on the Queen as to visit their Fathers Husbands and Brethren then with the King. King Edward soon after remov'd his Court to Antwerp as more commodious for the Queen to lay her Belly in and there he kept a most Honourable Court all that Winter and as Vicar of the Empire z Frois ibid. set up his Royal Mint at Antwerp where he coined great plenty of mony both Gold and Silver Yet all this while the Duke of Brabant who had once been so greatly humbled by King Philip as we shew'd before never ceased sending Messengers to him to excuse him and to assure his Majesty that he would undertake nothing prejudicial to the Crown of France The Chief of this Embassy was the Lord Lewis of Travemund one of his Council who was frequently sent upon this Errand and at last was made his Lords Resident in the Court of France that he might be the more ready at hand always to excuse him against whatsoever informations might be given of him or his Designs VII The mean while in England the young Prince a Knighton p. 2571. n. 30. Edward Duke of Cornwall by Commission from the King his Father held a Parliament at Northampton which began on the 26 of July wherein a Mighty Aid was granted unto the King towards the Maintenance of his Wars as may be conjectur'd by this Proportion the three Counties of Leicester Lincoln and Northampton only being taxed in 1211 Sacks of Wooll Besides which he had an Aid of the Bishops Abbots Priors Rectors Vicars and Justices who went not with him to the War of some 100 l. a piece of others two Hundred according to their Estates and Abilities And moreover at Michaelmas following a Tenth was granted of the Clergy for two Years to come About this time there were b Knighton p. 2573. n. 10. Sixty Sail of Stout Ships appointed for the defence of the Cinque-Ports beside the present Fleet and Sr. William Clinton Earl of Huntington and Constable of England was made Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and the Lord c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward with his Allies prepares to open the Campagne not in the mean while neglecting his Endeavours to compose Matters II. He writes to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France the many undeserved Provocations of the French King and his own Reasonable Offers which he had often made and was yet ready to make with the Copy of the Letter at Large III. The Popes Answer at Large being an indirect expostulation wherein he shews that Lewis of Bavaria the Emperour being under the Sentence of Excommunication was not nor ought to be accounted Emperour That all his Friends and Abettors were Actually Excommunicate and so concludes partly excusing himself from abetting the French King against England and partly unless he withdraws from his Correspondence with the Emperour threatning to proceed judicially against him also I. NOW the unactive Winter was passed over AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII and the vigorous Spring began to open the Earth and the Wars together the Feast of St. John Baptist approaching when the Lords of England and Germany began to prepare themselves for the appointed time of Action King Edward had made his Recruits from England whence those Men of War he expected came over to him about the beginning of June And the Duke a Ashmole p. 649. 16. Febr. Patentes inter Regem Angl. diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. 4. of Gueldre and Earl of Zutphen had done Homage unto him as Vicar of the Empire and King of France for which the King granted him a 1000 l. per annum during his Life and he had further made an Alliance with Albert and Otho Dukes of Austria Stiria and Carinthia and received their Homages But yet before he began his March at the Instance of the Cardinals Pedro and Bertrand of whose endeavours for Peace we spake before John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Darby Salisbury and Suffolk with some Others were by the King b Ashmole p. 649. 1 Julii Pat. concess hominth Angl. Vasc 13 Ed. 3. m. 17. Knighton p. 2572. n. 60 impowred to Treat once more with Philip of Valois or his Deputies concerning the Dignities Honours Lands and Rights belonging to King Edward and all other Controversies whatsoever The Deputies on the other Part being the Archbishop of Roüen the Bishops of Langres and Beauvais and the Places of Treaty first Compiegne and then Arras But nothing of Peace being thereby effected the King prepares now roundly for the War. II. And yet before he began his March he wrote to the Pope and the College of Cardinals setting forth his Title to the Crown of France and the great Necessity that lay upon him as well to vindicate his Right as to preserve his Lands and Honour both which were injuriously invaded by Philip of Valois his Adversary The Tenor of which Letters from the Original c Walsingh hist p. 119. Editionis verò Francefurtianâe p. 136. Adam Murimouth M.S. partim apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1339. §. 17 18. M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 5. a princap ad finem Latine is as followeth To the Venerable College of the Beloved Fathers in God the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain Greeting We have written to the most Holy Father the Chief Bishop after due Recommendation of our Respects in these words The Law of Nature which is the Guide of all living Creatures hath granted to every one a Liberty of Defence against injurious Violence generally allowing that to be justly done which any one doth in his own Defence repelling of Force and Injury Truly since great and hazardous Wars and injurious Violations have been moved and done against Us which being notorious to the whole World having also by our frequent Intimation fully been made so to the Apostolick See we take it for Granted that to your Holiness they cannot be unknown Now We being Lovers of Peace God knows that we might avoid Contention and introduce Amity have freely offer'd to our Persecutor respectfully indeed and perhaps too humbly the desirable Methods of Peace not without a great Resignation of our own Rights and Interest that omitting at present a too eager Prosecution of our Personal Quarrels in this season of just Sorrow wherein the Fury of the Soldan of Babylon and other Enemies of the Cross being highly enflamed because an Expedition was sworn against them and solemnly proclaim'd in Parts beyond the Sea hath and doth daily harass and destroy many Christian Souls So that horrible despight and reproach is cast upon our Crucified Lord we might as indeed we ought and most earnestly desire joyntly
are to be seen in their Primitive Obscurity in the Learned Seldens Titles of Honour y Saxon M.S. apud Selden Titles of Honour p. 812. And St. George upon the Point of his Martyrdom in the Days of Dioclesian the Emperour prayed to the Lord and said Jesu Christ receive my Soul And I beseech thee that whosoever shall commemorate me on Earth all Fraud Peril Hunger and Sickness be far from his House and that whosoever shall in any danger ON THE SEA or elsewhere make use of my Name Thou wilt be mercifull unto him Then came a Voice from Heaven saying Come thou Blessed and whosoever shall in any Danger or Place call on my Name thrô Thee him will I hear The same Sense is thus expressed in the other z Apud Selden ibid. p. 813. MS. in Meeter His Hands he held up on High adown he set his knee Lord he said Jesu Christ this only thing might I see Grant me if it is thy Will that whoso in fair manere Holds well my Day in a April 23d St. George's Day Aperil for my Love on Earth here That there never fall in his House no Harm in all the Year Nor great Sickness nor Famine strong that thereof there be no fear And WHOSO IN PERIL OF SEA thrô me shall make his Boon Or in other Cases Perillous heal him thereof full soon Then heard he a Voice from Heaven that to him said I wis Come forth to me my Blessed Child thy Boon heared is Then his Head was off y-smitten c. Some small Account of this ancient Original I gave about ten or eleven Years since to that Learned Antiquary Esquire Ashmole in the Lodgings of my worthy Friend and Master Dr. Goad then at Merchant Taylors School in London who seem'd not a little pleas'd at the probable Authentick Occasion of this most Noble Order But I leave the Judgment of all to the Candid Reader being content with those Reasons that induced me to make these Conjectures as I readily allow others to follow what may seem more Rational to them V. And having thus at least endeavour'd to find out hidden Truth from among the gross Rubbish of Antiquity we shall now proceed When this Mighty Prince had formed in his Head this most Honourable Design and had begun to hold his Round Table at Windsor upon b Ashmole p. 186 b. c. New-years Day this Year 1344. He issued out his Royal Letters of Protection as we shew'd before for the safe Coming and Return of Foreign Knights their Servants and what belonged unto them who being desirous to try their Valour should come to those solemn Justs by him intended to be held at Windsor on the c Pat. 17. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 2. Monday next after the Feast of St. Hilary next ensuing which happen'd then to be on the * Dom. Lit. D.C. 19 Day of January And these Letters of safe Conduct continued in Force till the Octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary being in the 18 Year of his Reign The Time appointed being come the King provided a Royal Supper to open the Solemnity and then first Ordained that this Festival should be annually held there at Whitsuntide The next Day and during all this splendid Convention from before Candlemas unto Lent the Lords of England and of other Lands exercised themselves in all kind of Knightly Feats of Arms as Justs and Tourneaments and Running at the Ring The Queen and her Ladies that they might with more Convenience behold this Spectacle were orderly seated upon a firm Balustrade or Scaffold with Rails before it running all round the Lists And certainly their extraordinary Beauties set so advantageously forth with excessive Finery and Riches of Apparel did prove a Sight as full of pleasant Encouragement to the Combatants as the fierce Bucklings of Men and Horses gallantly armed was a delightfull Terrour to the Feminine Beholders During these Martial sports William Montagu the Great Earl of Salisbury King of the Isle of Man and Marshal of England thrô his immoderate Courage and Labour for 3 or 4 Days together was at last so bruised and wearied with those boisterous Encounters that falling d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 924. into a Feavour thereby he died within 8 Days after in the e Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 640. ubi Anno 13. Ed. 2. aged 18. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. Ashmole 690. 43d. Year of his Age on the 30 of January being then a Fryday to the infinite regret of the King and all the Court as well Strangers as English and was afterwards Honourably buried in the White-Fryers at London This Mans Father named William Lord Montagu f Mills Catal. Honor. p. 1041. Son of Simon Lord Montagu and being descended of Drû or Drogo who was branched from the Lines of the Ancient Kings of Man did Marry Aufric Daughter of Fergus and Widow of Olaus King of Man or as others report she was g Dugd 1 Vol. p. 633. Sister of Orry King of Man who was descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark Which Lady discerning her Brother and all his Blood to be overcome and ruin'd by Alexander King of Scots fled into England with the Charter of that Isle and being there Honourably received of King Edward I was by him given in Marriage to William Lord Montagu aforesaid who in her Right by Aid of the said King Edward I recover'd the said Isle till at length he mortgag'd it for seven Years to Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham from whom it should seem to have been taken by the Scots Till this Earl William as we shew'd before reconquer'd it from the Scots and was by King Edward III made King of the said Isle as was also his Son after him till the 16 of Richard II when he sold the Crown thereof to William Lord Scroop as some say thô 't is certain that even h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. to his Death he retain'd the Title of Lord thereof as appears by his Will bearing Date at Christ-Church-Twynham 20 April Anno 1397 20 Richardi 2 where he calls himself Earl of Salisbury and Lord of the Isles of Man and Wight Within 6 Weeks after the Date whereof he departed this Life But now at the Death of his Father the first Earl he was found to be but 15 Years old and an half thô in time he became no less renowned than his Father and was One of those 25 whom King Edward chose together with himself Founders of the Order of the Garter But of his Heroick Father who died at this time i Hypod. p. 117. ad n. 1344. Walsingham takes his leave in these Words This Year says he departed this Life the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury King of Man and Marshal of England of whose Valorous Acts worthily to write would be a Work of great Commendation And thus died this Valiant Worthy in the strength of his
and a gallant Retinue At Guisnes the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France met him with a Noble Attendance of Men of Arms in the o 11 Decemb. Quindene before Christmas and gave him an Honourable Reception conducting him with much respect as far as Hesdin Where the Lord James of Bourbon Count de la Marche met him also with another Honourable Train of Gentlemen and conducted him to Paris with extream Civility At his approach to Paris he was thirdly met by a very considerable Body of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of France who came by King Johns special Command to do him Honour There was then the greatest Number of Strangers that e'r was known at Paris to behold this Combat of two such Mighty Princes all who in their several Capacities gave due Honour to the Duke of Lancaster and King John himself immediately upon his Arrival sent for him to his Palace where he gave him a Princely Reception But above all his Kinsman p This Duke Henry was Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was second Son to Edmund second Brother to K. Edw. I and of Blanche the Relict of Henry de Champagne King of Navarre from whom also this Charles King of Navarre was descended Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 319. Charles the young King of Navarre shew'd him a very high Regard and Menaged his Affairs with great diligence and application Before the day of Battle there was much agitation to reconcile these two great Enemies but all overtures were ineffectual the English Duke maintaining the Truth and Reason of his Words and the Almain utterly denying the whole Accusation Wherefore on the day appointed the Lists were ranged out in a Field called q Fabian ad hunc an p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Mezeray p. 51. le Pré aux Clercs the two Combatants were brought into the place and the King of France with his Prime Nobility and an Infinite Number of People were present as spectators All things being ready the two Knights having as the Custom of Duellists in those Days was taken their several Oaths on the r Corporall Gallice Corporall Latin. Corperale idem qued Dominicale i.e. pulvinar Sacrosanctum Synden vel linteum qâo corpus Dominicum tegitur Corporall that their cause was just and that they had no Charms about them and so began to address themselves to the Combat The Duke of Brunswick bore in his shield Å¿ True Use of Armory Bibl. Cottonianâ p. 58 vid. Tho. Mills Catal. Nobility p. 342. He came of Maud Eldest Daughter of K. Henry II of Engl. and Henry Leo D. of Saâeny whose V Son William of Winchester was Progenitor to the Dukes of Brunswick Hence this Dukes Arms so like England Gules Two Lions Passant Guardant Or and the Duke of Lancaster Gules Three Lions Passant Guardant Or being the Arms of England with a Three-pointed Labell of France Now 't is said that till now You could hardly find a more fierce or comely Man at Arms than the Duke of Brunswick nor one that promised better But presently as soon as he had taken his Oath his countenance changed and grew pale as Death whereby most People thought his quarrel was not so good as he pretended He took his Horse with a sad and ill-boading Countenance and as many spectators avouched had none of his former briskness and vigour remaining insomuch that he bare himself very awkwardly in handling his Arms and twice or thrice let fall his shield in receiving it But the Noble Duke of Lancaster sat ready Mounted with his Spear upright and his shield on his Arm in a decent and couragious manner with a sedate and resolute Countenance expecting to cope with his Adversary like a Knight who had Truth and Honour on his side so that all Men applauded his steady and gallant Behaviour Wherefore the Duke of Brunswick by advice of his Friends submitted his quarrel to the judgement of the King of France and proffer'd to withdraw his Challenge But the Duke of Lancaster absolutely refused to forsake the Combat saying How that before he had entred the Lists perhaps he might have been perswaded to an agreement but now that he was already Mounted and prepared before the King and his Nobles and such an extraordinary Confluence of People to defend the Justice of his Cause it would be an high Reflection both on himself and the English Nation if now he should depart the Lists without performing what Truth and Equity did require Wherefore he said he would not leave the Field for any Treaty or Composition whatsoever without Battle so as to derive the least umbrage of a suspicion upon his Honour Blood and Quality whereby either Himself the King his Master or his Country might suffer the least flaw in their Reputation Otherwise he would receive what Event or Fortune the Grace of God would allot him Upon this the Duke of Brunswick as a Man Conquered utterly renounced the Quarrel and refus'd the Combat without any reservation of his Honour wholly submitting himself to the award and disposal of the King of France to the great Glory of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Brunswick was generally more acceptable to the King and Court of France as who was much their Friend but however the Duke of Lancaster was not without his Interests among so many Honourable Persons who respected him thô an Enemy for his many Heroick Vertues and High Birth Among these his Counsellours and Abetters who stuck close to him at this time were the foremention'd Charles King of Navarre his Kinsman and Giles his Fathers Brother the Earl of Ponthieu the Earl of Flanders the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Saltzbourg the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France the Lord James of Bourbon the Lord Lewis of Navarre the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt the Lord John de Chastillon and the Lord Walter his Son with many more These Persons so wrought with the Duke of Lancaster that upon Duke Otho's absolute renunciation of the Quarrel he was content to go last out of the Field After which the King at a great Feast by the help of his Nobles partakers on both sides reconciled these two Dukes and took up the Quarrel between them for ever The next day he led the Duke of Lancaster about his Palace shewing him many notable and Rich Jewels of all which he offer'd him the choice But he for his part desired only one Thorn out of the Crown of our Saviour which he brought away and afterwards gave as a Relick to his Collegiate Church of our Lady founded by himself near the Castle of Leicester The third Day after he took leave of the French King and Court and return'd home into England unto the King who was then at St. Albans where he kept his Christmas at that time and received him with great Grace and Favour XIII This pious Heroe who at last by his Religious and Noble Carriage obtained to be called the t Tho.
whether the Tenants of such as hold by Barony and are summoned to Parliament shall contribute to the payment of Knights Fees coming to the Parliament As heretofore so the same shall be That present Pay be made of all Purveyances being under twenty Shillings and of greater within one Quarter of a Year and that Purveyance be made without Malice It is good to make Payment accordingly to the first Point and to redress the second That all Sheriffs be charged to make present Payment for all Purveyances for Calais The Demand is reasonable That any one attainted upon a Writ of Oyer and Terminer may bring his Attaint a Ita M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton ân petiùs haâing hanging his Suit against the other The Lords will not alter the Order of the Law. That the Lords Marchers of Wales do suffer no Distresses to be made on any English Man coming into Wales for any other Mans Debts if he be no Debter Trespasser or Surety As heretofore so the Law shall be That no Inquest upon Conspiracy Confederacy Maintenance or such like be returned but by the Sheriff of the most lawfull Men and nighest in that part of the Country where such Acts are laid that all Evidences therein be given openly at the Bar and that no Man speak with the Jury after they depart therefrom This last Petition was Enacted That the King b Now for the better Understanding of this Petition it is to be noted that about four Years before this c Hâlâââhead Engl. Chron. p. 948. vid. Gedwins Catal. Bish p. 234. William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England had caused Groats and Half-Groats to be Coined to the People's great Disadvantage for they wanted something of the just Sterling Weight Which occasion'd the Price of all things to be very much enhanced whereupon at the Commons Complaint now in Parliament the King promised to redress the Grievance the first Opportunity Yet however many times after those Days the like Practice hath been used insomuch that now 5 s. scarcely contain so much silver as 5 Groats had 300 or 400 Years ago So that 't is no wonder if things be sold at treble the Price which they held at that time For hereby also it comes to pass that the Prince and Nobility cannot possibly maintain their Estates with their Ancient Rents and Revenues because thô they bring them in the old Tale and Number yet they fall far short in the due Weight and Quantity of Metal will appoint a Time when the Coin shall be made Finer With Opportunity the King meaneth the same That the King have the Forfeitures of his Widows Dowagers but not of such as hold joyntly with their Husbands The old Law shall stand That the Writ of Appeal brought d Ita Sr. Rob. Cotton having in M.S. hanging another may abate the other The Common Law therein used shall continue That Weights and Measures may henceforth be made in the Town of London so as all Counties do conform themselves according thereto There is a STANDARD in the Treasury where every Man readily may have the same That the Writs of the Chancery may be at reasonable Prices and that the Clerks of the Crown and others for Commission and such like do content themselves with the Kings Allowance As heretofore the same shall be That Fines for Writs may be reasonably made in every of the Kings Courts The Chancellour shall do as heretofore The Commons beyond the Trent require that the Justices of the one Bench or of the other may yearly come twice amongst them for taking Cognisance of Fines and Letters of Attourney of the Unable The King will be advised That Labourers may take Corn for their Wages The Statute made shall be observed That the Staple may always continue in England The same shall so continue till the next Parliament and not be alter'd without the Assent of the Parliament The Merchants Strangers require that the Ordinances of the Staple may be executed speedily The King willeth the same It is Enacted that that Statute made that all Merchants coming into this Realm with their Merchandises might sell the same to any Person whatsoever and of the same to make Exchange or to buy Wares paying the Customs therefore is confirmed to continue That the Customers do dispatch all such Merchants coming in with their Wares and that those Merchants for the Prices of their Wares may be credited upon their Letters and Oaths It is Enacted that some One of the Kings Council may be appointed to be Governour to such Merchants Strangers The Chancellor or Treasurer shall supply the same when he may attend if not some Learned Justices shall be appointed therefore The Printed Statutes of this Year e Statute-Bâck p. 108. ad an 28. Ed. 3. concerning shewing of Woolls Ch. XIV And concerning that none be Outlawed or put to Death without due Process of Law Ch. III. And that touching Errours and Misprisions in the City of London Ch. X. And that touching the Confirmation of all Statutes not repealed Ch. I. And that how the Escheators shall answer the Profits of the Lands of the Kings Tenants Ch. IV. And that which prohibits Exporting of Iron Ch. V. And that for the Election of Coroners Ch. VI. And that which concerns the Continuance of Sheriffs C. VII And that touching Attaint given without respect to quantity of Dammages Ch. VIII And that which contains sundry Ordinances of the Staple Ch. XIII And that concerning the Bounds of the Staple Ch. XV. And that touching Sheriffs who use to take Inquests for the inditing of any Ch. IX All f M.S. Rot. Par. an 28. Ed. 3 n. 20 22 26 28 31 32 39 41 43 46 47 c. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 86 87 88. these Printed Statutes agree exactly with the Record After all these things the Lord Bartholomew Burwash senior being then Lord Chamberlain and g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. a. one of those who had been at the Treaty of Calais the last Year declared to the whole House that there was a Treaty of Peace between the King and the French and a good hope of a final Accord whereto in the Kings Name he demanded of the Commons whether they would agree To which Demand they answer'd how therein they wholly submitted themselves to the Order of the King and his Nobles Whereupon Dr. Michael Northborough Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal and about h Godw. Catal. Bish p. 197. ubi Northbrook male pro North-burgh ut Pat. 29 Ed. 3. this time Elect Bishop of London commanded Dr. John Swinley the Notary to prepare a Publique Instrument thereof VIII And having thus dispatch'd the Transactions of this Parliament it is high time to see what was effected as to the Treaty then in hand between the two Crowns of England and France According to an Article of the last Years Truce Ambassadors were to appear from both the Kings at Avignon in January then next
Sr. William asked the Captain what News he had heard lately The Captain who had nothing to tell and therefore greatly desired to know something answer'd Alas I have no News in the World but desire if you have any to impart it to me Sir that I shall do most readily said Sr. William and then proceeded in this manner Sir it is now current all about France that the King of Denmark and the King of Iseland are allied together and have sworn to Sail forth and not return again into their own Countries till they have utterly destroyed all England and that in their Course thither meeting with the Prince of Wales upon the Sea as he was conveying the French King into England they fought him and wan the French King from him whom they are now sending home in great Honour to Paris For their Navy consists of more than an hundred thousand Fighting Men. And the Englishmen are in such fear of them that they know not what in the World to do for there goes an old Prophesie among them That England shall be destroyed by the Danes Then the Captain asked him how he heard these News Sir said the Lord William an honourable Friend of mine a Knight of Flanders wrote this to me for most certain and together with the Letter he sent me the loveliest Chessboard of Men that ever I beheld in all my Life That Device he put in by the by because he knew the Captain took great pleasure in playing at Chess and indeed this Project took for the Captain immediately snatching hold on the last Word said Sir I pray be so kind to let me see your Chess-Men I 'll send for them presently replied Sr. William on condition you 'll play a Game with me for some Wine And that being agreed on he bad his Servant who was privy to all his Design to run and fetch him his Chess-men and bring them unto him to the Wicket Accordingly his Man ran into the Town and the Captain and Sr. William enter'd in at the first Gate the Captain fastning the Wicket after him with a Bolt only for he would not lock it because of the return of the Chessboard Then Sr. William asked him familiarly to open the Second Gate saying he might do it safely enough seeing the First was fast Then the Captain open'd that Wicket also and let Sr. William enter with him to see the Castle in his Company The mean while his Servant had gone straight to the Chief of those Burgesses who had Men ready Armed in their Houses and they immediately signified the same to all the rest and so being all assembled and conveniently posted on one side near the Castle Gate he went up before and sounded a little Horn as he was before order'd to do by the Captain and Sr. William The Lord of Granville hearing the Horn said to the Captain let us go out to the Second Gate for my Man is coming and with that he himself passed forth at the First Wicket and stood still without watching his Opportunity The Captain thinking to follow him set out one Foot and stooping down put out his Head but just then had Sr. William taken in his hand the little Ax from under his Arm and therewith clave the Captains Head at one stroke before he could get his other foot over so that he fell immediately dead upon the Groundsel Then Sr. William ran hastily to the Outer Wicket and unbolted it at which time he saw his Friends marching up apace to his Assistance Now the Watchman of the Castle having heard the Horn was much surprized for the Captain however lately he had forgot his own Order had commanded that none should sound any Horn in the Town on pain of Death Wherefore looking down from the high Tower he saw Men in Harness hasting towards the Castle Gate whereupon he cried Treason At that as many of those in the Castle as were ready hasted to the innermost Gate where they were extreamly startled to behold their Captain Dead and Sr. William with his Ax in his Hand and all in shining Armour for he had flung away his Cloak now to defend the Entry At that instant those who were to second the Lord William being enter'd the First Gate were come up also to the other and so they easily drave back the Souldiers and took and slew whom they pleased and so became Masters of the Castle The Castle being thus won the City presently yielded and cast out their French Garrison at what time they sent for the Lord Philip of Navarre who being just then return'd out of England went thither upon their Invitation and made that his chief Garrison from whence on occasion to infest all Normandy Upon his Coming thither he was joyned with Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. James Pipe and other English Captains besides Gascogners who all together made a considerable Garrison which afterwards prov'd highly prejudicial to the Realm of France VII At this time there arose several Captains of England who gather'd Companies unto themselves wherewith they made War at their Pleasure and gain'd Prizes by Spoils and Ransoms and arrived to great Wealth and Dignity One of these was Sr. John Hawkwood c Weever's Funeral Monum p. 623. Cambden in Essex p. 324. c. an English Knight born at Sible Heveningham aliàs Heningham in Essex being the Son of Gilbert Hawkwood a Tanner He was bound an Apprentice to a Taylor in the City of London by whose good leave he went very Young to the French Wars in the Service of the King. For his admired Valour he was honoured with the Order of Knighthood and became in his Days a most Noble Captain All Italy remembers the Fame he purchased in the Wars there now fighting for the Duke of Milain Barnabo whose Daughter Donna he had in Marriage now for the Pope and the Church and another while for the State of Florence in whose Service he died 38 Years after this In Testimony of whose manifold good Offices to that State the Florentines have deposited his Bones in a sumptuous Monument in their Cathedral over which there is his Statue of Black Marble armed at all Points with Hawks flying thrô a Wood upon his Shield that being the Rebus of his Name Thô some of his Friends raised for him a Cenotaph also here in England at Sible Heningham aforesaid the Arches of which Tomb represented Hawks flying thrô a Wood. Froisard calls him Sr. John Hacton Jovius John de Aucut or de Acuto and d Matt. Villani calls him Gianni dell'Aguglio Sartore Inghilese l. 9. c. 37. Others otherwise but Hawkwood is the True Name Take this Tetrastick of Julius Feroldus in his Praise Hawkwood Anglorum Decus Decus addite Genti Italicae Italico praesidiúmque solo Vt tumult quondam Florentia sic simulachri Virtutem Jovius donat honore tuam O Hawkwood England's Glory sent to be The Bulwark and the Pride of Italy A Tomb just Florence to thy Worth
