agreed vpon in the night set open the gates of the towne for his soldiers to enter where then nothing else remained to winne but the castle But by good fortune certaine freâ—ch horsemen falling vpon them dissappoynted their purpose putting the aduentureâ—s to flight and the traâ—tors to execution Together with these euills as is wonte to happen ensued a wonderfull dearth and scarcitie of all things in such forte as the poorer people had much adoe to sustaine their liues and this plague continued fower yeeres For so long as the insatiable soldiers deuoured all mens goods of what estate or degree soeuer without controlment so long the husbandman might not apply his labour in safetie not the merchant exercise his trafficke without extreame hazard both of life and goods what other effect could ensue thereof but a generall common mischiefe and such a one as should concerne euerie particular person Certaine of the king of Navarres people beeing vpon a time surprised by their enemies at some disaduantage wheÌ„ they sawe that of necessity they must put their fortunes in tryall though farre ouermatched in number yet seeing no other remedy they betooke themselues to a little hill and putting off all their spurres pitched them in the ground before theÌ„ with the rowells vpward to hinder the aproach of their enemies But the euening came on so fast that it stayed the frenchmen from the'ncounter In the night time with great silence they conveyd themselues into the next village and there making fires as if they had purposed to tarrie all night they secretly departed contrarie to the frenchmens expectation who pursued in vaine but could not ouertake them Amongst other places the Navarrois held Melune vpon Seane To the besieging of this towne the Duke of Normandy sent foure thousand horsemen But by mediation of the Cardinals which wee spake of before a peace was concluded betweene them But Phillip the King of Navarres brother would neuer giue his consent to any conditions of peace whatsoeuer vpbraiding his brother that he was deluded with witchcraftes and enchauntments and therefore he retired himselfe to certaine holdes vppon the Sea coast which were in the kings of Englands subiection By that time the peace was confirmed betweene the Navarrois and the Frenchmen the three yeeres truce obtained by the Cardinals after the taking of King Iohn betweene Fraunce and England expired Therefore all such as had serued â—nder the King of Navarre repayred to the English Captaines for entertainment and so one mischiefe drew on many more successiuely ensuing each other Notwithstanding for that time the Englishmen were but ill entreated by the French though not without great daÌ„mage to the poore wretches that inhabited in the vpland country or in townes but weakly fortified For the Englishmen accompanied with forreine souldiers made spoyle of them at their pleasure When the time of truce as wee said before was worne out the king of England and his eldest Sonne with the French King and the Duke of Burbon conferred priuately together at London concerning a peace the articles whereof they sent ouer to the Duke of Normandy and he propounded them to the three estates of the kingdome But when the matter came to be debated in counsell these conditions were vtterly disliked and answere was giuen to the Ambassadors that they would rather choose to endure yet greater miseries then condiscend to such articles This answere was taken in very ill parte as well by the captiue King of Fraunce as by the King of England who immediately thereupon caused such an armie to be levyed as neuer any man saw passe out of England before Hee tooke landing at Calice accompanied with his foure sons But before his departure out of England he made open declaration of his intent before the whole army in effect that he had vndertaken this expedition in hope and full purpose to enforce the French men to receiue such conditions as should be both for the honour of his person the commoditie of his people and the dignity of his crowne And that he was resolued neuer to giue ouer nor returne again till such time as he had accomplished his affaires in such sorte as he desired Wherfore if any man disliked his pretence hee should haue free liberty to depart or tarrie But there was none amongst them all which did not willingly embrace these conditions From Calice the King of England marched to Rhemes which cittie when he found for the bignesse thereof to be strongly fortifyed he forbare to assault it because he wold not rashly hazard the losse of any of his men whome he reserued for greater seruices From thence after two moneths siege or somewhat more he tooke his way into Burgundy The Duke sent messengers to him requesting that his souldiers might not be suffered to spoyle his country The King of England beeing a very curteous Prince was easily entreated but vppon condition that the Duke of Burgundy should pay him an hundreth thousand crownes In the meane time Fraunce was miserably wasted partly by the King of England himselfe partly by the rest of his army left in Picardy and not a little by the King of Navarre who yet againe moued armes against the Duke of Normandy A certaine fryer of the order of Saint Frauncis prophesied at Avinion that both the Clergy should suffer much for their pride couetousnesse and ambition and that the kingdome of Fraunce should be extreamly afflicted by the invasions of strangers in so much that no part of it should be free from that miserie The Pope because he foretolde matters that displeased him cast this fryer in prison The King of England sent word to the Duke of Normandy that he would giue him battell but the Duke hauing no disposition to put himselfe to the curtesie of Fortune stayed still at Paris And because he well perceiued that the state could not long continue at this passe without the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe of the kingdome by aduise of his nobility counsell he sent ambassadors to the king of England to entreate of peace The matter was diuersly attempted but it seemed almost an impossibility to accord their difference For the King of England still absolutely maintayned that the crowne of Fraunce was his rightfull inheritance Whilst things were thus in consultation there suddainly rose a meruailous tempest about Chartres the violence whereof was such that it ouerthrew both men and horses The king was so moued with the consideration hereof that he made a vowe he would incline his minde vnto peace so at Calice the matter was concluded The conditions were these that the king of England his heyres and successours after him should hold enioy the Countyes Cities Castles holds Lordships Isles rents and revenues of all Aquitaine also the Cittie Castle county and whole seigniorie of Poytiers the Cittie and castell of Rochell and Limoges with all the country about it To these were added Angolesme aswell the
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
of Lancasters daughter in his name whome within fewe daies after being honourably conducted vnto him he espoused After the marriage he sent worde to his father in lawe that he should draw out his forces assoone as he pleased and he would doe the like that so they might ioyntly together proceede against their enemy In the meane while the French men well appointed and gallantly furnished arriued in Spaine After whose comming consultation being had whether it were best to bring their forces in to the field or to place their men in gaâ—rrisons when sundry opinions rose amongst them the Spaniards perswading battell the French men the contrary it was referred by the King to one of the French Captaines of most experience to determine the matter at his discretion And he in regard the Duke of Burbon their Generall was not yet come thought it altogether vnfitting to fight with the enemy but rather to bestow their souldiers in places conuenient till neede should require for by this meanes it would come to passe that the Englishmen ranging ouer all the country through the intemperate heate of the climate should fall into many dangerous diseases and although for the present they became Lords of diuerse places yet should they not be able to maintaine them long and when their strength began once to decrease it would be an easie matter to recouer all againe especially after the Duke of Burbons comming with the rest of their forces This determination tooke place and so immediately the men of warre were conueyd into those parts of Spaine which border vppon Portugall to defend the frontiers of the kingdome The Constable who was appointed to make inuasion vpon England had his army prepared and his ships ready rigged in a certaine hauen of Britaine Diuerse other Lords of Fraunce were likewise ready to be embarked at Harflew in Normandy whose direction was to haue landed their forces together with his vpon the coast of England But there happened a suddaine aduenture in the meane time whereby their whole enterprise was ouerthrowne and that ye may the better conceiue the discourse we will rehearse the matter from his first originall It is declared before how Charles of Bloys being taken prisoner by the Englishmen that ayded the Countesse of Mountfort was set at liberty vppon condition he should pay two hundreth thousand crownes to the King of England for his ransom and for assurance of the same left his two sonnes Iohn Guy in hostage It fortuned afterward that he was slaine in battell against the Duke of Britaine After which time the Englishmen at the Duke of Britaines request came thorough the middest of Fraunce with a great power to ayde him Whereupon the French king fearing least the Duke by this occasion should yield himselfe subiect to the King of England made composition with him as hath beene before declared Whereat the Englishmen who had trauelled a long iourney through many perills and great difficulties to come into Britaine were exceedingly offended and assoone as they came home made complaint to their king of the Dukes discurtesie and ingratitude And to the intent to worke him as great displeasure they made this offer to Iohn the sonne of Charles of Bloys whome they held still as pledge for his fathers ransome his brother being deceassed there already that if he would receiue and holde the Duchy of Britaine of the King of England and doe homage and fealtie to him for the same he should be deliuered out of prison and set in possession of his Dukedome and besides haue in marriage Phillip the Duke of Lancasters daughter the same which was afterwards Queene of Portugall The offer of marriage he was well contented to accept but to seeme disloyall to the French king or be an enemy to the crowne of Fraunce that he would neuer consent to Whereupon remayning stedfast in his resolution he was againe committed to prison Now the Constable of Fraunce Sir Oliuer Clisson who although his inheritance lay in Britaine yet loued not the Duke and the Duke on the other side hated him more then any man else because vpon the Kings commaund he had troubled his country with warre had a daughter whom he much desired to marry with this Iohn that was prisoner in England thinking it would be a great aduancement to his house if he might bring it to pasâ—e Therefore when he had cast in his minde by what meanes he might best purchase his liberty he began secretly to practise with the Duke of Ireland a man whom the king highly fauoured and much delighted in his company promising to giue him six score thousand frankes if he would vndertake to procure his enlargement The Duke accepted his offer not withstanding as long as the Duke of Lancaster remained in the relame in regard the matter had beene motioned before for his daughter he could effect nothing of his purpose But after he was gone the Duke of Ireland desirous of the gold ontreated the King with whom no maÌ„ was more familiar then himselfe that in consideration of his seruices and paines taken in the common wealth he would bestowe the prisoner vppon him for whose raunsome he might get a great masse of money The king who was altogether carryed by this man in such sorte as he both neglected and hated his vnckles in respect of him did willingly condiscend to his request Assoone as the prisoner was deliuered into his hands he conueid him ouer to Boloine receiuing there three score thousand frankes the rest to be payd him at Paris where the Constable expecting the young mans arriuall when he came receiued him with great honour and married him forthwith to his daughter How much this matter troubled the Duke of Britaine he may well coniecture that remembreth the discourse and considereth the circumstances of such things as haue bene heretofore rehearsed touching the warres in Britaine For he sawe that by this marriage his whole estate was called in question and like to be much endaungered Therefore he prepared reuenge hauing the thought thereof more conuersant in his mind then any other And at such time as the Constable had his army about him in the Dukes country ready to haue passe into England as we told ye before the Duke summoned all his nobility to be at Vannes by a certaine day for weightie affaires that he had to consult of desiring the Constable also by letters that he would honour the assembly with his presence The Constable though he were nothing ignorant of the mutuall grudge betweene them yet presuming vpon the greatnesse of his office and the authoritie of his present emploiment against the King enemies came thither as he was requested After some consultation had about the matters they met for the Duke as it were for plesure and recreation inuited certaine of the chiefe Noble men and amongst them also the Constable into a certaine castle there by which he had lately begunne to build and now in a
AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ⧠Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
himselfe to the protection of the French King The siege of Tourney continued some three moneths during which space Iane os Valoys the French kings sister and mother to the Earle of Henault laboured very earnestly to procure a composition At length shee obtained thus much that a day was appointed for a meeting to be had betweene the Lords of Fraunce and England where they agreed vpon a truce for twelue months space with condition that each party should hold whatsoeuer he had gotten by battell Herevppon the armies were both dismissed And this further was concluded that at a certain time prefixed within the yeare another treatie should be had at Arras where commissioners from both Princes and from Pope Clement should meete together and this likewise was performed There the English men demaunded much and the French men profered nothing saue the Earledome of Ponthiew which was giuen before in dowrie to King Edwards mother when shee married into England More then thus was nothing done in this treaty onely another yeere added to the truce and the King of England returned into his Country When things were thus set at a stay and that the Duke of Britaine prepared to returne into his owne country he was seised vppon in his iourney by a most violent sicknes whereof in short space he dyed leauing behind no lawfull issue male to succeed him He had two brothers of whome the one which was Earle of Mountfort was his brother onely by the fathers side the other both by father and mother but he died before him leauing issue one only daughter whome the Duke of Britaine in his life time ioyned in marriage to Charles of Bloys sisters Son to Phillip the French King For the Duke fearing it might so fall out that after his decease his brother the Earle of Mountfort would seise the seigniory of Britaine into his owne handes and by that meanes dispossesse and as it were disinherite the lawfull daughter of his brother by the whole bloud thought good to prouide a stay for the Lady by marriage and therefore his desire was the rather to match her to the kings nephew because if the other should make any attēpt hereafter he might the easilier be resisted And so it came to passe For the Earle of Mountfort had no sooner vnderstanding of his brothers death but that partly by force partly by cōposition he possessed himselfe of the greater part of Britane And then the better to supporte his cause and stablish his estate he went ouer to the King of England where relating the whole discourse of his proceedings he receiued from him the inuestiture of his dukedome And the King of England considering that by this meanes he might haue a ready passage through Britaine into Fraunce promised both his councell and furtherance to the newe Duke against his enemie whether it were the French King or any other whosoeuer For he had lost the French kings fauor before euer since he brought in the Germaines to serue in his warres vppon whome he had spent such a huge masse of money withou◠accomplishing any notable enterprise And this is the true cause and originall ground of this warre Charles of Bloys being aduertised of the proceedings and enterprises of Mountfort made great complaint of him to the French King After consultation had the King commaunded that the Earle should be summoned to the Parliament of Paris The Earle came and after some debatings on both sides he was enioyned by the King not to depart the Citie for a certaine season Neuerthelesse he conueyed himselfe secretly away and so sentence was giuen with Charles It was a great blot in Mountforts case that he had been inuested in his Duchie by the King of England And thervppon the French King denouncing Charles to be rightfull heyre encouraged him with his own mouth to recouer by force of armes the seigniorie due vnto him both by iudgement of law and right of inheritance promising not only his owne ayde but procuring other Lords also to assist him in the maintenance of his rightful quarrell The warre was vndertaken in the behalfe of Charles with the power of the Peeres of Fraunce his friendly assistants Besides other at length the Citie of Nants the principall in those partes was forced by assault There Mountfort himselfe was taken prisoner and from thence conueyed to Paris to the King by whose commaundement being cast in prison he there ended his life His Lady in the meane time bearing her fortune with a true manlike resolution encouraged the fainting hearts of her people and both fortified with Garrisons and furnished with victuals the rest of the holdes yet vntaken by the enemie Vppon conclusion of the truce between the kings of England and Fraunce and dissoluing the siege before Tournay the King of England returning home perceiued what great annoyance the Scottes had wrought to his country in the meane while wherevppon he assembled an Armie The Scottes being pressed with great extremitie in the absence of the King purchased a truce of the English vppon condition that if within foure moneths space the King did not prouide for the rescue they should yeeld This was signified to the King of Scottes who therevppon returned and being ayded with forraine power wonne certaine holdes from the English Amongst other the Citie of Durham was one where no mercy was shewen to no sex age nor order whatsoeuer but the very churches and all were consumed with fire Afterward perceiuing that by further prosecutiug his enterprise he did but lose his labour and vnderstanding moreouer that the King of England approached with a mightie power vppon deliberation with his counsell he retired In the meane while ministring proffers of a truce which notwithstanding he had no intention to admitte till he had first taken aduise of the French King with whome he was formerly confederate The Lordes of Fraunce departing out of Britaine for no other respect but because the winter whether compelled them returned againe with their forces in the beginning of Sommer purposing to bring the rest of that Duchy in subiection Whereof the Lady of Mountfort being aduertised shee sent ambassadours to the King of England requiring ayde vppon this condition that her Son whome shee had borne by the Earle of Mountfort should take to wife some one of the kings daughters But the succours which he sent for the space of well nere twoo moneths together were tost vppon the Seas with stormes and contrarie windes in such sort as they could by no meanes attaine to their desired porte so that in the meane season certaine places were recoured by the French men But it is admirable to relate with what courrage and stowtnesse the Lady Mountfort demeaned her selfe Fot shee was not only content to fortifie stronge holdes and encourage her followers with comfortable speeches but shee also put on armor herselfe and attended with a troupe of horse came into the open field and prouoked her
to succour the Lady Mountfort The Englishmen were entertained with great applause at Bayon and Burdeaux Afterward laying siege to Bergerat a towne neere the riuer Gerond they receiued the townsemen to mercy the English Captaine taking their othe of fidelitie in the name of the King his Master They tooke many other places also partly by composition partlie by force of armes Amongst other they wonne the Castle of Auberoch a place notably fortified and leauing there a Garrison to defend it the English Captaine returned againe with the rest of his army to Burdeaux In the meane while the French men to the number of twelue thousand besieged the same Castle againe verie streytly and put the souldiers there in Garrison to great distresse But the English Captaine at Burdeaux hauing intelligence thereof assembled some nine hundreth men and in an euening when the French men were to supperward brake suddainelie out of a wood and charged so resolutely vppon them that he put them to discomfiture and in the chace tooke diuers prisoners their Captaine for one being sore wounded whome the people in those partes had in such estimation as if he had beene a Prince As the English men lay in leaguer before a certaine Castle the souldiers put their Captaine in holde because he refused to yeeld it vp to the enemy and would by no meanes graunt his liberty but vppon consent to their request In the end he consented and afterward comming to Tholouse was there arrained of treason and hanged vppon a gibbet for his labour The towne of Rioll was likewise rendered into the Englishmens handes but the Castle was still maintained by the Captaine The Englishmen therefore drew a mine ouerthrew a great part of it to the ground then the captaine considering his imminent perill abandoned the place and left the Castle to the English They also receiued Angolesme by composition after a moneths respit which the townsemen had requested vppon hope to be releeued in the meane time by the French King It is formerly tolde you of Iaques de Arteuill how he was growne so great among the Flemmings that the Earle himselfe could haue no safe recourse into his own country But at length hee receiued the iuste reward of a seditious rebell He had giuen great hope to the King of England that hee would procure the whole countrey of Flaunders by generall consent to accept him for their soueraigne And for accomplishment hereof the King of England with a well furnished nauie arriued in the hauen of Flaunders The matter was propounded to the commons and all for the most part seemed well affected to the King of England But the Gauntoys tooke this practise in meruailous ill part and when Iaques returned into the Citle they entertained him nothing so kindly as they were wont but besetting the house where he was brake open the dores vppon him and slew him as he thought to haue escaped at a posterne Amongst other Articles wherewith they charged him this also was a principall point that he had priuately conueyed all the common treasure ouer to the King of England The Earle of Flaunders moreouer had but one onelie sonne About the same time William Earle of Henault sayling with great assistance into Friseland pretending himselfe to be rightfull Lord of that country was himselfe there slaine in battell with diuers of his nobilitie After his death Margaret Princesse of Henault and wife to