampo whence afterwards it was honourably conveyed to Luxemburgh by his Son aforesaid While the King lay thus at Monstrevil his Marshals made an Excursion towards Hesdin and burnt Campagne and Beauraine but they let the Castle alone because it required some time to win it and that Night they lodged by the River of Canche near Hesdin towards Blangy The next Day the whole Army began to March forward c Frois Knighten p. 2588. Da Chesne p. 665. towards Boulogne and by the way took St. Josse the Town of Estaples Neufchastel St. Estienne and burnt and wasted all the Country for about 8
those many notable Successes of King Edward rather to the Vertue Holiness and Prayers of this Man than to any other worldly either Wisdom or Prowess Thus much we shall readily acknowledge that althô after his Death King Edward had the same good Success as before the Reason may be justly attributed to that Prince's Care of following the Precepts of this memorable Prelate For whose wonderfull Modesty we have this also to say that whereas he might have obtain'd of the King whatever Preferment he would have asked he was so far from any Ambitious Desire of superfluous Promotion that it was long e'r he could be prevail'd with to accept a Prebend of Lincoln when it was offer'd him he being at the same time Chancellor of St. Pauls in London And it is certain that the Archbishoprick came at last to him without the least of his Endeavours for it the Convent electing him the King allowing their Choice and the Pope who knew not any of these things at the same time conferring this Dignity upon him without the least Application made to him in his Behalf Whereas had he but shew'd the smallest Inclination for the Place he might have obtain'd it of the King before Concerning which Matter when certain spake to the King saying they admired that his Majesty did not admit of this Mans Election from the Convent for they had chosen him before his Predecessour John Hufford was chosen he replied That it was because he could very ill spare so Worthy a Man to be from him and he never could perceive that he himself desired to be spared He was succeeded by Simon Islip Keeper of the Privy Seal who was Consecrated in December 1349. Besides these c Walsingh hist p. 160. ubi Banham male pro Langham Vti aperte lâ—quet 〈◊〉 Simon Langham selus sib haec cmnia Officia Tâ—talos vendicet v. Godw. Catal. Bâ—sh p 143. Philpets Catal. Chancell p. 41. Catal. Treas p. 36. Simon Abbot of Westminster being taken away in this Visitation was succeeded by Simon Langham who was afterwards Lord Treasurer of England then Bishop of Ely soon after Lord Chancellour then Archbishop of Canterbury in which Seat having sat two Years he was by Pope Vrban V created Cardinal Titulo S i Sixti and lastly was made Bishop-Cardinal of Preneste by Gregory the XI X. These are all whom I find to have died this Bout of the most Eminent of the Prelacy of England a Number not great but for the Heighth of the Dignity and Worth of the Persons very considerable But of the inferior Clergy there was such havock made that many Churches were left wholly void without either Parson or Curate or any to perform the least Divine Office whether Mass Mattins Vespers Sacraments or Burial So that it was hard to procure any one to be a Chaplain or to Administer in any Church under Ten Pounds or Ten Marks per Annum at least d Knighton p. p. 2600. n. 20. Which Ten Marks as Money then went did countervail 40 l. with us And few or none would accept of a Vicaridge worth 20 l. or 20 Marks per annum whereas before the Pestilence when there was Plenty of young Divines a Man might have a Chaplain for four or five Marks per annum nay sometimes for two or three besides his Board So that now the Prophecy of Robert the Jacobin Frier against the Clergy was very fully and severely accomplished indeed But shortly after this Scarcity of Clergymen was abundantly made up or rather the Church was overstock'd For vast Numbers of Laymen whose Wives were dead of the Plague came crowding now into Orders many of whom were meer Idiots and utterly unlearned except that perhaps they knew how to read thô not with Understanding Sr. John Poultney e Stow's Survey p. 86. 252. who had been Mayor of London Four times and a very charitable and munificent Person died also in this Pestilence but of others who were either considerable for their Dignity Birth or Station I have not met with any So that it is no wonder if when the Wars were again renewed between England and France King Edward seem'd nothing the weaker for all the great Loss of his People in this Plague For of the Common Sort France was as much exhausted hereby as England and in a manner all King Edwards expert Barons and Captains remained still alive to be another Plague to that Nation XI In Wales f Stow p. 246. Holinsh Chr. Ireland p. 72. also this Epidemical Calamity raged extreamly and shortly after passing over into Ireland it made great havock of the Englishmen in those Parts especially about the Sea-coasts But as for those who were true Irishmen born and dwelt in the hilly Countries it scarce just saluted them So that they suffer'd but little or no loss thereby When the Scots heard of this strange and dreadful Fatality here in England g Knighton p. 2600 n. 1. Stow p. 246. a. n. 60. they too maliciously insulted over our Sufferings and instead of humbling themselves under a due sense of Gods terrible Judgments made a Scoff and Derision of what should have been their Warning and in their ordinary Conversation took up this profane Oath by the foul Deaths of the English Nor this only but out of a most inveterate and implacable hatred desiring if possible to add more weight to the heavy Judgments of Gods Hand they made a Warlike Rendezvous in Solkirk Forest on purpose to invade the North-Borders But before they could make any considerable Progress a sudden and most terrible kind of Death fell among them So that more than 5000 of them died in a manner presently Whereupon they made all the haste home imaginable as well the infected as the whole but they were overtaken wearied despairing and out of Order by a strong and well-prepared Body of English who easily overcame and slew of them with a great Slaughter But however so many escaped home as sufficed to communicate the Infection they had won by this Expedition over all that Kingdom also So that Scotland partook of the universal Contagion in as high a Degree and in the same manner as other Countries had done before them Only in this there was a difference that whereas other Nations with trembling sat still and waited for it the Scots did seem ambitious to fetch it in among themselves XII In the mean time whereas during the Plague there was almost every where sufficient plenty of all things so that in a manner no other Mischief reigned all that while as soon as this grand Conquerour was march'd off innumerable other Mischiefs as so many petty Tyrants began to play their Tragical parts also And h Knighton p. 2599. lin 65. first by occasion of the Plague the Cattle for want of Men to look to them wandred about in fields at randome from whence no Body drove or gather'd them So that they began to perish among
Vicount Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and all the other Lands and Possessions of the said Lord Godfrey of Harcourt Whereupon the Lord Chandos built anew the Castle of St. Saviour and for its better Defence frequently resided there in Person as we shall see hereafter XVIII Now the h Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—m §. 10. c. Pope being extreamly sollicitous to deliver the French from their present Consternation and to avert their impending Miseries thought fit to make use of Charles the Emperour towards a Settlement of Affairs and sending unto him Androine Abbot of Clugny exhorted him to be a Mediator between the French and English telling him that the Glory of that Great Work was reserved only for him and that the Cardinals his Nuntio's would joyn their utmost Endeavours But with what Grief he was affected at the Captivity of King John will appear best from his Letters the i Yom. 4. Epist secret p. 202. apud Oder Rainald ibid. Copy whereof followeth INNOCENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ CHARLES Emperour of the Romans always Augustus With such bitterness O most Dear Son and with a sting of such vehement Sorrow are our Heart and Bowels wounded at the news of the Misfortune of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France which we believe to have come to You before the Receipt of these Presents that our Spirit hath almost failed us our Vigour is dried up and in a manner all our Senses are lost For who that is of a sound Mind who that has but his Senses who that has but a Heart of Flesh who that has any Humanity about him would not burst forth into Tears would not sigh from the bottom of his Heart would forbear grieving would refrain weeping would cease lamenting And indeed who could withhold from sighing at the Effusion of so much Christian Blood at the Fall of so many Nobles at the Ruine of so many faithfull People and which is more deplorable at the hazard of so many Souls For we believe that none has an Heart so stony which the hearing of these things would not break that none is so obdurate whom they would not melt and mollifie none so rocky whom the Consideration thereof would not soften And whereas among the manifold Afflictions to which upon this account and otherwise we are obnoxious we awaken with a sense of Grief our sleeping Mind to a necessary Reparation of this Misfortune althô in a manner wholly desperate of all Humane help and Assistance unto Him we lift up our Eyes darkned with sorrow unto Him we raise up the sight of our afflicted Soul unto Him we pour forth devout Prayers and Supplications who commands the Sea and the Winds and at whose Nod the breath of Tempests is allay'd that He being moved with gracious Compassion at so many grievous Scourges of his People extending from on high the Hand of his Power would vouchsafe to deliver us from these tempestuous Waves and after the multitude of the Sorrows in our Heart rejoyce our Soul with his Consolations And we hope in him that althô upon the account of our sins he refuses to lend his Ear unto our Prayers he will yet at least take pity of the Calamities of his People whom he hath redeemed with the gracious Effusion of his own Blood. And hence it is that firmly beleeving it proceeded from the Goodness of the same our Redeemer that You who only of Mankind can apply a necessary Remedy to these more acute Distempers are in this time of Confusion retired into the utmost Parts of your Empire next unto the Realm of France We address our selves unto You That by the vertue of your Diligence and Prudence you would asswage the sury of these Storms and by the benefit of a calm Peace remove the inconveniences of War and Hostile Commotions earnestly requiring you by Him thrô whose Providence you are raised to the Imperial Dignity that taking the Premises and other things which for brevity sake we omit into due consideration for the Reverence of God the Conservation of your Weal and Honour the prospect of a general Advantage and the Contemplation of our Intercession You would not delay but hastily come down to prevent the Desolation of Catholick People to hinder the Destruction of Christians and to avert the Hazard of Souls For unto You this Glory unto You this Honour unto You this Praise is reserved of the Lord For You are by Blood allied unto the Parties