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 Gâlielmi Wickhâuni 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
found his Adversary of France wanted no Cunning nor Industry whereby to oppose him And he heard particularly how the Scots also had engaged against him in a new Alliance with the French King and design'd to give him a Diversion at the Back-door Whereat he was grievously displeased for he doubted the Scots more than the Frenchmen not only because they were a more implacable and obstinate People and kept their former Losses in mind but also because they were his near Neighbours and could do him an Injury more easily and escape Revenge more securely Wherefore first he sent a considerable Number of Men of Arms Archers and Others to the Frontiers of Scotland as to Newcastle to Caerlile to Barwick to Roxborough and other Places Besides which he rigged forth a good Fleet which was to ply about Southhampton Jernsey and the Isle of Wight For he heard how the French King was setting forth a great Navy to Sea which was to come and invade England or as others said Ireland wherefore thither also he was obliged to send no small Reinforcement under the Command of the Lord William Windsor d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 509. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 27. who being at the same time constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had in consideration thereof for his better Support in the Kings Service a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Kings Exchequer untill such a time as the King should settle upon him Lands and Rents of that Value for Him and his Heirs for ever and immediatly thereupon he had a Grant of the Mannor and Castle of Dungarvan as also the Castle called the Black-Castle to Him and the Heirs of his Body With him went in this Irish Expedition e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 32 the Lord Thomas Fauconberg and other Persons of Rank and Conduct for King Edward not knowing on which side the storm would fall was obliged to take Care on all Sides Though indeed he himself was not without some anxious Thoughts by reason of the unexpectedness of this Alarum But having thus for the present provided for all as well as he could he calls together his High Court of Parliament f M.S. Rot. Par. p. 103. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridg. p. 108. which according to the Summons met at Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity At which time William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in Presence of the King Lords and Commons the Reasons of their present Assembly saying How the King had always in his greatest Affairs used their Advice and Counsel and especially in making the last Peace with the French which was yet made on Condition that by such a Day the French King should surrender up unto him certain Countries beyond the Seas that within such a time he should pay unto the King certain Sums of Money and that he should never pretend for the future to any Jurisdiction or Soveraignty over Gascogne or the Parts thereabouts in Consideration whereof the King of England should from thenceforth lay by the Stile of France which he had accordingly done That whereas he for his Part had not slacked his Duty the French King had done the quite Contrary for neither had he made a full and due Payment of the said Monies and also he had summon'd the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and Others who were of the Kings Allegiance to answer to certain Appeals at Paris nay further he had summon'd the Prince of Aquitain himself who was also of the Kings Allegiance to appear among the Rest Besides all which he had sent certain Troops into Ponthieu where he had surprised several of the Kings Garrisons and Forts Whereupon the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain by Advice of his Council had sent to the King his Father wishing him to Resume the Title and Stile of France And therefore the Chancellor desired the Lords and Commons to take Counsel in the Matter and to advise the King to the best of their Power about the Premises Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland and also for Gascogne and other Foreign Places and Isles and after that Triers of the said Petitions for all the said Places On the Wednesday after the Bishops Lords and Commons answered the King with one Consent That considering the Premises He might with a Good Conscience take up again the Stile and Name of King of France and use his Arms as before Accordingly the King at that instant took upon him the Name Stile and Dignity of France and on the Eleventh Day of June being a Monday and St. Barnabas Day his Seal of England being safely laid up another Seal engraven with the Stile and Arms of France was taken and used and several Patents Charters and Writs therewith sealed and the same Day all the Kings other Seals were Changed one g Ashmole p. 665. being circumscribed with the Word Franciae in the first Place and the other with Angliae as at the Beginning From which Time even to this Day the Kings of England his Successors continue their Arms Quarter'd with France in token of that Right to which King Edward so justly now renew'd his Claim After this upon a full Account given of the Kings great Necessities the Lords and Commons granted unto him for Three Years following of Denizens for every Sack of Wooll Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twenty Dozen of Fells Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence and of every Last of Skins Four Pounds But of Aliens for every Sack of Wooll Fifty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twelvescore Fells as much and of every Last of Skins Five Pounds Six Shillings Eight Pence over and above the Old Customs Then it was Enacted That all the Kings Forts and Fortresses should be surveyed repaired and edified And it was caution'd by another Statute that no Religious Aliens should be left in a Capacity to discover the Secrets of the Realm and now again were all the Lands of Religious Aliens seized into the Kings Hands and lett to Farm to the Sovereigns of the same That Remedy may be had against the excessive Selling of Armour and the unreasonable Demands of Horse-Coursers The King will appoint the Officers of every Town to provide therefore That the Time of Prescription may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First The Old Law shall stand That Sylva Caedua may especially be declared The Statute shall be observed That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Indicted upon any Trespass or Felony may upon Issue joyned have a Nisi Prius against the King. So the same concerneth Treason the Chancellor or Keeper of the Privy Seal shall therein do Right That such as dwell upon the Sea-Coasts may set up Poles
there was no English Army in those Parts able to fight Sr. Bertram or to raise the Siege they called a Council of War and concluded to treat with the Constable which they did so discreetly that they were permitted to go away with all their Goods and what they pleased to carry and were also conveyed safely into Limosin where they incurred no Blame of their Friends for what they had done Thus Sr. Bertram prosper'd in this Expedition and wan many Towns and Castles from the English before he return'd into France VIII But now 't is time to look at home and see how King Edward behaves himself in this juncture He for his part m M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 111. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. in the first Week of Lent being the Beginning of March held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster at the opening whereof William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted-Chamber before the King Lords and Commons how since the last Sessions his Majesty had defrayed a Mighty Mass of Money and had sent over considerable Armies for the Conquest and Recovery of his Own And that he had lately received perfect information of the Great Power which the French King had prepared therewith to drive him from his Inheritance beyond the Seas as also of his Vast Navy whereby he meant to Subject unto him the whole Realm of England of all which the King demanded their Counsel and Advice Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland Guienne and other foreign Places and Isles and Tryers also for the said Petitions At this time * Stow p. 268. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. the Clergy granted unto the King an Aid towards his Wars in France of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be paid that Year towards which Sum Chantry Priests were taxed according to their Annual Receits and also small Benefices which had not been taxed before And the Laity also Lords and Commons granted unto the King for the Use aforesaid the like Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be levied of every Parish within the Realm at the rate of 22 s. 4d. the greater Parishes helping out the less supposing according to the Common Opinion that there had been as many Parishes in England as would have sufficed to answer the said Sum. Wherefore Writs were directed into all the Shires in England that the King might be certified of all the Churches in every Shire and of their Number Upon which it was found that the said Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds might not be raised in that Manner as had been proposed The mean while among other things because all the High Offices of the Realm had been engrossed in a manner by Men of the Church n M.S. Rot. Par. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm ibid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bâbi C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons petition'd that for the future Secular Men only might be Principal Officers of the King's Court and Houshold the Chief of which Places were there named particularly as that of the Chancellor Treasurer Privy Seal and the like and none of the Clergy they being enough taken up by their Spiritual Affairs if they minded them according to their Duty Saving unto the King his Prerogative freely to choose or remove Officers provided they may be of the Laity only To which Petition althô the King's Answer was then That he would do by Advice of his Council yet we find that in this very o Philipots Catal Chancellorâ p. 43. Month of March William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England did deliver up the Great Seal unto the King at Westminster who immediately deliver'd it to Sr. Robert Thorpe One of the Justices of the Law. At the same time p Philipâts Catal Treasurers p. 39. Godwin Catal. Bish 40â Thomas Brentingham alias Brantington Bishop of Excester was also removed from being Lord Treasurer in whose Place Sr Richard Scroop of Boulton a Baron of the Realm succeeded on the 27 of March. And then it passed into a Law that for the future the Chancellor Treasurer and Clerk of the Privy Seal should not be Spiritual Men but that Secular Persons only should have those Employments After which thô sometimes indeed the Clergy did attain the said Dignities yet it was much more seldom and in process of time very rare or never This done q M.S. Rot. Par. p. 107. §. 8. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 111. Sr. Robert Thorpe the New-Lord Chancellor declared that for as much as Easter drew near all the Petitions of the Commons could not be answer'd at that time But that after the said Feast the King would take Care to answer them And so the King thanked the Lords and Commons for their Travel and Aid and gave them leave to depart The next Sessions was held at r Ita M.S. Rât Parl. rectè sed Winchest apud Sr. Rob. Cotton Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity then next after at which time the Lord Chancellor declared unto the Lords and Commons there assembled how their late Grant of 22 s. and 4d out of every Parish would not amount to 50000 l. because by the Return into the Chancery it appear'd that there were not so many Parishes in the Realm Whereupon the Lords and Commons for the perfecting the foresaid Sum granted unto the King of every Parish-Church assessed within the Realm Five Pounds Å¿ Ita M.S. rectè ut videtur sed Sr. Rob. Cotton legit 10â Sixteen Shillings comprising therein the foresaid Sum of Twenty Two Shillings and Four Pence except the County of Chester and all such Lands of the Church as had been amortized before the Twentieth of King Edward the First The Form of the Commission for this Subsidy was read before the King and the Collectors and Commissioners were appointed by the Knights of the several Counties and there were set down the t Vid. Stow p. 268. c. ubi tamân errer in numer is nân facile emend ânduâ Names of every Shire with the Number of the Parish-Churches therein and the Sum to which the Gross of the Payment of all the Parishes amounted Which was in all 50181 l. 8 s. Whereof the Odd 181 l. 8 s. was deducted because thrô great Poverty the Parishes in Suffolk paid but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Seven Pence apiece and those in Devonshire but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Ten Pence Farthing And so the King was answer'd his full Summ of 50000 l. But Cheshire a County Palatinate I know not for what Reason came not to this Parliament and so was not reckon'd among the other Counties nor in the Tax Thô in the City of Chester there were Ten Parish Churches and in the Shire Eighty Seven more besides Chappels In this
Reverend Brethren Cardin is of the Holy Roman Church viz. Simon of the Title of St. Sixtus and John of the Title of the Four Crowned Saints Priests-Cardinals Nuntio's of the Apostolick See. Lest therefore ô most Beloved Son the Eastern Parts do now irreparably run to ruine and fall irrevocably into the Hands of cruel Barbarians We thought good to have our Recourse to your Piety earnestly entreating and desiring you in the Lord JESVS CHRIST and also perswading you in Order to the Remission of your sins that considering the Premises with such pious Meditation as is fitting you would induce the said King of England and our Beloved Sons John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge Sons of the said King to whom also We write to this very purpose to make a good and lasting Peace and Concord with the said King of France and to provide for some Succour as shall seem good to them in the said next Expedition when for such as shall be willing to pass the Seas a mighty Fleet will be equipped by the said Genoans So that such great Evils may soon be obviated and the said Peace being made which God grant who is the Author of Peace speedy Succour may be sent unto the said Eastern Parts For We request very many Princes and Nobles for speedy Succour by writing unto them effectually for that Purpose And what shall seem good to your Magnificence in the Premises forget not to write back unto Us as soon as may be Dat. apud Villam Novam Avenion Dioeces Kal. August An o Pontif. 1 mo Thus did his Holiness use his utmost Diligence to oppose the Success of the Infidels Arms by healing the Breaches of Christendom but the French King being now more confident upon the late League with Spain was less carefull to hearken to moderate Terms and so this Design fell and the War continued open as before XV. The q Frois c. 296. Duke of Lancaster and his Brother the Earl of Cambridge tarried at Bourdeaux with their New Ladies in great Jollity and Sporting till after Michaelmas about which time the Duke resolved to return into England not only because there was a Great Council to be held about Carrying on of the War but also that he might more particularly inform the King his Father of the Affairs of Aquitain But before his Departure he summoned all the Loyal Barons of Guienne to meet him at Bourdeaux Where he declared unto them How he design'd to go for England about certain Affairs relating to their Advantage and the Weal and Safety of all Aquitain and that by the next Summer at furthest he would be there again with them if so it should please the King his Father And all Men being highly satisfied with these Words he appointed the Noble and Valiant Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche his Deputy Governour of all Guienne and with him he joyned as Assistants the Lord of Mucidan and the Lord of Lesparre In Poictou he set as Chief Governour the Lord Lewis of Harcourt and the Lord of Partenay and in Sainctogne the Lord Lewis of Argenton and the Lord William of Montendre and all his Seneschals and other Officers he left in statu quo priús Then there were nominated certain Representatives for the Good Towns of Gascogne Sainctogne and Poictou who were to go along with the Duke of Lancaster into England the better to inform King Edward of the State and Condition of Aquitain the Chief whereof were the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinant and Sr. Emery of Tarse When they had all made themselves ready for the Voyage the Duke of Lancaster went on Ship-bord with his Lady the Dutchess and her Sister and his Brother the Earl and a great Company of Men of Arms and Archers so that the Fleet consisted of Threescore Good Vessels together with those that bore their Provision and Necessaries They had Wind at Will and so landed with safety at Southampton where having tarried two Days they went all to Windsor to the King. He was glad to see his two Sons the Duke and the Earl and his Daughters the two Spanish Princesses and also all the Lords and Knights Strangers But in especial manner he welcom'd Sr. Guischard Dangle for he was a most Valiant and Loyal Baron and one who had a Deep insight into Men and Matters CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny II. Some Overtures for a Peace but both the Kings prepare for War. III. King Edward designs the Duke of Lancaster to invade France by Calais and Picardy and the Earl of Pembroke by Rochell and Poictou IV. The Earl of Pembroke being come before Rochelle has a sharp Engagement with the Spanish Fleet but on the second Day is beaten and taken Prisoner with many more V. Sr. James of Surgeres obtaining his liberty on easie Terms makes Relation of the Fight to the Rochellers The Spanish Fleet bear off with their Prisoners and set sail for Spain The Captal of Busche with a great Number of Men of Arms comes to Rochell all too late VI. An Account of one Owen or Evan a Pretended Prince of Wales He serves the French King against England VII He invades the Isle of Garnsey and overthrows the Governour thereof in Battle and lays siege to Cornet Castle but is call'd off by the French King and sent into Spain VIII King Edward's Concern for the loss of the Earl of Pembroke and his Designs for the Security of Poictou which are dash'd by new Affairs from Bretagne IX Owen of Wales being in Spain insults over the Captive Earl of Pembroke The English Prisoners presented to King Henry who uses them respectfully but commits them to safe Custody X. The Captal of Busche reinforces the Garrison of Rochelle and goes and clears the Country about Soubize of the Enemy XI The Constable of France takes Monmorillon Chauvigney Lusac and Moncontour Poictiers much strengthned by the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux XII AN. DOM. 1372. An. Regni Angliae XLVI Franciae XXXIII The Frenchmen laying siege to St. Severe the Captal of Busche the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux prepare to raise the siege XIII The Constable takes the Place before their coming and is invited to come and take Seisin of Poictiers which he does with all speed XIV The English and Gascogners hereupon separate the latter going to Thoüars the former to Niort which latter being shut against them is taken by Storm and Garrison'd for England XV. Owen of Wales brings a Fleet from Spain before Rochell Soubize being besieged by the French is rescued by the Captal of Busche but Owen of Wales coming suddenly upon him he himself is taken and so Soubize follows his Fate XVI The French take St. Jean D'Angely Angoulesme Taillebourg and Sainctes XVII Rochell Castle obtain'd by stratagem The Inhabitants submit to the French King on Composition XVIII Sr. Bertram
ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã HENGIST ESTHER FRANCIADOS EURIPIDES K. EDWARD III. ECCLIAST HIST. Vera Effigies JOSUAE BARNES S.T.B. EMANUELIS Collegij apud CANTIBRIG Socij maxime Senioris Etat Suce 40. 1694. R. White ad vivum fecit ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THE HISTORY OF THAT Most Victorious Monarch EDWARD IIId. KING of ENGLAND and FRANCE and LORD of IRELAND AND First Founder of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER Being a Full and Exact Account Of the LIFE and DEATH of the said KING Together with That of His Most Renowned SON EDWARD Prince of WALES and of AQVITAIN Sirnamed the BLACK-PRINCE Faithfully and Carefully Collected from the Best and most Antient Authors DOMESTICK and FOREIGN Printed Books Manuscripts and Records By JOSHVA BARNES Batchelor of Divinity and One of the Senior Fellows of Emmanuel College in Cambridge Licensed by Authority Pulchrum imprimis videtur Non pati occidere Quibus Aeternitas debeatur C. Plin. Caec Secundi Epist l. 5. Ep. 8. p. 210. CAMBRIDGE Printed by John Hayes for the Author MDCLXXXVIII TO The Most Serene Majesty OF JAMES the Second KING of ENGLAND SCOTLAND FRANCE and IRELAND c. AND SOVERAIGN OF The most Noble Order OF THE GARTER GREAT SIR HAving under the Happy Influence of Your Majesty's Gracious Government had the leisure to write the History of the Life of One of the most Glorious of Your Royal Predecessors King EDWARD the Third to whom should I dedicate the same but to Your Majesty who are the Inheritor of those Realms which He governed the Soveraign of that most Noble ORDER which he Founded and the lively Resemblance of all those Vertues which He so eminently possessed Whose Immense Goodness to all Your Subjects in general whose Heroick Inclinations to Military Honour and whose Princely Love and Respect to Learning do render You as Gracious at Home and as Terrible abroad as King EDWARD was in his Days It is Your Majesty's Delight and Glory Graciously to accept of the well-intended Endeavours of the meanest of Your Subjects particularly of those which are employed in Recollecting the Glorious Memoires of Your Renowned Ancestors Monarchs of this Isle And no doubt succeeding Generations will rise up to the Memory of that Prince by whose Favour and Liberality the Remembrance of former Ages hath been brought to Light. Wherefore heartily wishing unto Your Sacred Majesty a Fruitfull Consort a Flourishing Family a Long Life a Quiet and Secure Government Victorious Armies Obedient Subjects and Wise and Loyal Parliaments besides Eternal Felicities I humbly Dedicate this Work to Your Great Name as being GREAT SIR Your Majesty's Most Humble and Loyal Subject JOSHVA BARNES THE PREFACE I Undertake a Work of so much Difficulty that nothing but a Sense of the Honour and real advantage thereof could animate me to it For the Obscurity of our Histories being so great and the Mistakes and Opposition of them one with another being so frequent it must needs seem a Labour not small to go about to give a Just account of the whole Series of all Publique Actions for the continuance of Fifty Years and upwards at such a long distance of Time as more than Three Centuries But my Resolution hath been to shew so much diligence in the Collecting and so much integrity in the Composing that if I cannot obtain to know all the most Momentous Truths yet I shall purposely decline all Fabulous Narrations all Groundless Opinions all Popular Errors Partiality and Prejudice and seriously conform my self to those Rules and decencies which belong to a Faithfull Historian The Subject Matter of my Discourse is the Honour of my Country the Life and Actions of one of the Greatest Kings that perhaps the World ever saw the Rights of the English Crown and how well our Ancestors were able to vindicate them Nor shall I confine my self wholly to the Relation of King Edward's Exploits or to those of his Invincible Son the Black-Prince and the rest of his Noble and Victorious Children but whatever Name I find memorable of his Subjects in either of his Kingdoms whether they were fam'd for Arts of War or Peace I shall endeavour to pay them that just duty which it shall seem to me they deserve Because I think it altogether fit that those who then shared with their Sovereign in his Grand affairs of War or Government should by no means now be deprived of a Participation with Him in his Glorious Memoires Especially since not a Few are still remaining derived from those Famous Ancestors whose Minds may be more strongly affected with due Incentives of Honour when they shall understand by what Methods their Forefathers attain'd such Estates or Titles which They now as worthily enjoy It is an old Observation That Subjects usually conform themselves to their Prince And here certainly if ever any Great and Martial Monarch was Lord of any like Himself We shall find this King to have been so Many Great and Renowned Heroes and Captains Bold in Attempts Wise in Conduct and Fortunate in Success being Thick almost in every Page of this History Wherein will appear the greatest Variety of Adventures the most hazardous Enterprises of War the most exact Counsels and Politick Negotiations and the most frequent Instances of Courage Piety Generosity and Princely Conduct with the most Wholsom Laws and Rules of Government that perhaps the whole World can furnish us withall in so short a Period of Time. Of which Work I shall say no more than that if it suffer not for the sake of the Authors Meanness it is like to Live and to prove not unpleasing to those who have any Love or Veneration for England or English Heroes or who indeed delight either to do Bravely themselves or to read the Account of Noble Actions faithfully painfully and accurately recorded to Posterity From Emmanuel College Easter-Monday i. e. 16 April 1688. The CONTENTS BOOK I. CHAP. I. EDWARD the Son of Edward the Second is born Made Prince of Wales His Father's Deposition and his Coronation He gives a General Pardon Has 12 Guardians appointed him Is defied by the King of Scotland Makes an Expedition into Scotland His Father is murder'd The Death of sundry other great Personages From p. 1. to p. 26. Chap. II. King Edward the Third takes a Wife Makes a dishonourable Peace with the Scots Mortimer's Insolence provokes the Lords of England to Arms. Matters reconcil'd Mortimer made Earl of March. The Lord Beaumont of England's Pedigree Mortimer entertains the King. From p. 26. to p. 33. Chap. III. King Edward does Homage to the King of France for Aquitain Queen Philippa in great danger at a Tourneament The Queen Mother and Mortimer compass the Death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle King Edward goes privately into France The Birth of Edward the Black-Prince Mortimer taken and executed A Parliament From p. 34. to p. 54. Chap. IV. Henry Earl of
