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
would there shortly return them such an Answer as should appear reasonable After this Answer having been first entertain'd with a Dinner in the Kings Chamber they departed from Windsor took up their lodging for that night at Colbrook and the next day went for London A few days after the King return'd to his Palace at Westminster and a certain Day was prefix'd to all his Council to attend him there The Council being sat the Embassadors of France were called in who again told the substance of their Message and withall deliver'd to the King their Masters Letters which he had refused to meddle with before They were thereupon order'd to withdraw while the Business was brought under Debate Some of the Lords alledged That in right of Queen Isabell his Mother the Crown of France belonged unto him and that therefore he ought not only not to acknowledge any Fealty at all but also openly to put forth his Claim to what was so evidently his Due But however pleasingly this struck upon the Spirit of King Edward yet the Major part of his Council were of the mind That it was too early for the King to embarque himself in so hazardous an Affair the Enemy being at that time so potent the Realm at home in a manner unsettled and the King himself under Age. However that hereby his Right and future Claim might not be prejudiced the King immediately b Ex Informatione per R. Edvardi nuntios Papae exhibita in Bened. Tom. 6. post Epist secr 302. in Bibl. Vatican apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1340. §. 9. vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 14. constituted one of his Council his Procurator in that Part by whom before all his Council he protested openly and expresly That for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by King Edward of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu he did not nor would intend to Renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the same Right to derogate even althô thereupon Letters should afterward be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Loosing the said Dukedom and Earldom and because he feared that unless he should do Homage unto the said Philip he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the confirmation of the Premises King Edward caused his said Procurator to take an Oath upon his Soul by laying hands on the Holy Gospell before all those of his Council present This Caution being made it was agreed That Doctor Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London a well-spoken Man should answer these Ambassadors for the King That He was ready in all Points to do as the Kings his Predecessors had done Then the Frenchmen being call'd in the Bishop spake in this manner Lords and Gentlemen Ambassadors from the Crown of France the Kings Majesty my Soveraign Lord hath heard your Message and read your Letters My Lords and Gentlemen our Master here present hath by Advice of his Council consented to go personally into France c Frois c. 24. to visit the King your Master his Dear Cozen who hath so kindly invited him And you are required to shew unto the King your Master that as to the Faith and Homage demanded he will do his Devoir in all that shall concern him And that he intends the first Opportunity to pass over into France to perform what shall appear equitable So having been well entertain'd and rewarded by the King with many gifts and Jewels of great value they left England returning with this Answer to their Lord at Paris King Philip was well pleas'd with the News not only because he saw so considerable a Monarch so ready to submit to him but because he had a great curiosity to see him whom he had heard to be a Prince of singular Majesty and Beauty That himself therefore might appear in more Pomp or to the intent to have more notable Witnesses of this Homage thus to be done to his own Person or to dazzle and awe the mind of the Young King with the number and greatness of his Friends and Allies He immediately directs his Letters to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia his Cozen and to the Kings of Navarre and Majorica certifying them of the time and place where and when the King of England was to do him Homage and desiring them by no means to fail of giving him the Honour of their company To which Letters they all severally agreed and came into France accordingly attended with an honourable Equipage Besides all the Peers Earls Barons and chief Lords of France as if to out-rival the English Nation resolv'd to be present at this Solemnity in the most gallant and splendid manner The place appointed for the performance of this Action was the great City of Amiens in Picardy wherein there was Extraordinary provision made for this August Appearance For the several Kings were made ready great Chambers Halls and Dining-Rooms The Inns and other of the best Lodgings were order'd to entertain the Dukes of Burgundy Burbon and Lorrain and the Lord Robert of Artois a mighty Favourite of King Philip's with the rest of the Peers of France and Princes of the Blood. There was also provision made for a thousand Horse-strangers besides six hundred Horse which they expected would come over with the King of England But He for his part exceeded herein their Expectation for He came attended with Dr. Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln all right politick Prelates There were also four Earls Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Lord Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Uncles Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Claus 3. Edw. 3. n. 35 not then of full Age and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex with the Lord Henry Plantaginet afterwards Earl of Derby the Kings Cozen the Lord William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury Reginald Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Nevil the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord John Moubray beside more than fourty other Knights and a thousand Horse of War. And thus having appointed his Brother the Lord John sirnamed of Eltham and now Earl of Cornwall his Lieutenant and Custos of the Realm during his Absence He took the sea at Dover with all this Company but was two Days upon the Water before he landed at Whitsand near Calais whence he went to Boloigne where he tarried one day to refresh himself It was now about the middle of August when King Philip hearing of his Arrival immediately dispatch'd away the Constable of France with a good company of
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
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
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
to this Point may refer themselves to the Authors quoted in the Margin of this latter part of the Chapter CHAPTER the FOURTH The CONTENTS I. AN. DOM. 1359. An. Regni Franciae XX. Angliae XXXIII A Method of Agreement pitch'd upon by the two Kings but rejected by the French Parliament whereupon King Edward resolves for War. II. St. Valery yielded up to the French. Prince Philip coming too late to its Rescue hardly gets off well III. Sr. Peter Audley attempts Chalons but gains little IV. The Earl of Roucy taken by the Navarrois a second time V. Melun besieged but the Quarrel is ended by the Reconciliation of the King of Navarre and the Regent VI. The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt taken Prisoner by the French. VII A strange Judgment upon a 〈◊〉 for Sacrilege VIII The Garrisons of the Navarrois decline suddenly IX Vpon the Death of Sr. Peter Audley Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt is redeemed by the English Navarrois and made their Captain X. Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition he retires being overmatched Submits to the King and obtains his Pardon XI The Flemings revolt from King Edward XII A solemn Just held by King Edward his Four 〈◊〉 and Nineteen Great Lords in the name and stead of the Lord Mayor and Aldâ—râ—â—â— of London XIII John of Gaunt marries the Duke of Lancasters Daughter XIV King Edward chooses the place of his Sepulture in Westminster Abbey I. NOW on the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24th of June the Truce between England and France which from the Battle of Poictiers had been continued till then with expectation that a full Peace should be established thereby was wholly a Frois c. 2â—1 f. 107. â— expired And thereupon all the Garrisons in France as well Navarrois as English began to make War in the Title of King Edward as before most of them had done in the Title of the King of Navarre who was now again outwardly reconciled to the Dauphin But least any way should be left untir'd for the prevention of those Miseries which are necessarily attendant upon War. Some Months before the Expiration of the said Truce King b 〈◊〉 f. ibid. Dâ— Chesne p. 681. D. 