to Favour and seemingly pardon'd but the Lord Henry Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. William Trussel and Sr. Thomas Withers as not being included in this Pardon or not daring to trust to it were fain to fly the Land till the Death of Mortimer For to these Men he was implacable they being the first Persons who began boldly to challenge him for the Death of the Old King tho some of them had been concern'd in his Deposal for which this new Earl of March would gladly have had a full Revenge upon them But however upon this their flight he got many good parcels of their Lands and Possessions to be siesed on for the King's Use in name but for his own in reality V. Here because the foresaid Henry Lord Beaumont is not only mention'd on these great Accounts already but must challenge much more to be said of him hereafter as also that it may be seen what kind of Men this proud Mortimer levell'd his aim at and that I may at the same time do right to the Posterity of that Noble Personage I shall not here think it amiss briefly to touch at his Original Most of those that mention his Pedigree bring his Descent from Lewis Son to Charles Earl of Anjou t Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p 50. 〈◊〉 a younger Son to Lewis the Eighth King of France which Lewis Son of Charles being Lord of Beaumont in France begot of his Lady Agnes de Beaumont this valiant Lord Henry Beaumont and his Sister Isabell who was wife to John Lord Vesci of Alnwick in Northumberland and is called Kinswoman to Queen Eleanor that vertuous Consort of King Edward the First This Lord Henry married the Lady Alice one of the Cozens and Coheirs to John Cumin Earl of Boghan or Bucquain and Constable of Scotland in whose Title he afterwards obtained that Honour But whereas there are some who by mistake bring this Worthy much later into England in the company of Queen Isabella King Edward the Third's Mother this their error arose we presume from those passages of Froisard which make such frequent mention of the Lord Beaumonts assisting that Queen when it is plain that he means there the Lord John of Heinalt who was also called Lord Beaumont from another place of that name in Heinalt and besides this Lord was u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Claus 20. Ed. 2. m. 12. confin'd in England upon Suspicion at the time of Queen Isabell's Arrival And yet * Dugd. ibid. p. 50. others derive this noble Vicount Beaumont from Lewis de Brenne second Son to John de Brenne or rather Bremen the last King of Jerusalem VI. But now this Noble Lord with othes of Mortimers Enemies was fain to yield to the iniquity of the Times and to retreat into France till the Storm should be blown over Mortimer in the mean while securely basking in the sun-shine of his Prosperity as great as Heart could wish if Ambition knew any Limits to its Desires Soon after the Young King to do him further honour x Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 225. takes a progress toward the Marches of Wales where he gives this new Earl a visit He for his part as he was indeed descended of a very ancient and Noble Family from y Catal. Honor. p. 574. Hugh de Mortimer a Norman Baron who came into England with William the Conqueror and received of him in reward of his good Services the Castle and Lands of Wigmore was besides his natural Ambition very glorious and singularly magnificent in all his Publique Appearances But now upon this Visit 't is incredible what sumptuous Entertainments he gave his Royal Master in his Castles of Ludlow and Wigmore what Sports and Diversions in his Parks and Forests what Gallantry and Expence he exhibited in his Tiltings Tournaments and other Military Pastimes much whereof thô it might proceed from an honourable Disposition and a sense of Gratitude and dutifull Respect to his Soveraign yet as was thought not a little was upon the account of the Queen Mothers presence and that all of it in general smelt rank of a Popular Air and a vain-glorious Humour Whether it was really so or that Pride is so loathsom to all who are at a distance from it that it causes even our best Actions to be misrepresented and be view'd from the wrong Prospect CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward summon'd to do Homage to the King of France for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Lands of Ponthieu and Monstroile II. A solemn Just held in London for three Days together AN. DOM. 1329. An. Regni III. with the Queen's danger by the Falling of a Scaffold III. The Old Queen and Mortimer compass the death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle with the Manner and other Circumstances IV. King Edward goes privately into France V. Soon after his Return a Son born unto him called Edward afterwards sirnamed the Black-Prince VI. Mortimer taken and executed a Parliament I. NOW was a Froisâ—c 24. M. S. Ang. C. C. C. ibid. c. 219. Philip of Valois the French King well settled in his new-acquired Throne having received all the Homages and Fealties of his Subjects and Others who held under him as Peers of France or otherwise except only of the Young King of England his Cozen who by right had ow'd him homage for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstroile had not himself been Heir to the Crown of France and so Supream Lord not only of those Parts but of the Whole But King Philip being too much elevated with his good Fortune never consider'd any such thing or at least had no great apprehensions of King Edward's Courage or Conduct and therefore finding himself now in full and quiet Possession of so flourishing a Kingdom by the advice and consent of his whole Council he resolves to summon our King Edward to make his Personal Appearance before him in France there to do Homage unto him as to his Supream Lord for the Lands which he held of that Crown He therefore soon after dispatches into England the Lord of Ancenis and the Lord of Beausalt with Monsieur Peter of Orleans and Monsieur Peter of Massieres two famous Civilians which Four with all their Retinue after provision made departed from Paris directly for Whitsant where they took the Sea and arrived safely at Dover Here having tarried one day as well to refresh themselves as to unship their Horses and Baggage they rode the next day toward the Court which they heard to be as then at Windsor Being at last come thither in respect to their Master that sent them they were soon admitted to the Royal Presence where they gave the King a full account of their Errand His Majesty answer'd with good Deliberation That the Matter required advice that as for his Part very few of the Lords of his Council were then about him but if they would withdraw to London he
would there shortly return them such an Answer as should appear reasonable After this Answer having been first entertain'd with a Dinner in the Kings Chamber they departed from Windsor took up their lodging for that night at Colbrook and the next day went for London A few days after the King return'd to his Palace at Westminster and a certain Day was prefix'd to all his Council to attend him there The Council being sat the Embassadors of France were called in who again told the substance of their Message and withall deliver'd to the King their Masters Letters which he had refused to meddle with before They were thereupon order'd to withdraw while the Business was brought under Debate Some of the Lords alledged That in right of Queen Isabell his Mother the Crown of France belonged unto him and that therefore he ought not only not to acknowledge any Fealty at all but also openly to put forth his Claim to what was so evidently his Due But however pleasingly this struck upon the Spirit of King Edward yet the Major part of his Council were of the mind That it was too early for the King to embarque himself in so hazardous an Affair the Enemy being at that time so potent the Realm at home in a manner unsettled and the King himself under Age. However that hereby his Right and future Claim might not be prejudiced the King immediately b Ex Informatione per R. Edvardi nuntios Papae exhibita in Bened. Tom. 6. post Epist secr 302. in Bibl. Vatican apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1340. §. 9. vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 14. constituted one of his Council his Procurator in that Part by whom before all his Council he protested openly and expresly That for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by King Edward of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu he did not nor would intend to Renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the same Right to derogate even althô thereupon Letters should afterward be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Loosing the said Dukedom and Earldom and because he feared that unless he should do Homage unto the said Philip he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the confirmation of the Premises King Edward caused his said Procurator to take an Oath upon his Soul by laying hands on the Holy Gospell before all those of his Council present This Caution being made it was agreed That Doctor Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London a well-spoken Man should answer these Ambassadors for the King That He was ready in all Points to do as the Kings his Predecessors had done Then the Frenchmen being call'd in the Bishop spake in this manner Lords and Gentlemen Ambassadors from the Crown of France the Kings Majesty my Soveraign Lord hath heard your Message and read your Letters My Lords and Gentlemen our Master here present hath by Advice of his Council consented to go personally into France c Frois c. 24. to visit the King your Master his Dear Cozen who hath so kindly invited him And you are required to shew unto the King your Master that as to the Faith and Homage demanded he will do his Devoir in all that shall concern him And that he intends the first Opportunity to pass over into France to perform what shall appear equitable So having been well entertain'd and rewarded by the King with many gifts and Jewels of great value they left England returning with this Answer to their Lord at Paris King Philip was well pleas'd with the News not only because he saw so considerable a Monarch so ready to submit to him but because he had a great curiosity to see him whom he had heard to be a Prince of singular Majesty and Beauty That himself therefore might appear in more Pomp or to the intent to have more notable Witnesses of this Homage thus to be done to his own Person or to dazzle and awe the mind of the Young King with the number and greatness of his Friends and Allies He immediately directs his Letters to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia his Cozen and to the Kings of Navarre and Majorica certifying them of the time and place where and when the King of England was to do him Homage and desiring them by no means to fail of giving him the Honour of their company To which Letters they all severally agreed and came into France accordingly attended with an honourable Equipage Besides all the Peers Earls Barons and chief Lords of France as if to out-rival the English Nation resolv'd to be present at this Solemnity in the most gallant and splendid manner The place appointed for the performance of this Action was the great City of Amiens in Picardy wherein there was Extraordinary provision made for this August Appearance For the several Kings were made ready great Chambers Halls and Dining-Rooms The Inns and other of the best Lodgings were order'd to entertain the Dukes of Burgundy Burbon and Lorrain and the Lord Robert of Artois a mighty Favourite of King Philip's with the rest of the Peers of France and Princes of the Blood. There was also provision made for a thousand Horse-strangers besides six hundred Horse which they expected would come over with the King of England But He for his part exceeded herein their Expectation for He came attended with Dr. Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln all right politick Prelates There were also four Earls Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Lord Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Uncles Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Claus 3. Edw. 3. n. 35 not then of full Age and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex with the Lord Henry Plantaginet afterwards Earl of Derby the Kings Cozen the Lord William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury Reginald Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Nevil the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord John Moubray beside more than fourty other Knights and a thousand Horse of War. And thus having appointed his Brother the Lord John sirnamed of Eltham and now Earl of Cornwall his Lieutenant and Custos of the Realm during his Absence He took the sea at Dover with all this Company but was two Days upon the Water before he landed at Whitsand near Calais whence he went to Boloigne where he tarried one day to refresh himself It was now about the middle of August when King Philip hearing of his Arrival immediately dispatch'd away the Constable of France with a good company of
Archimbald Douglas on the 20 of March being the Sunday after the Annunciation had enter'd the Marches of England as we u L. 1. c 5. §. 4. p. 68. shew'd before where he continued four days in great Outrage without any encounter and after that got off safe thô with no great Booty But now King Edward had order'd Reprisals to be made upon the Enemy and soon x Knighton p. 2562. n 40. 50. after the Lord William Montague Ralph Lord Nevill the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Old Earl of Lancaster and Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel passed with King Bailiol into Scotland where they did much Damage to the Enemy and among the Rest they took a certain Fortress wherein they found the Lord Robert Colvile a Baron y Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 626. of England Prisoner whom they released with many other English Gentlemen and several great Ladies of the Country all whom they deliver'd Here also they found a vast quantity of Provision of all sorts which they kept for themselves and so ras'd the Castle to the ground From hence they March'd directly for Barwick which they began to lay Siege to both by Sea and Land. A little before to retaliate those Hostile Incursions made by the Scots upon the Marches the Lord z Knighton p. 2563. n. 10. Walsingh Hist p. 114. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth and William of Loughmaban with only 800 Resolute Men had enter'd Scotland in Hostile manner for above twenty Leagues when they were met by the Lord William Douglas Captain of the Fortress of Loughmaban attended with a great Multitude of Men of War. However at last the Victory fell to the English the Lord Humphry Gurdon Sr. William of Carlile and more than an hundred and sixty Men of Arms being slain the Lord Douglas himself with Sr. William Ward and about an hundred others were taken Prisoners with a great deal of Booty But the Lord Anthony Lucy on the English part was very much wounded in the Fight thô not mortally and so they all return'd with their Prey and Prisoners into England About the same time another party of the English Borderers made a sudden Inroad into Scotland and coming to Haddington in the time of a great Fair they slew and took all they found there seising on all their Cattle and other Commodities that were of any Value V. But now while the Siege of Barwick was carrying on King Edward himself comes thither in Person with a well appointed Army and there resolutely invests the Town declaring he would never depart thence till he had reduced the Place or the King of Scots should come thither to give him Battle Some five Weeks before he had been before Barwick but a Frois c. 26. fol. 16. then he was advised not to spend his time in a tedious and uncertain Siege but to ride up in the Land and Destroy and Conquer as his Grandfather had done in the furthest parts of Scotland the Forces of King Bailiol being judg'd sufficient to hold a formal Siege thô not to carry the place by force Upon this reason and hoping thereby to draw King David or his Lieutenant to a Battle he follows the advice Wasting and Destroying all the plain Country of Scotland and taking in several fortified Towns and the strong Castle of Edenburgh particularly wherein he placed a Garrison Thence passing the Frith at Queens-ferry he came to Dunfermlin and destroy'd the Town but not the least harm was done to the Abbey the King giving special Command to the contrary hence he over-ran all the Country about Scone as far as Dundee and on the left hand as far as Dunbritton an impregnable Castle about five Miles from Glascow standing on the River Cluid in the Marches bordering on the wild Scots To this place King David with his Queen was now retired for safety for he had been advised by his Council not to hazard a Battle seeing that beside the common uncertainty of War he had but few good Captains remaining and himself was little more than ten Years Old the Lord William Douglas also now being Prisoner in England But wait a while say they till this Tempest is of it self blown over another time we may recover these Losses more easily Hereupon the King being thus secur'd the rest of the Scots of those parts had withdrawn themselves and the best of their Moveables into the Forest of Gedworth which was impassable but to those who were well acquainted with the Country King Edward therefore having thus ravag'd over all Scotland at his pleasure without the least proffer of Battle made to him except that some Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland would frequently Skirmish with any small detachments from his Army and finding it fruitless to expect any just Opposition from King David intends back again for Barwick But in the way thither he took the Castle of Blacknes belonging to Earl Douglas which being about 10 Leagues or 20 Scotch Miles from Edinburgh he Garrison'd also for himself as he had done divers other Castles before intending thereby to make constant War upon Scotland within its own Bowels Just as the King of England was return'd to the Siege before Barwick with a Resolution not to stir thence till he had taken the Place or that King David should raise his Siege by Battle about the same time came to Barwick the Lord b Thoroten's Notting p. 264. John Darcy Justice of Ireland with a Gallant small Body of Men to the King his Masters Assistance He had three Years c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. before been sent by King Edward into Aquitain to the Reinforcement of William de Burgo alias Burgh Earl of Vlster then Guardian of that Dutchy But the said Earl being this Year d Knighton p. 2563. Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 70. ad An. 1333. desirous to pass into Scotland to wait upon the King his Lord as he was riding to Knockfergus near the Fords of Vlster and talking familiarly with his Followers about the subject matter of his present Undertaking an Irishman called Robert Fitzmartin Mandevil suddenly drew his sword and ran it into his belly so that there the young Valorous Earl was slain only because he had imprison'd one Henry Mandevil of that Family leaving behind him e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. one Daughter Elizabeth Heir of all his vast Possessions which afterwards was Married to a Son of King Edward's not yet Born. To Revenge his Death the Lord Darcy leaving Aquitain came now for Ireland with this small Army but understanding that the Men of the Country had already done that Work to his hand by putting the foresaid Mandevil and his Fellows to due Execution he set Sr. Thomas Burgh in his place as Lieutenant of Ireland and so made directly for Scotland whither he came just in time to give a Specimen both of his Loyalty and Valour For in this very juncture
on the Queen as to visit their Fathers Husbands and Brethren then with the King. King Edward soon after remov'd his Court to Antwerp as more commodious for the Queen to lay her Belly in and there he kept a most Honourable Court all that Winter and as Vicar of the Empire z Frois ibid. set up his Royal Mint at Antwerp where he coined great plenty of mony both Gold and Silver Yet all this while the Duke of Brabant who had once been so greatly humbled by King Philip as we shew'd before never ceased sending Messengers to him to excuse him and to assure his Majesty that he would undertake nothing prejudicial to the Crown of France The Chief of this Embassy was the Lord Lewis of Travemund one of his Council who was frequently sent upon this Errand and at last was made his Lords Resident in the Court of France that he might be the more ready at hand always to excuse him against whatsoever informations might be given of him or his Designs VII The mean while in England the young Prince a Knighton p. 2571. n. 30. Edward Duke of Cornwall by Commission from the King his Father held a Parliament at Northampton which began on the 26 of July wherein a Mighty Aid was granted unto the King towards the Maintenance of his Wars as may be conjectur'd by this Proportion the three Counties of Leicester Lincoln and Northampton only being taxed in 1211 Sacks of Wooll Besides which he had an Aid of the Bishops Abbots Priors Rectors Vicars and Justices who went not with him to the War of some 100 l. a piece of others two Hundred according to their Estates and Abilities And moreover at Michaelmas following a Tenth was granted of the Clergy for two Years to come About this time there were b Knighton p. 2573. n. 10. Sixty Sail of Stout Ships appointed for the defence of the Cinque-Ports beside the present Fleet and Sr. William Clinton Earl of Huntington and Constable of England was made Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and the Lord c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward with his Allies prepares to open the Campagne not in the mean while neglecting his Endeavours to compose Matters II. He writes to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France the many undeserved Provocations of the French King and his own Reasonable Offers which he had often made and was yet ready to make with the Copy of the Letter at Large III. The Popes Answer at Large being an indirect expostulation wherein he shews that Lewis of Bavaria the Emperour being under the Sentence of Excommunication was not nor ought to be accounted Emperour That all his Friends and Abettors were Actually Excommunicate and so concludes partly excusing himself from abetting the French King against England and partly unless he withdraws from his Correspondence with the Emperour threatning to proceed judicially against him also I. NOW the unactive Winter was passed over AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII and the vigorous Spring began to open the Earth and the Wars together the Feast of St. John Baptist approaching when the Lords of England and Germany began to prepare themselves for the appointed time of Action King Edward had made his Recruits from England whence those Men of War he expected came over to him about the beginning of June And the Duke a Ashmole p. 649. 16. Febr. Patentes inter Regem Angl. diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. 4. of Gueldre and Earl of Zutphen had done Homage unto him as Vicar of the Empire and King of France for which the King granted him a 1000 l. per annum during his Life and he had further made an Alliance with Albert and Otho Dukes of Austria Stiria and Carinthia and received their Homages But yet before he began his March at the Instance of the Cardinals Pedro and Bertrand of whose endeavours for Peace we spake before John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Darby Salisbury and Suffolk with some Others were by the King b Ashmole p. 649. 1 Julii Pat. concess hominth Angl. Vasc 13 Ed. 3. m. 17. Knighton p. 2572. n. 60 impowred to Treat once more with Philip of Valois or his Deputies concerning the Dignities Honours Lands and Rights belonging to King Edward and all other Controversies whatsoever The Deputies on the other Part being the Archbishop of Roüen the Bishops of Langres and Beauvais and the Places of Treaty first Compiegne and then Arras But nothing of Peace being thereby effected the King prepares now roundly for the War. II. And yet before he began his March he wrote to the Pope and the College of Cardinals setting forth his Title to the Crown of France and the great Necessity that lay upon him as well to vindicate his Right as to preserve his Lands and Honour both which were injuriously invaded by Philip of Valois his Adversary The Tenor of which Letters from the Original c Walsingh hist p. 119. Editionis verò Francefurtianâ—e p. 136. Adam Murimouth M.S. partim apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1339. §. 17 18. M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 5. a princap ad finem Latine is as followeth To the Venerable College of the Beloved Fathers in God the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain Greeting We have written to the most Holy Father the Chief Bishop after due Recommendation of our Respects in these words The Law of Nature which is the Guide of all living Creatures hath granted to every one a Liberty of Defence against injurious Violence generally allowing that to be justly done which any one doth in his own Defence repelling of Force and Injury Truly since great and hazardous Wars and injurious Violations have been moved and done against Us which being notorious to the whole World having also by our frequent Intimation fully been made so to the Apostolick See we take it for Granted that to your Holiness they cannot be unknown Now We being Lovers of Peace God knows that we might avoid Contention and introduce Amity have freely offer'd to our Persecutor respectfully indeed and perhaps too humbly the desirable Methods of Peace not without a great Resignation of our own Rights and Interest that omitting at present a too eager Prosecution of our Personal Quarrels in this season of just Sorrow wherein the Fury of the Soldan of Babylon and other Enemies of the Cross being highly enflamed because an Expedition was sworn against them and solemnly proclaim'd in Parts beyond the Sea hath and doth daily harass and destroy many Christian Souls So that horrible despight and reproach is cast upon our Crucified Lord we might as indeed we ought and most earnestly desire joyntly
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
victory after a sharp and terrible Conflict In which Battle a mighty Number of our Enemies were destroyed and almost all their whole Navy taken with some Loss also on our Part but nothing like in Comparison to theirs By reason whereof We doubt not but that the Passage by Sea shall hereafter prove more quiet and safe both to Us and our Subjects And also many other Commodities shall ensue thereupon as we have good cause to hope Wherefore We devoutly considering the Divine Favours so gratiously bestowed upon Us do render our most humble Thanks and Praise to Christ our Lord and Saviour Beseeching him that as he hath been and always is most ready to prevent our Necessities in his own good time so he will please to continue his helping Hand ever towards Us and so direct Us here temporally that We may reign and rejoice with him eternally in Heaven Moreover We require your Charitable Assistance that you also Rising up together with Us unto the Praise of God alone who hath so favourably begun to work with us for our Good do instantly in your Publique Prayers and Divine Service as well as in your Private Devotions recommend Us to the Lord since We are here labouring in these foreign Countries and not only studying to recover our Right in France but also highly to exalt the whole Catholick Church of Christ and to rule our People in Righteousness And that You also call upon all your Clergy and People each one thrô his distinct Diocess to do the same altogether invocating the Name of our Saviour on our Behalf that of his Clemency he would please to give unto Us his Humble Servant his Grace and a docible Heart that We may so judge and govern here upon Earth in Equity doing what he hath commanded that at length We may happily attain to that which he hath promised thrô our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. An. 1340. V. This Letter was enclosed in another of the Kings directed to his Son the Prince who received them at Waltham And then at last and not before was the Fame of this Victory perfectly credited by the most Scrupulous But thrô France the sad News of this their Loss flew more nimbly thô as yet none durst undertake to be the hatefull messenger of such an unwelcom Relation to King Philip. Till at last his Lords prompted a pleasant Fellow the Kings Jester to do it who is said to have revealed the whole Matter after this manner r Walsingh hist p. 134. n. 30. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 347. Sr. Rich. Baker c. Running carelesly one time into King Philips Presence he began to insult with much vehemence and upbraid the English of flat Cowardise calling them Dastards and cowardly Poltrons with many other Opprobrious Words to that effect Which he repeated with great Bravery till the King asked him the reason why he so extreamly undervalued the Englishmen Why said the Fool because the Cowardlike Faint-hearted Rogues had not the Courage to leap into the Sea so gallantly as our Normans and Gentlemen of France did Certainly We are told by most Writers that in this Fight the English Arrows fell so thick among the French and did so sting torment and fright them that many Men rather than endure them leapt desperately into the Sea To which the Words of this Jester no doubt alluded And without all question the Guns which are used now adays are neither so terrible in Battle nor do such Execution nor work such Confusion as Arrows can do For Bullets being not seen only hurt where they hit but Arrows enrage the Horse and break the Array and terrifie all that behold them in the Bodies of their Neighbours Not to say that every Archer can shoot Thrice to a Gunners once and that whole Squadrons of Bows may let fly at one time when only one or two Files of Musqueteers can discharge at once Also that whereas Guns are useless when your Pikes joyn because they only do execution point blank the Arrows which will kill at Random may do good service even behind your Men of Arms And it is notorious that at the famous Battle of Lepanto the Turkish Bows did more mischief than the Christian Artillery Besides it is not the least observable that whereas the Weakest may use Guns as well as the Strongest in those Days your lusty and tall Yeomen were chosen for the Bow whose ſ Fabian p. 392. Hose being fastned with one Point and their Jackets long and easie to shoot in they had their Limbs at full liberty so that they might easily draw Bows of great strength and shoot Arrows of a Yard long beside the Head. But to proceed VI. About the same time that King Edward sent the foremention'd Letters into England he also directed others from t Frois c. 50. f. 30. Gaunt to the Earl of Hainalt and those who were besieged within the Castle of Thine certifying them of his Arrival and Success When the Earl heard this News and that the French had received such a Blow at Sea because he could not force the Duke of Normandy to a Battle having at last brought off the Besieged in that manner as we related he decamped and giving his Souldiers leave to depart return'd with all the Lords in his Company to Valenciennes where he feasted them all most magnificently There Jacob van Arteveld once or twice declared openly in the Market-place in the Presence of the Earl of Hainalt the Duke of Brabant and all the Lords and Others who were content to hear him What undoubted Right the King of England had to the Crown of France and of what great Puissance the Three Countries of Flanders Hainalt and Brabant were like to be now that they were surely joyn'd in one indissolvible Bond of Allyance whereof King Edward was the Knot Strength and Stay. And more he spake to this purpose with so much Eloquence and Discretion that all who heard him highly applauded his smooth Language and weighty Reasons Saying that he was both a very good Orator and a most sound and expert Politician and therefore most meet and worthy to Govern all Flanders After this the Lords of the Empire departed severally from Valenciennes having first of all agreed to meet again within eight Days at Gaunt to visit the King of England which they did accordingly He for his part received them gladly and feasted them honourably as also did the Queen in her Apartment And here 't was agreed between King Edward and the Lords of Germany that a General Council should be held at Villenort about their present Affairs for which a certain Day was appointed and Notice given to all the Allies to meet accordingly Now the King of England as he had formerly made a Promise to the Flemings had brought over with him certain Bishops and very many Priests and Deacons u Mezeray 2 part 3 tom 16 pag. who being less scrupulous than the Priests of Flanders
burthen'd and grieved beyond their own free Grant For this would not a little tend to the prejudice and grievance of Holy Church which we cannot endure But if You shall take no care to revoke and disanull the Premises as is premised We shall not omit to take such Remedy as Holy Church will allow And what you shall do in the Premises as our Spiritual Son Faithfull and acceptable to God within eight days after the time above limited you shall take care to certifie unto us by your Letters The Holy Spirit as you shall keep his Privileges uninvaded vouchsafe to save and keep your Body and Soul. Given at Canterbury 28 day of January in the Seventh Year of our Consecration V. Beside this he also wrote a Remonstrance to the King and his Council in these Words To our Lord the King and his Council and all and singular Persons of his Council We John by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See do shew that whereas all those who seise on Clergymen put them by force or detain them in Prison and do not permit them to go where they shall please knowing them publiquely and notoriously to be reputed as such and bearing themselves as Clergymen who have not confessed Crimes nor have been convicted or indicted of Crimes nor have been openly taken in the Fact are entangled in the Sentence given by the Canon c. And that Sentence we have published in the Church of Canterbury and have caused it to be published by all our Brethren Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury After the Denuntiation or Publication of which Sentence made as is premised there have been taken and in divers Castles and Places of England imprisoned and forcibly detained John de St. Paul Michael de Wath Robert Chickwell John Thorp and Henry Stratford to the prejudice of God and Holy Church against the Laws and Privileges of all Clergymen and also to the endangering of the Souls of those who acted those things or gave their Counsel and Assent thereto Wherefore we earnestly entreat our Lord the King who hath always taken care to maintain the Liberties of Holy Church and its Laws and Privileges entire as our Lord God in all his Actions hath heretofore happily attested and made him Famous that it would please His Majesty without Delay to command a Release or Delivery from prison of the said Clergy-men and of every of them who are so detained against Magna Charta and the Laws and Customs of the Land. Moreover we desire and beseech in the Lord all those Counsellors who presum'd to give the King Counsel to do such things by no means to hinder the Delivery of them who are so detained For we cannot dissemble but that otherways we must do in this Matter according to our Duty Also that all Lay Persons and Free-men who were against Magna Charta and the Laws and Customs of the Land taken and yet detain'd in Prison may be deliver'd and that it would please our Lord the King to reform and correct other the Premises according to a Form contained in a Bull of q Anno Domini 1243 Papat initt An. 1254. â—â—â—it Innocent the IV. Whereby all who presume to go against Magna Charta or to violate it do incurr the Sentence of Excommunication Also that not only his Ministers and Officers of different Stations who passing thrô the Land enter the Houses Granges and other Places of Archbishops Bishops and other Religious and Ecclesiasticall Persons without the Will of the Farmers or Keepers do take away Goods at pleasure and carry them away forceably but also those who command the Premises or in their Names confirm and ratifie what is so done are involved in the foresaid Sentence Let therefore our Lord the King vouchsafe to apply a fit Remedy For we cannot dissemble but that we intend by our Selves and our Brethren and Suffragans to execute both our and their Duty against such as the Care of our Pastoral Office shall require But it is not our Intention that our Lord the King his Lady the Queen or their Children be involved or comprehended in the said Sentences as of Right they may be excused VI. The said Archbishop also sent Letters to the Bishop of London the Tenour whereof followeth John by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See to his Reverend Brother Ralph Bishop of London Greeting Holy Church which ought to be Free is unduly oppressed with divers Exactions and vexatious Burthens in these days Her Goods to which no Lay Hand ought to extend are seised on at will for Prey The Clergy also of our Province of Canterbury is vexed unjustly and vilely trampled upon by reproachfull Contempt Justice which principally ought to shine and whereby Kings Reign and the People are established in Peace is not duly honoured But many let loose the Reins to Injuries and unjust Oppressions without punishment We therefore taking a Fatherly compassion at the groans of the Oppressed and seriously considering that for this purpose the Divine Mercy hath exalted Us to this Apostolical Dignity not that We should spend our Days in quiet and affluence of Delights but according to the Duty of our Place being profitably instructed by the examples of our Predecessors that we should set our selves against those that come up against us as an impregnable Wall for the House of the Lord and by Gods Assistance reduce the wandring into the way of Truth have thought fit by publique Denuntiations to be made in eminent Places by us and others our Brethren and Suffragans openly to intimate unto all men certain Sentences of Excommunication by Holy Fathers and our Predecessors hitherto promulged against Delinquents in Cases hereafter mention'd That those who are wicked may not be able under the vail of affected Ignorance any way to excuse themselves in pretence that the Truth was unworthily hid and not manifested as it ought to be But rather that all may take better heed to themselves for the future And yet it is not our Intention that our Lord the Illustrious King of England our Lady the Queen or their Children should be involved or comprehended in the said Sentences or any of them or under the Denuntiation as of right they may in this part be excused Commanding c. that you publish them c. Dated c. The Tenour of which Articles follow VII In the Name of God Amen We John by Divine Permission Archbishop c. do denounce Publiquely and Solemnly in these Writings all those to be as by the Holy Fathers they are involved in the Sentence of Greater Excommunication and to have been and to be Excommunicate and we sequester them from the Pale of Holy Mother Church who do presume to deprive Churches of their Right or malitiously to infringe or violate the Liberties or Free Customs of the same and especially those who violate the
Personal harm saying further Sr. Henry if you can bring this about I shall love you the better for it whilest I live Presently he had his 500 Men allotted him with whom he rode forth before the Army and toward the Evening arrived before Hennebond When the Captain Sr. Oliver Penfort heard and saw and knew that his Brother was there supposing he came with that force to his Assistance he immediately open'd the Gates and received him with all his Men himself hasting forward joyfully to salute him in the street When Sr. Henry saw him he hasted forward to meet him and taking him suddenly by the Arm for the first Complement said Brother Oliver now You are my Prisoner How so cry'd his Brother amazed Did I put my Confidence in your Kindness expecting you were come to my Assistance in defence of this place and am I now deceived Brother reply'd Sr. Henry the matter is nothing so I am come hither to take Possession of this Town and Castle for my Lord the Earl of Montford who is now Duke of Bretagne and follows us just at our heels To him I have made fealty and Homage and the greater part of the Country obeys him as You also are like to do now But surely it were better for You to do it of choice than by compulsion and You will receive more thanks for your pains for the Duke is a Gracious Prince I 'll assure you Upon these and the like Words together with the Consideration of his present Condition Sr. Oliver presently consented and so the Earl without one stroke given or taken was admitted into Hennebond where he set a good Garrison Thence he marched with all his Army to Vannes another considerable City which after a small Treaty upon Fame of his Success open'd her Gates and received him for her Soveraign Lord. Here having in three days time Established all manner of Officers and given necessary Orders he went thence and laid Siege to a strong Castle called la Roche Bernard on the other side the Vilaine whereof Sr. Oliver Clisson Cosin German to the Lord Clisson was Captain The Siege here lasted ten days but the place was too strong to be won by force and neither threats nor promises could work upon the Governour Wherefore the Earl thought fit to rise thence for the present and go and attempt the Castle of Auray about 10 Leagues Westward from la Roche Bernard and very considerable for its strength and scituation it standing on an Arm of the Morbihan between Vannes and Blavet The Captain thereof at that time was the Lord Geoffry de Malestroit who had with him another Valiant Knight Named Sr. John de Triguier The Earl gave them two notable Attacks which they as worthily sustained so that when he saw he might lose more there than he could hope to win he thought to try them by fair means and so gave them a Truce for one Day at the Request and Advice of the Lord Henry du Leon who was always near him This short time Sr. Henry made so good use of that by his fair Words and Perswasions they were content to hold the Castle for the Earl John and to yield him their Homage as their True and Lawfull Lord. This done the Earl left them still Captains of the place and the Country about and then passed forth to another strong Castle called Gony en la Forest which they prepared to Assault The Captain thereof saw well what great forces the Earl had with him and how in a manner all the Country fainted before him so that by the perswasion of Sr. Henry du Leon with whom the Captain had kept good Company formerly in the Holy War in Prussia and Granada and other Foreign Parts he was at last contented to keep that place for the Earls behoof for the future to whom he then made his Homage After this the Earl went to Karhais whereof at that time a Bishop who was Uncle to Sr. Henry du Leon was Governour But he by means of his Nephew was brought off to own the Earl for his Lord till some other should come who could shew more Right to that Dutchy VI. Thus Earl m Frois c. 68. John conquer'd almost whereever he went and seriously took upon him the State and Title of Duke of Bretagne but by Advice of his Council he was perswaded to have recourse to some Powerfull Protector that upon occasion might uphold him against the French King who doubtless would take the Part of his Nephew Charles of Blois Having therefore bestow'd his Men about in Garrisons and provided sufficiently for the Defence of his Country he took shipping for England with some of his Chief Lords in his Company and arrived safe at a Port in Cornwall where upon Enquiry understanding that King Edward was at Windsor thither he went and was very welcome to the King Queen and Lords of England There he declared to the King and his Council How he had taken Possession of the Dutchy of Bretagne devolved unto him by Right of Succession upon the Death of his Elder Brother the late Duke But that he feared lest the Lord Charles of Blois by help of his Uncle the French King would at last force him from his Right Wherefore he said He was come thither to receive and to hold that Dukedom of the King of England as true King of France and his Soveraign Lord by Fealty and Homage for him and his Heirs for ever Desiring him to Defend him in his Quarrel against the French King or whosoever else should molest him about that Matter King Edward consider'd that his War with France should be much furthered by the Accession of so great a Prince and that there was no way more Commodious for him to pass into France than by Bretagne especially remembring that the Germans and Brabandens had done him small or no service but had made him spend much Money to little purpose and that now since the Emperour whose Letters he had just then received was also fallen off there would be little good done for him by any Lords of the Empire upon these Reasons He readily condescended to the Earl of Montford's Request and then and there received Homage of him as Duke of Bretagne Which done in Presence of all the Lords as well English as Bretons that were there he promised to Aid Defend and Sustain him as his Liegeman against either the French King or any other whatsoever This Homage and this Promise being interchangeably Sealed and deliver'd the King and Queen presented the Earl and his Company with such great Gifts and so Royally entertain'd them that they accounted King Edward to be a most Noble Prince and Worthy to Reign in much Prosperity After this the Earl took his leave of England and arrived in short space at an Haven in lower Bretagne whence he went to Nantes to his Lady who applauded his League with England as likely to be of most Advantage to his Affairs But