John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland The Third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited The time and place of this Battle certainly Assign'd A Gross Mistake of Hector Boëtius the Scotch Historian How long the Fight lasted the Loss on both sides The Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken John Copland bears away the King of Scotland the Queen sends to him for the King She returns to York and King Bailiol and the English invade Scotland John Copland being sent for to Calais by King Edward is Knighted and Royally rewarded King David secur'd in the Tower of London The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to the Siege at Calais The Pope endeavours for Peace in vain From p. 376. to p. 385. Chap. VI. A Parliament at Paris Another at Westminster The Pope writes to King Edward to perswade him to Peace King Edward's answer Odoricus Rainaldus refuted King Philip seeks to bring over the Flemings but misses his Aim The Earl of Flanders confin'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais The Earl of Flanders escapes into France Two Frenchmen put to Death for favouring King Edward's Right The Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel The frequent Attempts to relieve Calais frustrated The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. Sr. Robert of Namur enters King Edward's service before Calais An account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of DURHAM An account of the Affairs of Bretagne Sr. Charles of Blois taken Prisoner at the Battle of ROCHE D'ARIEN by Sr. Thomas Dagworth Roche d' Arien taken by the French and the English Garrison murder'd by the Commons of the Country The French Navy defeated Five hundred more poor People thrust out of Calais The Calisians send an Account of their Case to King Philip. The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philip's March returns to Calais The French Kings strength he desires leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings Besiege Aire but upon King Philip's approach rise King Philip comes to Sangate and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair The manner how Calais was yielded Calais settled by King Edward A Truce between the two Kings King Edward returns for England A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case From p. 385. to p. 415. Chap. VII The Glory and Prosperity of King Edward's Reign corrupts the Nation A Parliament Justs and Turneaments How Avignon came to belong to the See of Rome Philip of Valois and Edward of England could cure the Kings Evil. An Order concerning the Kings Purveyors The Truce between England and France prorogued for another Year King Edward solemnises the Translation of St. Thomas c. The Earl of Flanders does Homage to King Edward but afterwards rebelling is beaten King Edward being inform'd of a Design to betray Calais goes over privately and beats the Frenchmen He presents a Rich Chaplet to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont and sets him free Having settled Calais he returns for England The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The two Royal Widowers Marry again From p. 416. to p. 428. Chap. VIII Treats of the Great Plague that happen'd in the Year 1348. From p. 428. to p. 442. Chap. IX King Edward Founds the Chappel of St. George at WINDSOR with the Copy of his Letters for that purpose The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls The Progress in Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne The Lord Thomas Dagworth slain in Bretagne Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He brings the French to Terms A Famous Combat between 30 English and 30 French. Of certain who arrived to Great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry Savage who lived in Ulster A Grant of the Black-Prince's to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King he being then newly chosen one of the First Knights of the GARTER From p. 442. to p. 448. Chap. X. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the 100th to the 50th Year The Original of Jubilees King Edward forbids his Subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Pope's Expostulation thereon The Sect of Whippers rises and is supprest King Edward's Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. King Philip of France dies King John succeeds A Duel fought before King Edward between a Knight of Cyprus and the Bastard of France King John puts the Bastard of France and the Earl of Eu and Guisnes to Death Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in Order to King David's Redemption From p. 449. to p. 455. Chap. XI A Parliament wherein King Edward advances sundry of his Grandees to Honour The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle Sr. Robert's Acts. A Truce with France Another with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldan of Babylon King John of France renews the Order of the STAR The Castle of Guisnes taken by the English King John seeks to recover it in vain Sr. Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole The Lord Guy de Nesse slain by Sr. Walter Bentley The Earl of Stafford Lieutenant of Gascogne beats the French. The Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the GARTER King Edward provides for the Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries Mathilda Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick King Edward prepares against the French. Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London From p. 455. to p. 467. Chap. XII An Hard Winter Storms Drought and Dearth A Riot at Chester The Black Prince's Munificence King Edward Founds a College at Westminster A Treaty with Scotland A Treaty and Truce with France A Parliament The Names of the Lords summon'd thereto Another Parliament A Treaty at Avignon which begets a short Truce The Foundation of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge A Quarrel between the Town and Vniversity of Oxford Two Fryars burnt at Avignon And a Third recants at Paris From p. 468. to p. 477. Chap. XIII The King of Navarre Murders the Constable of France and Invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance
t Id. p. 633. Lord Montagu Robert u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Lord Morley John x Id. 1 Vol. p. 81. quem vid. ad singula haec nomina Lord Warren Earl of Surrey John Lord Ros younger Brother to William Lord Ros of Hamlake in Yorkshire with his other Brother Thomas Ros the Lord William Clinton afterwards Earl of Huntington the Lord Roger le Strange and Sr Ebulo le Strange his Kinsman the Lord Hugh Audeley junior and Sr James Audeley his younger Brother Thomas Lord Braose the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John St Philibert the Lord Peter de Malolacu or Mauley the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord Thomas Hastang the Lord Robert Pierpoint the Lord Thomas Furnival the Lord Robert Fitz-Walter Sr Walter Beauchamp of Alcester in Warwickshire with his Brother William Beauchamp Sr Nicolas Cantilupe and many other Barons of England Sr y Frois c. 17. John of Heinalt and all the Lords Strangers with their troops both in their March and when they took up their Lodgings were always placed immediately next the King 's own Guards as well to secure them from the Archers who still breathed after Revenge as for their greater Honour and to let the whole Army know thaâ whoever sought their damage would at the same time highly trespass upon the King himself The first Night the Host reached sixteen mile onward of their way and there the King tarried two Days and three Nights partly to expect till the whole Army was come up but chiefly to examine by himself and his Officers whether any thing necessary for such an Expedition was wanting before they should be brought to a Pinch Early on the fourth day they began their March toward Durham which was distant in all from York about fourty eight or fifty Miles but from Topcliffe whereabout they had lodged little more than Thirty The second Night after they reach'd the City of Durham encamping thereabout till further notice of the Enemy of whom they had heard no News as yet The King had before this as we remembred to hinder their Progress in the Borders sent the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England to Newcastle and the Lords Hufford and Mowbray to Carlile with considerable Forces They for their part slack'd nothing of their Duty for they were Persons of great Worth and Honour But the subtle Scot e're the King could reach Newcastle which was but about z Ferrar. in Orthea twelve or fourteen Miles beyond Durham had pass'd the River of Tiââ so privately that they were neither perciev'd by the Garrisons of New-castle nor Carlile and so for a while they wasted and robb'd the Country wherever they came and yet could never be overtaken or found by those who sought to encounter them but only a Holinshead Hist Scotl. p. 225 once at Darlington where being met by a disorder'd number of the Country Militia who came to oppose them they soon overcame them putting many to the sword and the rest to flight Their King Robert himself was not there at that time thô he was the most Valiant and most Successfull Prince that had reign'd in Scotland of many years For being now oppressed with age and sickness he was forced to send in his stead two the most Famous and Expert of his Captains the Lord Thomas Randulph Earl of Murray and the Lord James Douglas the latter greatly in those days Renowned for Hardiness above all the Scotchmen as the former was for Wisdom and Conduct Their Forces were b Hector Bachan twenty or twenty five thousand Men all nimble and expedite for suddain Invasion or quick Retreat for they were all mounted c Frois c. 17 f. 8. the Better Sort on good strong Coursers and the Common Soldiers on little but approved Hackneys and Geldings They brought with them no Carts nor Wagons because of the inequality of the Mountainous Countries thrô which they should pass nor had they with them much purveyance of Bread or Wine for in those days the Scots were so abstemious and patient in time of War that for a good while they could endure with flesh half-boiled and drink out of the Rivers Nor yet had they any Pans or Cauldrons to dress their meat in for what Beasts they found as they always did good store in those Northern parts they would seeth them in their own skins stretch'd out bellying on stakes in the manner of Cauldrons And having thus sod their meat they would take a little Plate of Metal which they us'd to truss somewhere in or under their saddles and laying it on the fire take forth some Oatmeal which they carried in little bags behind them for that purpose and having kneaded and temper'd it with water spread that thereon This being thus baked they us'd for Bread to comfort and strengthen their stomachs a little when they eat flesh That such hard Farers should prove good Souldiers is no wonder and that sometimes they should be able to baffle a great Army more encombred than themselves may very lightly be granted And now had the English been several days in those Parts before they had any knowledge where their Enemies were thô they dayly saw the effects of their cruelty and met with many of the Borderers who fled before them to avoid it But at last they saw great smokes and fires about the Country which plainly enough declared where they were and what was their Employment Immediately hereupon d Frois c. 18. fol. 8. the Alarum is given and a March sounded every Man being commanded to dislodge and in the Order before appointed to follow the Marshals Battail There were three great Battalions on Foot and to each Battail two Wings of 500 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 20000 others well-arm'd and provided the one half on little Hackneys and the other ranged on Foot who fought for Wages to be paid by those Towns Cities and Corporations that sent them to the Kings Service The Scotch Writers make the whole number of the English Forces to be more than an Hundred Thousand Men effective and Froisard himself besides those three Battails mention'd speaks of 24000 Archers if the figures are not mistaken and Grafton and Speed reckon up 30000 Archers in All Thô I believe if there were such a Number they were distributed proportionably among the foresaid Battalions according to the Usual Method of the Captains of those days and that there was no such great Battail of Archers distinct from all the rest And this Opinion agrees better with our Historians and Froisard's own Account of the Number in another place where he reckons the Whole but to something more than e Frois c. 16 fol 7. b. 60000 Men of War Thô f R. Burtons Engl. Mânarchs p. 104. others whose Authority I shall not here examin make them no more than 54000 Men which were thus disposed in the Main Battail with the King were two and
said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâl 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung ât bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâuth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced ãâã but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing âypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâw p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much âncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
Archimbald Douglas on the 20 of March being the Sunday after the Annunciation had enter'd the Marches of England as we u L. 1. c 5. §. 4. p. 68. shew'd before where he continued four days in great Outrage without any encounter and after that got off safe thô with no great Booty But now King Edward had order'd Reprisals to be made upon the Enemy and soon x Knighton p. 2562. n 40. 50. after the Lord William Montague Ralph Lord Nevill the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Old Earl of Lancaster and Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel passed with King Bailiol into Scotland where they did much Damage to the Enemy and among the Rest they took a certain Fortress wherein they found the Lord Robert Colvile a Baron y Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 626. of England Prisoner whom they released with many other English Gentlemen and several great Ladies of the Country all whom they deliver'd Here also they found a vast quantity of Provision of all sorts which they kept for themselves and so ras'd the Castle to the ground From hence they March'd directly for Barwick which they began to lay Siege to both by Sea and Land. A little before to retaliate those Hostile Incursions made by the Scots upon the Marches the Lord z Knighton p. 2563. n. 10. Walsingh Hist p. 114. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth and William of Loughmaban with only 800 Resolute Men had enter'd Scotland in Hostile manner for above twenty Leagues when they were met by the Lord William Douglas Captain of the Fortress of Loughmaban attended with a great Multitude of Men of War. However at last the Victory fell to the English the Lord Humphry Gurdon Sr. William of Carlile and more than an hundred and sixty Men of Arms being slain the Lord Douglas himself with Sr. William Ward and about an hundred others were taken Prisoners with a great deal of Booty But the Lord Anthony Lucy on the English part was very much wounded in the Fight thô not mortally and so they all return'd with their Prey and Prisoners into England About the same time another party of the English Borderers made a sudden Inroad into Scotland and coming to Haddington in the time of a great Fair they slew and took all they found there seising on all their Cattle and other Commodities that were of any Value V. But now while the Siege of Barwick was carrying on King Edward himself comes thither in Person with a well appointed Army and there resolutely invests the Town declaring he would never depart thence till he had reduced the Place or the King of Scots should come thither to give him Battle Some five Weeks before he had been before Barwick but a Frois c. 26. fol. 16. then he was advised not to spend his time in a tedious and uncertain Siege but to ride up in the Land and Destroy and Conquer as his Grandfather had done in the furthest parts of Scotland the Forces of King Bailiol being judg'd sufficient to hold a formal Siege thô not to carry the place by force Upon this reason and hoping thereby to draw King David or his Lieutenant to a Battle he follows the advice Wasting and Destroying all the plain Country of Scotland and taking in several fortified Towns and the strong Castle of Edenburgh particularly wherein he placed a Garrison Thence passing the Frith at Queens-ferry he came to Dunfermlin and destroy'd the Town but not the least harm was done to the Abbey the King giving special Command to the contrary hence he over-ran all the Country about Scone as far as Dundee and on the left hand as far as Dunbritton an impregnable Castle about five Miles from Glascow standing on the River Cluid in the Marches bordering on the wild Scots To this place King David with his Queen was now retired for safety for he had been advised by his Council not to hazard a Battle seeing that beside the common uncertainty of War he had but few good Captains remaining and himself was little more than ten Years Old the Lord William Douglas also now being Prisoner in England But wait a while say they till this Tempest is of it self blown over another time we may recover these Losses more easily Hereupon the King being thus secur'd the rest of the Scots of those parts had withdrawn themselves and the best of their Moveables into the Forest of Gedworth which was impassable but to those who were well acquainted with the Country King Edward therefore having thus ravag'd over all Scotland at his pleasure without the least proffer of Battle made to him except that some Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland would frequently Skirmish with any small detachments from his Army and finding it fruitless to expect any just Opposition from King David intends back again for Barwick But in the way thither he took the Castle of Blacknes belonging to Earl Douglas which being about 10 Leagues or 20 Scotch Miles from Edinburgh he Garrison'd also for himself as he had done divers other Castles before intending thereby to make constant War upon Scotland within its own Bowels Just as the King of England was return'd to the Siege before Barwick with a Resolution not to stir thence till he had taken the Place or that King David should raise his Siege by Battle about the same time came to Barwick the Lord b Thoroten's Notting p. 264. John Darcy Justice of Ireland with a Gallant small Body of Men to the King his Masters Assistance He had three Years c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. before been sent by King Edward into Aquitain to the Reinforcement of William de Burgo alias Burgh Earl of Vlster then Guardian of that Dutchy But the said Earl being this Year d Knighton p. 2563. Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 70. ad An. 1333. desirous to pass into Scotland to wait upon the King his Lord as he was riding to Knockfergus near the Fords of Vlster and talking familiarly with his Followers about the subject matter of his present Undertaking an Irishman called Robert Fitzmartin Mandevil suddenly drew his sword and ran it into his belly so that there the young Valorous Earl was slain only because he had imprison'd one Henry Mandevil of that Family leaving behind him e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. one Daughter Elizabeth Heir of all his vast Possessions which afterwards was Married to a Son of King Edward's not yet Born. To Revenge his Death the Lord Darcy leaving Aquitain came now for Ireland with this small Army but understanding that the Men of the Country had already done that Work to his hand by putting the foresaid Mandevil and his Fellows to due Execution he set Sr. Thomas Burgh in his place as Lieutenant of Ireland and so made directly for Scotland whither he came just in time to give a Specimen both of his Loyalty and Valour For in this very juncture
till the Truce was fully expired and then on the same 12 day of July to enter Scotland in Hostile Manner with his Forces the Chief Captains whereof under him were John Lord Warren Earl of Surrey in England and of Stratherne in Scotland Richard Fitz-Alan the Stout Earl of Arundel Henry Lord f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who it seems had made no Oath to the Contrary as the Scotch Writers affirm but was redeem'd from his Imprisonment by a good round Summe of Money as we shew'd before the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Percy were here also together with the Lords Nicolas Cantilupe and Ralph Stafford all Barons of great Valour and Conduct who thô Subjects of England being for the most part ally'd to King Bailiol with their several Retinues and a choice Band of lusty Welchmen enter'd Scotland on the One part at the same time that King Edward enter'd on the Other as it had been before appointed Two such Mighty Torrents of War were not likely to be much resisted by the almost-exhausted Powers of the Bruceans So that in a manner they ravag'd the Country at their Pleasure wasting and burning all before them On the 12 g Knighton p. 2566. c. of July being a Wednesday King Edward of England began his March from the City of Carlile passing over the Solway Frith and so entring into Scotland in good Order of Battle On the Tuesday following being the 18 of July the Lord William Montague with certain other Barons of England rode forth coasting on the left hand towards the Parts of Caerlaverock in Nidisdale to fetch in Prey for the Army and the next day they return'd all safe with some Hundred Head of Cattle On * Julii 20. Thursday the King passed the Ford of Anand which giveth Name to Anandale and then he rear'd his Banners Royal and made many Knights but to the Lord William Montague he granted his Crest with the Eagle and a gallant Courser with Caparisons adorn'd with the Arms of Montague which are Argent three Fuzils in Fess Gules Moreover he gave him the Reversion of the Mannor of Wodeton and Mersewode-vale with the Advowsons of the Churches as also of the Mannor of Pole with the Advowson of the Church after the Death of Robert Fitz-Paine and Ela his Wife without Issue paying to the King his Heirs and Successors upon Christmas-day wheresoever he or they should happen to be a sword of 3 shillings and four pence for all Services Encouraged with this Bounty of his Prince the Lord Montague pierced yet farther into Scotland making great Havock and Spoil and continually bringing in huge Quantities of Victuals and Prey to the Army On that same day a certain Knight of Heinalt Named Sr. Enend came before King Edward with a Present from his Father in Law William Earl of Heinalt which was a very Gorgeous and Princely Helmet Richly beset with Precious Stones and adorn'd with the Coronet and other things in the same manner as the Earl himself was us'd to wear it on Festivals and when he appeared in the Greatest Splendor The King was extreamly pleased with this Present and immediately Rewarded the Messenger with an Hundred Pounds sterling 'T is likely he wore it long after for the Sake of the Donor For I have seen several ancient Pictures that Represent him in such an Helmet On the * Julii 23. Sunday after St. Mary Magdalene King Bailiol on the other hand took a strong Castle of the Earl of Athols called Cambremouth which would hardly have been master'd so soon but that in time of the Assault whether by chance or from without there happen'd such a fire in the Castle as compell'd them to yield presently together with all their Ammunition and Provision lay'd up for a long time or else they had all perished by Fire or been put to the sword Here they found the Lord David Marshal with his Lady also the Relict of the Lord Archimbald Douglas and the Wife of Sr. Philip Moubray beside meaner Prisoners Yet all this while neither of the Kings found any Considerable Opposition For long h Frois c. 26. f. 16. now had the Scots been us'd to these Harassings and therefore the better avoided them at this time by retiring with the best of their Substance into their Fortresses among the Marishes and thick Forests This manner they were first taught by their King Robert Bruce who in the Days of King Edward the First being so hardly hunted and pursued that neither Town City nor Castle could or durst entertain him betook himself to these Forests with good Success And still when the said King Edward was return'd for England he would forth again and appear on his Countries Behalf with sword in Hand straight Rally his broken and scatter'd Forces and presently recover either by Strength or Policy all that he had lost as far as to Barwick Upon News whereof King Edward would return with his Power and win all again Thus King Robert wan and lost the Kingdom of Scotland by turns for four or five times together when being at last Chaced into i Martin p. 87. Fabian p. 148 Graften p. 192. Norwey his Mighty Adversary King Edward the First died in a good old Age at Burgh upon the Sands near Caerlile But while he lay on his Death bed he sent for Prince Edward his Son and gave him Counsel to be Mercifull and Just and Constant in all his Words and Deeds to love his Brethren but to avoid Flatterers and especially Piers Gaveston After this he made him k Frois c. 26. f. 16. b. swear upon his Blessing that when he should see the Breath out of his Body he should take his Corps and boyl it in a Cauldron till the Flesh should all come off Then to bury the Flesh but to keep the Bones in a Coffin and to bear them along with him whensoever the Scots should Rebell for whether by Imagination or Superstition or secret Revelation he promised certain Victory against the Scots as often as his Bones were carried into the Field against them We read indeed in profane Story many such Instances and particularly that the Turks had some such Opinion of Scanderbeg's Bones but however King Edward the Second either out of Filial tenderness or pure disobedience buried his whole Body at Westminster where it remains Honourably Entombed to this day yet surely he never prosper'd against the Scots besides that he came to an unhappy end as we shew'd in the beginning of this History whether for want of his Fathers Bones or his Blessing for generally the Blessing of God goes along with a Parents just Benediction But this by the by While after their old Manner the Scots thus again at this time to avoid King Edward's Fury retired into their Fastnesses the l Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 898. Welchmen who were with King Bailiol being Highly incensed for want of Opposition spared neither
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 Walsânââ 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 Dâââ 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 hâst 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. Odoâic Rainald cenâin ad Bâenium 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 Sândsââd p. 109. Dââd 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
many Ships of the Gibellines of Genua and the Guelfs of Monaco which took much Booty from the English and infested the Aquitanian Ocean and also by his Royal Edict he had a Tom. 3. Epist secret 306. Odoric Rainald ad an 1337. §. 21. recalled the Rights of the Dutchy of Aquitain to the Court of France and had actually with an Army which he sent thither seized on several Castles besides that he had fired certain Places on the Sea-Coasts of England with his Navy which he sent into Scotland IX Now whereas the foresaid b Ashmâle p. 647. c. ex Rot. Alman 11. Ed. 3. m. 4. Ambassadors of the King of England had in making all those Alliances and Retainers upon the Kings Account obliged themselves to pay sundry great Summs of Mony the King taking all upon himself indemnified them their Heirs and Executors of all those Summs and other Things whereto they were so engaged But this great Affair of strengthening the King with Alliances was again set on foot and to that purpose c 3 Octob. Rot. Alman 11 Ed. 3. n. 10. another Commission was issued to the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln and Earl of Salisbury to whom was added Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and John Lord Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshold with Power to any Three of them to treat thereupon with Lewis the Emperour Another d Ibid. n. 11. Commission of the same Date was made out to them and to Richard Winkele John Hufford Paul de Monteflorum John Montgomery and John Waweyn impowring them to treat with and to retain all Persons as well Nobles as Others for the Kings Service And yet as the King did by these Means endeavour to enable himself for the Recovery of the Crown of France so did he not neglect all Methods of Peace e 7 Octob. ib. n. 13. Particularly he constituted the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk and John Lord Darcy his Agents to treat with the Magnificent Prince the Lord Philip the Illustrious King of France as he is stiled in the Commission or his Deputies touching his Right to the said Crown to wit whether it ought to remain to him or King Edward And by another Commission of the same Date they were empower'd to treat upon all Controversies and Demands whatsoever relating to the Dukedom of Aquitaine or other Parts beyond Sea and also of an Happy and Perpetual Peace But in case his just Demands should not find an agreeable Answer on the same Day he prepared f Ibid. m. 1. another Commission for John Duke of Brabant and Lorraine whereby he constituted him his Lieutenant Captain and Vicar General in the Kingdom of France Where it is worthy Note that the King in this Commission where he challenges the Crown of France as devolved to him by Right of Succession and consequently become his Lawfull Inheritance did assume the Title of that Kingdom and Stiled himself Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae And by another Commission bearing even Date made of these Officiary Dignities to the said Duke he put France in the First place thus Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae c. but soon after he voluntarily laid this Title of France aside nor did he solemnly assume it again till the Fourteenth Year of his Reign over England as we shall see in due place By several other Commissions of the same g Ibid. Date wherein also the Titles of England and France were in like manner transposed did the King appoint to the same Dignities William Marquess of Juliers William Earl of Heinalt his Brother in Law and William Bohun Earl of Northampton and by another then Dated and directed to the Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons and all other Persons in the Kingdom of France having therein the Titles of France and England transposed as before they are commanded to receive the said Duke of Brabant as if it were the King in his own Person as also the said Marquess and Earls And further the said Marquess and Earls were by other Commissions severally constituted the Kings Special Ambassadors to make known his Title to all whom it should concern to challenge and prosecute his Right to require every Unjust Detainer to render unto the King whatsoever he so withheld from him to Displace and Punish such as they should think meet and lastly to Do and Execute all other Things which should be most necessary for the Recovery and Preservation of his Right Now it is to be remembred thô we also spake of this before that in the beginning of h Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m 29. in Dorso Knighton p. 2569. n. 10. this Year King Philip had sent Forces into Gascoign and thô not without considerable Loss to himself seised upon many of the Kings Castles and Fortresses notwithstanding that the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschall of Gascoign a noble wise and valiant Captain behav'd himself commendably against the French in all his Actions considering his small Forces Upon notice hereof King Edward gave i Rot. Vascon 11 Ed. 3. m. 40. Command to arrest twenty Ships in the Port of Southampton and thereabouts and to press Men to be ready at Portsmouth to set forward for Gascoign on Whitsun-Eve following to reinforce the Lord Oliver Ingham his Seneschall But it must not here be forgotten what is recorded of Sr. k Rot. Vasc 11 Ed. 3. m. 4. Raymund Cornely Lord of Abertha a Gascoigner that he made an Offer to the French King to fight with any Man living in Defence of King Edwards Right to those Countries for which he l 6 Jan. ibid. sent him great and particular Thanks Yet thô accordingly the King had raised a great Army to send into Gascoign he made withall several Fair Applications by his Ambassadours to the Court of France for Restitution of what had been seised on and Prevention of a War. His Offers were these 1. m Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 28. Dorsâ To Marry his Eldest Son the Duke of Cornwall to the King of France's Daughter without Dowry 2. The Marriage of his Sister the Countess of Gueldre to his Son with a great Summ of Money 3. The Marriage of his Brother i. e. his Uncle's Son n Hear the Learned Esquire Ashmole reads his Brother the Earl of Cornwall whereas 't is plain that the Earl of Cornwall died the Year preceding as we have shew'd and also upon the Death of the Earl of Cornwall that Earldom was converted afterwards into a Dukedom and conser'd upon Prince Edward Nor is it strange that I here am forced not only to read Kent for Cornwall but Brother for Fathers Brother's Son since we find in the Records that this very King calls Richard the Son of his Eldest Son Prince Edward his own Son as thus * Summonitio Parliamenti 51 Ed. 3. old Sr.
