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
the King either could not or would not of themselves be fully resolved but after the manner of that Age wished the King to Advise first with the Pope and also with the French King both which befriended King David of Scotland and concern'd themselves in his matters However King Edward was so far from either violating the Peace first or even when 't was done by the Scots from precipitating himself into a War that thô the French King did openly abett the Scots and the Pope did abett France as palpably yet he follow'd this Counsel For we find that about this time among others k Philipet's Catal Chanceli p. 36. he sent this same Bishop of Winchester into France concerning these Affairs Of whom this is observable that being then Lord Chancellour he did not as afterwards Cardinal Woolsey did in the Days of King Henry the VIII presumptuously carry the Great Seal with him beyond the Seas but left it in his Absence with those who both could and would be responsible for it during his abode in France And these things being thus done the l M. S. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Commons had all leave to depart but the Lords were Commanded to attend the next day at which time the King dissolved the Parliament It is observable that on the first day of this Parliaments sitting Commandment was given to the Mayor of York in Presence of the King in full Parliament to see the King's Peace kept in the same City and the Suburbs thereof and to arrest them that did the contrary Also that Proclamation against Weapons and Plays should be made by the Steward and Martial before the Parliament-House and by the Mayor and Bayliffs in the City of York VI. Thus this Year ended the Peace not yet broke on the English part but all things being in so loose a Posture that nothing seem'd more certain than that a War would inevitably follow The Princess m Speeds Ed. 2. p. 564. §. 81. Eleanora King Edward's Younger Sister being about fourteen Years of Age was this Year given in Marriage to Reginald the Second Earl of Gueldre a great Lover of King Edward and the English Nation Her Portion was 15000 pounds Sterling no small Summe of Money in those Days for we find in Ancient Times that even the Marriages of the Daughters of France n Causin's Holy Câ—art l. 3. part 1 §. 39. n. 60. exceeded not 6000 Crowns ready Money thô in our Days a Merchant of London has made his Daughter worth Forty Sixty and a Hundred Thousand Pounds This Lady thô his second Wife brought to the said Earl two hopefull Sons Reginald and Edward both Dukes successively after their Father For when afterward King Edward was made Vicar of the Sacred Empire he Created this Earl Reginald Duke of Gueldre since which that Earldom became a Dukedom In her passage to Guelderland she was Honourably attended by many English Knights among whom was o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 154. William Lord Zouch of Mortimer and Sr. Constantine Mortimer his Kinsman both Branches of that Great Family of the Mortimers late Lords of Wigmore Sr. Constantine four Years after became Steward of the Houshold to the foresaid Countess of Gueldre This p Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 214. Claus 6. Ed. 3. m. 31. Year the Lord Edmund Plantagenot Eldest Son of Edmund of Woodstock late Earl of Kent departed this Life being at his Death the King's Ward and so without Issue Whereupon his Brother John succeeded him in the said Earldom To repair which Diminution of the Royal Branches in England Queen q Knighton p. 2560. Speed p. 590. b. Stow p. 231. c. Philippa soon after Christmas was happily deliver'd at Woodstock near Oxford of her second Child a fair Daughter who was Christened by the Name of Isabella and many Years after by the King her Father given in Marriage to the Honourable and Valiant Lord Ingelram Coucy Earl of Guisnes and Soissons and in time Archduke of Austria CHAPTER the SIXTH AN. DOM. 1333. An. Regni VII The CONTENTS I. The Lord Robert Earl of Artois in Picardy being prosecuted by the French King flies into England to King Edward's Protection and becomes a Firebrand of the War against his Country II. King Edward Summons the King of Scotland to come and do Homage as also to render Barwick unto him with King David's Reply III. King Edward in Parliament resolves on a War with Scotland and sends his Defiance IV. Mutual Inroads as Praeludiums to the War with the Siege of Barwick V. King Edward's expedition in Scotland and return to the Siege before Barwick where he is met by the Lord Darcy VI. A Combat between a Scotch and English Knight with the Battle of Halidown VII The Names of the English Lords in that Battle with an account of the Loss on both sides Barwick taken and Garrison'd by King Edward VIII King Edward's Devotion after the Victory He leaves Edward Bailiol to prosecute the War in Scotland King David flies into France and makes a League Offensive and Defensive with King Philip. IX King Bailiol's Success in Scotland he calls a Parliament at St. Johnston to which the English Lords his Assistants come and do Homage for their Lands held in that Kingdom The Year concludes with the Death of the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Durham and the Lord Hugh Poynz I. THat it may appear that National Commotions and Destructive Wars do come by the Ordinance of God for the Correction of Pride Injustice or other Sins I shall here briefly touch at the seeds of the French War which being cast about this time lasted for so many years and brought forth so many strange and notable Events thô when first sow'd they seem'd so small and inconsiderable King Philip of Valois who now wore the Crown of France a Frois c. 25. obtain'd it at first chiefly by the Assistance Conduct and Authority of a Mighty Peer of that Kingdom named Robert Earl of Artois who was one of the most Noble Valiant and Politick Lords in France of High Lineage and Prince of the Blood. He had married King Philips's German Sister and was ever his Chief and Special Friend and Counsellour as well before in his private Condition as now in his Regal Eminence Insomuch that for the space of three or four Years nothing of any moment passed in all that Kingdom but at the Advise and Discretion of the Lord Robert of Artois This Lord Robert besides the Relation he bore to King Edward as having Married the Sister of King Philip who was Uncle to Queen Philippa was also by the b Sandford Geneal Hist p. 94. Mother's side descended from King Henry the Third of England King Edward's Great Grandfather by the Lady Blanch of Bretagne who was Daughter to Beatrice second Daughter to the said King Henry the Third He was the Son of Philip Earl of Artois Lord of Conches and Damfront and
then in France about renewing a Truce toward a full Establishment of Peace And indeed King Philip who knew that the Lord Robert of Artois his Mortal Enemy was harboured and protected in England did not at all question but that he would do his utmost to embroil the Affairs of France nor was he ignorant what just pretences King Edward might make to his Crown beside the ancient and inveterate Antipathy that seem'd almost Natural between the two Kingdoms He gave therefore to King David the Castle of Galliard upon the Seyne to reside in during his Necessitous condition and assign'd him a truly Royal Allowance for nothing could be got from Scotland considerable enough to maintain a Port becoming the Majesty of a King. Nor was it long e're Philip sent into Scotland to those Lords who held against the English honourable Messengers with many large Promises of great Assistance both in Men and Money provided they would engage never to strike up a Peace with the King of England but by the consent and allowance of him and David their King. This Message so encouraged the Brucean Lords that they readily accepted the Motion and sware to keep the Covenant which they sent back to the French King with their Seals thereto annexed The Contents whereof were but the same with those which their King Achaius of old had made with Charlemaine King of France and which were usually from King to King renewed between the two Crowns till at last in our Fathers Days Scotland was happily united to the Crown of England Which Covenant since the Articles are but short and few it will not I hope be amiss here once for all to record y Favin's Theatre of Hon. 2 Vol. p. 79. l. 5 c. 3 1. That a firm and perpetual Alliance and Confederacy should be maintained between the Scots and French. 2. That when the English made War upon either the Scots or French they should both give mutual Succour reciprocally one to the other 3. That if it happen'd the English should war in France the Scots should then give them Succour with Men of War to be waged and maintained at the Expences of the French They also engaging to do the like for them if it happen'd the English should make War in Scotland 4. That neither Scots nor French should for the future aid or assist the English with Men Money Victuals or Advice without the consent of the Kings of both Nations under penalty of being declared guilty of High Treason 5. That the French should make no Peace or Truce with the English except the King of Scots may be comprised named and allowed therein 6. And lastly That the Covenants and Conditions above-named should be confirmed from King to King and at each Change or Succession of them that their Pragmatical Sanctions should be sealed and confirmed reciprocally on both Sides This is the summ of that ancient League with France which was now renewed again And accordingly King Philip soon after z Frois c. 33. sent into Scotland to the assistance of the Bruceans Men of War under the Command of the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan who after became Marshal of France and a Famous Warrier and the Lord Garenciers with many other Captains Knights and Esquires Besides which he a Fabian p. 200 mann'd out ten Men of War to the Reinforcement of the Scots but these meeting with a Terrible storm at Sea were driven into Flanders and so beaten that after much loss of their Stuff and Provision they were fain to return home inglorious and without effect King Edward the mean while having so happily obtained the Victory aforesaid and settled his Affairs at Barwick and thereabouts adding Piety to his Valour b Walâ—ing hist p. 114. n. 40. goes according to the Superstition of those Times with a few Attendants to visit several Places in England which were most fam'd for Sanctity and there offer'd his Thanks to God Almighty the Blessed Virgin Mother St. Cuthbert at Durham St. Edward at Westminster St. Erkenwold at St. Pauls in London St. Thomas at Canterbury and St. George at Windsor for at that beloved Seat of his he finish'd his Pilgrimage After which in * Fabian p. 200. November he again marched toward Scotland as we shall shew in the beginning of the next Chapter and kept his * Grafton p. 229 Christmas at York being still c Frois c. 26. fol. 16. attended with the Lord Robert of Artois who never ceased day nor night to set forth before him the Great Right which he had to the Crown of France and the King took pleasure to hear him But as yet matters were not fully ripe IX And now was Scotland for a while quite out of breath her Nobility being so mightily consum'd by the continual Wars and their own too great Courage and none remaining who was any way able to encounter or impeach King Bailiol who from this time had the sirname of Conquerour attributed to him So that now with his d Hector f. 316. 40. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Army aforesaid wherein was the Lord Richard Talbot and many young Knights and Esquires of England he took in almost all Scotland diligently viewing every Place and prudently settling his Affairs for the most part furnishing his Garrisons with English as not yet daring since the late Treacherous surprize to repose much confidence in the revolted Scots whatever Submission they now pretended Only a few Castles continued true to King David in this Alteration which as they could not then be easily taken for their strength so for their Number were they very inconsiderable If any thing may be said to be so in a War when no less than a Kingdom lies at stake Hereupon King Bailiol finding himself pretty well established in his Throne e Walsing hist p. 115. M.S. vet Angl. c. summons a Parliament to meet him at Perth alias St. Johnston to which those English Lords that claim'd Possessions in Scotland came and there did their Homage to him for the said respective Lands held under him reserving still the Allegiance they ow'd to their natural Lord and Soveraign the King of England Among these was Henry Lord Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who had to wife the Lady f John Cumin Earl of Buquhan died without Issue but Alexander Cumin his brother left three Daughters his Coheirs of which this Alice the Eldest Mills Catal. Hener p. 957. Alice one of the Sisters or rather as others say Cosins and Heirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan and Constable of Scotland of the Lands of whose Inheritance doing Homage therefore he had g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 50. b. Livery and Seisin in the Sixth of Edward the Second thô afterwards he was dispossessed as other English Lords were till this time This Great Lord they say did first advise King Bailiol to implore the King of England's Aid toward the recovery of his Right and till the King's
