common sort With sir Reignald Cobham three Heraulds sent Searching the fields of truth to giue report For to be slaine so fully were we bent To fight when as we hard the Kings intent Some Knights yet thought he dealt but ouer hard That of his succour we were so debard This happie day by noble valiantnes We vanquished immortall fame we gaind And so the King held on his purposes To Callis where as we long time remaind That stoutest Knights garding the towne constraind Surrender make of Callis to his will All which he doth with English people fill Duke Hanniball when as graue senate sent And him home cald to aid his natiue soyle From Italy with no lesse anguish went Then did Duke Iohn from Aguillon recoyle Long hauing lean was loth to suffer foyle But his sad father wild him thence in hast Vs to resist that much his Countrie wast How turning times do trauerse humane course From ruffling war to calmest quietnes And doth allay the mightiest rage and force Appearing plesant temperat stilnes Freed of Tumult stur or buisnes For clanging trumpet and harsh armors sound Daintie blis and meriment is found For Cardnall Guy of Bullen he was sent As legate into Fraunce well doth intreat Firme peace between the kings vntill was bent Their raged minds t' endure without deceat Twixt them and theirs till two yeers out were beat Home went our king but Britton was except Where two braue Ladies cruel wars they kept The one of Mountfort intitled Countesse Whose husband dide a prisoner late in France Redoubted Lady of great valientnes Sharp wars maintaind for all hir Lords mischance Amason like would ride with sheild and Launce Defend hir selfe with battelous axe in fist Threatning blowes bestow and well resist On swelling seas puissance hath she tride In stormie fight amongst the mightiest With enimies blood the marble waters dide With braue Bundutia or Viragoes best Great Edelsleda or the woorthiest Of manly dames that wouen maile haue worne She may compare for valerous adorne Th' other possest a Lions hart in brest Little Inferiour to hir couragious foe Sir Charls of Bloys hir husband now did rest A prisoner fell fortune would it so Gainst whom she oft hir mightie power did shoe These warlike dames hard wars do still maintaine T'on for hir sonne th' other for husbands gaine The two yeers truce expierd King Phillip died And Iohn his sonne was Crowned in his sted Our Prince of Knights when he his time espied Surnamed blacke from England is he sped And into Gascoine warlike Knights he led Whose vertue good and courage did abound And for no death would flee on foote of ground To Thoulous and Carcasson led his host Late before the Riuer of Garron past Hauing burned and spoyled all the cost With pillage store and prisners fiaunct fast To Burdeux safe returned at the last Tho th' earle of Arminack and th' earle of Fois Had Countries charge with soldiers of some chois The prince fresh in the flowers of his youth So much desierd to follow martiall deeds As duly to recount of him the truth His noble thought thereon he onely feeds Right busie Lord to sow wilde otes his seeds A second rode doth into Berry make And countrie round at pleasure spoile and take King Iohn informed of our chevachaunce His sommons cald but first of all he sent Three Barons wise t' aduise our ordinaunce Lord Craon Bowciqualt and the Herment Cald of Chaumount who ordred their intent Vs to intrap abushment one they plast From which we droue them to a castle fast Cald Remorentine the prince doth me command To go persuade these foresaid knights to yeeld I salued them which done I do demand Surrender of the castle which they held Vnto my Lord that matters so would weld Of curtesie vnto his rendred foe Of custome vsed in like case to shoe This rendring mart they thought too bad to make All three men of prooued valure much In silken white that puffing blast did shake Blacke egle spred whose either head doth tuch The banners sides sir Bowcequalts was such That foorth he hoised wefting in the winde Thinking he doth himselfe in safetie finde Plaine said he would no follie such commit As to become a prisner without cause Trusting right well himselfe for to acquit But morrow morne they yeelded without pause Thereto compeld by raging fiers lawes Of well conceiued hope they were beguild Their fortresse left forsaken and exild Like sparkling lightning droue by southern blast Scorching all it findeth in hit power The valerous prince proceedeth with like waste In burning Townes in raising many a Tower Such hideous stormes he on the French doth shower Rich spoiles we gained and great booties wone Without controle of ought which we had done The valiant and renowmed king of Fraunce When as he hard our Prince in field to be Vowed to fight in armes to prooue his chaunce And carefull was by Poyicters towne least we Should there repasse or that he should vs see Woorthie king most woorthie glorious crowne Right valiant Lord though Fortune now did frowne He sommoned braue Dukes stout Earles and Lords In batteled armes before him to appeere With so much haste as hastie speed affords Encountring strength against vs foes to reare Resolud to fight as one deuoid of feare No spare of coste to furnish his intent Loftie thoughts on vengfull battaile bent When this great masse of men all mustered were The battailes three ordained out of hand Gay duke of Orleaunce first well gouernd there Where sixe and thirtie wauing banners stand Long pennons twice so many there were fand Beate with fine armes of euerie Lord and knight Most glorious vnto the gasers sight Charls duke of Normandie had second guiding The third stout king and there drest to behold Faire knights in glistering armors shining Proud stamping steeds richly trapt in gold High placed crests that hautie helme doth hold Trim flower of France in their braue araie For gallantnes here present were full gaie Ordred did mount on steed as white as snowe Of courage like the king that on him sate Knightly armd ride foorth from ranke to rowe With smiling grace his men to animate Did pleasing and right stirring words relate So Castor like with kingly resemblaunce And kindled heat his speech he did aduaunce My Lords in parle at Parris when you be Your English foes you stoutly menace Desiring that so happie day to see To find them ranged in some open place Heere is the thing apparant to your face The onely thing that you so much did craue The English plast in open field you haue And as the king was in this parlaunce Lord Ribamount who had our battels seen Sent for that cause to view our guidaunce Approcht the king saying sir as I ween Your enimies in one battell placed been Are men at arms two thousand as I gesse Fiue thousand fiue hundred archers no lesse Right sagely they and warily ordred ar With bowmen they