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hânor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdârfii Annales de hâc anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâcum fuisse Confluentias alâi Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
William of Strasburg Sr. Goswin de la Mulhausen Sr. Vauflart van Guistle and many others In all the Duke of Brabant had 12000 Men under 24 Banners and 80 Penons or Streamers The third and Greatest Battail of all was led by King Edward of England surrounded and attended by his English Captains the Chief whereof were these Henry Plantagenet Earl of Derby the Kings Cosin Henry Burwash the Noble and n Knighton p. 2577. n. 40. Warlike Bishop of Lincoln Richard Bury Bishop of Durham the Kings Tutor William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Bohun Earl of Northampton Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Robert of Artois who was called the Earl of Richmond at that time because the Duke of Bretagne for being on the French Kings part had lately forfeited that Title the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Percy the Lord William Roos the Lord John Moubray the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord John de la Ware the Lord Ralph Basset the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John Lisle the Lord Robert Benhale of Norfolk Sr. Otho Grandison Brother to the Lord Peter Grandison Sr. Lewis Beauchamp and Sr. John Beauchamp which latter was younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick and lastly Sr. John Chandos lately Knighted by the King of whom much Honour is to be spoken in this our History The King had with him in all besides his Royal Standard 28 Banners 80 Penons or Streamers 6000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 12000 Select Archers Besides he had set by another Choice Battail as on a Wing whereof the Earl of Warwick Thomas Beauchamp was Chief Leader and with him were Lawrence Hastings the young Earl of Pembroke the Lord Thomas Barkley the Lord John Multon of Egremont and others This Battail consisted of 5000 Men of Arms all on Horseback When thus every Lord stood under his Banner among his own Men as the Marshals had Commanded the King of England Mounted on a large White Palfrey and only attended with the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord Reginald Cobham and the Lord Walter Manny rode about before all his Battails and in the Head of each of them with a very cheerfull Countenance sweetly desired all the Lords and others that they would that day do their utmost to defend his Honour and their own and they all unanimously promised him so to do After this he returned to his own Battail and set every thing in good Order Commanding that none should presume to go before the Marshals Banners In the mean while the French o Frois c. 41. ad sin du Chesne l. 15. p. 648. Army was in like Manner disposed into Three Great Battails each whereof contained 15000 Men of Arms and 20000 on Foot in all 35000 Men the whole Three amounting to 105000 Warriers Among whom were Four Kings five Dukes Twenty six or as p Sala apud Du Chesne ibid. others say Thirty six Earls more than Four Thousand Lords and Knights and above 60000 of the Commons of France The Kings that were there were Philip himself King of France John of Luxemburg King of Bohemia Charles King of Navarre and David King of Scotland The Dukes were John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son John Dreux Duke of Bretagne Lewis the Great Duke of Bourbon Reginald Duke of Lorrain Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens The Earls Charles Earl of Alencon King Philips Brother Lewis of Cressy Earl of Flanders William Earl of Hainault Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix John Earl of Armagnac Amè Earl of Geneva Amè Earl of Savoy Lewis Earl of Blois the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Bar the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Longeville the Earl of Estampes the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of St. Pol the Earl of Guisnes the Earl of Boulogne the Earl of Roussy the Earl of Dampmartin the Earl of Valentinois the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Dreux the Earl of Gascoigne the Earl of Languedoc and many more Vicounts and others too tedious to enumerate It was a Glorious and Ravishing sight no doubt to behold these two Armies standing thus Regularly embattel'd in the Field their Banners and Standards waving in the Wind their proud Horses barbed and Kings Lords Knights and Esquires richly Armed and all shining in their Surcoats of Sattin and Embroidery IX And now it may be justly expected that a Bloody Battle should ensue upon these vast Preparations of these two Puissant Monarchs But we shall see all come to nothing upon these Reasons which now I shall more distinctly set down King Philip of Valois was no doubt a Man of singular Courage and as the Sequel shew'd rather too Rash than Timerous He had all along answer'd the English Ambassadors when they offer'd Peace upon easie Conditions q Knighton p. 2574. n. 50. 60. that the King their Master should never Rejoyce of two Foot of Ground in all the Realm of France And had often sworn by his Messengers that King Edward should not tarry one Day in his Realm without Battle let him come when ever he would The r Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. 40. Knighton p. 2574 n. 60. 2575. n. 1. ad n. 10. Constable of France also by Command of the King his Master had sent Letters to King Edward containing among other things that if he would choose out a Place not Fortified with Trees Ditches or Bogs the King of France without fail would afford him Battle Which same thing was also affirmed by the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lorrain in their several Letters under their Hands and Seals beside King Philips late Promise to Windsor Herald whereby he Obliged himself to come and give him Battle on this Day sufficiently shew'd his Resolution But Å¿ Frââis c. 42. all the Lords of his Council were not of the same Mind For thô some urged that it would be an indelible Stain of dishonour if now they should decline to come to the push seeing their Enemies were so near them in their own Country and had both demanded and been promised Battle Yet others of deeper Judgement replyed That it would be the most Unwarrantable Indiscretion in the World to Commit all to the Hazard of One Engagement For said they if Fortune prove adverse to Us Our King is in Jeopardy of loosing his Crown and thô he should Conquer his Enemies yet will he never be the nearer to gain the Crown of England or the Lands of any of King Edwards Allies Beside which gave the Greatest Suspicion to King Philip who knows said they whether all your Subjects are firm to You or no and that no Lords here present may Prefer King Edward or Revolt to him as the Lord of Artoic hath done already With these Debates time slipt away till Afternoon When of a
Peace and Concord would not only be rendred difficult but which God of his infinite Mercy avert impossible And moreover it doth not seem less worthy of consideration how mightily by occasion of the present Wars your Majesties Subjects are as it is said many ways exhausted of their Mony and other their Goods and are like upon continuance of such Burthens which God forbid to be further grieved And that the Event of War is doubtfull but especially upon the Divine Indignation to be feared Wherefore We more earnestly in the Lord require and exhort your Royal Magnificence nevertheless beseeching You by the Mercies of God that taking the Premises and what else may occurr to your Royal Wisdom into your Princely Consideration you may by taking Truce with the said King and renewing the Peace obviate the dangers both of your Self most Dear Son and of your People and so please God who loveth Peace and delighteth in Peace-makers rendring thereby your self more acceptable unto Him and confirming the strength of your whole Kingdom And that therefore you would incline to the wholsom Admonitions and Perswasions of ourdear Sons Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals of the Apostolick See our Nuntio's who are zealous of your Royal Honour and Success and whom we have lately by Advice of our Brethren sent to those Parts for that purpose Truly considering the Premises and that we might prevent the like dangers and innumerable more which are ready to follow from the said Wars and that between You our most Loving Son and the said King who is by the near Tye of Blood and Affinity joyned unto You the fulness of Peace and mutual Charity may flourish We wish with most ardent desires a Reformation of this Peace and if perhaps it cannot be obtained by the Instance of the said Cardinals yet if You O most Dear Son and the said King disposing your selves to mutual Concord acceptable to God amiable to Men profitable to Christendom and many ways the best for both of You will but consent that We also in our own Person should intend as Friendly Moderators to the Reformation of Peace taking a mutual Truce and granting a Cessation from Arms for a convenient time wherein the Treaty of Peace may be begun continued and if the Lord of Mercies grant brought to an happy End We thô we are continually occupied with weighty and importable Affairs even above our strength do notwithstanding thrô Desire of the said Peace hereby offer Our selves ready as far as conveniently and with honesty may be done effectually to interpose in the Reformation of this Peace to the Quiet Profit and Honour of each Party our share of Sollicitude as it shall be administred unto Us from above Concerning all which we request your Royal Majesty upon the most mature Deliberation to write unto Us your Pleasure Given c. at Avignon x Kalen. Jan. Anno Pontif iv To this Letter of the Popes the King of England wrote this Answer * * Walsingh hist p. 130. To the most Holy Father in God Benedict by Divine Providence Bishop of the Holy Roman Church Edward by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet We received with due Reverence and Devotion the Letters of your Holiness sent last unto Us wherein your Goodness persuades us to renew the Peace or take a Truce with the Lord Philip of Valois graciously adding that You in your own Person would intend to the Reformation thereof as a Friendly Moderator if We and the said Philip would consent thereto Surely We considering in the Lord your Holinesses Affection which is so sollicitous for the quiet of your Sons do humbly return You all possible Thanks for that your wholsom Persuasion and an Offer so condescending and so pious and in a firm love and confidence of your Integrity we desire to follow your Counsel and particularly to conform Our selves to your Holy Pleasure But it is now notoriously known how the said Philip contrary to Justice hath usurped unto himself the Kingdom of France lawfully devolved unto Us by the Death of the Lord Charles of Famous Memory the last King of France our Uncle And not content with this he hath seised into his hands our Lands in the Dutchy of Aquitain as many as he was able in Hostile manner invading our Islands in the Sea and also our Kingdom of England with that very Fleet which under colour of an Holy Expedition beyond Sea he pretended to rig forth having sworn for the Cause of Christ He hath also excited the Scots to rebell against us designing altogether to oppress us that so according to his unsatiable Desire of Sovereignty he may the more freely withhold from us our said Kingdom of France and other our Hereditary Lands To whom as we remember we have written before to your Holiness We have offer'd many desirable Methods of Peace willing even to purchase Quiet of him thô with no small Resignation of our own Rights But he long holding us in suspense by divers specious Treaties and exposing us to vast Expences that so he might drain our Exchequer and render us thereby unable to recover our Rights hath at last took no care to give us any Satisfaction but still his Persecution encreased and rag'd against Us Wherefore necessity so compelling We are now come to the Parts beyond Sea to take unto us the Assistance of our Friends to revenge the Injuries done and to repulse those that would have been done by him unto Us and to obtain our Hereditary Rights Which certainly we intend not to neglect but will pursue them when we cannot by any other agreeable way by Force of Arms God being our Help And althô in Presence of the Reverend Fathers Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals and Nuâtio's to your Holiness who have laudably and sollicitously labour'd in the Affair of Peace the said Realm of France which by all Right is known to belong to Us hath been demanded and We have under certain ways of Peace caused our said Will to be sincerely open'd to the foresaid Cardinals always offering Our selves ready to embrace any reasonable Method of Peace on condition the Adverse Party will agree thereto Yet neither by the said Cardinals nor by Others could we know to this Day that he the said Philip would do or offer any thing of Satisfaction unto Us. And truly if then he had made but never so small Offers to shun the hazards of Wars and the prosuseness of Expences we should have made a reasonable Answer thereupon but now we see not what we can do farther with our Honour in the way of Peace But for all that if it shall now please the foresaid Lord Philip to offer us any Reasonable Way or if your Prudent Consideration or the said Lords Cardinals shall open unto
said Kingdom there are however to the Kings of France of Famous Memory who gradually Succeeded unto Philip King of France of Famous Memory Your Grandfather Daughters and their Children who as to the said Succession as is reported are nearer unto the Kings their Fathers than are You and our most Dear Daughter in Christ Isabella the Illustrious Queen of England Your Mother Daughter of the foresaid King Philip But the Custom aforesaid hath been of former time so inviolably observed and still is observed that it admits not a Succession to the said Kingdom by the Female Line But to think that by the way of force You may obtain the said Kingdom considering the Greatness and Power of the King and Kingdom of France Your Forces are by no means believed to suffice thereto And that holding and possessing nothing in the said Kingdom You make Your self to be called King of France and have assum'd the Arms thereof as is Premised it is certainly reckoned to proceed from Evil and Unrighteous Counsell But if those who perswaded You to such things endeavour to say for an Excuse that You are Lord in Flanders which is known to be in Fee of the King and Kingdom of France truly it is to be attended and considered and Your Royal Wisdom may diligently examin who and what Men and of what Condition they are who have brought You in there For in them hitherto hath the Vertue of Constancy and Loyalty never been Praise-worthy For they have often basely ejected out of Flanders it self Their Natural Lords to whom they were bound in the Debt of Loyalty violating the Covenant of Their Faith after the Pleasure of Their own Wills and if they have done this to them whom they were Naturally Obliged to Reverence what may be presumed of You ô Son and what kind of Title may thence be taken or formed We pray that Your Wisdom would discreetly consider Again consider even thô it did proceed of Good and Right Counsel that now You cause Your self to be named King of France during the Reign of Our most Dear Son in Christ Philip the Illustrious King of France who as King hath for many Years peaceably held and possessed the Kingdom of France and to whom as such for the Lands within the said Kingdom to You belonging by doing Fidelity and Liege Homage You have recognis'd him for King of France and Your Lord for the Lands aforesaid Those that hear asmuch are amaz'd d d Ascribentes in M.S. quod male legitur arbitrantes apud Oder Rainald ascribing it not to discretion but rather to Simplicity and Vanity Finally We judge it ought to be more strictly consider'd that such a Title wanting both Reality and Advantage which those are said to have perswaded You to who love you not but seek by Your Losses to make Their own Market believing to attain thereto more fully when they shall have procured You to be insnared and involved in more deep Intricacies and hazardous Necessities and Troubles is feared to be a Poysonous Root which will probably unless other Care be taken bring forth Fruits of Bitterness and Sorrow Moreover We account that You ought no less diligently to consider how many and how Great Kings Princes and Noblemen who have proceeded from the Stock of the House of France or have Affinity or Confederation therewith who opposed not themselves unto You about Your Affairs before by this Name and Title You would provoke against You and more directly incense if which God forbid You should insist thereon And the very Title might begin such a Matter which God avert whereby the Reformation of Peace between You and the said King of France might as to all humane judgement be render'd for ever impossible And also the Princes and other Subjects of the said Realm who as the vulgar report goes would expose themselves to the hazards of Death and the perpetual loss of Their Goods rather than endure the Premises would by the same Name and Title be render'd more prompt able Valiant and Couragious against You e e Ad desensâânâm M.S. recte Odoric aâ defensionem ââlâ for the Defence of the said King Philip and his Kingdom Nor ought You most Dear Son as We remember to have written unto You elsewhere to repose much Confidence in the Germans and Flemings for You shall find them Affable and Kind unto You as long as They can have leave to drain Your Substance but otherwise You may not confide in Their Assistance And if You peruse the Deeds of Your Progenitors how the same Germans and Flemings behaved themselves formerly towards them You will manifestly find how far You may trust unto Them. We therefore intreat Your Royal Highness and earnestly in the Lord exhort You that You would receive the Premises which We write of a Fatherly Good Will and Sincere Affection with a favourable Mind and taking them together with other Matters which as to this Point may occurr unto You into a just and considerate Discussion and Examination laying by the foresaid Title would incline Your Royal Mind to the way of Peace and Concord whereby You may be able both to attain and peaceably to keep those things which shall be Your Right a Mutual Agreement being made between You and the said King that as You are joyned with the Tye of Blood and Affinity so You may be allied in the perpetual Bond of Confederation and Love. Dated Aven III. Non. Martii Ano. Pontif. VI. Other Letters bearing the same Date were written to the King wherein the Pope chid him that being Admonished the last Year IV Id. Octob. under Penalty of Ecclesiastical Censures and other heavy Penalties to break with Lewis of Bavaria he had yet return'd no Answer to the Apostolick See and as it appears f Odârit Râinald ad âândââ Aâ §. 8. âââem 6. Epist Secâ 25â those very Cardinals who were Nuntio's of the Apostolick See upon the Account of Peace wrote to the Pope that those Censures he had once threatned the King of England with might now be inflicted on him because he still kept the Lieutenantship of the Empire but Benedict wrote Back unto them to abstain from any such Proceedings against Edward till with the Cardinals he had more maturely weigh'd so important a business But before things went so far We shall find the Emperour himself to Repeal his former Commission given unto King Edward so that there was no further Occasion for that Papal Thunderbolt to strike England at that time CHAPTER the FIFTEENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King sends an Army into Gascoign which the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschal of Aquitain being too weak to match overthrows by a Stratagem II. King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to waste the Lord John of Hainalts Lands III. Sr. Giles Manny Brother to the Lord Walter Manny slain by the Cambresins IV. The French King gives leave to the Bordering Garrisons to make an Incursion into the Earl of
on the Sea under the Command of his three Admirals Sr. Hugh Quyriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Nicolas Barbenoir the Genoan These were furnished with a notable Fleet of Genuans Normans Bretons and Picards who did this Winter no small damage to the Coasts of England at Dover Sandwich Winchelsey Hastings and Rye For they were more than 40000 Men in all Beside this King Philip wrote to the Lord of Beaumont-in Champaine the Lord of Bresne the h Qu. Videme i.e. Vicedââwas Vidame of Chalons the Lord John de la Beau the Lords John and Gerard of Loire enjoyning them to furnish themselves with competent forces and so make an Impression upon the Lord John of Hainalts Lands burning killing and destroying without Pity because he took King Edward's Part against France These Lords did as they were Commanded and enter'd the said Lands with 500 Men of Arms appearing suddenly one Morning before the Town of Chimay a strong Town of Hainalt seated in a Wood on the little River Blanche Here they found a vast quantity of Cattle and other Prey for the Country People never imagin'd the French could have come so far without passing the Wood of Thierasche The Place was too strong however to be won by them so that setting fire on the Suburbs and the neighbouring Villages they return'd laden with Spoil to Aubenton and there divided the Booty At the same i Frois c. 44. time the Garrison of Cambray sent a small Detachment to a little strong House hard by called Relenques which also belonged to the foresaid Lord John of Hainault and was now kept by a Bastard son of his who had only 15 Men of Arms and about fourty others in his Company These few held out manfully one whole day against a continual Assault of the Cambresins but because the Ditches were so frozen that there was free Passage for the Enemy to approach to the very Walls about Midnight the Bastard and his Men in great silence trussed up all they had of any worth and setting fire to the House departed for Valenciennes whither they all came in safety Next day as the Cambresins came thither again to renew the Assault seeing all was reduced to Ashes they beat down the Walls and what remain'd to the ground and so returned III. We shew'd before k C. 13. §. 3. p. 135. how the Lord Walter Manny had taken the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque so called because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray over which he had set as Captain his Brother Sr. Giles Manny This l Frois ibid. Sr. Giles was a Valiant Knight and very much incommoded the Garrison of Cambray both distressing them that issued out of the Town and also boldly braving them at their own Walls Once particularly this Winter he Marched from his Garrison in the head of Sixscore Men of Arms and came to the Barriers of Cambray where the clamour rose so high and the skirmish grew so fierce that great numbers within the City were fain to run to Arms and come to the Gate to the assistance of their Fellows who were hitherto too weak for Sr. Giles and were ready to turn their backs But now upon this reinforcement Sr. Giles caused a Retreat to be sounded to his Men and so began to draw off fair and softly The fresh forces of the Cambresins issued out of the Barriers after him as they might well do both considering their own Numbers and that so strong a Place was at hand to second them Among the Frenchmen there was a young lusty Esquire of Gascoign named William Marchant who came out among the foremost into the Field well-mounted his shield about his Neck and his Spear in his Hand Him when Sr. Giles beheld he turn'd his Horse and rode up fiercely to him thinking to have slain or taken him But the Esquire held him tack gallantly insomuch that at last either by his Hands or some others for the Medley and Confusion was now at the highest Sr. Giles was stricken thrô all his Harness the Spear passing quite thrô his Body upon which he fell down to the earth Upon the fall of their Captain his Men renew'd the skirmish more fiercely but by continual Recruits from the Town they were finally overpower'd slain and put to slight The Cambresins took up the Body of Sr. Giles wounded mortally as he was and brought him with great Triumph into the City where presently they disarm'd him and got skilfull Surgeons to dress his Wound for they were very desirous to save him to be Ransom'd but for all their Care he died the next day after Then they resolv'd to send his Body to his Brethren John and Thierry for the Lord Walter the Elder was about King Edward's business which two kept Garrison at Bouchain in Ostervandt For thô at that time the Country of Hainault was not engag'd in any War saving the late Incursion made into the Lord of Beaumonts Lands yet all the Frontiers toward France were Garrison'd for fear of the Worst the times beginning to be troublesome So they prepar'd an Horse and Litter and putting his Body therein caused two Fryers to convey it to his Brethren who received him with great sorrow and saw him decently interred at the Fryers in Valenciennes where afterwards the Lord Manny m Frois c. 110. buried his Father as in due place we shall see This being performed his two Brethren John and Thierry who were also half n Id. c. 49. Brethren to the Earl of Namur went to their Deceased Brothers Castle of Thine whence they made sharp War upon those of Cambray in Revenge of the Death of their Brother IV. At that time the o Frois c. 44. Lord Godmar du Fay of Normandy was Captain of Tournay and the Country thereabout the Lord of Beaujeu was Captain in Mortagne on the Skell at the Consines of Hainault in Tournois the Seneshall of Carcasson in the Town of St. Amand on the Scarp Sr. Emeric of Poictiers in Doway and the Lord Galeas de la Bausine the Lord of Villers the Marshall of Mirepoix and Sr. Theobald of Marville in the City of Cambray All which Garrisons desired nothing more than to make an Inroad into Hainault there to rob and spoil the Country This their Desire was brought to effect by the Bishop of Cambray who being then at Paris with the King complained that the Hainalders had done him great Dammage having destroy'd and overran his Country more than any other And that the Lord John of Hainault was an apparent and known Enemy to France and the Earl his Nephew also secretly a Friend to England Whereupon King Philip as one that consider'd not how many Enemies he created to himself presently gave leave to the foresaid Garrisons of Cambresis and Tournois to make an Incursion into Hainault which they gladly did to the number of 600 Men of Arms. On a Saturday Morning they all began their March from Cambray and were met by