〈…〉 lyd 〈…〉 19 p. 3â—3 Edward with his Son the Black-Prince and King John with the Lord James of Bourbon held a friendly Treaty at London between themselves only Where at last a Peace was consented to and agreed on between both the Parties on these Conditions viz. 1. That Aquitain should remain entirely to King Edward and his Heirs for ever together with Gascogne Poictou Touraine Santogne Perigort Quercy Limosin Angoulesmois Calais Guisnes Boulonois and the Earldom of Ponthieu without any Resort or Homage or Tribute to be paid therefore even as Absolutely as he held his Kingdom of England 2. Item That King John should pay four Millions of Crowns of Gold for the Ransom of Himself and the other French Lords Prisoners that is to say three Millions for Himself and the Fourth for the Lords of France In Consideration of all which King Edward would give over and wholly remit all his Right in and to the Dutchy of Normandy Anjou and Maine and renounce and lay aside the Right which he had to that Crown and never after take upon him the Stile Quality or Title of King of France This Agreement was Signed and Sealed by both the Kings on the 24 of March and a Copy thereof sent into France to the Duke of Normandy by the Lord James of Bourbon and the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan which latter was still a Prisoner and lately before returned into England having obtained leave to visit France upon Parole These Lords crossing the Seas landed at Boulogne whence they rode to Paris where they found the Duke of Normandy and his Council together with the King of Navarre unto whom they produced King Johns Letters The Regent having perused them asked Counsel of the King of Navarre who remitted him to the Three Estates who being assembled it seem'd unto them that the Conditions of the Agreement were too grievous to be born whereupon with one Voice the King of Navarre and the Dauphin also concurring they returned this final Answer unto the two Lords That the Contents of the Letters which they had brought were so prejudicial to them and to their Country that they had much rather endure far greater misery than they had already done than ever suffer so considerable a loss and empairment of the Realm of France and that they could not either in Honour or Conscience desire the Liberty of their King himself when it could not be effected without Enslaving the Kingdom When this Answer was brought to King John into England he shook his Head for Anger and said Ah! Son Charles Son Charles You are lead by the King of Navarre who is too cunning for you and will deceive Fourty such as you are And therewithall turning to King Edward who was present he said Sir the fatal Obstinacy of my infatuated People is providing another Trophy for your Victorious Arms You must again shew them the Effects of War before they will understand the Advantages of Peace But thrice-unhappy I who cannot be at Liberty till I see my Subjects once more vanquished nor can oblige them to their Duty but by the Arms of my Conquerour King Edward was of himself sufficiently enraged at this Dealing of the French and sware that when the Truce was expired They should see War in the Bloodiest shape that he could dress it in Surely said he before next Winter be past over I shall invade the Realm of France with such a Power and shall tarry there so long that I will either end the War to my Satisfaction or make Peace to my Pleasure and Honour And then he sent Word to the Dauphin to look to Himself for when the Truce was out he would most certainly give him a Visit at Paris to see how able he was for a War which himself had thus pull'd upon his own Head. At which time he set about the greatest Preparations that ever he had made before in all his Life About which we shall now leave him for a while and resume somewhat of those Matters which we left unfinished in the preceding Year II. We then shew'd as we remember how the c Frois 〈◊〉 1â—â— f. 1â—4 Constable of France and the Earl of St. Paul with the Lords and Knights of Picardy Artois Ponthieu and Boulonois had sat down before St. Valery where they held a long and hard Siege and made many brisk Assaults employing at the same time Engines of Battery and other Instruments of War. Among other Chances that fell during this Siege it happen'd that the Lord of Baugency approaching the Castle one day in a Vessel to consider of its Strength that way was stricken with a Springal and slain Wherefore this Siege continued from the beginning of August 1358 untill March this Year the besiegers designing to reduce the Place by
making his Complaint that Sr. John to build this House had pulled down many small ones which paid him Tithes the King ordained that House to pay the Parson in lieu thereof 40 s. per annum for ever On the x Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. c. 28 of the said Month died the Noble and Valiant Lord Thomas Holland Knight also of the Garter and in Right of his Wife Earl of Kent and Lord Wake thô it doth not appear that ever he had any Creation to that Dignity His Wife was that celebrated Beauty of the Age Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent Daughter of Edmund Plantagenet Sirnamed of Woodstock Earl of Kent and after the Death of her two Brothers Edmund and John who died successively without Issue Countess of Kent But Common Historians call her Countess of Salisbury the small Foundation whereof We shall now examine This Lord Thomas Holland y Liber Islep dict in Arch. Cantuar. Bibl. Vid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. had first made a Contract with her upon which as he afterwards alledged Carnal Knowledge did ensue Whereupon understanding while he was in France that William the second Earl of Salisbury had a purpose to Wed her by his Petition to Pope Clement VI he complain'd of this injurious Design fairly representing his own Precontract and the knowledge he thereupon had of her But that for all this the said Earl taking Advantage of his Absence in Foreign Parts had made a second Contract with her and unjustly detain'd her from him At this his Holiness having sully discussed the Matter gave Sentence for him and accordingly he enjoy'd her the Earl of Salisbury as it seems acquiescing therein by an after Matriage z Catal. Honor. p. 1044. with Elizabeth second Daughter of John Lord Mohun of Dunstor Castle By this Princely Paragon he left behind him a Catal. Honor. p. 765. two Sons Thomas Holland Earl of Kent who lived many Years after John Holland in time Earl of Huntington and Duke of Excester and a Daughter Maud first Wife of Peter Courtney Nephew of Hugh Courtney first Earl of Devonshire and after his decease Married to Valeran Earl of St. Paul. The Incomparable Widow Mother of these Children was now about two and Thirty Years of Age but her Vertues were so singular and her Charms so strong and attractive that still she made shift to Captive no less a Man than him that had taken King John Prisoner for the Black-Prince took her to Wife the Year following as in due place We shall see At this time b Odor Rainal ad an 1360. §. 