I mistake that then it would please such as be of iudgement or skill to iustifie the same as well done and I shall most willinglie yeeld to authoritie and reason and so not speaking but vnder correction I saie that first I find as I conceiue some blame to be imputed in your selues which be professed soldiers that where your ancestors and al others generallie did in their standards banners and pennons shew foorth to the viewe and face of the enimie certaine faire ancient and knowne marks which their elders for the most part had vsuallie before time carried or at least themselues had then taken if they but then were in their rising age wherby their owne people were in a goodlie and decent order conducted and led and their enimies verie much terrified when they should see those marks shewed foorth the owners whereof had in their memories by plaine feat of armes ouerthrowne their parents or happely themselues beaten them out of the fielde razed downe their castels and fortresses sacked their townes and cities wasted and spoiled their countries ransomed their people and generally so daunted and amazed them that it was sometimes found to be true that verie bare names of some valiant persons ouercame whole armies I can not but blame you of all sorts which shall make choise of banners which you call colors so curtein like and so far from all due order of Ancient bearing as may be and for your parts which are descended from Ancestors of marke I would be glad to heare any reason from you to what end you should lay the same a side and make choise of a curtein in the place thereof And you others whose wisedome and valure haue gained you the reputation of a charge I would gladly also heare from you what should moue you to be of that mind as not to take some conuenient marke such a one as may be thought meete by authority for you whereby you may gaine an honor both to your selues and your posteritie and by your good vsage thereof much enlarge the reputation you haue by your valours obtained An other thing that is amisse as I take it and hath great need to be reformed is the quartering of many marks in one shield coate or banner for sithence it is true that such marks serue to no other vse but for a commander to lead by or to be knowen by it is of necessitie that the same be apparent faire and easie to be discerned so that the quartering of many of them together doth hinder the vse for which they are prouided As how is it possible for a plaine vnlearned man who may be as good a soldier in some respects as the best to discerne and know a sunder six or eight what speake I of six or eight sometimes thirtie or fortie seuerall marks clustered all together in one shield or banner nay though he had as good skill as Robert Glouer late Somerset that dead is and the eies of an Egle amongst such a confusion of things yet should he neuer be able to decipher the errors that are daily committed in this one point nor discerne or know one banner or standard from another be the same neuer so large So that except it be to be made in a pedegree or descent to locke vp in an euidence chest therby to shew mens titles to their lands or the Alliences and kindreds of their houses otherwise as I say I see not to any vse in the world they serue specially so many together to be made vpon a mans vesture Target or banner and therefore I could wish that euery man would content himselfe with his owne peculiar coate of name and not to vse aboue one quartered therewith at the most which one yet doth not so much trouble the capacitie of a man but that he may both know and discerne a banner or shield well ynough And this one do I the rather esteeme well of to be borne for that a Prince or Noble man making challenge or title to any Countrie for which he is forced to make warres before he can obtaine it it will be a goodly thing for him to shew foorth his standard of the Armes of that Countrie quartered with his owne amongest those people which in reason and conscience owe him duety and obedience to the end that they may thereby be the sooner induced to submit themselues to their true and lawfull soueraine as his subiects And for that cause as I take it King Edward the third and his valiant sonnes deuised and shewed foorth the Armes of France and England quartered together and although my Author saith that Iaques Dartuell a honie trier of Gaunt was the first deuiser thereof yet will I not beleeue otherwise but that the principall reasons that led the king thereto was to make knowne the iustnes of his title to that kingdome where he then intended to make warres But now it may be obiected sithence a Prince or great Lord may haue title to seuerall Countries that therefore it is necessarie for him to beare all such tokens or marks as he hath title too To this I answere that although I could yeeld to them but that it will bring the confusion aforesaid yet is it of no such necessity for that a man needs to shew his title but onely to them whom he means to subdue and if it should fortune that he had title to diuers and seuerall Countries and that he would make warres to them all at once yet should it not be needfull to him to shew foorth any more marks quartered in one standard but onely vnto euery seuerall countrie the Armes of that nation quartered with his owne But this being the case of Kings and Princes wherein amongest others our most famous noble and worthy kings and princes of this land haue shewed themselues most prudent and wise to what purpose is it that others being but commanders vnder their prince and which of themselues haue neither title to countrie nor are able to maintaine wars should in their princes seruice pester their banners and shields with such an infinite number as many do And in this point I cannot ynough commend the Baron of Stafford who heerin sheweth his great skill and temperance for althongh his Ancestors haue had title to quarter the marks of that valiant Thomas of Wodstocke yoongest sonne of King Edward the third Earle of Buckingham and Duke of Glocester of Bohune Earle of Hereford and Northanton and high Cunstable of England and also of that great house of Somerset which by their ancestor Iohn Earle of Somerset yoonger sonne to Iohn of Gaunt descended from the same king Edward the third I omit to speake of diuers Barons and others of great estate whose heires both with reuenue and honor enlarged greatly his family yet the said Baron contents himselfe with the paternall marke of his house and neuer so much as dreames of any other far differing from a number of meaner persons who if they possesse any