and French but the Country of Hainault was grievously wasted and afflicted with this War and still the Duke of Normandy lay on the Frontiers no man knowing whither he would turn his Fury next But the Greatest Concern of all was they could hear no tidings of the Earl of Hainault their Lord. He for his part as we shew'd before had taken a Voyage into England where he was well received by the King and his Barons and there was made between the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law a mutual Alliance Offensive and Defensive From England the Earl went into Germany to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who had Married his Eldest Sister the Lady Margaret as King Edward had Married the Youngest and with him also he made an Alliance Offensive and Defensive And these were the Occasions that kept the Earl so long abroad Besides this the Lord John of Hainault his Uncle having as well as he could supply'd all Places of Strength and given necessary Orders since he had received peremptory Command absolutely to decline coming to Battle till the Earl's Return was also gone now into Brabant and other parts of Flanders where he shew'd to the Duke of Brabant and to Jacob van Arteveld the Desolation of his Country of Hainault desiring of them their Advice and Assistance They answer'd How They were sure that shortly the Earl himself would return Home and then they promised to be ready to go with him whither he would please to lead them X. Now i Froâs c. 19. while the Duke of Normandy remaind'd at Cambray the Bishop and the Burgesses of the City told him how the English and Hainalders had gotten by Surprise the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque desiring him for the Common good to endeavour its Recovery Because the Garrison that lay there was so prejudicial to all their Country Upon this the Duke began again his Musters out of Artois and Vermandois and having compleated a sufficient Army went forth of Cambray and came before Thine on the River k Mezeray p. 16. Sambre and sat down before it pitching his Tents in the fair plain Meadows toward Ostrevandt The Duke had brought with him from Cambray and Doway several great Engines but especially six of extraordinary size all which he reared up against the Fortress casting from them night and day mighty Stones wherewith he beat down the Roofs of their Chambers Halls Towers and Houses So that the Besieged were fain to lie in Vaults and Cellars for their better Security against these Engines the Captains of the Fortress at that time were Sr. Richard Limesi an English Man of honourable Extract and two valiant Esquires of Hainalt John and Thierry Brethren to the Lord Walter Manny and to the Earl of Namur These three Captains thô infinitely molested by these Engines would often say to hearten their Company Surely Fellow-Souldiers one of these Days the Earl of Hainalt will come against these Frenchmen and deliver us with Honour and fully acquit us of our present Danger Nor will he then fail to give us both great Rewards and Thanks for having so truly defended this Place so long But after that the Engines cast in upon them dead Horses and Dogs and other stinking Carcasses which annoyed them much more than any other thing for it being about the time of Midsummer thrô the heat of the Air the stink became so abominable that they saw at this rate they should never be able to hold out any longer So by good Advice they concluded to desire a Truce for 15 Days in which time to send and inform the Lord John of Hainalt who was Governour of the Country in the Earls absence of their State and Condition and if he should not afford them any Succour in that space then they would yield up the Fortress to the Duke This Treaty being agreed to by the Duke the Three Captains sent forth an Esquire of Hainalt named Estrelart de Sommain to John of Beaumont to whom the Esquire finding him at Mons related the whole Message not forgetting to aggravate the ill Condition of his Friends at Thyne Sr. John thereupon shew'd him the Letters he had newly received from his Nephew the Earl wherein he wrote That he was coming homeward into his own Country and that he had been with the Emperour and King of England and with several Lords of the Empire with all whom he had made a strict Alliance And says he go and tell our Friends at Thyne that they be of good Courage for the Earl will be here within a Day or two and without doubt they shall be relieved effectually upon his Return During this term of Truce the Earl returned home accordingly at which time the Lord of Beaumont his Uncle gave him an exact Account of all publique Transactions during his Absence how the Duke of Normandy had lain on the Frontiers and how he had burnt and wasted his Country The Earl answer'd that it should be dearly paid for adding how the Realm of France was rich and large enough to make ample Satisfaction for all their Trespasses done against him But for the present he resolv'd to address himself immediately to the Assistance of those who were besieged in Thyne since they had hitherto defended themselves in such Difficulties with so much Honour Whereupon he straight sends out his Summons to all his Friends and Allies in Germany Brabant and Flanders and thrô all his own Country himself went to Valenciennes where he made his General Rendezvous and presently he had a gallant Army This done he marched from Valenciennes in great Array with many Carriages Tents and Pavilions and other Necessaries following the Army and went and encamped by Sar on the Plain along by the River Sambre He had in his Company these Lords Hainalders John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle the Lord of Engien the Lord Verchin Seneschall of Hainalt the Lord Dantoing the Lord Barbancon the Lord of Lens the Lord William Bailleul the Lord Havereth the Chastelain of Mons the Lord Montecuculi the Lord Barbais Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Marshall of Hainalt the Lord Dalmed the Lord Gomeygnes the Lord Brisuell the Lord Roisin the Lord Trisagines the Lord Lalain the Lord Mastin the Lord Sars the Lord Vargny the Lord of Beaurien and many Others all ready with their Men to serve their Lord the Earl. Beside of his Allies there came thither to his Aid the Earl of Namur with 200 Spears after whom came the Duke of Brabant with 600 Spears and the Duke of Guerle with 400 William Marquess of Juliers was now in England with King Edward but there was the Earl of Mons the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and divers other Lords and Captains of Almain Westphalia and Flanders All these with their several Troops were encamped along by the River Sambre over against the French Host and Plenty of Victuals and other Provision was daily brought to them out of Hainalt When the Duke of Normandy
to an High Degree as indeed she well merited Then follow the Remembrances for the King to keep promise as to keep the Sea to purvey for the Navy and to defend the Isles of Jersey and Garnsey Sr. Anthony Bath was Order'd to see to the delivery of the Kings Jewells And Conrade Clipping and Godrick de Renley are Assign'd for the Customs of England Then there is the Copy of a Letter sent from the Lords of the Parliament to the King by Sr. William Trussel containing the Grant of the Ninths and their Policy in making present shift for ready Money by Woolls In the Postscript they direct him to buy at Sluce and other Ports of Zealand because the greatest store of Woolls had been convey'd away by stealth To which there is another secret Letter adjoyned sent as it seems from some of the Council to the same Effect And here 's the Substance of this Parliament and the Summe of all the Aid that came to the King during the Siege of Tournay thô it both fell short and came also too late and as is highly probable not till after the Treaty But We are also to remember that in this Parliament King Edward Bailiol was appointed to serve at Carlile with 40 Men of Arms being still allowed 300 l. per annum together with the Mannor of Hexlisham as in the last x I. 1. c. 16. §. 1. p. 180. Parliament And the Earl of Angos and the Lord Piercy were Order'd to set forth the Arrays of Yorkshire Nottingham and Darby to Newcastle upon the Tine and so to the Marches For about this time Scotland began to Raise up her Head again of whose Affairs it will not be amiss in this place to take some Prospect VIII About the time that King Edward Commenced his French Wars the Lord y Buchan p. 297. l. 9. Holinshead Scotl. p. 238. Hector Beeth p. 322. Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland Departed this Life and was buried at Rosmarkie being greatly desired by the Scots for his successfull Valour After his Death the Young Lord Robert Stuart was continued Viceroy till the Return of King David out of France This Lord Robert took up during his Viceroyship the most Successfull Arms against England that ever had been since the Death of King Robert his Uncle But in Process of time when he came to be King himself he first wholly cast off the English Yoke and maintain'd that Kingdom in Prosperity and Honour during his whole Reign as in part we shall shew hereafter But the uncertain and contradictory Reports with the false Computations of the Scotch Writers make it as impossible to give a succinct and exact Account of every Action as it is indeed unnecessary Let this suffice that Scotland being now left more at Liberty by King Edward's Absence while he was busied in the French Wars did by Degrees recover many Great and Important Places which before she had lost thô as yet she was unable to do any Notable Exploit upon the Borders of England And first by the High Valour of Sr. William Douglas all Tividale was clean Recover'd out of the English mens Hands for which piece of Service he was afterwards Rewarded with that Country He also overthrew the Lord John Striveling at Cragings Wan the Castle of Hermitage baffled Sr. Laurence Vaux and took Sr. William Abernethie Prisoner and then by the Lord Robert Stuart was sent into France to King David to Request his Counsel and Assistance in the War because a Tempest was expected from England The mean while the Lord Robert Besieges Perth alias St. Johnston which was by the English Valiantly maintain'd against him for the space of Ten Weeks When the Lord Douglas on a sudden Arrived from France bringing with him into the Tay 5 Ships well furnished with Men Arms and Ammunition the Captains whereof were two Knights belonging to Galliard Castle in France upon the Seyne which was allotted for King Davids Residence also two Valiant Esquires named Giles de la Hoy and John de Breis with a Pirate of great Renown whose Name was Hugh Handpile so that now the Captain of Perth Sr. Thomas Vghtred not being able to hold out any longer after he had z Holinshead p. 239. destroy'd the best Ship that Hugh Handpile had and perform'd all that could be expected was at last enforced to yield up the Town thô not without a Hector p. 322. Honourable Conditions Now beside the foremention'd Captains who were on the Brucean Side Patrick Earl of Dumbar Kenneth Earl of Southerland Sr. Robert Hussey Sr. Simon Frasier and Sr. Alexander Ramsey who were dispos'd about in Garrisons of those parts of Scotland which the English had not won during the space of seven Years made continual War upon the English with various Success sometimes loosing and sometimes winning as well by Open Force as by Surprise Till at last King Bailiol being wholly tired out by these their importune Hostilities retired into England as we shew'd before Thô others say he was brought hither by King Edward either for his own further Security or hoping by his Removal to keep the Scots more quiet or for suspicion of his Loyalty But now while King Edward lay at the Siege of Tournay the French King sent new Supplies of Men and Money into Scotland requesting withall the Lord Robert Stuart to make strong War upon England that by such a Diversion King Edward might be forced to quit the Siege The Scots taking heart upon this Reinforcement not only wan many Fortresses in Scotland but also adventur'd in several Bodies to enter England where they destroy'd the Country almost as far as Durham returning all safe again saving b Holinshead Sâctl p. 238. that the Earls of March and Southerland being encountred by the Lord Thomas Grey of Werke Sr. Robert Manners and John Copland a valiant Esquire of Northumberland were utterly discomfited In short the Scots did so well use this Opportunity of King Edwards Absence c Frois c. 55. f. 31. b. c. that there was by this time scarce any Place of Moment left to the English in all Scotland except Barwick Striveling Roxborough and Edinborough Which last Castle stands on a Rock on an Hill so high that a Man who is no way resisted can yet hardly pass up to the Top without Resting so that it is in a manner impregnable The Captain of this Piece at that time was Sr. Richard Limesi who had so valiantly kept the Castle of Thine l'Evesque against the Duke of Normandy as we shew'd d Vid. l. 1. c. 15. §. 10. p. 174. before and was thereupon Commission'd by King Edward to undertake the Defence of this Place But althô the Strength of the Hold and the Resolution of the Captain were so notorious the Lord William Douglas invented a subtle Device wherewith to recover the Castle and which he discover'd only to three of his chief Companions and Friends Sr. Alexander Ramsey Sir
Simon Frasier and Earl Patrick of Dunbar The Stratagem however is told two ways and the less probable by the e Hector p. 322. n. 20. Bâchan l. 9. p. 298. Scotch Writers themselves which is this The Lord Douglas having acquaintance with one Walter Towers a Merchant called him into the Fryth directing him to counterfeit himself an English Merchant and to offer the Garrison Wines to sell This Towers according to his Instructions provided two Vessels of rich Wine and other Presents for the Captain desiring his leave to sell off the rest of his Goods in those Parts without any impediment or molestation That in consideration of this Favour if the Garrison wanted any thing which he had upon knowledge he would gratifie them therewith at reasonable Rates The Captain bidding him bring a certain quantity of Wine and Sea-bisket promises Admission at any time He forsooth pretending to be afraid of the Scots appointed to be there very early the next Morning That night Douglas and 12 of the most chosen and valiant Men with him disguised themselves with Seamens Habit over their Armour and having planted their Fellows in the nearest place they could with Order not to stirr till the Signal given go along with the foresaid Provision to the Castle Sr. William Douglas and Sr. Simon Frasier went first with the Cart the other Eleven were commanded to follow at some distance Being upon Call let in at the outer Gate of the Barriers which was before the Castle Gate as they espi'd the Keys of the Castle hanging on the Porters arm they suddenly slew him so that he died without one Word speaking Then in great silence they open the Castle Gate and thence gave the signal to their Fellows by the sound of an Horn the mean while they cast all their Carriages between the Doors that they might not be closed before their Fellows should come up This is Buchanan's Relation thô in some respects I know not upon what Authority different from Hector's who went before him Wherefore I rather follow Froisard an Author of credit infinitely beyond them both who thus tells the whole Matter f Frois c. 55. That Sr. William Douglas with his Companions aforesaid took to them two hundred hardy Wild Scots and went on board a Ship wherein was Provision of Corn Oats and Fuell and so they came peaceably into the Harbour of the Fryth or Forth not far from the Castle of Edinburgh That in the Night they armed themselves and all their Company disguising ten or twelve of their Choice Men and such as they had most confidence in with ragged Habits over their Armour and Hats like Country Clowns the rest of their Men they bestowed in an Ambush among the ruines of an Old Abby near the foot of the Hill. This done they that were dress'd like Clowns being yet well arm'd beneath their Rags drave up the Hill about break of day twelve Galloways laden with the foresaid Provision Being little more than half way onward Sr. William Douglas who could speak English perfectly without any mixture of the Scotch Dialect as his Father the Lord James could âo before him and Sr. Simon Frasier disguised as they were went a little before and called to the Porter saying Sir in great fear we have brought hither Corn Oats and Fuel which if you have any need thereof we will sell you good cheap Why Marry said the Porter and we have great need thereof But it is so very early that I dare not wake the Captain nor his Steward However let them come in for I shall open the outer Gate where you shall be safe till the Steward-rises Upon this the Gate being open'd they all entred within the Barriers Sr. William Douglas first who heedfully casting his eye about espied the great Keys of the Castle hanging upon the Porters Arm. The two last Horses being laden with Coals were so order'd be like their Hamstrings suddenly cut that they fell down just at the entrance of the first Gate so that without much time and labour it could not be closed again At that instant while the Porter as he thought no harm was carelesly looking to the unlading Douglas from behind gave him so sure a stroak that without word speaking he fell down dead Then they took the great Keys and opened the Castle Gate laying all the Sacks there upon the Groundsell that it should not by any strength be closed against them but the outer Gate they cleared for their Men to come in with more ease This done Sr. William sounded an Horn and all cast away their torn Coats and drawing their Swords stood close together in shining Armour at the entrance of the Gate Upon the Signal given those that lay in Ambush mounted the Hill with all expedition being assured of Success The Watchman also of the Castle being allarm'd with the noise of the Horn look'd out and saw Men with their Weapons in their hands ascending the Hill and running toward the Castle Then he blew his Horn aloud and cri'd out Treason treason Rise rise to Arms to Arms quickly For yonder come Men of War upon us At this Alarm the Garrison began to rise and run to Arms in all hast they that first could hasting down to the Castle Gates But Sr. William Douglas and his twelve Companions so stoutly defended the Passage by the help of those Encumbrances that lay on the Threshold that the Gate could not be closed again till the coming up of the Scots Ambush Notwithstanding they within endeavour'd to defend the Castle to the utmost and hurt and slew several of the Scots but at last by the obstinate Valour of Douglas and his Men joyned to the great Surprise the English were in and their Unpreparedness many also giving all for lost without Trial the Castle was carried all that opposed being master'd and slain except the Master Sr. Richard Limesi and six English Esquires who were taken Prisoners The Scots tarried there all that Day to settle the Orders of the Castle over which they made Sr. Simon Vescy Captain with a sufficient Garrison under him The News of this Loss with the Manner thereof was brought to King Edward while he lay before Tournay During this Siege before Tournay Jacob van g Frois c. 379. fol. 257. Arteveld had a Son born in Gaunt to whom Queen Philippa of England who lay then in that City was pleased to be Godmother and gave him the Name of Philip Which Philip van Arteveld in process of time became a famous Captain of the Rebellious Gantois against the Earl their Lord as may be seen in Froisard and those who write of the Wars of Flanders in that Age. IX Now it is to be remembred that before we began to treat of the Siege of Tournay we spake of another h Vid. l. 1. c. 17. §. 1. p. 187. Army of Flemings which was appointed to sit down in like manner before St. Omers under the Conduct of the
the War and were now quite tired out with the length of the Siege So that the very next Morning with the light ye might have seen Tents taken down Carts and Waggons lading and People removing with all speed imaginable The Brabanders therefore went away first as being more eagerly bent upon home the King of England thô much against his Will departed also but he was so earnestly parswaded to the Truce both by his real and false Friends and also by the necessity of his Affairs that he could not but comply And the King of France had so much of the bad Air and hot Weather already that he was glad to make hast away from that unfortunate Place Thus was the strong City of Tournay wonderfully preserved from utter Ruine without Battle given only by the power of a Ladies Tongue and by the Providence of the Divine Goodness which even yet seem'd desirous to give further Warning to King Philip and as it were to offer him one more Opportunity for Deliberation Before it would resign his Kingdom up to those Destructions for which already it was marked out Yet notwithstanding f Frois ibid. the City had been so reduc'd that their whole Provision of Victuals could not as was said have held out above three or four Days longer So in France it was reckon'd that King Philip had the chief Honour of this Expedition because he had as he design'd saved Tournay from ruine and obliged her Enemies to forsake the Siege and to depart the Country On the other Hand the Lords of England said how they had the Honour only because they had tarried so long in the Realm of France without Battle having for more than nine Weeks besieged one of the best Towns thereof wasting and destroying about in the Country all the while at their pleasure and that the French King had not once offer'd to relieve the Place at the time prefix'd in his Letters but had in the end without giving Battle as he ought to have done first himself sought and after agreed to a Truce with them who had done him all this Displeasure King Edward g Frois ibid. went from Tournay directly for Gaunt where he found his Vertuous and Beautifull Queen in good Health with whom about two Months after he went privately for England as we shall shew in due place all his Men being Order'd to follow except those Lords who were to be at the Parliament at Arras King Philip for his Part dismist the Main of his Army and himself went first to Lille whither the Burgesses of Tournay came to wait upon him He received them very Graciously and shewed them much favour upon the account of their Hazard for his Sake restoring unto them at this time all their former Privileges and adding to them several New ones to their great Satisfaction for a while before he had upon some Displeasure taken away their Charter and set over them the Lord Godmar du Fay and other Captains successively to be their Governours But now for their late approved Loyalty and Valour they had their old Form of Government restored and leave to choose a new Provost and Jurats according to their Ancient Customs All which being done and ratified the King went from Lille to Paris XIII While King Edward tarried yet at Gaunt he h Odoric Raynald An. 1340. §. 33. ad §. 37. wrote unto the Pope a Letter wherein thanking him for his diligence in Labouring after a Peace between the two Realms which he himself also mightily desired that thereby he might be at liberty to prosecure the Holy War against the common Enemies of Christendom and declaring how at the importunate Instances of some he had accordingly condescended to a Truce even then when he had almost reduced Tournay to the last Extremity he shews that upon sight of his Holinesses Letters he had prolonged the Term of the Truce that thereby he might give his Holiness suller Information of his own Intentions and also of the Equity of his Cause requiring thereupon his Advice which he should be ready to embrace Also that he had sent his Envoys to the Apostolick See to return Thanks to his Holiness for his Diligence in obtaining the Liberty of Nicolas de Flisco desiring God Almighty to preserve his Holiness in the Government of his Holy Church many and happy Days Datum apud Gandavum 19 no Novembris Anno Regni nostri Franciae Primo Regni verò nostri Angliae Quartodecimo At which time also he sent unto his Holiness the following Justification of Himself and his Cause i Extat apud Benedict Tom. 2. Ep secr 114. in Bib. Vatican Odoric Raynald ibid. These are the things in effect which are reported unto You Most Holy Father our Lord by Us William of Norwich Dean of Lincoln John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely and John Thoresby Canon of Southwell on the Behalf of our Lord the Illustrious King of England Most Holy Father and Lord that your Holiness may be more fully informed of the sincere and just intention of our said Lord the King which is ever prone and ready to accept of a Reasonable Peace something in Fact is to be opened The Lord Philip who now bears himself as King of France from the time that he first occupied the Realm of France verily believing nor without Reason that our said Lord the King directed the Eyes of his mind toward the Kingdom of France or at least would afterwards look that Way was pleased what in the Parts of Scotland by really Adhering to the Scots and what in the Dutchy of Guienne by there Usurping many Places so continually and strongly to divert him that he should have no leisure to intend to the Recovery of his Rights in France And because he being under Age and having no skill in the matter of his Right nor Experience as to what he was to do especially because of the foresaid Snates as is premised prepared for him had not untill of late any way open of duly prosecuting his Rights as to his said Kingdom of France Our said Lord the King desiring Peace and Quiet offer'd unto the said Lord Philip the Methods here under-named only for the Recovery of the Dutchy aforesaid and that he would absolutely refrain from Assisting the Scots Viz. First the Marriage of his Eldest Son for a Daughter of the Lord Philip to be Coupled with him in Matrimony without any Dowry Secondly the Marriage of his own Sister now Lady of Gueldre for a Son of the said Lord Philip with a great and excessive Dowry Thirdly the Marriage of his own Brother the Earl of Cornwall for some one Kinswoman of his Fourthly to redeem the Seisure of his Lands he offer'd unto him a Summ of Mony to be adjusted at the Discretion of the said Lord Philip Fifthly because the said Lord Philip pretended that he would cross the Seas to the Aid of the Holy Land our said Lord the King out of the great Zeal