You thô you be nearer to the One will yet justly respect the Cause of Both and encline your eyes to Justice and not to Affinity You are likely to be an Effectual Umpire of Peace and a Promoter of Concord as well on the Account of your Imperial Dignity as of your Good-will and Charity There also You shall have our Venerable Brother Talayrand Bishop of Alby and our beloved Son Nicolas of the Title of St. Vitalis Priest-Cardinal Nuntio's of the Apostolick See whom you will find usefull Fellow-Labourers after this Good Thing and by whose Counsels and Help you may be directed and aided in what shall occurr Concerning which because we have deliver'd certain Matters unto our Beloved Son Androine Abbot of Clugny in the Diocese of Mascon to be reported unto your Clemency by Word of Mouth We pray you more earnestly that you would give full credit to his Relations on our Behalf Dat. Aven V. Non. Octobr. An o Pontificatûs nostri IV. Upon the Receipt of these Letters the Emperour k Matth. Villani l. 7. c. 46. summon'd a Diet to sit at Metz then an Imperial City in the Country of Lorraine standing on the Moselle to which Place he came a little before Christmas with Imperial Pomp and no less than 20000 Horse attending him He was served at Table by the Duke of Brandenburgh and other Princes of Course appointed to the said Service There came thither to meet him among Others his Nephew Charles Duke of Normandy Dauphin of Vienna and Regent of France to move him to put to his helping Hand in these Confusions For the Realm was at that time not only at a loss from the Terrour of the English War their King being Captive and the Flower of their Nobility slain but also from the Civil Broils then reigning For the King of Navarre's Brother infested Normandy in Revenge of his Brothers Confinement The Commons also raged against the Nobility because they judged that by their Treason or Cowardise the King was taken With which Note of Infamy the Heir of France himself was aspersed who together with his Troops after a slight Resistance fled away and forsook his Father To this Diet l Matt. Villani l. 7. c. 46. at Metz there came also Ambassadors as well from England as from France but no effectual way of Concord could then be
found by the German Princes Of which Matter thus Rebdorf In the Month of November the said Emperour being invited by the Lords and Burgesses of France after the foresaid Battle of Poictiers came to the City of Metz where he demanded of the Inhabitants the Rights of the Empire and the Keys of the City And thither came from Pope Innocent the Cardinal of Perigort and the King of France's Son the Emperours Nephew who fled out of the said Battle with many Men of Arms and a great Number of Nobles both of Germany and France were there with him and tarried with him during the Festival of our Lords Nativity But of the Peace there made between Wenceslaus Duke of Brabant and Lewis Earl of Flanders and of the Laws promulged at this time by the Emperour we shall not say any thing those Matters being foreign to our Purpose The Curious Reader may refer himself for that to the m Rebdorf in Aâ—nal ad hunc annum Albert. Argentin in Chron. Lib. Priv. Rom. Eccl. Tom. 1. p. 401. Fat. etiam in Arce St. Angel. inter Collect. Platin. Tâ—m 3. p. 103 128. 156. apud Goldast in Collect Constit Imperial Tom. 1. in Carolo IV. vid. Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 12. 13. Authors quoted in the Margin On the * Fabian p. 285. Tenth of December certain Coins of less value than usual which the Duke of Normandy by Advice of his Council upon the account of his Necessities had caused to be made were proclaimed thrô Paris to be Currant Money whereat the Commons yet were further incensed So that two Days after Stephen Marcell Provost of the Merchants went to the Louvre there to speak with Prince Lewis Earl of Anjou whom the Duke of Normandy had left his Deputy-Regent upon his going to Metz to visit the Emperour his Uncle as we have seen Here the said Provost and the Rest with him desired the young Earl to stop the Course of those new Monies for otherwise the People would think themselves obliged to stop it themselves At last after a day or two's Delay and a long Contest the young Earl was fain to yield thus much to the Provost and the rest of those humble Petitioners as to stop the Money till the Dukes further Pleasure might be known for which Purpose Messengers were immediately posted away to learn the Dukes Resolution as to that Point And he thô for a while he stood firm to his first Resolution was in the end compelled to stop the Proceedings and to comply with the outragious importunities of the Rabble XIX And thus we shall end this Remarkable Year when we have subjoyned two short Observations which to Philologers may perhaps seem not useless It hath been an old Report that as Scipio Africanus that Noble Roman Commander was observed first to have brought Barbers into Rome so our Black-Prince is said n Stow p. 263. this time in Complaisance to the French Nation to have begun and authorised a Fashion which hath continued ever since of shaving the Beard and letting the Hair of the Head grow contrary to the Primitive use of the English Nation Thô I must acknowledge this Relation agrees not well with the ancient Pictures of Men of that Age And the learned Antiquary Esquire Ashmole some Years since described unto me a Medal which he supposed to have belonged to one of the Princes Great Horses whereon he was figured Praying in Armour save that his Helmet was off and having a considerable Grown Beard Nor is it altogether unworthy our Observation o Dugd. Warw. p. 672. ex Joh. Rous Hist M.S. de Reg. in Bibl. â—otton p. 253. that after this Taking of King John of France the Lords and Gentlemen of England began generally to leave off that ancient Usage of bearing their Effigies on Horseback in their Seals and set their own Arms only in the Reverse of their Seals on little Shields CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS AN. DOM. 1357. An. Regni Angliae XXXI Franciae XVIII I. Prince Edward brings King John of France and the rest of his Prisoners taken at the Battle of Poictiers into England their Passage thrô London King Edward receives the Captive King with great Honour II. Henry Duke of Lancaster continues the Siege before Rennes the Cardinals obtain a Truce between the two Kings III. King David released of his Imprisonment returns into Scotland and settles Affairs IV. At King Edwards Command the Duke of Lancaster raises his Siege from before Rennes having just before taken the Town on Conditions V. Sr. Robert Knolles beats the Marshal of France in Normandy VI. The Lord of Granville takes the Castle of Eureux from the French by Stratagem VII The Rise of Sr. John Hawkwood and Sr. Robert Knolles VIII The Original of a sort of Free-Booters called the Companions in France IX The Insolence of the Parisians and their Provost towards the Dauphin X. King Charles of Navarre being got out of Prison foments the Disorders and grows Popular I. MOST part a Frois c. 173. f. 86. Mat. Vill. l. 7. c. 58. 66. Knighton p. 2615. n. 13. Walsingh Hyp. p. 124. Hist p. 164. Speed p. 582. Polyd. Virgil. l. 19. p. 381. c. of the preceding Winter the Victorious Edward Prince of Wales busied himself in Equipping a Navy to convey his Royal Prey and the rest of the French Prisoners safely into England During his intended Absence in the Parts of Aquitain he left behind him certain Valiant and Loyal Captains to defend the Country until his Return namely the Lord de la Bret alià s Albret the Lord of Mucidan the Lord de L'Esparre the Lord of Pamiers and the Lord of Rozan with certain Troops both English and Gascoigners And so on the b Lit. Dom. A. Pascha 9. April Pestum D. Georgii 23 April 24 of April being a Monday and the day after St. George in the Third Week after Easter he set Sail for England with certain Lords of Gascogne and most of his English Captains about him The French King was in a good Ship by himself lest he should conceive any Offence or Molestation but he was well guarded with no less than 200 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers who sailed close by him for the Prince had been informed how the Three Estates by whom France at that time was governed had laid ready in the Ports of Normandy and Crotoy two Great Navies to receive him upon his approach toward England and if they might to take away the King of France and rescue him But no such Matter appeared afterward thô the Prince was detain'd at Sea Eleven days On the Twelfth Day from his first Setting out viz. on the c Knighton in vigilia St. Joh. ante Pert. Lat. quod idem est Walsing id c. 5th of May he landed at Sandwich in Kent and not as some say at Plymouth in Devonshire where he tarried two Days to refresh
England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Men Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognizances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions High and Low Resorts Safeguards and Lordships and Superiorities which appertain'd or may in any wife appertain to the Kings of France and to the Crown or to any other Person because of the King and Crown of France at any time in Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places aforenamed or in any of them and their appurtenances and appendages whatsoever or in the Persons thereof Vassals or Subjects whatsoever be they Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church without retaining or reserving any thing therein to themselves their Heirs and Successors or any of the Kings of France or any other whatsoever because of the King and Crown of France whereby they their Heirs and Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places abovenamed so as all the above-named Persons their Heirs and Successors shall for ever be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Sovereignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their appurtenances and appendages and other things aforesaid with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords and as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without Recognizing any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort or Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognizance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expresly the said Resorts and Sovereignty and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall expresly Renounce all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd unto or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demaine of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Earldoms of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or may make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and be rendred to the King of England and his Heirs And the two Kings shall convey resign and quit the One to the Other for ever all the Right that each of them hath or may have to those things which by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to each of them as for the time and place when and where the said Renunciations shall be made the two Kings shall confer and agree together at Calais Now We to uphold and accomplish the Articles Peace and Accord aforesaid do Renounce expresly all Resorts and Sovereignties and all Right which we have and may have in all the things aforesaid which We have rendred and deliver'd and resign'd to the said King of England our Brother and which from this time forth ought to remain and appertain unto him by the said Treaty and Peace In respect