Lewis of Bavier the Emperour tooke possession of this Earledome The French King was very desirous to draw vnto his partie one Sir Iohn of Henault a worthy Gentleman and a gallant souldier who had formerly done great seruice to the King of England The matter was attempted by diuers meanes and when no other would take effect this devise was put in practise to insinuate into his conceit that the King of England had a purpose to withdrawe from him his pensions and yeerely entertainments He gaue such credit to this report that forthwith he wholy estranged himselfe from the King of England and yeelded his seruice to the French King When the French King vnderstood that the Englishmen wasted Aquitaine and had wonne many townes and fortresses there he levied his forces amounting to the number of an hundreth thousand men Ouer this armie he appointed his Sonne John Duke of Normandy to be Lievetenant Generall To the French kings ayde came Odet Duke of Burgundy with his Sonne Phillip Earle of Artoys and Boloine both of them excellently well accomplished for the warr They recouered the towne of Angolesme laid siege to the castle of Aguillion gotten before by the Englishmen vppon composition then which there was not a stronger nor better fortified in those quarters The winning thereof was by sundry meanes attempted But it is incredible to beleeue with what courage and resolution the Englishmen that laye there in Garrison defended themselues The French King being aduertised thereof and demaunded what his pleasure was to be done in the matter returned answere to his Sonne that he should continue his siege till necessitie of hunger constrained them to yeeld The King of England vnderstanding in what distresse his men were raysed in continently a power of fourteen thousand souldiers He was accompained amongst other with his Son Edward Prince of Wales and a certain French Gentleman called Godfrey of Harecourt who being expulsed his country by the French King fled to the King of England for safegard of himselfe and reuenge of his iniuries for the French King had seized vppon all his possessions This Godfrey was the cause that the King of England directed his course into Normandy being otherwise purposed to sayle into Aquitaine He diuided his Armie into three partes whereof two raunged along the sea coast wasting the fields sacking diuers townes and leading away their prisoners least afterward they might gather to a head and worke them some displeasure The third wherein was the King himselfe marched through the maine land making hauocke of all things and euery night they mette all together againe at the kings campe The French King in the meane time caused such an armie to be raised as a more puissant had not beene seene in Fraunce of many yeeres Letters were also addressed to the King of Bohemia for ayde who at that time highly fauoured the French King The Englishmen tooke a very rich towne in Normandy called Saint Lupes and afterward hastened to the siege of another much richer called Caē borrowing that name of the riuer running by it The townsmen were purposed to haue giuen battell to the Englishmen in the field but being people vnexperienced in armes at the first fight of the enemie they fled backe again into the towne The French captaines had betaken themselues to their fortresses but beholding the huge slaughter made in the Citie for the Englishmen had taken it they yeelded Amongst other prisoners the Constable was one whome with the rest which were taken in his company the
King of England afterwards bought of him that took them for twentie thousand crownes The Englishmen marching still forward passed ouer the riuer Seane towards Roane and their light horsmen scoured the country euen vnto the Suburbes of Paris where encountring the townsmen of Amience well appointed posting towardes Paris vppon commaundement from the King because of long time before they had been charged with no seruice for the warres they let fiercely vpon them and bereft them of their carriage The French King in the meane while notwithstanding the Parisians earnest sute to the contrary departed from Paris to Saint Dennis whither as then the rest of the Peeres were assembled From thence pursuing his enemie with a certaine vehement and wonderfull desire to fight he remoued to Amience The King of England assayed to passe his armie ouer the riuer Some but there was neither foord knowne nor bridge possible to be taken they were all so surely garded by the French men At length after proclamation of enlargement and reward to any French prisoner that should performe it a certaine young man taken by chaunce discouered a forde The French men suspecting they would passe ouer at the same place opposed themselues strongly against them and entertained them in the riuer with a sharpe skirmish Neuerthelesse the Englishmen waded through and put them to flight By this time the French King was come to Abbevile and the King of England wayted for him in the plaine fieldes to giue him battell When the time of battell approched the King of England made his prayers to God to send him an happy victory and diuided his wholy Armie into three parts In the vauntgarde was his Sonne in the reregard himselfe The fight was furious on both sides but at length the Englishmen obtained the victory which may seem a wonder considering the huge multitude of their enemies In this battell the King of England who awaiting oportunitie had not yet put himselfe in preasse being aduertised that his Sonne fighting valiantly in the forefront was wellnighe oppressed by the enemy he made answere to the messengers in this sort Demaunde no helpe of me this day so long as my Son liueth For I will that he now shewe some proofe of his valor and that the honour of the victory be wholy his and theirs that are appointed to attend him In this battell was slaine Henrie of Lutzenburge Father to Charles King of Bohemia who although he were blinde would needes adventure against the enemy notwithstanding Towards night the French King accompanied with very fewe withdrewe himselfe out of the field The King of England caused the dead bodies of the French men to be numbred and there were found slaine eleven Princes fourescore Barons twelue hundreth Knights and about thirtie thowsand others By commaundement from the King all the noble men were buried in the villages neere adioyning and three daies truce was graunted to giue buriall to their dead After the King of England had obtained this notable victorie he tooke his way directly towards Calice and environning the towne with a stronge siege there planted himselfe in purpose not to depart before he had constrained them to yeelde for famine Meane while the French King sent word to his Sonne the Duke of Normandy lying still at the siege of Aguillion that he should giue ouer his enterprise and conuey his forces againe into Fraunce to withstand the English men who subdued all things before them as they passed Before this aduertisement came to the Army there was another battell fought betweene the French and the English wherein was present Phillip son to the Duke of Burgundy who falling with his horse soone after departed this life During the siege of Aguillion wherof an English Baron was captaine the Earle of Derbie whome the King of England had before sent into Aquitaine remayning at Burdeaux Assoone as he vnderstood that the siege was raysed and the Duke of Normandy departed he assembled to the number of six thousand men and raunging through a great part of the countrie thereabouts at length tooke Poitiers by assault and then returning againe to Burdeaux dismissed his souldiers leauing no Garrison in Poitiers because the towne was vtterlie raced Whilste the King of England was busied about the siege of Calice David King of Scottes partly of his owne motion partly by procurement of the French King perswading himselfe that all the souldiers of England or at leastwise the greater part were gone a warfare with their King assembled his forces to the number of fortie thousand or there about and invaded England The Queene of England in the mean time behaved her selfe with great courage and discretion consulting with the Lords and Prelates of her Real me about the direction of her affaires So an armie was levied vpon the suddaine and the enemie fiercely encountred certaine Archbishops and Bishops of England being present in the conflict whose power notwithstanding it were sarre inferiour in number to the Scottes yet they obtained the victorie In this battell the Scottish King himselfe with many others were taken prisoners The number of them that were slaine amounted to fifteene thousand the rest saued themselues by flight After the accomplishment of this honourable victorie the Queene of England crossed the seas and went to visite the King her husband In the battell before mentioned amongst others was also slaine the Earle of Flaunders who by reason of the rebelliu of Iaques de Artevill was compelled to put himselfe into the French Kings protection He left a Sonne named Lewis at that time about fifteene yeeres of age Now the King of England was in great expectation that through the politicke assistance of Iaques de Artevill he should haue brought the Flemminges to receiue him for their soveraigne and that his Sonne the Prince of Wales with their generall acceptance should haue obtained the Lordship of all Flaunders But the author of so wicked a deuise was slaine as is already declared for the Flemmings would not disinherit the Son of their Lord though they loued not his Father The King of England therefore began to treate of a marriage betweene the young Earle who was then remaining in the French Court for he fled thither with his Father at such time as the state grew troublesome in Flaunders and a daughter of his named Isabell Against this match the Duke of Braband opposed himself for he also had a daughter at the same time whom he desired to match with the young Earle Meanes were found by the Flemminges to conuey the Earle from the French King and he returned into Flaunders in hope to recouer his Fathers possession The King of England in the meane while was nothing slacke in soliciting his sute with the Lordes of Flaunders By them the matter was mooued and the match profered to young Lewis But he vtterly refused it protesting that he would neuer marrie the daughter of him that had slaine his Father When the