false Accusations against any Person but especially all those who should bring an Archbishop or any other Bishop of his Province into the Kings Hate or Anger and him or them of Treason or any other Notorious and Capital Crime falsly Accuse And having Published these Articles in his Church he commanded the Bishop of London and all the Suffragans of his Province to Publish the same in their Churches and Dioceses Presently hereupon the King that he might some way obviate these High Proceedings of the Archbishop wrote to the Bishop of London setting forth that at the perswasion of the Archbishop he had undertaken so doubtfull and Difficult a War to Recover his Right and Inheritance But that He who had been the Author of the War having now conspired with his Enemy the French King had at last perswaded him that after the profusion of such vast Expences to no purpose he would lay down the Claim of his Right and disband his Army That he had not as he promised purvey'd sufficiently for his Army nor satisfied his Foreign Creditors of whom upon his Security vast Summs of Money had been taken up for support of his Wars and who were continually importuning the King and his Lords That at last he had demanded of him an Account how he had Administred the Realm which he cunningly under Pretence of Excommunications and Censures hath eluded After this Ralph Lord Stafford was by the King sent unto the Archbishop who taking along with him John Burton Advocate and John Faringdon publique Notary warn'd him again in the Kings Name that without more delay he should Repair to the King there to Advise together with other Prelates and Lords about the War and Matters Relating to England and France the King o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 159. ex Walsingbam offering him a safe Conduct to that purpose to the end he might understand what Defence he could make for that his Neglect But him also the Wary Archbishop put off saying only that he would consider of it A little after there came out of Flanders to Canterbury Messengers from the Duke of Brabant who when the Archbishop would not be seen by them declared the Cause of their coming in Writing fix'd up at Noon-day upon the High Cross without the Gate of the Priory of Canterbury importing that John Archbishop of Canterbury was Cited and Warned into Court by the Duke of Brabant that so he might Lawfully answer in Flanders for the Debts of the King of England for which he stood Engaged there to remain according to Oath in that Part by him made till his Lords Debts were fully cleared In this hurry comes a Letter from the King to the Prior and Convent of Canterbury being the same with those Letters which he had wrote to the Bishop of London with a Command to read it out Publiquely before the People and Clergy of Canterbury The Prior and Convent having received it inform the Archbishop thereof and shew him the open Letter He on Ashwednesday following before all the People and Clergy gets up into the Pulpit in Canterbury Church and there in a Sermon spake Largely of his Loyalty and Integrity in Menaging the Kings Affairs Then he commanded the Kings Letters wherein the King had laid Heavy things to his Charge to be Read Openly Which done he dexterously takes off each Crime and Accusation in Order After which the Answer that now he gave by Word of Mouth being Digested into Writing he Published over all his Province of Canterbury All which Letters because of many Excellent Sayings therein and for that they make much for the Clearing the Story I have thought fit to set down at Large from Stephen Byrchinton or Brickington a Benedictin Monk of Canterbury who flourished in that Age and others of good Authority And first we shall produce the Archbishops Letter to his Majesty taken from the Original Latine for Mr. Fox is not Exact in his Translation III. MOST Dear Lord may it please Your Majesty to consider p p Walsingh hist p. 136 Fox Acts and Men. p. 350. that the most special thing which keepeth Kings and Princes in the most Flourishing Condition is Wise Counsel And therefore says the Wise Man Where there are many Counsellors that is Good Ones there is safety And it is written in the Book of Kings that Solomon the Wisest of Kings took unto him the most Ancient and Sagest Persons of his Realm by whose Advice temper'd with his own Judgement he continually preserved the Land of Israel in Peace and held all his Neighbour Kings round about him as his Tributaries and Vassals Now when he was gone the way of all Flesh his Son Rehoboam Reigned who despising the Counsel of the Elders who had stood before his Father adhered to the Young Men who were willing to please him whence he justly lost the whole Kingdom of Israel except a Twelfth Part reserved unto him of the Lord. In like manner many Kings as well of Israel as of other Countries being led by Evil Counsel have been reduced to great extremities And sir you well remember saving your Royal Pleasure that by the Sinister Advice taken by Our Late Lord the King Your Father whom God assoile against the Law of the Land and Magna Charta of the Peers of the Realm and others some he imprison'd some he put to Death siesed on their Goods and vexed others with Intolerable Fines And what happen'd thereby unto him Your Majesty well knows After his Days also by means of Evil Counsellors which were about Your Person Your Majesty had almost lost the Hearts of Your People but from them as it pleased him the Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered You. From that time by the Good Advice and Prudence of Your Prelates Peers and Counsellors of the Land Your Affairs are so well Menaged that You now entirely Possess the Affections of Your People and Your Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal have given unto Your Majesty greater Aids than to any of Your Progenitors So that by the means of Good counsell the Votes of Your People and the special Grace of Almighty God You have obtain'd many Glorious Victories over Your Enemies of Scotland and France and are at this Day Reputed the most Noble Prince in Christendom But now Your Majesty by the Perverse Counsel of some Men who are rather known to Respect their own Profit and Advantage than either Your Majesties Honour or the Welfare of Your People have caused Clergymen and others of Your Subjects to be siezed and undue Processes to be made against the Laws of the Land which by Oath made at Your Coronation You are bound to observe and also against Magna Charta which whosoever shall presume to infringe are by the Prelates of England and the Popes Bull which we are known to have by Us to be Excommunicate All which things as they are to the great Peril and Danger of Your Soul so also alas are they to the great
where at Candlemas he held a Royal Just and Turneament for the Honour of the young Noblemen of Gascoigne whom he trained up here in Feats of War And what Expert Scholars they proved under so great a Tutor We shall see hereafter in the Wars of France XIII On the a Walsingh hist p. 149. Sandford p. 357. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. fifth Day of June Queen Philippa of England was deliver'd of her Fifth Son at the Kings Mannor-house of Langley aforesaid near St. Albans this Young Prince being in August following Baptized by Michael Lord Abbot of St. Albans was called Edmund He was afterwards by his Father created Earl of Cambridge and by his Nephew King Richard the Second Duke of York from whom King Edward the IV was Lineally Descended King Edward as he always wish'd rather to have Sons than Daughters was mightily pleased at the Birth of this Boy and being now at Leisure from Wars resolv'd to express his Joy in a most Magnificent and Royal Manner at the time of his Baptism which was to be about the b Frois c. 89. Midst of August Against this time therefore he caused Proclamation to be made in France Scotland Hâânalt Brabant and Flanders that all Knights and Gentlemen who would please to come to his Feast to be at such a time held in the City of London should have safe Conduct for so many Days for coming staying and going I will not dissemble that all this by most Historians is said to have been done for Love of the Countess of Salisbury with whom they make King Edward to be at this time deeply in Love But this is a most Fabulous and Irrational Tradition as we shall shew in due place and utterly to be exploded of all Discreet Persons So that now the c Ferrand Spence's Countess of Salsbury p. 45. Romancers themselves are fain to confess that at least the Kings Pretence for this Feast was to Honour the Christening of his Son Edmund Not to say that it will appear the next Year how as yet the King had not received even that supposed wound of Love of which many Authors make such pleasant Tales However there were present at this Solemnity many Fair Ladies and Virgins of Prime Quality all Drest and set off in the Best Manner that could be expected from their Rank and Condition To this Tourneament of Foreigners came William the Young Earl of Hainalt Brother and the Lord John Beaumont of Hainalt Uncle to the Queen of England Henry Lord Eam of Brabant and many other Lords and Knights of several Countries But of the English Nobility the Greater Part was there particularly the Lord Henry de Tortocollo Earl of Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his Son Earl of Darby Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Earl of Northampton the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Arundel Glocester and Pembroke Suffolk and Oxford the Baron Stafford and Vicount John Beaumont which latter Froisard Reports to be slain in the Justs but indeed he d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. died not till the next Year whereas the Tourneament is e Id. 1 Vol. p. 576. rightly placed here There was also here the Often-mention'd Lord Robert of Artois called the Earl of Richmond Among others Sr. Maurice Barkley Brother to the Lord Berkley together with his Valiant and Inseparable Friend and Companion Sr. Thomas Bradestan did so well behave themselves at this Tourneament that in consideration of their High Prowess they were f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. now by the King advanced to the Dignity of Bannerets And as thus the Lords and Knights exercis'd themselves in Martial Feats so on the other hand the Ladies diverted the whole Assembly with their Songs and Dances the Solemnity being continued for 15 Days together So delightfully did this Warlike King intermix the Pleasures and Pastimes of Love and Peace with the more Laborious Toyls of War thereby to Encourage his Subjects and to Relax himself from the Cares of Empire XIV About this time there happen'd some new Commotions in Scotland whereof I shall presently take Notice when I shall have made one small Digression which I hope the Learned will pardon upon the account of its own Worth thô it hath little or no Relation to Our Matters The Name of Francis Petrarch the Famous Poet Historian and Philosopher of his Days cannot I suppose be unknown to any one that hath but heard of Rome and Italy This Man flourished in this Age being this very Year but g Natus enim A. D. 1304. vid. Hier. Squarzafaehum in Vitâ Petrarche 37 Years old He had at Avignon and especially about fifteen Miles thence in a Pleasant Valley so improv'd himself in the studies of good Learning that his Name was now grown considerable Insomuch that in h Id. ibid one Day there were brought unto him Letters from two very distant Parts of the World the One sent from the Senate of Rome the Other from the Chancellor of the University of Paris each of them containing an Invitation that he would come to the Respective Places and accept from their Hands the Honourable Crown of Lawrel The Glory thô of it self Great seem'd yet in those Days much Greater because that Ancient and Laudable Custom had been for so many Ages discontinued saving i Selden's Tit. Hen. 2 Part. c. 1. p. 406. that in the German Empire here and there we meet with an Instance or two of Laureate Poets Petrarch did not at all decline so generous an offer for he that despises True Glory is no Friend to Vertue but however by Advice of his Noble Friends the two Colonna's he chose rather to acknowledge this Favour to Rome once the Imperial City of the World than to Paris the Metropolis of one single Kingdom But withall being resolved not to arrogate an Honour that should not first be Worthily and unquestionably adjudged unto Him in his way thither He waits upon Robert King of Jerusalem Sicily and Naples the Great Philosopher of those Days who understanding the Occasion of his Visit and who He was receiv'd him with Princely Humanity and at last appointed a Time to Discourse him at large This Discourse thus held between this Learned Prince and Prince of Learned Men in Poetry History and Philosophy was continued for Three whole Afternoons By which time King Robert having also read a good Part of his Heroick Poem called Africa was so fully convinced of Petrarchs Abilities that he offer'd there at Naples to confer the Lawrel on him with his own Hands and desired him also on promise of a Gracious Acceptance and Bountifull Reward to Dedicate that his Poem to no other than Himself This latter Motion Petrarch with many Thanks readily embraced and has we see perform'd it accordingly in these and other Verses of that Work O Thou Tu quoque Trinacrii Moderator maxime Regni Hesperiaeque Decus atque Aevi Gloria nostri Judice quo merui
all the French Lords who had the Year before assisted the Lord Charles of Blois returned unto him to the City of Nantes with a great Power of Armed Men. Among them it was in a Council of War agreed that the City of Rennes upon the River of Vilaine should be first attempted as being a place of great Importance and the Seat of Parliament for the whole Province The Countess of Montford who foresaw no less had already well provided for that City having made a most loyal and couragious Gentleman of Bretagne named Sr. William Cadudal Captain thereof However the Lords of France laid their Siege to Rennes but were so well received by the Captain that they lost much more than they could win Yet still they continued there resolving one way or other to be Masters of the Place II. Upon the first News of their Return into Bretagne the Countess of Montford sent the Lord Emery Clysson into England to desire Succour of King Edward proffering her only Son and Heir in Marriage with one of the Kings Daughters who thereupon should be Dutchess of Bretagne King Edward upon this Lords Arrival was at London holding a great Feast for it was Easter whereupon most of his Chief Barons and Knights were about him When the Lord Clysson had punctually related his whole Errand the King granted his Request in contemplation of the Alliance already made and to be made between England and Bretagne Whereupon he commanded the Noble Lord Walter Manny to take with him as many Men of War as Sr. Emery thought necessary besides 5000 Select Archers at least and with all speed to cross the Seas for Bretagne in order to aid the Countess Sr. Walter Manny prepared with all Expedition and when all things were ready took the Sea with these Lords of England and of Bretagne in his company the Lords of Bretagne were Sr. Emery of Clysson the two Brethren of Lyndale Sr. Lewis and Sr. John Sr. Alan Sirefond Sr. John Hayes of Brabant and of England the Lord John b Didg 1 Vol. p. 682. Bardolph the Lord Miles Stapleton the Lord John Darcy senior Sr. John Butler and Sr. Matthew Trelauny being in all c Knighton p. 1581. n. 10. 620 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers with others For we find d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. that Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester was also there as a Volunteer under the Lord Manny with a Troop of an 100 Men of Arms himself accounted for one whereof there were befides one Banneret twenty Knights and seventy eight Esquires and these were joyned with another Troop of an 100 Archers on Horseback Here was also the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton who e Id. ibid. p. 185. had Commission to receive Fealty and Homage from the Bretons on the behalf of King Edward as King of France But thô these Succours took the Sea early enough it was almost too late before they came to the Countess for they were detained at Sea more than fourty Days by Tempests and bad Weather III. The mean while the Lord Charles of Blois who had layn some while before Rennes gave such Trouble to them within that the Citizens would gladly have Articled but Sr. William Cadudal their Captain would by no means hear of any Agreement The Besieged however when they saw that all this while there came no Succour from England nor from the Countess as they had been promised and that they had already endured much Trouble urged the Captain again more importunately to think of yielding while there was time of Mercy but he absolutely refused saying he was strong enough to hold out but if not had rather die than turn Traytor When they saw his Resolution they kept their own counsel secret and being resolved to save themselves thô without doing him any harm for they lov'd his Person for his valour Bounty and Loyalty they once by a wile train'd him from his Attendants and seising his Person cast him into Prison Then they presently agreed with Sr. Charles of Blois to yield up the Town the next Day on condition that the Captain and all those who would still hold on the Countesses side might have free leave with their Horse and Arms to depart whither they would and the rest should make Homage unto him Accordingly in the beginning of May the City was yielded up and the Lord Charles received there as Duke of Bretagne to whom all the Burgesses made their Homage and sware Fealty But Sr. William Cadudal could not be wrought upon to own him or his cause wherefore according to the Articles he had leave to depart which he did with all those of his Mind and went straight to the strong Town of Hennebond where he found the Countess who as yet had heard no News of Sr. Emery Clisson and his Fellows IV. Rennes being thus taken the Lord Charles of Blois was ſ Frois c. 80. fol. 41. l. advised to go and lay his Siege to Hennebond where the Head of the War the Countess and her Son were For said the Lords his Friends now the Earl himself your Adversary is in Prison if We might get the Countess and her Son into Our Hands the whole War would be at an end This Advice if it had been taken before they went to Rennes had in all likelihood succeeded as they wish'd For even now We shall find the Place to be almost reduc'd by that time the slow Succours came from England When the Countess understood that the French were come to Besiege her she immediately commanded an Alarum to be given with the Watch-Bell for all Men to go to their Defences And she had now with her in the Town a Competent Garrison well furnish'd with Provision Ammunition and Good Captains as the Bishop of Leon Uncle to the Lord Henry du Leon who was Revolted Sr. Pierce of Triguier the Lord of Landernear Sr. William Cadndal Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver his Brother the Governour of Guingand and many other Valiant Gentlemen When Sr. Charles came thither with his Army he encamped within a quarter of a Mile of the Town But some of his lusty young Knights and Esquires would not rest till they had try'd what Defence their Enemies could make So to the Barriers to skirmish they went and others as bold went forth to meet them The Dispute was continued very hot between them for a while but at last the Frenchmen and Genouese being overpower'd were forced to retire with considerable loss The next day Sr. Charles perfected his Siege round both the Town and Castle except where the Castle opens to the Sea for he had no Navy and then took Advice to give a fierce Assault at the Barriers which continued till Noon At which time the Assailants were compelled to draw back themselves all weary and having lost many of their Men. When the Lords of France saw their people retire thus they were no less ashamed than displeased insomuch that they all
or harm to your Imperial Honour Safety and Dignity That so you may render the Lord always propitious unto You and the foresaid See still more ready to serve your Occasions We desire You would again write unto Us most Beloved Son what your Royal Wisdom shall think fit to ordain in these Matters Dated at Villeneuve in the Dioecese of Avignion the v. of the Kalends of September in the second Year of our Pontificate XII This Letter to the King of England was accompanied by another of the same Date directed to his Council which being no where extant but in e Adam Murimouth ad An. Ed. 3.17 Adam Murimouth whose Authentick and Ancient MS. was kindly communicated unto me by the Learned and Reverend Linguist and Philologist Dr. John Covel Dean of York I also thought fit to set it down faithfully translated from the Original CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his Beloved Sons the Counsellours of his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction A Displeasing and most ungratefull Rumour hath in these Days reported unto Us how that when our Dear Sons Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of Sabina Priests Cardinals did send their Proctors to the Parts of the Kingdom of England in order to pursue the Grants lately by Us granted unto them as unto other new Cardinals in divers parts of the World of Ecclesiastical Benefices being in the Parts of the said Kingdom of England the said Proctors thô both Learned and also Ecclesiastical Persons were not only hindred in the Pursuance of the said Affairs but also by the procurance of some who have been fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments as it is probably supposed whereby as well they as others who procured or perpetrated the same have to their great Danger rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons have been ignominiously taken and then expelled the said Kingdom certain other Proctors of the foresaid Cardinal Ademare being afterwards taken and detained Prisoners But since We cannot by any means believe that the Premises which if Truth agrees with the Relation would redound to the Offence of the Divine Majesty the Discredit of the Roman Church and the exceeding Reproach of the said Cardinals could proceed from the Knowledge of our most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England considering his Devotion which he beareth to God and the Holy Roman Church his Mother as neither can We by any means imagine that He to whom We write also about this Matter would endure such things as are contrary to his Honour Safety and Dignity We therefore entreat Your Wisdom and in the Lord more earnestly exhort You That You whose Office is to direct the Actions and Affairs of the said King by the way of Honesty Righteousness and Justice the Contrary whereof if it should happen which God forbid would be imputed to You do ârudently speedily and discreetly take Care that whatsoever Matters in this part have undecently and unjustly proceeded be revoked and amended Knowing that in divers other parts of Christendom as well near as remote wherein We have made the like Grants to other New Cardinals We have not heard of any notable impediment given unto them or unto their Proctors which therefore they have sent to those parts long since Given at Villeneuve in the Diocese of Avignon f f i. e. 28 Aug. V. Kal. Septemb. in the second Year of our Pontificate XIII To these Letters of the Pope the King immediately return'd this Famous Epistle in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England g Adam Marimouth Antio Brit. p. 238. Walsingh hist p. 150. 2 M.S. ex Vatican apud Odoric Raynald ad hunc annum §. 90. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman Catholick Church the Chief Bishop EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet When We seriously consider the Goodness of the Apostolick See which is wont to be most solicitous concerning the Encrease of Devotion in Christs Flock and the Welfare of their Souls not seeking that which is its own but rather those things which are Christs We have a very probable hope that Your Wisdom being now worthily placed in the Watch-tower of the Apostolick Eminence will graciously take Care to reform those things which detract from the Honour of the Church and the Devotion of the People and threaten inevitable Danger to the Souls and Goods of Mankind We nothing doubt but that it is now publiquely known how from the very first rise of Christianity in our Kingdom of England our Progenitors the Kings of England and the Lords and other Subjects of the said Realm have for the augmentation of Divine Worship built Churches enriched them with ample Possessions and endowed them with large Privileges placing fit Ministers therein who have nor without Success Preached the Catholick Faith to the People in their Mother Tongues By whose Care and Diligence the Vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth hath wonderfully prospered both in Culture and Fruit. But now which is to be lamented the slips of this very Vine are degenerated into a Wild-vine and the Boar out of the Wood doth waste it and the h h Ita Hebraâice singularis fera Latinè i.e. Quadriennis aper ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Graeâè sanglier Gallicè singular English vid. Wase on Gratius p. 69. Wild-Beast of the Field doth devour it While by the Impositions and Provisions of the Apostolick See which now grow more insupportable than ever its own proper Goods against the Pious intent and appointment of the Donors are held in the Hands of the Unworthy and especially of Foreigners and its Dignities and Chief Benefices are confer'd upon Strangers who for the most part are Persons at least suspected unto Us and who neither reside on the said Benefices nor know the Face nor understand the voice of the Flock committed unto them but wholly neglecting the Cure of Souls like Hirelings only seek their own Profit and Temporal Advantage And so the Worship of Christ is empaired the Cure of Souls neglected Hospitality withdrawn the Rights of the Churches lost the Houses of the Clergy dilapidated the Devotion of the People extinguished the Clergy of the said Kingdom who are Men of great Learning and Honest Conversation and are both able and willing effectually to perform the Work of Ministers and would also be very fit for our and the Publique Service forsake their Studies because the Hope of a Reasonable Preferment is thus taken away Which things We know can be no ways acceptable to the Divine Pleasure but will most certainly prove a Mighty Prejudice and unspeakable