that He and the said Prince his Eldest Son have Renounced expresly all those things which by the said Treaty ought not to be rendred unto nor to remain with the said King of England our Brother for him and for his Heirs and all Demands which he maketh or may make against Vs And especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Earldom and Country of Flanders and all other Demands which the said King of England maketh or may make of Vs for any cause whatsoever saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to the said King of England and his Heirs And unto him We convey yield and resign and He unto Vs and each to Other to the best of our Power all the Right which either of Vs might or may have in all those things which by the said Treaty and Peace ought to remain and be deliver'd to either of Vs Saving still and reserving to the Churches and to Men of the Church that which to them appertaineth and all that which hath been usurped and detained from their Hands by occasion of the Wars that this be rendred and delivered unto them And that the Towns and Forts and all the Inhabitants thereof shall be and remain in such Liberties and Franchises as they were before they came into our Hands and Dominion and that to be confirmed unto them by the said King of England if he shall be thereto required and that We do not the contrary in any of the Matters aforesaid And as to this point We submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Coërcion of the Church of Rome and We Will and consent that our Holy Father the Pope shall confirm all these things in giving Monition and General Commands for the accomplishment thereof against Vs our Heirs and Successors and against all our Subjects be they Commons Colleges Vniversities or single Persons whatsoever and in giving General Sentences of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to be incurred by Vs and by them who shall do the contrary And that the said Sentences may fall upon Vs or them as soon as We or They act or endeavour by seising any Town Castle City Fort or any thing doing ratifying or consenting in giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aâ—d privily or openly against the said Peace Of which Sentences they shall not be absolved till they shall have made full satisfaction to all those who by that Act have sustained or suffer'd Damages And moreover to the Intent that this said Peace be more firmly kept and holden for
would not grant However King John tarried still in England disporting himself and taking his Pleasure in and about London and Westminster his chief Residence being at the Savoy at that time k Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. one of the Faitest Mansions in England belonging to the Duke of Lancaster And the late Duke Henry had bestowed no less than 52000 Marks thereon King David of Scotland came also to pay some part of his Ransome and hoped to prevail with King Edward to acquit him of the Remainder but he could not obtain that Point The King of Cyprus having purchased a Choice Band of English Gentlemen Volunteers and received many large Presents from King Edward l Frois c. 218. repassed the Seas with King Waldemar of Denmark in his Company and went to Boulogne and thence to Amiens where he found the Duke of Normandy and his Council by whom he was hugely caressed and related unto them his Success in England and how he had left King John in Health whereat they were all pleased Having been here a while he said That for all this he thought he had neither done nor seen any thing of Moment untill he should have seen the Prince of Wales adding that by the Grace of God he would go and visit him and the Lords of Poictou and of Aquitain The Regent approved of his Resolution but desired him at his Return to come thrô France and visit his Father whom by that time they expected from England King Peter promised to do thus much and so took his leave and rode toward Beauvais and passed the River of Seyne and so thrô Perche and Tourain over the Loire till he came to Poictiers where he was informed how the Black-Prince was at his City of Angoulesme The Prince was then busie in providing a Solemn Feast Justs and Tourneaments which he design'd to hold with Fourty Knights and as many Esquires for the Love of his Beautifull Princess who was just then brought to Bed of an Hopefull Son called Edward after his Fathers Name When Prince Edward heard how the King of Cyprus was coming to visit him he sent forth the Lord John Chandos with a great Number of Knights and Esquires of his Court to meet and conduct him forward which they did accordingly And so King Peter was honourably convey'd to Angoulesme where he was received by the Prince with all the Demonstrations of Joy and Respect imaginable He found himself also extream Welcome to all the Lords of England and of Poictou and Sainctogne such as were then at the Princes Court namely to Sr. John Chandos to Sr. Thomas Felton and his Brother Sr. William Felton Sr. Thomas Beauchamp Sr. Simon Burley Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Roger Delaware Sr. Richard Pountchardon Sr. Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Saintogne and many more besides the Lords of Aquitain as the Vicount of Thoüars the young Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay Sr. Guischard D'Angle and Others The King of Cyprus was highly feasted and caressed by the Prince and the Lords of his Court and when he had tarried there about a Month the Lord John Chandos rode with him thrô the Country to divert his Mind and shew him what was Curious and worth Observation He was Nobly entertain'd at Rochelle and other Places by the English Governors there and having visited the Country all about in the most Remarkable Places he returned again to Angoulesme at what time the Prince held the foresaid Solemnity in Honour of his Princess with great Pomp and Splendour and a Glorious Retinue of Men of Arms. The sight of these Mens valiant Justings made the King desire to have some of their Company along with him against the Infidels And so after the Solemnity of the Feast was over he accosted the Prince and the Lords of his Court shewing unto them distinctly the Principal Reason of his Coming thither namely How he had taken upon him the Red Cross which he wore and how the Pope had by his Authority confirmed it and what Honour and Privileges remain'd for those who should joyn with him in this Expedition and how the French King and the Lord Talayrand the Cardinal and divers other Great Lords and Princes had devoutly sworn to embarque in the same Enterprise Then the Prince and his Knights answer'd him kindly and said How truly it was an Expedition well worthy the Consideration of all Men of Honour and that by the Grace of God when once the Matter was enter'd upon and the Passage laid open he should not be alone but should find among them those that would be glad at any Rate together with Religion to advance their Honours With these Words the King of Cyprus was well pleased and so being laden with Gifts from the Prince and Princess he took his leave the Lord Chandos at the Princes Command waiting upon him to the Bounds of the Principality But the Lord m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Thomas n Iâ—â—reton Nâ—ttingh p. 116 ubi John male pro Thoâ—â—as Roos and divers o Walsing hist p. 174. other Stout Barons of England and Gascogne went quite thrô with design to aid him in the Wars in the Holy Land Being no less than 300 Select Horse Knights and Esquires besides Archers and others their Friends and Servants who at the request of the Pope hand Letters of Safe-conduct from the Governour of Dauphiné and le Viennois to pass without any molestation or interruption through those Parts Sr. James de Arteville being appointed with Ten Officers in his Company to guide and conduct them to the Limits of Piedmont V. The mean while King Peter having sent them before returned to Paris where he thought to have found the French King but he mist of his Expectation For that Prince was not returned out of England but lay dangerously sick at his Lodgings in the Savoy at London and every day grew worse and worse to the infinite Regret of King Edward and his Queen For all the Physicians agreed that his sickness was Mortal All this was not unknown to the Duke of Normandy who was at Paris being Regent in his Fathers Absence for the Lord Bouciquault was return'd from England to inform the Dauphin in what a Desperate Condition the King lay The King of Navarre also was fully acquainted with the News but was very little concerned at it for he hoped to make War more easily in France if King John should die and it is to be noted that this unquiet Prince p Mezeray p. 62 pretended a Right to the Dutchy of Burgundy which King John had already seised into his Hands but because the Inhabitants so earnestly desired a Duke of their own he designed to give it to his youngest Son Philip at his return out of England for he lov'd him the best of all his Children because he stuck so close to him at the Battle of Poictiers Being therefore desirous to take hold of the
return'd with much Honour to Paris leading thither with him the greater part of the English Prisoners whom the Frenchmen are said to have used very courteously and to have ransomed reasonably letting many of them go only upon their Faith and Promise It was not then the manner of the English and French to put their Captives in Stocks in Chains and Dungeons and to use them severely as the Germans and Spaniards would do in those Days by that means to extort an high Ransom from their Prisoners Wherefore Honest Froisard is here a little concerned against those Nations and curses them for that their Unknightly Severity saying also that because they were so void of Pitty and Honour they ought to have no Mercy shew'd unto them But Sr. Bertram of Clequin and the other Frenchmen says he were very courteous to their English Prisoners and put them to easie Ransoms And yet I find g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 222. that the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter was so highly rated at this time that he was fain to mortgage his Castle and Lordship of Egremond in Cumberland for the Summ of a 1000 l. for certain Years towards raising of the Fine which he was demanded for his Redemption Sr. Bertram of Clequin having obtain'd so remarkable a Success against so formidable an Enemy just upon his Entrance into the Office of Constable gain'd much Honour and Commendation of all Men especially of the King his Master and other true Frenchmen who began already to look upon him as THE RESTORER OF FRANCE a Title which afterwards was appropriated unto him But the Black-Prince and the Duke of Lancaster who lay then at Cognac were extreamly concern'd at this Loss chiefly because it fell in such a juncture when a little Fresh Reputation was most necessary for their Affairs As for Sr. Robert Knolles when he understood how he had been traduced to the King his Master as the Occasion of that Loss he sent two discreet Persons of his Esquires to make his Excuse and to give the King a true Prospect of the whole Matter and these Men by the help of Sr. Alan Boxhull and other Knights of sound Reputation who voluntarily went to the King in his Behalf did their Devoir so well that the King and his Councill held him blameless and plainly saw how they had been misinformed So Sr. Robert was again settled in the Favour of the King and his Son the Prince of Wales and Sr. John Menstreworth was summon'd in by such a Day to give Answer to the King and his Council to what should be objected against him But not appearing at the time limited he was proclaimed Traytor and Outlawed if again by such a Day he should not submit himself to a Legal Tryal But his evil Conscience would not give him the Courage so to do he rather chose to forfeit his Allegiance and so turned Runagate and fled over to the French King but was taken some Years after and executed in England as we shall shew in due place XXV While these Broils were thus hot in France Pope Vrban the V who had been for about two Years and an Half at Rome was now return'd again to Avignon and used all his Endeavours to make a Peace between the Realms of France and England But the Two Kings remained Deaf to all his Proposals and shortly after viz. on the h Labbe Chron. Techn ad ann 1370. vid. Odor Rainal ad eundem annum §. 