the death of King Iohn The Duke of Berry through the King of Englands curtesie had intreated a yeeres respite to solace himselfe in Fraunce And vppon like fauour diuers others were licenced to depart for a season Some one or twoo onely by the payment of their ransomes purchaced their liberty Those that the King had thus dismissed after the wars began againe returned no more The french King proclaimed open warre against the King of England and committed the charge thereof vnto twoo of his brethren who mustered souldiers from all partes so that the number of them amounted to an hundred thousand men The French men made often incursions vppon the countrey of Poytiers and other of the Princes dominions And the Princes souldiers likewise invaded the Lordships of those who had given the first occasion of these warres and made complaint of him to the French King The french King published his cause and the necessity of this warre in diuers places by cunning persons with so well seeming circumstances as no man could otherwise iudge but that his proceedinges were grounded vppon most iust and reasonable occasions The same did the King of England also verily to this intent that by declaring the causes of the warre they might haue the people more at commandement to pay their subsidies and to beare the burden of their exactions Lewis Earle of Flaunders had no issue but one daughter The King of England sought by all meanes to haue obtained her in marriage for his youngest Sonne and the matter was laboured for the space of three whole yeeres together In the Earle himselfe was no want of good affection but Pope Vrbane in regard they were of his kinred would in no wise giue his consent to the marriage The Earle therfore perceiving this match might not go forward began to make meanes by his friends to Phillip Duke of Burgundy the French kings brother that the marriage might be made betweene him and his daughter This treatie tooke effect and so it came to passe that Burgoigne and Flaunders were vnited together The King of England considering how by meanes of this marriage the Duke of Burgundy should become heyre to the Earle of Flaunders practised with the King of Navarre who bare a secret grudge to the French King for certaine Lordshippes that he should denounce open wars against him The French king had provided a great power of shipping intending to send his brother the Duke of Burgundy with an army of choyce souldiers to make warres in England The King of England having intelligence thereof made preparation according and determined to receiue them with some entertainement in their passage Moreover he sent his Sonne the Duke of Lancaster with certaine forces to Calice which when the French King vnderstood by the advise of his counsell he altered his purpose iudging it the better course to encounter with his enemie when he had already passed the Seas of his owne accord Herevppon the Duke of Burgundy was set forth well appointed who at such time as he lay encamped neere his enemy notwithstanding he were of much greater puissance yet would he not adventure to giue him battell vnlesse he had expresse direction for the same from the king his brother My author reporteth that a certaine English captaine a man of approoved valour and discretion and withall very fortunate in his affayres hauing one day observed a faire oportunitie would haue attempted some exploit vppon the enemy and to the intent the better to effect his purpose had requested an English Earle to guard him with certaine horsemen for the performance of his enterprise Which when the Earle had condiscended vnto some followers of his gaue him counsell to the contrary perswading him that if the adventure prooved succesfull the reputation thereof would redownd to another and therefore that it were better for him to vndertake some service by himselfe the honour where of might be entirely his owne By this meanes the Captaine being disappointed was faine to leaue his desired enterprise vnperformed Thus we see envy and ambition hath some predominance in all places and oftentimes it falleth out that through private â—mulation whilste one will adventure nothing in anothers behalfe many notable occasions are neglected which perhaps the enemy afterward converteth to his owne aduantage When the French and English armies had thus a while confâ—onted one another the Duke of Burgundy by the kings commaund brake vp his campe and licensed all his souldiers to depart The Duke of Lancaster returned to Calice and when he had there rested some fewe daies to refresh himselfe reassembling his forces he tooke his way into Fraunce where having burnt vp certaine townes because the winter approched he dissolved his army and returned into England These long-lasting warres greatly grieved many noble men of Fraunce insomuch that divers of them conveyed away their goods housholdstuffe remooved theÌ„selus into other places where they might with more safety expect the comfort of a calmer season wisely mistrusting least in sitting still oâ— taking part either with the french King or the English they might haue taryed to their cost howsoeuer For so stood the caâ—e with many of them who had possessions in both Princes dominions that they could neither adhere to the one nor forsake the other without preiudice to their owne estate and apparant losse of whatsoeuer they held within either of their iurisdictions On the other side many Lords of Gascoine revolted from Prince Edward and ioyned with the french King Edward as he was a man of singular wisedome and stayed disposition foreseeing that this defection of the nobility from his Sonne would tend to much mischiefe addressed letters into Gascoine to this effect How he vnderstood that they all for the most part were discontented with the subsidy which his Sonne had lately imposed vppon them his mind was therefore to apply a remedy to this inconvenience and wholy to take away all occasions which might any way mooue dissenâ—ion or controuersie To which purpose and intent he had giuen commandement to his Sonne that he should surcease from all such exaction of money and that all those which found themselues oâ—er-charged or burthened either by him or any of his officers should haue satisfaction allowed them according to the dammage they had sustained And further he pardoned all such as had reuolted to the French King vppon condition that within one moneth after they should returne againe into Gascoigne requesting this only at their hands that they would not stirre sedition but calling to minde their promised faith and allegeance rest contented to conforme themselues to the present state of gouernment In so doing they should find him ready to make particular recompence to as many as could iustly complaine of oppression And for conclusion that this was the intention and desire both of himselfe and all his counsellours These letters were published in divers places of Gascoine but they wrought small effect for many were seen daily to
much hated by the commons which afterward was the occasion of much mischiefe in England Thus when no forces came from thence to their rescue the Gascones destitute of all succour were constrayned to yeeld themselues to the enemie The French King being a wise and politicke prince held correspondence with all men which might stand him instead or from whome he expected any commoditie or furtherance considering therefore with himselfe how the king of England was yet vnder age and that trouble and part-taking were growing within the realme he sollicited Robert King of Scotland and put him often in remēbrance by his letters to make warre vppon the Englishmen now while so great opportunity was offered that being thereby busyed at home they might not haue so good leysure to passe ouer into Fraunce The scottish King moued with these instigations and partly of himselfe desirous to reuenge old iniuries especially whilste the King of England was yet in his nouage vppon consultation of the matter sent commaundement for the assembling of his people to meete him at a certaine time ready furnished and appointed for the warres vppon the borders of England and Scotland When they were come together a certaine Scottish Lord desirous to shew some proffe of his vasor and bold courage associating himselfe with some fewe others in the night season whilste the watch were all sleeping or negligēt without any great difficulty surprised the castle of Barwicke When the gouernour of the towne vnderstood it he gatherd together a company of the townsemen and early in the morning assoone as any daylight appeared first brake downe the bridge which was the onely passage to issue out and then environed the castle round about with a siege so straightly that it was impossible for his enemy to make any evasion The people of the country being also certified by him how the matter stood brought in ten thousand men to his ayde At the tydings whereof the Scottish men raised their campe to come and rescue their besieged companions But they were so terrified with the greatnes of the English army that they would not aduenture the curtesie of fortune So in conclusion assault was giuen the castle recovered and all that were in it were put to the sword saue onely the captaine himselfe vppon whose authoritie this enterprise was vndertaken After the Castle was thus gotten againe it seemed good to the Englishmen to pursue their eniemies in their retreyte which they likewise did though it fell out to their own deadly disaduantage fortune fauouring the Scottish Pope Gregorie in time past had made a solemne vow that if euer he attained to the Papacy he would neuer keepe his residence any other where then are Rome This was very offensiue to some of the Cardinals which bare scarce good affection to the Romaines and it was nothing pleasing to the french King who was desirous to haue had the Pope his neerer neighbour Therefore he sent his brother the Duke of Aniow to Avinion to perswade with him but he was not able to diuert him from his purpose So he went to Rome the place he desired and within a while after there ended his life When the Cardinals as the custome is were assembled together for the election of another the people of Rome began to make great tumult in the court threatning violent effects of their displeasure if they made choyce of any other to be Pope then such a one as was both by birth and ancestors a Romaine And therewithall rushing in amongst the Cardinals and with their fury interrupting their businesse it came to passe by meanes of this disturbance that one was chosen for Pope which was 100 yeeres old This man the Romanes hoysed vp vpon a white Mule and with great solemnity led him about the Citie But the crooked old man wearie with this troublesome kind of curtesie and tyred with this tumbling vp and downe within three daies afeer gaue vp the ghost Wherevppon ensued another hurliburly the Romaines therein with arrogant threates shewing themselues more outragious then before At length a Romaine borne was elected and called afterward by the name of Vrbane the sixt About the same time dyed the Queene of Navarre the french kings sister and by her decease a certaine seigniory in Normandy fell to Charles and Peter the King of Nauarres sonnes which were brought vp in the french Court. Many counselled the french King to seize into his hands all the King of Navarres possessions in Normandy and to hold the same till his sonnes were come of age The King of Navarre mistrusting as much requested to haue his Sonnes sent home pretending that he was purposed to bestow the elder of thē in marriage with the King of Spaines daughter Answere was returned by the french King that his sonnes could not be in a better or more honourable place then in his Court. For he would bring them vp in all respects as was fitting for the Sonnes of a King and such as were alyed in bloud to himselfe This answere was taken in displeasure by the King of Navarre who therevppon fortified those places of Normondy against the force of the french men Many important occasions mooued the french King to conceiue offence against the King of Navarre but especially that matter of poisoning which we told you before was confessed Wherefore sending an army against him he subdued Mountpelier and the country about it which at that time were vnder the King of Nauarres subiection The King of Navarre being thus molested both vpon the frontiers of his owne kingdome and in Normandy for the French King had sent an army thither also made request to the King of England by ambassadours that he might be receiued into his frendship The King of England sent him answere how he thought it expedient that if he would deale seriously and effectually in matters of such importance he should come into England himselfe This motion was well accepted by the King of Nauarre and accordingly he repaired into England where recounting his misfortunes after the matter had been debated in counsell he was receiued into league and amity with the King of England vppon these or the like conditions 1. That from thenceforth euer after he should take part with the English 2. That he should neuer make peace with the french King or the King of Spaine vppon any tearmes whatsoeuer without consent of the King of England and his counsell 3. That he should fortifie the Castle of Chirburg in Normandy and maintaine a garrison in it for three yeeres space to the vse of the King of England 4. That if it should happen the Englishmen to recouer any townes in these quarters from the french then the King of England to haue the profits of the same the propriety of the places remaining to the King of Navarre And this especially was most acceptable to the English because from thence they might alwaies haue accesse into France at their pleasure It