Attempt himself When Sr. Edward saw this he said Well Gentlemen however I am sufficiently assured of the Loyalty and Good-will that you all bear to my Lady of this Castle wherefore for her sake and yours I 'll put my Life in hazard to do this Errand my self For I have such knowledge of you that I doubt not but you will make shift to hold out till my Return And I repose such a Considence in the Goodness of Our Soveraign Lord the King that he will shortly send me back unto You with such Relief as will please You. And then believe it his Majesty will so well Reward You that You shall all remain highly satisfied These Words kindly refreshed the Mind of the Noble Countess and the rest with her So when Night came he provided all things for his purpose as secretly as possible causing the fleetest Courser that he had to be ready saddled for him Surely either the Ladies Vertue or his Courage or both made Heaven propitious to the Enterprise for it rain'd so hard all that Night that the Scotch Sentinells kept all within under shelter whereby his Passage was not impeached and the Assault next Morning could not proceed to any purpose About Midnight Sr. Edward issued privily out of the Castle and passed within a while clear thró the Host unhurt and unperceived till being got clear he made forward with full speed It was now about Day-break when near half a League from the utmost Limits of the Scotch Camp he met with two Scots driving before them two Oxen and a Cow toward the Army whom upon Examination finding out he set upon them and wounded them both in several places for he would not kill them because he design'd they should tell their King what he was gone about But the Cattle he slew that the Scots might have no Benefit of them After which he said to the wounded Scots Now go your ways and tell your King that I am Edward Montagu who have this Night broke thrô his Camp and am now going to direct the King of England hither with his Army and with this he set forward upon the Spur. The News was brought to the King of Scots wherefore being hindred for a while by the fall of the rain as soon as he could he renewed the Assault with all the fury imaginable but gain'd nothing all the while Upon this the Lords of his Council who had seen so many Attacks made to no purpose but that his Army was daily diminished and weakned thereby fearing that the King of England might come suddenly upon them before the Castle could be won and so they might hazard not only the loss of what they had already gotten but of the King and Kingdom too upon these Considerations I say the Lords of Scotland agreed all together and thus one of them deliver'd their Minds to King David Sir hitherto You have Honourably performed Your Enterprise You have done considerable Damage to the English your Enemies you have taken and destroy'd the City of Durham and in this Country of Northumberland You have now kept the field 12 days And certainly Sir all things consider'd it were better to go home in time with Honour and save what You have already won then with Your wearied Forces to expect a fresh Enemy and so hazard the loss of all upon unequal Terms Your Majesty may more opportunely return another time when Your Men have refreshed themselves and Your Enemies are not at hand with such vast Preparations The King would not be against the general Opinion of all his Council but after a while thô very unwillingly yielded to follow their Advice So early the next Morning he passed the Tweed with all his Host taking the direct way to the Forest of Gedeours among the wild Scots there to remain and wait King Edwards Motions whether he would break up his Army and return or pierce into Scotland at that time XXI That g Frois c. 77. Du Chesne very day at Noon King Edward came thither with his Army to the same place where the Scots had lain and was mightily displeased that he found them not there For he came thither in such haste with hopes to give them Battle that his Infantry especially was much wearied However when he saw how the matter stood he gave Order to encamp there that Night and said how he intended to go see the Castle and give a visit to the Noble Lady the Countess of Salisbury For says Froisard he had not seen her since she was Married before which was near upon 14 Years ago if not more as may be gather'd from the Age of her Eldest Son who was fifteen Years old two Years after this as appears h Fsc 18. Ed 3. n. 51. by Record Wherefore I shall wholly wave that Popular but exploded Story of the Kings Amours with her at this time and only proceed in a way more conformable to Reason and undeniable Authority When King Edward had unarm'd him self he took 10 or 12 of his Barons with him and went to the Castle to salute the Countess and to see the manner of the Scots Assaults and the Defence that was made against them As soon as the Countess heard of the Kings coming she commanded the Gates to be set open and came forth to meet him in her most Rich Attire so that it is not to be doubted but that the Fame of he◠Courage preparing Mens minds and the Splendour of her Garb being added to a Person of that Sex of an high Quality and not too far gone in Years she might appear charming enough to give occasion of much merry talk among the Souldiers who saw her at that time and did possibly scatter such Reports as might propagate an erroneous Tradition even down to us When she came before the King she kneeled upon the Earth and returned her Dutifull Thanks for this his seasonable Succour The King took her up Graciously with a cheerfull and hearty Aire and perhaps as One of that Sex and Quality who had Honourably acquitted her self in a Danger brought upon her upon his account saluted her at the same time And so taking her by the hand he walk'd her easily toward the Castle talking no doubt pleasantly upon the way as a King not fully 30 Years old might probably do on such an occasion Whoso is minded to believe the other account of this Story where the King is made to fall in love with her him I refer to i Frois c. 77. Froisard who discourses it at large and is I must confess as to the main a very credible Historian Althô in this he is not to be followed by those who seriously confer circumstances of Names Times Places and Persons Here the King had a Noble Dinner provided for him both he and his Lords sitting down together at the same Table But the King himself ate but little whereat his Lords wondred much for he was wont to bear a cheerfull Countenance
but they judg'd this sadness to proceed not from Love but from this that he had missed of the Scots his Enemies In the k Frois ibid. Morning however the King arose early resolving forthwith to follow after the Scots and to chase them out of his Realm Accordingly having taken leave of the Lady he put himself in the head of his Army and went after the Scots till he came to Barwick from whence afterward he proceeded till he encamped within four Leagues of the Forest of Gedeours whereinto King David was entred with all his Forces in confidence of that Impassable Wilderness For three days together King Edward lay there to see whether the Scots would come forth and give him Battle All this while there were divers skirmishes between the two Armies and several were slain and taken interchangeably on both sides thô the greater share of the loss fell to the Scots But Sr. William Douglas was the Man among them that did most harm to the English His Arms at that time are said to have been Azure a Chevron Argent Thô after upon the Encrease of the Honour of that House the Douglasses as * Vid. c. 4. §. 2. p. 57. We said before took the bloody Heart for their Arms in memory of Sr. James Douglas the Author of their Nobility who died in Spain as he was carrying King Roberts Heart to Jerusalem XXII Now for all these Skirmishes between the Scots and English during these three days l Frois c. 78. Du Chesne there were certain Noblemen on both parts who earnestly labour'd to compose matters between the two Kings And their Treaty took at last such effect that a Truce was agreed on for two Years provided the French King should give his Consent thereto For King David was so strongly confederated with King Philip that he could admit of no Peace without his Leave Which unless he should now grant then the said Truce was only to endure unto the First day of May following It was also agreed that the Earl of Murray should be quitted of his Ransom and Captivity if the King of Scots could so far prevail with the French King as that the Earl of Salisbury who was already at liberty but upon Parole should now fully be acquitted of all Obligations This Truce the King of Scots was by his Council earnestly advis'd to make that Scotland might thereby have some Breathing time to recover Strength from all its Miseries and that the Husbandmen might return to their care of the Fields which were now almost wholly neglected And King Edward for his part agreed the sooner not only because the Season of the Year began to call for a Respit but because he had Men of War at this time maintained at his charges in France in Gascogne in Ponthieu in Xaintogne in Bretagne and other Places besides his other vast Expences King David soon after by his Ambassadors persuaded King Philip to allow of this Agreement and moreover to send a Release to the Earl of Salisbury into England on sight whereof King Edward immediately return'd the Earl of Murray into his Country Only the King of France did by a caution oblige the Earl of Salisbury to pay him m Leland Câ—ll 1 Vol. p. 803. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 2 Vol. p. 48. 3000 l. Sterling to boot which before he had undertaken to do for the redemption and Fees of himself and of the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Son to the Earl of Suffolk In consderation of all which Charges we find that a Year after the Earl of Salisbury had his Liberty his good Master King Edward allow'd him leave to transport n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 240 Sacks of Wooll into Flanders as part of a Requital of what he had lost and suffer'd for his sake CHAPTER the TVVENTIETH The CONTENTS I. Charles of Blois layes Siege to Rennes in Bretagne II. The Countess of Monford sends for Succour to King Edward who orders the Lord Walter Manny to her Aid But he is detain'd at Sea 40 days III. The City of Rennes taken by Charles of Blois IV. He besieges the Countess in Hennebond with a notable Exploit performed by her in Person after which she is forced to ride off to Brest V. She returns again to Hennebond with a good Succour whereupon Charles of Blois leaving half the Army still there under Don Lewis of Spain goes with the other half and lays Siege to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against the Garrison of Rosternan VI. Hennebond being just on the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives the Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess VII The Lord Manny in a sally breaks the Enemies biggest Engine of Battery to pieces and gives them a brisk Camisade VIII Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois before Auray who sends him to take in Dinant In his way thither he takes Comper IX The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond X. The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who after that takes and sacks Guerande XI Auray taken by Charles of Blois XII He takes Vannes and lays Siege to Karhais XIII The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis killing 5700 of his Men the Don narrowly escaping XIV While the Lord Manny attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet takes and carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny pursues and besieges but hearing of a powerfull Succour approaching rises and goes homeward taking Gony en la Forest in the way The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement XV. Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who thereupon returns before Hennebond Don Lewis having obtain'd as a gift the disposal of the two English Knights Prisoners vows to behead them both in sight of their Friends in Hennebond XVI The Lord Manny hereupon calls a Council of War and propounds and effects the Rescue of the two Knights XVII Hereupon Charles of Blois raises his Siege again but takes Jugon by a wile XVIII A Truce taken between the Lord Charles and the Countess which latter comes to England with her Son where she is honourably received of the King. XIX The Earl of Salisbury conquering the Isle of Man is by the King of England crowned King thereof Pope Benedict the Twelfth dying is succeeded by Clement the Sixth I. WE have before given an Account of the Occasion and Beginning of the Wars in Bretagne how John Earl of Montford was taken at Nantes and deliver'd up as Prisoner to King Philip who committed him to the Louvre and that all that Winter the Lord Charles of Blois remained about Nantes intending to renew the War in the Opening of the Year Now therefore having remov'd out of the way the Matters of Scotland we shall return again to Bretagne where shortly we shall find England engag'd in a War. Early a Frois c. 79. in the Spring of this Year MCCCXLII
the Daughter of St. Iewis King of France Whose Sons were put by the Crown by their Uncle Alphenso that row Keigned Odoric Raynald ad an 1344 §. 47. Lewis of Spain Nephew to King Alphonso the XI who continu'd the Siege before Hennebond had so broken and shatter'd the Walls of the Town with his Engines that the Besieged began to doubt extreamly One day among others the Pishop of Leon having had some Communication in the Camp with Sr. Henry du Leâ—s his Nephew after much arguing for the Bishop was sent forth to obtain some short respite it was at last agreed that the Bishop should endeavour to perswade them within to yield up the Town and Castle to Sr. Charles of Blois and Sr. Henry du Leon on the other side engag'd to obtain of the Lord Charles a full freedom and liberty for them all that they should receive no Damage either in Body or Goods Upon this conclusion the Bishop enter'd the Town again immediately whereupon the Countess who suspected his Errand after she had heard of his conference with Sr. Henry beg'd earnestly of the Lords and Knights who were with her in Council that for the love of God they would all take heart and hold out a little longer For she said she was confident that within three days the Succours from England would arrive But yet the Bishop spake so effectually and gave so many Reasons for what he said that all their Minds were mightily perplexed and they remain'd in doubt all that Night The next Morning they met in Council again And at last they began to agree about yielding and had accordingly then done it had Sr. Henry been near with his Forces to enter and take possession Then the Countess ran to a Window in great Agony and look'd down along the Sea from the Castle with her heart aking while her Lords were left debating of these unpleasant matters Of a sudden she leap'd for joy and cry'd out aloud I see I see the Succours of England coming There 's the Cross of St George God has heard our Prayers He has heard Us Then all the Lords and others ran to the Window and to the Walls and up to the High Tower whence they beheld a Fleet of Ships Great and Small freshly deck'd making up to the Port. They presently knew it to be the English Fleet as indeed it was and had been detain'd above 40 days at Sea by ill-weather but now happily came in the very Golden Opportunity to save the Countess and the Town Now k Frois c. 81. when the Governour of Guingand Sr. Pierce of Triguier Galeran Lord of Landerneau and other Knights of Bretagne saw these Succours coming they said to the Bishop Sir you may e'n leave off this pious Harangue about Peace for we are not at present disposed to follow your Doctrine Then said the Bishop if so Gentlemen we must e'n part Stakes For I will go to that Side which hath most Right Having so said he went out of Town and defi'd the Countess and all her Abettors and being brought to Sr. Henry du Leon shew'd him how Matters stood Sr. Henry was wonderfully displeas'd and gave Command that the very greatest of the Engines which were rais'd against the Castle should be pli'd Day and Night without ceasing And so he led his Uncle the Bishop to Don Lewis of Spain who in the Name of Sr. Charles of Blois received him kindly as well for the Accession of so considerable a Person as for Sr. Henry his Nephew's sake VII The mean while the Countess of Montford made ready Halls and Chambers to entertain the Lords and Captains of England that were coming and she sent out the Chief of her Court to welcome them in the Haven upon their Landing When they were landed she her self went forth to meet them and shew'd all along great Respect to the Captains and feasted them highly and gave them hearty Thanks and lodged all the Knights and Others at their Ease in the Castle and the Town The next day she made them a very noble Dinner in the Castle now all the night before and all that morning the great Engines cast mighty Stones against the Castle wherefore after Dinner the Lord Walter Manny who was General of all the English Forces enquired of the condition of the Town and of the Army without and having heard a full Account of all he said Surely Gentlemen I have a desire to sally out and break down this Great Engine that stands so near us if any man will follow me Then Sr. Pierce of Triguier and the Lord of Landerneau said they would not fail to follow him in this his first Adventure So they immediately arm'd themselves and went out privily at a certain Postern with 300 Archers and about 40 Men of Arms. The Archers shot so thick altogether that those who kept the Engine fled away and the Men of Arms who came after the Archers pursu'd and slew many of those that fled and then with Axes they beat down the Engine to the ground and brake it all to pieces Nor content herewith they ran in among the Tents and Lodgings that stood nearest setting Fire in divers Places and killing and wounding till the whole Army began to stirr Then they put themselves in good Order and withdrew fair and softly they of the Host running after them like Mad-men Hereupon Sr. Walter-Manny said aloud Let me never be beloved of my Lady if I refuse to take a Turn with one or two of these Pursuers And therewithall he couched his Spear and faced about to his Enemies so did the two Brethren of Landale Sr. Hayes of Brabant Sr. Pierce of Triguier and the Lord of Landerneau with the other Knights of Bretagne and of England that were there Then might have been seen a fierce Medley indeed Spears shivering to pieces Horses falling down and Men revers'd upon the Earth But those from the Camp encreasing upon the Others continually it behoved the English by little and little to endeavour to recover the Town In this bonourable Retreat it was a gallant fight to behold how here a Prisoner was taken and immediately rescued again here a Knight was unhorsed and forthwith remounted upon his Enemies Beast The Lord Walter Manny shew'd himself both a Wise Captain and a valiant Knight For all the while he fought couragiously in the Reer of his Men as he retired discreetly to the Ditches Where the Archers being planted on each Flank he made a stand with his choice Captains about him till he saw all the rest in safety By which time almost all the Men of Arms within the Town sallied forth with great clamour to rescue their Friends and about 3000 Archers more came out and ranged themselves on each side the Dike in order to receive the Enemy But they for their part prudently retired finding it a vain Attempt to force them upon such Disadvantage and the English returned all safe and victorious into the
ever We Will and Consent that if any Pacts Confederations Alliances and Covenants howsoever they be called shall be any way Prejudicial to the said Peace at this Present or in time to come even suppose they be confirmed and deliver'd on certain Penalties or by Oath or ratified by Authority of our Holy Father the Pope or any other they shall notwithstanding be ipso facto cancelled and of none effect as contrary to the Common Good to the Advantage of the Publick Peace unprofitable to all CHRISTENDOM and displeasing unto God And all Oaths made in such Cases shall be released and disannulled by our said Holy Father the Pope that none be obliged to keep and hold such Oaths Alliances or Covenants to the intent that in time to come the like may not be done and if any endeavour the Contrary that it be immediately void and of no effect and rendred null and of no Vertue And as for our parts We shall punish all such as Violators of the Peace both in their Bodies and their Goods as the Case shall require and Reason willeth And if We procure or suffer to be done the Contrary which God forbid then We will that We be held and reputed False and Vntrue and We will incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We swear on the Body of our Lord JESUS CHRIST to hold keep and accomplish the things aforesaid and not go contrary thereto neither by our selves nor by others in any manner of Case In Witness whereof We have caused these present Letters to be Sealed with our Seal Given c. in the Year of Grace 1360. And because that the said things and every of them may be held and accomplished from point to point and in form and manner aforesaid We bind Us and our Heirs and all the Goods of Us and of our Heirs to our said Brother of England and to his Heirs and We swear on the Holy Gospels by Us corporally touched that We will perform hold and accomplish in the foresaid Case all the said things by Us promised and accorded as is aforesaid And We will that in case our said Brother and our said Nephew shall have made the said Renunciations and sent and deliver'd them as is said and our said Letters shall not be deliver'd to our said Brother at the time and place in form and manner aforesaid then our present Letters and all that is comprised therein shall have as much Vigour Effect and Fruit as have had our other Letters by Us promised to be deliver'd as aforesaid Always saved and reserved by Us our Heirs and Successors that the said Letters above-incorporated be of none effect nor bring unto Us any manner of Prejudice or Damage untill the time that our said Brother and Nephew have made sent and deliver'd unto Us the foresaid Renuntiations according to the manner above devised and that these our Letters be not against Us our Heirs and Successors in any manner of Wise but in the case aforesaid In Witness whereof We have set our Seal to the Present Letters Dated at Calais the XXIV day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX XVII Besides these there were several other Letters devised and set forth bearing the same Date as b M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet Another Copy of King John's Renuntiation and a more Correct Form of the Peace bearing King Edward's Name which the King sware to a new and these Great Men following as it is worded in the form Our most Dear Eldest Son Prince of Wales and our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Vlster and Edmund of Langley and our Cousins Monsieur Philip de Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Lord of Manny Guy de Brian Reginald de Cobham the Captal de Buche the Lord of Monferrant James Audley Roger de Beauchamp Ralph de Ferrers Captain of Calais Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John de Moubray Henry de Piercy Nicolas de Camborthe Lord of Cominges Richard Stafford William de Grandison Ralph Spigurnel Gaston de Greyly and William Burton Knights So likewise on the King of France's side were then sworn his Sons the Dukes of Anjou and Maine and of Berry and Auvergne the Duke of Touraine the Duke of Orleans his Brother and his Cousins the Duke of Bourbon and James de Bourbon John de Artois Peter of Alenson John of Estampes Guy de Blois the Earl of St. Paul the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Joigny the Earl of Salebruche the Earl of Breme the Lord of Coucy the Lord of Craon the Lord of Fiennes the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord of Monmorency William de Craon the Lord of St. Venant Besides all which both the Kings undertook to make the rest of their Children and the greater part of their Nobility Prelates and others to take the same Oath in order to uphold the said Peace XVIII These Letters c Frois c. 212. fol. 107. called the Charter of Peace and Letters of Renuntiation as well of the One King as of the Other being all fairly drawn up engrossed and sealed were then read openly in the Council Chamber in Presence of both the Kings their Eldest Sons and their Councils and seemed to either Party to be right good and well-ordained And then again the two Kings and their Eldest Sons sware solemnly on the Holy Gospel by them Corporally touched and on the Body of our Lord to keep and perform and by no means to violate any of the Premises And yet further by advice and at the request of the French King and his Council and toward the latter end of their Conference the King of England was urged to give and send a General Commission to all those who as then under colour of the War held Towns Castles and Forts in the Realm of France whereby they should be commanded to avoid and depart And King Edward who at that time desired nothing but that Friendship Good-will and Peace might be nourished between him and his Brother of France as he had sworn and promised readily agreed to this Reasonable Request and thereupon forthwith Order'd his Council to draw up a Commission in the Best Manner that might be according to the very Mind and Intent of the French King and his Council whereupon the Chief of both the Kings Councils drew aside with their Scribes and Secretaries and between these by Consent of both Parties two Commissions were drawn up and engrossed the d M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet One at Large and particularizing the Places so to be deliver'd and the other more General but such as being sent to all and singular of his Captains in all parts of France was no less effectual the Tenour of which Letter followeth EDWARD * * Frois ibid. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of
Pope and the Emperour And moreover they made a solemn Renuntiation to all Wars against each Other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renuntiation their Eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both Sides were sworn And then also a Proclamation issued forth from King Edward to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and to all other Captains of Towns Castles Forts c. held for the King in France for them to give Notice to all Places within their Command of this Peace and final Accord thus made between the two Kings After h Frois c. 213. all these Articles Letters and Commissions were made devised finished and deliver'd by the Advice and Consent of the Councils of England and France so that as to that Point both the Kings were well contented then they fell into a close Communication concerning the Lord Charles of Blois and the Lord John of Montford and their several Claims to the Dutchy of Bretagne for each pretended the whole and sole Right to that Heritage Some have been so bold in venting their Opinions as to say that King Edward and his Council were not over-warm in this Matter and surely in meer Policy he might well enough be supposed something cool For if now the Wars of Bretagne should be shut too there had been no Vent left for those many boistrous Troops which as yet lay in several Garrisons and upon their resigning those Fortresses must needs otherwise have filled England with Theeves and Robbers But certainly whoever impartially observes the honourable and sincere Practices of King Edward upon all Occasions and duly compares them with what relates to this Matter in the Articles and Letters foregoing will not so rashly attribute the ill Success of the Treaty of Bretagne to King Edwards Insincerity but rather to the Impracticableness of the Affair it self Since two such Valorous Young Princes had so fair a Pretence to so Noble a Dukedome that there could hardly remain any Prospect of deciding the Controversie without the Sword or the Death of one of the Parties But however it was when now upon Conference this New Treaty seem'd so hard to be brought to any good Issue Henry Duke of Lancaster who was a most valiant and expert Souldier but chiefly favour'd the Earl of Montford and wish'd his Advancement spake these words to the King of France in Presence of the King of England and the greater Part of both the Kings Councils Sir said he the Truce that was taken before Rennes between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Earl of Montford is not yet expired but is still to hold to the first Day of May next coming The King of England my Master here present by Advice of his Council and with Consent of my Lord the Prince his Son shall before that time send the Young Duke the Lord John of Montford with certain of his Council into France to your Majesty with full Power and Authority to confer and determine about the Right which the said Lord John ought to have as succeeding his Father in the Dutchy of Bretagne So then by You and your Council and by Ours together some agreeable Way may be taken between them for the better Security of which Affair I think it would be well to prolong the said Truce yet farther till the Feast of St. John Baptist next following According to this Device of the Dukes so it was done and concluded and the Truce relating to Bretagne prolonged to the Feast of St. John Baptist and then they fell to other Matters XX. And i Frois c. 213. f. 108. now that the Peace between England and France was fully confirmed King John was so elevated with the Assurance of Returning into his Country that he then first seem'd sincerely to rejoyce since his being taken Prisoner He shew'd unto King Edward such an hearty Good-Will that it appear'd plainly to have no mixture of Dissimulation and to his Nephew the Prince of Wales he declared all the endearing Signs of Royal Love and Affection that might be As also King Edward and his Son the Prince were exceeding Frank Generous and obligingly Open unto him These two Illustrious Monarchs who from this time till Death parted called themselves Brethren as a mutual remembrance of their Brotherly Amity gave now unto Four Knights of either Party such as chiefly in their stations had promoted this Peace 8000 Franks of Yearly Revenues for them and their Heirs for ever King John giving the said Summ to Four Knights of England and King Edward a like Revenue to Four Knights of France And at the same time because the Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantine in Normandy were the King of Englands Right by a Deed of Gift and Sale from the Lord Godfry Harcourt deceased which Lands were not comprised in the Ordinance of the Treaty of Peace so that whoever held those Lands must do Homage therefore to the French King King Edward k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. now in respect of the many Laudable and Heroick Services of that Valiant and Renowned Knight the Lord John Chandos gave unto him and his Heirs for ever a Grant of the Baronies of St. Saviour le Vicount aforesaid of Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and of all other the Lands and Possessions of the said Godfry of Harcourt Which Princely Gift King John at the Request of King Edward confirmed now unto the said Lord John Chandos he doing Homage therefore unto him bating that Allegiance which he owed unto his Master the King of England And now when all the foresaid Agreements were as well made and devised and as firmly established as Human Wit could contrive so that it seem'd by reason of the sundry strict and solemn Engagements Counter-bonds and mutual Obligations between the two Kings and their Sons that the Peace would prove everlasting and when the Hostages were all come to Calais and the 400000 Crowns of Gold were paid down to the King of England and the remaining 200000 secured which was the First Payment then King Edward made a most Royal and Magnificent Supper for the French King within the Castle of Calais at which the Black-Prince and his Three Brethren Lionel John and Edmund with the Greatest Lords and Barons of England served the two Kings bare-headed After Supper the two Kings bad each other Good Night in the most Obliging Manner imaginable King Edward remaining still in the Castle and King John going to his Lodgings in the Town which had been prepared for him upon his being set at Liberty The next Morning l Fabian p. 243. being the 25 of October and a Sunday King John and all those who were to go with him took his leave of Calais and rode forth of the Town in the Forenoon King Edward himself conveying him a Mile onward of his Way and then the two Kings took
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
Swords Daggers and Axes Helmets Habergeons Shields and all manner of Weapons and Armour For they expected to use them very shortly But the Chief Captains especially drew together in Council being thereto called by the Lord John Chandos to whose Conduct all the rest submitted themselves not only on the account of his Quality but also of his known Wisdom and Experience in the Wars besides which he had a secret Commission from the King of England to be the Chief Captain in this action With him was the Lord John Nereford an English Baron William Lord Latimer the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Valiant Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt all who were of the Opinion that the Earl of Monford should rise from the Siege and take the Field early next Morning and so expect his Adversary and if he came forward give him Battle This being resolved on in Council all the Captains of the Army were acquainted therewith who told it to their respective Officers by whom the whole Army was informed that the next Morning they were to be all ready to take the Field to fight the Enemy Before six the next Morning being a Saturday and the Eve of St. Michael the Englishmen and Bretons left their Trenches and marched forth in Battle-Array the Lord John Chandos leading them to a convenient plat of ground behind the Castle of Auray And soon there came toward the same place the Lord Charles of Blois who had left Vannes the Evening before with all his Army which was disposed in the best manner imaginable For 't is said they rode in such good Close Order that if any thing had been cast among them it must have rested on their Spears points so that the f Frois c. 225. fol. 121. Englishmen were extreamly delighted to behold them The Frenchmen being come in sight of their Enemies made an halt as they were in Battle-Array before them choosing their Field among the Bushes and the Marshals gave Command that no man should stir forward without Order Wherefore both Armies stood still confronting each other being ready ranged for Fight which they all eagerly desired IV. The Lord Charles of Blois with the advice of Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was an experienc'd Captain and well belov'd by the Barons of Bretagne made Three Battails and a Rereguard The first was led by Sr. Bertram himself who had with him more than a 1000 Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires of Bretagne The Second was headed by the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and the Lord of Prye with the French Auxiliaries consisting of 1500 Spears and upwards The Third was brought up by the Lord Charles of Blois himself with whom were the Chief Barons of Bretagne that held of his side as the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Leon the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit and divers others as aforenamed In the Rereguard or Fourth Battail stood John the Bastard of Blois a most Valiant Young Gentleman with Eight or Ten stout Barons of Normandy and many other Knights and Esquires and in every g Frois c. 225. fol. 121. b. Battail there were at least a 1000 Men of Arms besides others And the Lord Charles of Blois rode about to every Battail earnestly desiring them all to do their utmost that day and for their better assurance he took it on his Soul and on his part in Paradise that they were to Fight in a Righteous Quarrel and moreover he promised to reward every Man liberally according to his Performances V. Now on the other part the Lord Chandos who because of his Abilities in the War was the Principal Captain thô the Earl of Monford was head of the Cause began wisely to consider how he might with a lesser Number overthrow a greater in plain Field where no advantage of ground might be had Especially his concern was now encreased because the King of England his Master had given him such a Charge to look most carefully to the Business of his Son in Law for the Earl of Monford had h Speed p. 590. Sandford's Geneal hist p. 179. Ashmole's Garter p. 669. Married the Lady Mary his Daughter Wherefore like a Loyal Gentleman he fully determin'd with his utmost diligence to advance the Affairs of the Earl of Monford and to stick close to him that day He had perfectly noted the exact order and discipline of the Frenchmen upon their approach and hugely applauded to himself the great Conduct and Discretion that appeared among them and therewithall said aloud to his Friends the Lords and Captains about him Gentlemen it is high time for Us to order our Battails For our Enemies are giving Us an example Those who heard him answer'd Sir You are in the Right But this is your Province You are our Chief Master and best Counsellour therefore order Us at Your pleasure for no Soul here shall contradict You since we know the King has committed this Charge to You and surely You have the most experience in these Affairs of any among Us. Thereupon the Lord Chandos began also to form Three Battails and a Rereguard The First he committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet and Sr. Richard Burley with whom was the Lord John Nereford the Second was led by the Lord Oliver Clisson who i True Use of Armory in Chandes his Life p. 62. bare Gules a Lion Rampant Argent Crown'd Or with him were the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt and Sr. Matthew Gournay whose Arms were k Id. p. 67. Or Three Pales Azure The Third was govern'd by the Earl of Monford who himself was governed by the Lord Chandos and here was William Lord Latimer and in each of these Battails were 500 Men of Arms and 400 Archers But when Sr. John came to the ordering the Rereguard he called unto him Sr. Hugh Calverley and said Sr. Hugh You must be Governour of the Rereguard with 500 Men of Arms in your Company But you are to stand on a Wing and by no means to quit your Station for any thing that may happen unless you see an absolute necessity As when any of our Battails are disorder'd or broke by the force of our Enemies if you think there is Danger then come you on with your Battail and entertain the Enemy till our Men are rallied again And when you have done thus much draw off and keep your former Post till such another occasion calls to a like assistance For surely this will be the best piece of Service You can do Us this day When Sr. Hugh Calverley had fully heard the Lord Chandos his Words he was asham'd and displeasâ—d in his Mâ—nd and said My Lord pray commend this Rereguard to some other Man besides me For I have no desire to meddle with it And Sir I admire in my heart what You have