good he gate Sir Walter Mannie toth barriers went Conducting fresh yoong knights new made before Full of proud courage through new aduancement Fierce was the fraie and many wounded sore In Parris were of prooued knights good store When time he spide faire backe his fighters drue Full soberlike rash perils to eschue Like aged Pylote tride in many a flawe High towering fleet hath in charge to guide Leads foorth by counsaile and sad sober sawe Aduising turne of winde and change of tide Sholes sands and rocks that vnder water bide Performes his voyage by his warie heed Such at Parris prooued Lord Mannies deed The king remooud most surely I thought And counsaile tooke with sixe of my accord That gaie yoong knights such as aduentures sought Whereof in Parris numbers great there hord Some issue after vs they would afford This thought of mine did come to good effect The French do sallie as I did suspect A valiant troupe that prowesse tride professe On stamping coursers properlie prepard Careles come on some hoping to conuince That scatter should from out their battaild ward Or whom t' incounter nought at all they card They past the busment we had closely laid They past we glad and little time we staid Three Gascoins we three English were the rest Lord Moubrey armed in desierous red A siluer Lion ramping reddie prest To raise his foe Lord Neuill forward sped In glistering Armes most goodly clothed In guelie shield he siluer saltier bare Stout Pounchardon we six the Christains were Of this attempt two hundred we command In ruinous house sequestred from the way We ambuscade where one might well haue paund His life no foes would there haue made astay With bustling noise we bustle to the fray Like furious tempest foorth we rushen fast The French lookt backe amased at our hast With wonderment from whence we issue could Turning their reains our fury to withstand Strongly our points ariue with courage bould Ech against foe direct with leueld hand That from their seats some tumbled to the land Some horse and man reuersed ouer quite So fell enragd so strongly some do smite When as we had our course with courage run Ech drew his sword where many a proper feat And practise of faire Armes was brauely dun Sometimes it seemd the Frenchmen had the bet And straight againe it seemd that we did get Of all our coast I wan the soueraine praise With Lord Compreney on the French it staies Who noblie fought vnder his banner faire A Beucle red in siluer plast betweene Six martlets blacke slaine he that did it beare The Lord himselfe was taken on the greene And all these troups are now disparted cleene The most there dide some into Parris ran Or else they had been taken euery man Valiant harts whose thoughts to honor bend Sleepe not in rest but daily do deuise New matters and strange accidents to send Their praises foorth in golden sounding wise Whilst sluggish knight in sloth and slumber lies Vnwoorthie arms who doth not vse the same Foule wight that brings fair honors marks to shame What booteth it of Gentries brag to boast What vaileth it old ensignes foorth to show To tell how grandsiers whon in many a coast When we our selues no warlike practise trow But rest our selues with this old idle know Our shields the signes of Antique moniments We maken babish lothly instruments Well when we had our buisnes brought to passe And in good couenant all our prisoners bound We marcht where as the king of England was Our welcoms do with hartie praise abound Prisoners vs their maisters courteous found Foorth on we hold vntill that peace was toke At Charters and our Armie vp it broke Our king this Charter in October gaue At Callis on the fowr and twentith day After the virgins sonne was come to saue All mankind lost and wandred far astray One thousand three hundred threescore I reckon may Now on the king in t ' England I attend Where good intreatie much I might commend Yet staid not long but into Bearne I sped To Ortoys where I found the Earle of Foys Letters I receiud and speedily red From Naueroys king who gladly did reioise For wide it bruted was by common voice That Iohn of Fraunce was now in England ded And he thought long till Fraunce he harrowed Sendeth for me as chiefetaine to attend His wars by guidment of my prooued skill To his intreatie soone I condescend Requesting other knights vnto my will Imbarkt and wind so well our sailes doth fill As safe at Cherbroke we descend to shore Men at arms and soldiers twentie score Breathing life toth melancolious thought Of this sad king because he late had lost Maunt and Meulanc both by th treason sought Of Bouciquall and Glesquins brittish host T' haue sweete reuenge he spare would for no cost Right glad was I that th'youthfull Regent Should haue some newes against his corwnment At Eureux then I made my chiefe amasse And found I had full seauen hundred speares Three hundred archers fiue hundred there was Of brigands to hus most willingly appeares Captaines companions not dreading future feares But he that brought greats numbers to our aide Of armed heds for enterprise araide Was sir Iohn Ionel a valiant English knight And sir Iames Planchine with him did resort Against our foes we strong and freshlie dight For our delights consist in warlike sport With courage good we march foorth in effort T' incounter foe is plast our whole intent Much wishing triall of his hardiment To Passie ward and to the brig of Tharch We drew casting the warie Frenchmen would The riuer of Sene ore passe at that same arch Pretended iorney if they onward hould Transierd they were as it was to me tould For as we rode the twesday in Whitson weeke I met a Herauld who well for me did seeke Surnamed Faulcon I knew him passing well For he toth king of England doth pertaine In haste I asked if he could foorth tell Newes of the French faire I him entertaine He answere framd in reuerent sort againe I came my Lord from where they do abide Expecting your approching at this tide What haue they past the riuer yea or no On this same side they rest he doth replie Neere vnto Passie they do abide I tro What numbers and what captains to discrie I will him and then plainly sheweth he Fifteene hundred of fighting men they were That Bertram Glesquine cheefest rule did beare Lord Aucer was and Vicount Beumont there Maister ofth crosbowes Lord Chalon and Beweu Tharchpriest and sir Edward Remie were These French and Brittons there my selfe did vewe Of your owne countrie some knights I also knewe There is the Lord Dalbreth his companie Properly armd a valiant meanie Sir Aymone of Pomiers the soldich Lord of Lestrayt then gan I angerly To waxen red and much in minde I wish Reuenge to those I hard so busely Though frends to seeke me as an enimy