13. Hugh King of Cyprus died leaving his Kingdom and the Defence thereof to his Son Peter Hugh the Son of an Elder Son Guy being put by This King Peter was a Man of great Valour and Fortune in the Wars against the Saracens of whom We shall shortly have an occasion to take some Notice CHAPTER the SEVENTH AN. DOM. 1361. An. Regni Angliae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward causes all his Lords and Prelates to swear to uphold the Peace and sends Ambassadors to the Pope for a confirmation of all II. The manner of King John's Reception at Paris after his long Imprisonment III. The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of King Edward's Government IV. King Edward being put in Possession of all the Lands which were to fall to him by the Treaty makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in those parts the said Lords Praise and Character V. The English Garrisons deliver'd up to the French King many of the common Souldiers whereof joyning together turn Robbers They begin to do much mischief about Champaigne and Burgundy VI. King John sends against them the Lord James of Bourbon whom they overthrow VII Their formidable Progress the Pope fearing their Insolence procures them to be drawn off into Italy VIII A second Great Plague in England the strange Prodigies forerunning it It s excessive Fury it sweeps away the Good Duke of Lancaster the Lord John Moubray and Three other Lords with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh IX The Black-Prince Marries the Lady Joan Countess of Kent X. Prince Lionel made the Kings Lieutenant of Ireland with his Behaviour in that Place XI King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign I. KING Edward of England a Walsing hist p. 170. n. 40. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 231. having kept his Christmass in great Splendor at Woodstock near Oxford went after the Holydays to his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him at Westminster on the b Stow p. 264. 24th of January Where he communicated unto the Three Estates all the Articles and the whole Process of the Peace which he had made with the King of France Both Houses were entirely satisfied with the whole Affair and on the last of January the Archbishop of Canterbury with great Solemnity celebrated the Mass of the Holy Trinity returning Thanks to Almighty God in which Service there was this small but comprehensive Scripture c 2 Cor. c. 13. v. 11 c. Brethren rejoyce be Perfect be of good Comfort be of one Mind live in Peace And the God of Love and Peace shall be with you The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen After Mass the King and his Sons standing up in presence of the French Hostages Torches being lighted and Crosses held over the Eucharist and Missale all those of the Peers who had not sworn already to keep the Peace took now their Oath which also they read from Papers or Scrolls written and signed with their own Hands the Archbishop beginning thus viz. We Simon Archbishop of Canterbury do swear upon the Holy Body of God and his Holy Gospel firmly as much as in Vs lies to keep the Peace and Concord agreed on between the two Kings and to do nothing contrary thereto This being done every Man as he had taken the Oath gave up his Paper to the Kings Notaries to be laid up as a Witness to Posterity After the same Method King John made his Lords and Estates of Parliament to swear to uphold the said Peace to their Power and thereupon sent his Ambassadors to the Pope for his Apostolical Sanction and surer confirmation thereof As also King Edward did the like on his part and among his Ambassadors We find the Lord Guy d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. Brian to be One. And thus at last was this Peace as fully established and as strongly bound on Earth as Humane Wisdom or Authority could Devise or secure II. But we should say something more particularly of the French King and his Affairs We waited on him from Calais to Boulogne and there left him thô he did not stay long in that place for in the e Frois c. 214. beginning
of November he went thence to Monstrevil and thence Four Leagues farther to Hesdin and so to the Good City of Amiens where he tarried almost till Christmas On St. Thomas his Day being a Monday he rode thence to Paris where he was Honourably received of the Clergy with solemn Processions and the Universal Joy of all the People who convey'd him with great Demonstrations of Loyal Affection to his Palace Here He and his Son Philip and the rest of the Cavalcade alighted a most Royal and Magnificent Dinner being prepared for them But it is not my business to declare with what Welcome the French King was received by all manner of People at his return into his Realm For he was indeed a Better Prince than One would guess by his Ill-Fortune and had now been a Prisoner no less than Four Years One Month and six Days viz. from the 19 of September 1356 on which day the Battle of Poictiers was fought to the 25 of October 1360 when he was fully acquitted and went from Calais to Boulogne Wherefore his presence was much desired of all his Subjects and they welcom'd him where e'r he came with shouts and Viveleroys and presents of Gold and Silver and other Fair and Rich Gifts And the Prelates and Barons of all his Realm came to Paris to Visit and Congratulate him and they entertain'd him with Shews and Feasts and other Diversions to comfort his Mind according to their Duty And the King was hugely pleas'd with these things it being agreeable to have a Right Taste of Recreation after so much and so bitter Affliction III. Soon after this King Edward sent over the Sea such Persons as were Commission'd by Him to take Possession in his Name of those Lands Countries Earldoms Bayliwicks Cities Towns Castles and Forts that were to be deliver'd unto him by Vertue of the Peace and Treaty But this Matter was not over-hastily perform'd for divers Lords in Languedoc would not at first obey the French Kings Orders to yield themselves to hold of the King of England althô King John frankly quitted them of all the Faith Homage and other Tyes wherewith they had been bound unto Him It seem'd so hard to them to forget their Natural Lord and yield to obey Strangers Of this Humor especially were the Lords of the far Marches as the Earl of la Marche the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Chasbeau Darry the Vicount of Carmain the Lord of Pincornet and divers others all who were extreamly surprized that the French King should offer to acquit them of the Resort and Homage which they ow'd to him and enjoyn them to pay it to the King of England And some of them began to argue and said that the King ought not so to acquit them for they affirmed how there were in Gascogne Charters and Privileges above 500 Years old granted unto them by Charlemagne King of France which signified that their Resort and Allegiance should not be put to any other Court but his only And therefore at first they scrupled the Kings Commands but King John who was resolved to hold and perform the Articles of the Peace with all sincerity sent his Dear Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon unto them all severally who by good Words and found Reasons shewing them both the necessity of Affairs and that it was the Kings absolute Pleasure and Resolution perswaded the most part of the said Lords as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord De la Bret the Earl of Foix and many others thô much against their Wills to become Liege-men to the King of England The same Difficulty was found in the parts on the Sea-side as in Poictou Rochellois and Sainctogne Unto them this Composition of their King seem'd very grievous when they saw that thereby they were in a manner cut off from their Natural Country and that they must submit to the Government of strangers But especially the strong City of Rochelle would not of a long while admit of the English Yoke but excus'd themselves unto the King and beg'd earnestly of him still to continue their Protector and they wrote to him in the most endearing manner possible desiring him in their Letters and by their Representatives that for Gods sake he would please never to acquit them of the Faith that they ow'd unto him nor put them out of his Demaine into the hands of Strangers saying how they had rather be Taxed yearly even to the half of their substance than to be subject to the English which was a thing wholly insupportable to all true Frenchmen King John by these their frequent and humble Remonstrances saw well their Faith and Loyalty to him and was very compassionate of their case but he was a Prince of that Honour that he had rather lose half his Kingdom than break his Word and it was his ordinary saying That if Faith and Truth were banished from the rest of Mankind nevertheless they ought to be found in the Mouth of Kings Besides he was called upon by King Edward's Deputies for by this backwardness of the French Nation when it seems things were not made ready against Midsummer the First of the times appointed for compleating these Matters King Edward f Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. Franc. 