Armagnac with a great Power of Souldiers Tholouse is a City of a large extent strong fair and well-walled And there was none in our Host who perfectly knew the Ford of the River but yet by the Grace and Goodness of God we found it So then we mâ—ched thrô the Seigniory of Tholouse and took many good Towns enclosed before we came to Carcassone which We also took a Town greater stronger and fairer than York But as well this as all other Towns in the Country which We took were burnt plunder'd and destroy'd Now after We had marched by many journeys thrô the Country of Carcassone We came into the Seigniory of Narbonne which Town held out against Us but it was won by force and the same Town is little less than the City of London being scituate upon the u u i.e. the Mediterranean in ho◠〈◊〉 Greekish Sea which is not above two Leagues therefrom And there is there an Haven or Landing-place from whence the x x Aude Latinè Atâ—â— River goeth up to Narbonne And Narbonne is but 11 Leagues distant from Monpellier 18 from Aigues-Mortes and 30 from Avignon And may it please You to understand that our Holy Father sent Messengers to my Lord who being not past 7 Leagues from him sent a Serjeant at Arms who was Serjeant Attendant at the Door of our Holy Fathers Chamber with Letters to my Lord requiring of him a safe Conduct to come and declare to his Highness their Message from our Holy Father which was to treat of an Accommodation between my Lord and his Adversary of France But the Serjeant was two days in the Army before my Lord would vouchsafe to see him or receive his Letters The reason whereof was because He was informed that the Power of France was come forth of Tholouse toward Carcassone wherefore my Lord was obliged to turn back again upon them presently as He did But the Third day when We expected to have met them they understanding of our approach retired before day and gat them to the Mountains marching hastily toward Tholouse But the Country People who had been their Guides to lead them that way were taken by Us as they should have passed the Water At which time because the Serjeant at Arms was in my Custody I caused him to examine the Guides that were so taken and because one of the Guides so taken had been the Constables Guide and his Countryman He might well see and know the Countenance of the French upon this his Examination And I told the Serjeant that he might the better declare to the Pope and all those at Avignon what he had now heard or seen But as to the Answer which my Lord return'd to them who had been sent to treat with him You would be hugely pleased if You knew all the Matter For He would not suffer them by any means to approach his Person any nearer but He sent them word by their Serjeant that if they came to treat of any Matter they should send to the King his Father For my Lord himself would not do any thing therein but by command from my Lord his Father But of my Lords turning back to meet his Enemies of his repassing the River Garonne and of his taking Castles and Towns in this Expedition and of other things done against his Enemies in pursuit of them they were all Deeds Right Worthy and Honourable to be told as Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton can more plainly declare than I can write unto You For it would be too tedious to commit so much to writing Now my Lord rode abroad over the Country eight whole Weeks whereof He rested not above 11 days in all those places whither he came And know for certain that since this War first Commenced against the French King he never received such Loss and Mischief as he has in this last Expedition For the Countries and good Towns which were laid waste at this time supply'd the French King every Year towards the Maintenance of his War with more than half his Realm hath done beside except the Change of his Money which He maketh every Year and the Profits and Custom which he taketh of the Poictevins as I can shew You by good Records which were found in divers Towns in the Collectors houses For Carcassone and Limoux which is as great as Carcassone and two other Towns in the Coasts of Carcassone found to the French King yearly wages for a 1000 Men of Arms and an 100000 old Crowns to maintain the War beside And know that by the Records which We found those Towns of THOLOUSE which We have destroyed together with the Towns in the Country of CARCASSONE and the Town of Narbonne with others in Narbonnois did together with the Sums aforesaid find him every Year to the Aid of his War 400000 Old Crowns into his Coffers as the Burgesses of the great Towns and other People of the Country who are supposed well able to know have told Us. Wherefore by Gods assistance if my Lord had wherewithall to maintain this War to the King his Fathers Profit and to his own Honour He should greatly enlarge the English Pale and win many fair places For our Enemies are wonderfully astonished At the writing hereof my Lord hath resolved to send all the Earls and all the Bannerets of Quarter in certain places on the Marches to be ready to make inroads upon the Enemy and to annoy them My Lord at this present I have no other News to send but You may by Your Letters command me as Yours to my Ability My Right Honourable Lord God grant You good Life Joy and Health long to continue Dated at Bourdeaux the y y i.e. 22d Decemb Lit. Dom. D. Tuesday next before Christmas This Letter may very well be supposed to have been sent into England by Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton Knights who returned thither at the end of the foresaid Expedition especially if we compare what is mention'd of them both in the preceding Letter with what is seen in the Title of the Following which is dated a Month later The Tenour of a second Letter written by Sr. John Wingfield directed to Sr. Richard Stafford Knight who had been in Gascogne and there leaving his Family was now returned into England Right Dear Sir and truly Loving Friend Touching News here after your Departure You may understand that We have taken and forced to yield five Towns enclosed viz. Port St. Mary Clerac Tonneins Bourg z z Ita lego pro St. Pierre vid. Maps Sur Mer Chasteau Sacrat and Brassac also seventeen Castles viz. Coiller Buzet Lemnac two Castles called Bolognes which are near one another Montaut Viresche Frechenet Montendre Rochechalais Montpont Montignac Vauclare Cenamont Leyrac Plassac Montravel And please to know that my Lord John Chandos my Lord James Audley and your Men that are with them and the Gascogners that are in their Company and my Lord a
Damsels and Virgins Dehonestation of Married Women and Widows Burning of Towns Abbeys Mannors and Edifices Robberies and Oppressions a Disuse of the Roads and Ways Justice faileth the Christian Faith is waxen cold and Merchandise decayeth and so many other Mischiefs and horrible Deeds have ensued thereupon that the Numbers thereof cannot be said nor written Whereby those of our Realm and of other Realms in Christendom have sustained many Afflictions and Irreparable Losses Wherefore We considering and revolving the Evils aforesaid and how it is probable that Worser may follow in time to come and having great Pity and Compassion of our Good and Loyal People who so firmly and Loyally have bore themselves for so long a time in true Constancy and Obedience towards Vs by exposing their Bodies and their Goods to all Dangers without declining expences or charges whereof We ought to keep a perpetual Remembrance We have therefore several times yielded to a Treaty of Peace chiefly by means of the Honourable Fathers in God several Cardinals and Messengers of our Holy Father the Pope our Beloved and Faithfull the Abbot of Cluigny Father Simon de Langres Professor in Divinity Master of the Order of Fryars-Preachers and Hugh de Geneve Lord of Autun who were then with the said King of England in his Host and went and came so often between Charles our most Dear Eldest Son and between the said King of England our Brother and in sundry places held Treaties on the one Part and on the Other to Confer and Treat of a Peace between Vs who were then in England and the said King of England and the Realms of the One and of the Other And at last they assembled the Treaters and Procurators on the part of Vs and of our said Son for the Matters above written and the special Deputies Procurators and Treaters of our Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King of England our Brother having Power and Authority from his said Father in that part at Bretigny near Chartres At which place it was conferred treated and accorded by the Treaters and Procurators of the One Part and of the Other concerning all the Discords Dissentions and Wars which We and the said King of England our Brother have had One against the Other The Which Treaty and Peace the Procurators of our Son for Vs and for Him and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King our Brother for his Father and himself sware on the Holy Gospels to hold and maintain And after that our said Son sware solemnly for Vs and for Himself and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales having Power thereto sware for his said Father our Brother and for Himself and We after these things thus done and unto Vs reported and declared considering that the said King of England our Brother had agreed and consented to the said Treaty and would hold keep and accomplish that and the Peace on his part the same Treaty and Peace being undertaken by advice and consent of sundry of our Blood and Lineage Prelates of Holy Church Dukes Earls as well Peers of France as others Clergy and Men of the Church Barons Knights and other Nobles Burgesses and other Wise Men of our Realm to appease the Wars and the Evils and Griefs aforesaid wherewith the People had been so hardly used rather than for our Deliverance to the Honour and Glory of the King of Kings and for Reverence of Holy Church of our Holy Father the Pope and of his said Messengers have consented and do consent unto and ratifie admit and approve thereof And whereas by the said Treaty and Peace We ought to deliver and resign and do give deliver and resign as is contained in our other Letters made therefore more fully unto our said Brother the King of England for ever for Him and his Heirs and Successors to hold perpetually and for ever all those things which follow in like manner as We and our said Son or any of our Ancestors Kings of France have held them in time past That is to say what is in Sovereignty to hold in Sovereignty and what in Demaine to hold in Demaine namely the City Castle and Earldom of Poctiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou also the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Sainctogne on this and on that side the Charente the Town and Castle of Rochelle and their appurtenances the City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agennois the City Castle and Earldom of Perigeux and the Land and Country of Perigort the City and Castle of Limoges and the Land and Country of Limosin the City and Castle of Cahors and all the Land and Country of Quercy the City Castle and Country of Tarbe the Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre the Earldom Land and Country of Gaure the City and Castle of Angoulesme and the Earldom Land and Country of Angoulesmois the City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rouvergue and moreover that which the King of England or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Montrevil upon the Sea and its appurtenances Item the County of Ponthieu all entirely save and except according to the Tenor of the Article contained in the said Treaty which makes mention of the said County Item the Town and Castle of Calais the Town and Lordship of Merk the Towns Castles and Lordships of Sangate Coulogne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Lordships and other things contained in the said Article Item the Castle Town and Earldom of Guisnes all entirely with all the Lands Towns Castles Forts Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Fees and Rights according to the Tenour of the Article making mention thereof more fully in the said Treaty and the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places aforenamed together with all other Islands which the said King of England holdeth at present or held at the time of the said Treaty And whereas by the Form and Tenor of the said Treaty and Peace We and our said Brother the King of England owe and have promised by Faith and by Oath One to the Other and are bound We and our said Brother and our Eldest Sons aforesaid by obligation and promises by Faith and by Oath made on the One Part and on the Other certain Renunciations the One to the Other according to the Form and Tenor of two Articles contained among others in the said Treaty and Peace the Form whereof is this Item it is accorded that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for their Heirs and for all the Kings of France and their Successors as soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next coming in one Year without fraud or deceit shall render yield and deliver to the said King of
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
Lords and Knights to meet him These found King Edward at Monstreul where they received him in their Kings Name with high Expressions of Respect For the French are a wonderfull free and civil People when they design to do honour to any Person Thus both Nations rode very friendly together towards Amiens enterchanging many courteous Speeches with great Familiarity King Edward upon his Arrival at Amiens was honourably welcom'd by King Philip the Kings of Bohemia Navarre and Majorica with many Dukes Earls and Barons and the Eleven Peers of France he himself being the Twelfth who were all there to do him Honour as was pretended but indeed to bear witness to his Homage There for Fifteen Days together he was entertain'd with great Royalty many things being canvas'd and discours'd of the mean while at intervals in order to the present Affair But on the Day appointed King Edward came into the Cathedral of Amiens in order to his Homage in a long Robe of Crimson Velvet pouder'd with Leopards of Gold his Crown on his Head his Sword by his Side and Spurs of Gold on his Heels King Philip of Valois sat ready to receive him on his Royal Throne in a Robe of Violet-colour'd Velvet pouder'd with Flowers de Luce's of Gold his Crown on his Head his Scepter in his Hand with other Ensigns of Majesty besides his Royal Attendants When e Frois c. 24 fol. 14. a. Martin p. 105. King Edward saw in what scornfull manner King Philip sat to receive him his High Courage instantly resolv'd upon a different Way from what he had before intended so that only bending his Body a little toward the Throne he said aloud with a truly Royal Boldness I Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain do hereby do Homage to thee Philip King of France to hold the Dutchy of Guien as Duke thereof and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul as Earl thereof and as Peer of France in like manner as my Predecessors did Homage for the said Dukedom and Earldom to thy Predecessors At this unexpected Gallantry of King Edward's thô Philip of Valois inwardly repin'd yet he seem'd to take little notice of it but only order'd his Chancellor to direct the King his Cozen That the manner of his Predecessors was by Putting off the Crown and Laying aside both Sword and Spurs to do it Kneeling with their Hands between the King of France's Knees or his great Chamberlain's hands and this they were always to do either in Person or by sufficient Proxy of some high Prince or Prelate then and there promising Faith and Homage to the King of France as to their Soveraign Lord of whom they held those Lands and Honours But this King Edward would by no means yeeld to alledging that they could shew no such Precedent For one Crowned Head so to humble himself to another and that he was not as yet satisfied of any such matter Hereupon they produced some Old Memorials which were read to him purporting that certain Kings his Ancestors had done in like manner to the Kings of France when summon'd on the same Occasion But these Records the King of England would not allow to be Authentick and therefore said he was determin'd as then to proceed no further till he had consulted his own Records wherein if he should find that any thing more had been done he would recognize the same by his Letters Patents to the French King. And whatever Monsieur du Serres alledges that the Vicount Melun Great Chamberlain of France having made him put off Crown Sword and Spurs joyned his Hands together and received his Homage yet that no more than a Verbal Homage was then done appears not only from the Acknowledgment of Monsieur f Mezeray p. 6. par 2. â—im 3. Mezeray an Author infinitely more diligent and wise than Du Serres but also by the King of England's own Letters afterwards which in order shall follow according to the Originall This was a mighty Disappointment to the King of France who had expected a more formal and full Homage in Presence of all these his Honourable Friends and Allies But no more could now be obtain'd and since no Evidence to the Contrary appear'd as yet Authentick enough at least to King Edward's satisfaction he was obliged in Honour to smother his Discontent before that Royal Assembly and so said openly Dear Cozen of England we will not here be thought desirous to impose any thing upon You against Right and Equity What you have already done sufficeth for the Present So that upon your Return when you have consulted your own Records and seen what your Predecessors have done on like Occasions you will send unto us under your Broad Seal an acknowledgement of the same Thus he spake and so the Assembly broke up as it should seem in friendly manner howbeit King Philip revolved deeply in his Mind of this affront put upon him where he had look'd for such High Honour and upon that account as well as because of those pretences which he knew King Edward might justly make to his Crown he secretly devised how when most separated from his people he might g Knighton p. 2555. n. 10. surprize and seise his Person till he should make his own Conditions with him But this Counsel was not so closely agitated but that Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln a Man of a great Reach who came over as the King 's Chief Counsellour and Governour had got some inkling or conjecture thereof at least and so privately informed the King his Master of the Danger he was in He for his part easily apprehending the matter left France suddenly with his whole Company e're any Man imagin'd how or why and so coming safely into England went directly for Windsor where his Queen Philippa lay who was extreamly satisfied with his safe Return and there had her Female Curiosity abundantly satisfied as to all her Enquiries after the State and Welfare of her Uncle King Philip and the rest of her kindred whom he had lately seen But King Edward brought home a sting along with him whereby he thought his Honour wounded and which never let him be at rest till he had prov'd himself Worthy of the Crown of France thô he never attain'd to the Possession of it From this time it run continually in his Head that France was too Noble a Kingdom to be despised for he had never before seen any thing so Pompous there or if he had his tender Age would not permit him to make any just estimate thereof But now whatever he had met with gave him the more concern because he look'd on it as of Right his own however injuriously taken from him The mean l Frois ibid. while as if all this was too little provocation King Philip not thus satisfied resolves to press the unwilling Prince to a more particular acknowledgement and therefore soon after pursues him