judicious Writer XIII Toward the End of the Year the Noble and Valiant Hero Thomas Earl of Warwick who had been in the Parts of Prussia g Hist M.S. Jehan Rous p. 253. c. return'd into England with his Retinue and the Voluntiers who accompanied him besides the King of Lithuania's Son whom as we shew'd before he caused to be baptized and called after his own Name Thomas he himself at that time standing for his Godfather Soon after that h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. Warwick p. 317. a. ex Claus 40. E. 3. m. 4. the said Earl of Warwick was sent by the King upon special Service into Flanders having an allowance of 7 Marks and an half per diem at which time also he had his Commission for Earl Marshal of England renewed CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1366. An. Regni Angliae XL. wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Citation to the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid thenceforward to the Pope The Quarrel taken up between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities The Kings Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford II. A Treaty of Marriage began between Prince Lionel King Edward's second Son living and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Lord of Milain III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury dies his Foundation of Canterbury-College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury IV. On the French Kings Complaint of the Insolencies of the Companions King Edward raises an Army to repress them but finding the French King jealous of his Designs desists in great anger The King of France and the Pope endeavour to have those Licentious Souldiers drawn off into Hungary but they would not stir till a business from Spain invited them that way the Relation of which Matter is refer'd to the beginning of the Fourth Book I. IN the beginning of this Year viz. a MS. Rot. Par. p. 98. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 102. sed ibi tempus aâ—â— gnatur esse The Monday next after the Invention of the Cross which is the 4 of May this Year quod mirè discrepat à M.S. on the 30th of March being the Monday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady King Edward held his high Court of Parliament at Westminster At the opening whereof Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in presence of the Lords and Commons the Reasons why that Parliament was called which in effect were these That since the King had sent his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales to govern the Country of Aquitaine as also the Duke of Clarence his next Son then living into Ireland to be his Lieutenant there his chief Care now was how he might best govern his Realm of England here at home And so having appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Isles and Places they adjourn'd till the next day And then the Chancellour in presence of the King Lords and Commons declar'd that he had the day before informed them in general of the occasion of their Assembling and that now they should know it more particularly there being a fresh Matter which the King was resolved to communicate unto them viz. The King had lately received Notice that the Pope in consideration of the Homage which King John of England acknowledged to the See of Rome for his Realm of England and Dominion of Ireland and because of the Tribute then by him granted unto the said See intended by Process to cite the King to the Court of Rome Then at Avignon to answer for his Default in not performing what the said King John his Predecessor had so undertaken for him and his Heirs Kings of England Whereupon the King required the Advice of his Parliament what Course he had best to take in case any such Matter should be attempted The Bishops by themselves and the Lords and Commons by themselves desire Respite to give in their Answer till the next day which was granted And then the Three Estates being met together with one Consent Enacted in effect following viz. That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring his Realm and People into such thraldom and subjection but by general Consent in Parliament which was not done and therefore what he did was against his Coronation Oath and moreover that he was notoriously compell'd by the necessity of his Affairs and the iniquity of the times besides many other Reasons if therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by Process or any other way that then the King and all his Subjects should with all their Force and Power oppose and resist the same Thus was this business quash'd for ever and it seems the King was so moved at the Insolence of the thing that over and above he caused it now to be b M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. ordain'd that from that time forward St. Peter's Pence should not be paid which the Noble King Ina sometime King of England of the West-Saxons who began his Reign about the Year of our Lord DCLXXV had first granted to the See of Rome in consideration of an English School there to be continued for ever That same day c M.S. Râ—t Par. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment ibid. the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Fryars of the Four Orders Mendicants within the said Universities made long and grievous Complaints by their Proxies each against the other to the King in Parliament But in the end they all submitted themselves to the Kings Order Whereupon the Lords having well deliberated on the whole Matter by full Assent in Parliament took Order that as well the Chancellour and Scholars as the Fryars of those Orders within the said Universities should in all Graces and School-Exercises use each other in Friendly manner without any noise and disturbance as before And that none of those Orders should receive any Scholar into their Orders being under the Age of 18 Years And that the Fryars should take no advantage nor procure any Bull or other Process from the Court of Ronie against the said Universities or proceed therein But that the King alone have Power to redress and determine all Controversies between them from thenceforth and the Offenders should be punished at the pleasure of the King and his Council The Parliament continued till d Lit. Dom. D. Vid. M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 99. §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 103. §. 13. Monday the XI of May at which time the Lord Chancellor declared how the King had given in Marriage the Lady Isabell his Daughter to the Lord of Coucy who had a Fair Estate as well in England as elsewhere and that it would concern the King's Honour to create him an
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
found his Adversary of France wanted no Cunning nor Industry whereby to oppose him And he heard particularly how the Scots also had engaged against him in a new Alliance with the French King and design'd to give him a Diversion at the Back-door Whereat he was grievously displeased for he doubted the Scots more than the Frenchmen not only because they were a more implacable and obstinate People and kept their former Losses in mind but also because they were his near Neighbours and could do him an Injury more easily and escape Revenge more securely Wherefore first he sent a considerable Number of Men of Arms Archers and Others to the Frontiers of Scotland as to Newcastle to Caerlile to Barwick to Roxborough and other Places Besides which he rigged forth a good Fleet which was to ply about Southhampton Jernsey and the Isle of Wight For he heard how the French King was setting forth a great Navy to Sea which was to come and invade England or as others said Ireland wherefore thither also he was obliged to send no small Reinforcement under the Command of the Lord William Windsor d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 509. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 27. who being at the same time constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had in consideration thereof for his better Support in the Kings Service a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Kings Exchequer untill such a time as the King should settle upon him Lands and Rents of that Value for Him and his Heirs for ever and immediatly thereupon he had a Grant of the Mannor and Castle of Dungarvan as also the Castle called the Black-Castle to Him and the Heirs of his Body With him went in this Irish Expedition e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 32 the Lord Thomas Fauconberg and other Persons of Rank and Conduct for King Edward not knowing on which side the storm would fall was obliged to take Care on all Sides Though indeed he himself was not without some anxious Thoughts by reason of the unexpectedness of this Alarum But having thus for the present provided for all as well as he could he calls together his High Court of Parliament f M.S. Rot. Par. p. 103. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridg. p. 108. which according to the Summons met at Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity At which time William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in Presence of the King Lords and Commons the Reasons of their present Assembly saying How the King had always in his greatest Affairs used their Advice and Counsel and especially in making the last Peace with the French which was yet made on Condition that by such a Day the French King should surrender up unto him certain Countries beyond the Seas that within such a time he should pay unto the King certain Sums of Money and that he should never pretend for the future to any Jurisdiction or Soveraignty over Gascogne or the Parts thereabouts in Consideration whereof the King of England should from thenceforth lay by the Stile of France which he had accordingly done That whereas he for his Part had not slacked his Duty the French King had done the quite Contrary for neither had he made a full and due Payment of the said Monies and also he had summon'd the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and Others who were of the Kings Allegiance to answer to certain Appeals at Paris nay further he had summon'd the Prince of Aquitain himself who was also of the Kings Allegiance to appear among the Rest Besides all which he had sent certain Troops into Ponthieu where he had surprised several of the Kings Garrisons and Forts Whereupon the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain by Advice of his Council had sent to the King his Father wishing him to Resume the Title and Stile of France And therefore the Chancellor desired the Lords and Commons to take Counsel in the Matter and to advise the King to the best of their Power about the Premises Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland and also for Gascogne and other Foreign Places and Isles and after that Triers of the said Petitions for all the said Places On the Wednesday after the Bishops Lords and Commons answered the King with one Consent That considering the Premises He might with a Good Conscience take up again the Stile and Name of King of France and use his Arms as before Accordingly the King at that instant took upon him the Name Stile and Dignity of France and on the Eleventh Day of June being a Monday and St. Barnabas Day his Seal of England being safely laid up another Seal engraven with the Stile and Arms of France was taken and used and several Patents Charters and Writs therewith sealed and the same Day all the Kings other Seals were Changed one g Ashmole p. 665. being circumscribed with the Word Franciae in the first Place and the other with Angliae as at the Beginning From which Time even to this Day the Kings of England his Successors continue their Arms Quarter'd with France in token of that Right to which King Edward so justly now renew'd his Claim After this upon a full Account given of the Kings great Necessities the Lords and Commons granted unto him for Three Years following of Denizens for every Sack of Wooll Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twenty Dozen of Fells Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence and of every Last of Skins Four Pounds But of Aliens for every Sack of Wooll Fifty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twelvescore Fells as much and of every Last of Skins Five Pounds Six Shillings Eight Pence over and above the Old Customs Then it was Enacted That all the Kings Forts and Fortresses should be surveyed repaired and edified And it was caution'd by another Statute that no Religious Aliens should be left in a Capacity to discover the Secrets of the Realm and now again were all the Lands of Religious Aliens seized into the Kings Hands and lett to Farm to the Sovereigns of the same That Remedy may be had against the excessive Selling of Armour and the unreasonable Demands of Horse-Coursers The King will appoint the Officers of every Town to provide therefore That the Time of Prescription may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First The Old Law shall stand That Sylva Caedua may especially be declared The Statute shall be observed That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Indicted upon any Trespass or Felony may upon Issue joyned have a Nisi Prius against the King. So the same concerneth Treason the Chancellor or Keeper of the Privy Seal shall therein do Right That such as dwell upon the Sea-Coasts may set up Poles
Chandos when he found not the English Lords where he had left them before Domme rode after them so long till at last he lighted on them as they lay before a certain Fortress in Quercy When these Lords saw the Herald they received him with Honour because of his Office and demanded of him what News from Angoulesme He said how the Prince saluted them all heartily and desired much to see them and therewithall produced the Princes Letters which the Lord Chandos took and read in full Council and there 't was found How the Prince would have the Lord Chandos the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche to come speedily unto him to the City of Angoulesme But that Sr. Robert Knolles and his Men with all the Companions might tarry still where they were and make War as they had done When these Lords who were the Principal of all understood thus much they began to look one on another and demanded what Course they had best to take Then they said with one Voice to Sr. Robert Knolles Sir you see and understand how our Lord the Prince hath sent for us and hath order'd you to tarry here in this Country as Chief General of all the Army Sirs answer'd he my Lord the Prince puts me to more Honour than I would desire But Gentlemen be sure of this that without your Company I will not stay For if You go I 'll go along with You. So in short they all agreed to return to the Prince together to know his further Pleasure and then they brake up for that time to the abundant satisfaction of the People of those Parts who had felt much but dreaded far more from them Only upon their Departure they sent Sr. Perdiccas of Albret to the Town of Roquemadour to defend the Frontiers there against the Enemy And as for the other Captains of the Companions they spake unto them such Words as these Gentlemen You have heard how the Prince hath sent for Us with what Design we know not But however we shall direct you what to do the mean time You shall all keep close together with your Companies and enter the Marches of Limosin and Auvergne and there make War for without War you cannot live And Sirs this we promise you upon our Faith that if you win Castle Town or Fortress whatsoever it be and it chance that you or any of you be therein besieged We will by no means desert You but will assuredly take Care to bring you such Assistance as shall raise the Siege and set you free When the Captains of the Companions heard this Promise they said Well then Gentlemen we will do to the best of our Power in Confidence of this your Promise For perhaps we shall some time or other stand in need of such an Assistance Thus they parted and the Lords that were sent for went to Angoulesme to the Prince who received them with great joy A little before which time the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke and the Lord John Montague were also return'd from the Siege of Bourdeilles which they wan by stratagem as we have shewn XII Of those Companions whom the Lord Chandos had sent toward the Marches of Limosin there were three Notable Captains above the rest who were Valiant Esquires Hardy and of vast Experience in the Wars especially for Assaulting and Scaling Towns and Fortresses namely Edmund Ortingo Bernard Wiske and Bernard de la Salle These Three resolved not to lie still all the Winter but to do something whereby to get Advantage and Honour too if they might With this Resolution they went toward Limosin the Seneschal and Governour whereof under the Black-Prince was Sr. John Devereux and there they studied day and night to get some Castle belonging to their Enemies At last they heard of a strong Castle in Bourbonnois called Bellepeche wherein the Lady Isabella Mother to the Duke of Bourbon and to the French Queen was in a manner all alone without any good Watch or Guard for the Constable of the Castle as they heard would often ride abroad at his Pleasure taking little or no heed to the Safeguard of the Place Whereupon these Captains having selected a competent Number of their Assistants slept not long after they had been informed of these Matters but rode hard for a Day and a Night till in the Morning early coming to the Castle of Bellepeche they suddenly took it by Scalado and the Good Lady Isabella de Valois therein And then finding the Fortress to be both fair and strong and to stand in a fertil Country they fixed themselves there saying they trusted to keep it against all the World. The Night of that same Day they took another Castle called St. Sever upon the Marches of Limosin which they committed to the Care of Sr. John Devereux When it was noised about in France that Bellepeche was taken and the Queen's Mother therein by the English the King of France was extreamly vexed and so also was the Queen her Daughter and the Duke of Bourbon her Son but as yet they knew not how to mend the matter In these Days the Lord Lewis of Sancerre a Knight of notable Courage and Conduct was made one of the Mareschals of France instead of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan who was yet alive But so old and batter'd by the frequent Use of Arms for many Years past that he could not well perform his Office thô upon occasion he would after that bear Arms and go into the Field XIII All that Summer had King Charles of France spent in equipping a Royal Fleet in the Port of Harfleur for he design'd to send a mighty Army into England being encreased with a sufficient Number of Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires under the Conduct of his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this great Design took him up so wholly that he lay all along in the City of Roüen thereby to be nearer at hand to inspect and hasten the Work and every Week he would go two or three times to view his Navy he had such an Affection for the Business And his Command was so general thrô all the Realm that there came in Men of War in such Numbers that 't was admirable and dayly huge Quantities of Provision was brought in for the Fleet as if they were going to Castille or Portugal or some other Far Country And yet the Lord Oliver Clisson who was now one of the Chief of the French King's Council was always against this Expedition and dehorted the King and all the Nobles of the Realm against Enterprising any Voyage for England telling them how the Frenchmen were not accustomed to make War abroad as the English had been and alledged the eto divers Reasons as one who was better acquainted with the Nature and Conditions of that Nation and with the State of England at that time Notwithstanding he could by no means dissuade the King from this Undertaking but still He
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
of so many over it Only some of the better Sort had their bottles of Wine or other good liquors with them Nor had they any thing to give them light except a few Torches which the Lords Servants had brought with them As for their Tents and Pavilions they as we said before were most of them left among the Baggage Wherefore they were fain to lie on the bare ground in their Armour with their Horses ready sadled in their hands The next Morning came slowly on to men in their Condition but upon the appearance of Day they put on vigorous hopes that they should find some better means of Refreshment Had it rain'd in the Night they must have endured much more misery but however in the Morning it rain'd so plentifully that before noon the River was risen too high to admit of any repassing Which thô bad to them who were already over proved better for the Foot who otherwise must have had a difficult Passage among the stones in so strong a Current It was a great terror to all that were of either side the River to see and hear how the Stream which is naturally violent being rendred more impetuous by the large accession of Rain ran swooping down hurrying along in its course huge Flints and other stones precipitantly rowling down with an hideous noise and roaring The valourous Young King was extreamly perplex'd at all these casual impediments but bold and full of hope as he was he assured himself that the Scots must needs shortly return that way Thereabout therefore he resolv'd to remain till he might understand what further course was taken by his Enemies They yet knew of no other Town or Place near that might afford them shelter or comfort and far they could not travel both They and their Horses being in such evil case So for one day and night more both They and their Beasts were in a manner fain to fast but for some little bread for themselves and a few leaves of trees for their horses but now they had time to cut down boughs with their swords for Stakes to tie their Horses too and to make little sheds for themselves They knew not yet whereabouts they were nor how far off from any Town because they had left the beaten Roads when first they began to follow the Scots and had not since return'd into them But about Noon the next day they found some poor People who told them that they were about twenty k Holinshead hist Scotl. p. 225. six Miles from Newcastle and twenty two from Carlile and that no considerable Town was nearer to furnish them with any thing they wanted The King and his Council having heard this good News sent immediately Horses and Sumpters to both Towns and Proclamation therewith that whoever would bring Bread Wine or other Victuals with Fodder and Litter for Horses should receive abundant satisfaction with thanks of the King. For it had been openly declared that for all this the King would not stir a foot till he heard what was become of his Enemies Some Provision was brought next day by Noon but that not overmuch by the Kings sutlers many also of the Country People thereabout came with little Nags laden with Bread in Panniers and small Perry Wine with other Victuals to sell in the Army which pretty well refreshed them for a time Thus they continued the space of five or six days in all expecting ever the Return of the Scots who had fortifi'd themselves the mean while upon a Hill waiting for them also but neither party knew where the other was The English were but very indifferently purvey'd for when the Country came in to them with Provision l Frois ibid. a loaf of Bread worth but a penny was sold for sixpence and a gallon of Wine which was worth but sixpence as money then went was sold for two shillings and yet there was such scarcity that they were ready to fight with one another for what they had And besides all this for near a week together it hardly ever ceased raining so that much hurt was done to their Beasts their girts being broken their backs sore and their feet unshod against which there was no remedy in that place All these things consider'd the King began to change his mind and at last resolved to part thence leaving the more barren Country of Northumberland and repassing the River about seven Miles lower where the passage might be more easie to re-enter the Bishoprick of Durham It was also proclaim'd thrô the Host that whoever could bring the King certain knowledge where the Scots were encamped for that they were not then stirring abroad was known should be rewarded with an hundred pounds per annum for him and his heirs for ever and himself receive the honour of Knighthood from the Kings own hands Upon this encouragement about fifteen or sixteen Knights and Esquires these for the Money alone those for the Title and the Money too undertook the Adventure and immediately passed the River in great danger and rode abroad all severally to seek their Fortune The next Morning the King and all the Horse with him dislodg'd and rode on fair and softly the Foot on the other side the River keeping pace with them till they came to a place more shallow and easie and there they ventur'd to repass the Tyne which notwithstanding gave them much trouble for many were fain to swim the water was still so deep with the late fall of so much rain and some few were drowned Thus was this Council of the English sadly disappointed otherwise it could not but have proved fatal to the Scots who had then no other Forces in readiness at home sufficient to receive so well formed an Army and those in England if they had been forced to a Battel must in all probability have paid dearly for their Robberies But God in Mercy to the Scots or in Judgement to the English for their late Rebellion or with design by Adversity to form our young Edward for a perfect Captain or lest Robert Bruce their only Fortunate King should just before his Death be deprived of that Name order'd that all this Council and Courage of the Kings should thus be frustrate Now when the Horse had all passed the River they took up their Quarters in the Neighbouring Meadows for there was good Pasturage and fruitfull Fields about a little Village But the Village it self had felt the fury of the Scots being by them burnt down to the ground as they passed that way The next day they marched thence over Hills and Dales till Noon at which time they found several Villages newly burnt to the ground by the Scots about which there lay a good Champaigne Country with Corn fields and Meadows which the Enemy had not destroy'd for their own sakes chiefly lest they should lose the benefit thereof upon their Return There therefore they resolv'd to stay that Night for their Horses wanted refreshment
taken voluntarily in this manner Ye Lords of England why do you stand thus to your Arms watching here to no purpose For on peril of our heads your Enemies are marched clear off Before Midnight they began silently to leave their Camp being not described by you by reason of the dark Moonless night advantaged with the Covert of a Wood. So that by this we believe them no less than three or four Miles onward of their way only they left us two behind to shew you what course they had taken Upon this it was concluded but folly to think of pursuing them any farther since they had got such a Start and were much more expedite for Travail but chiefly because they understood that the Scots were in such want that of necessity they must hasten back into their own Country and that by reason of the approach of Winter for Harvest was done even in those Parts they could not make another Expedition that year Nor was it the least consideration that their former Troubles had cost them more m Buchan p. 277. Men and Horses than some just Battels might have done besides their late continual Watchings and other hardships had rendred them all unfit to pursue such n Praedones vages Buch. Vagabonds To these Reasons all agreed but for fear of any deceit they still detain'd the two Trumpeters and held on their former Order till near Prime But when it plainly appeared that the Scots were indeed escaped then every Man had leave to retire to his Lodgings while the Lords went to counsel with the King there to advise how to proceed further In the mean time many of the English out of curiosity or hopes of Prey mounted their Horses and passing the River came and view'd the Scotch Camp Those who expected prey were much deceived but they who came out of curiosity were well satisfied For there they found more than o Frois c. 18. fol. 10. b. Hecter p. 308 lin 42. Bachan p. 277. five hundred Oxen and Deer ready kill'd because they themselves could not drive them before the Host at that rate as their Flight required and that they might do little good to the English There were also ready stretch'd on stakes over fire-places three hundred Caldrons made after their way of skins with the hair still on them all full of Water and Flesh ready to be boiled and more than a thousand Spits with meat ready to be roasted on them there were also found ten thousand Pair of old Shoes in this rich Camp all made of raw Leather with hair on them which the Scots in their hast had left behind Among the rest there were p Frois ibid. Hector ibid. five poor English Prisoners thô Buchanan after his qualifying manner says but two fast bound to Trees with their Legs broken but yet alive of whom now their Countrymen took charitable care John q Harding c. 177. fol. 176. Harding agrees with many and says that the Scots were held in manner of a Siege by the English but in the way of their Escape he is more particular and tells us that on one Part there lay a broad and wide moorish Ground so deep with mire and so broad that the English whether by the management of some or oversight of all wholly neglected to guard that Place as accounting it impassable That the wily Scots provided secretly Planks laid upon Faggots and joyn'd close over which they went in the Night still drawing them up as they passed and those that follow'd laying down fresh ones and then in like manner drawing them after that the English might not pursue them by the same means so that according to the French Proverb r Cotgrave in Marets Ils se sont sauve par les Marets with much ado they came off thrô the Marishes I determin not how they should be so well provided of so much matter or how so great a Work could be done in so small a Time thô no Man can tell how long before this Design might be resolv'd on because the Author we follow in this understood the nature of those Northern Parts as perfectly as any Man living and so his Authority herein is no way contemptible The ſ Frois c. 20. fol. 11. b. Scots that very day after a great journey of two and twenty Miles thrô a wild Country without any stay or rest for fear of an Encounter repassed the River of Tyne near Carlile and the next day leaving Northumberland on their Right hand they rode thrô a small part of Cumberland into their own Country where they presently disbanded Thus befell of this Expedition with all the vast expence and these great and formidable Preparations Our Historians as many of them following the vain opinions of the Vulgar betray much weakness and passion are angry with this bad success and find some dishonour hereby to reflect on the King wholly attributing all to the Treason of Mortimer and others But whoever seriously reflects upon this account of it here given which is the most exact and full that I could any ways discover may rather see it was the Hand of God and the subtlety of the Enemy created all this trouble Nor can I imagine how by any means Mortimer could hold intelligence with the Scots unless he trusted many of those who kept watch which was too hazardous a matter for any man in his right senses to do since if but one or two of many had discover'd it notwithstanding his great Credit with the Queen Mother and the King he must needs have been torn in pieces But because t Walsing hist p. 112. n. 30. MS. C.C.C. Dug 1. vol. p. 146. b. Walsingham and others among other Articles lay this to his Charge that he was an Impediment to the Kings Honour at Stanhop-Park in restraining the English from falling on the Scots I shall not omit such circumstances as I have met with that seem to make against him as to that point And first it is said that he the u Knighton p. 2551. n. 40. said Roger Mortimer with Queen Isabel and Edmund Earl of Kent being then in France upon certain Conditions made some certain Covenant with the Scotch Ministers there then residing upon which encouragement the Scots proceeded to this War and that Earl Douglas perform'd that bold action by Night in the English Camp by the x Id. p. 2552. n. 10. connivance and underhand assistance of certain in the Kings army of whom Mortimer ought to be accounted Chief and that the Scots escaped away not without the Treason of certain of the English Army and lastly in the y Id. p. 2558. n. 10. ex Rot. 4. Ed. 3. c. Eleventh Article laid afterwards to his Charge in Parliament 't is said that he converted the whole sum of Money which the Scots gave afterwards upon the Establishment of a Peace to his own use the King not enjoying any part thereof
lived but Miserably The Principal Authors in due Season we shall see brought to Condign Punishment VIII The young b Walsing hist p. 109. n. 20. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 345. King in his return to London was heartily welcomed by the Mayor and Aldermen and the whole City For he was a Prince of great hope and had much vivacity in his Countenance and courage in his Breast upon which account all his Subjects lov'd him entirely The gratefull Prince to set a Mark of his Royal favour upon that famous Metropolis in a Parliament held at Westminster c Joh. Tinemouth Aur. hist p. 229. a. in Bibl. Lambeth which began on St. Brices Day of his own accord confirmed unto them their former Liberties and granted new ones which they never had before Ordaining that the Mayor of London for the time being should sit in all Places within the Liberties as the Kings Chief Justice and that every Alderman who had been Mayor should while he continued true to the King and his Laws be always Justice of the Peace within his own Ward He also granted unto the Citizens the Fee Farm of London for three hundred Pounds per annum And that the lawfull Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings Hands but only on Occasion d Inst par 2. f. 20. Mirror c. 5. §. 2 Fleta l. 2. c. 48. Plowd com fol. 40. Instit par 4. f. 253 Rich. Grafton p. 217. of Abuse or Misuse e Stow's Survey London p. 248. p. 604. or for Treason or Rebellion countenanced or done by the whole City Further he ordain'd that Southwark should be under the government of the City and that the Mayor of London as Bailiff of Southwark should depute after his own pleasure the Bailiff of that Burrough under him About the same time also he made the Company of Skinners in London a Corporation as they have ever since honourably continued even to this day Himself for their greater Honour vouchsafing to be of their Brotherhood as afterwards other Kings did in imitation of so great a Precedent namely Richard the Second Henry the Fifth Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth Nor hath this Honourable and Ancient Company been ungratefull to the Memory of this their Glorious Founder but take all occasions to testifie their Respect to his Name and to preserve his Glory to Posterity Particularly of late they have at their own proper costs and charges erected his Statue among the Kings of this Land in the Royal Exchange in London To accompany the late unhappy King of England to his Grave there died about this time many other Potentates Princes and Prelates thô none so unfortunately and by such treacherous Cruelty as our Edward of Caernarvon And first there died Charles Earl of Valois younger Brother to Philip the Fair late King of France and Uncle to Charles the Fair then King of France and Father to Philip of Valois afterwards in Opposition to King Edward the Third made King of France He had been all his time a right Frenchman that is an inveterate Enemy to the English Nation Nor did his Nephew Charles King of France himself long survive him But departed this life without Issue being then about 32 years of Age on the Kalends of February Anno Dom. MCCCXXVIII when he had Reigned six Years and one Month leaving his Queen big with Child which notwithstanding died shortly after the Birth So that the Right to the Crown devolved thereupon to our King Edward the Eldest Son and Heir of Isabella the said Charles his only Sister surviving and the Daughter of Philip the Fair. But the French Nation either despising King Edwards Youth or moved by their own evil Genius for it was afterwards the occasion of unspeakable Calamities to that Kingdom prefer'd Philip of Valois the Nephew of Philip the Fair before King Edward the Son of Philip's Daughter to the Throne of France Accordingly on the 29 day of May following * Lit. Dom. CB. Pascha 3 April being then Trinity-Sunday he was Crowned at Rheimes f D'Avila l. 2. ad An. 1561. where the Holy Oyl wherewith Cloüis their First Christian King was anointed is still kept with great Veneration But the ill consequences of this his Coronation will abundantly appear hereafter There died also this Year the Lord g Buchan p. 277. Walter Stuart of Scotland Son in Law to King Robert Bruce and by the Lady Margaret Father to Robert Stuart who was afterwards King of Scotland the First of that Glorious Family From whom is descended our Present Gracious Soveraign King James the Second whom God grant long and happily to Reign About the same time Elizabeth Queen of Scotland deceased and not h Id. Junii An. 1328. long after there departed this life the King himself Robert Bruce that valiant Captain very old and as was said infected with the Leprosie leaving behind him David his only Son and Heir a young Prince of about Eight Years old of whom we shall say much in the Process of this History This King i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 447. Robert Bruce was by birth an English Baron as was also John k Id. ibid. p. 523. Baliol his Competitor thô by Marriages of their Houses with the Royal Line of Scotland they Both at last had a Title to the Crown of that Kingdom King Robert beside his Brother l Speed p. 558. §. 33. Edward who was slain in battle by the English in Ireland had a younger Brother named Bernard Bruce from whom descended the Noble Edward Bruce of Kinlosse in Scotland a Person of great esteem and Merit in the Court of our English Solomon King James the First His Son m Wright's Hist of the Antiq of Rutlandshire p. 50. c. Thomas Lord Bruce was by Letters Patents dated the 21 of June in the Ninth of the said King James created Earl of Elgin in Scotland and on the First of August the Seventeenth of King Charles the First advanced to the Degree of a Baron of this Realm as his Ancestors for many Ages before had been by the Title of Lord Bruce of Wharlton in the County of York Whose Son and Heir Robert Lord Bruce was a Person of such eminent merits as well for his signall Loyalty in the late unhappy Defection as since the Happy Restoration of Monarchy that for a further addition of Honour King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory by Letters Patents bearing Date the 18 of March in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign advanced him to the Titles of Lord Bruce of Skelton in the County of York Vicount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire and Earl of Aylesbury in the County of Buckingham And being also Hereditary High Steward of the Honour of Ampthill Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Bedford Huntington and Cambridge Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and One of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council he lately departed
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâ—l 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung â—t bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâ—uth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
wholly acquitted thereupon As indeed by this time both his Father and Grandfather too might have been had not the too speedy violence of their Enemies taken them both out of the way Yet 't is observable by this Sr. Hugh the younger whose Manuprizors were Sr. Ebulo le Strange and eleven other Knights as also by Thomas Lord Barkley who had as many Manuprisors thô he was acquitted the last year that it was a custome to say no more in those days when any one had been tryed as an Offender against the King thô he were thereof acquitted or had his Pardon yet ſ M. S. p. 15. 16. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. notwithstanding he was to provide Twelve of his Peers to be Sureties for his Forth-coming during the Kings pleasure The Discontinuance of which custom has been too usefull to Traytors in our days It was also here moved by the whole Parliament either in compassion of Innocence or because all their Rancour was satisfied in the execution of Mortimer that the King's Majesty would be graciously pleased to extend some Favour to Sr. Edmund Eldest Son to the late Earl of March. At which bold request the King being offended as imagining they petition'd for his full Restoration to his Fathers Lands and Honours asked them with some Emotion What they would have since the King his Father had been murder'd by the procurement of the said Earl The Parliaments Answer was they only spake in the Young Man's behalf for some certain Lands Intail'd to which the King replied That he himself would do what to him should seem best at his Pleasure Which severity went so near to the heart of the young Lord that before the end of the Year t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. he died in the Flower of his Age leaving behind him Roger his Son and Heir then but three Years of age which Roger three and twenty Years after was fully restor'd to all the Lands and Honours of his Grandfather It is u M.S. p. 14. §. 5. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. §. 5. c. agreed that all Feats of Arms shall be defended as well by the Justices as Others untill the King and his Council do otherwise appoint It is agreed that Queen Isabell the King's Mother shall have yearly four thousand Pounds in Rents or Lands All the Estates in full Parliament do agree that none of them shall retain sustain or avow any Felon or other common Breaker of the Law. It is enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King Queen and their Children and that by good Warrant and ready Payment The King shall appoint certain Persons to determine the Office of Thomas de Ferrers and Other his Brethren of the Parsonage of Marleston in the County of Leicester Commandment is given to the Abbot of Crowland and Thomas Lord Wake of Lidel between whom there had been debate to keep the Kings Peace The like command was given to Sr. William de la Zouch of Ashby and Sr. John Grey of Rotherfield Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London was taken into the Kings Privy Council and took his Place at the Board accordingly At the request of the whole Estate the King now at last dischargeth the Lord Thomas Barkley of his Mainprisors day being given to him to appear at the next Parliament Whereas Sr. Henry Percy for the Yearly Fee of 500 Marks stood bound to serve the King with a certain number of Men as well in Peace as in War The King in release of the said Fee granteth to the said x In my M.S. and Sr. Rob. Cotton too he is here called an Earl thô the First Percy Earl of Northumberland was not till the Coronation of King Richard the Second An. 1377. vid. Mills Catal. He p. 718. Sr. Henry in Fee the Castle of Workworth in Northumberland and the Mannor of Rochbury In this Parliament Sr. Robert y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Benhale who was then or soon after a Baron of the Realm and a most noble and couragious Knight in his time as we shall have Occasion to see hereafter with William Clopton and John Clopton all young spritely Gentlemen having been convicted before the Justices of Assize in Norfolk and Suffolk of certain Ryots and other youthfull Extravagancies were brought to appear in full Parliament with several Knights and Esquires their Sureties where each of them was fin'd and further bound with other Sureties for his good Behaviour For at this time Justice being provok'd by the Insolence of those who took too great liberty during the Kings Minority was every where severely administred as in the next years Parliament we shall see more particularly Sundry Merchants of Brabant having been arrested by English Merchants for Wools taken up to the use of the Duke of Brabant upon the said Duke's request the King commands all the said English Merchants to appear before the Council and abide further Order therein About this time King Edward z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. confer'd on the young Sr. Walter Manny Carver to his Queen the Honour of Knighthood here in England by Bathing and other sacred Ceremonies with allowance of Robes for that Solemnity out of the Kings Wardrobe as for a Baneret And in the Sequel of this History we shall see how worthily he behav'd himself in this Honour VII There a Mill's Catal. Hener p. 683. departed this life on the 19 of April this Year the Lord Robert Vere called the Good Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Samford and High-Chamberlain of England So Valiant that King Edward the First often employ'd him in his greatest Affairs with equal success so Temperate that he had the common Repute of a Saint He was solemnly interred at the Priory of Colne and because he left no Issue of his Body was succeeded in his Honours by his Nephew Sr. John Vere son of his Brother Alphonso who was now about Nineteen years of Age The Arms of this Honourable Family are Quatterly Gules and Or in the First a Mullet Argent which have belonged to the Earls of Oxford of that House and Name from the Year of our Lord 1140 even down to our days In these days John of Luxemburgh Son and Heir to Henry of Luxemburgh once Emperour of Germany the most valiant King of Bohemia * Lanquets Chread hunc annum invading Italy brought under his subjection Brescia Bergamo Lucca Parma Reggio and Modena of whose noble Exploits and Death we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter But the Occasion of his Wars in Italy may be seen in the Writers of that Nation and no where more particularly than in Odoricus Rainaldus his Continuation of Baronius his Annals of the Church at the Year of our Lord 1330 and after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster II. The true Grounds of the Scotch War enquired into III. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs from the first Invasion of Bailiol to this time IV.