35. Ed. 3. n. 3. on the 15 of November following constituted Sr. Thomas Vuedale Knight and Thomas Duncent Licentiate in the Laws his Agents whom he sent to Bruges with Power to make request to the King of France for the effectual Accomplishment of all things concluded on at Calais and to require that He and his Son should make the Renunciations and Transports according to all the foresaid agreements on the Reception whereof they were enabled to give Acquittance in the King their Masters Name These things quickned King John in his endeavours to reduce his People to acquiesce in his Determinations wherefore he wrote to those of Rochelle Desiring them to shew their Loyalty which they so much professed in denying themselves for his sake that otherwise the Peace would be broken upon their account which would be a great Imputation to his Honour and no less Prejudice to the whole Realm of France Hereupon when the Rochellers saw no other Remedy and that whether they would or no since their King would not admit of their excuses they should be compelled to undergo this hatefull Yoke then at last after much adoe they yielded full fore against their Wills the Honest Men of the Town saying to one another Well we shall then from henceforth obey the English but our hearts are tyed for ever to the French Interest And here it may be a matter of our Wonder how it came to pass that King Edward should ever expect otherwise from Frenchmen born but that they would bear a foreign Rider with a Mind always ready to fling him off upon the first occasion as afterwards it proved indeed Surely in this case I cannot tell what to say since that Prince's
they saw themselves so considerable they began to ordain among them Captains and Leaders whom they promised to obey in all things For even wicked Societies cannot hold together without Order And the Chief of their Captains were these Sr. Seguin de Batefoil a Knight of Gascogne who had no less than 2000 Fighting Men Taillebert of Talleboton Guyot du Pyn the little Mechin Battailler the Wicked Hanekin Francois the Burgrave de Lesparre Nandon de Bergerac the Burgrave de Boure the Burgrave of Bretuel Nucharg Aberdenny a Scot Bourdonnel a German Bernard de la Salle an Hainalder Lortingo de la Salle his Kinsman Robert Briquet Edmund of Ortigo Sr. Garses du Chastel Gironet de la Baulx Carnelle and Others Who being thus gather'd together about Midlent resolved to go to Avignon to give the Pope and Cardinals a Visit more for the love of Prey than Devotion for whatever Treasure the Church might then have in Heaven they laid up some Treasures also on Earth as well as Men of the World. Wherefore these Late-Comers went thitherward thrô the Land of Masconnois intending for the Earldom of Foretz or Forestes that plentifull Country and towards Lyon on the River Rhosne VI. When King John heard of all this and how these Robbers daily encreased and ravaged his Realm he was infinitely displeased for his Council told him that without a speedy remedy these Evil Companions might encrease so strangely as to be able to do more Mischief than ever was done by the Englishmen themselves in time of War Wherefore they advised him to send against them a well form'd Army without any more delay Then the King wrote his Special Letters to his Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon k Mezeray Earl of la Marche who was at that time in the Town of Mompellier in Languedoc having newly put the Lord John Chandos in Possession of divers Lands Cities Towns Castles Forts and other Places thereabout belonging to the King of England by Vertue of the Peace as we said before The King in his Letters desired his Cousin of Bourbon to be his Chief General to muster Souldiers to a sufficient Number till he should find himself able to keep the Field and then go forth and fight against these Companions and root them out The Lord of Bourbon immediately on receipt of these Letters went Post to the City of Agen in Agennois whence he issued out his Letters and sent Messengers into all Parts desiring and commanding in the Kings Name all Knights and Esquires to come to him ready appointed for the War which was done accordingly For this Lord James of Bourbon was generally beloved over all France so that every one obey'd him readily and drew to the Place of General Rendezvous towards Lyon on the River Rhosne from Auvergne and Limosin from Provence and Savoy and from the Dauphiné de Vienne and moreover many Valiant Knights and Esquires were sent from Burgundy by the Young Duke who was not yet dead With all these Forces the Lord James of Bourbon marched forth from Lyon and the Parts of Masconnois and Beaujolois and entred the Earldom of Forestes where his Sister was Lady in Right of her Children for the Earl of Forestes her Husband was then newly dead Wherefore she govern'd the Country by the Hands of Sr. Reginald of Forestes her Husbands Brother who received the Lord James of Bourbon and his Company with great joy and feasted him to his Power as did also his two Nephews who presented their Service to their Uncle the Earl of la Marche to ride with him in Defence of their Country against the Companions who were by this time about Charolle and Tornus drawing thitherward For when they understood how the Frenchmen were gathering together to suppress them their Captains presently went to Council to advise how to maintain themselves At this time they found their Number to be no less than 16000 Fighting Men wherefore they said among themselves Let us then go boldly against these Frenchmen who are so desirous to find us out and let us fight them at some Advantage if we can or else without for we are enough If Fortune favour us at this time we shall be rich for ever as well by the Prisoners we shall take as by the Booty of the Field and also we shall gain such Reputation to our Arms that none hereafter will dare to withstand us and if we lose we have no more to care for Being thus agreed they dislodged and went up the Mountains designing to pass into the Land of Forestes and to come to the River of Loire but in their way they found a Good Town called Charlieu in the Bailywick of Mascon where they made a fierce Assault which lasted an whole Day yet the Place was so well desended by the Gentlemen of the Country that they could win nothing there Then they marched forward sending abroad several Detachments to scour the Country of Beaujolois where having done considerable Dammage they entred the Bishoprick of Lyon. In their March they would be sure to take some small Hold or other every Day where they lodged usually for the Night following making sad Havock of all things whereever they came One day particularly they took a Castle called Brignais about three Leagues from Lyon with the Lord thereof and his Lady in the Place and there they lodged and refreshed themselves and here they were certainly informed how the Lords of France were drawn into the Fields and stood ready to receive them The Lord James l Frois c. 215. fol. 110. of Bourbon was now again return'd to Lyon when he understood that the Companions drew near him apace having won the Castle of Brignais and many other Holds and brought the Country into great Desolation At this News he was extreamly displeased because he was Guardian to his Nephews the Earl of Forestes Sons and had the Care of their Lands Wherefore he drew into the Field and muster'd his Men and found them to be an Army sufficient to cope with the Enemy but first he sent out his Currours to view the Face of the Enemy and to consider well their Number and their Order and where he should surely find them In the mean time these subtle Companions had taken a Mountain at Brignais near Lyon where they so order'd themselves that they could not be perfectly view'd and so the best Armed Troops were conceal'd behind and the Residue who were worse armed and a far smaller Number stood ready ranged along in Order of Battle on the Hill side These Men only were seen by the Lord of Bourbons Currours whom they permitted leisurely to view them thereby to feed them with an Errour that might prove their Bane Being come back to the Earl of la Marche these Men told him what they had discover'd saying to him and the Lords about him Sirs we have seen yonder Company your Enemies and have viewed them well to our Power and all things
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