ship The Christopher from ours but latelie tane Fraught full of those which we compeld to skip mid washing waues vnto their dismall bane Thus may we note how Fortunes fuls do wane Blith this ship of Clarions now doth sound And euen now with horror doth abound Our foes whose number fower for one did pas Like men at armes they Fortune striue to trie Hideous broyle monsterous noise there was Enuffe t' haue made a fainting hart to die On surging seas more fell fierce battails be Then on firme land ech one must bide the fray And fight it out there is no other way From dashing ships the pointed arrow flie Like stones of haile forst by an esterne winde Wherewith great numbers Frenchmen stout do die And now to boord then linked chaines do binde Bigge ships so fast they cannot soone vntwinde Fierce strong incounters and huge deadly blowes From forced arme that many ouerthrowes From morne till noone indurd tempesteous broile With mightie rage vpon the raging floud We English soldiers tooke no little toile Stout enimies aduentrous tride and good Yet voiding scoppers voided out their bloud Neere vnto Sluce they were all take and slaine Victorious we do home returne againe About this time the Duke of Britton died Wanting issue for so right noble place A brother one he had by fathers side Iohn Earle Mountfort sprong of ancient race Another brother had he in like case Begot of father one and mother same Dead left issue a noble vertuous dame Married well vnto sir Charles of Bloys Extract from race right honorable faire Germaine cosen to Phillip of Valoys Strife great begon for the Duke of Brittons chaire For either of these claimed to be heir Braue King of France Bloys his part maintaind Stout English King the Mountforts he sustaind To Britton did send backe thrise noble knight Sir Robert D'artois Earle of Richmount made Whose banner blew with golden lillies dight A Castile labell faire for difference laid And by his skill in valiant warlike trade He conquerd Vaus and countrie proching neer But conquered towne did cost him very deer For in defence of it he knightly died His too soone losse displeasd king Edward so Enraged sware he would not long abied Till well he were reuenged of his fo Strongly prepard to Britton doth he go Soone brake we holds and tore wald castles strong Foure mightie towns besiegd at once ere long The Normain Duke like right valiant prince Came with foure thousand proper men at armes And thirtie thousand of others to conuince Our English troups that dreadles were of harms By skilfull means of two wise Cardnals charms Calme peace was made three whole yeers to endure And valiant kings both sware to keepe it sure Thus he that in eternall heauens rayns And harts of kings hath in his gouernance Their frowning storms vnto faire smiling gleams Doth change vnto his heauenly pleasance Rules oft their thoughts so to his ordinance They may deuise but he will whole dispose What long they build he soonest ouerthrowes Thyer a thousand three hundred fortie more Saint George his day king Edward did prepare A royall feast proclaiming it before In Fraunce Flaunders in Henault and Almaine All knights that would vouchsafe to take the paine Should safetie haue for to returne in peace When as the iusts and knightly sports did cease And there the king selected prooued knights In martiall feats and battelous stoure That had their shields shone to their en'mies sights And forcement made with strong redoubted power Due praises gaind and durable honour And made vs sweare that feasts continuance Which was maintaind through noble chevachance Thus as the king triumphant sports did hold Newes him was brought did much his mind displease How Lord Clisson had lost his head they told And maletrait the French kings ire t'apease Conceiud bicause some did false rumor raise Vntrue they were vnto the crowne of Fraunce Ten Lords there died such still is fortunes chaunce Which knowne report caused king Edwards frowns And fierce maintaind the French had broke the peace Sir Henrie Leon set at ten thousand crowns For ransome when he promisd not to cease For to defie his king in open presse Th'erle of Darbie he into Gascoyn sends To vengefull war his mind he all intends Which valiant Earle Plantagenet namde At Hampton barkt at Burdeux doth ariue His banner England with French label famde He thought to shew vnto his foes beliue Staid at Burdeux but euen daies thrise fiue Bergarath Angolesme and Aguilon With thirtie holds and towns he tooke anon Toth court of Fraunce this voiage well was knowne How this stout Earle so many towns had wone The spoile his soldiers got far wide was blowne The king pondering of this mischiefe done He sommons made and sent Duke Iohn his sonne Attended with a hundred thousand men His late lost towns for to obtaine agen This mightie host did Angolesme inclose Which braue Iohn Norwich an Englishsquire held Hardly constraind wisely doth dispose His buisnes and this mightie armie weld Thanks his good wit that so his lesson speld An honest shift to find at time of need Deserueth praise vpon the happie speed It was the eue before our Ladie day He saw the towne began to mutonie Vnto the wals he tooke the readie way Made none acquainted with his priuitie His cap toth host he waued speedily They are aduisd demanding what he ment He said to speake with Duke was his intent The courteous Lord him quickly satisfied Then being come demanded if he would Yeeld he said I am not so aduised Most noble Duke the towne I well may hold I doe intreat your grace we may be bold The morrow next without yours disturbance To doe vnto our Ladie reuerence In honor of whom I your grace requier Of one daies truce for me and all my band The Norman Duke agreed to his desier With thanks Iohn bowed like a pliant wand The morrow morne faire armed he doth stand Streight parted downe in blew and fierie red With ermine Lyon sterne ramping decked Then issuing the French to Armor stirred He stepped foorth and willed them to stay Sirs he said your Duke vs peace hath granted Which I must vse to mine owne best assay On suddenly some went without delay Vnto the Duke declard what had been said And how as yet the Armie had him staid When this good duke his wise excuse had hard Commandment gaue that he should safe depart His promise giue he wild should not be bard For kept he would tho woorser were his mart A vertue fitting well his Princely hart The Captaine gone then Angolesme doth yeeld With seauen Townes more the Frenchmen hold the field Right strong before Aguillon be they come Plast in the meddowes faire about the hould A hundred thousand men a goodly sume on foote and horsebacke well and truely tould Before they part this Castle haue they would The Duke so vowd vnlesse for him the king His Father sent and for no other
thing Full seauen months the armie held their ground Within which time so many braue assaies For to defend so many practise found In forraging so many goodly fraies Such skirmiges and that such sundrie waies To win the same as Greekes had neuer more When they strong Ilion planted were before This Castle strongly seated is betweene Two sliding streames that vessels well may beare Enuironed with gawdie meddow greene Vpon the which right bitter bickering are Oft on the riuers fight they without feare Sir Gualter Mannie chiefe of the English band Full expert knight on water or on land This courteous knight sage imagenatiue Found to his foes much warlike buisnes Right warilie affaires doth he contriue For sure defence of honor spotles Couragious knight and valiant doubtles Yellow banner he shewd three Cheurons blacke An English Lion on the highmost stake Whilst thus thassailaunt and defendaunt striue Euery day some practise new to doe The King of England maks hast to ariue Hearing declard his friends besiged so Conueniently he hasts himselfe to go To rease the Duke from Hamton port he saild Contrary wind made that