as Ringleaders of the foresaid Dissentions had been by the French King adjudged to death for King Edwards sake were only now banished At this time also the Articles of the former League were restored and publique Instruments thereof made at Marmanda the October following and on the 20 of February in the beginning of the next Year were signed at Paris with the Kings Seal But this Peace was intricate and doubtfull because King Charles died before he had restored the Lands to his Nephew King Edward which had been taken away in Aquitain But hereupon Philip of Valois who had been present at the Ratification of the Peace being raised to the Throne neither would restore those Places won by his Father nor could by the Pope's perswasions be moved thereto and so dealing more hardly and too unkindly as well as unjustly with King Edward never remitted any thing of his Haughtiness till he had obliged the Young Prince to begin a War in the behalf of his Right which had almost brought the Kingdom of France to utter destruction But of this hereafter III. This mean while King Edward doubting what might happen resolv'd to be beforehand with his Enemies and as he question'd not but that a War would soon be open'd from France so he wisely design'd by a full Conquest to stop it the other way from Scotland Soon after Christmas therefore he went to Newcastle that he might bear an especial Eye to the Affairs of that Realm From whence b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. he made the Lord Hugh Courtney a valiant old Gentleman Earl of Devonshire upon this occasion This Hugh had for many years after the Death of Isabell de Fortibus Countess of Albemarl and Devonshire quietly possessed the Lands and Fees of the Earldom of Devonshire as being c Vid. quemedo Mill's Catal. Hener p. 465. sole Heir to the foresaid Countess thô he had neither the Title nor Investiture of an Earl But at length there arose great difference between him and the Kings Officers of the Exchequer concerning the payment of the third Penny which as they said he being no Earl ought not to receive and thereupon the Sheriffs of Devonshire declin'd to pay it him any longer Wherefore he wrote his letters Supplicatory to the King being then in Scotland who immediately directed his Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer requiring them to make search into the Records and Memorials remaining in their Hands and to certifie him thereof Which being done the King having well consider'd the Matter and the Merit of the Man return'd this Answer Rex Dilecto Fideli suo Hugoni de Courtney seniori Comiti Devon. Salutem c. d Claus 9. Ed. 3. m. 35. in derso Mill's Cat. Honor p. 465. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. Time's storehouse p. 524. The King to his Well-beloved and Trusty Hugh Courtney senior Earl of Devonshire greeting Whereas you as appeareth by your Petition exhibited to Us and our Council have for some time been sued for the Annual Payment of xviii l. vi s. viii d. of the yearly Fee of the Earldom of Devonshire which Isabell de Fortibus late Countess of Devonshire whose Heir you are and the Predecessors of her the said Countess and yours Earls of Devonshire yearly received at the hands of the Sheriffs of that County that were for the time being and which you likewise after the Death of the said Countess as her Heir received for some time And whereas the said Summ hath since been from you detained because you have not used the Name and Title of an Earl as by the Certificate of our Treasurer and of the Barons of our Exchequer by our Commandment made into our Chancery doth appear Forasmuch as the Inheritance of the foresaid Countess and of her Predecessors and yours Earls of Devonshire is unto you descended by Hereditary Right and that you at this present do hold the said Inheritance We therefore willing to provide as well for our own Dignity and the Equity of our Kingdom as for your Honour and Support Will and Command you in requesting you that by taking to you the Name and Honour of an Earl you cause your self henceforward to be called Earl of Devonshire being assured that we will cause the foresaid Fee to be yearly paid unto you as it hath been wont to be paid to the Earls of Devonshire your Predecessors Witness the King at Newcastle upon Tine the 22d of February and in the Ninth Year of our Reign Edward R. And to enforce this the more he sent his Precept to the then Sheriff of Devonshire the Writ beginning Rex Vicecomiti Devoniae Salutem c. Commanding him forthwith by publique Proclamation both in his County and all other places of his Bailywick to require all Persons thenceforth to esteem and call him Earl of Devonshire And likewise another Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer that they should cause the said Summ of xviii l. vi s. viii d. to be annually paid unto him nomine Comitis by the Title of an Earl as his Ancestors formerly had received it Now c Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 30. Holinshead 898. R. Southwell c. about the Feast of the Ascension the King held his Parliament at York concerning his Affairs then in hand relating to the Scotch War at which time were Enacted sundry Statutes very serviceable for the Peace and Weal of the Realm And here by the Intercession of King Philip who sent thither the Bishop of Auranches and others for that purpose he granted the Scots a Truce till the Feast of St. John Baptist then next ensuing IV. But about Midsummer the Truce being near expired he went in the Head of his Army to Newcastle again whither King Bailiol came unto him from Carlile And here it was finally agreed between them and their Council that King Edward of England should pass to Carlile and on the 12 of July enter Scotland that way in Hostile Manner with these Lords and Captains in his Company Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the Kings own Brother the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster the Kings Cosin Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex John Vere Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior the Lord Adam Wells Ralph Lord Bulmer the Lord Ebulo le Strange who dying this Year left his Wife and Title of Earl of Lincoln to Hugh de Frenes who was also in this Expedition together with John Lord Willoughby Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh Robert Lord Ferrers William Lord Montague the Lord Hugh Audley junior the Lord William Clinton the Lord John Norwich the Lord John Bardolph the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot and the Lord John Grey of Codnore with Sr. Mawrice Barkley Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley and many others of High Quality and Courage On the other Hand King Bailiol was appointed to go to Barwick
Lenox Menteith and Stratherne came laden with Spoil and Prey to St. Johnston where he found the King of England his Brother lately return'd thither from his victorious March beyond the Scottish Mountains This Town had been lately destroy'd by the Scots who despair'd to maintain it for their own behoof But now King Edward order'd it to be rebuilt fortifi'd and encompassed with a strong Wall Ditch and Rampire VI. The King of u Knighton p. 2567. France all this while did what he could by Policy to hinder King Edwards Proceedings and withdraw him home again before he might perfect any Conquest in Scotland To that end again he sends his Ambassadors to him and procures Others to be sent from the Pope x Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1335. §. 36 with Letters bearing date apud Pontemsorgiae Avenionensis Dioecesis 2 Kal. Aug. Anno Pontif. 1. to endeavour a Peace between King David and him and to request his Company once more in the Holy War But King Edward observing his pragmaticall Curiosity in Affairs no way relating to him and also his unsincere way of Address sent him short Word That he was able of himself blessed be God without any help from him to wage war with the Infidels when he should see fit unless He and his Adherents by their Malice and underhand Dealings should stand in his way And that he neither could nor would undertake any Foreign Expedition while his Enemies the Scots continued so rebellious against him who were also by him abetted and encouraged in their Rebellion Thô both as a Christian Prince and a Kinsman he ought rather to compose War and Strife among two Christian Nations and even to assist him with all his Might in his just Wars than to nourish up his Capital Enemies unjustly against him VII Thus King Edward put him off at that time and proceeded with such success in his Affairs in Scotland that about the Feast of the y Augusti 15. Assumption of our Lady most of the Scotch Nobility being wholly tired out and fearing yet much more z Walsingh hist p. 116. Adam Murimouth came in and submitted themselves to King Edward of England at St. Johnston where both the Kings then were among whom thô the Lord Strabolgi came not in person for fear of the Kings sudden Displeasure yet by his Advocates and Letters he so humbly sued for Peace and Pardon and so well acquitted himself of all Treason that he with the rest was accepted on these Conditions a Ces sont les Choses le Pointz accordez c. Murimouth c. Stow p. 232. Knighton p. 2566. n. 30. c. These are the Points and Articles agreed on betwixt the Council of the Kings of England and Scotland on the one Party and the Lord Alexander Moubray the Lord Geoffry Moubray the Lord Geoffry Roos Dr. William Bullock Clerk and the Lord Eustace de Lorrain having full power from David Strabolgi Earl of Athol and Robert Stuart of Scotland on the other Party to treat on accord and confirm all Points enterparled and to be enterparled betwixt the said Kings and the said Earl and Robert Stuart as appeareth by the Letters Patents of either Party 1. Imprimis it is accorded That the Earl of Athol and all the Great Men and Others of the Commonalty of Scotland which were willing to come in to the King of Englands Peace shall have Life and Limb Lands and Tenements Fees and Offices which they ought by right or by inheritance to have in Scotland those except which by common Assent should be excepted In such manner that all Offences and Misdemeanours which they had committed in the Realm of England from the beginning of the World to the Date of these Presents shall be pardon'd without Imprisonment or any other Molestation 2. Item That the Earl of Athol and the Lord Alexander Moubray shall still hold those Lands Tenements and Fees in England which they held at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England 3. Item That the Franchises of the Kirk of Scotland shall be maintained after the ancient Usage And that the Laws of Scotland in Burroughs Towns and Sheriff-wicks within the Lands of the King of Scotland be used after the Old Way as they were used in the time of King Alexander And that the Offices of Scotland be administred by Men of the same Nation yet so as that the King of Scotland of his Prerogative Royal may at any time according to his pleasure advance to places of Office Men of any Nation whatsoever 4. Item That all those who being in the same case with the Earl of Athol have Lands and Tenements within the Lands of the King of England shall still hold those Lands and Tenements Possessions Fees and Offices as they had them at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England those except who by common Assent shall be excepted and if they be impleaded for their Lands and Tenements aforesaid they may have their Defence and Recoveries in any Court according to Law. 5. Item As touching the Demand which the Earl of Athol claimeth that the King of England would release him his Lands in England which he hath in gage for 800 Marks the King neither ought nor will do that but as for his Mannor of b Stow Byphingdone quod corrigo autoritate Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. ubi legitor Bulinden in Com. Buck. Bulindon which the said Earl laid to pledge for c Stow 250 l. sed Knighten CC li. ubi li pro l. à Stow acceptim per errorem cum stat li. pro libris two hundred Pounds it is accorded That if the said Earl of Athol come within one Year and make true payment of the said Money that the King shall cause the said Mannor to be restored unto him 6. Item That as touching the Castle and Lands of Chilham the said Earl shall be in the same point that he was before at his departure from Newcastle upon Tine when he paid Homage to the King of England and shall have his Recovery by Law and the King promiseth in good Faith to take Order that he shall have the Law of his Kingdom without favour on either Party 7. Item That as touching the Lands which the said Earl claimeth in Norfolk whereof he hath Charters the King promiseth that having seen first his Charters by Advice of his Council he will do him reason And if in any case any man surmise Treason upon the said Earl he may defend himself with his Body according to the Laws and Usage of Scotland and upon the Marches And that all those in his case have the like Grant. 8. Item that as to the Pardon which William Ramsey Knight demandeth for the Trespass by him done to William Lord Montagu in beating down his Castle of Haghterdorne the same William shall be ready to make satisfaction in
Cosin the King of England or any of his so that He or they might come or go armed or unarmed at his or their pleasure That if King Edward would defie the French King he also would do the same and enter the Realm of France with Forces to the number of a thousand Men of Arms so that their Wages might be paid them from England And accordingly on the 13 of July we find that John Duke of Brabant Lorraine and Lomberg i Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 8. 2 Septem ibid. m. 6. ibid. m. 11. was retained for the King and with the assent of the Emperour was the Confederation made with Lewis his eldest Son there stiled Marquis of Brandenburgh Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and Arch-Chamberlain to the Emperour There passed also between the Emperour himself and the King of England and their Heirs an Union and Confederacy which obliged them to use all their Power particularly against Philip of Valois who bore himself as King of France and his Successors in that Kingdom for the Recovery and Defence of their Honours Inheritances and Possessions Things succeeding thus happily the k Frois ibid. English Lords return to the rest of their Company at Valenciennes whence by Letters and Messengers they so well managed the residue of that Affair that the Lord Reginald Earl of Gueldre and Zuitphen who had married Eleanora the King of Englands Sister and William Marquis of Juliers who had married Joan one of Queen Philippa's Sisters with Walram Archbishop of Cologne and the Lord Valeran his Brother and the Lord Faulquemont came all to Valenciennes to treat with the English Lords about the Premises before the Earl of Heinalt and the Lord John his brother And here at last on Consideration of certain Summs of Florens to be paid to each of them beside such and such Wages for their Men They all undertook to defie the French King and to bring into the Field against him every Man such a number to attend King Edward when and where it should please him Promising moreover on the like Conditions to procure other Lords of the Empire such as were best inclin'd to War and most able from beyond the Rhine After this Covenant thus made the Almaine Lords departed to their several Countries but the English remain'd still with the Earl of Heinalt whence they sent frequent Messengers to Adolph Bishop of Liege being very desirous to bring him over But he was so firmly knit to the French Kings Interest that there were but small hopes of ever prevailing with him As for the Valiant King John of Bohemia thô they wish'd for him he being a Prince of great Wisdom as well as Resolution and of great Power in the Empire which once was govern'd by his Father Henry of Luxemburgh yet they forbore to attempt any thing upon him because they saw plainly that having married his Daughter to King Philips Son John Duke of Normandy he could neither in honour nor interest move another way And indeed both he and the foresaid Bishop of Liege stuck so close to the Crown of France that nothing but Death could separate them from it which they both at last suffer'd in one day at the famous Battle of Cressy wherein the English obtain'd a most signall Victory But however they prevail'd elsewhere and retain'd in the Kings Name for his intended Expedition into France several other Noblemen of those Countries l Ashmole p. 647. as namely Adolph Earl of Mont who having done Fealty and Homage to King Edward received of him in reward thereof a Pension for Life of 1200 Florens of Gold per annum out of his Exchequer Everard eldest Son to Theoderick Earl of Limbergh Adolph Earl of Marlia Robert de Touburgh Lord of Warnich Theoderick Earl of Lossen and Heuseberg and the Lord Blatikenberg and Theoderick de Montjoy Lord of Walkenberg besides divers Valiant Knights and Commanders of eminent Note II. Moreover King Edward well considering how opportunely the Flemings lay to annoy the Kingdom of France and how their Trade in Wooll and other Merchandises which came from England made them in a great measure obnoxious to him resolves to attempt them And thereupon sends over m Fabian p. 204 an English Knight named Sr. Bernard Brett of an excellent Tongue and obliging Deportment who if upon tryal he should find any Difficulty with Lewis n English Atlas 4 Vol. p. 239. sirnamed of Cressy Earl of Flanders was then secretly by promises and other arts to work upon the Demagogues and such as were most acceptable to the Populace so as to perswade them to enter League and Amity with the Crown of England The Earl of Flanders thô he was perfect French at heart yet could not he thought in reason but propound this Request of King Edwards to his Estates being called together in Council In short the King of England found more Favourers here than the Earl had imagin'd many openly alledging that it was more for their Interest to prefer his Friendship than that of France the chief of whom was a Lord of Flanders named o Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 903. Sr. Siger of Courtray who stifly maintain'd that Opinion in Council for which he began to be in great dislike with the Earl. This Knight p Frois c. 29. fol. 18. had been accounted a Person of singular Honour and of unquestionable Valour and Fidelity to his Lord the Earl of Flanders but whether that he was won by the Policy and Golden Perswasion of this English Knight Sr. Bernard Brett or whether he indeed thought it the best Advice for the Wealth of his Lord and of his Country he was perfectly now for abetting the English Interest His usual Residence was in the City of Gaunt the Metropolis in those Days of all Flanders where he kept great Hospitality especially for the entertainment of Strangers for which he was extreamly dear to the common People who call'd him the Lord of Courtesie This his manner of being Free to all Men made him not doubt of entertaining the English among others with all civility and honour whereat the jealous Head of King Philip was so stung that upon News thereof he sent to the Earl of Flanders commanding him to strike off his Head as One whom he affirmed to be corrupted with English Gold from his Duty The Earl who was already not well-pleas'd with the Lord Sigar of Courtray not daring or not willing to give King Philip any occasion of Suspition sent for him accordingly Whereupon Sr. Sigar readily obeyed as one who having done no ill suspected none but when the Earl had got him once in his power without Process or Judgment he caused him presently to be beheaded This rash and illegal Action of the Earls did so incense the Commons of Gaunt and Bruges that they began plainly to Rebel against him openly rejected his Government and prepared to resist him by force of Arms. The q
he himself with the residue of his Standing Forces lying now in and about the strong City of St. Quintin After this King Edward went from Sarnaques to Morevil where he tarried one Night only the next Day he reached la Flamenguere where he lodged his Men all close about him l Frois c. 40. being in number more than Fourty Thousand strong And here it was resolved in Council that King Edward should abide his Adversary and give him Battle King Philip on the other hand being removed from St. Quintin with all his Army was gone to Vironfosse in Cambresis where he tarried his Forces dayly encreasing and protested That he would not stir thence till he had fought with the King of England and his Allies since they were now within two Leagues one of another When the young Earl of Hainault who was still at Quesnoy ready provided with Men of War understood that the French King his Uncle was with an Army Royal at Vironfosse resolved to give battle to the English he rode directly thither with 500 Spears and presented his Service to King Philip. But he might even as well have stay'd away for the Thanks that he had now or the Reward that he found after For King Philip was in his heart extreamly disgusted at him because he came but lately from the Service of his Adversary the King of England with whom he had been during the Siege of Cambray But the Earl excused himself so discreetly saying That what he did then was of meer necessity because he was bound to serve the Emperour or his Deputy within the Bounds of the Empire but what he did now was of his meer Choice and therefore ought to be taken as a token of his Good-will so that at last the King and his Council either was or seem'd to be content And so the Marshals of France order'd him his Station which either in spight or policy they appointed in the Main Battle thereby to fight against King Edward his Brother-in-Law Thus these two Puissant Monarchs lay both with their goodly Armies in the plain Fields between Vironfosse and Flemenguere within two Leagues one of another But as yet neither Army advanced King Edward therefore advising with his Lords in a Council of War asked them what they thought best to do for he said that his Intention was to fight it out without any more delay Then the Lords beheld each other and at last desired the Duke of Brabant first to open his Mind He like a Gallant Souldier presently advis'd to fight for otherwise said he we cannot part without some Blemish upon our Honour Wherefore I would counsel you to send Heralds to King Philip to demand of him a Day of Battle Accordingly an Herald of the Duke of Gueldre's being well-skill'd in the French Tongue was sent on this Errant he rode forth till he came to the French Host where being admitted before the King and his Council he spake aloud these Words Sir the King of England is here hard by in the Fields and desires to fight you Power against Power And if you please to appoint him a Day he will not fail to meet You upon the Word of a King. C. Lit. Dom. This Message being thus deliver'd on a Wednesday the 20 of October King Philip yielded either to give or take Battle two Days after to wit on the Friday ensuing and in token of his acceptance of the News richly rewarded the Herald with Furred Gowns and other Gifts bestow'd on him as well by himself as other the Princes and Lords of his Host and so dismissed him again Thus was the Day of Battle agreed on all the Lords and Captains on both Sides being informed thereof and commanded to be ready accordingly On the Thursday Morning being the 21 of October two Knights belonging to the Earl of Hainault the one the Lord of Faginelles and the other the Lord of Tupenay Mounting their Horses rode forth together without any other Company from the French Host with a Design to view the English Army So they rode along coasting from far the English Camp till upon their approach almost within shot of the first Battail the Lord of Faginelles Horse chanced to take the Bridle in his Mouth so strongly that his Master could not rule him Wherefore much against his Will he was carried by the Horse into the English Army among the Lords of Almaine who well saw he was not of their side and so took him Prisoner He and his Horse were taken by five or six Gentlemen of Almaine who straight began to examine him in order to appoint him his Ransom And when they understood he was of Hainault they asked him if he had any acquaintance with the Lord John of Hainault he answer'd yes and desired them for Godsake to carry him into his Presence for he said he knew well that he would acquit him of his Ransom The Almains did not care how soon their Money came wherefore they willingly carried him before the Lord of Beaumont who knew him presently and bought him of his Masters Thus was the Lord of Faginelles easily redeemed having his Horse also restored unto him at the Request of the Lord Beaumont Sr. John of Hainault No other Adventure worth our Notice happen'd that day On the Fryday early in the Morning m Freis c. 41. f. 23. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 648. both Armies prepared for Battle and every Lord heard Mass among his own Men making their Confessions and obtaining Absolution The English drew forth in the Field all ranged in three Battails on Foot their Horses and Baggage being put aside in a little Wood behind them which they had fortifi'd Their first Battail was led by the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord John of Hainault the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. William du Fort Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the whole Body consisting for the most part of Almains except 4000 English to the Number of 8000 in all 12000 Fighting Men ranged orderly under twenty two Banners and sixty Penons or Streamers The second Battail which in the March was the last the Duke of Brabant brought up accompanied with many Lords and Knights of his own Country as the Lord of Kuck the Lord of Bergen op Zoom the Lord of Breda the Lord of Rhodes the Lord of Bosleduc the Lord of Burgivalle the Lord of Stonenort the Lord of Wenden the Lord of Elka the Lord of Cassuben and Sr. John of Cassuben his Brother the Lord of Duysburg Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Sr. Ralph van Gratz Sr. John Iliffe Sr. Giles of Krainburg Sr. Walter of Horburg the three Brethren of Harlingen Sr. Henry Eam commonly call'd Sr. Henry of Flanders and divers other Barons and Knights of Germany who were all under the Duke of Brabants Banner that day as the Lord of Hailbrun the Lord of Guiten Sr. Hector Vilain Sr. John of Rhodes Sr.