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Rât Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
Christendom he sent r Odor c. Rainald ad ãâã annuâ §. 61. 62. his Letters to the Pope shewing how King Philip had despightfully slain and put to Death Good and Loyal Knights and Gentlemen upon his Account and for hate of his Person whereby he had notoriously violated the Truce lately taken between them which as he could not but highly resent so he was preparing to revenge it But yet if King Philip would according as Reason requireth retract for what he had done amiss and offer Satisfaction for these injuries he would at the time appointed send other Ambassadors to the Apostolick See and give them Instructions for making Peace The Pope having heard thus much return'd an Answer to this Purpose After having manifested to King Edward in how great Dangers the whole Christian World was tossed and that this Mortal War thus kindled between France and England did grievously afflict the Church he then told him that King Philip had granted Letters of safe Conduct as the English Ambassadors had required and as to the Death of the Lords Esquires and Others King Philip had wrote unto him that they for their enormous Crimes Murders and Rapines had been justly put to Death by him not thereby to break the Truce but by the fear of their Punishment to terrifie others from the Breach thereof and that he had added how the King of England's Garrisons had attempted many things against the Truce Then he begg'd the King to let him know his Secret Resolutions for that he would never divulge them but use his utmost to make a final Peace which was so profitable and advantagious to the Expedition against the Turks And he assured him that hitherto he had defer'd to dispence with the Canon-Law for the Marriage between his Eldest Son and the Duke of Brabant's Daughter in hopes that by that Bond of Affinity tied in France a sure Peace would ensue c. Thus the Pope neglected not to heal these Wounds of Bleeding Christendom but King Edward was too much exasperated by his Adversary to stop now since nothing of Satisfaction was offer'd but only frivolous and false Excuses Wherefore in order to enable himself the better to carry on this War he now held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster on the 7 Day of June being the Å¿ M.S. Pât Pââ p. 56 18 Ed. â §. 1. Sr. Râb Cottens Abridgment p. 44 c. v. Statute Bâcks Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity On which day in presence of the King certain of the Lords and Commons being then assembled in St. Edwards Chamber otherwise called the Painted Chamber and the Lord Chancellor at the Kings Command declared how sundry things of the last Parliament were left to be done at this And that the Archbishop of Canterbury had against the time of the said Parliament called a Convocation of his Clergy At which Parliament and Convocation sundry of all Estates were absent c. Whereat the King did no less muse than he was thereat offended Wherefore he charged the Archbishop for his part to punish the Defaults of the Clergy and he would do the like touching the Parliament Hereupon Proclamation was made that none should wear Armour or Weapons in or about London and Westminster during the Session of the Parliament Receivours of Petitions for England Gascogne Wales Ireland Bretagne Scotland and the Foreign Isles and other Places beyond the Seas Sr. Thomas Drayton appointed Clark of the Parliament and this is all was done that Day being Monday On the Tuesday the Names of the Lords of the Parliament were examined before the King that such as made default in being absent might abide the Kings Order On Tursday after the Chancellour in full Parliament in Presence of the King and of his Son the Prince of Wales declared the Cause of the same Parliament viz. The Articles of the Truce and the Breaches of the same by the French King which were there particularly instanced Whereupon the Three Estates were willed to advise upon the Premises and to shew their Opinion of them by Monday next ensuing The same Monday they had their time enlarged untill Wednesday in the Week of St. John being the 23 of June on which day every of the Lords and Commons by themselves with one Assent required the King to end the same War either by Battle or Honourable Peace And if the King shall attempt War eftsoons that he do not stay the same at the Letters or Requests of the Pope or of any whomsoever but to end the same by Dint of Sword. Whereunto the King agreed but forasmuch as the same could not be atchieved without Aid the Clergy of Canterbury granted unto the King a Desme Triennial And the Commons granted unto him Two Fifteenths of Counties and Two Desmes of Cities and of Towns on Condition that the same be leavied in such manner as the last was that the Commons Petitions be Granted and that the same may be imployed upon the Wars with the Assent of the Lords That the Prince and Sr. Edward Bailiol may lie on the North-Marches And because the King should pass over the Seas in Person to end this Quarrel they further grant unto the King a Third Fifteenth Then after the Petitions of the Commons and Clergy with their Answers the Commons by their Petition recite the Act of Provision made in the last Parliament and because no Penalty was provided therefore request that such as incurr the breach of the same by receipt procuring or Counsel in stay of any temporal judgement shall lie in perpetual Prison or be forejudged the Land And that all Justices of Assises Goal-Delivery and Oyer and Terminer may determine the same And that the Act of Provision may continue for ever That if any Archbishop or other Person Religieux or other do not present within four Moneths some able Clerk to any Dignity whereof any Person hath obtained from the Court of Rome any Provision but surcease the same that then the King may present some able Clerk himself That ãâã any Bishop Elect shall refuse to take such t Ità M.S. sed Brother in Sr. Rob. Cotten Bishop other than by such then such Clerk shall not enter nor enjoy his Temporalities without the Kings special Licence That the King shall dispose of all such Benefices and Dignities of such Aliens his Enemies as remain in such Countries of his Enemies and employ the Profits thereof to the Defence of the Realm That Commissions be sent into all the Kings Ports to apprehend all such Persons as shall bring in any such Instrument from the Court of Rome and to bring them forthwith before the Council to answer thereto That the Deanery of York which is recoverable by Judgement in the Kings Court may be bestowed upon some Able Man within the Realm who will maintain the same against him who holdeth the same by Provision from the Court of Rome being the Common Enemy to the King
order'd his Lodgings to be set up without the Town for in War time he would never endure to lodge in any Town for fear of Fire having already sent a strong Detachment before him who presently took the Town and plunder'd it sending their Burgesses Prisoners to the Ships From hence the King having burnt Torigny Cormolin Fontenay and Chesne marched directly toward the great City of Caen. in Normandy about eleven French Miles Eastward of St. Lo which likewise abounded with Mercers Ware and other Merchandise and was inhabited with Rich Burgesses Noble Ladies and Fair Virgins and adorned with goodly Churches and other Buildings among which there were two stately Abbeys the one of the Trinity and the other of St. Stephen which latter was built by William Duke of Normandy who was in time King of England sirnamed the Conquerour and lay then buried before the a Sandford Geneal hist p. 6. High Altar in the said Church of St. Stephen under a most stately Mausoleum erected there for him by his Son King William sinamed Rufus On the one side of this City b Frois c. 123. Du Chesne p. 664. Gaguin p. 140. Fabian p. 221. stood the Castle being the very fairest of all Normandy wherein was Captain Sr. Robert Wergny with 300 Genouese Arbalistes besides Men of Arms And in the Town there was William Bertrand Bishop of Bayeux Ralph Earl of Eu and of Guisnes and Constable of France and John Melun Earl of Tancarville and High Chamberlain with a sufficient Number of Men of War. King Edward c M.S. vet Lat. c. being desirous to save the Effusion of Christian Blood sent unto them first Geoffry de Maldon Fryer of the Order of the Hermits of St. Austen and Professor of Divinity with his Letters wherein he exhorted them to deliver up unto him the Town and Castle and he promised to receive them into his Grace and Protection and to let them enjoy their Properties securely But him the Bishop of Baieux caused to be clapt in Irons and detained in the Dungeon of the Castle tearing the Kings Letters in pieces and urging the Captains to stand boldly to their Defence For that day the King of England took up his Lodging early in the Afternoon by a little Port-Town called Estrehan near the River Orne whither his Admiral came to him with his Navy The Constable and the other French Lords in Caen kept good Watch that Night and the next Morning betimes were all in Arms together with the Inhabitants ready to serve their Country with the hazard of their Lives The Constable's Resolution at first was only to stand on the Defensive Part and therefore he gave Order that none should sally forth by any means but stand in their allotted Stations upon the Walls Gates Bridge and Rivers As for the Suburbs he gave over all care of them because they were not tenable For he thought it sufficient if he might make good the City it self because it was only enclosed with the River But when the Burgesses and chief Inhabitants heard of this Order they said that for their Part they would march out against the King of England for they were both able and willing to give him Battle for all his Puissance The Constable seeing their Alacrity said Be it so then in the Name of God and St. Dennis You shall not want my Company Then they set open their Gates and marched out all in good Order making Countenance as if they were resolved to Conquer or to sell their Lives Dearly That Morning being the 20 of d Fabian p 220 July King * Frois c. 123. Edward rose early and having heard Mass before Sun-rise set his Men in order to go against the City of Caen And so took horse with the Prince his Son and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt one of his Marshals whose Word the King much rely'd on and approached the Town in three well-order'd Battalia's But when the e Frois ibid. Du Chesne Mezeray p. 25. Burgesses of the City who had hitherto stood ready to receive him in the Field saw the Dreadfull Appearance of Standards and Banners waving in the Wind and the Tall Archers shooting fiercely from their long Bows presently their Hearts began to fail them and having scarce endured the first Brunt of the Battle for all that the Constable could say or do they ignobly abandon'd both Him and their Honour and fled precipitantly toward the Town the English eagerly following them at the Heels Here it was that the Archers finding some faint Resistance at the Bridge King Edward lest they should suffer by the French Men of Arms sent the Earl of Warwick to succour them who by his wonderous Valour thô he found the Archers out of all Danger and fighting with some Advantage on their Side so signaliz'd himself that together with Seven Men of Arms more if he did not as f Walsingh Hypod p. 148. Walsingham reports slay an Hundred Normans yet he won the Bridge and enter'd the Town pell-mell with the Enemy When the Constable and the Earl of Tancarville saw how things went cursing the Cowardise of the Townsmen and their own Credulity they took a little Tower at the Bridge Foot which they enter'd with certain Knights in their Company The Bishop g Fabian p. 221. of Bayeux with some other Captains Knights and Esquires of France such as knew the ready way to the Castle hasted all thither where they were received by the Captain Sr. Robert Wergny for the Place was large enough All this while the English were chasing and slaying such as they found for as yet they gave no Quarter And it happen'd so ill for the Town that the River which at other times could bear Ships of Burthen was now so low that Men might without Danger pass and repass it both on Horseback and on Foot. Wherefore the City was presently full of Enemies and the French were on all hands beaten down without Mercy so that what within the Town and in the Chace there fell above h Giov. Villan l. 12. p. 872. 5000 of the Enemy The Constable and the Earl of Tancarville beholding this Slaughter and considering that they were not able to make good the Place wherein they were wherefore they were like to be slain as they saw their Men were without Mercy began to think of saving their Lives by yielding So looking down along the Street at last they espied an English Lord Sr. Thomas Holland who with his Brother Sr. Robert and Others were of the Retinue of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Froisard says he had but one Eye which because he also reports of William Montagu late Earl of Salisbury of the Lord John Chandos and other English Knights I am apt to think that he was one of those 500 young Gentlemen who in the Beginning of these French Wars clapt Patches on their Left Eyes with a solemn Vow never to take them off till they had
Leagues as also they did to the Suburbs of Boulogne After this the King with the Prince his Son went and encamped by Wissan on the Sea-side about 3 Leagues from Calais And having tarried here one Day to refresh his Army on the d Du Chesne c. Thursday being the last of August others say the e Knighton p. 2588. 7 of September he came and lay down before the strong Town of Calais which had been of old a great Nuisance both to Him and his Kingdom CHAPTER the FOURTH The CONTENTS I. The Description Scituation and Strength of Calais Which King Edward blocks up by Sea and Land The strength of his Navy II. The Calisians not yielding upon his Summons he lays a formal Siege the Plenty of Provision continually in his Camp. III. The Earl of Warwick takes Terouenne the Flemings at the same time besiege St. Omers IV. The Captain of Calais thrusts out 1700 poor and impotent People whom King Edward in pity relieves V. The Copies of two Letters written by one of the King of England's Chaplains and containing the Summ of all this Expedition from the Winning of Caen to the Siege of Calais VI. Iohn Duke of Normandy makes another Attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss VII King Philip sends his peremptory Command to his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and also urges the King of Scotland to invade England on that Side so to divert King Edward from the Siege of Calais VIII The true Manner of the Duke of Normandy's Leaving the Siege of Aiguillon IX He is cut off at the Reer by the Lord Walter Manny who agrees with a Prisoner of Quality to let him go free so that he will procure him a safe Conduct to ride thrô France to Calais with 20 Men only X. The Prisoner brings him the Duke of Normandy's Conduct and is himself acquitted Sr. Walter Manny riding in Confidence thereof towards Calais is by King Philips Order secured But the Duke of Normandy changes his Fathers Bloody Intentions against him and saves his Life c. XI The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and wins Towns and Castles at his Pleasure in Xaintogne Rochellois and Poictou XII An Instance of the Princely Munificence of the Earl of Lancaster XIII He wins the City of Poictiers and leaving it desolate returns by St. Jean D'Angely to Bourdeaux XIV An Army of Poictevins utterly discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan I. THE City a Sâân p. 243. Frois c. 133. vid. Ferrarâum in titulo Caletam c. of Calais thô of no considerable Extent is a famous Market-Town Rich and strongly Fortified being scituate on the Marches of Artois five Leagues Northward of Boulogne and three Westward of Gravelines and but little more than fourteen from the nearest Coast of England or Dover Castle which it directly confronts And the Sea between is by the English called the Strait of Calais and by the French La Manche It is furnished with a strong Castle and a spacious Haven where a considerable Navy may take safe Harbour and is also enclosed about with a Double Wall and a Double Ditch besides that on the West-side from Risban to Cologne it is fenced with b Marish grounds which are only passable by Xeâland Bridge an Arm of the Sea in a Semicircular manner This Town and Castle are reported to have been first built by Julius Caesar the Famous Roman Emperour after he had brought all France to do Homage to his Eagles As he is also said to have built the Castle of Chepstow in Monmouthshire in Venodocia or South-Wales and that of Dover in Kent when he was about the Conquest of Brittain now called England Wherefore thô it was of incredible Strength as well for its advantagious Scituation as those wonderfull Accessions of Art which made it almost Impregnable by any human Power yet because it was a most convenient Landing-place for any out of England to set Footing in France and had also by its Piracies exercised on the English Seas done many great Displeasures to King Edward and his People he resolved to lay Siege unto the Place knowing that having already given such a Blow to France if he could not be able to reduce them by Force he might yet overcome them by Famine which enters thrô the strongest Fortifications All along as the King marched hither by Land his Fleet being return'd out of England took the same way by Sea under the Command of William Clinton Earl of Huntington and then Lord High c Weever's Fun. Mon. p. 259 Admiral of England together with the Lord John Mongomery Vice-Admiral which Two at the very Instant of King Edward's Investing the Town of Calais by Land came and block'd it up also by Sea with a Mighty Navy consisting in all of d Hacluit's Voyages 1 Vol. p. 119. c. 738 Ships wherein were no less than 14956 Mariners together wich Souldiers and Provisions of all sorts accordingly II. Now the e Frois ibid. King knew that the strength of the Place and the Courage of the Garrison were likely enough to give him some trouble but considering the Opportunities he had while he lay here of receiving Assistance either from England or Flanders he resolved to starve them if they would not otherwise accept his Mercy First therefore by his Herald he Summons the Captain to yield up unto him as Rightfull King of France that his Castle and Town of Calais otherwise that he would put them all to the Sword for their Obstinacy The Captain Answer'd He knew but One King of France who had sent him thither to keep the Place for his behoof and him only was he resolved to obey being ready either to live or die in his Service Thô upon Occasion he doubted not but to have sufficient Assistance from him Upon this peremptory Answer of the Captain King Edward began to entrench himself strongly about the City setting his own Tent directly against the Chief Gates at which he intended to enter then he placed Bastions between the Town and the River and set out Regular Streets and reared up decent Buildings of strong Timber between the Trenches which he cover'd with Thatch Reed Broom and Skins Thus he encompassed the whole Town of Calais from Ruban on the Northwest side to Courgaine on the Northeast all along by Sangate at Port and Fort de Nieulay commonly by the English call'd Newland-Bridge down by Hammes Cologne and Marke So that his Camp look'd like a spacious City and was usually by Strangers that came thither to Market called New-Calais For this Prince's Reputation for Justice was so Great that to his Markets which he held in his Camp twice every Week viz. on Tuesdays and Saturdays for Flesh Fish Bread Wine and Ale with Cloth and all other Necessaries there came not only his Friends and Allies from England Flanders and Aquitain but even many of King Philips Subjects and
Invitation the young Earl accepted of and returned forthwith into Flanders where he was received in most splendid manner and presented with Gifts of great Value But as soon as King Edward heard of this Change of Affairs in those Parts he sent thither William Bohun Earl of Northampton Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and Reginald Lord Cobham who prevail'd so far with the Demagogues and Leading Men of Flanders that all the Country was quickly of the mind that their Lord should rather take to Wife a Daughter of England than the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant or of any other Prince whatsoever And so they effectuously desired their Lord and shew'd him what Reasons he had so to do nor durst those few Burgesses who were for a Match with Brabant speak the least syllable to oppose them But the young Earl boldly declared his Resolution saying That by the Grace of God never while he lived would he Marry her whose Father had slain his thô he should have half the Realm of England for her Dowry When the Flemings heard this peremptory Answer they as boldly but with little Care of their Duty told him that he was too much sway'd by French Counvels and sought the Interest of their Enemies more than it became him And that he must expect no good from them if he would not rather believe the Counsel which they should give him and which was for the common Advantage both of him and them But the Young Prince not being at all shaken with this they proceeded further and took and put him in the Prison of Courtray swearing That he should never come forth thence while he lived unless he would govern himself after their Advice and Counsel And they told him moreover that the Earl his Father believed and loved the French Nation in like Manner to his utter Ruine whereas had he follow'd their Advice and been a Friend to their Friends he might have been as Great a Lord as any in Christendom and have recover'd again Lille Douay and Bethune and still on this side Heaven Thus Matters rested for a while and the Earl was kept short nor without some inconvenience in no little fear being emprisoned by his own Subjects V. King Edward the mean while was still before Calais and had kept all that Winter especially during the Christmas Holy-days a most Magnificent Court in the Camp but as soon as the Spring began to open the Year for Action he set himself earnestly to establish his Affairs On the o Ashmele p. 704. ex Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. 2 April second of April therefore being Easter-Monday he sent the Lord James Audeley from the Siege before Calais into England with Command to raise what Forces he could and to bring them down to Sandwich by Ascension-day well-arm'd in Order to pass over to Calais in regard the French King was drawing together a Vast Army with a purpose to raise the Siege About a p Ashmele p. 681. 14 Maii. Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3 p. 1. m. 10. Month after hearing the French King intended to be at Calais about Whitsuntide he sent also into England to his Cousin Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby commanding him speedily to repair to his Assistance with the Forces he had raised In reference to whose Passage Command was given q 19 Maii Rot. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 6. five Days after to the Lord John Mongomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships in readiness at Sandwich and Dover with all speed for the transportation of those Forces Accordingly the Earl arrived at Calais before the end of May immediately upon whose coming thither King Edward among other Gracious Tokens of Favour wherewith he welcomed this High-born Subject taking into consideration his many great Services and Victorious Successes in Aquitain and elsewhere r 1 Junii Ret. fact apud Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 13. granted unto him and his Heirs-Male for ever by Charter the Castle Town and Place of Bergerac on the Dordonne in the Diocese of Perigort with the whole Chastellany and all Jurisdiction High and Low Royal Authority Absolute and Mixt as also the Coynage of Money there To which he afterwards added a Grant of the Examination of the Assay with both the Criminal and Civil Punishment of all Offendors for Coyning of Money And ſ 17 Jun. Ret. Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 16. because this Town and Castle stood upon the Frontiers of the Enemy the King granted that during the War there should remain in that Garrison an 100 Men of Arms and 200 Foot at the Kings pay subject nevertheless to the Command of the Kings Seneschal of Gascogne and to be by him drawn out upon occasion he leaving sufficient strength to Defend the same And further because this Noble Earl had taken divers Prisoners at the Town of St. Jean d' Angely when he reduced that Place as we have shewn the King therefore toward the latter end of this Year granted unto him all the Lands Tenements Vines and other Goods of those Prisoners till their Ransom was fully paid And a little after he granted unto him and his Heirs for ever the Houses Lands and other Goods and Possessions of Bernard Barrham Burgess of that Town to hold by the service of rendring to the King and his Heirs One Rose annually at Midsummer And besides all this he t Extract Donat 21. Ed. 3. m. 10. Novemb 10. granted unto him the Castle of Horeston in the County of Darby with the appurtenances and 40 pounds per annum out of the Farm of the Town of Darby to him and his Heirs-Male and for default of such the same to revert to the King and his Heirs All these Grants and more were made to him by that Munificent Monarch upon the Account of his many good and acceptable Services by him performed VI. While King u Frois c. 140. Edward was thus busied in reinforcing the Siege at Calais and King Philip was on the other hand preparing to rescue the Town Lewis the young Earl of Flanders whom We lately left confin'd at Courtray having by loss of Liberty and some hardship learn'd a little Experience resolved now to work his own Will but therein to use more caution and to procure his escape by Dissimulation Since he found it impossible to avoid ruine if he should still openly avow what he could not but harbour in his heart He often therefore said to those who were about him that he would for the future believe the Counsel of his good Subjects of Flanders for he knew well he said that he should live in more splendour there and in a Higher Condition than in any other Country For in France he was subject to the pleasure of other Men and could not do as he would These Words being noised abroad were greedily swallowed by the plain-dealing Flemings who could not penetrate into the forced Dissimulation of the Willfull young Lord.