was further agreed that the King of England should immediatly send foure thousand horsemen into Navarre to be employed against the Spaniard and that it should not be lawfull for them to depart out of the King of Navarres seruice till such time as the warres were finished This to be done not at the King of Englands charged but his owne The french King being aduertised by some of the King of Navarres owne houshold that he was purposed to goe into England perswaded the king of Spaine to make inuasion vppon his country in the meane while The commaunder of that army which the french King had sent into Normandy was a great souldier and one well experienced in martiall affaires called the Lord Cowcy This man whilste the King of Navarre was absent negotiating his affaires in England recouered many townes and fortresses thereabout and with so much more facility because he caried in his company Charles the King of Nauarres eldest sonne in whose behalfe when many heard those warres were vndertaken they stoode not much vppon resistance Onely the Castle of Chirburg remayned still to be brought in subiection Henrie King of Castile besieging Bayon a towne of the English dominion with a great army had surely enforced them to yeeld had not the plague consumed his souldiers Neuerthelosse he brought not forth his forces in vaine for he subdued many other townes thereabouts and besides a great part of his army was conveyed to the siege of Pampelone the chiefe Citie of Nauarre I told you before of one Ivan a welch man who after the death of his father Prince of Wales had from thenceforth of a child beene brought vp vnder Phillip Iohn Charles Kings of Fraunce This Ivan being growne to mans estate and desirous of reuengment omitted no occasion whereby he might worke displeasure to the English and in all military employments so demeaned himselfe that the french King held him in great reputation As he lay at the siege of a certaine Castle in the country of Burdeloys and had brought the besieged to that point that famine must of necessity haue enforced them to yeeld a certaine welchman vnder pretence of bringing priuate intelligence of his countrymens good affection insinuated himselfe into his acquaintance and in conclusion waiting oportunitie one day when he had no other company about him cruelly murthered him vnawares as he sat idely gazing vppon the Castle combing his head The rest of the Captaines though they were much troubled with this shāefull murther of so gallant a souldier yet continued their siege very straightly notwithstanding But vpon the approche of a great number of Englishmen comming by sea both the french men and Britons which ioyned to their ayd were constrained to breake vp their campe and leaue their enterprise vnperformed By this occasion the Englishmen recouered much in the territory of Burdeauz Amongst other places the English had besieged a towne in Britaine called Saint Maloes at that time in possession of the french men Many assaults were giuen and those very violent but the french King then abyding at Roan sent an army whose comming somewhat abated the fury of the assaylants and gaue a stop to their proceedings Neuertheles they went forward with their enterprise and attempted to cōpasse it by vndermining Which when the townes-men perceiued taking the aduantage of opportunity one night very secretly they issued out of the towne and whilst their enemies kept negligent watch brake vp the mines in such sort that those which laboured in the workes vnderneath were ouerwhelmed with the earth which they tumbled vppon them The English thus preuented and disappointed of their purpose thought it best for their behoofe to returne into their couuntrey Two of the King of Englands vncles were cheefe cōmanders in this seruice Iohn the King of Spaines Sonne termed the infant of Spaine and the Constable of Spain together besieged Pampelone The King of Nauarre emboldened with the assistance of the English valiantly defended himselfe and was purposed to haue giuen battell in the field but King Henrie vppon some occasions recalled his sonne and so the army was dispersed The Englishmen and Nauarroys together pursued the Spaniards in their departure and burned and sacked certaine townes and villages vppon the frontiers Wherewith the King of Spaine was so vehemently mooued that he raysed an army of some forty thousand in purpose to haue besieged Tudell the place where the King of Nauarre wintered But by mediation of good men a meanes was found to make peace between them Which was that Charles the King of Nauarres son should take to wife the King of Spaines daughter and the King of Spaines Sonne should likewise marry the King of Nauarres daughter This Charles as we told you had been detained certaine yeeres by the french King but at such time as this treaty of marriage tooke effect vpon the king of Spaines request he was honourably sent home to her father Immediatly vppon the conclusion of these matters the King of Spaine deceassed and Iohn his sonne with the generall consent and approbation of the state was receiued in his steed The Duke of Lancaster and his brother who had married the daughters of Pietro the tyrant slaine by King Henrie tooke it in high displeasure that the matter was knit vp in this sort not a little enuing the new kings coronation The King of Portingall also was very much offended at the succession of King Iohn as shall be declared more at large hereafter The French king being a notable politicke Prince and of great experience in matters of state to the intent he might more commodiously maintaine his warres against the English sent an ambassadour into Scotland to retayne the Scottish King in amity and frendship This man arriuing by the way at Sluce in Flaunders from whence he purposed to haue proceeded on his iouruey was by the magistrate of the towne brought before the Earle then remayning at Bruges where by occasiō of some vndiscreet speeches he was reprooued and sharpely checkt with tearmes of reproch both by the Earle of Flaunders himselfe and by the Duke of Britaine inueying earnestly against such kind of persons as the chiefe causers of all dissention and vnquietnes There were others also which put him in feare that if he committed himselfe to sea it was likely that the Englishmen lying in waight for such oportunities would intercept him in his passage Here vppon altering his purposes he returned into Fraunce without dispatch of his commission and vppon the report he made of these matters the french King wrote very sharpe letters to the Earle of Flaunders exhorting and aduising him as he tendred his owne welfare that he should not foster his enemy the Duke of Britaine When the Earle had imparted these letters to his counsell there were none but perswaded him that a banished Prince forced in such sort to flye his country was by all meanes to be releeued many of them boasting that if
to be their Captaine It is declared before how Iohn the sonne of Henry king of Castâ—e was by generall consent of the state admitted to the succession of the crowne This much displeased Ferdinando King of Portugall who held it a great indignity that the sonne of a bastard should be exalted to the gouernment of so great a dominion and the lawfull Kings daughters be disinherited the while of whome as we haue sayd before the Duke of Lancaster had married one and his brother the other Moued therefore with the vnworthines of the matter and also because he was alyed in bloud to the Ladies he proclaymed warres against the King of Spaine desiring ayd of the King of England who sent his vncle the Earle of Cambridge with an army hauing also in his company Isabell his wife and Iohn his sonne The Duke of Lancaster was sent into Scotland to treate with the Scottish King for the renewing of peace or at least wise to take a truce for a season During his absence there sprung vp a most perillous insurrection the occasion whereof in effect was this The country people in those places as in diuerse others hold their livings of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen in such sort as they are bound both to till their lands to fell their corne to gather it together bestowe it in their barnes thresh it dresse it and whatsoeuer else belongs vnto it they are also bound to cut their wood and carry it home to their Landlords houses Now the same time there was a certain masse priest called Sir Iohn Wallis who had preached in his sermoÌ„s to the people that equalitie ought to be obserued in all things that one man was no better then another the gentleman then the churle the rich then the poore the learned then the ignorant but all men were deriued froÌ„ the selfe same parents euen Adam Eve and that our first fore-fathers liued all after one sort without any ine quality of state or difference of persons Herewithall he perswaded them to assemble in great number and make suite to the King for redresse who because he was young might perhaps be brought to harken to their requests or if he would not then to set themselues at libertie by the sword This priest being apprenhended and committed to prison for these matters was by the Archbishop of Canterburie let loose vpon what conscience I know not but sutelie it proued to his owne sorrow and confusion For after he was once abroad he proceeded with his enterprise more boldlie then before The poorer sort of the Londoners for enuie they bare to the rich as it is commonly seene commended this course of the rebelles and by letters soll icited them to come to London promising to giue them entrance into the Citie Herevppon gathering their company together both out of all the country adioâ—ing and from some places further of wel neere to the number of threescore thousand they came to Canterburie a towne of their owne faction and there spoiled the shrine of Saint Thomas Next dare marching forwards they beat down to the ground all houses in their way which belonged not to some of their conspiracie and which way soeuer they went they compelled all husbandmen to be pertakers of their proceedings At Rochester they tooke a certaine knight by force and made him to become their leader and for assurance that he should not deceiue them made him deliuer his children into their hands for pledges When they came within a little of London they sent him to the King with this message that they were minded to haue some speech with him concerning weightie affaires and therefore that he should come forth and talke with them The King vppon deliberation made aunswere that he would performe their request So the next day accompanied with certaine lords he entred his barge and rowing neere the place where they were descended to the shore in great number expecting his comming he demaunded of them what they would with him They required that he would come out of his barge to parlie and then their demands should be declared vnto him But the King distrusting their multitude without any further communication returned backe againe Then being more vehemently mooued they hastned to London making spoile of some lawyers and gentlemens houses in their way And when they approched the Citie finding the gates shut against them they threatned to set fire on the suburbs with the cruellest effects of their furie besides and that if they entred by force it should be to the vtter destruction of all that were in it The Citizens herewith dismaid especially considering that a great number within inclined to sedition and tumult gaue them entrance They were no sooner come in but presentlie they raunged through all the tauernes and tipling houses and fell to drinking and making good cheere no man presuming so much as once to say them nay of any thing The Captaines in the mean while with some twentie thousand marching through the middest of the Citie set fire on the duke of Lancasters house and some others which they burned to the ground They put all strangers to the sword and rifled the houses of the Exchangers In the euening they assembled themselues altogether againe in a company before the tower where the King then remained and with him a great number of the chiefe of the citie openly protesting that they would neuer from thence till such time as they had obtained their purpose The King some others thought it best to haue set vpon them in the night season as they lay negligently dispersed and vnarmed ouerwhelmed with sleepe drunkeÌ„nes and so to haue defeated them Others to whome this attempt seemed daungerous and of great vncertainty in the euent iudged it better that means were made to pacifie them with some gentle and plausible oration And this counsell tooke effect The day following the King sent them word that as many as would speake with him should repaire to a certaine place where he would meete them and giue satisfaction to their demaunds Many came and many taried still in the citie especially the cheefe captaines of the sedition who assoone as the King was gone forth followed with some fower hundreth of their companions brake into the tower and there surprising the Archbishop of Canterburie Lord Chancellor of England they cut of his head and serued diuers others also of great account in the same sort whose heads they prict vpon polles and set them vp vppon the bridge and other places of greatest view and most resort in the citie When the King came to communication with the rebells he demaunded gently of them what they required Marry quoth they that thou set vs and our Children and our posteritie that shall come after vs at libertie for euer and being so enlarged maintaine and preserue vs from all manner of bondage and seruitude either in shew or substance The King promised to