notwithstanding the Popes Interdict open'd the Churches there and celebrated Divine Service without the least hesitation Whereupon the Fears of the Flemings were abated as such whom the Pope himself so much above all others could not materially endammage The mean while the French King having understood for certain of his great Loss at Sea brake up and dislodged from before Thine with his Son the Duke of Normandy at the same time that the Earl of Hainalt departed on the other side and drew towards Arras the chief City of Artois having dismist the greater Part of his Forces till they might hear other news from him But immediatly he sent the Lord Godmar du Fay with a good Number of Men of Arms to the City of Tournay to look that nothing was wanting there for he had an Eye especially upon the Flemings Wherefore he also sent the Lord of Beaujeu to Mortagne to keep the Frontiers against Hainalt and in like manner he provided for St. Omers for Aire for St. Venant and all the Fortresses fronting on Flanders VII It may be remembred that we spake x L. 1. c. 13. §. 9. p. 146. a little before of King Robert of Sicily of whom again we have something more to say his Zeal for the House of France bringing him again in our Way Now this Robert being the Son of Charles the Second King of Sicily and Naples was also nearly alli'd to King Philip of France y Odoric Raynald ad an 1339. §. 39. being his Uncle for his Sister the Lady z Mezeray 2 par 3 tâ—m p. 31. Margaret being formerly given in Marriage to Charles Earl of Valois was by him Mother to the said King Philip. This Robert at that time excelled all the Kings of Christendom in humane Learning especially in the more recondite Parts thereof but chiefly as we have intimated before he addicted himself to the Study of Astrology which he did with so good success that either from the Regular Conclusions of that Science for certainly that Study cannot be called wholly trivial or vain without as much Rashness as Ignorance or by some Natural Impulse or by Divine Direction and Inspiration he drew this for an undoubted Maxim That it was given to King Edward of England to succeed prosperously in all his Personal Undertakings So that both before at Vironfoss as we have related and now also again he warned the French King and his Council that King Philip should by no means adventure a pitch'd Battle where the King of England should be present in Person And besides all this he had such a tender and friendly Regard to the fair Realm of France that he us'd all the means possible to set the two Kings at Unity and when at last he found his Endeavours prove unsuccessfull was passionately concerned at the Destruction which he foresaw was coming upon that Famous Kingdom This Pious and Learned Prince was now with Pope a Labbâ— Chron. Techn ad hunc ann Benedict XII and the College of Cardinals at Avignion before whom with Tears he declared the great Miseries that were like to fall upon France by this War between the two Kings most earnestly desiring them to use their utmost Endeavours to reduce them Both to some Friendly Terms of Agreement The Pope and his Cardinals answer'd That for their Parts they both were and always would be ready with delight to promote so good a Work and would willingly bestow their utmost Labour therein if by any means they might obtain a Hearing Accordingly Letters were prepared and sent to the King of England by two Eminent Cardinals Pedro of St. Praxede and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro who had further Instructions to treat with him about a final Peace But these Endeavours being as useless as many the like before we shall say no more of them at this time CHAPTER the SEVENTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Council of his Friends and Allies at Villenort where the Method of the War is agreed on and St. Omers and Tournay appointed to be at one time besieged II. King Edward sends a Challenge to King Philip with the Answer III. King Edward lays Siege to Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies IV. The Earl of Hainalts Exploits and the Assault of the Flemmings upon Tournay V. King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps at Pont a Bouvines VI. The various Rencounters during the Siege VII An Account of a Parliament held at Westminster VIII Scotland recovers breath and takes Edinburgh by Stratagem other Places by Force IX The English Allies before St. Omers raise their Siege and in a Panick fear fly home X. King Edwards and the French Kings several difficulties at the Siege render them both uneasie XI Dr. Norwich comes with Instructions from the Pope to induce King Edward to a Peace The Lady Jane of Valois obtains from the two Kings a time for a Treaty with the manner thereof and the Articles of the Truce XII Vpon Proclamation of the Truce both Armies break up with divers Descants thereupon XIII In a Parliament at Arras the Truce between the two Kings prolonged for two Years XIV The Year concludes with the Death of sundry Great Personages a Notable Victory obtain'd by the King of Spain over the Moors and the Birth of a Princess of England named Blanch of the Tower. I. NOW the time being come wherein the Great Council at Villenort was appointed to meet there came thither accordingly King Edward with his English Nobles as did also all his Friends and Allies in the Empire and in Flanders namely the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Hainault and the Lord John his Uncle the Marquess of Juliers Earl of Cambridge the Lord Robert of Artois the Earl of Mons the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord of Valkenberg the Earl of Namur Sr. William of Dunort and Jacob van Arteveld with many other Great Personages and three or four Burgesses from every good Town in Flanders In this Parliament there was a perfect Union Alliance and Concord made between the Three Countries of Flanders Brabant and Hainault that from thenceforward each of them should be aiding and assisting to the other and that if any one of them should either make War against or be warred upon by any other Prince or State thon the other two should take the Part of the Third And that if any Quarrel happen between any two of the foresaid Countries then the Third should be taken as Umpire in the case and if so they should not be able to adjust Matters fully then the whole to be left to the Decision of the King of England to whom the last Appeal was to be made And in Confirmation of this Triple League there was a Law Ordained and Established to be common and current thrô the whole Three Countries which was named the Law of the Allies Here also it was determin'd that two Compleat Armies
no less than Rebellion Thô six years after the King being appeas'd he was again received into Favour and restoration of all his Lands made unto him The Archbishop of Cantorbury had surely felt as hard Measure as any of them if not worse But by meer chance he was then gone from Lambeth and when he understood what indignation he had incurr'd wisely kept aloof till the Storm was over As we shall shew at large hereafter Certainly k Holinshead ibid. p. 913. at this time the Kings Mind was beyond Measure exasperated against those whom he had intrusted to levy Monies here in England and to send it over to him into Flanders Because thrô their Neglect when he was just upon the point of obtaining Tournay he was forced to accept of a Dishonourable Truce as Himself complains in his Letters which we shall see by and by And truly 't was a great Pity if thrô the Avarice Fraud or Treason of his Officers at home these things happen'd thus For he was thereby enforced as it were to consent to lose the fairest Opportunity and to let a certain Victory slip thrô his Fingers even then when his Friends were yet uncorrupted and in Presence And verily I doubt not but this was an Occasion which made the Emperour and the Lords of Germany for the most part to fall off from him shortly after Because they saw his Money come in so slowly at this great Exigence Wherefore not unreasonably doth honest Walsingham l Walsingh hist p. 135. n. 25. bemoan That so Worthy a Prince should from his own Subjects find such unworthy Dealing For as he truly adds if in very deed they had scann'd and exactly weigh'd with themselves the Acts of all the English Kings from the First Monarch to that Day they would not have found that ever this Island brought forth a Prince of such Mature Vertue at so unripe an Age he not having compleated 28 Years II. Now that we may State the Archbishops Case Right We are to take Notice that as he was at first a great Promoter of the Wars with France so lately m Antiq. Brit. p. 223. c. by the Perswasions and Threats of the Pope he was brought over to be at least cold in the Affair Whereby he mightily incensed the Minds of all Men against him who abhorr'd this Weakness and Inconstancy These things being known while King Edward lay before Tournay Henry Burwash then Bishop of Lincoln and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice who both when living secretly maligned the Archbishop inflam'd the Kings Mind more vehemently against him and laid to his Charge no less than flat Treason and that he had Conspired with the French King. Upon these Presumptions and urg'd by his Necessities the King as we shew'd came Incognito into England and Landed about One in the Morning at the Tower of London without the least Rumour or Suspicion any where gather'd of his Arrival There a Council of those about him being held it was at last resolv'd that the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Chichester Chancellour of England and the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield Treasurer with others abovenamed being forthwith taken up by the Kings Guard and Officers into Custody should be brought before the King to render an Account of what they had done in his Absence In the Morning early certain of the Guard were at Lambeth but the Archbishop by chance had gone thence the day before Whereupon the Officers returning over the Water to London took up the Bishops of Chichester and Coventry with the rest abovenamed and brought them away to the Tower. This being nois'd abroad the Archbishop hies him to Canterbury but is follow'd by Sr. Nicolas Cantilupe who being sent by the King together with one John Faringdon a Publique Notary to Register Notes of what should be done with the Archbishop in the Kings Name warn'd the said Archbishop That whereas he had bound himself to Foreign Merchants under Penalty of forfeiting his Goods to see such Summs of Money paid as the King had borrow'd for the Maintenance of his Wars and that the King being disappointed of those Moneys for the receiving whereof he had put his entire Confidence in him had met with an Interruption in his Warlike Affairs and the Kings Army with the Lords of the Realm there present had been reduced to a want of things Necessary for War He would now either presently pay that Money to those Creditors who perpetually call'd upon the King and his Lords or would go into Flanders there to Answer the Creditors in Foreign Court and deliver himself up into their Custody till the whole Summ for which he had bound himself should be discharged This Message being thus deliver'd the Knight in presence of the Notary demanded an Answer The Archbishop said that he must deliberate in Matters of that Moment before he could give in his Reply whereupon the Knight withdrew And now when the Archbishop saw how he was not only in Danger of losing all his Fortunes but also his Life and Good Name he began roundly to deal with the King by his Letters advising him to take unto him better Counsellors to beware of Flatterers and Misreporters of other Mens Lives and Actions and being engaged in Wars abroad not to disturb the Peace at home But when by these Letters and other Suasory means he could not pacifie the King he began from the Pulpit to Preach unto the People concerning his Integrity and Fidelity both to the King and Kingdom Insomuch that having call'd an Assembly of the Clergy and Layety together in the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury he took his Text out of the n Ecclesiasticus c. 48. v. 12. Apocryphal Scriptures Non pertimuit Principem Potentiâ nemo vicit eum And here in a long and various Drscourse he commended Thomas Becket once Archbishop of Canterbury who withdrew himself from Secular Affairs to the Government of his Church But he blamed himself for that laying aside the Care of his Flock he had been wholly taken up in Menaging the Kings Affairs The Punishment whereof he declared with Tears that for his Merits towards the King and Kingdom being brought into Envy and Danger of Death he now most justly suffer'd But for the future he promised to be more Diligent in the Government of his Province Sermon being thus ended he published certain Articles of Excommunication intending thereby to Guard himself from the Kings Power with the Dreadfull Ceremony of Bell Book and Candle the Bells Ringing Dolefully and the Candles being suddenly Extinguished with a Stench In these Articles all such were Excommunicated as should disturb the Peace and Tranquillity of the King and Kingdom all Layicks who should lay Violent Hands on the Persons Lands Goods or Houses of Clergymen all those who should violate the Liberties of the Church all who by any device should lessen the Privileges granted to the Barons in Magna Charta all who should raise
that of the Wise Man g g Ecclus c. 11. v. 5. Many Tyrants have sat on the Throne and a Man unthought on hath wore the Diadem The Sword being thus in the Hands of Madmen not thrô any proud Arrogance or Disobedience but by wisely * * Currenti cedende Furori yielding to the Course of Fury we have hitherto defer'd our Access to You that just Fear excusing us which might fall upon the most Resolute being notwithstanding ready to obey your Majesty in all things the Honour of God and of Holy Church and of our own State and Order being always in all points preserved But truly in the mean while during the Power of these Tyrants to the rooting out whereof let Him that ariseth from on high vouchsafe to assist You that the word of the Wise Man may be fulfilled h h Wisd c. 16. v. 4. For it was requisite that upon them exercising Tyranny should come Penury which they could not avoid Lest the clamour of our Infamy should grow higher to the manifesting of our Innocence we answer to the Articles contained in those Letters or infamous Libels not sophistically but truly in form following viz. For the Beginning of your foresaid Letters The Archbishops Answer to the first Article or of the foresaid infamous Libell being full of Reproach containeth That your Majesty being formerly exalted to the Royal Throne in the Years of your tender Youth and desiring at your first Vndertaking that Princely Charge to be directed by wholesom Counsel did make use of our Spiritual Advice in matters concerning the Health of your Soul and also of our Temporal in Affairs relating to the Augmentation and Conservation of your Kingdom And that afterwards when by Right of Succession the Realm of France was devolved unto You and by the Lord Philip of Valois de facto manifestly usurped we perswaded You by our Importunities to make a League with the Lords of Almain and Others for the Recovery of your Right and that You should only take care to provide Men of Courage and Skill sufficient for the War because we would effectually supply you with Monies for the Necessities of You and Yours and for Wages for the Army And because You altogether wanted this due Assistance you were fain to submit to the heavy burthen of Vsury To these things most Excellent Prince even thô we hold our Tongues and speak not a word the notoriety of the Fact knows how to give a fit Answer For in the beginning of your Reign while we presided over the Church of Winchester by whose Counsel your Majesty was directed is known to the whole Kingdom For He who is ignorant of nothing knows that when the Question about the Kingdom of France after the Death of King Charles the Brother of your Serene Mother i i Vid. l. 1. c. 2. §. 2. p. 28. was handled and discussed in the Parliament then held at Northampton and it was thereupon ordained that the Bishops of Worcester then now of Winchester and of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and in your Name claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois who according to this Ordinance taking then upon them the Legation enjoyned them went into France which very Embassy gave the greatest Occasion of this present War we had at that time no concern in the Government of You or of your Youth as others had who directed You both in Spirituals and Temporals because neither as then did we any ways intermeddle in the Kings Business but remained at Court for what cause God knows hated by all the Courtiers But afterwards in times of Unity since it pleased Your Majesty that We also together with others of Your Council should confer about Your Affairs toward the Establishing of Peace between the two Realms of England and of France considering the Perils of Souls Bodies and Goods that were impending from the Devouring Gulf of War We labour'd with all Our Power and to that end frequently crossing the Sea not without many Dangers Toyls and vast Expences We together with other Prelates and divers Peers of Your Realm have sought the Personal Presence of the said Philip and have effectually offer'd him We say not Measure sufficient enough but even running over as before this it hath been known for the obtaining of Peace But the said Philip like the Deaf Adder stopping his Ears and not willing to hearken unto Us there were sent unto him on Your Part two Spiritual Ambassadors to wit the Bishop of Durham and of Worcester then now of Winchester for the obtaining of his Peace And another time the Lords Henry of blessed Memory Bishop of Lincoln and William Mountagu and William Clinton now Earls of Salisbury and of Huntingdon who yet could neither obtain Peace nor any delay from War But while the said Ambassadors were yet in the Parts beyond Sea the the said Philip of Valois presently sent divers Commissions to all his Maritime Coasts to kill and destroy the Men and Ships of England wheresoever they could be found at Sea and with all Expedition sent an Armed Band to Invade your Country of Gascoign And so the War being begun by the said Philip and not by Us according to the deliberation of Your Parliament at Westminster Summon'd on that Occasion and not on Our Account only but on the Account of the great Cruelty and Obstinacy of the Haughty Mind of the said Philip who Invaded the English and refus'd all manner of Agreement and for the obtaining of Your Right in the Realm of France which was wickedly Usurped by the said Philip it was Ordained and Agreed that an Alliance should be struck up with the Almains and others But as for the Wages in this part to be paid to Your Forces in a certain Council then for that end called at Stamford there were certain Agreements made with certain Merchants of Your Land We being present the Form whereof may plainly appear in Your Chancery Which if they had been observed together with other Subsidies given by the Clergy and People to the Aid of Your War and the great Customs of Woolls not only in our Opinion but in the Judgement of all Your Counsellours would have sufficed for this whole War. And Your Majesty well knows that the foresaid Agreements were neither Violated nor Changed by Us and that the Subsidies by no means came to our Hands If then any Misfortune happen'd for want of Money for which We are sorry this is to be wholly imputed to those who brake the said Agreements and wickedly wasted and embesel'd the said Subsidies and not to Us who bore the Burthen and Heat of the Day and especially for this Cause that after Your first Crossing the Seas We have made no long abode in this Kingdom But with the Reverend Fathers the Lords Cardinals and the Bishop of Durham We went into France for the Reformation of the
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annu◠Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
abated But by this time his House was so broken up that near upon four Hundred Persons were enter'd in one of whom named Thomas Dennis gave him his Deaths wound thô others say that a certain Cobler whose Father Jacob van Arteveld had formerly caused to be slain followed him so close as he was fleeing into a Stable where his Horses stood that overtaking him he clove his head in sunder with an Ax so that he fell down stark dead upon the ground Thus Jacob van Arteveld who by his Popular Air his Policy and Wisdom had arrived to the most absolute Government of all Flanders was by a sudden turn of Fortune miserably slain on a m Holinshead p. 927. Sunday in the afternoon being the * B. Dom. Lit. Labbè ad hunc an 17 of July There accompanied him in his Death ten other Principal Persons of his Council among whom were a Brother and a Nephew of his besides as many of the Welchmen as made Resistance to the Number of 70 in all the Rest being spared in respect to the King their Master got away safe unto him again as he lay at Scluse waiting for other kind of News than what these Men brought him VI. As n Frois c. 115. for Lewis Earl of Flanders who was then at Dendermonde a City of that part of Flanders which belong'd to the Empire he was very well pleas'd when he heard of the Death of this his old Enemy And yet for all that he durst not put any entire Confidence in the Flemings nor venture as yet to go to Gaunt But when King Edward heard of it he was infinitely displeas'd at the loss of so serviceable a Friend and immediately departed from Scluse and took the Sea again grievously threatning the Gauntois and the whole Country of Flanders and vowing that his Death should be dearly Revenged But for that time he returned into England The People of Flanders expected no less for now when the Murther was known abroad among all the good Towns of that Country they seriously began to consider how ill King Edward would in all likelyhood resent this Matter wherefore in time they determin'd to go and excuse themselves before him especially the Burgesses of Bruges Ipres Cassel Courtray Oudenarde Antwerp and Franker And it was high time for them so to do for the Parliament of England had o Sr. Winston Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 24. already made their humble address to the King to break the Peace with Flanders Presently therefore they sent after the King into England to request his safe Conduct that they might come according to their Duty to make their excuse And this the King at last yielded to his first fit of Passion being blown over So that about Michaelmas certain Burgesses of the best Quality came from all the Towns of Flanders except Gaunt only for as yet the King would not permit any of them to see his Face The Rest were introduced before the King then at Westminster where they humbly excused themselves of being any way accessory to the Death of Jacob van Arteveld and sware solemnly that they knew nothing of the Matter till it was done and that if they had he was the Man whom to the best of their Powers they would have defended and that they were extreamly concerned for his Death for he had governed their Country very Wisely and to their great Advantage They added further that the Gauntois themselves who had done this barbarous Act should make satisfaction therefore And they told the King and his Council that althô this Man was Dead yet the King of England was not a jot fallen in the Love and Fidelity of the Good People of Flanders as he should find in all things except what pertained to the Inheritance of Flanders which they said the Flemings were resolved by no means to presume to give away from the Right Heirs They said also to the King Sir You have a Fair and Noble Progeny both Sons and Daughters and as for the Prince of Wales your Eldest Son he cannot choose but be a great Prince without the accession of Flanders But then Sir You have a Young Daughter and We have a Young Lord the Earl's Son who is the Heir Apparent of Flanders and he is now in our Custody So that if it please You to make a Match between a Daughter of Yours and this Lord the Earldom of Flanders will be for ever after in the hands of your Posterity From these words of theirs we are to observe a Mistake of p Mez. p. 24. Mezeray's who tells us how they offer'd King Edward a Daughter of their Earls to be Married to his Son the Prince of Wales when as we can find no Daughter that Lewis had nor could such a Marriage have signifi'd any thing to the Prince of England when there was a Son also living who was to inherit Flanders and besides before this Offer a greater Match had been q Sandford p. 184. ex Pat. 19. Ed. 3 p. 3. m. 11. this Year proposed between the Prince of Wales and a Daughter of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal The Flemings also added at the same time how r Holinshead p. 927. they doubted not to perswade the Earl their Lord to do Homage unto the King of England till when they promised not to receive him These and the like Protestations somewhat pacified the Kings displeasure so that soon after the League between England and Flanders was renewed and the Death of Jacob van Arteveld was quite forgotten Thô he left a Young Son Philip behind him who after King Edwards Death became as Great in Flanders as ever his Father had been and by involving those People in new Combustions occasion'd a severe Revenge of his Fathers Blood by the Lives of many thousands of the Flemings As may be seen in the Stories of Flanders and particularly in the second Volume of Froisards History However the Earl of Flanders would by no means consent to make his Homage to the King of England but remain'd still firm to the French Interest and Title whereby his Troubles continued till the next Year he lost his Life fighting against the English in the Famous Battle of Cressy to which we are now hasting VII About this time ſ Frois c. 116. vid. Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 155. Prince William the Young Earl of Hainalt Holland Zealand and Friseland King Edwards Brother in Law having also met with some Rebellion among his Subjects both of Holland and Friseland resolved to reduce them both to a sense of their Duty and first he went and laid Siege to Vtrecht in Holland where one Robert van Arckell was Governour against him after a long Siege he wan the Place and took his Pleasure of his Enemies making t Eng. Atl. ibid. five Hundred of the Principal Citizens come forth bare headed and bare footed and beg his Pardon And shortly after in the Moneth of * Giov.
Villant p. 862. l. 12. c. 53. September he went from Dort in Holland with a great Fleet of Valiant Souldiers gather'd from Hainalt Flanders Brabant Holland Guelderland and Juliers to take Revenge of his Rebells of Friseland For he claimed to be Lord thereof and it was indeed his by Right if the Frisons had not been of Barbarous and Unreasonable Principles But here at last it was his ill Fortune to be met by the Frisons in a narrow passage near Staveren where being unknown he was presently slain before any of his Friends could come up to his Assistance He was a Prince of high Merit and a most Famous Souldier whereof for the short time he lived u Tâ—â—e's stcrehouse p. 721. he gave many good Testimonies in his Wars against the Saracens and Moors in the Kingdom of Granada and against the French in the behalf of his Brother in Law the King of England also in his Victories in Lithuania and Livonia and against the Russian Infidels where he loaded himself with Honour and his Men with spoil and booty Lastly in his Conquest of Vtrecht and his frequent Victories over the Frisons till this unhappy encounter wherein he lost his Life He died without Issue whereupon he was succeeded by his Eldest Sister Margaret the Empress whose Son William of Bavaria was Earl after her Decease Which William Married the Lady Mathilda Daughter to Henry Plantagenet now Earl but then Duke of Lancaster by whom yet he had no Issue There was slain at the same time with this Young Valorous Earl of Hainalt his Sisters Son William x Giov. Villani p. 862. c. Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge a Lord of great Power and Valour and while he lived a sure Friend both to him and King Edward His Uncle Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont was y Frois c. 116. not in Friseland at the time of this woefull chance but soon after coming thither when he was told of the Death of his Nephew he rag'd like a Man distracted and would immediately have taken the Field against the Frisons But he was hinder'd by his servants and especially Sr. Robert Gluves who was his Armour-bearer and by a Dutifull Violence forced him into his Ship against his Will. So he return'd into Holland with a small Company and came to St. Geertruydenberg where he found the Young Lady his Niece late Wife to the said Earl named Joan the Duke of Brabant's Eldest Daughter who being informed of this heavy loss went and lived disconsolate in the Land of Binche about three Leagues Eastward of Mons z Vid. c. 10. §. 6. p. 114. which had been assign'd her for her Dowry The Government of Hainalt was menag'd by the Lord John till the Empress Margaret his Niece came thither to take Possession in her own Person VIII After this News was spread abroad in France King Philip whom it became to be vigilant about this own Advantage began to think how he might bring over the Lord John of Hainalt to his Side now the Earl was dead with whom since his Invasion of his Lands he could never have hopes of Reconciliation But the Lord John's Resentments he knew were not so deep wherefore he spake to Guy Earl of Blois who had married the Lord John's Daughter and had by her three Sons Lewis John and Guy besides the Lord Charles whom he had by a former Venter to use his Interest with him to bring him over to the French Side and he himself also by his Royal Letters assured unto him greater Revenues in France than he had in England which he promised to assign unto him in Lands where he should think best himself But to all these Arguments the Noble Lord was wholly Deaf for he consider'd that he had spent all the slower of his Youth in the King of Englands Service and ever found great Favour and Love from him wherefore now he had no mind to leave him When the Earl of Blois saw there was no sixing on him this way he resolved to try another and first to win the Lord of Saginelles his Chief Companion and Counsellour and so by his means to work further upon the Lord of Beaumont This Man being soon gain'd as one that had no such Obligation to England it was agreed between him and the Earl of Blâ—is to make the Lord John believe that King Edward would no longer pay him his usual Pension but had absolutely refus'd upon Demand to pay it to his Use as he had been wont This Device took for the Lord John without enquiring into the Bottom of it was so displeas'd at this supposed Unkindness that he forthwith renounced his Service and Good-will which hitherto he had born to King Edward The French King hearing hereof sent immediately sufficient Deputies to him and chose him of his Council and retained him in his Service for War at certain Wages assigning him moreover in France as much Land or more than he had in England But to require the Loss of these four Friends of King Edward's Earl William his Uncle John the Marquess of Juliers and Jacob van Arteveld about a Frois c. 114. this very time came over to his Side the Couragious and Politick Lord Godfry of Harcourt Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother to John Earl of Harcourt He had been once as Dear to King Philip of France as any Lord of his whole Realm but on b Fabian p 271. Occasion of a Quarrel between his Brother and Sr. Robert Bertram Marshal of France which was hugely fomented by Partakers on both Sides he so greatly displeased King Philip that if he could have got him into his Power 't was concluded he had found no better usage than the Lord Clysson had done before But he having timely Notice from his Friends withdrew into Brabant to the Duke his Cousin by whom when all his Lands were seised on by King Philip he was advised to go into England and proffer his Service to the King there He did so and was welcome to the King who received him with large Demonstrations of Good-will and made much use of him in his following Wars And this Displeasure of his cost the Realm of France dearly especially the Dukedom of Normandy for there the sad Effects thereof were seen an hundred years after IX In the Close of the foregoing Year it may be remembred c c. 22. §. 1â— p. 312. how we spake of the Deliverance of John Earl of Montford who claim'd the Dukedom of Bretagne from Prison And that by Vertue of the Truce King Philip was obliged in a manner to give him his Liberty but it was done with this Proviso that he d â—â—bian p. 270. should not go into Bretagne nor make the least offer to intermeddle with the Affairs of that Country Notwithstanding this Tye of his Promise Earl Montford took the first Opportunity to make his Escape into England as he did about
Prince Lionel holds another in King Edwards Name at Westminster III. The Pope writes to the King of England to perswade him to Peace King Edward's Answer and Odoricus Rainaldus refuted IV. King Philip attempts to gain the Flemings but in vain The Earl of Flanders returning home is imprison'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England V. King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais VI. The Earl of Flanders by pretending a Compliance gets his liberty and escapes into France VII Two Frenchmen for favouring King Edwards Right put to Death at Paris VIII John Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel in Flanders IX The French make several Efforts to relieve Calais but fail The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. X. Sr. Robert of Namur tenders his Service to King Edward before Calais XI A short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of Durham XII An Account of the Affairs of Bretagne The Battle of Roche d' Arien where Sr. Charles of Blois is taken Prisoner by Sr. Thomas Dagworth XIII Roche d' Arien retaken by the French and the English Garrison put to the Sword by the Men of the Country XIV The French Navy intended to Victual Calais defeated The Calisians thrust 500 Poor out of the Town XV. And send a Letter of their Case to King Philip c. XVI The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philips Approach returns to the English Camp The French Kings Strength he desires Leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings besiege the Town of Aire but upon Philips Approach rise XVII King Philip comes to Sangate near Calais and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer XVIII Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair XIX The Manner how Carais was yielded XX. Calais settled by King Edward XXI A Truce betwen the two Kings King Edward returns for England XXII A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders XXIII Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case I. THE mean while King Philip of France AN. DOM. 1347. An. Regni Angliae XXI Franciae VIII having now about him his Son the Duke of Normandy with his Forces thô he had by this heard also of the great Loss that his Friend the King of Scots had suffer'd for his Sake was not able as yet to attempt any thing against his Enemy of England because of the Winter Season further than that he provided a Frois c. 140. Du Serres for the Cities of Picardy that lay nearest unto Danger and set Men of War in every Fortress in the Marches of Guisnes Artois Boulogne and about Calais But however being desirous to employ that Unactive time of the Year to the best Advantage that he might as well further the next Campagne as also seek the Advice of his Peers Lords and Commons of France he b Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 893 calls a Parliament of the Estates to meet together at Paris on the Palm-Sunday following which fell that Year c Lit. Dom. G. Pasch Kâ—l Apr. on the 25 of March or the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and so became a double Holy-day Requiring all the Barons Prelates and Commons of his Realm to assist him in Leavying a mighty Army against the King of England who lay as then before Calais For he said how he had sworn not to make a Peace or so much as a Truce with his Enemies untill he had taken full Revenge for the Loss he had received at Cressy and of the high Indignities which the King of England had put upon the Crown of France as well by Invading his Realm in Hostile Manner as now by holding a Siege before Calais Which Oath tho it could not be punctually observed yet prov'd a strong Enforcement to assemble together all his Barons Prelates Chief Burgesses and Citizens to his Parliament Here several Ways were in this Great Council devised to raise Mony for the maintenance of his Wars and leavying of two Formidable Armies For King Philip had long since in his Secret Council resolved to carry on the War against England with an High hand this next Campagne Himself intending in Person to go at the Head of one Army against King Edward to raise the Siege of Calais and at the same time to send his Son the Duke of Normandy with another mighty Army into England to attempt the Conquest thereof And upon this latter Point there had been an Ordinance drawn up and contrived called the Ordinance of Normandy of which we shall speak when we come to the English Parliament held at Westminster in the beginning of this Year Now for the Procuring of a sufficient stock of Money for the Kings Service d Du Serres p. 12. it was in this Assembly agreed first of all to call the old Treasures and other Great Officers and Ministers of State to an exact Account for Abusing their Places and embezling or converting to their own Use the Taxes and other the Kings Monies they had been entrusted with and to leavy and raise of all such Offenders Fines and Mulcts proportionable to their Offences And for the future to refer the Government of the Treasury to the most eminent Persons of the Clergy and Nobility thereby to free the People from suspecting that their Contributions were any more like to be ill employed Of this Affair the Abbots of Marmoutier and Corbie are chosen Superintendants to whom Four Bishops and Four Temporal Lords were joyned Assistants Monsieur Peter of Essars Treasurer of France is flung into Prison and condemned in a vast Fine to the King and together with him many other great Officers being condemned whether justly or unjustly yield up that at once for a satisfaction which they had been so long in heaping together the Golden Spunge of Oppression being now squeez'd by the Iron Hand of the Law. Then the Banquers Lombards and other Usurers are call'd to a strict Account for all their unjust Exactions upon the poor Subjects of France The interest is proved to exceed the Principall wherefore the Principal is adjudged forfeit to the King and the Interest to be remitted if not paid or if paid to be refunded to the Debtor who had borrowed the Mony upon such Interest and all the Bonds and Obligations therefore to be cancell'd and made void And yet after e Fabian p. 274. this Wipe the Usurers themselves were not released out of Prison without large Fines to the King. But the chief Honour of this Assembly was that the whole Body tenderly sympathizing with the Head was unanimous to serve the King with their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Crown and Dignity Wherefore at that time they leavied vast Contributions among themselves according to