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
exclude a Man from impugning an Act by reason of his Minority in years Of whom some moved perhaps by too free favour to prevent and provide against the Grievances of Minors do then only admit of this Authenticall when full Puberty to wit the Age of XVIII Years is accomplished That the Written Rigour to the cruel undoing of Minors may so proceed that it shall rather fall than rise But here it was not sworn in that manner or by such a Person the Minor being within the Compass and Course of that time Yea the Truth is That no Oath was made at all Thus were the several Causes of the two Kings set forth and maintain'd by Law and Argument but 't is seldom heard that ever a Crown was won by pleading the sword being too Powerfull for the Law and Prejudice more prevalent than Justice or Reason Wherefore now we hasten to the second Argument which was to be discussed in the Field but as yet the two Main Disputants were not matched together However a Frois c. 252. f. 153. first of all the Duke of Guelders and the Duke of Juliers who were perfectly English in Heart as well as in Blood took it in extream Indignation that the French King had sent a Defiance to so Mighty a Prince as King Edward by the Hands of a mean Valet horribly in their minds blaming both him and his Council for putting so unworthy an Affront on so Honourable a Monarch For said they the War between two such Potent Kings ought surely to have been published and denounced by Persons of the best Rank and Quality as Prelates either Bishops or Abbots or some Noble Baron or Valiant Knight at least and not by a simple Valet as the French King had most insolently and presumptuously done Wherefore they vow'd forthwith to send and defie the French King resolving shortly after to invade France with Fire and Sword and there to leave such Marks of their Resentment as should be legible for more than 20 Years following Althô this their Resolution was disappointed by the Celerity of the French King For hereupon the Earl of St. Paul being order'd to joyn with the Duke of Brabant went against these two Dukes of Juliers and Guelders Toward the Declining of this Year b Mezeray p. 83. the two Parties met together in a place called Baeswilder between the Rhine and the Meuse where after a Bloody Fight on the one side the Duke of Juliers was slain and on the other the Duke of Brabant taken Prisoner but soon after by the Emperours means he was deliver'd and so this Matter was ended CHAPTER the SIXTH The CONTENTS I. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter II. King Edward renews Friendship with the King of Navarre III. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt sent by the Prince of Wales to Montauban IV. The French lay Siege to Ardres but rise in Despair V. Realville taken by the French The English make fierce War in the Lands of the Rebel Lords of Gascogne VI. Sr. Thomas Wake maintains his Post La Roche de Pozay taken by the French the Lord of Chauvigney falls off to the French and the Lord of Rochechoüart imprison'd upon suspicion VII The Lord James Audley makes havock in the Lord of Chauvigney's Lands VIII Sr. Robert Knolles sent forth by the Prince upon an Expedition brings over Sr. Perdiccas of Albret and 300 Companions to his side and lays Siege to Durmel where he is joyn'd by the Lord Chandos and others from Montauban by whom Moissac was taken in their way IX The English rise from before Durmel and sit down before Domme but get nothing there however they take Gavaches Foines Roquemadour and Villefranche X. The Earl of Cambridge takes Bourdeilles after a long Siege by stratagem XI The Lord Chandos returns to the Prince having settled Affairs XII The English Companions take Bellepeche and therein the Duke of Bourbon's Mother XIII King Charles preparing to invade England King Edward sets himself in a posture to receive him XIV And sends over the Duke of Lancaster with an Army to Calais XV. The English take the Castle of La Roche Sur Yon. XVI The Lord James Audley Seneschal of Aquitaine returning into England is succeeded by the Lord John Chandos XVII The Vicount of Rochechoüart being released from Prison revolts from the Prince and defies him XVIII John Duke of Lancaster makes great havock in Ponthieu at which News King Charles leaves off his Design of invading England and sends the Duke of Burgundy against him with a Mighty Army XIX The Duke of Lancaster goes forth to meet him and encamps at Tournehan The two Armies confront one another for many days XX. The Lord Chandos intending an Expedition desires the Earl of Pembroke's Company but is deny'd however he goes forth and does what he pleases in Anjou Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and on Prospect of a great Advantage over the French sends again to the Earl of Pembroke to come and joyn him but is again deny'd Whereupon the Lord Chandos desisted for that time XXI The Earl of Pembroke deals severely in Anjou and Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart but being surpris'd by the French at Puirenon loses many Men and is besieged in a Church-yard whence he sends to the Lord Chandos for Succour and being hotly assaulted the next day sends again XXII The Lord Chandos hardly at last resolves to help him but upon News of his approach the Frenchmen retire XXIII The Death of Philippa Queen of England her Tomb Epitaph and Praise XXIV The Lord Robert of Namur's Quarters beaten up by the French but he beats them back XXV A story of the Earl of Warwick exploded XXVI The Frenchmen break up and march off in the Night whereupon the Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais to refresh his Men. XXVII The Earl of Pembroke makes another Expedition into Anjou and takes Pont de Cè St. Maure and other places XXVIII The Duke of Lancaster's March thrô Picardy into Normandy with Design to burn the French Fleet. But the Earl of St. Paul being got into Harfleur with 200 Spears saves the Town and prevents their Design XXIX Sr. Nicolas Lovaine takes the Lord Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France XXX The Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais The Earl of Warwick dies XXXI The Duke of Lancaster returns into England and finds himself a Widdower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester XXXII The French King raises a Tax I. WE spake before how King Edward labour'd earnestly about Five Years ago to make up a Match between the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders who was Dowager to the last Young Duke of Burgundy a Mezeray p. 78. and the most Wealthy Heiress in all Christendom and a Son of his named Edmund Earl of Cambridge all the particular Negotiations of which intended Match are both too long and
by the Prowess of King Robert our Father from King Edward Father to the King your Master in time of Open War. And by the same Prowess he held it with Honour till by his Death it came with the rest of his Inheritance to Us his undoubted Son and Heir who intend also with our utmost Ability to hold it in the best manner we may But this Lords we require of you as Gentlemen and Christians that you would do your best to persuade the King your Master whose Sister we have taken into our Royal Bed that he will suffer us peaceably to enjoy our Rights and Franchises as his Ancestors have done before and leave freely in our Possession what our Father so valiantly wan and so quietly enjoy'd and at last so entirely transmitted to Us with his Crown and Kingdom Nor let the King your Master be too credulous of light Reports since we intend Religiously to keep the Peace so lately made at Northampton Nor let him give too much Faith to evil Counsellors whose restless Spirits stirr him up against us Since if any other Prince in the world intended to injure us He ought especially to aid succour and defend us for his Sisters sake whom we have Married and taken into our Bosom Upon this Answer the Ambassadors promising to acquit themselves as he had required them were dismissed but King Edward was nothing content when he heard them report the Answer I am well aware that the Scotch Writers imagining the better to colour all their losses deliver how their King David had before this even upon Bailiols Invasion convey'd himself with his Queen into France But neither doth it seem honourable nor reasonable that by so