of Provision This Victory thô not of it self considerable did yet prove a Mighty Refreshment to the dejected Minds of the Scots especially since the Numbers of each Party were so unequal that the English exceeded the Scots almost three times in Number For l Fourden one says that the Earl of Athol had 3000 Men the Bruceans being but 1100 beside those 300 fresh Men who by their sudden Sally quite turn'd the Scale of Victory Thô the most Resolute Men in the World being so surprised from behind in the heat of an Engagement when nothing is certain and as little can be deliberated may well be frighted into a Fatal Confusion Yet m Walsâ—nâ—â— Hyped p. 113. others report the matter something otherwise saying that upon this sudden Sally of the Scots the Earl of Athols Men thrô Treason or Panick fear fled all from him except about 13 who being content to partake of the same Honourable Fortune with their Valiant Leader were all slain with him This Earl David Strabolgi whom Hector and Buchanan erroncously call by the Name of David Cumin was a Baron also of England where he had large Possessions for he died n Dâ—â—â— 2 Vol. p. 96. b. seised of the Mannor of Gainsborough in Com. Linc. Bulindon in Com. Buck. Posewyke West-Lexham Styvely and Holkellam in Norfolk as also of the Castle of Mitford with two parts of the Mannors of Pont-Eland and Calverdon and certain Lands in Mollesdown in Northumberland beside what he held in Scotland leaving behind him David his Son and Heir then three Years of Age and Catherine Beaumont Daughter to the Lord Henry Beaumont his Wife surviving he himself being but eight and twenty Years of Age at his Death This Battle was struck on the last day of December from whence the distressed Bruceans Raised themselves with Hopes that the succeeding Year would prove more favourable to their Cause X. This Year o Wilingh hâ—st p. 118. there was found in the Forest of Wolmer a young Mule with two Heads and two Necks of equal bigness in other parts nothing different from another She was kept alive for some time after in the yard of Sr. Edward St. John Warden of the said Forest It is also p Id. ibid. Odoâ—ic Rainald cenâ—in ad Bâ—enium An. 1335. n. 58. reported that a young Woman named Joane living in the Parish of Kingsley in the Diocess of Winchester and the Decanate of Aulton being on the fourth of June at Night advised by a voice to go and meet her Sweet-heart William in the Forest of Wolmer aforesaid early in the Morning met with an Incubus in his Shape who then and there carnally knew her At her return home she fell into a grievous Malady and then upon Conference with her Sweet-heart William it appeared that she had been seduced to her Confusion by an Evil Spirit Whereupon with great Contrition and Lamentation she bewailed and confessed her sins all the house being filled with an intolerable and noisome Savour In this deplorable Condition she held for three days and then died having her whole Body extreamly swoln and her bosome and privy Parts most dismally Black and Dreadfull and so prodigiously heavy that eight lusty Men could hardly bear the Body to the Grave I know not how far it may please God sometimes for the Punishment of Impure thoughts and Unchast desires as well as for Example to others to permit Satan to Tyrannize by his Illusions Many Grave Authors have not doubted to attest Instances of the like Nature However be this true or not I leave it to the Decision of others and the credit of the Author King Edward this Year q Pat. 9. Ed. 3. par 1. Sandford Genealthist p. 109. Speed p. 539. §. 106. §. 107. confirmed to his Cozen Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster the County of Provence in France being the Inheritance of Queen Eleanor Wife of King Henry the Third of England and Second Daughter of Raimend Earl of Provence Grandmother to the said Earl Henry which Inheritance the said Queen Eleanor granted to her second Son Edmund sirnamed Crouchback Father to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who dying without Issue this Henry the younger Brother became his Heir I know not how valid this Grant of the Kings might be but sure at this time Provence was in other Hands as we shall shew hereafter This Year the Lord Ebulo le Strange who in Right of his Wise Alice Daughter and Heir of Henry Lascy Earl of Lincoln obtained the Title of Earl of Lincoln r Sâ—ndsâ—â—d p. 109. Dâ—â—d 1 Vol. p. 668. departed this Life in Scotland His Relict the said Lady Alice of whose Lasciviousness I shall say nothing here immediately upon his Death Married a certain Knight called Hugo de Frenes who likewise in her Right was entitled Earl of Lincoln but he also died the next Year in Scotland as we shall see in due place Ebulo's Heir was the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokin Senior his Cosin Besides there died the Thrice-Noble Lord John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and High-Constable of England he deceased Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. at Kirby-Thure in Westmoreland on the Feast of St. Fabian and Sebastian and was buried at Stratford near London but leaving no Issue behind him was succeeded in his Honours and Estate by his next Brother Humphry a Man Famous for Military Affairs as we shall have Occasion to take Notice CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. In the Revenge of the Earl of Athols Death the English Lords in Scotland lay Siege to Dunbar but are not able to take it II. King Edward sends word to King Bailiol to keep the field with his English Forces and himself leaving the Parliament sitting follows them in Person with his Exploits there III. King Philip endeavours to divert him from an entire Conquest of Scotland and sends out a Fleet against him with King Edward 's Commission to his Admirals about the Defence of the English Seas IV. King Edward furnishes himself with Money divers ways yet again makes overtures for Peace V. His Considerations about the War with France and the Advice of his Gouncil thereupon VI. He sends an Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with the Result thereof VII The two Kings put themselves in a Posture VIII Prince John of Eltham King Edward 's Brother dies a Scotch Tale of his Death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen deliver'd of a Son. IX A Comet forerunner of the French War with other Prodigies I. UPon the News of the Earl of Athols Death the Lord William Montague AN. DOM. 1336. An. Regni X. and the Lord Henry Beaumont his Father in Law were greatly displeased as were also the two Kings of England and Scotland For he was a Man of Considerable Power Valour and Conduct But especially the Lord a Hector l. 15. fol. 320. n. 50. Holinshead Scotland p. 237 n. 60. Beaumont
as it were in a Net they alighted on foot and began to defend themselves like Men insomuch that for all their great Disadvantage they slew and hurt many of their Enemies But the Men of Lille were now both behind and before and they were enclosed in a narrow straight Passage beside so that on each Flank also they lay open to the Enemies shot among bushes hedges and ditches that they could neither turn backward nor forward nor yet have convenient Ground to fight it out on And however well they might behave themselves 't was impossible they should get off because perpetually fresh Men flow'd in upon them under the Conduct of the x Charles Allâ—yne in Câ—efty 〈◊〉 p. 7. Lord of Rambois so after some Resistance they were all taken of necessity and with them a young Esquire of Limosin named Raymund Rogerii Nephew to Peter Rogerii then Cardinal and shortly after Pope of Rome by the Name of Clement VI. This young Gentleman having yielded himself prisoner was afterwards slain in Cool blood by the Frenchmen for greediness of his rich Arms and costly Apparel This is the manner of the taking of the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolks y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48. b. eldest Son not as is commonly said of the Earl of Suffolk himself as Froisard hath deliver'd and truly it would not seem improbable neither but upon these accounts that it is hardly credible two such Great Captains as these were known to be should erre so much against the Rules of War in being so rash and careless and besides the way from Ipres to Greetsberg by Ryssel or Lille is the farthest way about by much and shews that Sr. Vauflart had rather a mind to expose them to their Enemies both of Lille and Tournay than to guide them the nearest and safest way Which had been by passing from Ipre to cross the Skell about Courtray a Garrison of their Friends to keep the left hand till they came to the place of Rendezvous which was not above 4 leagues beneath Aelst or Alost on another Arm of the Skell Wherefore having a more probable Account elsewhere of the taking of these Men I shall set that down also leaving the Reader to judge which Opinion seems most preferable Immediately after Easter the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolks Eldest Son called Robert Vfford le Fitz went and laid Siege to the Town of Lille in Flanders z 〈…〉 4 Vol. p. 244. so called from its Scituation among Lakes which are now dri'd up that Town holding then for the French and being furnished with a good Garrison Hereupon full of Courage one Day they made a vigorous a Walsingh 〈◊〉 p. 133. Stâ—n 236 Sally upon the Besiegers but whether really overpower'd by the English or only in Policy pretending so to be they at last retir'd in great seeming Confusion much faster than they issued out The two English Lords as the Nature of Man is presuming belike on their late frequent Successes hoped by pursuing them close to enter with them Pell-mell and so to be Masters of the Place With this Design they follow'd the Townsmen close at their heels themselves being follow'd but by a few of their Troops that were then in readiness thô greater Numbers were hasting on to second them But as soon as ever the two Lords with a few about them were got within the Gates down fell the Armed Portcullis from behind them and in their Face they met with a great number of Men of Arms besides that those who lately fled from them return'd upon them now with greater vigour So that immediately they were both taken and sworn Prisoners with their Men and then clapt in Irons and laid in the Town-Hall Prison or common Goal till it might be resolv'd what to do with them At last it was determin'd that these two Illustrious Captives being fetter'd and shackled with Iron should be sent and presented to the French King as a lucky Hansel of his future Success As they were b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 64â— b. convey'd to Paris they were drawn in a Cart thrô the midst of every Town Village or Hamlet in their way with great shouts and cries of the Vulgar and scoffs and railings of the rascal sort of People Being c Stâ—â— p. 236. at last brought into the King of France's Presence he most unworthily commanded they should be put to Death but to this the most Noble King of Bohemia John of Luxemburgh oppos'd himself with words to this effect Sir if these Gentlemen your Prisoners were not Persons of as high Merit as Quality I should not take much notice of them at this time thô I should hardly allow of putting the most mean or undeserving Enemy to Death in cold blood They are indeed as Matters now stand open Enemies to your Majesty but they are Honourable Enemies however and such as never fought against you but in their Liege Masters Quarrel nor then till open Defiance had been made Nor were they taken so much by the Valour of your Subjects as thrô an excess of their own and that too by a subtle Contrivance of their Adversaries nor even then perhaps had they so tamely yielded but that they believ'd they should not fail of being used like Prisoners of War. Let not the most Christian King of France prove more severe and less just or honourable than even his Enemies suppos'd him to be Beside the Event of War is uncertain and the King of England is not only himself of great Puissance but has gained strong Allies in the Empire so that he may be suppos'd able to return like for like If these Men therefore should now die who of your Lords would willingly fight in your Quarrel since if taken they must never expect to be put to Ransom but in Revenge of these Mens Blood to inevitable Death Nor are your Enemies only like to resent this Action if you proceed severely but the better Part of your Friends also as you may guess from Me who am the First that blame this Resolution of yours against them To kill those that resist is Valour and Justice but to put those to the Sword who have laid down theirs is both cruel and ungenerous It may be any Mans fortune to be taken Prisoner but it will be an eternal Blot to that Conqueror who destroys those in cold Blood whom the Law of Arms makes only Prisoners of War. My Royal Friend and Brother let us resolve to be valiant Enemies but Mercifull Victors at least let us forbear these unreasonable Severities till we are first provoked by the example of the English to use them King Philip being convinced by these Reasons of his Old Friend the Heroick King of Bohemia revoak'd the Sentence of their Death but however d Walsingh hist p. 134. committed them to close Prison He sent also to thank the Garrison of Lille for this agreeable piece of Service and promis'd them