his Cardinals in Council yet it is likely that they enjoy'd the said Benefit at last h Odor Rainal ad an 1350. §. 2. for it appears that soon after the same was granted to King Edward of England and to his Son Edward Prince of Wales to the Queens of England Isabell and Philippa and to Elisabeth Queen of Hungary II. The Jubilee began i Knighton p. 2602. n 29. vid Walsingh Hist p. 160. on the 25 of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasted until the said Feast of the Year following during the most part of which space especially about Easter Ascension-Day and Whatsuntide there was such a crowding rather than concourse of People at Rome k Vid. Matur Annot. ad D. Antenin Chron. p. 355. that Francis Petrarch who was then present says how it seem'd the late horria Plague had done little or no harm there came thither every day such Incredible Multitudes of Christian People from all parts of Europe Althö few or none went out of England upon that account except the l Dudg 1 Vol. p. 550. Lady Margaret Mother to William Lord Res of Hamlake King Edward m Knighton p. 26â—â— n. 30 40 50 c. expresly forbidding it as of ill Consequence to his Realm very considerable Sums of Money being necessarily on such occasions transported out of the Kingdom When the Pope understood this he sent his Nuntio's to the King of England desiring of him First that he would not hinder the Passage of those who desired to visit the Places of the Holy Apostles Item that he would grant a Truce that so the Earl of Lancaster might not act any Hostilities in Aquitain to the himdrance of those who desired to visit Holy Places Lastly that he would not hinder or permit to be hindred those who were promoted by his Bulls at the Court of Rome from receiving Benefices so incumbent on them To the first Article it was answer'd that the King being busied in his Wars did therefore Want to be Aided of what was his own and that it was necessary to provide for the Treasure of his Kingdom lest while the War endured it should be exported out of the Realm to the Prejudice of Him and of his Subjects And further as to this point the King caused to be proclaimed that all Englishmen as well at Rome as any other place beyond Sea should make haste to return home as soon as might be on pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods As to the second Article relating to the Truce it was answer'd that the King of France had often acted Hostilities during such a Truce upon the Lands of the King of England treacherously to the destruction of his People and contrary to the Conventions contained in the said Truce And as to the Third Article respecting the Provisors it was answer'd that the King would graciously receive Clergy-men making use of Papal Provision who were of good Condition and worthy of Promotion but not others And with this Answer the Popes Nuntio's returned III. About the n Vid. Odoric Rainald ad an 1349. §. 18. Albert. Argent in Chron. Ianquet Chron. ad an 1350. Walsing hist p. 160. Stow p. 246. same time there arose a certain Sect of People who were seised with a pious Frenzy and went about in several Parts of the World whipping themselves with four-corded Whips and Preaching Singing and Praying with much seeming Devotion but it proved no better than Hypocrisie or misguided Zeal at the best as may appear to any that shall consult the Places quoted in the Margin Wherefore the Pope wrote his Letters to the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany Poland Sweedland England and France enjoyning them to extinguish this Sect of Whippers and also to the several Kings that by their Kingly Authority they would uphold the said Prelates in this matter Particularly there are extant to our King Edward Letters from the Pope wherein he writes thus concerning the Rise of these Whippers o Tem. 8. Epist seer p. 104. apud Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 22. Latclym the Parts of Almain under the pretence of Piety and doing Penance there hath arisen a Superstitious and vain Generation and so having at large declared how they had been condemned by the Apostolick Decree and that Patriarchs and Archbishops had been enjoyned to pluck up that poisonous Plant which the Heavenly Husbandman had not planted he adds these Prayers Do You therefore ô most Dear Son not only drive away the same Wicked Persons if perhaps they should presume to come into your Kingdom out of the Limits of your said Kingdom but also that they may repent of their Follies and Errours and return to Modesty correct and punish them That so the Purity of the Catholick Faith may always shine forth and the leaven of the Malice of these Men may by your provident Care be taken away from among all your Subjects Dat. Avenion III Non. Decembris Anno Pontif VIII About p 〈…〉 p. 〈…〉 2â— b. Michaelmas this Year above an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Others Natives of Zealand Holland and Hainalt in the same blind Devotion passing thrô Flanders came into England and at London sometimes in the Cathedral of St. Paul sometimes in other Religious Places of the City made their procession all together being coverd from the Loins to the Heels with Linnen marked with Red Crosses before and behind and on their Hats all the rest of their Bodies being bare they had every one a Three-corded Whip in his hand well knotted wherewith twice or thrice in a Day they beat themselves on their bare bloody Bodies most cruelly Four of them singing all the while in their own Language and all the rest making up the Chorus King Edward thô he strictly forbad all others from joining with them inflicted no other Punishment on them than what was the effect of their own Folly seeing how severely they chastised themselves and knowing such Smarting Devotion could not hold out long if no manner of notice was taken of them I remember to have read q Vid. Diâ—gen Lâ—ert that when Diogenes the Cynick stood naked out of an Ostentatious humour in a very cold Season embracing a Pillar of Marble and all the People slocking about him pitied the poor Mans Condition the Divine Plato passing accidentally by told the Spectators If they really pitied him they should take no notice of him but pass regardless on and then they should see the Vain-glorious Philosopher make haste away and gladly â—un to a Fire In like manner these Enthusiasts when they saw none took notice of them and that but a few of the Common People afforded them any pity or respect the most part of them also flouting and deriding their Madness began to cool in their warm fit of Penance and at last vanished away as ashamed of their former folly Certainly the soundest and most effectual Devotion consisteth not
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
and Robbers and Delinquents against the Laws of his Kingdom and as such out of his Protection nor could he justifie them And further there is found rather an instance of King John's Insincerity in this matter for the same n Knighton p. 2619. n. 24. Author assures us that when the English Ambassadors were returning from Avignon having compleated their Business it was found out that King John contrary to his Oath had sent Letters into France importing That whatsoever he had agreed to for Convenience sake in the present Necessity of Affairs it was never in his Mind to part with one Foot of the Land of France unto the King of England And the Bearer thereof was taken at Sea and upon Search these Letters found about him sealed with King John's Privy Seal Upon notice of this double Dealing King Edward thought fit to confine him a little more closely and so first order'd him to be convey'd to Hereford Castle from whence the next Year o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 168. 1 Vol. p. 3â—â— Heimâ—â— Engl. Chron p. 964. Knightâ—n ibid. Ashmole p. 659. his Keeper Sr. John Kirketon was order'd to remove him to Somerton-Castle in Somersetshire where also for some time he remain'd under Custody of the Lord William Deincourt and Sr. William Colvile who therein supplied the Place of his Brother the Lord Robert Colvile he being indisposed at that time And lastly he was removed thence to the Tower of London his Son Philip being constantly with him But as we said before these Removes were made the next Year when King Edward was in France III. The mean while as if all the Vials of Gods Wrath were now to be poured out all together upon that unhappy Prince's People there arose in France another Plague more terrible than any hitherto mention'd For whether on occasion of the Oppression of the Great Men or the intoâ—erable Presumption of the Poor soon after the Deliverance of the King of Navarre p Frois c. 182. f. 88. c. Mezeray Da Serres c. a sort of Rascally Clowns began their seditious Assemblies in Beauvoisin and Brie about Soissons and the River of Marne which threatned a total Destruction to all the Nobility and Gentry of France For they prov'd just such Levellers as some twenty three Years after in the Days of King Richard II Wat Tyler and Jack Straw were here in England At first they were not passing an Hundred or such a matter who gathering together out of the little Villages without any Head or Captain and being met somewhere in Beavoisin said among themselves How their Nobles Knights Esquires and Gentlemen were a shame and burthen to the Land and that it would be as laudable to destroy them for their Villany as profitable for their Wealth And they all cried out that it was true and said with one Voice A shame on him that doth not his best to root out all the Gentlemen of the Land. Being thus suddenly gather'd and agreed without either Captain or Weapons except what their own ungodly Madness armed them with as Prongs Staves and the like they went forthwith to a Knights house hard by which having broke up they slew him and his Lady and all his Children great and small and fired the House upon them which done they proceeded to another House a Castle where they took the Captain thereof a Knight and bound him fast to a Stake and ravished his Wife and his Daughter before his Face and then slew the Lady and her Daughter and the rest of his Children and lastly tormented the Knight himself to Death and burnt and beat down the Castle the like whereof they did to several other Castles and Gentlemens Houses And still as they went on they encreased like a rowling Snow-ball so that presently they were grown to above 6000 in Number for all ungracious Villains like themselves fell to them Wherefore all the Gentlemen about the Country with their Wives and Children fled away before them ten or twenty Leagues off for their better Security leaving both their Houses and Goods at the discretion of these base Rascals Thus did this disorderly Multitude range about robbing and burning of Houses Palaces and Mansions murdering and tormenting all Gentlemen they could lay their hands on and ravishing young Ladies and Gentlewomen and committing such horrid Villanies as can hardly be imagin'd And he of their Company who was most daring and exquisite in Câ—uelty and Wickedness had the highest Esteem among them At first they had no Head to follow or obey but now there was found among them one Jaques of Clermont in Beauvotsin who was so diabolically excellent at these Damnable Inventions of doing Mischief that as the most ungracious of all they chose him for their King and Captain naming him Jaques the Good-Man And thence their whole Tribe obtain'd to be called q Cotgrave in his Dictionary says they had the name of la Jaquerie or les Jaquiers from a short Country Jacket worn in those days 〈…〉 hâ—c arridet Opinâ—e the Jaquerie This incarnate Devil of a King having first cruelly slain a Noble Knight of those Parts caused him to be spitted and roasted at a Fire in sight of the Lady his Wife and Children and after that ten or a dozen had in most shamefull manner violated the Lady they compelled her to eat her Husbands Flesh and then put to Death both her and her Children And at this rate they raged and prevailed in Beauvoisin about Corbie Amiens and Mondidier destroying and burning more than threescore good Houses and Castles And at the same time the like Fury seised the Peasants and other villanous Wretches in Brie and Artois but especially in Brie so that all the Ladies Knights and Esquires of those Parts were fain to fly away to Meaux on the Marne for their Defence And among them were the Dutchess of Normandy and the Dutchess of Orleans the one Sister in Law and the other Daughter in Law to King John with several other Ladies and Gentlewomen all who were obliged to fly thither for preservation of their Lives and Honours And all the Country on each side the Marne as between Paris and Noyon and about Soissons and Cressy en Valois and on the other side as far as Mortmireil and Espernay was overrun by these Wretched Creatures and more than an hundred Castles and strong Edifices belonging to the Nobility and Gentry utterly defaced and ruined Wherefore the Gentlemen of Beauvoisin Corbois and Vermandois being alarum'd at the horrible Outrage of these People sent to their Friends in Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Luxemburgh for their Assistance Whereupon being speedily re-enforced they took Courage and rode about the Country in strong Bodies and whereever they met with any of these ungracious Levellers they slew them without Mercy and hanged them on the trees in Clusters and surely it was high time to take them up for if they had all been joyned together they had
but only as one who had the Gift of expounding those Ancient Prophecies and from them to shew unto all Christian People the very Years and Times when such and such things should happen According to which his Expositions many wonderfull and unexpected Accidents did really fall out in those times which he had limited He wrote many Books full of much Learning one whereof came forth in the beginning of the Year 1346 wherein were written such marvellous Predictions that they almost exceed Belief thô the Event declared them to be reall As for Example propounding therein a Question to himself What was to be the Issue of these Wars and Commotions in France he answers That all which had been already was not to compare to what should be seen hereafter For says he the Wars in France shall not be ended till the Realm be in a manner wholly exhausted and left Desolate and that from the Years 1346 1347 1348 1349 unto the Year 1360 c. The Princes and Gentry of the Land should be afraid to shew their faces among the People of low Condition assembled out of all Countries without any great Head or Captain who should do in France after their pleasure Which saying we have already seen most evidently fullfilled as well in those Robberies and Insolencies of the Companions as in the Rise and Progress of the Jaquerie not to mention the Wars of King Edward and the Seditious Tumults raised by the Parisians and the King of Navarre whereby that Kingdom seem'd to be reduced to the last Extremity IX Upon all which Considerations the d Frois c. 211. fol. 104. b. Duke of Normandy who was still at Paris with his two Brethren and their Uncle the Duke of Orleans began now with his Council to weigh the Matter more maturely They all well knew the Courage and fierce Resolution of the King of England and that he daily added to the already-insupportable Miseries of France whereby it evidently appear'd that it was impossible for the Realm to subsist much longer without some considerable Respiration For all the large Rents and Revenues both of Church and State were already either quite lost or hugely impaired So that the most Wealthy in Lands could make little or no Advantage of them And moreover it was known how King Edward intended before Autumn to return to the Siege of Paris having sworn never to leave France till he had brought her to his Dovotion Wherefore it was resolved by the Duke of Normandy and his whole Council that King Edward must be apply'd to for a Peace and some advantagious Offers in order thereunto be made unto Him. There was now in Court at Paris a Reverend and Discreet Personage the Chancellour of France named William Aiscelin de Montegu Bishop of Tercüenne by whose Direction most of the Publique Affairs had lately been Order'd for his Advice was always sound both sound and faithfull With him were associated two other Sage Prelates Androine de la Roche Abbot of Cluigny and Father Simon de Langers These Reverend Persons upon their Remonstrance of the necessity of Affairs at that time went from Paris by Consent of the Duke and his Council and together with Sr. High de Geneve Lord of Autun followed after King Edward with certain Articles of Peace whom they found in Beauce riding toward Gaillardon Immediately they addressed themselves unto him with all humility desiring him for the Love of God to permit them once more to hold a Treaty in order to a Peace between France and Him and their Allies The King expecting now more large Offers granted their Request and so a Treaty was enter'd upon between them and the English Commissioners Edward Prince of Wales Henry Duke of Lancaster and others but surely those Authors who make Roger Earl of March one of their Number are widely mistaken for he died as we have shewn at least above a Month before viz. on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy being then Marshal of the Kings Army This Treaty was e Frois ibid. held closely for some time but all the while King Edward kept on his March as he thought fitting yet still the French Commissioners would by no means leave him but rode along after him and prosecuted their business with all the application imaginable For they saw the King their Master was in Prison and his Realm so harassed on all hands that there was no hope left without a Peace could be purchased On the other side King Edward is said to have demanded such high things and so prejudicial to the Realm of France that the Regent's council could not in Honour admit of them So that all the while of the Treaty which lasted for about 17 days the Commissioners sent every day Post to the Duke of Normandy who lay then at Paris an account of the Progress they had made still desiring an enlargement of their Powers And this account of theirs was always secretly inspected and canvassed in the Regents Chamber and their Commissions further enlarged and sent unto them in writing Witnessed and Sealed by the Regent and his Council Honoratiss o Viro Dn o IOHANÌ„I PEAKE Militi Orphano trophy apud LONDON He spitoo Christi dicti Praesidi Meritiss nec non Digniss Dii Nathanaeli Hawes Armigero Esiâ—â—t Hospitii Thesau rario Relâ—â—uisque illâ—â—s Gubernatoribus Dioniss Colendissâ—â—isque Hanc EDVARDI Tertij â—iouram reluti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eduea â—ionis elim praebilae MonumentuÌ„ Gratus dicat Iosua Barnes Thus arm'd fierce EDWARD did his Troops advance Resolâ—â— to Wast 〈◊〉 Stubborne Realm of France But 〈…〉 Heaven stops his eâ—â—aged Hand â—nd loudly pleads in Thunder for the 〈◊〉 EDWARD â—bâ—uâ— his Great Greatâ—re 〈◊〉 To yield to Hearen is but to Conquer 〈◊〉 But God who holds the Hearts of Princes in his Hands and turns them like the Rivers in the South having also limited the bounds of all Success began to make King Edward know at this time that it was in vain to endeavour to resist his Will before whom Horse and Armour are but as Stubble and the Strength of the Mighty as a Thread of Tow when it toucheth the Fire For when the Duke of Lancasters Perswasion could not mollifie his Mind there fell a miraculous Adventure which was judged no other than the Finger of God himself and that wholly converted him But first the Duke who thô so renowned in War was for his many Heroick and Princely Vertues f Catal. of Hon. p. 324. called the Good Duke of Lancaster began one Day seriously to move the Kings Mind to accept of the French Proposals saying Sir the War which your Majesty hath thus long waged in France hath been as yet to all Men wonderfull and to your Self favourable and glorious But surely your Men only win Riches thereby and all the trouble and care and expence and hazard belong more immediately to your Person Sir this War is not only a Gulf to devour the
would not grant However King John tarried still in England disporting himself and taking his Pleasure in and about London and Westminster his chief Residence being at the Savoy at that time k Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. one of the Faitest Mansions in England belonging to the Duke of Lancaster And the late Duke Henry had bestowed no less than 52000 Marks thereon King David of Scotland came also to pay some part of his Ransome and hoped to prevail with King Edward to acquit him of the Remainder but he could not obtain that Point The King of Cyprus having purchased a Choice Band of English Gentlemen Volunteers and received many large Presents from King Edward l Frois c. 218. repassed the Seas with King Waldemar of Denmark in his Company and went to Boulogne and thence to Amiens where he found the Duke of Normandy and his Council by whom he was hugely caressed and related unto them his Success in England and how he had left King John in Health whereat they were all pleased Having been here a while he said That for all this he thought he had neither done nor seen any thing of Moment untill he should have seen the Prince of Wales adding that by the Grace of God he would go and visit him and the Lords of Poictou and of Aquitain The Regent approved of his Resolution but desired him at his Return to come thrô France and visit his Father whom by that time they expected from England King Peter promised to do thus much and so took his leave and rode toward Beauvais and passed the River of Seyne and so thrô Perche and Tourain over the Loire till he came to Poictiers where he was informed how the Black-Prince was at his City of Angoulesme The Prince was then busie in providing a Solemn Feast Justs and Tourneaments which he design'd to hold with Fourty Knights and as many Esquires for the Love of his Beautifull Princess who was just then brought to Bed of an Hopefull Son called Edward after his Fathers Name When Prince Edward heard how the King of Cyprus was coming to visit him he sent forth the Lord John Chandos with a great Number of Knights and Esquires of his Court to meet and conduct him forward which they did accordingly And so King Peter was honourably convey'd to Angoulesme where he was received by the Prince with all the Demonstrations of Joy and Respect imaginable He found himself also extream Welcome to all the Lords of England and of Poictou and Sainctogne such as were then at the Princes Court namely to Sr. John Chandos to Sr. Thomas Felton and his Brother Sr. William Felton Sr. Thomas Beauchamp Sr. Simon Burley Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Roger Delaware Sr. Richard Pountchardon Sr. Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Saintogne and many more besides the Lords of Aquitain as the Vicount of Thoüars the young Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay Sr. Guischard D'Angle and Others The King of Cyprus was highly feasted and caressed by the Prince and the Lords of his Court and when he had tarried there about a Month the Lord John Chandos rode with him thrô the Country to divert his Mind and shew him what was Curious and worth Observation He was Nobly entertain'd at Rochelle and other Places by the English Governors there and having visited the Country all about in the most Remarkable Places he returned again to Angoulesme at what time the Prince held the foresaid Solemnity in Honour of his Princess with great Pomp and Splendour and a Glorious Retinue of Men of Arms. The sight of these Mens valiant Justings made the King desire to have some of their Company along with him against the Infidels And so after the Solemnity of the Feast was over he accosted the Prince and the Lords of his Court shewing unto them distinctly the Principal Reason of his Coming thither namely How he had taken upon him the Red Cross which he wore and how the Pope had by his Authority confirmed it and what Honour and Privileges remain'd for those who should joyn with him in this Expedition and how the French King and the Lord Talayrand the Cardinal and divers other Great Lords and Princes had devoutly sworn to embarque in the same Enterprise Then the Prince and his Knights answer'd him kindly and said How truly it was an Expedition well worthy the Consideration of all Men of Honour and that by the Grace of God when once the Matter was enter'd upon and the Passage laid open he should not be alone but should find among them those that would be glad at any Rate together with Religion to advance their Honours With these Words the King of Cyprus was well pleased and so being laden with Gifts from the Prince and Princess he took his leave the Lord Chandos at the Princes Command waiting upon him to the Bounds of the Principality But the Lord m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Thomas n Iâ—â—reton Nâ—ttingh p. 116 ubi John male pro Thoâ—â—as Roos and divers o Walsing hist p. 174. other Stout Barons of England and Gascogne went quite thrô with design to aid him in the Wars in the Holy Land Being no less than 300 Select Horse Knights and Esquires besides Archers and others their Friends and Servants who at the request of the Pope hand Letters of Safe-conduct from the Governour of Dauphiné and le Viennois to pass without any molestation or interruption through those Parts Sr. James de Arteville being appointed with Ten Officers in his Company to guide and conduct them to the Limits of Piedmont V. The mean while King Peter having sent them before returned to Paris where he thought to have found the French King but he mist of his Expectation For that Prince was not returned out of England but lay dangerously sick at his Lodgings in the Savoy at London and every day grew worse and worse to the infinite Regret of King Edward and his Queen For all the Physicians agreed that his sickness was Mortal All this was not unknown to the Duke of Normandy who was at Paris being Regent in his Fathers Absence for the Lord Bouciquault was return'd from England to inform the Dauphin in what a Desperate Condition the King lay The King of Navarre also was fully acquainted with the News but was very little concerned at it for he hoped to make War more easily in France if King John should die and it is to be noted that this unquiet Prince p Mezeray p. 62 pretended a Right to the Dutchy of Burgundy which King John had already seised into his Hands but because the Inhabitants so earnestly desired a Duke of their own he designed to give it to his youngest Son Philip at his return out of England for he lov'd him the best of all his Children because he stuck so close to him at the Battle of Poictiers Being therefore desirous to take hold of the
Reason hath made War upon the King of Aragon and also upon the King of Navarre and would have thrust them from their Inheritance by force of Arms and indeed his unreasonable Cruelty to his Bastard Brethren have forced them in their own defence to take Arms against him till now at last by his own Demerits he is thrust out of his Kingdom Wherefore Sir You are to consider that what he now suffers are but as so many Rods and strokes of Divine Vengeance to chastise him and to set him as an Example for all Christian Kings that they may be afraid to do as he hath done With these Words or the like was the Prince advised before Don Pedro arrived at Bayonne and the Prince was well enough satisfied of the truth of what was laid to his Charge but this was the thing that he was chiefly moved at to see a Bastard usurp a Crown from the Right Heir and so the Fundamental Law of Succession to be broken which he look'd upon as a Matter of high Concern to all Kings and Princes and that so ill a Precedent was not to be suffer'd My Lords said he I verily believe that this Advice of Yours is Cordial and proceeds from a good purpose and I question not but that You all intend my Honour and Interest as much as in You lies Nor will I deny but that I am well informed of the Life and Manners of this King Don Pedro and also I know and believe that He has committed horrible Crimes without Number whereby he has reduced himself to this forlorn Condition But that which stirreth Vs up and gives Vs Courage to take his Part is this It is no way convenient that a Bastard should hold a Kingdom as by Inheritance and thrust out his Legitimate Brother true Heir to the Land. For this violent and unlawfull Interruption of Rightfull Succession is a Matter which no Kings or Kings Sons ought by any means to permit or so much as connive at Because it is of unspeakable Prejudice to the State and Dignity Royal and of evil Example Not to say that the King my Father and this King Don Pedro have for several Years been ally'd together by frequent and manifold Confederations So that by all means We are bound to assist him in case that he require Vs so to do Thus was the Prince disposed in his Mind and thus he answer'd his Council and they could by no means remove him from his purpose for he was more and more resolved upon the Matter VIII But when King Don Pedro was now come to the Prince himself and was with him in his City of Bourdeaux he raised much Compassion also in the Prince and confirmed him much more in his Resolution For he humbled himself before him greatly and offer'd him many Royal Gifts promising to make him Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Vrdiales and also to make his Son Edward King of Galizia and that he would present unto him and his Captains and Souldiers all his Goods and Riches which he had left behind him in the Realm of Castille because he durst not trust them under so small a Guard as his whole Retinue made But that they were in so sure Keeping that none knew where they were but himself And these Golden Promises especially pleased the Knights and Captains thereabout for most Men are moved by the consideration of Advantage but chiefly the Common sort of Souldiers who fight more for Booty than Honour Particularly Don Pedro declared publickly and solemnly before the Prince and his whole Council how Gratefull he would be and how he would not only be just but bountifull in satisfying every Man if the Prince would but undertake to bring him again into his Kingdom Then the Prince was advised to call together all his Barons throughout the Principality of Aquitaine and so Letters were written and Messengers sent forth and the Lords and Knights of the Country Summon'd in from all Parts as the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Cominges the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Carmaine the Captal of Busche the Lord of Cande the Vicount of Chastillon the Lord del'Esparre the Lord de Lescar the Lord of Rozen the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Mucidan the Lord of Courton the Lord of Pincornet and all the other Barons and Knights of Gascogne The Earl of Foix also was Summon'd in but he desired to be excused because of a disease in his leg which hindred him from riding however he sent thither certain of his Council to act and do as should seem requisite in his Name To this Parliament thus holden in the City of Bourdeaux came all the Earls Vicounts Barons and Wisemen of Aquitaine as from Sainctogne Poictou Quercy Limosin Gascogne and Guienne who being all met held a Council for three days about the business of King Don Pedro of Spain who was all the while present among them with the Prince his Cousin arguing and reasoning to confirm them on his side At last they advis'd the Prince to send into England to the King his Father to know his pleasure what was best to be done in that case So there were Four of the Prince's Knights pitch'd upon to do this Message to King Edward as the Lord Roger de la Warre Sr. Neale Loringe Sr. John Pamiers and Sr. Elias Pamiers and so for the present the Parliament brake up every Man returning home to his own place But King Don Pedro tarried still at Bourdeaux with the Prince and Princess who Honoured him and Feasted him Magnificently IX The mean while the Four Knights above named went on board and arrived safely at Southampton from thence they rode to London where they heard the King was at Windsor Being come thither they were extream Welcom to the King and Queen both for their Son the Prince's Sake and also their own for they were Persons of noted Worth and Honour Then they deliver'd their Letters to the King who open'd and read them and after a little pause upon the Matter said unto them Gentlemen go You for the present to your Lodgings and when I have confer'd with my Council I 'll return You an answer With these words the Knights were well satisfied and return'd the next day for London shortly after which the King also return'd to Westminster and with him the most and Chiefest of his Council as his Sons John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel William Montagu Earl of Salisbury the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Piercy the Lord Ralph Nevil and several others besides these Three Prelates Simon Sudbury Bishop of London William Edington Bishop of Winchester and John Bokingham Bishop of Lincoln By all these after a long and serious debate upon the Subject of the Prince's Letters and the Request which he had made unto the King his Father it was at last concluded to be a thing both just
of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lords of Cande De la Barde and Pincornet all who made heavy Complaints to the King how the Prince of meer Pride and Presumption would tread them under his Feet and raise new and unheard of Taxes upon their Lands which they said they would never suffer considering their Resort was to the Chamber of France Wherefore they humbly desired that the Prince might be summon'd to make his Appearance in the Parliament Chamber before the Peers of France there to Answer concerning those Grievances and Innovations which he had began to exercise against them The French King was not unwilling to entertain these Gascogners who thus required Justice of him as of their Sovereign Lord lest otherwise they should seek for Redress in some other place and so he should for ever lose the Sovereignty over them And on this account he at last condescended to their Request thô half against his Will for he could not but see that an open War would ensue thereby which he was very loath to move first at least without some plausible Pretence Besides at that time he saw his Realm not a little molested with the Companions and other Enemies and also he consider'd that his Brother the Duke of Berry with many others were still Hostages in England Wherefore he thought to deal wisely and get first his Hostages home and be fully provided of all things and to try the Hearts of the People thoroughly before he could absolutely resolve to summon the Prince of Wales And accordingly there were such subtle devices used that before any open Breach was made most of the Hostages got out of King Edward's Power as we shall see hereafter Particularly Prince John g Frois c. 244. Duke of Berry having received a private hint of these Matters obtain'd of King Edward to return into France and there to recreate himself among his Friends and Relations for the space of One Year but he order'd his Affairs so cunningly by his frequent excuses and the like that he drove off the time till the War was open and then he thought himself freed from all obligations of Returning And the Lord Guy of Luxemburgh Earl of St. Pol made shift by much subtlety to get into France without taking his leave of King Edward This Man was an Implacable Enemy to the English Nation so that he could neither endure to hear nor speak a good Word of them and now he urged on King Charles as much as he could to take the Gascogne Lords into his Protection for he verily believed that if once the Prince of Wales should be summon'd a War would most certainly ensue And to this Opinion of the Earl of St. Pol agreed several of the Chief Prelates Earls Barons and Knights of France who added how the King of England had not truly kept the Peace to which he had sworn and sealed according to the Tenor of the Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres and afterwards confirmed at Calais For they said it was manifest how the English had hated and molested the Realm of France more since the Peace was made than ever they had done before And Sir said they what We now averr You shall find to be true if it will please You to cause the Charters of the Peace to be inspected and read before You even such as the King of England and the Prince his Son are by Faith and Oath obliged to perform Hereupon King Charles to be the better enformed of all the Truth and that he might not suffer any Encroachment upon the Rights of his Realm caused all the Charters of the Peace to be brought into the Council-Chamber and heard them read over more than once the better to consider and weigh the Point and Articles therein comprised Among others there was found One Letter on which the King and Council stood most because it seem'd to speak more clearly and plainly of what they now look'd for the Tenor whereof ran thus viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine to all who shall see these present Letters Greeting Know that in the final and last Accord and Peace made between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King are contained two Articles comprised in the form following The First Where it is said how the foresaid Kings are bound to cause to be confirmed all the said Articles comprised in the Peace by the Bishop of Rome they to be deliver'd from the Court of Rome confirmed by Sentence touching the full Perfection and Accomplishment of this present Treaty unto each of the said Parties at least within three Weeks after the French King shall be arrived at Calais and also how to the intent that these Articles and Treaties passed may be more firm and stable there shall be made certain Bonds and deliver'd as followeth that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and their Eldest Sons such as should be devised by the Councils of both the Kings And also the said Kings and their Children and others of the Prime Nobility to the Number of Thirty on either Part should swear that they would strictly observe and cause to be observed to their Power all the said Articles accorded and agreed on and perform the same without fraud or deceit And also that both the Kings and all their Friends and Allies should do their utmost to bring all Rebels to Obedience according to the form and true Intent of the Peace And also that both the Kings should submit themselves and their Realms to the Correction of the Bishop of Rome to the end that he should oblige by Ecclesiastical Censures those who should otherwise refuse to comply with this Peace and Accord And further both the Kings and their Heirs by Oath and Promise should renounce all Graces and Absolutions of any thing herein agreed to by them And thô by Disobedience Rebellion or Force of any of the Subjects of the French King the said King should be hindred from performing all the said Articles yet neither shall the King of England nor his Heirs for all that make any War upon the Realm of France but both Kings shall joyn together to bring those Rebels to Obedience and to acquiesce in the said Peace and Concord And thô the Subjects of the King of England should refuse to yield up any Towns Castles or Fortresses which they held in the Realm of France and which by reason of the Peace ought to be deliver'd or what any other Cause should hinder that the King of England could not perform what he ought by reason of this Treaty to perform yet the King of France shall not make War therefore upon the Dominions of the King of England but both the Kings shall joyn together to reduce those Rebels to Obedience and by force to recover such Towns Castles and Fortresses and to