the Duke of Braband putting him in mind how vnfitting it were for his honour to attempt such an enterprise against a company of silly women vnable to make resistance partly by the iustnesse of his request and partly by intreaty and perswasion diuerted the king from his purpose It was covenanted between the King and the Parisians that the mony which they were to pay weekly shold be kept by the treasurer of the Citie and no part of it to be expēded about any other occasiō but only in time of necessity for the maintenance of men of warre Now the french King when he should send his succours unto Spaine required the treasurer to disburse an hundreth thousand franks for the vse of that seruice The treasurer neither refusing nor performing delayed the matter with friuolous excuses The duke of Aniow at that time standing in great fauour with the people to the intent the more commodiously to furnish himselfe for his iourney into Naples wrought secretly in such sort that no part of this money was sent to the King but hauing all the authority in his owne hands found meanes to bring the matter so about that the whole summe which the King demaunded was without any grudging deliuered to himselfe Being therefore plentifully furnished with all things needfull and hauing gathered together about thirtie thousand men he proceeded on his voyage When he arriued at Auinion where Pope Clement then remained he found the hearts of the noblity meruailously inclined towards him Afterward leauing Prouence he passed through Italy into Apulia and Calabria of which countries when with most earnest affection of the people he had taken possession he tooke his way towards Naples But the Neapolitanes were altogether addicted to his aduersarie Charles the King of Hungaries nephewe heretofore mentioned This Charles after the death of the Queene of Naples who left no issue of her owne to enioye her inheritance vsurped the title and dominion of all these seigniories affirming that the Popes gifte to the Duke of Aniow was for twoo especiall causes of no force nor value First because it was not in the deceased Queenes power to alienate those things that were not her owne which opinion of his the Neapolitanes and Sicilians stoutly mayntained And againe though it had beene most free for her to dispose of them all at her pleasure yet because in those countries they acknowledged Vrbane for chiefe bishop and not Clement to whome and from whome that conveyance was made the gift must necessarily be voyd and frustrate Charles had long before furnished with all manner of prouision a certaine castle called Leuf planted as the people say by art Magicke encompast on euery side with the sea and so impregnably fortified that by any other means then by such like skill it was impossible to be conquered Into this castle abundantly stored with all necessaries for certain yeares he withdrew himselfe and his retinue taking no great thought for the rest in regard he was wel assured that the Neapolitanes would neuer forsake him and as for Calabria though he lost it for the present yet after a yeere or two he made no question to recouer it For he knew the Duke must alwaies maintaine a great army in pay for feare of rebellion which he could not long continue but either want of money or victuall would force him to great inconuenience So that his power being weakened and his numbers dispersed he might easily be ouerthrowne and driuen out of the country But there was a certaine coniurer which promised the Duke of Aniow to blinde the eies of them in the Castle in such sorte as they should belieue there was a bridge made ouer frō the main land by meanes whereof they should be compelled to yeeld for feare But by procurement of the Earle of Sauoy who accompanyed the Duke in that expedition he was put to death for a like peece of seruice which he had done long before The Englishmen and Gascones hauing taryed almost nine moneths in Portingale without performing any notable exployt like men that hated such slolthfulnes determined once againe to aduenture sorth against the Spaniards Their Captaine the Earle of Cambridge when they acquainted him with the matter was against it but they neuerthelesse went forward with their purpose and hauing good successe brought certaine townes in subiection After their returne they complayned that their entertaynment was not payd them The king of Portingale halfe angry because they aduentured without his commission made shew as if he would not haue contented them Whereupon some counselled to forrey the country take out their wages in pillage but others of more stayed iudgment and sounder discretion perswaded the contrary and so at length by intreaty they obtayned that which they were purposed to haue gotten by violence After this the King of Portingale leuyed an army of fifteene thousand besides the English and the King of Spaine hauing a power of thirty thousand bad him battell Both their forces came into the field and many dayes together light skirmishes passed betweene them But the king of Portingale because his enemies forces were more in number then his would in no wise ioyne with him in a sette battell The Duke of Lancaster whom this matter chiefly concerned in regard he marryed the eldest daughter of Don Pietro had promised his brother at his setting forth towards Spaine that as soone as he had dispatcht his affaires in Scotland he would come thither also himselfe and bring an other army His comming the king of Portingale expected But by reason of the late insurrection the state being somewhat troublesome in England the King thought it not conuenient to send his men of warre out of the Countrey The King of Portingale therefore seeing no more succours come began to treate with the Spaniard of peace though altogether against the mindes of the English whose Generall highly offended with the matter returned thereupon into England and tooke with him his sonne also to whome the king of Portingales daughter named Beatrice a Lady of 10 years old had beene lately betrothed The nextyeere following the King of Spaines wife which was the King of Arragons daughter deceassed and the King of Spaine marryed this Beatrice whom the Earle of Cambridge had in a manner cast off and forsaken This marriage was ratifyed by the Pope Not long after also dyed Ferdinando King of Portingale in whose place not the King of Spaine which had marryed his daughter but a bastard brother of his succeeded being admitted to the crowne rather by fauour of the clergy and authoritie of the citties then by election or approbation of the nobility Vpon this occasion much trouble and great warres ensued afterward When the Gauntoys through the Earle of Flaunders procurement were kept streitly from victuall out of all places adioyning certaine of their towne to the number of twelue thousand passing through Barband came to Liege and were there relieued with corne and
sent she ambassadors to the French King requiring that her daughter might be matchd to his brother Lewis of Valoys This being not mislikte in Fraunce commissioners were sent into Hungarie to go through with the matter in the behalfe of Duke Lewis and others afterward sent from thence into Fraunce to fetch the bridegroome In the meane while Henry of Bohemia called the Marques of Blankford the naturall brother of Charles King of Bohemia disdayning that a king should be sought so farre off by the procurement of certaine Lords of Hungary and not without consent of his brother besieged the Queene and her daughter as they soiourned for their recreation in a certaine castle seated in a solitary place farre from resort of people By meanes whereof she was at length constrayned to giue him her daughter to wife The French kings brother who was proceeded on his iourney as sarre as Champaigne with all his houshold and retinue when he heard newes of this alteration in Hungary was not a little discontented with the matter returned again to his brother who seemed not greatly sorie for as much as Hungary by reason of the farre distance of the country from Fraunce could hardly afforde him any helpe at neede The Scottish king vnderstanding the Admiralles desire to be employed leuyed an army of thirty thousand men He himselfe would not be present in the iourney but he sent his nine sonnes who together with the French men set forth towards their enemies country and wasted the borders farre and neere But assoone as they vnderstood that the King of England approched with an armie of seauenty thousand men they made no longer abode but retyred and the English pursued after The Admirall perswaded to giue battell but the Scottish men in regard their enemies were more in number then they and because they knew likewise that the English were men of great practise and experience in armes by all meanes refused the encounter And it appeared the English were neuer almost more vehemently bent to doe the Scottish a displeasure then at that time because they had then waged forraine soldiers against them and that out of Fraunce wherwith the English men were exceedingly prouoked The Scottish men the better to satisfie the Admirall who still vrged them to giue battell brought him to a hill there by of exceeding great height from whence he might perfectly take a view of all his enemies forces Which assoone as he had seene he was content to followe their counsell that were of a contrary opinion to his owne Notwithstanding least they should seeme to haue performed nothing with both their powers ioyned together they inuaded the marches of Wales where they did somewhat more harme then they could in England The Duke of Lancaster and many others gaue counsell to followe after them but a certaine person of great credyt and authority quite diuerted the kings minde from that purpose suggesting into his conceit how the Duke sought to thrust him forth into this dangerous action to the intent he might perish in battell and so himselfe get possession of the crowne How much mischiefe this bringing the King in suspition of his vnckles bred afterward in England shall be declared in place conuenient The Gauntoys tyred with seauen yeeres warres were desirous of peace but it was priuately amongst themselues For Peter de Boys who knew it was most for his profit and reputation to haue the people alwaies in trouble contention held them vnder in