his purpose faild For where he thought in Gascoine to take land Sir Godfrey Harcourt causd him change his mind Whose reasons being by grauest counsell scand And likte bicause contrary was the wind A faire large bay in Constantine we find Cald Hogg saint vast from shipping well ariud In Battails three our Armie is contriud Toward wealthfull Cane we onward hold our way And all the Countrie wast with sword and fier The Earle of Tankervile made with vs a fray Fast to the towne we forst him to retier After taken by his owne desier Within the towne of which we Masters were And Countrie round all trembled fast with feare Our soueraine determinde in his mind To passe through France to Callis if he could The Castle of Poys we in the way do find Rease assault and easly gaine the hould Nothing so strong might dure our forcement bould Absent the owner of the fort away Spoild was the towne bicause they false did play Two damesels faire were in this Castle found Of bewtie rare and of fine tender age Who rudely Rauisht had been in that stound Saue that Lord Basset and my selfe in rage Did them defend and by aduisement sage Safely protect and brought before the King Which them receiud and thankt vs for the thing Right princely he and sweetly intertaind These Virgins causing them to be conuaid To Corby towne high praise hereby we gaind Ech armed Knight who Knighthood true hath waid Will suffer no foule act done silly maid A souerain praise it is to armed Knight Outragious acts to hinder by his might What wight vile sin forbids not if he may Consents and giltie is to wicked ill The King doth march to Callis seeking way The riuer of some we are attaind vntill Where Godmare say a Knight of warlike skill Hauing in charge from soueraigne to keepe The passages where water was not deepe The Knight obeyd and Knightly did his best Due woorthie praise ech man doth well deserue That to his power fulfils his Princes hest Tho tickle fortune seeme oft times to swerue As vnto him who leader like did serue Strong Archer shot so whely all togither From kept defence the Frenchmen they deseuer When this Baron I meane sir Godmare say Sawe this huge mischiefe light amongst his men What he can helpe when fortune sayeth nay Fairly withdrew the best he could as then Its wisedome good for ech commander when Things crosse fall out to gouerne so his will That he the more for lesser do not spill Into the water brauely did we mount Which at that time passed with channell loe Where ouerthrowne Knights were of good account The passage won dame fortune fauored so To be admierd how she can ouerthroe Thus we Blanchtaque by noble courage gaine Gladded with ioy in lew of passed paine Thus when we had acquierd the further banke The gratious King as duety doth requier To mightie God yeeldeth most humble thanke Highly inflamed King Philips boyling yer In streete to close vs was his chiefe desier Angerly vexed with Lord Godmare fay Till sir Iohn Henault doth his rage allay Foorth hould we martch to Cressie in Ponthew The King his mind the Campe should there be staid Well informed the Frenchmen him pursew A space pondring lastly to vs said This Land my mothers dower should haue staid It giuen was therefore here make I choice To challenge it from Philip of Valoys And for that we were scarcely one gainst eight We warely batteled at aduantage Th'assayling tempter by fine skilfull sleight Of warlike heed for to indammage Three battailes ordred for knightly vsage i th first the Prince and Earle of Warwicke were In guls a fes six croslets gold did beare Sir Reignald Cobham strongly armd in red Three sable stars plast on a Cheuron gold Sir Barthelmew Burwash in like colour sped Gold ramping Lion queue doth forked hold Amongst these first my name is also told Sir Richard Stafford in gold shield did beare A gulie Cheuron and blew Labell faire With vs there were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers Brigands a thousand Purposely bent to worke fell enimies harms i th second did th' earle of Northanton stand With men at Armes iust numbred to our band Twelue hundred Bowes in gold Lord Basset dight Three Rubie piles a quarter ermins bright Faire clad in Armes seuen hundred the king With bowmen thousands two for gard abide Well pointed and directed euerie thing Our second battell moude somwhat aside Vs first to second as the time espide The king withdrew him to a windmill hill Where he and his all day they stooden still When as the French thus heard of our addresse They forward came bedect right sightly It pleasure was taview their noblenesse Their gilded armors glistering brightly To fight with them stird vs more lightly High valerous mind where enterprise is braue Would conquer honor and due praises craue Too long to tell the fierce incounters made The puissant strength or courage of the foe How euerie prince in order doth inuade Or how the arrowes flew like flakes of snowe Or how the horse their masters ouerthrow Or how we were oppressed so with might As that we sent vnto the king a knight Requesting him with his fresh power to aid His tender sonne so fiercely fought withall What slaine or wounded is my sonne he said That thus they send and for my succour call Neither the knight then tell him that he shall Replide the king his first worne spurs obtaine To him and his the honor shall remaine When as we heard this answer vs resent As lions fell with fasting mawes near pinde Amongst the herds new come do fellie rent The sillie flocke such like our vs finde For many liues from bodies we vntwinde Fourscore banners deiected to the ground And sixscore knights were there prostrated found And thirtie thousand of the
courage foes pursues apace And many knights beares he downe in chase No heed tooke I good prisoner rich to gaine But had regard the prince so well to guide Hot fresh and yoong wherfore I ply my paine As dutie would lest harme should him betide His owne desier was I should abide His person near in thickest of the fraies He credits what I speake to my great praise All as we would glad prince did franke bestow A stately supper t'prisoner king and praid His good content though buisnes gainst him goe For your owne selfe renowmed king he said Your prowes past all those to you obaid by th true censure of our best skilled knights The soueraigne praise you wan in all the fights What triumphing in England knowne these newes At Burdeux what great reioicing seene In forren courts how honored all our crewes Where they became my seruice as I weene That heere I did was highly in esteeme About a prince men thought me meet to be As well for counsell as for cheualrie King Iohn int'England gladly was conueid On trampling steed through London doth he ride Note fortunes change a king that scepter sweid With large command through noble Fraunce doth bide In forren land there pricking him beside His conquerer on cole black hobbie plast On whom the woondring vulgars praises blast No Romain in his triumphs glorious Through citie passing with trumpets