deliver them to whom they ought to be deliver'd And of this there should be made Obligations and Bonds as sure and perfect as can be devised as well by the Bishop of Rome and the College of Cardinals as by others There was also another Article in the same Treaty which ran thus Item In token and perfect Assurance that We desire and intend to have and to nourish perpetual Peace and Love between Us and our Brother of France We shall renounce and by these Presents do renounce all Graces and other Process of Deed against our said Brother his Heirs and Successors of the Realm of France and Subjects thereof and do promise swear and have sworn on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for Us and for our Heirs and Successors not to do nor suffer to be done either by Word or Deed any thing against this Renuntiation or against any thing contained in the foresaid Articles And if We do or suffer to be done the Contrary any manner of way which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and forsworn and incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We positively Renounce all Dispensations and Absolutions of the Pope and if any be obtained We will that they stand for nought be of no force nor avail Us in any manner of case And the more firmly to uphold the said Articles We herein submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Correction of the Church of Rome and Will and Consent that the Bishop of Rome confirm all the said Treaty and ordain Monitions and General Commands against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Universities Colleges or any other Bodies Politick or single Persons whatsoever they be in giving Sentence General of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to run upon Us or any of them as soon as We or They shall do or attempt any thing against the said Treaty in occupying or withholding any Towns Castles or Fortresses or any other thing doing Ratifying or giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or apertly against any of the said Articles And further We have caused our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales to swear unto the same and also our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Ulster John Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley together with our Right Dear Cousin Philip of Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and of Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Captal of Busche the Lord of Monferrant Walter Manny James Audley Roger Beauchamp John Chandos Ralph Ferrers Edward Spencer Thomas Felton William Felton Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John Mowbray Bartholomew Burwash Henry Piercy and divers others and also as soon as We can conveniently We shall cause to swear all our other Children and the Major part of the great Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles of our Realm of England In Witness whereof We have put our Seal to these Presents Given at our Town of Calais the 24 day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX Among many other Writings that had been made as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais when King John was there this said Chapter being one was chiefly now insisted on and was well read and examin'd by King Charles in presence of his Council and after they had spent their Thoughts thereon then the Prelates and Barons of France said unto him Sir it is most evident that the King of England and his Son the Prince have not duly kept the said Peace but have taken Towns and Castles and do still hold them to the infinite Dammage of this your Realm and they Ransom and Pillage your People because the Money for the King your Fathers Redemption is yet in part unpaid Wherefore Sir You and your Subjects have good Right and just Cause to break the Peace and to make War against England and to endeavour to take out of their hands all that they hold on this side the Water Also certain of his Council advised him secretly upon mature Deliberation Sir boldly undertake this War for there is good Reason You should so do For as soon as ever You have once open'd the War you shall see and find that all the Dutchy of Aquitain will turn to your side as well Prelates Barons Earls Knights and Esquires as the Burgesses of the Good Towns. You may see Sir how the Prince would have proceeded in raising of his Foüage but he cannot bring his purpose about and yet thereby he hath lost the Hearts of all Men for those of Poictou Rochellois Sainctogne Quercy Limosin and Rouvergue are of such a Nature that they can by no means love the Englishmen nor the Englishmen them they are so proud and presumptuous nor never did And besides all this the Princes Officers commit such Extortion among the People of Sainctogne Poictou and Rochellois for they take all at Random and raise so much in the Prince's Name that no Man is sure of any thing that is his own And further the Gentry and Chief Men of the Country are disgusted because they can attain to no Office of Dignity or Profit For the Englishmen and the Prince's Servants run away with all By such Words as these was the French King encouraged to begin the War and especially he was instigated and moved thereto by his Brother the Duke of Anjou who lay at Tholouse wishing nothing more than to see the War open For he could never endure the Englishmen because of such Displeasures as they had done Him and His formerly And frequently the Gascogne Lords would say to the King Most Dear Sir We are obliged to have our Resort in your Court wherefore we all humbly require that you would please to do us Right and Law and as you are the most Just Prince in the World let us have Justice against the great Extortions Grievances and Oppressions that the Prince of Wales and his Men have and would put upon us For Sir if you refuse to do thus much for us we must then seek some other Remedy elsewhere and shall be obliged to yield and submit our selves to the Jurisdiction of such a Lord as shall see We have Reason done us Whereby you will lose your Sovereignty over us for ever The French King who was extream loath to let them part as also he was doubtfull of embracing their Interest knowing that by them his Realm would receive much Strength and Advantage answer'd these Complainants very courteously Surely Gentlemen says he for want of Love and good Counsel you shall not need to make your Resort to any other Court but only to Ours But yet in a matter of this Consequence we ought to move with much Caution and Deliberation And thus the King drove them off for the space of well-nigh a Year but kept them still with him at Paris and paid for all their Expences and gave them many Rich Gifts and Jewels
stirr for any News that he heard for so the King his Brother had strictly charged him by no means to make any War against the Prince till he should receive express Order so to do And all the while this Politick King was getting together good Captains and Souldiers in the most secret manner that it was possible and particularly he wan to his side certain of the Companions whom he sent into the Marches of Berry and Auvergne permitting them to live there upon the Country something loosely that they might not be suspected for Friends but withall he commanded them to make no War upon the Prince till they had his express Word for it For he took all the Care in the world not to create the least Suspition that he intended a War till all his Designs against the Earldom of Ponthieu should be ripe Nor without cause For if the King of England could but have guessed that the French King would have broke the Peace he could have very easily prevented the Losses which he received afterwards in Ponthieu and especially he would have made such good Provision for the City of Abbeville and all the other Garrisons in that Country that he should still have kept the Soveraignty thereof maugre all the Power of France And yet at that time the Seneschal of that County for King Edward was a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Louvain who was in great Favour with the King his Master as he well deserved For he was so True Loyal and Couragious that he would rather have been drawn in pieces by wild Horses than consent to any thing that might reflect upon his Faith and Honour Yet not only he but King Edward and all others were deceived at this time by the overreaching Devices of the French King who the more to amuse King Edward had a little before sent over the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman to adjust Matters fully with him and his Council and these Men the better to conceal the Malice they intended complained of Wrongs done as they said unto them for they declar'd unto the King and his Council how on their Part the Peace was but slightly kept at the best not only by reason of the War which the Companions who were generally Subjects of England had kept in France for about six whole Years but also upon divers other Accounts whereat the King their Master had no small cause to be disgusted These Embassadors King Edward detain'd in England for about two Months during which time thô he expected to settle a right Understanding between the two Realms they only made many frivolous Complaints to delay time which almost tired the Kings Patience but they were not much concerned at that because they knew they did but follow the Commission they had from their Master However they u Walsing hist p. 177. 178. made unto the King a Present of certain Vessels of Choice Wines and other Gifts from the French King as a Token of his Brotherly Love and Good will. The mean while King Charles having understood for certain that the Inhabitants of Abbeville were willing to own his Interest and that the Wars were already open in Gascogne and all his Friends stood ready to strike as soon as ever they had the Word for it resolved now to put things to the issue Yet however either being secure of the Advantage he had by taking this Start of King Edward or desirous as far as he might to avoid all Reproach lest Posterity might cry shame of him if he should invade any of the King of England's Lands or the Prince's without Defiance he resolv'd by Advice of his Council to send and defie the King of England and all his Adherents and so he did by his Letters Sealed which to his great reproach he gave to a mean Valet to carry And yet before this even while King Edward was giving his Audience of Leave to the French Ambassadors he heard a Rumour that the French King had sent Men of War into Ponthieu and that he had notoriously broken the Peace by certain overt Acts of Hostility whereupon in great Indignation he bad the Ambassadors get them Home with their Deceitfull Presents to their Deceitfull Master and commanded them to tell him how he detested from his Heart and Soul the dishonourable and unprincely Falseness which he had shewn For which he doubted not by the Grace of God but to make him repent before long Away went the Ambassadors with all speed and at Dover they met with the Valet who was come with the Defiance from France the Substance whereof he secretly told them as he was enjoyned to do that they might make hast Home But for all that they x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 10. were met with upon the Sea by some Men of War belonging to Calais who knowing the War was already begun on that side by the Frenchmen set upon them and took away their Wines and other Presents which King Edward had refused to accept and brought them to Calais the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman escaping away to Boulogne IX A little before this the y Frois c. 246. fol. 149. Prince of Wales had sent Sr. Guischard Dangle to Rome whither Pope Vrban z Vid. Oder Rainald ad hunc aun 1367. §. 2. c. was then gone for some while to confer with his Holiness about certain Matters relating to Aquitain and having found the Pope very complying in all his Concerns about this time he returned homeward when being upon the way he heard for certain how the Gascogners and Frenchmen made War upon the Prince and had already invaded the Principality He was extreamly surprised at the News and began to doubt how he should get home without being entrapped by his Enemies however first he went to the Valiant and Noble Earl of Savoy whom he found in the City of Pignerol in Piedmont making War against the Marquess of Saluzzo The Earl entertain'd Him and all his Company very honourably and gave the Chief of them many rich Gifts especially to Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he respected more particularly for the sake of his Abilities in War of which he had heard ample Commendations Having here taken his leave as he drew near to France he heard more and more of the Difference between the Prince of Wales and the French King So that he saw it impossible for him to return openly into Guienne he was so generally known Wherefore he gave the Charge of his Company to his Son-in-Law Sr. John of Issoire and he himself being disguised like a poor Priest in evil Habit and on an old Hackney took another way and so at last with much adoe came safe to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him with much joy But 't is now time to return to this French Valet who after the departure of the Earl of Salebruche and Dr. William Dorman out of England rode strait for London Where
6000 Franks for such Provision and Goods as were left in the Castle So Sr. John Blondeau marched away with his Men to Angiers where as soon as he came thither he was arrested by the Governor of the City and clapt up close Prisoner in the Castle And 't is said that soon after he was one Night sow'd up in a Sack and flung into the River by the strict Command of the Duke of Anjou because he took Gold and Silver for his Castle which said he was able of it self to have held out an whole Year if need had been XVI However when the English Lords had thus received the strong Castle of Roche sur Yon toward the Limits of Anjou they set there a good Garrison and repaired what was out of Order and then went back to Angoulesme to the Prince and some took their leave of him for a while and retired to their own Houses Among others 't is said r Frois c. 260. c. that the most Valiant Lord James Audley Seneschal of Poictou going into fresh Quarters at Fontenay le Comte fell there sick and shortly after died to the great Regret of the Prince and Princess and all the Loyal Barons of Poictou And that his Obsequies were performed in the City of Poictiers the Prince Himself being present But this was a Mistake of Froisard's which yet he might easily fall into because indeed his Son Sr. ſ Ashmole p. 706. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 750. ex Lab in Offic. Principal Cantuar vecat Countney f. 121. b. James Audley died in Gascogne at this time upon which the Lord James Audley the Father with the Prince's leave retired into England where he lived many Years after and departed this Life not till the 73 Year of his Age namely on the first Day of April Anno Dom. 1386. which was the Ninth of Richard the Second having a little before made his Will at Heligh Castle wherein he appointed his Body to buried in the Choir of his Abbey at Hilton before the High Altar in case he should die in the Marches but if in Devonshire o◠Somersetshire then in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Excester before the High Altar However Poictou being thus by his Absence thô not by his Death deprived of her Grand Seneschal at the Request of all the Barons and Knights of that Country the no less Valiant Lord John Chandos at that time Constable of Aquitaine t Frois c. 262. f. 169. b. was now by the Black-Prince made Seneschal of Poictou and so he went forthwith and resided in the City of Poictiers and made many journeys against the Frenchmen and held them so short that they durst not ride near those parts but in great Bodies together XVII About this time the Vicount of Rochechoüart whom the Prince had for some Weeks held in Prison at the Request of his Friends in Poictou and others of the Prince's Council was set at liberty again and restored to all his Lands But whether he was all along false at bottom or whether the Prince's suspecting of him had exasperated him to that which else he had not thought on so it was that immediately upon his Delivery he went secretly to Paris to the French King and became his Liegeman and so returned into his own Country without the least notice taken that he had been at Paris But now having set all things in Order and placed Sr. Tibald du Pont a Valiant Breton in his Fortress he presently sent and defy'd the Prince of Wales and began to make War upon him XVIII This while John Duke of Lancaster the Prince's Brother having u Frois c. 263 c. well refreshed himself and his Men at Calais thought not to lie idle there any longer but rather to ride abroad and seek for some adventures in France So one day he left Calais with 300 Spears and as many Archers in his Company and passed by the Castle of Guisnes and rode beyond Ardres till he came to the Abbey of Liques where he found much prey and brought it away to Calais Another day he took the way towards Boulogne and destroy'd all the Plain Country thô at the same time Guy Earl of St. Paul and his Son the Lord Valeran lay within 8 Leagues of Boulogne in the City of Terouenne with a competent Number of Men of War But he stirred not althô he heard the English were abroad for he thought himself unable to deal with them at that time The News soon flew to the French King who was then at Rouën taking Care of the Armada which he was in all haste fitting forth to send against England as We said before how the Duke of Lancaster was come to Calais with a Mighty Power and how he made incursions daily into the French Pale At this sudden Alarum all his former Measures were broken and thô it had been Decreed by him and his Council that the Duke of Burgundy should as that very Week set sail for England now after some debate upon the Matter it was concluded how that Expedition should be laid aside for the Present and all the Men of War design'd for the Fleet should be led by the Duke of Burgundy toward Calais to resist the Duke of Lancaster who was then on that side the Sea. Wherefore soon after the Duke of Burgundy marched thence with all his Army taking his way toward the River Somme which he passed at Abbeville and so by several journeys he went to Montrevil and there and about Hesdin and St. Paul he staid for those that were behind XIX The Duke of Lancaster when he heard how the Duke of Burgundy was coming towards him was exceeding glad and began to march out of Calais with all his own Forces with design to meet him and encamped on the Mountain of Tournehan between Ardres and St. Omers Where he had been not passing a day but thither came x Frois ibid. to him the Noble and Valiant Knight Sr. Robert of Namur to joyn him with 300 Spears The Duke of Lancaster was very glad to see him and said unto him among other things My Dear Uncle You are heartily Welcome and Sir rejoyce with us for I hear for certain that the Duke of Burgundy comes on apace to fight us so that We shall not miss of Deeds of Arms. Sr. Robert reply'd Be it so Sir in the Name of God We would gladly look him in the Face Thus the English Army lay encamped on the Mountain and about the Vale of Tournehan having entrenched themselves strongly and fortify'd their Camp with Hedges and Ditches so that their Post was very advantageous and their Currours overran the County of Guisnes and the Sovereignty of Ardres for forage and what else they could get but they found little for all the plain Country had been destroy'd before and all things profitable convey'd into Places of strength Wherefore daily there came unto them Victuals and other Provision from Calais Soon after the
to go and joyn the Duke of Berry with all his Retinue of Men of Arms Knights and Esquires Whereupon he took the first opportunity of leaving Paris and took the way toward Orleans to go into Berry to the Duke And yet all this while the Companions on the French side kept the Field holding Frontier War against the English in Rouvergue and Quercy and did much Mischief daily in the Country thereabout as on the other hand Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton were ready on the Marches of Poictou to take all Advantages they could think on IX Against all these Preparations of France we shall see by and by what Provision the Black-Prince made but over and above all that King Edward who saw his own Honour and Right concern'd in this War made against his Son was as vigilant on the other hand and resolved to set forth two considerable Armies also on his part First he order'd his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster with 400 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers to go into the Principality of Aquitaine to his Brothers Assistance For he verily believed that the French King would turn the greatest stress of his Arms that way But yet by Advice of his Council he sent another Army into Picardy under the Command of Sr. Robert Knolles in this bearing testimony to the former Choice of the Prince his Son who had made that Great Captain one of his Generals And He for his part nothing puff'd up with the Approbation of two such Illustrious Personages went roundly and wisely about his business making haste to go as strong as he might for Calais thence to make an Impression into France in such a manner as to gain a Confirmation of the Esteem his Sovereign had for him by a pitch'd Battle with the French which he thought they would not refuse And that he might have the greater Authority the King gave him Commission to pardon Rebells and to treat with such as were willing to submit or to accept of Conditions or come to the Peace of the King as likewise the c Ashmole p. 675. ex Ret. Vasc 44. Ed. 3. m. 5. Duke of Lancaster on his part had another Commission to receive into Favour and wholly to pardon such of his Cities Castles Towns and Inhabitants as well in Aquitaine as other parts of France as should return to his Obedience and to do and exercise all Power given in his said Commission with the Consent of the Prince if Present and in his absence as the King's Lieutenant to do what the King himself could do if personally there And that Care might be taken in Civil Affairs the King reserving still to Himself the Sovereignty and Resort in those Territories sent a Blank d Dat. 10 Junii Ret. Vasc 44. Ed. 3 ibid. Commission for the Prince to insert the Names of such as he should think fit to appoint for Judges or Delegates to hear all Causes as well Criminal as Civil upon Appeals from the Prince's Court But of the Success of these Armies We shall speak hereafter About this time the Lady Isabella of Valois Mother to the Duke of Bourbon was deliver'd out of Prison in Exchange for Sr. Simon Burley by the menagement of Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt who as he had e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 95. obtain'd the good Fortune of Marrying the Young Widow of John late Earl of Kent became a perpetual servant to that Charming Sex which had so highly grac'd him So that by his obliging Deportment to this Lady of Bourbon he not only obtain'd her Good Word ever after but also thereby extreamly gratify'd the Duke her Son who in time found an opportunity to repay this his Kindness and moreover he gain'd no small Favour thereby from the French Queen her self who sent him a most Rich Present with her particular Thanks X. Now there f Frois ibid. had been for some time a Treaty on Foot between the French King and the King of Navarre who lay then at Cherbourg in Normandy For the King of France was advis'd by any means to make sure of that Inconstant and Troublesome Man and to bring him off from the King of England his Council telling him That it was no time to make War with the King of Navarre for he should find his Hands full enough with the business of England and that therefore on occasion he had better recede from a part of his Right to please that froward Prince than by leaving him in Discontent to set him upon Counsels highly Prejudicial to the whole Realm of France For if Navarre should once permit the English to enter his Fortresses of Cherbourg or Coutances which was much to be feared they might e'n do what they pleased in Normandy By these and the like Reasons the French King was perswaded to hold a good Correspondence with the King of Navarre even upon any Terms whatsoever So that going himself to Roüen he sent from thence unto him the Archbishop of that Place and the Bishop of Enreux the Earls of Alenson and Salebruce Dr. William Dorman and Dr. Robert de Lorraine who found him at Vernon a City of Normandy about Eight Leagues from Roüen on the other side the Seyne Here they were well feasted by the King of Navarre and on Security given obliged him to bear them Company back to Roüen where he was expected by his Good Brother the French King. And here in short Articles were drawn up the Peace made and all Former Alliances and Confederations with France renewed engrossed sworn to Signed and Sealed The King of Navarre at the same time renouncing all Obligations of Love and Friendship made at any time before between himself and the King of England and engaging upon his Return into Navarre to send and defie both the Prince of Aquitaine and his Father In sign of which new Agreement the King of Navarre went with full Confidence along with the French King from Roüen to Paris where again all former Obligations were renewed and mutual Faith and Friendship solemnly repeated not without many extraordinary Caresses Feasts and Entertainments After all which the King of Navarre took his leave of Paris having left his two Sons Charles and Peter with the King their Uncle as Pledges of his Faith and he himself not daring after this to go thrô the Principality rode to Mompellier whence he went into the Earldom of Foix and so came at last into his own Country where for a while We shall leave him XI It may be remembred how the Duke of Anjou for his part had undertaken to invade Guienne by the way of Agenois for he extreamly hated the Prince of Wales and the whole English Name and Nation He was now making his Rendezvous at Tholouse where he only tarried for Sr. Bertram of Clequin who came at last by the King of Spains leave and then Anjou began his March. At which very time the Duke of Lancaster went on board at
there was no English Army in those Parts able to fight Sr. Bertram or to raise the Siege they called a Council of War and concluded to treat with the Constable which they did so discreetly that they were permitted to go away with all their Goods and what they pleased to carry and were also conveyed safely into Limosin where they incurred no Blame of their Friends for what they had done Thus Sr. Bertram prosper'd in this Expedition and wan many Towns and Castles from the English before he return'd into France VIII But now 't is time to look at home and see how King Edward behaves himself in this juncture He for his part m M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 111. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. in the first Week of Lent being the Beginning of March held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster at the opening whereof William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted-Chamber before the King Lords and Commons how since the last Sessions his Majesty had defrayed a Mighty Mass of Money and had sent over considerable Armies for the Conquest and Recovery of his Own And that he had lately received perfect information of the Great Power which the French King had prepared therewith to drive him from his Inheritance beyond the Seas as also of his Vast Navy whereby he meant to Subject unto him the whole Realm of England of all which the King demanded their Counsel and Advice Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland Guienne and other foreign Places and Isles and Tryers also for the said Petitions At this time * Stow p. 268. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. the Clergy granted unto the King an Aid towards his Wars in France of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be paid that Year towards which Sum Chantry Priests were taxed according to their Annual Receits and also small Benefices which had not been taxed before And the Laity also Lords and Commons granted unto the King for the Use aforesaid the like Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be levied of every Parish within the Realm at the rate of 22 s. 4d. the greater Parishes helping out the less supposing according to the Common Opinion that there had been as many Parishes in England as would have sufficed to answer the said Sum. Wherefore Writs were directed into all the Shires in England that the King might be certified of all the Churches in every Shire and of their Number Upon which it was found that the said Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds might not be raised in that Manner as had been proposed The mean while among other things because all the High Offices of the Realm had been engrossed in a manner by Men of the Church n M.S. Rot. Par. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm ibid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bâ—bi C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons petition'd that for the future Secular Men only might be Principal Officers of the King's Court and Houshold the Chief of which Places were there named particularly as that of the Chancellor Treasurer Privy Seal and the like and none of the Clergy they being enough taken up by their Spiritual Affairs if they minded them according to their Duty Saving unto the King his Prerogative freely to choose or remove Officers provided they may be of the Laity only To which Petition althô the King's Answer was then That he would do by Advice of his Council yet we find that in this very o Philipots Catal Chancellorâ— p. 43. Month of March William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England did deliver up the Great Seal unto the King at Westminster who immediately deliver'd it to Sr. Robert Thorpe One of the Justices of the Law. At the same time p Philipâ—ts Catal Treasurers p. 39. Godwin Catal. Bish 40â— Thomas Brentingham alias Brantington Bishop of Excester was also removed from being Lord Treasurer in whose Place Sr Richard Scroop of Boulton a Baron of the Realm succeeded on the 27 of March. And then it passed into a Law that for the future the Chancellor Treasurer and Clerk of the Privy Seal should not be Spiritual Men but that Secular Persons only should have those Employments After which thô sometimes indeed the Clergy did attain the said Dignities yet it was much more seldom and in process of time very rare or never This done q M.S. Rot. Par. p. 107. §. 8. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 111. Sr. Robert Thorpe the New-Lord Chancellor declared that for as much as Easter drew near all the Petitions of the Commons could not be answer'd at that time But that after the said Feast the King would take Care to answer them And so the King thanked the Lords and Commons for their Travel and Aid and gave them leave to depart The next Sessions was held at r Ita M.S. Râ—t Parl. rectè sed Winchest apud Sr. Rob. Cotton Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity then next after at which time the Lord Chancellor declared unto the Lords and Commons there assembled how their late Grant of 22 s. and 4d out of every Parish would not amount to 50000 l. because by the Return into the Chancery it appear'd that there were not so many Parishes in the Realm Whereupon the Lords and Commons for the perfecting the foresaid Sum granted unto the King of every Parish-Church assessed within the Realm Five Pounds Å¿ Ita M.S. rectè ut videtur sed Sr. Rob. Cotton legit 10â— Sixteen Shillings comprising therein the foresaid Sum of Twenty Two Shillings and Four Pence except the County of Chester and all such Lands of the Church as had been amortized before the Twentieth of King Edward the First The Form of the Commission for this Subsidy was read before the King and the Collectors and Commissioners were appointed by the Knights of the several Counties and there were set down the t Vid. Stow p. 268. c. ubi tamâ—n errer in numer is nâ—n facile emend â—nduâ— Names of every Shire with the Number of the Parish-Churches therein and the Sum to which the Gross of the Payment of all the Parishes amounted Which was in all 50181 l. 8 s. Whereof the Odd 181 l. 8 s. was deducted because thrô great Poverty the Parishes in Suffolk paid but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Seven Pence apiece and those in Devonshire but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Ten Pence Farthing And so the King was answer'd his full Summ of 50000 l. But Cheshire a County Palatinate I know not for what Reason came not to this Parliament and so was not reckon'd among the other Counties nor in the Tax Thô in the City of Chester there were Ten Parish Churches and in the Shire Eighty Seven more besides Chappels In this
after married the Lady Eleanora Daughter to the said Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton and in time became Constable of England Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester The Admiral of the Fleet was the Lord Guy Brian a most expert Commander both by Sea and Land and one of the Honourable Order of the Garter With him was joyned Sr. Richard Sturry and many other Valiant Captains with a choice Number of Archers for their Defence upon Occasion Nor was all this Precaution needless thô they were neither encountred by the Fleet of France nor of Spain for since the Heiress of Flanders had been given away to Philip of Burgundy there was no good Correspondence between England and Flanders The Flemish Fleet had been at Rochell where they were laden with Wine and now in their Return homewards they called at la Baye in Bretagne where they took in vast Quantities of the best Salt the Heer van John Peterson being their Admiral The English making up to the same Port knew not at first who they were but when they saw them prepare to entertain them as Enemies they made hast to receive them couragiously So there began a fierce and terrible Medley which lasted long For b Frois ibid the Flemings were more in Number and better provided for a Battle as those who waited for such a Business thô they found here but an indifferent Mercat neither This Naval Fight endured for three Hours together in which time many Gallant Actions were performed by the valiant Men on both sides and many wounded hurt or slain For they were fastned to one another with Grâ—pling-Irons so that there was no other way but to conquer or die At last the Victory fell to the English the Heer van John Peterson the Flemish Admiral being taken Prisoner together with all that were left alive the rest being either drown'd or slain not c Jacob. Meyer ibid. a Man of them escaped one of these three Evils For the English were more than usually severe when they had the full Mastery because they had been so bold as d Walsing hist p. 182. to begin the Assault After the Fight the Earl of Hereford advised Sr. Guy Brian the Admiral to make for England as then and not expect his Return till he had reinforced the Fleet So he took land with the rest of the Commissioners at la Baye and went straight to Brest where he found the Duke of Bretagne But the Lord Guy Brian set sail for England returning with his Conquest and Prisoners above 4000 of the Enemy being slain and as many taken with 25 Ships laden with Salt and all the Wine they had taken in at Rochell XI The King of England was wonderfully pleased as this unexpected Success of his Fleet and so much the more when he heard how the Flemings had been the Aggressors and gave the first Occasion and yet were so entirely defeated The Heer van John Peterson their Admiral was sent to the Tower of London and the other Flemings bestow'd about in other places And because the King resolved by any means to pull down the Pride of those People who had thus presumed to begin a War against him e Frois Jac. Meyer ibid. he forthwith sent out a Royal Fleet against the Flemings giving strict Command to his Admiral and Viceadmiral to make sharp War upon all the Merchants of Flanders and to block up their Ports and constantly ply about the Sea called la Manche or Pas de Calais between Dover and Calais so to intercept all their Commerce with France When this was known to the Men of Gaunt Bruges and Ipres they had a Council together wherein all things consider'd they concluded it most for their Interest to remain at Peace with England and not any longer to have the Displeasure of King Edward for the sake of their Lord the Earl of Flanders who was now again wholly for the French. Wherefore all the Good Towns of Flanders having agreed in this Resolution sent Deputies sufficiently instructed into England to treat for a Peace with the King and his Council And these Deputies had such Success that they return'd with a Consummation of Peace with Flanders on certain Conditions sealed and agreed to on both Parts Thus lightly can Vulgar Minds be moved to begin a War and when they are beaten as readily sue for Peace XII It may be remembred that upon the Black-Prince's Return out of Spain we observ'd how James the Young King of Majorica by reason of sickness was forced to tarry behind and how shortly after he was taken Prisoner in his Chamber by the Bastard Henry upon his return to make new War against King Don Pedro. Now I suppose it will not be amiss to inform the Curious Reader what further became of this Unfortunate Prince And first Pope Vrban being moved with his Calamity f Dat. vâ— Kal. Januar. Ann. 6. Vid. Tom. 6. Fp. Secr. p. 32. Odor Rainald ad an 1367. §. 18. wrote in his Behalf to Don Henry that he would restore to liberty the unhappy young King who had so long languished in the King of Aragon's Prison before And the Queen of Naples his Lady and the Marchioness his Sister when they were informed of his Mischance took it very heavily and within a while g Frois c. 294. Gallicè fol. 242 sent certain discreet and sage Gentlemen to treat with Don Henry who was then King of Spain about his Ransom So at last he was deliver'd for the Summ of an 100000 Franks which the Ladies paid very punctually to King Henry's satisfaction When the King of Majorica had thus got his Liberty he returned into Naples where yet he lay not long idle but having amassed together considerable Sums of Money and gather'd many Valiant Captains and hired Souldiers about him he began his March towards Navarre with design to make War upon the King of Aragon his Adversaâ—y to whom he could by no means be reconciled for he had Murther'd the King his Father and had long kept him himself in Prison and unjustly and violently withheld from him his Crown and Heritage Upon which account he had furnish'd himself with Men of War from all Parts as English Gascogners Italians Almaines Bretons and some Troops of the Companions Who in all amounted to 1200 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen The Captains of the Companions were Sr. Gracian du Chastel Sr. John de Malestroit Silvester Budes and James Braye besides sundry Lords and Gentlemen of Divers Countries to all whom he gave great Wages and promised to satisfie them in each point King James order'd his Affairs so well that he had leave to bring this Army into the Realm of Navarre and also to tarry there some few days to refresh himself From thence he entred into Aragon and began to make heavy War against Don Pedro King of that Realm and ravaged the Country and took little Fortresses and Ransom'd and slew Men