such sort that scarce any man durst openly make mention of peace Neuerthelesse through the diligent endeauour of two well disposed cittizens men studious of the publike welfare and a certaine gentleman of vertuous qualitie who was well beloued and befriended in Fraunce their matter was brought to a peaceable conclusion and the Duke of Burgoigne who was lately become Lord of the country shewed himselfe very gentle and tractable which he did so much the rather because in the beginning of the next spring he was purposed to make warres in England My author makes a large rehersall of the Articles of this peace which here it shall not be needfull to insert When Peter de Boys vnderstood these proceedings he likte them so well that he left the Cittie and went ouer into England with an English gentleman whom the Gauntoys long before had procured vppon ernest entreaty to be gouernour of their towne For howsoeuer after the peace was confirmed it seemd he might haue stayed there in safetie yet not daring to trust the multitude he thought it his best course to conuey himselfe out of their danger The author of this worke after rehearsall of these matters discourseth how himselfe for his better knowledge and instruction of such occurrenty as happened in Spaine Portingale Gascoigne and the countries thereabout when he was of those yeares that he was able to endure the trauell of the iourney and of that capacity and vnderstanding that he could describe and register in writing such things as he learned by his owne or others obseruation came at length to the house of a Gascone Lord called the Earle of Foys a man of much honour and respect in those times by whome being familiarly entertayned for certaine moneths together he receiued diuerse informations both from the Earle himselfe and from other persons of great credyt and account which had bene present themselues at the doing of those things whereof they made relation Amongst the rest he recounteth a certaine sorrowfull aduenture and such a one as would make euen nature it selfe astonished the discourse is this The Earle of Foys an honourable and valiant gentleman held in custodie a certaine noble man whom he had taken prisoner by the lawe of armes who for his ransome couenanted to pay fifty thousand franks for which summe the king of Nauarre whose sister the Earle had married profered to become surety But the Earle suspecting the Kings credite wherewith perhaps he had beene too well acquainted would not but vpon better assurance deliuer his prisoner His wife displeased to see her brother no better respected was very importunate with her husband and would not be in quiet till she had perswaded him oftentimes making mention how there was a matter of as great value as that to be assigned to her brother in consideration of her dowry and therefore that he neede not feare to be deceiued The prisoner by this meanes being set at liberty as soone as he came home into his countrey to the intent to discharge his credite prouided the summe of mony and sent it at his day accordingly not to the Earle himselfe but to the King of Nauarre his surety which when the Earle vnderstoode hee maruelled much the mony was not brought him and by his wife who willingly vndertooke the iourney signified his minde to the King of Nauarre desiring him to remember his promise who vpon receit of the message answered his sister in this sort Sister this
he found at Confluence and when he had deliuered his message departed from thence into Fraunce The Diuines there were of opinion that the like motion should be made to Benedict as had bin before to Boniface And vpon this determination the same Bishop beeing sent by the King to Avinion declared the mindes and intentions of the Princes to the Pope Who aunswered plainely and peremptorily that hee would condiscend to no such matter Notwithstanding when he had propounded it to his Cardinalles they were of sundry opinions according as they were mooued by their seuerall dispositions and affections And when no certaintic could be concluded by reason of the difference amongest them their assembly brake vp Then the Ambassadour pressing into the Popes presence required his resolution The Pope prowdly answered how he was lawfully and orderly promoted to that holy dignity which hee would in no wise forgoe as long as he liued neyther was any man liuing so deere vnto him for whose pleasure hee would departe from his right and much lesse did he feare any force or violence in that behalf The Ambassador seeing no other answere could be gotten returned homewardes and by the way shewed the successe of his affaires to the Marshall of Fraunce whome the king had sent with an army to second his proceedings The Marshall as soone as hee vnderstoode the Popes obstinate resolution made haste to Avinion and forraged all the country about diuiding his forces into diuerse companies to keepe all conueiance of victuall from the towne He him selfe encamped before the Citty threatning the inhabitants to destroy all their houses and their vineyardes which they had abroad in the countrey vnlesse they yeelded The townesmen well considering there was little helpe in the Pope and that the King was of great puissaunce tooke counsell with certaine French Cardinalles and by their aduise set open their gates The Pope suffered himselfe to be besieged in his pallace hoping to haue beene rescued by his cousine the King of Arragon but the King of Arragon was too wise to incurre the offence of so mighty a Prince for the Popes pleasure from whom he could expect small succour againe if occasion should serue heereafter Many of his Cardinalles exhorted him to a milder kinde of carriage but the Pope full of pride and arrogancie stoode firme in his first resolution seeming as it were secure of his estate and altogether carelesse what should become of him Hee was plentifully furnished of all necessaries sauing onely fewell the want whereof together with the incessant importunity of the Cardinalles compelled him at length to yeelde vp the place The Marshall bound him by othe that hee should not departe out of the Citty before such time as an vnion were established in the Church and to be sure he should not falsifie his promise appoynted a sufficient guarde to attend him and caused the Cardinalles and rich Cittizens of Avinion to become sureties for his foorth-comming The French King hauing written the whole discourse of these proceedings to the Emperour solicited the King of England that following their example he should likewise take parte with neyther of the Popes but stand indifferent for a time till some remedy might be prouided The King was very willing to haue satisfied his father in lawes request But when the matter was propounded in parliament hee not onely effected nothing of his desire but more and more vehemently incensed the people against him whome it exceedingly offended that he should be so addicted to the French men that to doe them a pleasure it seemed hee would haue condiscended to anie thing And they told him that howsoeuer they had beene otherwise well contented to set aside all partialitie of affection either to the one partie or the other yet in regarde the French King so earnestly desired it they would not agree to his request nor in any wise allow that hee shoulde prescribe articles of religion in England About this time died the Duke of Lancaster a vertuous and prudent prince of whose death as a thing desired the king of England very ioyfully sent newes into Fraunce As for his sonne who soiourned the same time in the French court he was so farre from recalling him againe to receiue his fathers inheritance that hee also seised it into his owne hands as appertaining to himselfe till the time of the earles banishment were expired And not content heerewith he distributed many of the Duke of Lancasters goodes among such persons as no man loued but himselfe The Earle of Derby was highly fauoured and respected by the French King in regarde of his noble carriage and generous disposition And because hee was also a man of great possessions there was a match motioned betweene him and the Duke of Berries daughter which was then a widow Wherof as soone as the King of England had intelligence he sent an Ambassador foorthwith to interrupt their proceedings informing his father in law and his vncles that hee with whome they intended to contract affinitie was a wicked person and a traitour The Earle from whome all this was kept secret to the intent to learne what the Ambassadour had doone for he mistrusted somewhat because he had not seene him all the time of his being there fell in communication againe with the French King and his brothers concerning the marriage And they not thinking good to hold him longer in suspence declared what reporte they hadde heard of him from the King of England How much the Earle was grieued and discontented heerewithall any man out of his owne iudgement may easily coniecture All the nobilitie of England for the most part with the Londoners were exceedingly displeased at this his vnworthy and iniurious accusation for they knew assuredly it proceeded of mere malice hatred King Richard the same time made preparation for another voyage into Ireland assembling to the number of tenne thousand archers and two thousand horsemen and hee banished twoonoble men of great account because they refused to accompany him in that iourney For those Lordes hauing spoken somewhat boldely of the King when they vnderstoode by their friends that he had knowledge thereof they thought it better to disobey his commaund than by comming when he sent for them to put their liues and estates in manifest perill and therevppon sentence of banishment was pronounced against them To be short many causes concurred together at one time to aggrauate the peoples hatred against the King By occasion whereof certaine ill disposed persons taking aduantage of the time when they saw the king both busied in warre and irrecouerably depriued of the loue of his subiects assembling together in rowts and companies made spoyle of the husbandmen robbed the Merchants and ranged ouer all the countrey doing great violence and mischiefe insomuch that many to auoyde the daunger of their outrage were forced to conuey themselues into London and other places of securitie When the king had thus vtterly lost the harts of