sounding More apparant appeered victorious Than our braue prince by modest riding At peoples plause with ioy abounding Remembring those high words he earst did say Neuer shall England ransome for me pay Betwixt the kings there grew agreement And if performd then backe Iohn should retier The peeres of Fraunce denide their kings intent Wherat king Edward stormd with furious yer And vowd their plague with wastfull sword and fier Vntill they grant the thing which he thought good Strongly prepard he past the swelling flud Lands at Callis thence marcheth in aray With brauerie such and shew of martiall might In goodly armors dect so fine and gay All beat with Arms fine banners tossing light On vs dan Phoebus ioyd to haue a sight With fauning face he seemd on vs to smile We fresh be seen reflexion cast the while Vndoubtedly in all the world was not More noble band than heer were present now What knight was he that honor had not got In some strange land well shone his vertue how For leader good a man might him allow Most happie realme thrise happie is that king Whose subiects fame in forren regions ring First if the prince of Wales I should recite Or Henrie Duke late Darbie Earle before Or Reignald Cobham that much renowmed knight Lord Mowbray Manny Basset with great store Lord Audley Willoughby and many more Than now I shew what if I tell my name And say that Chandos was not lest in fame Fame our names imblasoned not so far For tennise plaie or handling of a lute Nor dauncing fine or glistering as a star As women drest in most vnseemly sute Our chiefest musicke trumpe and checking flute Our daunce our march our tennise oft to feele Thundring blowes our clothing tried steele Through Picardie and Artoys spoyld we passe Int fertile Cambray making there some stay In former places found we little grasse Toward Thyriach we martch anone away Till foulding siege to Cittie Reames we lay Which countrie was so wasted and so foild That all our horse for want wel ny wer spoyld Sir Barthelmew Burwash whilst siege doth hold My selfe Lord Audley and Lord Mucedent Sir Richard Pontchardon a prudent knight and bold agreed all fowr and with our troups we went To Chalous in Campayne for ventures bent We approcht strong Cragney a castle hey Whereas two knights couragious captaines be Ton Caples cald who bare in golden sheild An ancred crosse of sables we asseild Rudely the hold from whence some one did weild A mightie stone that head a peeces peild Of Lord Mucedent but it was not feild For to reuenge his hard mischance againe Tooke the hould and all the soldiers slaine Seauen weeks at Reames the king made his abode and forrage faild and men began to want For still we knights the countrie ouer rode Whereby ech thing waxed exceeding scant Then to remooue the king and nobles mant Chalous Troys and countries neere we wast Passing the riuer Muson at the last So foorth we marcht keeping same ordinance At first ordaind to Aguyllon we came Did hauke and hunt passing in pleasaunce Oft tride our horse and vsed warlike game Which still among much did the Frenchmen tame Nothing vnlesse too hot for vs could staie T'heauie or cold but we did beare away Sweeping from hence to Paris ward apace The countie of Neuers and Gastenoys we waste Raunge at our wils continuing foorth our race Vntill that we at Burge le royne were plast Two leagues fro Paris and so the towne we facst Well famed Fraunce might waile for nought but flame Was to be found in bowels of the same Where Meroue puissant warrier raind Whom fierce Attila ouerthrew in fight Where Charls le main that many kingdomes gaind In all Europa feared for his might Vnconstant fortune taking so far flight Sometimes the yoke on others shoulders laid With biting snaffle now are strongly staid From Burg le royne to Mont le herri we In sightly wise our battailes all do draw Our constant dealing when the french Lords see Perseuering still in Fraunce to make a flawe Consuming all as fier doth the strawe Vnto a peace to mooue our king they ment Their Chaunclor and their learned counsaile sent They vnderstood our king would not depart Till pleasing peace he conquerd as he voud Which thing neere toucht duke Charls his tender hart And nobles for owne harmes too hawtie proud Faire conditions twixt them were aloud By thundring storme which God from heauen sent And knotted haile our king doth first relent A written deed at Charters there was framd Betwixt the kings their heires allies and friends In which faire townes strong castles all were namd toth king and his were giuen for amends For passed paine and so the strife it ends More Castles Townes more Cities and more ground Were giuen then in England could be found Some speeches were braue dukedome to inclose Of Britton in the charter of this peace Yet do they not of it so well dispose So as fresh wars in that place did not cease How track of time hard bound doth of release Charls thoughts vpbound within his stubborne brest Them foorth to loose supposed now his best Home went his grace soone I repasse the seas As regent and lieuetenant for my king Taking the othes possessions and the keas Of Lords Cities Castles which did wringe Some Frenchmens harts like percing adders sting Great griefe it was subiuged to be bound To strangers most vncurteous they had found I stewards bailifes and captaines do ordaine As liked me and this when I had done Came to Nyort there purposd to
remaine Keeping estate whereby mens harts I won Largely I spent most like a Princes son In plentious fare bountifull and much King Edwards loue and lowance to me such His royall loue to me was passing rare Numbers thought I did deserue no lesse Courteous I aduisd and would not spare But liberall be fraught with temperatenesse Faire points of honor would I not disgresse Amongst braue Lords faire Ladies I esteemd Of great estates in gentle fauor deemd Foorth of the charter was except the land Saint Saluiour sir Godfrey Harecourts late Who Pollux like at Constantine did stand To his defence when slaine was euerie mate With weldie axe his stroke so heauie sate Not prowdest enemie durst sad blowes abide Till at the length two horsemen at him ride Inragd beare downe a knight most cheualrous Which stradling set his legs to stand more suer On surest leg and there dispiteous They beare him downe who fights whilst he may duer Liue still his praise and glory fresh in vre For wisdome and prooude skill in martiall facts No liuing knight one iote exceeds his acts With plainest difference of Earle Harcourts race In glorious red two golden bars did beare Daring gainst foe toth vtterance shew his face Which tride he was well woorthie armes to weare Amongst his foes that durst them noblie reare The home made knight that neuer ward in field Small title hath vnto a noble sheild In his past life his land he did behest To my good king and he to me it gaue Toth valiant Iohn of Fraunce he made request For his consent that I the same might haue He gently seald to what the king doth craue I it