beyond his usual Custom for the space of five or six Years at which time there fell a new Occasion of Dissention and so the War began again as violently as ever But nothing of this will fall within the Compass of our History which is to end with the Life of King Edward IV. Now while the two Sieges were held by the Frenchmen before Becherel and St. Saviour le Vicount there being a strong Report how Owen of Wales was coming by Sea with 6000 Men of Arms designing to take Land in England and to burn and destroy about in the Country King Edward g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. appointed the Noble Earl of Salisbury William Montagu to guard the English Seas he himself being at that time h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. retain'd by Indenture to serve the King with no less than 300 Men of Arms whereof 20 besides himself were Knights and 279 Esquires and 300 Archers Not to mention the several Retinues of the other Lords and Captains with him as Sr. John Montacute Brother to the Earl of Salisbury i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 649. Sr. William Nevil Sr. Philip Courtney Sr. William Lucy Sr. Brian Stapleton and others This Fleet k Dugd. ibid. p. 647. Frois ut ante consisting of Fourty Great Ships besides Barges and of 3000 Men of Arms besides Archers set forth from the Coasts of Cornwall and made directly for the Port of St. Malo in Bretagne Being arrived and finding in the Haven seven huge Spanish Carracks they burnt them all whereat all the whole Country was surprised verily believing that the English had had their Intelligence and Direction from the Duke himself Hereupon in all Towns Castles and Fortresses the Bretons held their Duke in great suspicion and had a stricter Eye to their own Defence than formerly V. Now the Duke's most secret Intentions had before this been fully discover'd to the French King by certain of his own Knights to whom he had let fall some Words in Favour of the King of England and his Title Whereupon he commanded his Constable to undertake an Expedition into Bretagne enjoyning and empowering him to take into his Hands all Towns Cities and Fortresses and to siese on the Bodies and Goods of all that should resist For the l Frois ibid. f. 188. k. sed Gallice f. 257. c. King and his Council had already agreed that the Duke had now forfeited all his Lands as having received his Enemies the English into his Towns and Castles and he also himself took Part with the King of England and had entred an Alliance with Him against the Crown of France of which he held his Dutchy of Bretagne by Faith and Homage So the Constable went from Paris to Angiers where he made his Rendezvous and there came to him thither the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Earl of Perche the Earl of Porcien the Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicounts of Meaux and of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy Sr. Robert de St. Pol Sr. Ralph de Ravenal Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France and at great Number of the Barons and Knights of Vermandois Picardy and Artois besides those that came thither from the Marches of Anjou Poictou and Touraine On the other side the Earl of Salisbury who lay with his Fleet in the Port of St. Malo was well enformed of these mighty Preparations of the Constables and how in a manner all the Dutchy of Bretagne was ready to revolt from the Duke Whereupon he sailed thence till he came to Brest which was one of the strongest Places in the World but threatned as he heard to be besieged by the French Wherefore he reinforced the Place with Men and Victuals VI. A little before this the Duke of Bretagne was gone for England For when he heard how the Constable was coming with such a Power against him He durst not repose any Confidence in the strength of Vannes or of Dinant nor indeed in the strongest Fortress of Bretagne lest the Inhabitants should deliver him up to the French as they had done to his Father before him Wherefore he resolved for England as well to avoid the impending storm as to hasten Succours but first having constituted Sr. Robert Knolles his Deputy Governour of all Bretagne during his Absence he went to visit his Castle of Auray between Vannes and Hennebond which held firm to him still An English Knight named Sr. John Austen being Captain thereof under Him. With this Knight he left the Lady his Wife desiring Him to keep her well which he promised to do against all the World to his Power From Auray the Duke rode to Sr. Matthew du Fine-poterne which undutifully closed her Gates against him wherefore he passed on to le Conquet and there took shipping for England VII The mean while the Constable was come into Bretagne with a great Army to whose Banners there resorted all those Lords and Knights of Bretagne who had been at the Siege before Becherel leaving that affair to be carried on by the Lords of Normandy When the Constable was thus reinforced he went first to Rennes the Inhabitants whereof knowing how their Lord was adjudged by the Peers of France to have forfeited all his Lands and that these Forces were accordingly sent to take them in resolved by no means to stand out against the Constable but without any further Scruple received him peaceably acknowledging him for their Sovereign Lord in the Name of the French King whose Person he now represented Having thus taken Possession of Rennes He presently rode before Dinant which also submitted in like manner so did afterward the Great City of Vannes But Luzemont after a bold Resistance being taken by Force all within were put to the Sword. Thence the Constable went to Jugon which yielded unto him so did Gony en la Forest so did la Roche D'Arien and the Town of Guingand St. Matthew du Fine-Poterne and St. Malo in the Isle After this he took in Quimpercorentin alias Cornovaille then Quimperlay and other Fortresses thereabout all which yielded without a stroke except Quimperlay whereof John Rous an English Esquire was Captain who when the Town was taken was slain by the hands of Sr. Oliver Clisson who for all the Benefits he had formerly received from England did now so hate all Englishmen that he hardly took any to Mercy that once fell into his Hands It was the Constables Resolution first to reduce Bretagne Britonant because that part was always more inclinable to Duke John's Interest than Bretagne Gallicant and therefore he chiefly bestirr'd himself in these parts But now 't is time to see what became of Sr. Robert Knolles who had been made the Duke's Lieutenant of all that Country His Courage was so notable and his Conduct so good that there is no doubt to be made but he would have given the Constable Battle before this had he but had the Hearts of the People But alas His
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâ—gree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâ—imus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
valiant Men and could not be surpris'd because they durst not yet take their rest without very good Watch and a strong Guard as well for doubt of the Common Enemy as for fear of the English Archers whom they had so incens'd as we shew'd before Let any man of Reason consider whether it be possible for such a Company of Horsemen to pass even to the heart of such an Army and repass again with little or no dammage being all the while attended with such Noise and Tumult What no Trenches to hinder their Progress No Troops appointed to secure the Watch and to walk the Rounds None ready to draw a Sword or to let an Arrow slip from a Bow If not one was slain what made Douglas go off with so small an Execution when Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans made shift to kill twenty thousand Persians in one night Or why did he not come with the whole strength of his Army then as Hector saies he might have slain them every Mothers Son But having made this Tryal which succeeded better than he could imagin and finding the Army began to be Roused he sav'd his own Men and went off Why Even the Womanlike Army of e Herodot l. 7. Justin l. 2. Orosius l. 2. c. 9. Xerxes to which an enemy cannot compare the English could make a shift to stop the return of as noble a General as Douglas thô attended with three hundred Spartans and seven hundred Others as brave Fellows no doubt as those Scotchmen who yet fell silently upon the Persians without any noise or warning at all It cannot be that the English should then be either so effeminate or so negligent or so overcome with surfits at that time that they could not with half this Noise be allarm'd so as to rouze up and rally together and intercept these bold Intruders I rather therefore believe that Earl Douglas intended a crafty and more probable and no less honourable Undertaking of destroying the Kings own Person whose Tent he might easily have observed by some Penon or Cognisance and so hoped to put the English Army to the rout upon loss of their General as the Assyrians fled upon the Death of Holofernes That he intended to secure his Retreat by these select and fleet Horses which were sufficient to skirmish with any Troop that should suddenly pursue after him And it is f Knighton p. 2552. said by a diligent Historian of those very Days who had seen and known and g Id. p. 2627. heard King Edward discourse that Douglas came into the Camp by stealth aiming to find out the Kings Pavilion and that being descried by some of the Watch he said always in English as if he had been one of the Rounds No Ward Ha! St. George And so not being question'd he came at last to the Tent Royal where he stew the Kings i Tinemouth Aur. Histor in aedilus Lambeth f. 229. Chamberlain and after that a stout loyal Soul his Chaplain who ran toward the King to wake him but was slain in the endeavour as he also interpos'd his own Body to prevent the blow aim'd at the King. With this rude shock the Valourous Young King awakes and immediatly snatches his good Sword which hung ready-naked at his Beds head and leaps out on the other side the Bed to oppose this bold Adventurer who seeing now his work not likely to be clearly performed and doubting there had been too great noise already retires but just before the Kings Tent was filled with his faithfull Subjects by many of whom he is strait persu'd on all hands But whether by some connivance of Mortimers or that himself had well consider'd all the Avenues of the Camp being a most expert Commander or that his readiness in English made him not perceived or that Fortune loves to be propitious to them that court her gallantly Douglas himself escapes clear off thô very k Tinemouth ibid Knighton p. 2552. n. 10. hardly but many of his Men were left behind Either of these ways in my opinion makes equally for the honour of that valiant Scotch Lord but this latter as it wants not good and ancient Attestors so to me it seems upon many accounts much more probable than the other However the Action of this night taught the English to keep more sure Watch and Ward for the future and some certain Troops held their appointed Posts standing in Harness all night by turns but every day they skirmished each Part dividing their losses and gains almost equally For the Scots never came over to the English otherwise they had been surrounded with good Bands of Men and so all taken or slain but the English ever ventur'd over with Gallantry enough and generally they had the better but when the Scots sent out more numerous Detachments from their Main Body which because they were fewer in number than the English they did not often for they doubted if too much they broke their Array that the whole English Forces would follow the Skirmishers This was the manner of both Armies for about twenty four l Ashmele p. 645 days in all when it chanced a Scotch Knight of some quality was taken prisoner and brought before the King and his Barons where being roughly menaced and strictly examin'd he at last with much ado confessed in what evil Condition the Scots at that time were and being prest yet further he told them how their Generals had ordain'd that the same night every one should be ready arm'd and follow the Banners of the Lord Douglas but what to doe as it was by the Council kept secret so the Knight ingenuously protested that he was wholly ignorant Upon this the King withdrawing to Council it was concluded by all because the Lord Douglas was now the Leader of this Enterprize that they certainly intended to give them a general Onset as that night on each Flank of the Army as expecting to find Success answerable to the late Undertaking their Dispair thrô so long a siege attended with such difficulties making them resolve at one Blow to hazard all For the Knight had confessed a great Famine among them Then three great Battails were ordain'd the One to stand before the Camp toward the Enemy the other Two facing about on each side to receive them both on right and left if occasion should be Great Fires also were appointed to be kindled on all Parts that they might avoid confusion or surprize the better and the Watches were placed at several distances and Scouts sent out to inform the Host of the Enemies motions the Watch-word was given and the Servants and Pages were order'd the while to keep their Masters Lodgings with their Horses ready Sadled in their hands And thus accordingly they stood all Night in Battle Array till the first approach of Morning when two Scotch Trumpeters being taken by the Scout-watch and by them brought to the King and Council spake freely for they were
this life to the infinite regret of all good and Loyal Men and particularly of the whole Clergy of England and all other Sons of Learning But the Memory of him and his vertues is again revived in his Noble Heir and Successor Thomas now Earl of Aylesbury and Elgine Who together with the Honours his Father enjoy'd is now Lord Lieutenant of Bedford and Huntington and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the most Prudent and Heroick Monarch King James the Second His two younger Brothers Robert and James whom I have had the honour to know here in Queens College in Cambridge being most towardly Branches of that Ancient and Flourishing Family Nor is it altogether unworthy to mention the Great Ottomans Death which n Labbeâ— Chronologia Technica ad hunc annum happen'd this year being the 727th of the Turkish Hegira after he had been rearing that vast Monarchy on the ruines of Christian Princes for about 27 Years together This Man was the first Founder of the Glorious Family of the Ottomans which has ever since continued a Plague and Terrour to all Christendom Orchanes his Son succeeded him in the Turkish Empire Also this Year departed three famous Prelates of this Nation the one Dr. James Barkley descended from the Noble House of the Lord Barkley * Bp. Gâ—dn Catal â—pp p. 406. who was consecrated Bishop of Excester on the 15th of March 1326 / 7. by Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury at the Commandment of Queen Isabell being reputed a very holy and discreet Person But he enjoyed the Title not long for about the 24 of June following he deceased and was succeeded by one of equal wisdom and Nobility Dr. John Grandesson of whom as also of his Family more hereafter Dr. Thomas Cobham also Bishop of Worcester died about the 20 of August he was a very learned Man and a great Author o Pits de illust Angl. script An. 1316. Bp. Godwin Catal. p. 443. as his Works declare and by his wonderfull Meekness Bounty Sobriety and Modesty obtain'd an universall love and respect insomuch that he was commonly called the Good-Clerk When he was Canon and Subdean of Salisbury he was first upon the vacancy of that See elected Archbishop of Canterbury but King Edward the Second in favour of Dr. Walter Reginald vacating that Election he was glad in the end to accept the Bishoprick of Worcester He was now buried in the North Isle of the Body of Worcester Cathedral which Isle he had Vaulted over at his own Expence The Bloody Bishop of Hereford succeeded him of whom more in another place Another that went off this Year was p Godwin Catal. p. 129. Dr. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury of whom something must be said for the Instruction of others He had been Chaplain to King Edward the First by whom he was made Parson of Wimberton and after that Schoolmaster to his Son Edward the Second who in the first Year of his Reign Anno MCCCVII advanced him to the place q Philpot's Catal Treas and Chancel p. 24. p. 37. of Lord Treasurer of England and in the year following to the Bishoprick of Worcester and two years after he made him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Chancellor of England After this King Edward was so good a Master to him that upon the Death of the good and learned Dr. Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury he vacated the Election of Dr. Cobham as we shew'd before and caused this Man to be prefer'd to that eminent Dignity And accordingly he was with great Pomp and Solemnity r Godwin p 129. Walsingh hist p. 78. Installed on the 19 of April Anno MCCCXIII the King himself with the Queen and many Nobles honouring him with their Presence He is indeed Å¿ Pits p. 419. by some commended for his love to Learning and Vertue I am sure he wanted these three no mean Qualities Loyalty Constancy and Gratitude For upon the Return of Queen Isabell into England in such Hostile manner as was shew'd before against her Lord and Husband this Man at that time manifested himself to be indeed a good Politician but as Bishop Godwin too mildly phrases it a very t Godw. p. 130. weak Man. For thô a while he seem'd outwardly to adhere to the King his Master yet even then privately he assisted the Queen with vast Sums of Mony as resolving to play his own Game whatever Conscience might perswade or Religion teach to the contrary But when the Kings downfall was now no longer doubtfull then he openly play'd the Traitor forsaking his Lawfull Prince his good Lord and Patron who had gradually advanced him from a mean Condition to the highest Titles of Honour For which thô he scap'd the publique censure of the Law yet did he enjoy the fruits of this double-hearted Dealing but for one Year For on the u Godw. p. 130. c. Thâ—rnes Chron. p. 2039. n. 30. 16 of November following this first Year of King Edwards Reign he died of grief and horror of mind at Mortlack after he had held that Seat 13 years and about seaven Months from his Instalment But here he shall stand mark'd out to Posterity for an Example and terror to all Traitors whom neither the Sacred Function it self nor any other either Dignity or Merit ought in my Opinion to defend from deserved Infamy Since Treason cannot proceed but from the most unworthy and ignoble Minds in the World or however it renders them so Ingratitude of it self is the basest most unjust and ungenerous thing in Nature but Ingratitude to our Natural Prince most abominable beyond all Expression since to his Service we are most strictly obliged by Laws Divine and Humane How much more then when he is unto us a Good and Gracious Lord and heapeth upon our Heads many signall and personal Favours He was succeeded by a very Worthy and Learned Doctor in Divinity x Thornes Chro. p. 2039. Walsin hist p. 109. Godwin p. 131. Pitsae p. 429. Simon Mepham an Oxford Man by Education by Birth of Kent and Canon at that time of Chichester This Year were seen y M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 214. ad fin two Moons in the Firmament the one was clear and the other dark as at times might be seen over all the World and now the Quarrel was high between Pope John XXII who kept his Court at Avignon in Provence and Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany who in revenge of his being Excommunicated by the said Pope went to Rome being invited thither z Labb Chron. Techn ad hunc ann by the Faction of the Gibellines where he set up an Antipope against Pope John by whom he was crowned Emperour But this new Pope was soon laid aside thô the Dissention between the Emperour and the Pope was never sully made up And because of the foresaid Prodigy and others that happen'd about the same time it was commonly
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
Earl by some English Title which all the Lords yielded to be very convenient Whereupon the King by his Letters Patents bearing e Dugd. 1 Vol. Baron p. 761. b. Date the same XI of May advanced him to the Title of Earl of Bedford and for the better support of himself and his Lady Isabell gave him a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Exchequer as also Thirty Marks more out of the Issues of the County of Bedford to be Yearly paid by the Sheriff of that Shire At that time f M.S. Ret. Par. c. ut suprà Sr. Thomas Ludlow Chief Baron of the Exchequer declared before the whole Parliament how William the Son and Heir of William Stephens who held diversly of the King in Capite as of the Crown had by Writ of Aetate probanda sued out Livery out of the Kings hands whereas the said William the Son for a long time should be within Age as by a prolix Schedule doth appear Whereupon the whole Parliament upon sight of the said William the Son judged him still to be within Age and therefore took Order that all his Hereditaments so sued out of the Kings hands should be forthwith reseised into the Kings hands till his full Age and that all Obligations Charters Statutes Recognisances and all other Writings made by the said William the Son should be null and void This done the King gave thanks to the Three Estates and licensed every One to depart and so this Session ended II. Galeacius or Galeas the Second Duke of Milain and Elder Brother to Duke Bernabo g Paul. Joviâ—s in Vitis Princip Mediolanens p. 151. being a Person of a truly Royal Spirit had already Married his Son John Galeas to the Lady Isabella Sister to the King of France and now for the more sure Establishing of his Affairs design'd to match his Beautifull Daughter Violantis with King Edward of England's Son Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence To that purpose he began to make some Overtures about this time insomuch that King Edward sent over to him an Embassy whereof the Lord h Dugd. 1 V. l. Baron p. 186. Humphry Bohun Earl of Northampton Hereford and Essex was the Principal Person to adjust Matters fully and equally on both sides The Effect of which Embassy we shall take notice of hereafter III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury i Godw. Catal. Bpsp. 142. riding to Magfield this Year his Horse chanced to fling him into a Miry Pool So being very wet however he continued his journey till he came to the said place Being there and having changed his Apparel he fell asleep but at his waking found himself in a Palsie and so within a few days died viz. on the 26 of April 1366. This Man k Vid. Anton. Wood Antiqu. Oxon. l. 2. p. 246. p. 338. founded a College in Oxford then called Canterbury College but since that it hath been mightily augmented and enlarged and bears the name of Christ-Church being at this time One of the most Magnificent Colleges in the whole World. This College the said Archbishop endow'd with good Possessions appropriating to the same the Parsonages of Pagham and Magfield but some Ages after the Famous and Munificent Cardinal Woolsey took it in as a part of his College and lastly that and this was accounted the Foundation of King Henry VIII so that now it is wonderfully encreased and is still acquiring New Magnificence and Beauty every day Archbishop Islip being thus dead the l Godâ— ibid. p. 143. Monks of Canterbury chose Dr. William Edington then Bishop of Winchester for Archbishop but he declin'd the Dignity saying as it is reported That Canterbury was the Higher Rack but Winchester the better Manger Whereupon Simon Langham then Bishop of Ely was translated to that See and John Barnet Bishop of Bath and Welles went to Ely and Bath and Welles was given to a Chaplain of the Black-Prince named Dr. John Harewell 'T is observable that Dr. Simon Langham m Philipet's Catal Chancell Treas p. 37. on the day of his Consecration demanded and had Homage of the Earl of Stafford of Sr. Thomas Ross Sr. John Tyrrell Sr. Robert Brockhill and Sr. Ralph Sr. Leger for their Lands which they held of the See of Canterbury But of this Great Prelate we shall speak more largely hereafter IV. In these n Frois c. 229. fol. 125. days there was still in France a Mighty Number of Warlike Companions who after the Wars of Bretagne were ended knew not what to do but however were so wickedly frugal that they had rather do Mischief than be idle The scene of all their Extravagances was the unhappy Realm of France which they called their Chamber for they durst not do any harm in Aquitaine the Land would not suffer them And to say the truth the greater part of their Captains were Gascogners or Englishmen Subjects of King Edward or the Prince his Son there were but a few Bretons and Runagate Frenchmen Wherefore many French Lords began to murmur against King Edward and the Prince and said among themselves how they did not acquit themselves fairly to the French King Since they did not do their utmost to destroy these kind of People who now began to be unsufferable For the Duke of Anjou had lately gone against them with an o Knighton p. 2628. n. 60. Dugd. 2 Vol. Baron p. 148. Army of 15000 Men all whom Sr. Nicolas Dagworth their General vanquished and put to slight and took many Prisoners among whom were the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Anjou himself It is reported of this same Sr. Nicolas who was a Baron of England and Son to the Famous Sr. Thomas Dagworth of whom we have spoken heretofore in this History p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. ex â—eland Collect. Vol. 1. p. 826. M.S. in Bibl. Bodleian that with Thirteen English Horse he fought sixty French near to Flavigny in Burgundy and by means of certain Chariots which he made use of for his Defence they being placed in a Circle whereinto he could enter at pleasure utterly vanquished them But that he Headed the Companions at this time against the Frenchmen proceeded from the great desire he had to Revenge the Blood of his Father who about 17 q Vid. Lib. 2. c. 9. §. 6. p. 445. Years before had been basely murder'd by the French in time of Truce However King Charles of France and his Nobles being terrified with this great Success of the Companions r Walsingh hist p. 175. n. 10 c. sent to King Edward of England desiring him to interpose his Authority against the Fury of these Men who were for the most part English or at least under his Dominion For it was so provided in the Articles of the Peace at Bretigny that if the Souldiers should refuse to acquiesce both the Kings should joyn together to compell them First
was marching Wherefore he desir'd that for the present he might be let alone on Condition that neither He nor His should make any War unless some Violence was offer'd on the French part But that if the Heritors and Lords of Gascogne should be reduced by him then he also would yield up unto him and in all things do as they should do To this the Duke agreed receiving of the Abbot Hostages for his true performance which Pledges he sent to Perigueux and so drew toward the Town of Lourde in Bigorre to which he laid his Siege and then summon'd the Garrison to yield The Townsmen would willingly have agreed to the motion but the Knight that govern'd the Place said stoutly That since the Earl of Foix had deliver'd it to his Care he was resolv'd by no means to resign it up into the hands of any other Person living With which answer the Constable and the Duke of Anjou were so nettled that they commanded a general Assault to be made So that at last the Place was carried by force and the Captain and most of his Men slain with all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children and the Town rased and given up to the Plunder Nevertheless they left a Garrison in the Castle at their Departure Thence they Marched into the Lands belonging to Chastel Bon ravaging all about as far as Chastelneuf which they took and thence Marching toward Bearn they enter'd the Land of the Lord of Lescar whence they rode till they came before a good strong Town and Castle named Sailles which held of the County of Foix thô all the Lands and Arrierefiefs lay in Gascogne The Black-Prince before his Expedition into Spain had intended to call the Earl of Foix to an Account because he paid not his Duties unto him for this Place And now also the Duke of Anjou who had by this time reduced in a manner all Aquitain and look'd upon himself as Master thereof resolv'd by any means to have this Place also So he laid his Siege unto Sailles which was not at all easie to be won and beside there was within a Valiant and Expert Captain named Sr. William de Pons When the Earl of Foix heard how the Frenchmen conquer'd in his Lands and Arrierefiess which in reason he ought to hold either of the French King or of the King of England he sent for the Vicount of Chastel Bon for the Lords of Mont Marsan of Chastelneuve and Lescar with the Abbot of St. Sever who being all come to him he purchas'd a safe-Conduct and so went before Sailles to the Duke of Anjou with the foresaid Lords in his Company There at last he agreed with the Duke That both He and they with all their Lands should remain in perfect Peace till the midst of August or the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary At which time there should appear before the Town of Moissac on the Tarne in the Province of Quercy an Army of the French Kings or of the King of England's part And if the English Army could keep the Field then they would hold their Lands of the King of England and if the French Army could keep the Field that day either by Battle or Non-appearance of the Enemy then they would hold their Lands of the King of France for ever Which Covenant faithfully to perform both the Earl of Foix and the other Lords gave sufficient security and so the Duke of Anjou brake up his Siege and went back to Perigueux with his whole Army For he would not let a Man be disbanded IV. But however Pope Gregory XI did now so double his Diligence in plying the Christian Work of Peacemaking by his Legates that at last a Treaty began between the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Anjou assurances being given to the latter at Perigueux for the Former held himself as Chief being Regent as he said for the King of England his Father So at last a firm Truce was agreed on to be held faithfully and without Fraud between Them and all their Friends Vassals and Assistants untill the last day of August the Two Dukes engaging to be present in the Marches of Picardy about the beginning of September in Order to prolong the said Truce the Duke of Lancaster at Calais and the Duke of Anjou at St. Omers Which Truce being thus taken the said Duke of Lancaster with the Duke of Bretagne the Earls of Warwick Suffolk and Stafford the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Chanon Robsart the Lord Willoughby and other Lords and Knights both of England and Gascogne went on board at Bourdeaux on the Eighth of July and set sail for England Upon f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 115. Walsing hist p. 183. n. 40. which Return of the Duke of Lancaster the People of those Parts almost totally revolted nothing being left in Aquitaine but Bourdeaux and Bayonne In Bretagne also the Captains of Becherel as Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who had now kept that Fortress a full Year against the French that besieged them when they heard how the Duke of Bretagne was gone back into England and that now they had no hopes of any timely Succour especially since their Victuals was almost spent upon Mature Advice resolved to treat with their Enemies and to come to some agreeable Composition The Lords of Bretagne and Normandy that lay there at Siege as the Lord of Hambie Stoneville Blanville and Granville were by this time very weary and would willingly enter into any kind of Treaty but they thought best to know the French Kings Mind first and when they found that he agreed to allow their Treaty they determin'd the Matter thus That if the Duke of Bretagne or some other from the King of England did not come personally between that time and the Feast of All-Saints then next coming strong enough to raise the Siege then they within were to yield up the Place their Lives and Goods saved Which was done accordingly None appearing at the time appointed in their behalf and Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard with their Men and Goods took the Sea and return'd for England V. When g Frois c. 312. the Middle of August drew near which was the time limited for the Decision of High Gascogne to be made before Moissac the Duke of Anjou drew thitherward with an huge Army and kept the Field before the Place six days together All which time no body appeared for King Edward For the English all thought that because of the Truce lately taken between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster which was to hold to the last of August the Design about Moissac was to be given over But the Duke of Anjou and his Council were it seems of another Mind and resolved to take all Advantages they could without troubling their Heads with unprofitable Scruples of Honour Faith and Justice So when the Duke of Anjou saw once the Feast
of the Assumption past over without the appearance of any One in the King of England's behalf he sent word to the Earl of Foix the Vicount of Chastel-Bon to the Lords of Mont de Marsan of Chastelneuve and of Lescar and to the Abbot of St. Sever letting them know that if they did not now stand to their Bargain he would forthwith put all their Hostages to Death and after that enter their Lands with such a Power as to oblige them all to cry Mercy Hereupon they all freely submitted themselves and their Lands to the Obedience of the French King and the Inhabitants also of Moissac which was a Fair Garrison open'd their Gates and their Chief Burgesses went out with the Keys to the Duke of Anjou rendring their Fealty and Homage unto him as unto the French Kings Lieutenant Then the Duke and all the Lords with him enter'd the Town and tarried there 18 days during which time they had Counsel which way to draw next for the Month of August was past at which time the Truce was ended and as yet there was no News of the Duke of Lancaster's being at Calais to renew the Truce wherefore now again the War was open So after this Success the Duke went with his Army before la Reole which he besieged three days and on the Fourth was received into the Town the Inhabitants returning to the Obedience of the French King. After that the Duke took in Langon St. Macari Condom St. Bazeille or Basil la Tour de la Prudence Mauleon la Tour de Drû and other Towns and Castles to the Number of Fourty in all the last being the strong Town of Auberoche in Perigort in all which he set good Garrisons VI. When things were thus happily settled and in a manner all Gascogne and Guienne except Baionne and Bourdeaux were thus either conquer'd or revolted from the English the Duke of Anjou and the Constable being sent for by the French King gave leave to their Men to go whither they would and they themselves return'd into France But the Lords of Clisson of Beaumanoir of Roye of Riom and of Anaugeur with the Vicount of Rohan and of Lavalle and many more went to the Siege of Becherel which was not yet yielded up nor was to yield till the Feast of All-Saints by which time it had been covenanted that if it was not rescued it should be yielded And now these Lords went thither because they heard that the Duke of Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles and the Lord Edward Spencer would be there in Person to raise the Siege Thô in the end this Rumor prov'd false and no Succour coming Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard yielded up the Place and return'd into England as We said before VII It may be remembred that we h Vid. L. 4. c. 6. §. 29. p. 781. shew'd how Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France was taken near Abbeville by Sr. Nicolas Lovaine and carried Prisoner into England Ever since that even for the space of near five Years he continued in that Condition and could not be redeem'd because they asked so great a Ransom for him Thô now by the Assistance of a certain Merchant of Flanders he paid down 20000 Franks being but the Moiety of what he was to pay but when this Merchant by paying that Summ had got him out of England he escap'd all further Obligation by a subtle Device too long to be remembred here and perhaps the Recital would rather instruct Knaves than pleasure Honest Men. However when thus Sr. Hugh de Chastillon was return'd into France King Charles restor'd unto him his Office of Master of the Crossbows and sent him to Abbeville his old Province there to keep the Frontiers with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and he was obey'd as Chief by all the Captains of the Neighbour-Garrisons as Sr. John of Bournonville Captain of Boulogne and Sr. John Lisle Captain of Dieppe and the Captains of Teronenne St. Omers of Liques Fiennes and Montrevil Now it happen'd one Morning that the Lord of Gomegines who was still Loyal to King Edward being an Hainalder by Birth and by him made Captain of Ardres a Town of Picardy about three leagues from Calais prepared early one Morning to ride abroad so together with the Lord John of Vbrues he left his Garrison with about 800 Men of Arms collected from several Places with a Design to ride towards Boulogne to seek for some Adventure That same Morning it chanced that Sr. John Bournonville Captain of Boulogne had left his Garrison with 60 Spears and rode towards Calais with a like Design But when he had met with nothing of that kind as he was returning not well pleased that he had succeeded no better he met with this Lord of Gomegines who had been riding towards Boulogne with his Men. The Captain of Boulogne at sight of this great Power drove down another way which he knew as fast as ever his Horse could carry him but he was so closely pursued that he lost 14 of his Men of Arms and very narrowly escaped himself with the rest After which Chace the Lord of Gomegines was returning homeward not thinking to meet with any more Adventures But it happen'd otherwise For that same Morning St. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows had left his Garrison also with 300 Spears of Artois Vermandois and other Countries whom he had collected from the Neighbour-Fortresses for that Purpose At which very time the young Earl of St. Pol being newly come into Picardy from his Lands in Lorraine was riding on a Pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne But hearing by the way that the Master of the Crossbows was riding thitherward also he went and joyned him and rode with him first before Ardres where they tarried a while in the Field altogether to shew themselves to the Garrison not knowing any thing that the English were abroad at that time no more than the English knew where they were When the Frenchmen had been a while before Ardres and saw none would offer to come out against them they rode back as far as the Abbey of Liques But upon their departure there presently rode forth out of Ardres an Englishman who taking several By-ways as one that well knew the Country met at last with the Lord of Gomegines as he was returning toward Ardres to whom he told how the Frenchmen had been just before to view his Garrison with about 400 Spears but that now they were gone off When the Frenchmen were got a little beyond Tournehan toward the Abby of Liques they also were informed how the English were abroad with the Captain of Ardres but their Number was not known However upon the Information they agreed to meet them and so turning coasted on one side and laid an Ambush of 300 Spears whereof Sr. Hugh Chastillon was Captain in a little Wood hard by the Abbey of Liques The Earl of St. Pol being appointed