23. c Mezeroy Walsingh M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Victorell Freis c. 279. 19 of December his Holiness departed this Life having enjoy'd the Papacy the space of 8 Years one Month and 23 Days He was succeeded by Peter Rogerii a Cardinal but of Fourty Years of Age who was Son to William Earl of Beaufort by the Lady Joan sister to Pope Clement VI. This Man who took unto him the Name of Gregory the XI first return'd back the Papal Seat to Rome after that it had continued at Avignon in France for the space of i Victerell Cracon 1 Vol. p. 949. 70 Years in all To which Removal thô not undertaken till about six Years after this he was prompted by this Occasion As he k Sabeilicus Ennead Paul. Aemyl p. 297. Blondus Jaceb Meyer Ann. Flandr p. 193. beheld once a certain Bishop whose presence perhaps he was not over-fond of standing by him he demanded of him why he was absent from his Pastoral Charge adding That it became not a good Shepherd to remove himself so far from his Flock Whereupon the Bishop replied If so why then is your Holiness who are the Chief Bishop and ought to be a Pattern to us all so far from Rome where your Charge doth lie and where St. Peter resided This is said to have been an occasion of the Removal of that Chair and the Pope was convinc'd it was his Duty and went thither as soon as he might accordingly Which I wonder at not knowing how it should come to pass that he should forget how he was an Universal Bishop and so might reside any where as having a like Pastoral Authority every where but when Conscience appears witty Evasions a vail but little Nor shall we forget to mention a Son of the Muses perhaps as Great thô not as Dignified as either of these Popes especially because Learned Men have a Title to the Laurel and a Right to be recorded in History as well as Captains themselves This Man was Maximus Planudes a famous Greek Monk who flourished l Job Gerard. Vessus in l. de Scient Mathem repenit illum ad hunc ann 1370. Vid. Guliel Burten in Gracae Languae hist p. 57. at this time thô some by Mistake have put him later However as if his Prophetick Genius had even then foreseen the Downfall of the Greek Empire which yet was not compleated till 83 Years after at which time Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the Great he made it his chief Endeavour to advance or at least to preserve that then-decaying Language To which end he translated into the Greek Tongue that small Book of Morals which is called Cato and also all the Works of St. Augustine which he finished not till he was very old He is moreover believed to have collected those Fables which bear the Name of Aesop the Phrygian Fabulist to which he added the Life of that merry conceited Philosopher Further yet he turned into Greek the Poet Ovid's Books of Metamorphâ—sis with his Heroick Epistles besides Macrobius his Saturnalia and Somnium Scipionis and which I value above all his Labours collected those m De quibus haec clim lust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seven Books of the Greek Epigrams commonly called the Anthologia as they are now extant For all which commendable Industry his Name deserves highly to be respected by the Learned and Ingenuous of all Nations He died in a good Old Age several Years before Constantinople was
taken therein having a like Fate with St. Augustin whom he had translated for he also died as he had desired before he saw the Ruines of Hippo his dearest City CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. AN. DOM. 1371. An. Regni Angliae XLV Franciae XXXII The Surprisal Redemption and Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt II. The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols III. The Death of Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Black-Prince The said Prince◠having appointed his Brother of Lancaster his Lieutenant in Aquitain returns with his Family for England IV. The Castle of Monpaon being betrayed to the French is recover'd by the Duke of Lancaster V. The Lord of Pons revolts from England and Poictou divided VI. The Castle of Moncoutour won by the English VII Sr. Bertram of Clequin prevails in other Parts VIII A Parliament at Westminster IX Pope Gregory endeavours a Peace between the Two Crowns X. The English obtain a Naval Victory over the Flemings XI The Flemings submit to a Peace XII James King of Majorica dies XIII The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge marry the two Daughters of Don Pedro King of Spain whereby Don Henry being alarum'd enters a Confederation with the French King. XIV The Pope endeavours to make Peace between England and France the Copy of his Letters to the Captal of Busche XV. The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge return with their Ladies into England I. THIS Winter the Valiant and Generous Captain a Frois c. 286. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt was in great danger of being utterly lost thrô his own too free Confidence in an old Acquaintance For he rode one Evening to pay a Visit to the Lord of Pierre Buffierre whom he look'd upon as his special Friend and Lover and also of the English Interest For as we b Vid l. 4. c. 7. § 2 p. 789. shew'd before the French King himself could not persuade him to renounce the Homage which he had made to the Prince of Wales In the Christmas Holydays Sr. Eustace rode to his Castle designing to make merry with him but his Entertainment was much otherwise than he expected For his unkind Host admitted Sr. Tibauld du Pont a Knight of Breton and an Enemy to England into his Castle whom he suffer'd to seize upon Sr. Eustace while he suspected no harm and to lead him away Prisoner And now he had certainly been put to a shamefull Death because he had been a Captain of the Companions and so great an Enemy to the Realm of France But then the Duke of Bourbon was pleas'd to remember the good Turns he had done him in releasing his Mother who was taken at Bellepeche and so to requite him interceeded effectually for his Life at this time and compounded for a Ransom of 12000 Franks 4000 whereof Sr. Eustace paid down leaving his Son Francis Dambreticourt in Hostage for the Remainder with the Duke of Bourbon who thereupon repledged him engaging his own Word for the Residue to Sr. Tibauld Sr. Eustace being thus acquitted went and lay at Carentan beyond the Marches of St. Clement in Base Normandy a Town which the King of Navarre had given him And there he shortly after died having been in his Days a most Valiant Knight and a sworn Servant to the Ladies II. About the same time there fell another Adventure which I presume worth the Relating because therein will appear the ill Consequences that attend Treason with the great Power of natural Sympathy and Commiseration and the agreeable Prospect of an unexpected Turn of Fortune We shew'd before how the Lord Lewis of Maleval and his Nephew the young Lord Raimund of Marvejols had without any Constraint or Provocation revolted from the Service of the King of England and began to make War against the Prince of Wales Now the Lord Raimund of Marvejols hearing at this time that all his own Country had followed his Example and were turned French took his leave of the Court at Paris intending to go home But by the way he was suddenly met by two or three Troops of Sr. Hugh Calverley's Men who were led by Sr. Geoffry Argentine Captain of a Castle in Poictou He fell so unluckily within their Power that he could not possibly avoid them so he was forthwith taken Prisoner and carried into Poictou unto the said English Knights Castle When it was known in England that the Lord Raimund of Marvejols was taken and in sure Custody King Edward wrote his Letters to Sr. Geoffry Argentine who had him in his Keeping commanding him with all speed to send over unto him his Enemy that false Traytor Sr. Raimund of Marvejols saying how he would take such Vengeance on him that all others should take Example by him and further he promised the Knight for his acceptable Service in taking him 6000 Franks Sr. Geoffry Argentine resolv'd by all means to obey the King his Masters Commands and said he would surely fulfill his Pleasure as soon as he could meet with an opportunity of Transporting him with Security and began presently to seek out for a Vessel and Company to have him convey'd into England Of all this Sr. Raimund had knowledge wherefore he was much more nearly concern'd than ever For before he hoped to get off by Ransom but now he saw there was no other Remedy but inevitable Death and that in all likelihood to be as full of Torment as Ignomy for he knew how Traytors were usually punish'd as well in England as elsewhere He was then in the Flower of his Age a Proper Young Handsom Valiant Gentleman of a fair Estate and Fortune in the World and perhaps not so fit to die as those who have not met with the Temptations which attend so high a Condition No wonder then if he was very much affected with these Apprehensions of Death He began to make the most dolefull Lamentations imaginable and always when his Keeper came near he heard him bewail his untimely End and complain of his Misfortunes so pathetically that it was impossible for Flesh and Blood not to sympathise therewith The Keeper who was an Englishman had the Curiosity to ask him the occasion of so great Sorrow and while he declared it in the softest Terms that could be devised wept along with him for pitty and afterwards gave him all the Consolation that might be telling him how King Edward was a very Mercifull Prince and thô terrible to those that resisted him yet always Gratious to those whom he had in his Power and much more he said with great Tenderness out of a Pious Consideration of his Prisoners dejected and forlorn Condition Sr. Raimund who knew his Life lay at stake saw little or no Comfort in all these Words but only observing how wonderfully concerned his Keeper was for him he began to repeat his Moans thereby to raise his Compassion and at last said unto him Ah! my dearest Friend Next unto God it is in