enioid well woorth in yeerely rent Of hundred franks fifteene which free I spent Most bountifully amongst soldiers bould To gallant men my purse was neuer closd Which caused that as often as I would I had companions valiants lads disposd To warlike feats that strongest holds haue posd Sweet behauiour ioind to liberall hand Reasons I was with manly soldiers mand Braue Duke of Lancaster mars his Henrie dide Whilst I at Nyort kept so high estate Faire cosen Germaine to the king allide Good gentle Duke lamented was thy fate Mongst valiant knights thou nobly ledst of late When as thou didst with Darbie title raine As after when the Dukedome thou didst gaine In battelous Arms before the king of Fraunce Like Pallas knight thou entredst roiall list Gainst Brownswick Duke full bent to prooue the chaunce Of doubtfull combat the king cause why it mist Staid the euent great eithers losse he wist This Brownswick Duke tride strong champion bold Bare faire in red two lions passant gold True golden fame blacke death cannot defile Glistering honor buds from dustie graue Ech noble Lord that beareth glorious stile Spend must his life eternall praise to haue As thou high Duke didst honor euer saue Most mightie God let England neuer want Such noble Lords true honor seeke to plant In England cause the prince kept princely port Most like himselfe the counsell thoughten best Int ' Acquitaine that he should make resort Partly for that the Gascoins do request His presence and reuenewes largely rest His noblenes right noble to vphold And Gascoin Lords desier that he would Repasse the seas he answereth their desiers Once landed carefull I to meet him well Accompaned with knights and youthfull squiers On coursers mounted decked euerie sell And receiuing him at warlike Rochell We thence attended vnto Poycters towne As reason wild and dutie had vs bowne Of Acquitaine I Cunstable was ordaind High honors giuen and feastings to me made Continually his fauor more I gaind Through enterprises of account I wade Noble exploits I end by skilfull trade Which plaisd him so as he loude me euer Bicause in honor still I do perseuer Peter of Lusignon King of Cypresse I le Made means to all the Kings of Christendome From iarring discord to abstaine a while Helpe to repulse the miscreants late come Their borders neere and much of neighbors wone Had been in Italie France and Almaine In Flaunders England came to Acquitaine Not when swift fame had pierced hautie skies Admetus praise which made Apollo bowe Downe from estate to view with leeuing eies His bountifulnes which seen made him alowe So well of it and further did avowe Fame sparing was yet suer my Prince exceeds The praises of Admetus lib'rall deeds For when he hard of this strange kings ariue He sent me foorth with knights accompaned In gentlenes could with right courteous striue At kings first entrance he saw well placed Fortie knights so many squiers faced All for the honor of Lady Princes Faire was the iusts ech prooued blamles More signe of loue more shew of princelie power Rare welcoms giuen fine curtesies withall Of curtesie sweete prince a pearles flower Nor wandring king did neuer see nor shall More store of knights in earthly regents hall The prince me will to take him to my guide Him plesaunce shew in his dominions wide A vermile crosse the Cyprian king still wore For holy voyage he had vndertake Against the Turke his soueraign to adore In glorious Arms a partie prince to make He wild and found to no good seruice slake Our loued prince departed well content Great intercourse of loues betwixt them blent Thus hauing been most kindly intertaind By me and stout sir Thomas Phelton much Sir Neal Loring sir Simon Basset daind Him well to treat sir Baldwine Frâ—uile such His kindnes shewd as spite could not but gruch To see the like he safely went his way The principalitie through I him conuay King Iohn of Fraunce into England past Braue king faire queen gay nobles for to see Through true firme loue which doth eternall last Wher 's fained loue small iars remembred be No vertues more in phear of high degree Than were resiant in this soueraine Whose woorthie praises euer may remaine Bloodie parcas what meanest thou to sheare His vitall twine so woorthie longer life Canst thou pale malice such priuly vertues beare Than bluntest coulter duller be thy knife Amongst best things thou mischiefe euer rife But mightie God oft takes away the best For our bad sins or for to ease his blest Whilst this good king in England made his stay Him sicknes tooke with sharpe incresment sore And strong oppresment at Sauoy where he lay Death doth approch then flesh can breath no more His losse king Edward greatly doth deplore From England Parris to stately tombe conueid And Charls his sonne the Regall scepter sweid Oh vading flower why flatterest thou thy selfe In pompeous seat of mightie maiestie Fraile honors titles or foule wasting pelfe Forgetting great eternall dignitie Scorneth mightiest earthly Imperie What low inferior fears of you amisse That high superior threts againe ywis Sir Iohn Montfort in th'aprill of his youth Gay Arms gan weld and with successe begon In Britton to sir Charls of Bloys his ruth This faire new knight was that braue Countesse sonne Of whom
conueid To England where great ransom he desiers When Chatelon his mischaunce had weid Back in a ship in stealing wise he streid This same the cause why he so swift did pas From friends when medling with Gomigines was King Edward his death I heard reported Who gloriously in knightly dignitie Had raind first noble sonne departed Which Hector like with great triumphancie Had conquerd kings through magnanimitie Then followed father woorthie such a sonne A shining sun which still bright glorie won The founder of our high fraternitie The fortresse of a firme concordance The fauor of right noble soueraintie The perfect pledge of true assurance The constant gage of goodly ordenance The founder of the Azurd garter dide With honor Ioue so long let th' order bide The strong incursions sir Hue Caueley made Then Callis captaine were vnto me told How sir Iohn Harleston doth fierce inuade Captaine of Guins some did to me vnfold And how at Arde Gomigines did hold Exploiting well of braue attempts I hard But oh my selfe from fair atchiuements bard My closure I with great impatience tooke Perplexed thoughts oppresse me euery hower This vile restraint I heauily do brooke And bitter sighes continuall foorth I power Right safely shut within this warding tower Still in danger euery day of death Least melancholious griefe would stop my breath If thousand marchants venter into Ind Seeking forraine stroud for wished gaine And only one his ship hath left behind Through wrack which peeuish fortune did constraine How could it choose but inly breed his paine To see the rest in such a reioicing For that he hopt now greeues at the loosing For fellowes many in distressednes Is to the greeuance much releasment Far lesse by ods he thinks his wretchednes