towne as the castle with all the territory thereto belonging Also Calice and many other places besides whereof as the number is great so the rehersall would be tedious Item that the king of Fraunce should renounce his title to all these and release all fealtie and right which he his heires or successors might by any meanes clayme therein that the king of England should hold them all frankly and freely without acknowledgment of any homage or superiority to the king of Fraunce or his successors in that behalfe Item that the king of England should againe for himselfe his heires and successors disclaime all title right and interest which eyther hee or his posteritie might pretend to the crowne of France Item that he should resigne all the portion which he challenged in the Dukedomes of Normandy Aniow and Turon also all his right to Britaine These and many other articles described more at large in my author both the Kings and their sonnes were solemnly sworne to obserue And for further assurance the French King gaue in hostage the Dukes of Orleance Aniow Berry Burbon besides some twelue Earles and Barons and diuerse personages of good account sent particularly from all the chiefe Citties of Fraunce These being all conveyed to London the French king was set at libertie and returned againe to Paris to the great reioycement of his subiects Immediately vpon his returne he directed forth letters to all his officers Lievetenants and Captaines to avoyd out of all such Townes Castles and holds as hee had departed withall to the King of England But it is wonderfull to report with what vnwillingnesse they all for the most part obayed this commandement for it seemed a very strange and difficult matter for them to vndergoe the yoke and subiection of the English But the French King beeing a iust and vertuous Prince would for no respect infringe his oath or swarue from his covenants Therfore he gaue commaund that all things should bee performed according to the expresse tenor of the agreement In like manner the King of England sent commissioners to surrender againe certaine Castles and holdes taken in the warres into the French kings possession When the townes and fortresses were in this sort delivered the soldiers which had now accustomed themselues so long time together to liue vpon spoyle and pillage considering that in regard of the wicked acts they had formerly committed it would bee little for their profit and lesse for their safetie to returne home againe determined from thenceforth to seeke their fortunes And thereupon assembling themselues together they ranged through Champaine and the places adioyning wasting and destroying all things before them and as it commonly falleth out their number daily encreased The French king beeing informed of their mischieuous proceedings sent Iaques of Burbon against them with an armie He found them encamped vppon a very high hill the scituation wherof was such that it was impossible to take any perfect view of their forces being indeed some sixteen thousand they appeared to his scouts not aboue 5000. When it came to the encouÌ„ter it was fiercely fought on both sides but fortune inclined to the worser party Many gallant gentlemen perished in this conflict the Duke of Burbon himselfe with Peter his eldest Son were verie sore wounded and being conveyed to Lyons died within three daies after When these villaines had obtained this victorie they tooke their waie directly towards Avinion at whose approche the Pope and his colledge of Cardinals were not a little affrighted for such was both their courage and their crueltie that no man durst oppose himselfe against them Neuerthelesse the Pope and his Cardinalls being thus driuen to their shifts and hauing no other meanes to represse this mutinous multitude to whome no mischiefe came amisse commaunded a croysie to be preached against them with a graunt of cleere remission of all their sinnes which tooke it vppon them Many assembled but when there was no mention of pay they shrunke away euery one The very same time the Marques of Mountferrat made warre vppon the Duke of Millaine The Pope therefore practised with him to lead away this rebellious rebell into Lumbardie And euen so it fell out for when the Pope and Cardinalls had paied them threescore thousand crownes and that the Marques also had promised them entertainment besides they followed him and did him good seruice in his warres The french King passed through the Dukedome of Burgundy which was then lately fallen to him by the death of the younger Duke towards Avmion to visite the Pope who in short space after deceassed And when they could not determine vpon a new election by reason of the inordinate strife which was chiefelie betweene twoo contending for the papacie at length a certaine abbot of Saint Victors in Marseilles a learned and godlie man was chosen and from thenceforth called Pope Vrbane The King of Ciprus the same time arriued at Avinion and made earnest intercession to the Pope and the french King for the vndertaking of an expedition against the Saracens and other enemies of the christian faith The Pope promised his furtherance and in a publike assembly propounded the matter Wherevppon the french King with a great part of his nobility tooke vpon them the signe of the crosse Afterward the King of Ciprus trauelled into Bohemia to the Emperour and from thence through Germante Brabant and Flaunders he came into England making the like petition to King Edward but he honourably excused himselfe Out of England he returned vnto Amience where the french King then soiourned and after that he repaired into Gascoine to the Prince of Wales who about the same time had a Son borne named Edward The noble men that were left in hostage for the french King began to grow discontented for the long restraint of their liberty and king Edward being of a gentle and curteous disposition had giuen them leaue to go ouer to Calice as well to recreate and refresh their mindes as also that from thence being so neere Fraunce they might the more commodiously dispose of their affaires in their owne countrey They sent oftentimes to the King and the Duke of Normandy his Sonne But the King was so busied about the preparation of his voyage against the Saâ—acens withall so troubled by the King of Navarre who still continued in armes against him that he could not convenientlie intend to dispatch them By meanes whereof it came to passe that the Duke of Aniow the kings Sonne leaving the rest of his felow pledges returned againe into Fraunce The french King had a mervailous desire to see the King of England againe because he had so honourably entreated him whilste he was his prisoner He was counselled to the contrary notwithstanding he still persisted in his purpose and so much the rather for that he would excuse his Sonne for departing without licence So he went and was entertained very royally But not long after
Duke of Braband then William the Duke of Iuliers sonne holding the seigniory of Gelders in right of his mother claymed againe from the dutchesse of Braband these Castles which his vnckle Edward in his life time had challenged before The restitution wherof being denyed ministred newe occasion whereby the olde grudge was againe reuiued And because Braband at that time was in league with Fraunce and the Duke of Burgoine the French kings brother was next heyre to the widdowe the Duke of Gelders who studyed all the displeasure he could against the house of Fraunce to the intent to shewe his loue towards the English nation passed ouer the seas and contracted great alliance with King Richard receiuing from him a pension of foure thousand franks as hath bene before declared and afterward at his returne defied the French king and professed open enmitie against the Brabanders in so much that the Duke of Burgoigne vppon aduertisement from the widdowe of his daily incursions was constraimed to send thither certaine companies of horsemen for defence of the frontyers Mention is made before of the Duke of Lancaster who by reason of great plague and mortality in his army was forced to discharge his soldiers and returne to the king of Portingale Now when the Spanyards and French men sawe their enemies dispersed they easily recouered all that was lost the Englishmen which remained in garrisons being either expelled by force or dismissed by composition The king of Portugall perswaded his father in lawe to send for a new supply out of England But the Duke considering how it was farre of and that the state of England was at that time greatly encombred made speedy prouision for his departure and sayled as we haue shewed you to Bayon from whence he wrote diuerse letters both to the King and to his brothers for succour But the Englishmens minds were so alienated from the wars of Portingall by reason of the great miseries they endured there that scarce any man could be found which would enter his name to goe vppon that voyage Besides this the troubles seditions and executions which had bene lately in the realme before remayned still so fresh in euery mans memory as they had no leysure to intend to forreine affaires The French king vnderstanding how the world went in England to the intent to make vse of his aduersaries ill fortune vpon great hopes and large promises allured the Duke of Ireland out of the Neatherlands into Fraunce Charles king of Nauarre about this time sessing his people at a subsidy of two hundred thousand franks assembled the burgesses of his townes at Pampelone the chiefe Citty of his kingdome and when he saw that they stucke vppon the matter he shut them vp in a certaine court enclosed about with high walles threatning that if they concluded not the sooner he would handle them according to their deserts But in the meane while happened a wonderfull accident After he had left them in this angry moode he gaue himselfe to sleepe and because he was aged his seruants were accustomed to burne a perfume about him to prouoke him to sweat Now it fortuned by what negligence or mischaunce at that time I know not that some sparke of fire caught hold of the bed which by little and little encreasing and gathering strength at last brake forth in a burning siame about him by means whereof the wretched king being alone and not able by reason of his age to helpe himselfe nor to winde out of the linnen which entangled him was almost consumed in the flames before any could come to his rescue Many Lords of Fraunce which were much displeased that the Duke of Gelders had made defiance to their king in such proud termes contrary to the custome of other Princes were of opinion that if he should escape cleerely away withall it might perhaps hereafter be imputed as a blame and reproch to them which were now of the kings counsell The king was forwarde enough to haue taken a course of reuenge but in regard the Duke of Britaine attempted new troubles solliciting the English to be partakers of his proceedings the enterprise which both himselfe and many other desired could not then be performed The Duke of Berry sent one priuately in his owne name to deale with the Duke of Britaine in friendly manner to drawe him to some reasonable agreement but it was in vaine and that made the French men in greater feare and suspition For they considered what perill it might be to the realme if the King as he desired him selfe and was perswaded by others should now addresse himselfe into Germany when the Duke of Britaine shewed so small affection to peace as he seemd altogether desirous of warre attending but for opportunity to discouer his intention When they had long varied in opinions some thinking such indignity was in no wise to be taken at so meane a Lords hands as the Duke of Gelders that the King now in his youth was to be enured to armes others opposing against this counsell the present state of the kingdome the charge of the warres and the fiercenesse of the Germanes at length it was agreed to contemne the Duke of Gelders as a young man whom rather heate of youth then any aduised iudgement had moued to that action and if he proceeded to make warres as he had threatned that then it should be more honour for the king to aduance his forces against him But by all means it was thought necessarie to fall to agrement with the Duke of Britaine For he as we said before seemed openly to practise with the King of England and already certaine English ships scowred the Seas betweene Normandy and Britaine which notwithstanding they did no harme to Fraunce yet because they still houeâ—ed about that coast the French men alwaies mistrusted the worst For these causes many thought it the fittest course by warr to chastize the Dukes presumption But the Kings Vncles and some others of sadder discretion who alwaies held the successe of warre vncertaine were of a contrary opinion For it was easie to coniecture that the warres with England would be renewed vppon this occasion which was the onely thing that the Duke of Britaine desired Commissioners were therefore directed vnto him to make a peaceable conclusion of the matter Whereof the Duke beeing informed before their comming consulted of his affaires at large His counsell with weighty reasons perswaded him that hee should desist from his course and restrayning his affections submitte himselfe to the French King whose puissance was such as hee had restored great Lords yea and Princes to their honour and estates and had driuen others againe to whome he bare displeasure out of their seigniories and dominions Therefore their best aduise was that he should of his owne accord restore againe to the Constable the castles which he had lately taken from him For it would be more honourable for him to deliuer them now willingly then hereafter