telling him that his only best way would be by the Bridge of Cressin and this way was resolv'd on but however he tarried a while where he was before to consider more maturely of the safest and most honourable Management of his Affairs VI. Now when it was nois'd abroad that King Philip lay encamped with so great an Army between the Bridges of Cressin and Bouvines with intent to give the King of England Battle before Tournay every Man of Honour that either expected Glory or Prey drew to one King or the other as their Duty or Affection and Interest led them * Frois c. 57. Du Chesne p. 652. D. Among the rest there were in the Castle of Bouchain in Ostervandt three valiant Captains all Brethren and Germans that held for the Earl of Hainalt and consequently for the King of England When these Knights heard for certain how the two Kings were so near encamped that in all likelihood they would not part without Battle then Two of them desired the Third to stay behind for defence of the Fortress while they went to the Camp before Tournay to King Edwards Service The Matter was soon agreed on and the two Knights whose Names were Courrat departed from Bouchain and rode forth till they came to Escaupont beside Valenciennes designing to pass the River Skell at Condet When they were now between Escaupont and Fresnes they heard a great Tumult and Noise of Men and saw some flying in great fear to them ward Wherefore the two Brethren asked the foremost of them What might be the matter that they fled in such Confusion In the Name of God Sirs said they the Garrison of Mortaign yonder hath issued out upon us and having already done much mischief and slain and taken many People they are now returning with a great Booty to their Fortress Then the Brethren asked if they could shew them where these Frenchmen were and they said Yes So the Knights pursued after them by direction of these poor Countrymen being themselves * Frois Du Chesne ibid. 27 Spears in all and they overtook the Frenchmen hard by Nostre Dame Aux-Bois The French consisted of an 120 who were driving before them an 100 head of great Cattle and certain Prisoners Men of the Country Their Captain being a valiant Knight of Burgundy named Sr. John de Frolois who belonged to the Lord of Beaujeu at that time Governour of Mortaign As soon as the Germans saw these Men thy cri'd their accustomed Cries and rode in fiercely among them with great Courage The Knight of Burgundy set himself valiantly to receive them and some few of his Men with him but the greater Part fled down right they were so surprised with this unexpected Onset Wherefore Sr. John de Frolois after a short Resistance was taken Prisoner and all his Men either taken or cut in pieces for even those that fled were so eagerly pursued either by the Germans or those of the Country that not one escaped Thus all the Prisoners were deliver'd and all the Prey recover'd and rendred back to the Owners And the two valiant Brethren came before Tournay where they were Welcome to their Friends In this same season while the French King lay encamped at the Bridge of Bouvines William Lord of Bailleul in Hainalt and the Lord Vauslart de la Croix the same h Frois â—u Chesâ—e ibid. vid. c. 15. § 7. p. 168. German Knight who left the Earl of Salisbury when he was taken Prisoner for fear of the Men of Lille whom he had exasperated by his Hostilities these two encouraged a Party of Hainalders to venture along with them to go and rouse the French Army for they said they knew all the Avenues of the Country and that they would bring them to such a place where they should not be much overnumbred So very early one Morning they left the Camp to the number of about Sixscore Knights and Esquires and rode directly toward the Bridge of Cressin the Lord William Bailleul being appointed their Chief to whose Banner upon Occasion they were all to repair Now that same Morning it chanced that a certain Number of the Bishop of Liege's Men had rode forth from the French Camp under the Conduct of Sr. Robert Bailleul who was Brother to this Lord William Bailleul but held to the Contrary Party The Leigeois had already passed the Bridge of Cressin and were seeking Forage for their Horses and some further Adventure if they might But what of themselves they could not find Fortune offer'd into their Hands presenting them with a Success which they could not wish for For it being a very misty Morning the Hainalders passed beyond them and went over the Bridge on the other side neither Party having yet the least knowledge of other a man being hardly able to see the length of a Spear before him When the Hainalders were all over 't was resolv'd that the Lord William Bailleul should tarry there with his Banner and fourty Spears on the Bridge to secure the Retreat of the rest who were to adventure farther under the Conduct of Sr. Vauflart de la Croix Sr. Ralph de Monceaux and Sr. John Verchin These consisting of Fourscore Spears rode so far that they dash'd in upon the Troops of the King of Bohemia and the Bishop of Leige who were encamped nearest to that Bridge just at which time the Lord of Rademach who had kept Watch the latter part of that Night was going off from Duty for it was about seven of the Clock These Hainalders made a great Confusion and did some Mischief but the Army began to stir presently and to draw that way in good Order whereupon they retired again toward the Bridge with the Luxemburgers and Liegeois at their Heels Then was the Lord William Bailleul advised to repass the Bridge and expect his Men on the other side because they were so closely pursued that there would be much confusion if the Bridge was not clear at their Return Sr. William leaving them space accordingly the Hainalders repassed after him thô not without some difficulty their Captains being fain to place the best Men in the Reer who were yet much prest upon by the French. The Lord Vauflart de la Croix particularly staid so long behind in hopes to bring off his Men that being intercepted he saw plainly there was no possibility for him to recover the Bridge Wherefore with much ado getting out of the preass he took a way well known to him down among the Marches where he thought to lie hid among the Reeds and Rushes till night and so to escape The rest of his Friends fighting still at the Bridge with no great Advantage At which time Sr. Robert Bailleul who held on the French Part being allarum'd with the noise of the Scufflle came thither on the Hainalders Backs with his Banner before him when the Hainalders saw the Banner of Murrians they verily took it for the Lord William's who
in Hostile Manner is beaten by the Flemings and English IX King Edward inform'd of a Design to betray Calais pardons the Lombard Captain and gives him Instructions how to behave himself X. King Edward goes privately over Sea to Calais and discomfits the Frenchmen XI King Edward at Supper presents a Rich Chaplet of Pearls to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont a French Prisoner and in contemplation of his Valour acquits him his Ransome XII The Lombard Captain put to Death by the Frenchmen King Edward rewards his Friends and having settled Calais under a New Captain returns for England XIII The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The French King and the Duke his Son marry again I. NOW doth King Edward the Third seem to stand in the full Zenith both of his Age and Glories He had but just past the 35 Year of his Life and yet was crown'd at Home in his Family with a Lovely Row of Hopefull Children and a Vertuous and Beautifull Consort in his Kingdoms with Peace and full Prosperity And abroad he was renowned above all the Kings of the Earth for his Notable Victories by Sea and by Land in Scotland France and Bretagne for set Battles or Taking of Towns for Kings slain Kings routed and Kings taken Captive Nor was his Moderation less admired and commended which he shew'd in Refusing the Title and Dignity of an Emperour This in my Opinion is the Brightest part of all his Reign thô yet another King remains to be Captive by his Arms and another King is destin'd to recover an Usurped Crown by the Aid of his Sword and Fortune For now a Walsingh Hypod 121. hist 159. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 943. Stow p. 245. by means of so honourable a Peace founded on so many remarkable Victories it seem'd as if the Golden Age was reduced to England and a New Sun began to shine in our Horizon So great Riches and Plenty the usual Attendants of Conquest being generally diffused over the face of the whole Land. For there was scarce a Lady or Gentlewoman of any Account which had not in her possession some precious Houshold-stuff as rich Gowns Beds Counterpains Hangings Linnen Silks Furs Cups of Gold and Silver Porcelain and Chrystal Bracelets Chains and Necklaces brought from Caen Calais or other Cities beyond Sea. And yet as the Roman Historians complain that they were overcome by the Luxury and Fashions of the Nations they had conquer'd So from this time the Native Candour and simplicity of the English Nation did visibly empair and Pride Superfluity and Vanity began to lift up their hatefull Heads till they provok'd the Author of the World to visit this Land also with his awakening Judgments Some whereof were not wanting even in the Days of this Great Monarch but did especially take rise in the Reign of his Successour from a Cruel and Unnatural civil War which was not wholly extinct till it had prey'd upon the Lives of Five Kings very many Princes Dukes and Earls and Hundreds of the Prime Nobility of England besides those many Thousands of the Common People who perished in the Quarrel even thrô the Reigns of Seven Kings till in a more mercifull Providence King Henry the VII happily united the two Roses and Peace and Humanity and Arts began again to revive and flourish among us II. But that the Blessings of Peace and Plenty might be preserved unto England as much as lay in King Edwards Power as well for the Support of his own Honour as for the Security of his People's Advantages and the Conservation of the good Laws of the Realm he begins this Year with a Parliament Which he b 14 Febr. Teste Rege apud Westminest M.S. Record p. 66. Sr. Rob. Gott n's Abridgâ—n p. 68. summons to meet him at Westminster on the Monday in Midlent From which time because several of the Peers were not then come the Parliament was continued from day to day untill Wednesday When Sr. William Thorp then Lord Chief Justice by the Kings Command declared in presence of the King and Lords for what Reasons the Parliament at that time was called As that the King had according to the Truce taken at Calais sent Commissioners to the Pope from whom he had long since expected some Satisfactory Answer but as yet had received none Also that sundry Articles of the Truce touching both the Kings and their Allies were not duely performed and further that the French were preparing a Puissant Army wherewith to invade the Realm From all which it appeared that the Truce was but very fickle and that it was neither safe nor prudent to rely upon it but rather betimes to be armed against the worst that might happen Besides he added that the Conservation of the Publique Peace at home was a main Point for their Consideration to employ it self about and that this must be done by wholsom Laws duely and impartially put in Execution Upon these Matters the Lords and Commons debated earnestly for several Days and at last answered the Kings Wants and prepared their own Petitions in manner following They c M.S. Record p. 68. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abidgment p. 69. first shew the great Charges laid upon the Commons as the Reasonable Aid being pardon'd in the 14 Edw. 3. Whereof every Fine was forty shillings whereas by Statute the same should be but twenty shillings also the setting forth of Men the taking up of Victuals without Ready Money and the Charge for keeping the Sea The very Subsidy of Wooll amounting to 60000 l. per annum and yet without Law the Lending of 20000 Sacks of Wooll and the Restraint of Exporting Wooll Notwithstanding they grant to the King Three Fifteens in three Years so as the Subsidy of Wooll might cease and on Condition that David Bruce William Douglas and other Chief Captains of Scotland be not deliver'd for Ransom or on their Faith Yet so that if the Wars do cease within three Years then their Grant might cease also this Condition being likewise understood that their following Petitions be granted and these their Conditions enrolled and exemplified Petitions of the Commons with their Answers Pet. That the Falseness of those who were appointed to gather the 20000 Sacks of Wooll lent to the King may be determin'd by some of the Parliament and that all Acquittances made to any such may be repealed Ans This Petition was answer'd in the last Parliament and therefore Command was given anew to execute the same Pet. That the King would command the Nobles in no wise to take any common Thief or Robber into their Protection And that in every Shire-Town two Knights and two Learned in the Law be appointed to determin all Offences and to enquire of False Money they to have some Fee to encourage them in their Duty and to prevent Receiving of Bribes But this also was said to have been answer'd in the last Parliament Pet. Whereupon the
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
the Earl of Warwick Thomas Son to the Earl of Oxford and John Son to the Lord Moubray On the 2d of November or rather on All-Saints Day which is the First as we shall prove by and by the King began his March from Calais towards St. Omers whither he heard the King of France was come from Amiens wasting all the Country as he went. As he was between Guisnes and Ardres there came to him h Frois c. 155. the Marshal D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and Others from King John that i R. Avesbâ—ry Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 20. under pretence of Discoursing Him they might take a full view of all his Forces And accordingly they returned with such a Report of his Strength that the French King was now determin'd not to hazard a Battle with him But rather to pass on before k Knighton p. 2610. n 60. breaking the Bridges behind him and gathering up or destroying all sorts of Provision that so the English might be forced for want thereof to return back for that time Whereupon l R. Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 30. Walsingh hist p. 263. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 229. as he design'd it came to pass for King Edward was so streightned thereby that he was obliged to return to Calais his Army having drank nothing but Water for three Days and all other Provisions being extream scarce The French Writers and Froisard m Frois c. 155. ibid. Mâ—zeray ad hunc an c. also himself for I am resolved to dissemble nothing say that King John by these Messengers offer'd King Edward to fight him either Body to Body or Power against Power whensoever himself should appoint but that King Edward declin'd the Offer and so went home again for England Surely I desire by no means to rob the French Nation of any real Flower of Honour but neither do I think it the part of a just Historian to receive any thing without an exact Scrutiny or to let Improbabilities and Indecorums to pass without the least Remark thô never so well attested It is evident both by the Challenge which King Edward sent formerly to this Kings Father as from sundry Authors of both Nations we n Vid. Lib. 1. c. 17. §. 2. p. 188. have shewn and from the nature of that Princes Circumstances as well as his ordinary Custom that it was better for him in his own Opinion to make a quick Dispatch of the War to which Opinion it must be allow'd his Courage was no way wanting so he could not have been brought over so often in Person without his own Will and that it was ever his Aim to obtain a Battle and that when offer'd he never refused to accept it and if he had had been laugh'd at by all the World since his only way was to win the Crown he claim'd by Fighting Nor was King John a better Man at Arms or better furnished for the War than his Father Philip or King Edward who was now in the Prime of his Manhood being but 43 Years old either of less Courage or Art or Strength either of Person or People than when he sent his Chartel of Defiance to King Philip of Valois That he should need to decline the same at this time And thô for this Assertion of theirs they bring no Record nor Authority but the Word of one ancient Author who might herein be misinformed yet we shall add to these our Reasons a more Authentick Testimony from our Records of Parliament which to establish my Opinion most expresly o M.S. Rot. Par. p. 86. n. 9. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm of the Recor. p. 90. n. 9. ad an 29. Ed. 3. n. 9. witness That on All-Souls Day the King marched toward his Enemy and profer'd him Battle which his Enemy by all means refused Wherefore having wasted and spoiled the Country seeing his own Army languish he returned to Calais where he made Honourable Peace and so came back into England to his Parliament Which he had summon'd to sit at Westminster on the p i.e. 12 Novemb Morrow after St. Martin the Bishop Now Froisard who happen'd by some Misinformation to give the first Authority to this Story q Frois c. 155. ibid. doth yet witness with Others that King Edward rode with a great Host as far as Hesdin where he brake up the Park and burnt the Houses within and about it thô he entred not either the Town or Castle And then as our Writers agree for want of Provisions he returned back to Calais on St. Martins Day being the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Eleventh after his Setting forth according to those who say He set forth on the 2d of November but the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Twelfth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls or All-Saints Day That same Day being * Lit. Dom. D. a Thursday and the 12 of November the Å¿ R Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. n. 40. a. Constable of France and other French Gentlemen came indeed to the end of the Causey of Calais with Credential Letters offering unto the King of England in presence of the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny to give him Battle on the Tuesday next following in answer to which Challenge the said Lords of England having full Power and Authority so to do offer'd unto the Constable in the King their Masters Name that he the said King of England to avoid shedding of Christian Blood would fight with the French King their Master Body to Body so to decide his Right or if that Offer should not take place then the two Kings to select Three or Four Knights apiece such as should be the nearest in Blood unto them and together with these to try the Matter But when both these Offers were rejected the English Lords offer'd to give Battle to the whole French Army either the next Day being Friday or on Saturday the Day after whether they would but the Constable and his Fellows continuing still in their first Demand refused both those Days Then at the last the English Lords said how they accepted of Tuesday the Day by them assign'd on this Condition That if they did not bring the King of England to a Battle on that Day then they would engage to yield themselves Prisoners to the French so that they would likewise undertake to yield themselves if their King kept not the promised Day To this equal but unexpected Proposal when the Constable of France having nothing ready to reply had made some Demurr at last upon
the Burnt-Candlemas III. When He had thus wreak'd himself upon Scotland and had settled things as then he could in those parts he returned home with the Lord Edward Bailiol in his Company not as the Scots no less foolishly then maliciously write that he fear'd lest he should make any New Stirs For he had upon good grounds after serious Consideration of his own accord Resign'd his Right unto him and therefore 't was not likely he should repent the Fact and if he should he had not the least power in the World of doing any harm against King Edward since it was only by means of his Force and Assistance that he had not long since been crush'd to pieces for the whole Scotch Nation hated him thô against their Wills they had by the English Arms been forced to obey him Wherefore 't was not for any jealousie that King Edward now took him along with him into England but rather for Friendship and Good-will that so he might be removed as he desired from being present among that stubborn People whose vexatious Rebellions that he might avoid he laid by his Right to a Crown being willing to spend his latter days in some quiet and Honourable Retreat which King Edward allow'd him all his Life even seven Years after at which time he died IV. Having thus dispatch'd the Affairs of Scotland 't is time for us now to look toward other parts especially where the Trumpet seems to call us forth to War Wherefore leaving England for a while we shall search a little after the Condition of France where we shall find by a strange kind of Fate how readily that Realm inclines to accelerate its own Disasters On the first of March the Three Estates according as they had ordain'd the last Session met again at Paris in Parliament to consider about the last Tax and not only to make it sufficient but to settle a kind of Fund upon the Crown toward the Maintenance of these hungry Wars And r Frois c. 155. fol. 77. here finding that the first Grant together with the Gabell of Salt would by no means suffice they granted a New Subsidy that every Person as well of the Blood Royal as others whether of the Clergy or not Religieux or Lay-Religieux Housholders or Curates of Churches having Rents or Revenues Offices or Administration Women Widows Children Married or not-Married having any thing of their own either in their own hands or in the keeping administration or tuition of others and all others of any Estate Quality or Privilege whatsoever that are according to the usual valuation worth any thing If it be valued at an 100 l. Revenues or under being for term of Life either in Heritage or pledge or by means of any Office or Pension during Life or at Pleasure that Person shall pay to the Kings Aid and Subsidy of every such 4 l. Fourty Souses and of every Ten Pound of Revenues and above 20 Souses Labourers and others living by their Work and Labour shall pay only 10 Souses Servants Prentices and others who living by their service receive above an 100 shillings Wages per annum shall pay 10 Souses The Moneys to be valued at the Rate of Paris in that Country and at the Rate of Tournois as Money is current in those parts But if servants have by the Year but an 100 shillings or under then they shall pay nothing unless they have Goods after the Rate aforesaid for then they shall pay as well as others Also all Beggars Monks and Cloysterers without Office or Administration and all Children being within ward under the age of 15 if they have nothing in their hands and also all Nuns having no Revenues above 40 l. shall pay nothing Nor Married Women neither because their Husbands pay for them For they shall be valued as well after what themselves are worth as what their Wives are Worth too As for the Clergy and Men of the Church as Prelates Abbots Priors Canons Vicars and others if they be worth above an 100 l. Yearly Revenues as aforesaid either in Spiritual or Temporal Preferment or Estate or in both to the Sum of 5000 l. they shall pay 4 l. for the first Hundred and 40 s. for every other Hundred till you come to the Sum of 5000 l. aforesaid But they shall pay nothing for what they may dispend above 5000 l. nor for their Moveables And the Value of their Benefices shall be estimated after the Rate of their Desmes when they are payable without privilege or exception And as for Noblemen and those of the Good Towns that may spend above the Sum of 100 l. Revenues they shall pay till they come to the Sum of 5000 l. for every Hundred Pounds 40 s. besides 4 l. for the first Hundred And those of the Good Towns in like manner till they come to a 1000 l. of Revenues And as for the Moveables of Noblemen that have not a 100 l. of Revenues their Moveables shall be esteemed and reckoned to the Value of a 1000 l. and no further And others that have not 400 l. of Revenues their Goods shall be reckoned till you come to 4000 l. that is to say an Hundred Pounds of Moveables as 10 l. of Revenues and so on after that Rate And if a Nobleman has only an 100 l. in Revenues and but a 1000 l. in Moveables or if he have but 400 l. in Revenues and but 4000 in Moveables or if it be part in One and part in the Other they must be estimated together to the Sum of 1000 l. to Noblemen and to 4000 l. to others and not beyond This is that Famous Tax the most Remarkable in that Age not so much for the Greatness thereof as for its Universality it being extended to the very Wages of Servants Labourers and other Mean Persons and besides that there was taxed Å¿ Mezeray p. 42 ad an 1356. C. B. Dom. Lit. 8 pence or French deniers in every Pound of all Merchandise V. These excessive Subsidies were occasion of many Murmurs and of some Insurrections as at Arras especially Where on the t Frois c. 155. fol. 1â—6 Paul. Aemyl p. 285. A. Fifth of March being a Saturday there arose a fierce and mortal Contention between the Commons and the Chief Burgesses of the Town At which time the Commons slew Seventeen of the most Eminent of their Citizens and on the Monday after they murder'd Four more and proscribed most of those that were absent For at that time they had the chief stroke in the Government of the Town u Pascha 24 April But on the Wednesday after Easter or the 27 of April the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan Marshal of France went thither politickly without any appearance of Men of War but only as a Friendly Reconciler between the two Parties and having order'd 200 Horse to follow him by degrees when they were all come he pick'd up more than an hundred of the principal Ringleaders in this
Foundation of an Honourable Name which should be venerable to late Posterity XIII And thus did Edward the BLACK-PRINCE now doubly dyed Black by the Terrour of his Arms continue his March without b Frois c. 169. the least Opposition thrô Porctou and Saintogne till he came to Blaye where he passed over the River Garonne and so came in Safety and Honour to his Chief City of Bourdeaux It can hardly be imagin'd with what extravagant Joy and Triumph and Honourable Feastings and splendid Pageants this Victorious Prince was received into that City both by the Clergy and Laity all Sorts of People extolling his Praise and rejoycing in his Presence From hence the c Polyd. Virgil. p. 384. Prince wrote Letters into England to the King his Father giving him a full but modest Account of his Success and promising God willing the next Spring to bring over his Royal Prisoner into England For by that Time he would have his Navy well equipped and furnished with Men of War. King Edward was wonderfully pleased with this extraordinary Success of his Sons but when the News of the Victory was divulged among the People Men were almost beside themselves for Joy the Conduits ran with Wine Bonfires were continually flaming Songs and Musick Plays Feasts and Wakes were in all Places Thus the Vulgar But the King d Vid. Odor Rainalâ—ad hunc an §. 7. Matt. Villant l. 7. c. 21. P. Virgil. l. 19. p. 381. Frois ibid. Himself like a Wise and Religious Prince who knew the Instability of Fortune even before he felt it Himself by the Example of the French Kings so suddain and unexpected Fall not only return'd his own Thanks to God Almighty for so signal a Victory e Matt Villani l. 7. c. 21. but summon'd his Lords together to whom he seriously declared that this Victory was not obtain'd by any Vertue or Power of his Son or Subjects but by the Grace of God alone wherefore he enjoyned them all neither by Feasting nor otherwise to express any loose Joy or Vain-glory. And at the same time he further enjoyned Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury and John Thoresby Archbishop of York that for Eight Days together they should thrô their several Provinces use Publique Processions and Prayers for the Souls of those who fell in the Battle and also return solemn Thanksgivings to God for so signal a Mercy vouchsafed unto the English Nation by which instance of Moderation he gain'd no less Glory to Himself than his Son had done by his Victory XIV Presently after the Battle of Poictiers the Cardinal of Perigort applied himself again to the Victorious Prince in order to settle some kind of Agreement between the Two Realms At first it is said Å¿ Froisae 169. fol. 85â— that the Prince would not vouchsafe to speak with him or so much as to see his Face because of the Chastelain of Emposta and others of his Retinue who were found to stand against him in the Battle of Poictiers For he could not believe as yet but that the Cardinal sent them thither However when the Cardinal saw the Prince's Strangeness and understood the true Cause thereof he made use of the Mediation of the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Monferrant and the Captal of Busche who were his Cousins protesting unto them in Verbo Sacerdotis that he was not consenting to that Action of his Men. And these Lords spake so much in the Cardinals Behalf and gave the Prince so many Reasons that at last he was content to hear what the Cardinal could say for himself And he having once gain'd that Point excused himself so discreetly that the Prince and his Council had no further Suspicion of him Whereupon he recover'd the Princes good Opinion and redeemed his Men at reasonable Ransoms For the Chastelain himself was set but at a Thousand g Frank 2â— Franks which makes an 100 l. Sterling which Summ he afterward paid From this time the Prince received the Holy Father with so much Sweetness and Humanity that he could not but highly commend him therefore in his Letters to the Pope wherein also he set forth the Princes Moderation which he shew'd toward the King of France Insomuch that his Holiness sent his Letters to the Prince wherein he exhorted him yet farther to shew Clemency to the Conquered and amidst his Triumphant Fortune to accommodate his Mind to Peace and to return Thanks to God Almighty As appears more largely from the Letters themselves the Tenour h Odo Raiâ—al all hanc ann §. 8. 9. ex Tâ—n 4. Epist Secret. p. 2â—1 c. whereof followeth INNOCENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to Edward Prince of Wales Eldest Son of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Althô O Son You may as we probably believe after the manner of the World glory in the Felicity of your Successes yet we hold undoubtedly that as one Devout toward God and derived of Parents devout also toward him You do with reverence refer the Glory of your Triumphs and the Honour of your Victories to God your Creator from whom is all Victory and all Triumph We hold that in them you consider the Effusion of human Blood We hold that you regard the Peril of Souls and that therefore you do so much the more humble your Self in the sight of your God by how much as a wise and prudent Person you may plainly perceive that for those you ought to return him Thanks for these to beg Pardon of him For althô the same God who bestows his Gifts as he pleases hath made you Glorious with the Titles of Victories and the Pomp of Triumphs yet he doth detest the Slaughter of his People nor would have the Rancor or Hate the Right or Wrong of Rulers to be compensated with the Destruction of faithfull and innocent Subjects Which we in serious Meditation weighing with out selves nothing doubt nay perhaps we are certain that You by how much you have received more prosperous things of the Hand of the Lord are so much the more prompt to Peace so much the more favourably enclin'd to Concord Especially since it is usual for Powerfull Men who follow Goodness that Prosperity doth rather stir them up dayly to Mercy that Success doth rather induce them perpetually to Gentleness For Goodness is never taken notice of in any One but onely when it is in his Power to be Cruel the Sweetness of Clemency is rarely known unless when it might deal severely Power therefore gives occasion to Clemency and a Cause also to Goodness This Occasion therefore and this Cause We require of You since you are able to express it and for a Peace to be by the Help of God reformed between our most Dear Son in Christ John the Illustrious King of France whom the Event of War hath brought into your Prison and your Self we confidently approach your Highness