weak thô successfull an Enemy and at the appearance of such small Forces their King should be driven to such desperate Courses nor is it agreeable to other either Circumstances or Authors and it is utterly contradicted by Froisard who lived near those Days and took great Care and was very impartial in Collecting his History Wherefore with him we cannot admit that he left his Kingdom in this manner till the Main of his Forces were overthrown by King Edward in the Battle of Halidoun to which now we hasten III. The late-mention'd Answer from Scotland was no way pleasing to King Edward for whatever Natural affection for his Sister the Queen of Scots might persuade he saw plainly by the resolute Answer of King David that he was no longer to be rely'd on as a Friend than he should want Power of manifesting himself an Enemy to England that the Old League with France was more prevalent than this New Alliance with him that however now in his Pupillage he seem'd desirous of Peace within a few years he would prove both willing and able to wage the fiercer Wars It troubled him also not a little that while himself was under Age so Dishonourable a Bargain had been made wherein he had been induced to resign those Instruments of his Superiority over Scotland which as his Father had purchas'd with much Honourable Difficulty so till himself had regain'd them he could not be at friends with himself The present Occasion also seem'd more promising since the Scots had already broke the Peace and that on his Part beside the Limits of the Peace were fully expired that moreover King Bailiol had in Reality the best Right to that Crown from whom he might expect not only the accustomed Homage but also Restitution of what Himself in his Minority had by evil Counsel resign'd to the extream Diminution of his Honour and Royal Prerogative Add to all this that till he had settled his Affairs on that side he could not safely make any Pretensions to France which the Lord Robert of Artois from his first coming had vehemently instigated him unto according to that vulgar Saying He that the Realm of France would win Must with Scotland first begin Now therefore he calls his m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing hist p. 115. Parliament which as we said before met at York a little after the Purification of the Virgin Mary or rather in the beginning of March the * it began to sit in the 2d week in Lent Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. Second Sunday in Lent happening that Year on the last of February To this Parliment King Bailiol as holding of King Edward had his Summons but n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 6. 45. Walsing hist p. 115. n. 40. he understanding that his Enemies had laid wait for him in the adjacent Isles and elsewhere durst not adventure to come in Person but sent his sufficient Excuse by the Lord Henry Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the Lord William Montagu and other Lords and Knights who so evidently declared the Reasons of his Non-appearance at that time that their Apology was accepted by the King and his Council Here the King declaring to all his Lords the late Answer of the King of Scots to his Embassy o Frois c. 26. f. l. 15. b. demands their Advice thereupon and that they would consider what way he might best salve his Honour and maintain his Right The Result was The whole Parliament was of Opinion that the King could no longer with Honour put up those Wrongs and Injuries daily done unto him and his people by the Scots They humbly therefore pray'd and advis'd his Majesty to provide such force of Men and Arms as might not only reduce Barwick into his Power but also compell the King of Scotland gladly to seek his Peace by rendring unto him the accustomed Homage for that Kingdom In which Enterprise they all promised to assist him in Purse and Person The King as he was always very Gracious to his People thanked them heartily for the Loyal Affection wherewith they embrac'd his Honour and Interest and so having prefixed p Claus 7. Ed. 3. m. 19. Derse Trinity Sunday for the time wherein his Forces were to be Assembled at Newcastle upon Tine he Dissolv'd the Parliament Thus was a War resolv'd on But yet q Frois c. 26. ibid. before the King of England would draw his Sword he sends again to King David other Ambassadors to summon him to come and do the required Homage upon peremptory refusal whereof they were secretly instructed with full Authority to defie him But for all this the Scots were so Resolute upon their Liberty that no better Answer could be obtain'd than what was return'd before So that the Defiance was openly made and War Published between the two Nations r Virgil. l. 12. v. 503. Tanton ' placuit concurrere Motu O Deus aeternâ Gentes in Pace futuras IV. Before ſ Walsingh bist p. 114. n. 10. this King Edward had sent some Forces toward the North not to Invade Scotland but to make good the Borders in case of an Invasion from thence And well it happen'd that he had so provided For t Knighton p. 2562. n. 6◠before the Defiance was made the Lord
ready to sustain his Quarrel With these Words he left the King his Brother in an Huff and with four Persons only in his Company rode Post to St. Saviour le Vicount which was as we have shew'd an English Garrison under the Command of the Lord Thomas Holland a great Baron of England and n Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 7◠〈…〉 afterwards in Right of his Wite Earl of Kent and Lord Wake who received him very gladly and said how he had acquitted himself with commendable Loyalty and Honour towards the King of England However o Frois c. 198. by this Treaty of Peace the King of Navarre had the quiet Possession of certain Towns and Castles in Normandy and on the Borders thereof besiâ—es Mante and Meulan And now a Reconciliation was made between the Duke of Normandy and the young Earl of Harcourt chiefly at the Intercession of the Lord Lenis of Harcourt who was of the Duke's Council and of his Houshold So that the Duke gave in Marriage unto the said Earl the Daughter of the Duke of Bourbon who was Sister to his own Dutchess Upon this Peace the Siege before Melun brake up the Place becoming thereupon of the French Interest Thô the Realm of France gain'd little ease or respite by all this for the Truce between England and France being soon after expired those who before in the King of Navarre's Title had made War in Normandy Beauvais Picaray Champaigne or Brie now began to make War as hotly in the said Places in the Title of King Edward of England VI. Now the young Knight Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt had been for more than a Year signally Notorious for the Injuries he did to France in these times of Comâ—â—sion for p Frois c. 198. in Champaigne he had no less than 700 Fighting Men under him by whose Aâ—d he wan great Riches as in Plunder Ransoming and safe Conducts So that at last no fewer than Twelve good Fortresses were at his Command and as then he was in the Flower of his Age a lusty young amorous Batchelour And the Year q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 94 95. after this he Married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Jultere but now Countess Dowager of Kent in England altho upon the Death of John Pormagâ—â—s late Earl of Kent she had vow'd Chastity and was solemnly Veiled a Nun by Wâ—â—liam Edingdon Bishop of Winchester at Waverley in that Dioecese For this Noble young Nun upon report of Sr. Eustace's great Renown in Arms began withou thving seen him to set her Love about this time upon him and often sent him châ—â—e Geldings and Horses of Service with Love-Letters and other Favours wherewith Sr. Eustace was so elevated in his Courage that every day he grew more Notable So that all his Men thought themselves happy they gain'd such Riches under his Conduct But the Duke of Normandy who had heard of all his outragious Viclenâ—es upon the breaking up of the Siege of Melun desired the Lord Broquant of Fâ—â—â—strages a Lorraâ—ner who had 500 Companions at his Command to go into Gâ—ampaigne and help to expell this Sr. Eustace and his Englishmen that made War in those Parts on which account he undertook to pay him for himself and his Troops such a certain Sum of Florens Upon this Sr. Broquart having encreased his Forces with the Assistance of the Bishop of Troye