at this present in the Hands of Italians and other Strangers what they be and of what Value and how every of the said Benefices are named and how much every of them is worth by the Year not as by way of Tax or Extent but according to the true and full Value of the same As also to know the Names of all and singular such Strangers as are now Incumbents or occupy the same and of every of them Likewise the Names of all those whether English or Strangers of what State or Condition soever they be who have the Occupation or Disposal of any such Benefices with the Fruits and Profits of the same on the Behalf or by Authority of any of the foresaid Strangers by way of Farm Title or Procuration or by any other way or means whatsoever and how long they have occupied or disposed of the same and withall if any of the said Strangers be now resident upon any of the said Benefices We command you as heretofore We have done to send Us a true Certificate of all and singular the Premises into our High Court of Chancery under your Seal distinctly and openly before the b b Whitsunday fell this Year on the 21 of May. Lit. Dom. A. Pascha 2 April Feast of the Ascension of our Lord next coming without further delay returning also this our Writ at the same time Witness our Self at Westminster the 16 Day of April in the 48 Year of our Reign of England and of France 35. By Vertue of this Writ Certificate was accordingly sent up to the King into his Chancery out of every Dioecese in England of all such Spiritual Livings as were then in the Occupation either of Priors Aliens or of other Strangers whereof the Number is said to have been so great that it would take up several sheets of Paper to set them all down Wherefore it seem'd high time for the King to seek a Remedy in that Case either by Treaty with the Pope or otherwise considering what a vast proportion of the Revenues of his Realm was by this means convey'd away being either employ'd to the Relief of his Enemies or however of such who were neither his Subjects nor Friends An Instance whereof may be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments at the last Year of the Reign of King Edward III. II. Shortly after the Return of the said Certificates the King sent Mr. John Wickliffe who was afterwards an Eminent Reformer in England and at that time Divinity Professor in the Famous University of Oxford together with certain others his Ambassadors beyond the Seas with full Commission to treat with the Pope's Legates concerning the foresaid Matters and other Affairs then depending between his Holiness and the King. The Tenor of their Commission runs thus viz. Rex * Fox Acts Men. p. 554. al. Edit p. 390. Vniversis ad quorum notitiam praesentes literae pervenerint c. The King unto All to whose knowledge these Present Letters shall come Greeting Know Ye that We reposing assured Confidence in the Integrity and Abilities of the Reverend Father John Bishop of Bangor and other our loving and Loyal Subjects as Master John Wickliffe Reader of the Divinity Lecture Master John Guttern Dean of Segovia and Master Simon Multon Dr. of the Law Sr. William Burton Knight Master John Belknap and Master John Honington have directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the Parts beyond the Seas giving unto our said Ambassadors and Commissioners or to any Six or Five of them among whom I will that the said Bishop shall be One full Power and Authority with special Command to treat and consult mildly and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of our Lord the Pope touching certain Affairs about which We before have sent the said Bishop William Vghtred Monk of Durham and Master John Shepey to the Apostolick See and to make full Relation of all things done and transacted in the said Assembly That all those things which may tend to the Honour of Holy Church and the Advancement of our Crown and this our Realm may by the Assistance of God and the Wisdom of the Apostolick See be brought to good effect and accomplished Witness our self at London the 26 day of July in the 48 Year of our Reign These Commissioners were met at Bruges about the beginning of August by the Pope's Nuntio's Bernard aliàs Benedict Bishop of Pampelone and Ladulph or Rodulph Bishop of Senigaglia and Giles Sancho Provost of the Church of Valenza Who were likewise commission'd from the Pope to treat c Odor Rainald ad hunc annum §. 21. quem vide sis Concerning the Liberties of the Church of England and of the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the said Realm of England But this Treaty held off and on for about two Years after when at last it was concluded d Walsingh hist p. 184. n. 10. Churchill's Divi Britannici p. 36. that for the future the Pope should desist from making use of Reservations of Benefices and that the King should no more confer Benefices by his Writ Quare Impedit But as to the Elections aforesaid concerning which Ambassadors had been sent to the Court of Rome the Year before there was nothing mention'd in this Treaty The Reason whereof was ascribed to the Politick Dealing of some who knew they could more easily attain to the Episcopal Dignities which they aim'd at by the Court of Rome then by due and regular Elections that is rather by Money Favour and Interest than by any true Worth or Merit of their own III. But now 't is time to see what Deeds of War were performed this Year or rather what Advantage France gain'd and what Losses England suffer'd for things were grown to that pass at this time Soon e Frois c. 311. fol. 192. after Easter the Duke of Anjou being at Perigueux raised a great Army consisting of 15000 Footmen besides a considerable Number of Genoüese and Crossbows and the most part of all the Barons and Knights of Bretagne Poictou Anjou and Touraine with whom also the Constable of France was joyned and several Lords of Gascogne as the Lord John of Armagnac the Lords of Albret and of Perigort the Earls of Cominges and of Narbonne the Vicounts of Carmaine and of Villemur and of Talart the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicount of Mende the Lord de la Barde Sr Robert of Charde and the greater part of the Lords of Auvergne and Limosin With this Great Army the Duke of Anjou marched towards High Gascogne and came before Mont de Marsan which having took he proceeded to St. Sever whereof an Abbot was Lord who thô the Town was strong yet doubting to lose it by force fell to treat with the Duke of Anjou telling him that his Town and Fortress was but a small Matter in respect of other Towns and Castles in High Gascogne whither he suppos'd his Highness
victory after a sharp and terrible Conflict In which Battle a mighty Number of our Enemies were destroyed and almost all their whole Navy taken with some Loss also on our Part but nothing like in Comparison to theirs By reason whereof We doubt not but that the Passage by Sea shall hereafter prove more quiet and safe both to Us and our Subjects And also many other Commodities shall ensue thereupon as we have good cause to hope Wherefore We devoutly considering the Divine Favours so gratiously bestowed upon Us do render our most humble Thanks and Praise to Christ our Lord and Saviour Beseeching him that as he hath been and always is most ready to prevent our Necessities in his own good time so he will please to continue his helping Hand ever towards Us and so direct Us here temporally that We may reign and rejoice with him eternally in Heaven Moreover We require your Charitable Assistance that you also Rising up together with Us unto the Praise of God alone who hath so favourably begun to work with us for our Good do instantly in your Publique Prayers and Divine Service as well as in your Private Devotions recommend Us to the Lord since We are here labouring in these foreign Countries and not only studying to recover our Right in France but also highly to exalt the whole Catholick Church of Christ and to rule our People in Righteousness And that You also call upon all your Clergy and People each one thrô his distinct Diocess to do the same altogether invocating the Name of our Saviour on our Behalf that of his Clemency he would please to give unto Us his Humble Servant his Grace and a docible Heart that We may so judge and govern here upon Earth in Equity doing what he hath commanded that at length We may happily attain to that which he hath promised thrô our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. An. 1340. V. This Letter was enclosed in another of the Kings directed to his Son the Prince who received them at Waltham And then at last and not before was the Fame of this Victory perfectly credited by the most Scrupulous But thrô France the sad News of this their Loss flew more nimbly thô as yet none durst undertake to be the hatefull messenger of such an unwelcom Relation to King Philip. Till at last his Lords prompted a pleasant Fellow the Kings Jester to do it who is said to have revealed the whole Matter after this manner r Walsingh hist p. 134. n. 30. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 347. Sr. Rich. Baker c. Running carelesly one time into King Philips Presence he began to insult with much vehemence and upbraid the English of flat Cowardise calling them Dastards and cowardly Poltrons with many other Opprobrious Words to that effect Which he repeated with great Bravery till the King asked him the reason why he so extreamly undervalued the Englishmen Why said the Fool because the Cowardlike Faint-hearted Rogues had not the Courage to leap into the Sea so gallantly as our Normans and Gentlemen of France did Certainly We are told by most Writers that in this Fight the English Arrows fell so thick among the French and did so sting torment and fright them that many Men rather than endure them leapt desperately into the Sea To which the Words of this Jester no doubt alluded And without all question the Guns which are used now adays are neither so terrible in Battle nor do such Execution nor work such Confusion as Arrows can do For Bullets being not seen only hurt where they hit but Arrows enrage the Horse and break the Array and terrifie all that behold them in the Bodies of their Neighbours Not to say that every Archer can shoot Thrice to a Gunners once and that whole Squadrons of Bows may let fly at one time when only one or two Files of Musqueteers can discharge at once Also that whereas Guns are useless when your Pikes joyn because they only do execution point blank the Arrows which will kill at Random may do good service even behind your Men of Arms And it is notorious that at the famous Battle of Lepanto the Turkish Bows did more mischief than the Christian Artillery Besides it is not the least observable that whereas the Weakest may use Guns as well as the Strongest in those Days your lusty and tall Yeomen were chosen for the Bow whose ſ Fabian p. 392. Hose being fastned with one Point and their Jackets long and easie to shoot in they had their Limbs at full liberty so that they might easily draw Bows of great strength and shoot Arrows of a Yard long beside the Head. But to proceed VI. About the same time that King Edward sent the foremention'd Letters into England he also directed others from t Frois c. 50. f. 30. Gaunt to the Earl of Hainalt and those who were besieged within the Castle of Thine certifying them of his Arrival and Success When the Earl heard this News and that the French had received such a Blow at Sea because he could not force the Duke of Normandy to a Battle having at last brought off the Besieged in that manner as we related he decamped and giving his Souldiers leave to depart return'd with all the Lords in his Company to Valenciennes where he feasted them all most magnificently There Jacob van Arteveld once or twice declared openly in the Market-place in the Presence of the Earl of Hainalt the Duke of Brabant and all the Lords and Others who were content to hear him What undoubted Right the King of England had to the Crown of France and of what great Puissance the Three Countries of Flanders Hainalt and Brabant were like to be now that they were surely joyn'd in one indissolvible Bond of Allyance whereof King Edward was the Knot Strength and Stay. And more he spake to this purpose with so much Eloquence and Discretion that all who heard him highly applauded his smooth Language and weighty Reasons Saying that he was both a very good Orator and a most sound and expert Politician and therefore most meet and worthy to Govern all Flanders After this the Lords of the Empire departed severally from Valenciennes having first of all agreed to meet again within eight Days at Gaunt to visit the King of England which they did accordingly He for his part received them gladly and feasted them honourably as also did the Queen in her Apartment And here 't was agreed between King Edward and the Lords of Germany that a General Council should be held at Villenort about their present Affairs for which a certain Day was appointed and Notice given to all the Allies to meet accordingly Now the King of England as he had formerly made a Promise to the Flemings had brought over with him certain Bishops and very many Priests and Deacons u Mezeray 2 part 3 tom 16 pag. who being less scrupulous than the Priests of Flanders