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
with certain Knights and Esquires of Gascogne and of England in his Company intending from thence to repair to King Edwards Camp before Rheims These Men the young Lord of Gomegines being inflam'd with a desire to advance his Reputation in War encreased to the Number of 300 Men of Arms and then set forth in the Head of them from Maubeuge and went to Avesnes in Hainalt whence he proceeded to Terlon Now the Lord of Roye who lay in Garrison at Roye in Picardy with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires heard of these Preparations of the Lord of Gomegines and that he was going to serve King Edward in the Siege before Rheims and must of necessity as he also knew pass through Tierasche and being exactly inform'd at what time he was to set forward sent word thereof to certain Captains his Friends of the French party But especially to the Lord Canon Robsart an Experienced and Valiant Gentleman who then menaged the young Earl of Coucy's Lands and lay at the Castle of Marle in Tierasche The Lord Robsart at the time appointed joyn'd the Earl of Roye with 40 Spears But the Earl was Commander in Chief of the whole Enterprise not only in consideration of his Quality but because he had been the first Deviser thereof So he led forth in all 300 Men of Arms and went and laid an Ambush where he knew the Lord of Gomegines musts needs pass who suspecting nothing of this Matter was already enter'd Tierasche taking his way toward Rheims where King Edward lay On a morning he came to a certain Village called Hercigny where he thought to refresh his Men a while and so to proceed But as his Men were setting up their Horses he himself being young lusty and desirous of Honourable hazards said that for his part he would ride a little way out of Town to see if he could meet with any forage and thereupon selecting out 50 Men he marched out of the Village a Valiant Esquire of England named Christopher Moor bearing his Banner before him Now the Frenchmen who knew all their Motions were not far off from the said Village in a close Ambush thinking because the other equall'd them in Number not to stir till Night and then by surprising the Town make their Advantage For they were fully informed of their being there But it seems the Lord of Gomegines thrust himself now into their hands before they had hoped for such fortune themselves When the Frenchmen saw him at first with so small a Company they wonder'd who it should be and sent out a couple of light Horse to view them who returning brought word that they were a party of those they had expected At this they all brake out of their Ambush crying Roye in the Name of the Lord of Roye who rode foremost with his Banner displayed before him and the Lord Flamone of Roye his Cousin was with him together with Sr. Lewis of Robsart and the Lord Canon Robsart his Brother Sr. Tristram of Bonroy and others When the Lord of Gomegines saw what a case he was in like a resolute Gentleman he stood still to receive them and scorn'd to flinch a Foot. But at the very first brunt he was overthrown Horse and Man and finally there taken Prisoner and with him two Esquires of Gascogne who had fought with singular Valour as did also Christopher Moor Esquire who bare the Standard but at last together with that fell into the Frenchmens hands To be brief all on that side were either slain or taken except the Valets who escaped by running away the Enemy slighting to pursue them especially seeing they took not the way to the Town where the rest of their Men lay to discover unto them what had been done But the Field being f Frois c. 209. c. now clear'd the Conquerours took their Horses and rode into the Village upon the spur crying Roye in the Name of the Lord Roye whereat those in the Town were extreamly surprized to see their Enemies so near them they not knowing what was become of their Captain and beside most of them were unarmed and scatter'd abroad in the Town Wherefore being out of hope to make any tolerable Defence they began to yield themselves and the Frenchmen bestow'd them about in their Lodgings The Lord Canon Robsart had a great many Prisoners because he was best known to the English and Gascogners by his Banner with which they had been acquainted But some fled into a little House of Defence at the end of the Town which was moated about and might perhaps have proved a Refuge at that time had they been all of one mind but some said it was best to make good the place because it was strong enough to secure them till they might send word to the Army before Rheims from whence they should doubtless have a speedy Succour Others said 't was difficult to send now the Enemy was there and impossible to defend it till the return of an answer While thus they were concerting of Reasons the Lord of Roye with one decisive peremptory threat commanded them to yield up immediately For if they put him to the trouble of taking them by force they were all no better than dead Men. At these Words the stoutest of them all began to misdoubt the Event and so they presently agreed to yield only on security of their Lives After this all the Prisoners were sent to the Castle of Coucy and other French Garrisons to be kept till their Ransoms should be paid But when King Edward heard of the Matter he was greatly displeased but was obliged to digest it as well as he could For the only cure for irreparable Afflictions is Patience And this Adventure happen'd in the latter end of December in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX the Siege then enduring before Rheims VIII On the 20 g Frois c. 209. Knighton p. 2622. Lord Montagne's Essays c. 5. l. 1. p. 11. of the said Month the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter went with a Detachment from before Rheims and laid Siege to the Town and Castle of Cormicy which was near unto his Quarters for all the Great Lords were disposed about in strong Bodies abroad in the Country as well for Conveniency of Quarters as to stop up all the Avenues that no Provision should enter the City This Fortress belonged to the Archbishop of Rheims and was now by him so well furnish'd that it seem'd far enough out of all Danger For therein was a square stone Tower with Walls of a Wonderfull thickness and at all Points sufficiently provided for a Siege and moreover the Town it self was fenced with a Double Ditch and High Walls But against this Place came the Lord Burwash together with the Lord John Botetourt and other Knights as well of his own Retinue as belonging to the Prince of Wales to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Richmond These Men
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
at Westminster the Sixth of February in the Thirty Fifth Year of our Reign The like Letters of Restitution were granted to all the rest of the Houses of Aliens thrô England All which Priories Aliens were many Years after g Weevers Fun. Monum p. 339. utterly suppressed and dissolved by another Martial King Henry the Fifth and their Lands given by him and his Son Henry VI to Colleges of Learned Men in Cambridge and Oxford and to other Monasteries CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. An Embassy from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus whom King Edward entertains with Justs and Tourneaments II. King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Aquitain with the Copy of his Charter III. The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophecy concerning the next Successor to the Crown after King Edward The Prince's Reception in Aquitain he creates Officers and settles his Court at Bourdeaux IV. A Parliament at Westminster the Jubilee of King Edwards Age He creates his Sons Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge and bestows many large Favours upon his People V. The King holds a solemn Hunting with great Royalty The Lord Faulconberg dies Sr. John Copland murthered I. AN. DOM. 1362. An. Regni Angliae XXXVI IN the beginning of this Year there came into England an Honourable Embassie of Gallant Knights of Armenia and of Cyprus sent from the two Kings of those Countries who were now engaged hotly in a War with the Saracens to request the King of England for his Aid either in Men or Money or in both towards the carrying on of those Holy Wars or at least-wise to prepare the Kings Mind against the time that the King of Cyprus should come hither for that purpose which he did not long after The King received them graciously and they were in a fair way to succeed with him according to their desire and he for his Part as well to entertain these Gentlemen Strangers as to divert the Princes and Lords of France now in Hostage with him began a Walsing Hist p. 172. Stews Survey of London p. 421. on the First of May to solemnize a Royal Justs and Tourneament in Smithfield which was held with great Honour for Five Days together the King himself the Queen and their Children being present with the most Part of the Nobility of England and those Noble Guests of France Spain Cyprus and Armenia II. A while after King Edward advised with his Council about the better Establishing of his Affairs and it was resolved b Frois c. 216. that since the Prince of Wales was now upward of Thirty and a Married Man the King his Father should give unto him the whole Dutchy of Aquitain to hold by Homage of the Crown of England Especially because the Lords and Knights of those Parts althó the Lord Chandos was not only blameless but dear among them did perpetually importune the King to send his Son the Prince unto them It is easily remembred that in the late Treaty of Peace among other things it was agreed and sworn to both by the French King and his Eldest Son afterwards called Charles V that all the Dutchy of Aquitain should from that time forward for ever remain to King Edward of England and his Heirs and Successors in such manner as that they should not owe or pay any Homage or Resort unto the King or Crown of France therefore but to be held by Them with all Freedom and Liberty perpetual as Sovereign Lords Allies and Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any kind of Superiority or making any Obedience Homage or Subjection and without yielding in time to come any Service or Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for either the Whole or any Part of those Lands whether Cities Earldoms Castles Countries Lands Isles Places or Persons named in the Articles of the said Treaty Now therefore King Edward having a full and peaceable Possession of the said Dutchy of Aquitaine according to the Tenor of the said Agreement c M. S. â—et Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Historici omnes resigns and gives unto his Son the Black-Prince by his Royal Charter all the Land of Guienne and Gascogne by the Name of a Principality for his Life in which Charter he created him Prince of Aquitain and Gascogne and also granted unto him those other Castles Towns and Counties of Poictou Saintogne Angoulesmois Agenois Limosin Quercy Rovergue and all other Places on the Borders of Gascogne which by Vertue of the Peace were to fall to King Edward reserving to himself Power of Erecting Guienne into a Kingdom and retaining also to himself the Resort and Sovereignty both over the Principality and the Rest that went with it And this Charter was Dated the 19 of July 1362 being the 36 of Edward the Third But besides this Charter of Donation and Creation there was another bearing Date the same Day of Explanation whereby the King more particularly declared the Sense of his Reservation of the Resort and Sovereignty and besides of an Ounce of Gold Yearly payable unto him by the Prince at his Palace of Westminster on Easter-Day The Charter of Creation is incorporated in that of Explanation the Margin of the d Ret. Vascen 36 Ed. 3. m. 18. n. 17. Roll being Pro Edvardo Principe Aquitaniae Walliae i. e. For Edward Prince of Aquitain and of Wales The Charter of Explanation is French and that of Creation Latine in the Originals which the Reader may find in e Seldens Titl Honor. Part. 2. ch 3. p. 487. c. Mr. Selden I shall here take leave to render the whole in English The King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas this present Day We have given to our Right Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales the Name Renown and Title of the Principality of Aquitain transferring unto his Person for his Life only all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places which We have and ought to have by Vertue of the Peace last made between Vs and our Right Dear Brother the King of France in the Country of Aquitain and also those which We have and hold or ought to have and hold in all Gascogne together with the Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patrenages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral Abbies Priories Monasteries Hospitals both Secular and Regular and of other Benifices of the Church appertaining unto Vs by Cause or on Occasion of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all manner of Rights and all other Appurtenances and Appendages as entirely and perfectly as We hold them or as any of our Progenitors have held them in any time past to hold under Vs
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