the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Joâ—â—ville the Lord John of Chalons and others from Champaigne Lorraine and Burgunay to the Number of 3500 Men in all they began to set forward against the Enemy First they came to the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne which had been held by English Navarreis a Year and an half but now it was taken at the Third Assault and fourscore Englishmen slain even every Man in the Castle there was none had any Mercy shewn him After this hot Service the Frenchmen went to Troye to refresh themselves and within two or three days they sent out a strong Detachment of 1200 Spears and 900 others under the Lord Brequart of Fenestrages who took the way directly toward Nogent on the River Seyne Early that Morning Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt having heard of the Frenchmens being about in the Country chose out of his Garrisons 400 Spears and 200 Archers and with those Troops marched forth of the Castle of Pongny to sind his Enemies He rode on a stately Gelding Armed at all Points except his Head-piece which an Esquire carried after him his War-Horse being led by his side He had hardly passed the Seyne at Mery when he heard tidings of the French as they also by this had heard of him But surely had he known the Number of those who came against him he would have desired the Assistance of his Neighbour Sr. Peter Audley and the Lord de la Bret who could well have spared him 400 Fighting Men if they had not come to his Aid in Person Upon the First certain knowledge oâ— his Enemies and of the way they took he gather'd his Men together without the Town of Nogent sur Seyne and took the height of a little Hill among the Vines and set his Archers ready before him When the French Men of Arms came up in sight of him they ranged themselves in Three Battails The first was led by the Bishop of Troye and the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages the Second by the Lord John of Châlons and another good Captain the Third by the Earl of Vaudemont and the Lord Joinville besides a Fourth Battail of 900 Foot which was not yet come up The mean while Sr. Eustace spake aloud to his Men Gentlemen let us Fight with a good Courage for if this day be ours we shall be Lords of all Champaigne which was once an Earldom And I hope this day by your Valiant Assistance to do such a piece of Service for the King of England whom I account the Rightâ—ull King of France that he will bestow this Earldom upon Me And you shall all be the better for my Advancement Then he called unto him certain Young Gentlemen as the Couragious Manny who being his Cousin and Nephew to the Lord Walter Manny was constantly Honoured with the Epithet Couragious John de Paris and Martin of Spain with some others whom then and there he Knighted And all his Men being placed on Foot in a strong Battail his Archers a little forward on the left hand he himself stood in the Front of his Men of Arms his Standard waving before him which was Ermin three Hameds Gules When r Frois c. 199. c. Sr. Broquart of Fenestrages who was both very expert and couragious saw that Sr. Eustace designed not to come down to him and that he had wisely placed his Archers to gall them on the right side where they had not their Shields he said aloud Let us first of all fall on whatever happens changing our Shields to the Spear Hand till we have past the Archers
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
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
him to revoke his Promise But the Prince who was a Person of much Honour and Equity said positively Gentlemen since We have agreed thereto We will by no means break our Word And truly it would be a great Shame and Reproach to Vs if We should any longer refuse to deliver him since he is content to pay so considerable a Ransom So after this Sr. Bertram had nothing to do but to contrive how to raise the Money and he minded his Business so well that by the Assistance of the French King of the Bastard of Spain of the Duke of Anjou who loved him entirely and of some other Friends he made a Purse of an 100000 Franks or 10000 l. Sterling all which he paid in less than a Months time and so was quit of his Imprisonment and went straight with 2000 Fighting Men of Provence to serve the Duke of Anjou who then held Siege before the City of Tarascon which at that time held of the King of Majorica and Naples in Right of his Wise Queen Joan. VII We have before declared at large the whole Manner of the Prince of Wales his Expedition into Spain t Frois c. 240. and how at last he left that Country not well contended with King Don Pedro and returned home again into his Principality of Aquitaine After him returned all manner of Men of War who had attended him for they saw it in vain to tarry any longer in Castille because Don Pedro did but shuffle with them and on the other hand they had a firm Confidence in the Prince's Word But when they were come back the Prince had not wherewithall to pay them so readily as he expected For the Business of Spain had wonderfully exhausted his Treasures even to a Miracle However all the rest went home relying on the Prince's Promise but the Companions tarried still being quarter'd in Aquitaine where for their Lives they could not forbear robbing and plundering being to the Number of 6000 Fighting Men For the Prince had left the other 6000 in Spain under Sr. Hugh Calverley When therefore the Prince heard the Complaints of his People concerning these Companions he sent unto them desiring and commanding them to avoid his Dominions for the Country was not able to bear them Now their Captains and Leaders were all either Englishmen or Gascogners as Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. John Frevile Sr. Robert Cheney Sr. Galiard of Viguier the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg of L'Esparre Nandon of Bergerac Bernard de la Salle and many others who neither durst nor would displease the Prince for they did not a little fear to provoke him but they much more lov'd to oblige him And therefore they took the first opportunity to leave Aquitaine and passed forth into the Realm of France which they had us'd to call Their Chamber going over the River of Loire into Champaigne and to the Bishoprick of Rheims and still their Numbers encreased And these Men sought Adventures every where as they went in France and gat great store of Plunder and did much mischief complaints whereof came in daily to the French King and his Council who were as yet unable to apply a Remedy but the Commons of France wonder'd extreamly that the Prince of Wales should send Men to make War among them However King Charles of France sent presently for the Lord Oliver Clisson whom he made Chief Captain against these Companions because he was a Valiant Knight and of good Conduct wherefore also that Wise Prince held him in High Esteem and Favour About this time there was a Marriage struck up between the Young Earl of Albret and the Lady Isabell of Bourbon whereat the Prince of Wales was nothing pleased for he had rather that he had taken a Wife out of England Wherefore he spake many High Words against him till some of his Council began to appease his Displeasure by saying that it was Natural for every Man to seek to raise his Fortune as well as he might and that a Loyal Knight ought not to be blamed for exalting his own Honour and Profit by Marriage or otherwise if at the same time he did not forsake to serve his Prince or Master as far as in Duty bound These and the like Words somewhat allay'd the Prince's Passion But whatever appearance he made he was not fully satisfy'd for he verily believed that his Marriage would occasion some Revolting from him as indeed it fell out shortly after VIII While these Companions were thus troubling the Realm of France u Frois c. 251. the Prince of Wales was advised by some of his Council especially the Bishop of Rodez who was at that time Chancellor of Aquitaine to raise a Foüage or Tax upon Chimneys throughout all his Principality thereby to enable himself to pay the Debts he had contracted by his late Expedition and beside the State which the Prince and Princess kept was so great that in all Christendom there was not the like again So there was held a Parliament for raising this Foüage at Niort to which were summon'd all the Barons of Gascogne of Poictou of