notwithstanding the Popes Interdict open'd the Churches there and celebrated Divine Service without the least hesitation Whereupon the Fears of the Flemings were abated as such whom the Pope himself so much above all others could not materially endammage The mean while the French King having understood for certain of his great Loss at Sea brake up and dislodged from before Thine with his Son the Duke of Normandy at the same time that the Earl of Hainalt departed on the other side and drew towards Arras the chief City of Artois having dismist the greater Part of his Forces till they might hear other news from him But immediatly he sent the Lord Godmar du Fay with a good Number of Men of Arms to the City of Tournay to look that nothing was wanting there for he had an Eye especially upon the Flemings Wherefore he also sent the Lord of Beaujeu to Mortagne to keep the Frontiers against Hainalt and in like manner he provided for St. Omers for Aire for St. Venant and all the Fortresses fronting on Flanders VII It may be remembred that we spake x L. 1. c. 13. §. 9. p. 146. a little before of King Robert of Sicily of whom again we have something more to say his Zeal for the House of France bringing him again in our Way Now this Robert being the Son of Charles the Second King of Sicily and Naples was also nearly alli'd to King Philip of France y Odoric Raynald ad an 1339. §. 39. being his Uncle for his Sister the Lady z Mezeray 2 par 3 tâ—m p. 31. Margaret being formerly given in Marriage to Charles Earl of Valois was by him Mother to the said King Philip. This Robert at that time excelled all the Kings of Christendom in humane Learning especially in the more recondite Parts thereof but chiefly as we have intimated before he addicted himself to the Study of Astrology which he did with so good success that either from the Regular Conclusions of that Science for certainly that Study cannot be called wholly trivial or vain without as much Rashness as Ignorance or by some Natural Impulse or by Divine Direction and Inspiration he drew this for an undoubted Maxim That it was given to King Edward of England to succeed prosperously in all his Personal Undertakings So that both before at Vironfoss as we have related and now also again he warned the French King and his Council that King Philip should by no means adventure a pitch'd Battle where the King of England should be present in Person And besides all this he had such a tender and friendly Regard to the fair Realm of France that he us'd all the means possible to set the two Kings at Unity and when at last he found his Endeavours prove unsuccessfull was passionately concerned at the Destruction which he foresaw was coming upon that Famous Kingdom This Pious and Learned Prince was now with Pope a Labbâ— Chron. Techn ad hunc ann Benedict XII and the College of Cardinals at Avignion before whom with Tears he declared the great Miseries that were like to fall upon France by this War between the two Kings most earnestly desiring them to use their utmost Endeavours to reduce them Both to some Friendly Terms of Agreement The Pope and his Cardinals answer'd That for their Parts they both were and always would be ready with delight to promote so good a Work and would willingly bestow their utmost Labour therein if by any means they might obtain a Hearing Accordingly Letters were prepared and sent to the King of England by two Eminent Cardinals Pedro of St. Praxede and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro who had further Instructions to treat with him about a final Peace But these Endeavours being as useless as many the like before we shall say no more of them at this time CHAPTER the SEVENTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Council of his Friends and Allies at Villenort where the Method of the War is agreed on and St. Omers and Tournay appointed to be at one time besieged II. King Edward sends a Challenge to King Philip with the Answer III. King Edward lays Siege to Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies IV. The Earl of Hainalts Exploits and the Assault of the Flemmings upon Tournay V. King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps at Pont a Bouvines VI. The various Rencounters during the Siege VII An Account of a Parliament held at Westminster VIII Scotland recovers breath and takes Edinburgh by Stratagem other Places by Force IX The English Allies before St. Omers raise their Siege and in a Panick fear fly home X. King Edwards and the French Kings several difficulties at the Siege render them both uneasie XI Dr. Norwich comes with Instructions from the Pope to induce King Edward to a Peace The Lady Jane of Valois obtains from the two Kings a time for a Treaty with the manner thereof and the Articles of the Truce XII Vpon Proclamation of the Truce both Armies break up with divers Descants thereupon XIII In a Parliament at Arras the Truce between the two Kings prolonged for two Years XIV The Year concludes with the Death of sundry Great Personages a Notable Victory obtain'd by the King of Spain over the Moors and the Birth of a Princess of England named Blanch of the Tower. I. NOW the time being come wherein the Great Council at Villenort was appointed to meet there came thither accordingly King Edward with his English Nobles as did also all his Friends and Allies in the Empire and in Flanders namely the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Hainault and the Lord John his Uncle the Marquess of Juliers Earl of Cambridge the Lord Robert of Artois the Earl of Mons the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord of Valkenberg the Earl of Namur Sr. William of Dunort and Jacob van Arteveld with many other Great Personages and three or four Burgesses from every good Town in Flanders In this Parliament there was a perfect Union Alliance and Concord made between the Three Countries of Flanders Brabant and Hainault that from thenceforward each of them should be aiding and assisting to the other and that if any one of them should either make War against or be warred upon by any other Prince or State thon the other two should take the Part of the Third And that if any Quarrel happen between any two of the foresaid Countries then the Third should be taken as Umpire in the case and if so they should not be able to adjust Matters fully then the whole to be left to the Decision of the King of England to whom the last Appeal was to be made And in Confirmation of this Triple League there was a Law Ordained and Established to be common and current thrô the whole Three Countries which was named the Law of the Allies Here also it was determin'd that two Compleat Armies
put all the Infidels to the Sword. This Peters Ancestor Guy of Lusignan King of Jerusalem k Speed p. 477. §. 40. in Ricardo Primo purchased the Island and Kingdom of Cyprus of our Richard the First King of England sirnamed Coeur du Lyon by Exchange for his Kingdom of Jerusalem ever since which it remain'd in the hands of the said Guy and his Descendants II. King Peter came to Avignon l Frois c. 217. about Candlemas in the beginning of this Year of whose Coming the whole Court was glad and most of the Cardinals together with the French King went forth to meet him and conducted him with much Honour to the Popes Palace where they were highly caressed and after a splendid entertainment the two Kings returned to their Lodgings prepared for them in Villeneufe Thus they tarried during all the season of Lent and made frequent Visits to the Pope and discoursed him of many serious Matters concerning which they came thither While the Kings were at Avignon there happen'd a Controversie in Arms which by the Court Martial was adjudged to be tried by Combat between two Noble and Experienced Knights namely Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and Sr. Fulk de Orillac the King of France being to sit as Judge of the Field Both the Knights behaved themselves with that Activity Skill and Resolution that is was no easie matter to say who was the Better So that when after a long and gallant Fight neither had any apparent Advantage of the other and both their Spears and Swords being broken they were proceeding to Pole-Axes King John presently flang down his Wardour and caused the Combat to cease after which He reconciled them together Now the King of Cyprus spake more than once to the Pope his Cardinals and the French King That it would be both an exceeding Honour and Advantage for all Christendom if some Powerfull Christian King would undertake to lead the Way over the Sea and rear his Banners against the Enemies of the Christian Faith who for want of such Opposition overran all Asia and hung now like a dreadfull Storm over Europe These Words the French King consider'd well and resolved with Himself if he might live Three Years longer to be One among the Foremost in this Holy Expedition not only out of a pious Consideration backed with the Words of the Pope and the King of Cyprus but also for two other Respects the one because his Father King Philip had made a Vow so to do to the m Odâ—r Rainal ad hunc an §. 