Guischard Dangle and Sr. Stephen Cossington with Sr. William Beauchamp and Others were trying out the matter with Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan and the rest of the Frenchmen and Aragonians who made a gallant and a long Resistance So that the Knights of England endured much pain before they could open them each Party with Spear in Hand foining and pressing against each other and when their Spears were broke they fought with short Battle-Axes or Swords and Daggers That Day the Lord John Chandos proved himself a Noble and Hardy Knight doing under his Banner many a notable Feat of Arms and he still pressed on so far that at last he was encompassed among his Enemies where he was so hardly handled that he was fell'd to the Ground but at the same time drew after him a great and big-bon'd Knight of Castille named Sr. Martin Farcant who was much renowned for Hardiness among the Spaniards This Man did his endeavour to have slain Sr. John Chandos who now lay under him in extream danger But at that instant Sr. John remembred himself of a Knife or short Dagger which he had in his Bosom under his Mail and presently drew it out and stretching forth his right Hand strack this Sr. Martin Farcant so in the Back and Sides that he slew him as thus he lay upon him And then the Lord Chandos heaving him over on one side arose quickly on his feet and by that time his Men were broke in unto him having long labour'd to come up to him where they saw him fell'd And now the Lord Chandos being follow'd by his Men and they being headed by their General began to prevail against their Enemies and to get apparent Advantage over them thô they had fought long and doubtfully before they obtain'd this Point Under the Ensign of St. George and the Banner of the Lord Chandos were all the Companions to the Number of 1200 Penons and their Captains were all hardy and valiant Knights as Sr. Robert Cheney Sr. Perdiccas de la Brett Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. Garses du Chastel Sr. Galiard Vignior Sr. John Charnels Nandon of Bergerac Edmund Ortingo Humphry Perot of Savoy the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg de l'Esparre Lanny the Little Mechlin and divers Others besides the Knights and Esquires of England lead by the Duke of Lancaster as the Lord William Beauchamp Sr. Ralph Camois Sr. Walter Vrsewick Sr. Robert Someri Sr. John Grandesson Sr. John Draper and above 200 Knights more On the French Part there fought valiantly Sr. Bertram of Clequin with the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord William Garils a Spaniard the Beague of Villaine the Lord Dantoign or D'Intoigne in Hainalt the Lord of Brusnel the Lord Guy Bailleul Sr. John of Bergues the Beague of Villiers the Almain of St. Venant and many other Good Knights of France Hainalt Bretagne Spain Aragon Provence and the Marches thereabout who behav'd themselves all like Men however they got no Advantage for they were match'd with Knights hardy and strong and such as were expert and well-practised in Arms. Yet they held out a while with exceeding Courage so that if the Spaniards had done their part as well as the Frenchmen in all likelihood the English and Gascogners would have been much more hardly put to it and have paid at least dearer for their Victory Neither was it any fault of the Bastard Henry's that they did no better for he had well and often admonished and desired them before they came to it to do their utmost and so they had promised him to do and now he set them an Example himself and gave infinite demonstrations of his exceeding Valour and did Wonders in Arms and with a present Courage comforted his Men and when he saw any ready to fly or quit their station and so open the Ranks then he rode in among them and said My Lords I am your King You your selves have made me so and have sworn and promised not to fail me thô you die for 't For Godsake be mindfull now of your Oath and Promise and acquit your selves loyally unto Me For certainly I will not flinch one Foot as long as I can see you do your Devoir And another time he would say Where are the Courages of those Noble Spaniards who under my Father King Alphonso have given such wonderfull Overthrows to the Moors Do not now disgrace your former Glories by turning your backs at this Time. A little Perseverance will set the Garland on your Heads By these and the like Words being full of Comfort King Henry rallied his Men together three several times that Day and with his own Hands he fought valiantly So that by all means as to that Point he ought to have an honourable Report Indeed this Fight proved marvellously Dangerous and therein many Men were slain and grievously wounded and at the beginning the Commons of Spain with their Slings cast stones so violently that it was a mighty trouble to the English at first but when they also felt the sharp Arrows of England light among them they could no longer keep their Array so exactly There were however with King Henry many Noble Men of Arms as well of Spain as of Portugal and Aragon who behaved themselves with much Honour and would not give up the Day so lightly For they fought obstinately with Spears Axes Javelins and Swords And on a Wing of that Battail there were certain Troops of Cuirassiers well mounted on Gennets who always kept them in good Order For when they broke or open'd their Array in any part thither immediately flew these Troops always ready to help and bring them again into Order Which Device Sr. Bertram had taught King Henry having to his Cost learn'd it of the Lord Chandos in the Battle of Auray in Bretagne Upon all which accounts it must be acknowledged how the English and Gascogners before they had any great Advantage bought it dearly and were fain to win it by noble Chevalry and true Prowess of Arms. And to say the Truth the z Frois ibid. Black-Prince himself was the chief Flower of Chevalry in all the World and he had with him many right Valiant Knights and Esquires as well of England as of Aquitain as the Lord Edward Spencer a Frois f. 197. a. a mighty Man of Valour the young Lord Thomas Holland Eldest Son to the Princess of Wales the Lord Baldwin Frevil Seneschal of Sainctogne Sr. Thomas Wake of Blyseworth in Northamptonshire Seneschal of Rovergue together with the Seneschals of Bourdeaux of Rochelle of Poictou of Limosin and of Perigort Sr. Nele Loring Knight of the Garter Sr. Richard Pontchardon a most valiant Knight of Devonshire Sr. William Molineux Sr. Nicolas Bond. Sr. Hugh Courtney and Sr. Philip Courtney Brethren Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. John Combes and Sr. Thomas Combes Brethren besides the Gascogners as Sr. Lewis of Marville Sr. Raimund Danduel and Others And in the other Battails there were as Choice
or Encrease than by way of Confiscation especially of that which riseth upon the Crime of Treason as it is in this present Case It was also set forth at large by the Letters and Rescripts of King Edward how the King of France never renounced either the Reversion or Soveraignty of those Lands which were deliver'd to the King of England by the Treaty of Calais And it was said by way of Corollary that neither the Dutchy of Aquitain nor any other Lands whatsoever ought ever to be deliver'd to the English upon any Respect because among other Reasons the English never yet had althô it were but one Foot of Land in France whether it were by Marriage or otherwise but in the end they always raised Wars and Troubles against the King and State of France And further there were noted and set down many Expeditions made into Aquitain both before and since the time of Charles the Great occasion'd by Justice of the Kings of France for Condemning and Depriving many Dukes of Aquitain because of their Rebellions and other bad Behaviour declaring manifestly that the said Dutchy of Aquitain was sometime the Proper Right and Inheritance of the Kings of France and that did evidently appear in that Charles the Great made and ordained Lewis the Gentle his Eldest Son King of the said Country of Aquitain as King Dagobert long before made Hubert his Brother by the Fathers side only Many other things are there contained which pretend to answer all that the English could say or alledge But We shall now hear what the King of England could say in his own Behalf when We have first set down a short Genealogical Table of the Descent from St. Lewis to King Edward and Philip of Valois VIII THE PEDIGREE OF THE Kings of FRANCE From Philip the Son of St. Lewis untill Charles the Fair. King Philip the Son of St Lewis King Philip the Fair. King Lewis Hutin Jane Countess of Eureux King Philip the Long. Margaret Countess of Artois King Charles the Fair. Blanch Dutchess of Orleans Isabell Queen of England Edward the III. K. of England Charles of Valois Philip of Valois IX Reasons alledged by the KING of ENGLAND for his Right and Title to the Kingdom of FRANCE UPON Supposal as it is evident and notorious in Fact that Philip of Famous Memory sometime King of France the Father of Charles of Honourable Remembrance King of France last deceased and of the most Gracious Lady Isabell Queen of England our Mother 1 Reason Proximity in the Descending Line was our Grandfather by the Mothers Side Then was no Male surviving nearer than We to the same King Charles at the time of his Death of all those who were descended with him from our Grandfather Philip Uncle to our Adversary Now the Person of a Woman is not capable of that Kingdom by a Law therein anciently observed which Law by way of final Cause respecting the Favour of that Realm lest the State thereof should decline under the Weak Government of a Woman by Excluding the Person of a Woman doth not therefore exclude the Person of a Man descended of a Woman so excluded Lest Matters Odious should be extended which is Odious in Law from Person to Person from Sex to Sex from Cause to Cause from Hatred to Favour And lest the Feminine Gender which is contrary to all Rules of Law should comprise the Masculine 2 Reason Restraint of things odiouâ— 3 Reason the Femin Gender compriseth not the Mascaline 4 Reason Derivation of Right from the Grandfather by the Mother 5 Reason Absurdity in Law. 6 Reason The Descending preferred before the Collateral 7 Reason the cause or reason of the Law ceasing especially in a case of an Odious Nature For to this end the Law before mention'd excludeth the Weakness of Women from bearing Rule that more Profitable Provision might be made for the State and that the next Male no otherwise debarred might be Assumed into her Place especially to that Right which did not first spring from the Mother so excluded but is originally derived and propagated from the Grandfather to the Grandchild Otherwise by this odious Enlarging another Absurdity in Justice would ensue that the Nearer Collateral should be excluded and the more distant and remote brought in Seeing that by the Law of Nature and of Nations Brothers and Sisters and their Sons are preferred in mutual Succession before other Collaterals in another Line So that upon this Statute which is made in Favour of the Kingdom and in Hatred of a Woman being debarred from the Kingdom Occasion should arise both of Violation to Law and of Injury to such Males as are descended from a Woman Neither can We conceive that the Intent of the Law here mention'd is so unjust as that the Mother and the Son upon Dislike Reason should be condemned and punished alike Yea by the Contrary Judgment of the same Law whereby the Mother is expelled from Succession the Son entring into the same Degree of his Mother succeedeth in her Place like unto that Son who riseth into the Degree of his Father or Mother deceased 8 Reason the Son entreth into the Degree of his Mother to succeed his Grandfather 9 Reason One vexation not to be added to another that he may be received in equal Terms with his Uncles to the Succession of his Grandfather That so the Sorrowfull Mother being stripped of her Royal Inheritance by Rigour of this Statute should in Right receive some Solâ—ce by Substitution of her Son and not one Heaviness to be heaped upon another which the Upright Consideration of Law doth abhorr as we see even where a Charge of Calamity cometh not by the Law but by Misadventure as in that Law whereby the Custom is condemned which permitteth another Man to take the Goods of them that suffer shipâ—reck By which Reason that which is corrected in express Disposition of Law for avoiding an Encrease of Grief is more strongly prohibited in the secret Disposition Let it therefore more than fully suffice that by the Law of the Realm of France the Mother is cut from the Royal Stem not by any Default in her Self but by the Fact of Nature which framed her a Woman And that by Express Law she suffereth a certain Shipwrock in her own Disinheriting althô she be not by any secret Consequence of the same Law contrary to the Course of Justice wrecked again with her Disinherited Son 10 Reason One not to be burthen'd with anothers Hate And so against all Rules and Reasons of Law one should be burthen'd with anothers Hate Whereas the Right from which the Mother is excluded is in such sort given unto the Son that the Mother receiveth nothing by this Office and Charge of the Son. So likewise we shall find Punishment enlarged without Offence whereas it should be mollified and restrained 11 Reason Punishments to be restrained 12 Reason from an Instance of great Authority even where there
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
English Esquire of honourable Parentage called John Chandos who afterwards became a great Lord and a Noble Captain of whose rare Valour and wise Conduct this our History will produce many famous Instances This valiant Esquire cast himself first of any between the Barriers and the Gate where he was presently taken up by an Esquire of Vermandois called John of St. Dizier and so between these two there were performed many notable Feats of Arms that it was a gallant sight to behold them till new-comers on both sides parted them For John Chandos was so well follow'd by others both English and Hainalders that the Barriers were clearly won by force the Earl himself being now entred with his Marshals Sr. Gerard of Verchin and Sr. Henry Dantoigne and others who adventur'd their Bodies couragiously to crown their Names with Immortality At another Gate called the Gate Robert the mean while fought Sr. John of Hainault the Earls Uncle with the Lord of Faulquemont the Lord of Engien and the Lord Walter Manny and their Companies who maintained a fierce and honourable Assault But Cambray was not to be won easily the French King had so well furnished the Place with valiant Knights and Esquires who delighted in Arms and defended themselves and the City so bravely that the Assailants got nothing that day but dry Blows and at last returned to their Lodgings weary and well beaten For the Duke of Normandy's Presence and the hopes of a speedy Relief from the King his Father was an invincible Bulwark to them against Despair and the Bishop of Cambray preached well to the Souldiers chiefly for his own Sake For he was the first Occasion of betraying the City to King Philip in hate to the Emperour who was excommunicate by the Pope To this Siege came John the young Earl of Namur at the Earl of Heinalts desire to serve the King of England But he at his first coming declared That he would use his Utmost endeavours in the King of Englands Service while he should continue within the bounds of the Empire but as soon as ever he should enter the Realm of France he said he must take his leave of him and go to the Service of the French King who had retained him before Of the same Resolution was the Earl of Hainalt for he had privately commanded his Captains on pain of Death that none of them should presume to act any thing of Hostility within the French Pale VII While thus the King of England held Siege before Cambray with 40000 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen and hardly pressed the Besieged with continual Assaults King Philip made his General Rendezvous at Perone in Vermandois a Tract of Picardy 5 leagues from Cambray and news came daily to the Camp of his great Preparations to raise the Siege King Edward hereupon consulted with the Lord Robert of Artois in whom he reposed an entire Confidence demanding of him whether it were better to March forward toward Perone and bravely meet his Adversary in his own Realm or still to lie before Cambray till he should win it by Force He as he was a Person of rare Wisdom concurred with the Lords of England in this Opinion That since the City was strong and well furnished with Warriers Victuals and Ammunition so that it would require much time to constrain it and that they were not sure to win it at last since especially the Winter season drew on apace and they as yet had done nothing worthy the Fame of so gallant an Army but lay in a manner idle at much Charge and Expence Upon these Reasons they judg'd it best for his Majesty to leave an uncertain and unprofitable Siege and to set forward into the Realm of France where they might find more Forage and plenty of all things and in all likelihood presently obtain a Battle This Advice prevailing the Army was order'd to rise from before Cambray and to follow the Marshals Banners Then their Tents and Pavilions and all manner of Harness being truss'd up they departed thence in good order toward Mount St. Martin on the Borders of France The Marshals of the English Army were William Bohun Earl of Northampton and Hugh Audely Earl of Glocester with Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord High-Constable was Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and thus they all passed the River of Skell on a Knighton p. 2574. St. Matthews