Saintogne and of divers other parts even from all the Cities and Good Towns of Aquitaine Before all whom the Bishop of Rodez declared in Presence of the Prince how this Foüage was to be raised and that the Design of Raising it was chiefly to enable the Prince their Lord to pay such summs of Money as he ow'd upon the account of his Spanish Expedition and that however it was the Prince's Mind not to continue the said Foüage any longer than for the space of Five Years to come All which time supposing x Du Châ—sne p. 699. One Frank for every Chimney the Prince would have a supply of 1200000 Franks per annum if the Matter had been effectually put in Execution But althô to this Ordinance the Porctevrns readily agreed as also did the Representatives of Sainctogne Limosin Rouvergue and Rochelle yet divers others of the Marches of Gascogne refused to concurr with them as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret his Nephew the Lord of Conde the Lord of Pincornet the Lord of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lord de la Barde and divers other Barons who said how heretofore when they served the French King they were not then grieved nor oppressed with any Subsidies or Innovations and no more would they now if they could help it for they said their Lands and Seignories were free and exempt from all such Duties and so the Prince had sworn to keep and maintain them But however the better to make fair Weather for the time and to get off with more ease from this Parliament they then only answer'd how they would take further Advice and so return again by such a day as well Prelates Bishops and Abbots as Barons Knights and others This was all the Answer that the Prince and his Council could have at that time and so they brake up and left
Lord John Chandos had given them such a Promise by the Consent of all the English Lords there present and so he said he would most certainly bring them speedy Succour and that he might succeed the better he promised forthwith to go to Angoulesme to the Prince and the English Lords there nothing doubting but to perswade them so as that Bellepeche should have timely Assistance With this News the Valet return'd and Sr. John having left his Fortress in sure Keeping rode to Angoulesme where he found the Prince the Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Pembroke the Captal of Busche the Lord Thomas Percy the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord John Montagu Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Robert Knolles and many more Before all whom he succinctly declared How the Companions were besieged in the Castle of Bellepeche by the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of St. Paul and others How it was for their sakes those Men had reduced themselves so far and in confidence of their Assistance that they refused now to yield The Lords of England gave good Attention to these words and said how they would surely endeavour to relieve them as they had promised and the Prince himself sent forth his Summons to all his Subjects within such and such Precincts that upon sight of his Letters they should with all speed hasten to the general Rendezvous at Limoges The Earl of Cambridge and the Earl of Pembroke were Captains of this Enterprise and so when they had assembled their Forces amounting to 1500 Spears and 3000 others they lead them forth and came to Bellepeche and began to encamp on the other side the Fortress opposite to the Frenchmen who lay still within their Fortifications which were environ'd with a deep Ditch and as Defensible as a considerable Town The English Foragers had much ado to get any Victuals but that want was supply'd from Poictou and other Parts behind them for the Enemy commanded the rest of the Country Upon this Arrival of the English Army the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France sent News thereof to the French King and to the Knights of his Court and caused Writings and Bills to be set up upon Posts and Gates importing to this effect All you that are Knights and Esquires and desire to pursue Honour in the Field We certifie you for a truth that the Earl of Cambridge and the Earl of Pembroke are come with an Army before Bellepeche with design to raise the Siege laid there by the Duke of Bourbon and our Men who have endured much Trouble for a long while till at last we have brought them to that streight that of necessity they must either yield up the Place or venture all upon a Battle with us You are therefore desir'd to come hither with all speed for here you shall be sure to find Noble Deeds of Arms and you may be certain of this that the English do not lie in any good Order and besides are in such a place where they may easily be incommoded by us Given from the Camp before Bellepeche c. VI. Upon these and the like Invitations of the Marshals several Valiant Knights of France came to the Siege particulatly Sr. Allart of Coutances Governour of Blois came thither with 50 Spears so did the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh de Porcien his Brother Now u Frois c. 273. when the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke had thus faced the Frenchmen for the space of 15 Days and saw that they would by no means come forth out of their Bastion to give them Battle as they had expected they resolv'd to send the Herald Chandos unto them which they did and he being fully instructed said thus Messieurs my Lords and Masters have sent me to you and they give you to understand by me how they all wonder extreamly that since you cannot but know of their being here now these 15 days before you yet you will not come forth of your Fortress to fight them Now therefore they send you Word by me that if you will come forth against them they will permit you freely to choose a plat of Ground to fight and then let them have the Victory to whom God shall please to send it To this the Duke of Bourbon answer'd Chandos you may tell your Masters that we do not design to fight with them at their Discretion or Appointment 'T is true I know very well they are there But for all that I will not stir hence nor break up my Siege till I shall have the Castle of Bellepeche in my Power Sir reply'd the Herald I shall tell them what you say and so he left them and return'd to the English Lords to whom he shew'd the Duke of Bourbons Answer and they thought it most shamefull and dishonourable Then having taken Counsel they call'd in Chandos the Herald saying Go once more to yonder French Lords and tell them thus and thus and so they declared unto him what he should say The Herald being admitted into the Duke of Bourbons Tent spake thus before Him and his Council Messieurs my Lords and Masters once more send you Word by me that since you will not afford them Battle they have now resolved the Third Day from hence at nine a Clock in the Morning or else at Noon in the open Day to set the Lady of Bourbon on Horseback and so to convey her away before your Faces and in sight of You my Lord of Bourbon who are her Son. And then Sir they bid you rescue her if you can Well reply'd the Duke to see the Lady my Mother carried away will be to me no great Pleasure but for all that we hope to recover her again when we may And yet Mr. Herald since you have said thus much unto us tell your Masters again from me that if they will send into the Field fifty of their Men We shall send against them as many of ours and then let that side win the Day that can Sir said the Herald I shall shew them your Challenge with all my Heart And so Chandos left them and returned to his Masters to whom he declared what the Duke had said and the Substance of his Challenge but of that they would not admit because they said 't was but a Vapour and a pretence for gaining of Time till mutual Security might be given and the Laws of the Combat settled Wherefore they stuck to their first Resolution of Marching away the Third Day after with the Lady of Bourbon and all the Companions in the Castle who had suffer'd much by the Enemies Engines of Battery On the day appointed early in the Morning x Frois c. 274. fol. 167. Gallicè fol. 228. they sounded all their Trumpets and arm'd themselves and all their Men and so drew out into the Field in Battle Array on Foot and on Horseback ready to Fight the Frenchmen with their Banners and Penons waving before them But at Nine of the Clock their