That sees with his the tears of many spent To saddest woes it is much easement When others with like griefe as ours do mone And that we are not wracked all alone All other captains my selfe excepting Of ech calling had their deliuerie Though somtimes they staid th'expecting Being not wrought to wish most speedilie Yet ear the end it chaunced still to be It was my fortune and not deseruing That thus I lay in prison staruing Past hope I make a vertue of my need With pining patience I my griefe support Desiered death comes on with wished speed I drooping passe as one stroke alemort This hard restraint was vnto me more tort Than sharpest death that tirant might deuise My swelling mind could halfe so sore agrise Thus long I liud I thought it was too long All hopeles of relinquishing my care Or relaxment from loth prison strong Vnles on booke I would full solemn swear Against the crowne of Fraunce no Arms to bear I flat refusd me leuer were to die Than to abiure my English loyaltie Heere prooud I plaine that force no harts could win Heere tride I true that proffers nought preuaile Heere was it seen loue forst not of a pin Sweet libertie the mind her greats assaile No luerments wrought my constant mind to faile No no my Gascoine bodie bare an English hart Not mooueable by fortunes ouerthwart And in my smart it oft did straine a smile To thinke how Charls my libertie did dreed He doubted least I would within a while Some broiling wars and battels newly breed For quaking fear his hart did euer feed How much the English excelled in the war So much the French in treaties past them far For by the Parley still they somewhat got I leading foorth my life all malecontent In smoking sighs which out I daily shot But for my soule I thought it pertinent Which giuen was and must be permanent Most quiet and sweet harmonie to make Of discords all and all the world forsake Fore passed life I ouer canuassing Found my great sins exceeding numberous Subiected to fraile natures trauasing Ore whelmd vnlesse by mercie wonderous We saued were in world so comberous By sweetely Lord that straied sinners sought And perisht soules through blessed torment bought And he diuers waies deuinely worketh To bring vs in the compas of his fold Out of the which what worldling dieth Perisheth as sage deuines haue told He grant vs all our selues therein to hold Which made himselfe a subiect for our sin Yet Lord of heauen earth and all therein Oh how good God vs often suffereth With worldly wit our selues to iniurie Chaffring as occasion offereth Respecting not the end till sodainely Repentaunce comes our frendly enimie And then we crie if this had not been don Then had not fates so foule against vs run If I had not perswaded Iohn of Gaunt For to make choise to Spanish marriage Which thing our buisnes French did greatly daunt For he tended as is common vsage To owne aduancement and aduantage I had not lean he me would haue redeemd How difficult so ear the matter seemd And from first time I welded glorious arms Full carefull I least murther should attaint My fame with bad and blacke reprochfull charms Of hellish rumors to ages to depaint Through murther many captains are distaint This prouerbe vsd mongst some I highly hate A hedlesse man doth seldome breed debate But often times for cruell murther don God stirreth vp our friends vnto our harme And father hath been slaughtered by his son And brother slaine with brothers blouddy arme Oft for one murther thousand men will swarme Whom greatest God doth vse as instruments For sharpe reuenge of murtherers torments Most happie knight that vseth temperance So in past life that he be not defilde With murtherers name which works anoyance Through world of ages badly be reuilde And lasting heaps of slander hath vp pilde In quarrels iust whilst foes resisting bin To slay them then in fighting is no sin No man of life I euer did depraue In my cold bloud when striuing fight was don In hottest wars I willed bloud to saue Whereby among my foes great praise I won The cheefst thing God hateth vnder sun Is murther and for mercy bloud to spill Bloud crieth for bloud the prouerbe runneth still Reuenge on hatefull murther doth attend And slie occasion doth so warely watch As bloud for bloud with earth doth fouly blend Merciles plagues this blacke reuenge doth hatch When parties selfe of plagues tasts but a smatch To generations three or fower they run Till all the brood and ofspring be vndun Oh heauenly God that long didst lend me space My former faults committed to deplore Fiue yeeres I did in lothed prison pace Which my proud nature did too much abhore That so I tamed was I thee addore I mercy loud and thou didst mercy lend Sweet mercy far more then man may offend Receaue my soule Lord to thy gouernance Most richly since from hell thou it redeemd I flat renounce all worldly pleasance Yea those vaine ioies that I so high esteemd How lothsome now that earst so likefull seemd Lord since I come thy promise is not old Receaue me where the ioies may not be told LENVOY Thus closed was his burning lampe of life That glorious shone in knightly dignitie Here was the period set of all his strife Conclusion of his fatall destinie Lanterne sometime of noble cheualrie Dreaded champion whilst the fraie did last Louely conqueror at th end of battails blast In prison dide this most valiant knight Renoumd and dred for magnanimitie His funerall king Charls causd be dight At Parris in estate most solemnly Of barrons knights and praieng clergie A nobler one could scarcely there be found Within the French or in the English ground The king of England lost a trustie hart The king of Fraunce a stout couragious fo The warlike countrie Gascoine cheefest part When thou braue knight wast reft her bowels fro Thy glistering fame about the world shall glo As bright as star set in faire welkings face The starrie skie thy fittest dwelling place For vertue good transcends the decked skie Enstalde in throne beond ech twinckling star No time day night obscures hir glorious eie Ech vading substance so she passeth far Mongst cheefest knights extold for noble war Thou houldst thy seat within sweet heauens rest In paradice prepared for the blest Almightie God that oft hast England blest With glorious triumphs ouer enimie In thy puissance victorie doth rest And not in mans weake plotting policie Giue t' our Captains in their true cheualrie Like constant vertue truth and courage bold That Chandos and the Captall true did hold FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY Act. Apost Cap. 28. Num. cap. 2. Num. ca. 31. Num. cap. 16. Iosue lib. cap. 4. Num. cap. 27. Num. cap. 26. Counter changed to Sir Walter Deuereux the elder house Arnaldin Barnardine Sir Aimon de Pommiers the Lord of Courton Sir Balwine Danekin Sir Arnole Canole brother to sir Robert Canole Yoonger brother to sir Lewis Robersart Sir Iohn Deuereux and sir Eustace Dabscote Meignill of the north Of Poiwike Edward the 3. first founder of the noble order of the Garter