day at their ease the whole Country of Cambresis being destroyed as they went along with Fire But when the Earl of Hainault had accompanied the King of England as far as the Empires Bounds reached that way and that he should pass the River and enter the Realm of France he then took leave of the King his Brother-in-Law saying He would ride no further with him at that time for King Philip his Uncle had sent for him and he would not incurr his Displeasure but intended now to serve him in France as he had done to King Edward in the Empire So he and the Earl of Namur with their Men rode back to Quesnoy in Hainalt at which place the Earl for the present dismist most of his Men commanding them to be ready when he should send for them for he said that shortly he design'd to go and help his Uncle King Philip But the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre and the other German Lords with all their Troops went over the River with King Edward as did also the Lord John of Heinalt and his Brigade by the express Leave of the Earl his Nephew As soon as the Army was got over the great River of Skell into the Realm of France b Frois c. 39. among many others whom King Edward Knighted at that time one whereof was John Chandos aforesaid he called unto him a young lusty Esquire a Native of Brabant whose right Name was Henry Eam thô commonly called Henry of Flanders and there presently he Dubbed him Knight assigning him at the same time for his better maintenance 200 l. Sterling per annum to be raised of certain Lands in England This Gentleman was of great Nobility and Valour but above all of singular Loyalty to King Edward and of extraordinary strength of Body and of a promising Aspect whereby he purchased such esteem from this King who was a wonderfull Judge of mens Persons that he was afterwards by him chosen to be one of the First Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter But in this our History he shall go by the Name of Sr. Henry of Flanders that being his more usual Title in Froisard his Name of Eam or Esme seldom occurring Which gave occasion to the learned Esquire Ashmole to say that he could meet with little or nothing relating to him whereas we shall find frequent mention of his Honourable Actions under the foresaid Title but indeed nothing under his true Name of Eam Thô 't is worth our Observation that as here Froisard says truly how he was now first made
a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
thô not without some intermission by Reason of his many Wars continued to augment and adorn it with most Magnificent Buildings and Fortifications making it also the perpetual Seat of the foresaid most Noble Order So that even in his Days it became a very Famous and Illustrious Structure But since that in Memory of so Renowned a Conquerour and in respect to the Commodious Scituation of the Place as also for the greater Honour of the foresaid most Glorious Order succeeding Kings as Edward IV Henry VII and Henry VIII the Queens Mary and Elizabeth King James I and King Charles I have enlarged its Buildings Beautified its Prospect supply'd it with Water deriv'd from Blackmore Park into a Fountain of Curious Workmanship and made it more fresh and gay with constant Repairs pleasant Terrases and other Ornaments After all whom the late King Charles II out of a particular Respect to this Illustrious Place and in Imitation of all these his Royal Progenitors laid out vast Sums of Money upon its Repair and furnished it with a Curious and Gallant Magazine of Arms so well order'd and kept that it both Entices and Rewards the Curiosity of every Traveller that comes that way And thô the Seat be chiefly design'd for pleasure yet is it nevertheless beside the strength it receives from the foremention'd Arsenal fortify'd with deep Grafts and high Towers which command all its Avenues It is Scituate some twenty Miles from London upon the Banks of the Thames that furnishes it with Waters which embellish its Gardens with Fruitfull Currents Its circumference and extent is now so considerable that it may seem to vie with some Cities In short the Air is pure and serene the Architecture regular and well contrived all its Apartments Royally furnished its Gardens and Walks full of Diversion its Parks of Game and all things Worthy the Presence of the most Fortunate of Mankind The Scituation of this Place with its most Royal Fabrick thô Poetically is truly described by Sr. John Denham's ingenious * In Cooper's Hill. Muse after this Manner Windsor the next where Mars and Venus dwells Beauty with Strength above the Valley swells Into mine Eyes and doth it self Present With such an easie and unforc'd Ascent That no stupendious Precipice denies Access no Horror turns away our Eyes But such a Rise as doth at once invite A Pleasure and a Reverence from our sight Thy Mighty Master's Emblem In whose Face Sat Meekness heightned with Majestick Grace Such seems thy Gentle Height made only Proud To be the Basis of that Pompous load Than which a Nobler weight no Mountain bears But Atlas only that supports the Spheres In this Place King Edward at this time u Walsing Hypod p. 117. began to Erect a certain House called the Round-Table the Semidiameter of whose Floor viz. from the Center to the Circumference contained one 100 Foot so that the Diameter being 200 the whole Circumference comes to 600 Foot and about three quarters more For the Circumference exceeds the Diameter in like proportion as 22 bears to seven Towards the finishing of this Noble Work the King allowed an 100 l. Sterling to be expended Weekly thô afterwards by reason of his Wars he retrenched that allowance to 20 l. per Week But here it will not be amiss to speak something of the Original Use and Meaning of these Round-Tables And surely thô Arthur the Famous King of Britain is generally held to have been the Author of this Invention yet as we observed before in the Second Year of this History We find by Athenaeus that it was Customary for the Knights of Gaul to sit at Round-Tables to avoid Contention about Priority This Custom was renewed by King Arthur who from among x Ashmole p. 95. all those both Brittish and Foreign Worthies who came to his Court as to a Seminary of Military Discipline to give Evidence of their Skill in the Exercise of Arms selected certain of the most Noble and Expert Knights to the Number of 25 besides himself thô some say but 24 whom he united under him into a Fellowship or Order who sitting in their Chapters at a Round-Table were called Knights of the Round-Table The Place where the Founder first Instituted this Order was as y Frois l. 1. c. 100. Froisard witnesses Windsor thô not then called by that Name but by a Brittish Title Kaerguent And yet other Places were upon occasion allowed for the Assembly of the Society as z Vid. Selden's notes on Poly-Olbion Song IV. Winchester in Hantshire Cambelot in Somersetshire and Caer-leon in Monmouthshire To one of these every Whitsuntide these Knights made their repair where they held their Chapters and gave a due Relation of all their Actions and Adventures still attributing the Praise of all to God and the Virgin Mary We find these Round-Tables to have been renewed long after him a Ashmole f. 96. by King Stephen and Richard the First called for his couragious Soul Coeur du Leon or Lyon-Heart and We have also intimated before how in the Days of Edward the First the Lord Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore but not Earl of March as both Sr. William Dugdale and Esquire Ashmole inadvertently call him held the Celebration of a Round-Table with Tilting and Tourneaments which consisted of an 100 Knights and as many Fair Ladies of the Highest Quality And now King Edward the Third in like Manner designing b Vt Arturi memoriam resricaret Vincent Lupani de Magistratib Francorâ—m l. 1. to recover the Memory of King Arthur and to restore the Honour of the Round-Table that he might inflame the Minds of his own Lords with Military Glory and invite also to his side the bravest Sons of Valour from Foreign Parts resolved to hold a Solemn Justs at Windsor and caused this his Resolution to be c Frois c. 100. Proclaimed not only in his own Dominions but also in Scotland France Burgundy Hainalt Flanders Brabant and the Empire offering by his Heralds to all Knights and Esquires that would come to the said Feast his Royal Conduct for fifteen Days before and for as many after the Solemnity Which was to begin at Windsor on St. George's Day or the 23 of April as Froisard says then next ensuing But We shall prove hereafter that the appointed time was the 19 of January 1344 the full Institution of the Order of which that Saint was made the Patron not being till five Years after And in the Proclamation it was signified that King Edward himself would be there with the Chiefest of his Nobility Knights and Esquires and the Queen also to be accompanied with 300 of the Fairest Ladies and Virgins in their Richest Attire all of Noble and Honourable Families According to this Proclamation there came at the time appointed many Worthy and Valiant Knights from all the Parts aforesaid except France only For there King Philip gave a strict command to the Contrary and in hopes to
render this High Design of his Adversary of England less effectual He d Walsing Hypod p. 117. Daniels hist p. 223 Steed c. also at the same time set up a Round-Table at Paris to which many Knights came from Bohemia Luxemburgh Germany and Italy And at the same time also he gave e Fox Acts Monum ad an 1344. ex Walsingh Hypod. p. 117. ad hunc an free leave to any of his Subjects to fell down Timber for making of Ships and encreasing his Navy Whereby no little Dammage was afterwards done to the Sea-Coasts of England But however as for the Round-Table he Erected it proved of no great Advantage to him for King Edward here gain'd the Point of him most notoriously by adding to his Round-Table a peculiar Device of the Blew-Garter With which he Honoured his Order For thô the whole Design was not as now consummated more time being Requisite to settle so substantial a Society together with all its Laws Ordinances and other Circumstances yet because at least the Design was now formed and this Years meeting did certainly give Occasion for the Foundation of that most Noble Order which in the f Ità expressè Statuta ipsius Fundatoris Ad honorem Omnipotentis Dei Sanctae Mariae Virginis gloriosae 7amp Sancti Georgii Martyris Dominus noster supremus Edvardus post Conquestum Tertius Rex Angliae anno Regni sui 23 tio Ordinavit Stabilivit Fundavit quandam Sccietatem sive Ordinem Militarem infra Castrum suum de Windesore in bunc modum c. Idem affirmatur in Copiâ Hattoniana in Statutis per Henricum V. refermatis ut in Statutis per Henricum VIII Latinis apud Ashmole in Appendice Anglicis in M. S. penes me Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 187. 23 l. of this King received its full Establishment I shall to clear my self once for all of this Subject take leave in this place to discourse of the Institution and Original of the Knights of the Garter IV. It has been a Common and current Opinion that Joan Plantagenet called by some Countess of Salisbury by chance letting fall her Garter in a Dance the Amorous King snatching it up for the sake of the Beautifull Owner contrived thus to make it Honourable to all Ages but this we have already shew'd to want Authority when We overthrew the very occasion of it by proving that King Edward was not in love with this Lady to which We now add that even Froisard who makes him to have been in love with her yet when he comes to the Order of the Blew-Garter takes no Notice that it was ever intended as an Honour or remembrance of this or any other Ladies Garter Polydor Virgil a Man of indifferent Reputation being the First that ever mention'd such a thing brings it yet but as founded upon Fama Vulgi Publique Rumor only Besides of all those that hold this Opinion there are different judgements as to the Name and Person of the Lady some calling her Joan some Alice some Katherine others making her Countess of Salisbury and others again saying 't was Queen Philippa her self who once departing from the Kings presence to her own Apartment he soon after following happen'd to espy a Blew-Garter on the ground which his Attendants slightly passing by the King who knew the Owner commanded it to be taken up and given to him at the Receipt whereof he said You make but small account of this Garter but within a little while the very best of You shall be glad to Reverence the like And that the Motto of the Garter HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE was the Queens Answer when the King asked what she thought Men would conjecture of her upon dropping her Garter in such a Manner This Mr Ashmole g Ashmole Garter p. 180. quotes thrô lapse of Memory as from Du Chesne who yet h Da Chesne Histoire Generale D'Angleterre D'Escosse D'Ireland p. 670. in the place alledged has no such matter but only speaks of the Countess of Salisbury whose Garter he says when the Lords seeing the King take up smiled he said in French as aforesaid which signifies Let him be ashamed that thinks any Evil. Now thô all must acknowledge our King Edward to have been the first Founder of this Order of the Garter yet some have sought higher for the Original even up to the time of King Richard the First who began his Reign Anno Domini MCLXXXIX This valiant Prince say they i Black-Book Preface p. 13. after he had Conquer'd the Isle and Kingdom of Cyprus and lay now before Acon or Ptolemais a famous City of Phoenicia on the Borders of Palestine held then by the Sarazens being much wearied with the Tediousness of the Siege at last thrô some secret Impulse at the intercession and mediation of St. George as he imagin'd was inspired with fresh Courage and bethought himself of this Device to tie about the Left Legs of a select Number of Knights a Leathern Thong or Garter for no better were then at hand whereby being put in mind of the Glory that should accrue to them in vanquishing their Enemies together with an Assurance of proportionable Rewards if they succeeded they might be roused up to behave themselves gallantly and with more vigour in those Christian Wars Which Fact of his was done in Imitation of the Ancient Romans among whom were various Crowns invented for the honour and encouragement of those who had or should do well in the Service of their Country Some of the Names of which Knights as many as I have met with for Antiquity sake I shall here remember Sr. k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 470. Michael Carrington King Richard's Standard-Bearer from whom Sr. Francis Smith Lord Carrington is descended Sr. John l Weevers Fun. Mon. 318. 319. St. John Sr. Frederick m Id. p. 818. Tilney who received the Order of Knighthood at Acon or Ptolemais aforesaid Sr. William Waterville Sr. Rob. Sackville Sr. Richard n Dudg 1 Vol. p. 627. 662. Camville who leaving his Fellow Sr. Robert Turneham in the Government of Cyprus without the Kings Leave waited upon him at the Siege of Acon but died there These and some other valiant Knights being thus encouraged were soon after by their Emulous Valour chief Instruments of Winning that Great City from the Pagans Whereupon King Richard after his Return home from the Wars and his Imprisonment in Germany determin'd with himself to institute and settle this most Noble Order of St. George and the Garter by the Patronage of which Saint and the Emblem of which Badge the English Nation had atchieved such Honour As for King Arthur thô the Original of the Round Table in this Nation is by many attributed unto him yet none as I can find do carry up the least Notion of the Garter so far Wherefore the Summ of all that hath hitherto been deliver'd upon this Subject