14 Breach whereof he constantly attributed all the Miseries which had befell France since that time and the other that by so doing he should not only drain his own Country of those Evil Companions who harassed his People without any just Title or Pretence but also thereby prove an Instrument of saving their Souls by making them draw their Swords in the more righteous Cause of Christ These were his Reasons and this his Resolution which he kept secret to himself till Good-Fryday at which time Pope Vrban himself preached in his Chappel at Avignon in the Presence of both the Kings of Cyprus and of Frâ—nce and also of Waldemar King of Denmark who was newly come thither for the same purpose Sermon ended the French King in great Devotion stept forth and professed himself a Champion of Christ and took upon him the Croisade which he solemnly sware personally to set about and to begin the Voyage within two Years from that Time it n Pascha 2 Apr. Lit. Dom. A. being then the last of March. He also requested the Pope to yield his Consent and Furtherance thereto and by his Bulls to authorise this his pious Undertaking The Pope not only most readily agreed to this Request but also granted him his Pontifical Diploma Dat. Aven Pridie Kal. April Anno Pontif. I. Wherein he constitutes him Governour and Captain General of all the Christian Armies and produces these three Causes of that Expedition First the Indignity of the Matter that Christians should suffer those places which our Saviour had honoured with his Footsteps and the Mysteries of our Redemption to be defiled and trodden down of the Mahometans also the seasonable Occasion of Recovering Syria now that the strength of the Saracens was exhausted with a Pestilence and lastly the great Necessity of repressing the growing Tyranny of the Turks when 't was to be feared that all Christendom would be a prey unto them unless their Fury should meet with a timely Check Talayrand the Cardinal of Perigort was the Popes Legate in this Holy Expedition and then Methods were taken how to support the Design with Tithes and other pecuniary Collections the Prelates were commanded to publish this Croisade from their Pulpits and to distinguish those who took it upon them with the Sign of the Cross And then Excommunication and an Anathema was set forth against them who should offer to disswade the French King from his pious Design of recovering Syria On which account circular Letters were sent and solemn Prayers were appointed to engage the Divine Assistance The Pope also sent his Letters to the Emperour Charles to King Edward of England to Lewis of Hungary and to other Kings and Princes that they would now employ all their power and Conduct toward the reducing of Asia unto Christ and because King John could not conveniently set forth till about two Years after by reason that his Realm was so unsettled and he could not in less time finish his Musters and other vast Preparations thereupon wherefore he tied himself to a certain Day which was to be the Kalends of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand three Hundred Sixty and five The King of Cyprus resolved in the mean time to go about and visit all the great Courts in Europe and as he should succeed to go over before the King of France to whom the Pope o â—dâ—r Rain ad hâ—nc ann §. 19. promised considerable Assistance And thus a mighty Resolution was taken up and the Cross of Jerusalem was worn by John King of France Waldemar King of Denmark and Peter King of Cyprus p Freis c. 217. also by Talayrand commonly called the Cardinal of Perigort thô he was Earl of Perigort and Bishop Cardinal of Alba the same was done by the Earl of Artois and the Earl of Eu the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and the Grand Prior of France and many other Lords and Knights then and there present The King of Cyprus was extreamly overjoy'd at the great Zeal he found in all these Christian Worthies and thought his Journey well bestow'd in so great a purchase towards the Advancement of Religion But yet not content with this he design'd to proceed and visit Charles the Emperour and all the Princes and Chief Lords of the Empire he intended likewise to see the King of England the Prince of Wales
and all other Potentates of Christendom to stir them up singly at least to a Contribution in Men or Money toward so pious and general an Undertaking And the Pope gave him many Absolutions and Pardons and full Authority to publish them the better to encline all Devout persons to joyn with him in so Holy and Meritorious a Cause as it was in those Days accounted And surely the King of Cyprus wherever he went easily engaged the Love of all Men for besides the Reputation which he had got in Arms and that himself had long been a Souldier in the same Quarrel he gave such good Reasons and spake so elegantly and perswaded so pathetically that all Men of War had far rather hear him than a Sermon of the Pope's to that purpose And so on this point they rested Having therefore thus forwarded his Business here he took his leave saying how he would go and visit the Emperour and the Lords of the Empire and promised to return thither again by Brabant Flanders and Hainalt and so he was dismist by the Pope and the French King who both acquitted themselves towards him very honourably the latter presenting him with many rich Gifts and Jewels and the former with Pardons Absolutions and Indulgences for Him and all his Men which as the Superstition of the Times went were no less Valuable After the King of Cyprus his Departure whom the King of Denmark accompanied King John also took his leave of the Pope and went to Mompellier to visit Languedoc for he had not been in those Parts of many Years before III. The mean while the King of Cyprus rode so long by his Journeys till he came to Prague the chief City of Bohemia where the Emperour then was of whom he was graciously received as also of all the Lords of the Empire there present It is said q Panâ—taleâ—n de Ord. Johannitarum Rebus Geslis l. 4. p. 102. that the Emperour told the King of Cyprus That he applauded his Words and approved of the Popes pious Endeavours as also of the French Kings Resolution and of the King of Denmarks and that for his own part he neither wanted Wealth nor Will to set about the Holy War if he thought it would really be so much for the Benefit of Christendom to shed the Blood of many good Men for the Affairs of Syria that it was impossible to recover those Countries without much Destruction of Christian People of which Slaughter to make no account was the part rather of an Hangman than of a Prince That moreover a Country so surrounded with Enemies if it should be won could not by any be long retain'd in Obedience wherefore to him it seem'd not the part of a Christian to seek the purchase of so little false Glory with the hazard of so many Lives But however lest any should imagin that he declin'd these Matters upon the account of Frugality he offer'd the King of Cyprus as much Money as might probably suffice for that War which he presently caused to be paid unto him The Emperours Liberality was imitated by the Dukes of Bavaria Austria and Saxony his Brethren the Marquess of Moravia and the Duke of Luxemburgh and others of all whom he received considerable Sums of Gold Three Weeks he tarried at Prague labouring all the while to bring over Proselytes to his intended Expedition against the Infidels and wherever he went while he was within the Bounds of the Empire his Charges were born by the Emperour After this he rode into the Dukedom of Juliers and thence into Brabant where he was received with much Honour by the Duke and Dutchess and highly entertain'd in their chief City of Brussels with Feastings Justs Tourneaments and other Princely Diversions and at his Departure he was largely presented with Jewels and other rich Gifts and after all he went into the Earldom of Flanders to visit Earl Lewis who treated him with great Magnificence at Bruges and in all things gave him full Satisfaction Here he staid therefore the remaining part of the Summer still minding the main Business for which he had left his own Country and earnestly exhorting the Earl and other Lords and Gentlemen to embarque in the same Bottom with him where Christ and his Holy Vicar were sure to be the Pilots and Earthly Honour and Immortal Glory lay ready for them at the end of their Voyage And all the Lords that heard him approved of his Words and declared themselves willing to follow him IV. The mean while King Edward had dealt very Graciously with all the French Hostages but especially r Frois c. 218. unto Four of the Chief of them he shew'd Great Favour namely unto the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon For he permitted these Four Princes to reside at Calais for such a time and during their stay there each of them to have four days liberty to ride abroad into the French Pale on the Marches of Calais provided that at the end of four days they return'd to Calais by Sun-setting And this Grace the King allow'd with a Good Design that so having some opportunity to be near their Friends they might the sooner gather up the Money still remaining due for King John's Ransom and thereby release themselves and their fellow Hostages These Four Lords being thus at Calais sent frequent Messengers to the French King and to the Duke of Normandy desiring them to make quick dispatch in working their Delivery as they had promised and sworn unto them when they went Hostages into England For if they were neglected any longer they were resolved to look to look to themselves because as they said they were not properly Prisoners but only sureties for another And that if the Principal would not concern himself to perform the Covenants for which they were Pledges it would be high time to shift as well as they could for themselves Thus eager were the Young Princes to be at liberty but King John and the Duke of Normandy and their Council were so deeply taken up in Matters of a more pressing Nature what in preparing for the Croisade and what for other Wars which the Inconstant King of Navarre began again to renew in France having already sent into Lombardy for certain Troops of the Companions to come to his Assistance that they had no leisure as then to take the Remonstrance of these Dukes into consideration or to send them any satisfactory Answer Whereupon the Duke of Anjou being young and angry and neither well considering his Fathers Honour nor his own took the opportunity one of the Four Days allow'd him to ride clear off whereat King John was infinitely displeased V. By this time the King of Cyprus having dispatch'd his Affairs with the Earl of Flanders came at last to Calais where he found the remaining three French Dukes of Orleans Berry and Bourbon the Duke of Anjou being as we shew'd newly escaped away These
of Clequin takes St. Benoist by Assault and puts all within to the Sword He takes Marans by Composition and Surgeres he finds void He takes Fontenay le Comté and sits down before Thoüars which obtains a Truce on promise to yield if not rescued by such a Day by the King of England or one of his Sons in Person The Captal of Busche brought Prisoner to Paris his Loyalty to the English for which he is confin'd for Life his Praise and Nobility and that he was Ancestor to Lewis XIV the present King of France XIX King Edward upon News from Thoüars resolves to go in Person to the Rescue and the mean while calls his Parliament and declares Richard of Bourdeaux the Black-Prince's only Son to have the Right of Succession after the Death of his Father and Grandfather and so leaving the said Prince Richard his Lieutenant during his Absence he sets Sail for Rochelle with a mighty Army XX. The French King prepares to oppose and the Loyal Lords of Gascogne to joyn him with all their Strength XXI But the Wind continuing adverse for a Month he is disappointed and forced to return into England XXII The English and Gascogne Lords offer themselves to save Thoüars but are not accepted because the Conditions required the King or one of his Sons to be there in Person XXIII Thoüars yielded to the French Mortagne besieged by the Lord. Clisson who leaves the Siege upon the Approach of the English Succours XXIV The Duke of Bretagne enters Alliance with King Edward and is made Earl of Richmond John of Gaunt resigning that Earldom upon an Equivalent XXV Prince Edward surrenders into his Fathers Hands the Principality of Aquitain The Death of the Earl of Stafford of Sr. William Molineux and of Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller I. THIS being the first Inauspitious Year of our Great Edwards Reign was begun with the Death of two Famous Peers of this Realm For first a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 186. Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 1075. on the 16 of January there died the Valiant Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Northampton Hereford and Essex and Constable of England the Tenth of that Name and the last Male of that Noble Family For by the Lady Joan his Wife Daughter to Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel he left Issue only two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Eleanor who became the Wife of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Woodstock the Youngest Son of King Edward and the Lady Mary who was Wife to the Eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster called Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby and afterwards by Usurpation King of England by the Name of Henry the IV. This Earl is also said in a certain b M.S. Penes D. Ed. D. Mil. de Sharsted in Cantio private Genealogy which I have seen to have left behind him another Daughter named Beatrix which is there pretended to have been married to an Ancestor of that Family But this is a gross Error and Mistake and a Vanity worthy to be corrected thô here I spare the Gentlemans Name since it contradicts c Dugd. ibid. Mills ibid. Sandford Gen. Hist p. 227. c. all the Publique and Authentick Accounts that are any where to be met with About the same time viz. on the 15 of January d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. Frois c. 296. Lit. Dom. DC being a Thursday and the Day after the Feast of St. Hilary the Bishop and Confessor there died in the City of London that most Generous and Couragious Gentleman the Lord Walter Manny Banneret and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind him the Lady Anne his only Daughter and Heir then married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke she being at that time but Seventeen Years of Age. At this Mans Death King Edward and all the Lords of England were mightily concerned because of the extraordinary Judgment Loyalty and Courage that had always been found in him He was therefore e â—anford Gen. Hist p. 207. 208. Stow's Survey p. 478. Dugd. c. buried with great Solemnity in his own Chappel of the Carthusians now called the Charter-House in London King Edward and all his Children the Great Prelates of the Church and the Brethren of the Order of the Garter with many of the Chief Barons of the Realm honouring his Funeral Rites with their Prefence He died f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. siezed of the Mannor of Dunstaple in Kent of Dovercourt Chesterford Magna and Rumford in Essex of Weston and Knebworth in Hertfordshire of the Castle of Strigoile and Mannor of Tudenham in the Marches of Wales of the Mannors of North Pidele in Worcestershire of Bretteby in Darbyshire of Oneston and Barton-Hanrede in Northamtonshire of Scottesdon in Shropshire of Aspele Alspathe Thurlaston and Fleckenho in Warwickshire of Cold-Overton Dalby Segrave Sileby Montsorrel Groby Witherdale and the Hundred of Goscote in Leicestershire of Watton and Stoneham in Suffolk of Framlingham Southfield Lodden the Moiety of the Mannor of Dikelburgh and Half-Hundred of Ersham in Norfolk and of a certain Mannor in Penne near Beaconfield in Buckinghamshire All which Possessions except the Mannor of Dunstaple first mentioned came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Uncle to King Edward the Third Of her Body he gat besides a Son unhappily drown'd in his Childhood only one Daughter namely the Lady Anne married as we said before to the Earl of Pembroke Whereupon all these Lands and others as well in England as beyond the Seas in Hainalt his Native Country besides what King Edward g Vid. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 6. §. 20. p. 411. had given unto him in Calais and other Parts of France fell now unto the said Earl of Pembroke in Right of his Wife the Lady Anne Manny aforesaid Wherefore soon after the said Earl sent two of his Knights to make Seisin of the said Lands belonging unto him in Hainalt and they did their Devoir so well with Duke Albret of Bavaria who then Governed for his Distracted Brother William that they attained their Purpose II. Now thô King h Ashmâ—le's Garter p. 666. Edward design'd to enter France with two Fresh Armies this Year yet upon the Pope's earnest request both by Letters and Messages he first endeavour'd to lay hold of an Honourable Peace To which end i 19 Febr. Rot. Franc. 46 Ed. 3. m. 47. Power of treating thereon was given to Simon Sudbury alià s Tibald Bishop of London to the Lord Guy Brian and the Lord Roger Beauchamp Bannerets to Sr. Arnold Savage Knight Dr. John Appleby Dean of London and John de Branketre Treasurer of York And the k 20 Febr. ibid. m. 48. next day the King granted his Letters of safe Conduct for the Ambassadors of France to treat about that Affair But because nothing as to
Peace was now done we shall proceed orderly to the War. All this Winter l Frois c. 296. c. Gallicè f. 244. there were held in England by the King many Consultations how to carry on the War the Summer following for he design'd to send two Powerfull Armies the One to act about the Parts of Aquitaine and the other from Calais to March thrô Picardy into France And all the while he neglected not to Establish himself with Friends on every side as well in Almaine as the Marches of the Empire where he purchas'd many good Knights and Esquires to his Service And befides all this in England he made such Wonderfull Preparations that the like had hardly been seen before But it seems that God Almighty was willing to prepare this Glorious Monarch by some sensible Affliction for his final Dissolution and that He might by observing his own Weakness fall to a due Consideration of Gods Power and learn to despise the salse Grandeur and Painted Glories of the World he was pleased from this time to blast both his maturest Counsels and his strongest Preparations whereby as a Father doth his Child he weaned him from the Delights and Allurements of this Life and directed him to seek after a better For to say the Truth We cannot till this time Date the Full Birth of King Edward's Misfortunes But from henceforward We shall see his Great Web of Victories continually to unravel and the strong spring of his Success to run backwards with much more speed than ever it was wound up King Charles m Frois ibid. of France was perfectly informed of all King Edward's most secret Resolutions whereupon he provided in all Places accordingly And first he mightily fortified all his Towns Cities and Castles in Picardy and the Marches towards Flanders supplying all his Garrisons with good Captains and Souldiers and other necessaries Nor did he forget his Concerns in Guienne but besides the Armies on that side in Garrison which were able to resist any Encounter after his usual way of Artifice he tamper'd secretly with the Chief Burgesses of Rochelle and other Places and sent also to his New Confederate the King of Spain desiring him effectually to assist him with a strong Fleet the next Summer III. On the other hand King Edward when the Spring was enter'd and he had magnificently solemnised the Feast of St. George as was his constant Custom at Windsor having created Sr. Guischard Dangle Knight of the Garter in the Room of Sr. Walter Manny deceased return'd to London and at his Royal Palace at Westminster held a Great Council about the Affairs of his Realm Here he ordain'd the Duke of Lancaster as his Lieutenant to invade France with a great Army by the Plains of Picardy the Earl of Cambridge being to attend him Then at the instant request of the Lord Guischard Dangle and all the Poictevin Lords whom he and his fellows represented he order'd the Earl of Pembroke n Rot. Vasc 46. Ed. 3. m. 4. as his Lieutenant in Aquitaine to go into Poictou to preserve that Country and to make Powerfull War against the French on that side For the Gascogners and Poictevins had earnestly requested of the King both by their Letters and the Mouth of Sr. Guischard Dangle that if he could not spare some One of the Princes his Sons yet at least he would send the Earl of Pembroke unto them whom next to those they lov'd and honour'd most as having had good Experience of his Extraordinary Courage and Conduct Hereupon King Edward before all his Barons and Knights then assembled in Council said unto the Earl of Pembroke who thô now Husband to the Lord Manny's Daughter had for his first Wise a Daughter of the Kings My Fair Son John I here appoint You as my Lieutenant and Commander in Chief over all Aquitaine to go into Poictou along with my Lord Guischard of Angoulesme and there to be Captain of all my Forces as well of those whom I shall send with You as of such whom You shall find there ready to joyn You who are no small Number as I am credibly informed The young Earl kneeling down said Sir I heartily thank your Majesty for the great Honour You are pleased to confer upon me thô I should be glad to be employ'd in your Majesties Service either there or elsewhere as One of the meanest Officers of your Army IV. These Orders being thus settled and due Care taken for all things to be ready against the time appointed the Council brake up and the King return'd to his Beloved Seat of Windsor He took along with him among others the Noble Poictevin Lord Sr. Guischard Dangle with whom he frequently spake of the Affairs of Poictou and Guienne Sr. Guischard advis'd the King by no means to doubt the Loyalty of his Good Subjects there For Sir said he as soon as my Lord of Pembroke shall but once appear he shall find a Considerable Army in the Field to joyn him For We shall make up to the Number of Four or Five Hundred Spears at least with their several Retinues all at Your Majesties Service to live and die for You so they may have their Wages duly paid them Sr. Guischard Sr. Guischard reply'd the King take You no Care for Gold and Silver to maintain the War when You are once come thither For I thank God I have enough and I am well content to bestow it on such a Commodity as the Glory and Advantage of Me and my Kingdom In such o Frois c. 297. sed Gallicè fol. 244. b. Discourse the King past the time with Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he entirely respected and credited no less as indeed he deserved till the Fleet was ready and the Earl of Pembroke came thither to take his leave of the King in order to his going on Board The Captains that accompanied him were the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Thomas of St. Albans Sr. John Lawton Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John Curson Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Grimston all Knights of England besides the Poictovins as the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinan the Lord John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and others but they had no great Company with them because Sr. Guischard Dangle had advis'd the King not to exhaust England of her Best Men at that time when there were enough ready to fight for him in Poictou provided he sent over sufficient for their Wages All the Captains and their Men were order'd to repair to Southampton where they were fain to tarry no less than fifteen days in expectance of a Wind and then they went on Board with a good merry Gale and set sail for Poictou as they said in the Name of God and St. George but most certainly in an unlucky Hour For King Charles of France being either inform'd of all this or thrô his great Insight into Matters guessing how things would fall or thrô doubt