together with an handsome Gratuity and a promise of much more upon his Return to him unto Reims with an Answer When this Indigent fellow had received the Letter he revolved many things in his mind considering of what consequence such a Matter might prove at last and he said to himself Well! Colinet thou may'st be poor but thou shalt never be a Traytor Wherefore now contrary to his Oath and Promise to Gawin but agreeable to the Duty he ow'd to his King and Country he took his way toward Paris and presented the Letter to the French King in which was set down the whole Manner Tune and Means how and when the City of Laon should be betray'd When the King understood the whole Series of this Black-Treason he instructed Colin how to behave himself in returning with an Answer and to fit his return according to the time as if he had been at Calais with the King of England and so at a convenient day to go to Reims according to Gawin's appointment During which Interval King Philip wrote secretly to the Provost of Reims that as soon as Colin Tomelin was come to Dr. Gawin with his Answer the said Gawin should be attached and had unto Prison all which was accordingly executed When Process was made against him forasmuch as he was in Holy Orders the Provost of Reims sent him to the City of Laon where he was put in the Bishops Prison But when the Commons of Laon heard how there was a Man Prisoner there who would have betrayed their City they rose in great uproar and would have broken up the Prison with intent to tear him in pieces But the Bishop who is an Earl and one of the Twelve Peers of France and of the Supream Judges so pacified them by his Officers that for that time they went back again to their several Houses The next day to quiet the People he was brought forth to his Judgement and there because he was a Clergyman only condemned to perpetual Prison But for his greater Infamy and shame he was further Order'd to be set up on high in a Tumbrel or Dung-Cart bare-headed to be seen of all Men and so with vile Instruments of wretched Musick as Bagpipes and the like to be carried thrô the High-street of the City unto the Bishops Prison aforesaid there to remain close Prisoner during his Life But he was not carried far in this Manner when the Common people fell upon him with great moutings pelting him with dirt and stones so rudely that before he had finished half his Progress he was stoned to Death after which his Body was buried in a filthy Moor hard by the City With him also his Only Son being in some measure guilty of his Fathers crime was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment But being excused the shamefull Riding was not expos'd so to the Fury of the Rabble wherefore he had his Life but lost his Liberty for ever Shortly afterward b Faban p. 275. there was also executed at Paris a Burgess of the said City who as was laid to his charge had undertaken to betray that great Metropolis of the Kingdom to King Edward For which Fact he was first dismembred of his Legs and Arms and afterwards hanged up by the Neck on the great Gallows of Paris called Monfaucon But in relation to these two supposed Treasons for my part I cannot see how onely one or two Persons can be supposed capable of Betraying such Considerable Places as Laon and Paris near which the King of England had no Garrisons and as for Himself he was then too far off being at Calais Nor could he be able with all his Forces to take and hold Possession of two such Cities especially of Paris even thô he had left the Siege of Calais Wherefore I rather think the whole Matter amounted to no more than this that some certain Persons who either shew'd small satisfaction in King Philips Government or were less carefull of their Carriage and Speech in such a Juncture or lay obnoxious to the Malice or Spight of any prosligate Wretches wanted not Evidences to swear home against them and lay Matters to their Charge which thô never so improbable were then accounted no less than Treason by a Prince so mortally jealous as King Philip was VIII Now the French King having found all his peacefull Overtures with the Flemings ineffectual especially now that they had proceeded so far as to quarrel with their young Lord the Earl of Flanders for the Sake of King Edward his Adversary as well to revenge his own and the Earls injuries as hoping by some notable Success against them to enduce them to some Reasonable Terms resolves c Serâes p. 12. in Phil. Val. is Speed p. 580. Fâx p. 506. c. to send his Son John Duke of Normandy with a Considerable Army against them But Duke John it seems was born under no better Stars than his Father for having besieged Cassel a Town between St. Omers and Ipres he was at last in a Sally set upon couragiously by the Flemings being joyned with a good Body of English from Calais and compelled to raise his Siege without Honour but not without considerable Loss For the Conflict enduring from Morning till high Noon the French were utterly vanquished and enforced to break up having left behind them many Hundreds of their Men as well slain as Prisoners whereas on the other Side rather by a Miraculous Protection of Heaven than any Chance of War not one is reported to have been grievously wounded among the Flemings and their English Auxiliaries To this Town above all the Towns of Flanders King Philip ow'd an ill-will because d Fabian p. 264. Jacob Meyer Ann. Flandr l. 12. p. 153. in the beginning of his Reign when he laid siege unto them in Person the Inhabitants had in derision of Him and his Title caused a Red Cock to be painted on a White Cloth under which in great Letters they wrote this following Rhyme and hung iâ over the Walls Quand ce Coq icy chantera Le Roy Trouvé ca entrera Which signifies When this Cock shall crow clear The Found King shall enter here At which Lines the French King was horribly vexed especially because they Nick-named him the Found King as if having no manner of Title the Frenchmen had as it were upon diligent search found him out to hold Pretensions against King Edward After this Repulse at Cassel Duke John collecting his shatter'd Forces made yet another Attempt upon Lilers a Town of Flanders by the River Navez between Arien and Bethune But here also he received another Repulse so as he could hardly come off with the rest of his Troops to his Father who stormed and fretted exceedingly at these fresh Disgraces IX All this while was the Siege of Calais carried on with great Application but the Defendants held out with equal Obstinacy For thô King Edward's chief trust was to reduce them by Famine yet
nevertheless he ceased not to afflict them with huge e Knighten p. 2588. Frois c. 140. f. 69. Engines that cast continually Massie stones into the Town and against their Walls and Towers and some have said that at this Siege Canons were first used But of that Opinion we have already discover'd the small Probability And a very good f St. Th. de la Mâre apud Stâa p. 244. Author who was also an Eye-witness and present at the Siege says that neither could any Engines be used to much Purpose because the Ground was not firm enough to sustain them Besides if the Walls could have been quite beaten down yet were the Ditches so deep whereinto at their pleasure they could let in the Sea that with little strength of Men provided their Ammunition and Provision fail'd not they were able to withstand the whole World. One time the Admiral of France came up toward the Haven designing to engage the English Fleet to divert them while many small Boats laden with Provision should get into the Town but against him the Noble Earl of Northampton went forth with a good Squadron of Archers and Men of Arms and to his great Loss put him to flight Most of the Boats being intercepted and taken And on that side of the Town on which the Boulogners were used to victual Calais namely Westward along by the Sea-side in little Boats and Bylanders stealing down by the shore in the Night-times or in misty Weather the said Earl of Northampton made a strong Rampire wherewith he destroy'd or kept back or chased away such Boats the Rampire being perpetually guarded with Archers and Slingers of Stones who watched the Victual-boats night and day However a little g Knighten p. 2592. n. 30 c. after Easter no less than Thirty Norman Ships and Gallies all nimble Sailers adventur'd boldly one Morning early and without any impediment from the English Fleet carried in fresh Provisions and victual'd the Town and got off again by good fortune with little or no Dammage But from that time the King caused the MOuth of the Haven to be quite block'd up and the Earl of Warwick with eighty tall Ships scoured the Channel between Calais and Dover Now King h Oder Rainalad hââc ann §. 24. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 94. p. 899 c. Philip that he might some way answer the Loyalty and Courage of these poor Calisians who could not be overcome but by Famine had again equipped a Fleet of 12 Gallies of Genua and 70 Sail of stout Ships all laden with Provision and Ammunition with Orders to Relieve Calais But as soon as ever this Fleet was seen from Dover and the Earl of Warwick had notice thereof he set upon the Frenchmen with such Fury that they all were dispersed taken or slain The Admiral of Genua flying first and leaving the Frenchmen to the mercy of the Enemy Here was taken a vast quantity of Victuals Harness and other Provision to the great Comfort of King Edward and his Host who hoped now to be soon Masters of the Place but the Besieged in Calais were in great grief and distress and almost reduced to despair Nor is it yet to be thought that King Edward's Men were without their Difficulties any more than the Besieged thô indeed they wanted no manner of Provision For the French King i Froisae 140. had Men of War in every Fortress of the Marches in the Earldom of Guisnes Boulonois Artois and about Calais besides a great Number of Genouese Normans French and others on the Sea Who at several times took no less than k Stow p. 244. fifteen of King Edwards best Ships of War some whereof they kept for their own Use and the rest they made useless by fire Among others Sr. Thomas Hackluit and Sr. William Burton as they were failing for England were suddainly encountred by certain French Pirates and taken Prisoners with the two Ships which they commanded Nor did the l Frois ibid. French Men of War belonging to the Garrisons about the Marches lye idle all this while for when any of the English either Horse or Foot went a Foraging for the most part they met with many difficult Adventures Nor were the Lords and Captains of the Town idle or faint hearted but many times they made vigorous and bold Sallies nor always to their own Loss Particularly one time the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan came out with a Choice Band of select Warriers very early in a Morning and came almost to the Kings Tent so that the King himself being well-nigh surprised caused his Trumpets to sound and with his Guard the mean while fought fiercely at the Entry of the Trench crying out with indignation Ha St. Edward Ha St. George But by this time the Captains of the Army began to move and the English making an offer to intercept the Enemy and so to cut off their Retreat they drew back much faster than they came forth and leaving 200 of their Fellows behind they had been all lost if the Captain of the Town Sr. John de Vienne had not adventur'd forth with the Flower of the Garrison to make good the Retreat which he did with much ado but was himself wounded with a spear thrô the Thigh by the Lord Thomas Holland But however now the Besieged were held so close that nothing could come to their Relief but with great difficulty and by stealth and that but little at a time And what was thus done was effected by the means of two famous Seamen one called Marant and the other Mestreil Inhabitants of Abbeville who often comforted and refreshed the Calisians by bringing in to them a nights Provisions in light Boats whereby they exposed themselves to much danger being often chaced but they alway escaped nor only so but caused many Englishmen to be drowned for in dark Nights they would come silently in their small Boats to the skirts of the Fleet and bore Holes thrô their big Vessels something below the surface of the Water Whereby not a few Men were drowned the Ships being full of Water before they could find a Leak Besides all these Inconveniences and the dayly Chances of War what with the unwholsom Air by reason of the unstable Ground and the nearness of the Sea and what with the m Walsingh hist p. 157. stink of Cattle that died in and about the Camp as well as the Garbage of Beasts slain and other Refuse of the Army but chiefly by the rage of the Bloody Flux no small Numbers of Englishmen perished Thô I believe Giovanni Villant n Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 95. p. 902. is something too lavish in this Point who says that together with all the Rencounters from the beginning to the end of this Expedition and with extraordinary and common Diseases Maladies and Mischances King Edward lost in the whole no less than 50000 Men. Among others there died this Year on o
Forest was in like manner suddenly slain by his own Cousin and Godson William Douglas the Son of Archimbald Douglas in Revenge of the Death of Sr. Alexander Ramsey While thus Scotland and especially the Family of the Douglasses was miserably divided in it self England and the Court of King Edward flourished with Honour Peace and Unity and the Lords of England laudably contended to outvie one another in Martial Worth and Bravery At Canterbury and Eltham in Kent at London Westminster Winchester Lincoln Windsor and other Places were held several Great and Magnificent Justs and Tourneaments Henry k Stow p. 245. Earl of Lancaster held a little after Easter a solemn Hastilude at Lincoln where were present with Isabel de Beaumont his Countess many Great Ladies and also certain Ambassadors from Spain who then came to Negotiate a Marriage l Stew ibid. Ashrnole p. 669. c. between the young Infant of Castille and Leon named Don Pedro Eldest Son and Heir Apparent to Alphonso XI King of Spain and the Lady Jane of the Tower one of the Daughters of King Edward who was then in the 13 Year of her Age. But this Poor Lady being espoused by Proxy and conveyed into that Country deceased presently of a great Mortality that then reign'd of which we shall speak hereafter At the Tourneament at m Dagd 2 Vol. p. 48. Canterbury among others Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and Sr. John Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick had their Harness and other Accoutrements allowed them from the King the latter n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. being furnish'd out of the Kings Wardrobe with a Surcoat of fine Indian Silk embroider'd with the Arms of Sr. Stephen Cosington Knight Of whom thô he was not of Noble Blood we must needs Remark that he was a Gentleman of High Merit as will not only appear from the sequel of this our History but also may be rationally collected from this that his Arms were beaten on all the Eight Harnesses given by the King at this time and worn o Ashnââle p. 185. by Eight Renowned Combatants being the Challengers as the Prince of Wales the Earls of Lancaster and Suffolk Sr. John Grey Sr. John Beauchamp Sr. Robert Mauley Sr. John Chandos and Sr. Roger Beauchamp And at the Tourneament at Eltham we find among others that the Valiant and Noble Earl of p Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. Lancaster and Hugh q Ashânâle p. 696. Courtney Earl of Devonshire besides their Harness and other Accoutrements both for themselves and Horses had each of them an hood of fine White Cloth embroider'd with Dancing Men in Blew Habits and button'd before with large Pearls which were allowed them out of the Kings Wardrobe We must here against our usual Method insert a matter or two not of any great affinity to our Affairs even before we come to the end of this Year because there will not then appear any such convenient Room the beginning of the next Year being continuedly joyn'd to the end of this IV. On the 9 of June this Year Joan Queen of Naples and Countess of Provence in France sold all the County of Venaisin together with the City of Avignon to Pope Clement VI for the Sum of 80000 Florens of Gold of Florence Which said Places thô r Mezerdy ad hunc ann in Mârgineâ some say the Money was never paid belong to the See of Rome to this day How Charles II King of Naples had first a Right to Venaisin from King Philip the Fair who gave it unto him Ano 1290 upon the Marriage of Charles de Valois his Brother with Margaret the Daughter of that King this is all well known But the First occasion of this sale I do not speak of Queen Joan's Necessities of which the Pope made his Advantage not being so vulgarly understood we shall briefly from the Authority of a very Å¿ Peireskias apud Petrum Gassendum in Vitá illiuâ p. 143. c. Judicious and Learned Gentleman declare it in this place In the Year 1209 Raymund the Third Earl of Tholouse being a Fautor of the Albâgenses who were accounted Hereticks and as was thought chiefly concern'd in the Murther of the Pope's Legate was now a second time Excommunicated by Pope Innocent III from which time he began to be despoiled of his Territories till little or nothing was left entire So that 19 Years after it was thus agreed at Paris that to Alphonso the Son of Raymund should fall only the City it self of Tholouse with a few appurtenanees that the other Places beyond the Rhosne should belong to the King of France but whatever was by him or his Ancestors possessed on this side the said River should be the Pope's Patrimony But because the Men of these Parts did unwillingly submit to the latter Part of this Agreement being thereby upon occasion obliged to have their Appeals to Rome and therefore clave to Alphonso and his Heirs about fourscore Years after Pope Boniface VIII wholly acquitted them of all such Appeals and after him Pope Clement V to win their Hearts the more removed his Seat to Avignon in the First Year of his Pontificate or the t Victerell p. 833. celiat cum Labbe Chren Tech. ad hunc an Year of our Lord 1305. So that now after all when upon the Death of Benedict XII u Hâââcârige sive Peiresâiam sive Gasendum qââa ab cirum alterutro Clemens VI pest Johannem âdaââtur cùm illum exceperit Benedicius bâne Clemens ut ex emmlus Pentif Histeriis censtat who succeeded John XXII Clement the VI became Pope Queen Joan flying unto Avignon from Lewis King of Hungary who came to Revenge the Death of his Brother Andrew her Husband whom she had murdred made now unto the said Clement a Deed of sale of all those Rights which the Earls of Provence had from the very time of the Partition made between Raymund Berengarius Earl of Provence and Alphonso Earl of Tholouse Ano. Dom. 1125 and let this suffice for that Matter V. A certain x Guido Tract 2. Dect 2. c. 3. in Chirurgiâ Magnà Vid. Guliel Tookeri DD. Charâsina sinations p. 83. Author that flourished in these days and as himself witnesses lived at Avignon in the Service of the said Pope Clement VI doth more than intimate that the French King Philip of Valois had the Gift of healing the Disease called the Kings Evil with the Touch of his Hand only Thô if so we may well presume that our King Edward had the same Vertue not only as having more Right to the Crown of France but as descended of King Edward the Confessors Blood who was eminently signal in this Miraculous Grace and from y Polyder Virg. Hist l. 8. p. 143. n. 10. Vid. Tooker's Charisma sanitatis p. 83 84 85. whom as it were by Right of Inheritance the following Kings of England have derived the same Power as Polydore Virgil
and many others have observed But to return to Affairs at home After * Stow p. 245. Easter King Edward made an Order in Council that none of his Servants should presume to take up any Victuals of any Man against his Will nor then without paying ready Money on pain of Punishment proportionable to his Offence and being banish'd the Kings Court for ever To the Execution of which Decree Sr. Richard Talbot Lord High-Steward of the Kings Houshold was appointed to have an Eye VI. The Truce taken between the two Kings at Calais last Year drawing now toward an end upon z Ashmâle p. 656. ex Rot. Franc. 15. Maâi 22 Ed. 3 m. 13. the Pope's Letters to King Edward he was prevail'd with to depute Thomas Falstaff Arch-Deacon of Welles John Carleton Canon of Welles both Doctors of Law and Frier John de Reppes of the Order of Mount Carmel who had Commission to prorogue the Truce and to Treat of a Final Peace The Truce they accordingly prorogued for six Weeks to Commence on the 13 of September following and to be observed throughout all Picardy Normandy Artois Boulogne and Flanders But the King well perceiving the delay and backwardness of the French to close with him sincerely either for a Truce or Peace in a Claus 22. Ed. 3 p. 2. m. 8. in Derse October next drew down his Forces to Sandwich intending to pass the Seas Whereupon the French were quicken'd to a speedy agreement as to the Prorogation of the foregoing Truce b 18 Novemb. Rât Franc. 22. Ed. 3 an 10 from the 18 of November 1348 unto the 1 of September 1349 on News whereof the King return'd to London VII On the c Knighton p. 26â0 Stow p. 248. Walsirgh hist p. 160 n. 20. Odor Rainald quanquaâ hâc 2 post annis pen. t. 25 of October King Edward solemnized the Translation of St. Themas the Confessor once Bishop of Hereford to the great Expence and Charge of his Kinsman the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe This St. Thomas had been also of the sirname of Cantilupe being in his Life time a Gentleman of a very Noble and Ancient House as appears * Vid. Dagd 1 Vol. p. 731. by the Antiquity of their Baronage in our Records but as Bishop Godwin d Gedâ Catal. Bps p. 457. says of a much more Noble and Excellent Mind For he was not only of a wonderfull Ingenuity and exquisite Judgement but even from a Child of great Diligence and Industry in his studies of Marvellous Exactness of Life and of incomparable Candour and Vertue His Father was William Lord Cantilupe e Mâtth Paris l. 17. p. 815. Dagd ibid. High-Steward to King Henry III of England a Man of great Power and Loyalty His Mother was the Lady Millicent Countess of Eureux in Normandy He first studied at Oxford and afterwards at Paris where having proceeded Master he return'd to Oxford and there apply'd himself to the Canon Law till he went out Doctor in that Faculty After this he entirely gave his Mind to the study of Divinity whereof he was to proceed Doctor in the Year 1273 Robert Kilwardby with whom he was very familiarly acquainted was then Provincial of the Friers-Preachers and Doctor of the Chair in Oxford when he was presented But before the time came that he should keep tho Act or rather the Act being by some Accident delayed till then the said Doctor Kilwardby was become Archbishop of Canterbury But this notwithstanding he vouchsafed this his old Friend the Honour to come down to Oxford to his Act on purpose and there gave him the Ceremonies of his Creation And it is observable that this Archbishop and Pâofessor in his speech after the Disputation among many other great Praises which he bestowed on him affirmed that he the said Archbishop having of many Years been Confessor to the said Candidate Dr. Thomas Cantilupe had never perceived him guilty of any sin which he could judge to be Mortal Certainly either the Confessee did a little mince Matters or the Confessor was blinded with the prejudice of Friendship or some other Infirmity or the Relator did take a little too much liberty in Honour of the Man. Who notwithstanding was no doubt of great Merit every way as may appear by these manifold Honours which as so many loud Testimonials of his Vertue were heaped upon him both Living and Dead For first he was made Arch-Deacon of Stafford then Chancellour of the University of Oxford then Lord f Philipor's Catal Chancellors p. 24. Chancellour of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford lastly a few Years after his Death Canonised a Saint For whereas in his Travels to or as some say from Rome he departed this Life at Civita Vecchia a Town of Tuscany in the Year of our Lord 1282 and was Honourably buried in the Church of St. Severus there from whence afterward his Bones were brought into England and solemnly interred in his own Church of Hereford near the East-Wall of the North-Cross-Isle where we see an High-Tomb of Marble Within a few Years after his Death there being no less than g Nâc Harpsfeld Hist Feel Angl. secul 13. c. 21. ex Floril ad an 1287. 163 Miracles said to be wrought by him his Fame was so great that we find h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 92. ex Rot. Rom. 12. Ed. 2. m. 9. King Edward the Second in the Twelfth Year of his Reign and the Year of our Lord 1318 sent an Embassy to Pope John XXII about his Canonization And two Years after namely in the Year of our Lord 1320 i Oder Rainald ad an 1320. à § 43. ad §. 47. being the 13 of King Edward the Second on the XV of the Calends of May he was by the said Pope John Canonized with great Solemnity at Avignon and the VI of the Nones of October was set apart for his Festival as appears by the said Pope's Bull bearing Date at Avignon XII Cal. Maii Pontificatús nostri Anno IV. But now King Edward designing to Honour the Memory of this Holy Man took up his Bones this Year being k Nic. Harpsfield Hist Fecl Angl. secul 13. c. 21. Sixty five Years since he died and had them Honourably reposed in a Rich and Glorious Shrine of great Value This small Digression I ow'd to the Memory of this Worthy Prelate as well that the Reader might understand what kind of Man he had been whose Translation King Edward did now so devoutly solemnize as also because I believed that such a Person to whom so many of several Nations and Interests never envied the Title of a glorified Saint would much less by any Man of Modesty be envied an Honourable Mention in History VIII While King Edward was thus with as much Devotion as Splendour keeping a Feast in Memory of this Great Prelate Henry the Noble Earl of Lancaster was by him l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. ex Claus
his Cardinals in Council yet it is likely that they enjoy'd the said Benefit at last h Odor Rainal ad an 1350. §. 2. for it appears that soon after the same was granted to King Edward of England and to his Son Edward Prince of Wales to the Queens of England Isabell and Philippa and to Elisabeth Queen of Hungary II. The Jubilee began i Knighton p. 2602. n 29. vid Walsingh Hist p. 160. on the 25 of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasted until the said Feast of the Year following during the most part of which space especially about Easter Ascension-Day and Whatsuntide there was such a crowding rather than concourse of People at Rome k Vid. Matur Annot. ad D. Antenin Chron. p. 355. that Francis Petrarch who was then present says how it seem'd the late horria Plague had done little or no harm there came thither every day such Incredible Multitudes of Christian People from all parts of Europe Althö few or none went out of England upon that account except the l Dudg 1 Vol. p. 550. Lady Margaret Mother to William Lord Res of Hamlake King Edward m Knighton p. 26ââ n. 30 40 50 c. expresly forbidding it as of ill Consequence to his Realm very considerable Sums of Money being necessarily on such occasions transported out of the Kingdom When the Pope understood this he sent his Nuntio's to the King of England desiring of him First that he would not hinder the Passage of those who desired to visit the Places of the Holy Apostles Item that he would grant a Truce that so the Earl of Lancaster might not act any Hostilities in Aquitain to the himdrance of those who desired to visit Holy Places Lastly that he would not hinder or permit to be hindred those who were promoted by his Bulls at the Court of Rome from receiving Benefices so incumbent on them To the first Article it was answer'd that the King being busied in his Wars did therefore Want to be Aided of what was his own and that it was necessary to provide for the Treasure of his Kingdom lest while the War endured it should be exported out of the Realm to the Prejudice of Him and of his Subjects And further as to this point the King caused to be proclaimed that all Englishmen as well at Rome as any other place beyond Sea should make haste to return home as soon as might be on pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods As to the second Article relating to the Truce it was answer'd that the King of France had often acted Hostilities during such a Truce upon the Lands of the King of England treacherously to the destruction of his People and contrary to the Conventions contained in the said Truce And as to the Third Article respecting the Provisors it was answer'd that the King would graciously receive Clergy-men making use of Papal Provision who were of good Condition and worthy of Promotion but not others And with this Answer the Popes Nuntio's returned III. About the n Vid. Odoric Rainald ad an 1349. §. 18. Albert. Argent in Chron. Ianquet Chron. ad an 1350. Walsing hist p. 160. Stow p. 246. same time there arose a certain Sect of People who were seised with a pious Frenzy and went about in several Parts of the World whipping themselves with four-corded Whips and Preaching Singing and Praying with much seeming Devotion but it proved no better than Hypocrisie or misguided Zeal at the best as may appear to any that shall consult the Places quoted in the Margin Wherefore the Pope wrote his Letters to the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany Poland Sweedland England and France enjoyning them to extinguish this Sect of Whippers and also to the several Kings that by their Kingly Authority they would uphold the said Prelates in this matter Particularly there are extant to our King Edward Letters from the Pope wherein he writes thus concerning the Rise of these Whippers o Tem. 8. Epist seer p. 104. apud Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 22. Latclym the Parts of Almain under the pretence of Piety and doing Penance there hath arisen a Superstitious and vain Generation and so having at large declared how they had been condemned by the Apostolick Decree and that Patriarchs and Archbishops had been enjoyned to pluck up that poisonous Plant which the Heavenly Husbandman had not planted he adds these Prayers Do You therefore ô most Dear Son not only drive away the same Wicked Persons if perhaps they should presume to come into your Kingdom out of the Limits of your said Kingdom but also that they may repent of their Follies and Errours and return to Modesty correct and punish them That so the Purity of the Catholick Faith may always shine forth and the leaven of the Malice of these Men may by your provident Care be taken away from among all your Subjects Dat. Avenion III Non. Decembris Anno Pontif VIII About p ãâ¦ã p. ãâ¦ã 2â b. Michaelmas this Year above an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Others Natives of Zealand Holland and Hainalt in the same blind Devotion passing thrô Flanders came into England and at London sometimes in the Cathedral of St. Paul sometimes in other Religious Places of the City made their procession all together being coverd from the Loins to the Heels with Linnen marked with Red Crosses before and behind and on their Hats all the rest of their Bodies being bare they had every one a Three-corded Whip in his hand well knotted wherewith twice or thrice in a Day they beat themselves on their bare bloody Bodies most cruelly Four of them singing all the while in their own Language and all the rest making up the Chorus King Edward thô he strictly forbad all others from joining with them inflicted no other Punishment on them than what was the effect of their own Folly seeing how severely they chastised themselves and knowing such Smarting Devotion could not hold out long if no manner of notice was taken of them I remember to have read q Vid. Diâgen Lâert that when Diogenes the Cynick stood naked out of an Ostentatious humour in a very cold Season embracing a Pillar of Marble and all the People slocking about him pitied the poor Mans Condition the Divine Plato passing accidentally by told the Spectators If they really pitied him they should take no notice of him but pass regardless on and then they should see the Vain-glorious Philosopher make haste away and gladly âun to a Fire In like manner these Enthusiasts when they saw none took notice of them and that but a few of the Common People afforded them any pity or respect the most part of them also flouting and deriding their Madness began to cool in their warm fit of Penance and at last vanished away as ashamed of their former folly Certainly the soundest and most effectual Devotion consisteth not
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
d Asomole's Gartor p. 697. ex Rot. 31 Ed. 3 m. 5. Dat. 18. Novemb. granted unto the Lord Thomas Holland Earl of Kent the Custody of the Fort and place of Cruyck in Normandy part of the Kings late Conquests with all the Revenues thereunto belonging to hold durante Bene placito And a Command was given to Sr. Donald Heselrige Sr. Lewis Clifford and Sr. Walter Mewes to deliver them up to him or his Lieutenant accordingly III. We have declared largely enough how King David of Scotland was taken Prisoner also at the Battle of Durham and ever since that he wanted his Liberty being e Knighton p. 2616. n. 13. at this time in the Tower of London But now upon the Conclusion of the foresaid Truce between England and France the Cardinals together with the f Non enim ad Archiep. erecta est haec sedes ante Sixtum IV. P P. qui id fecit Ano. 1471 Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland began to enter into a serious Treaty with King Edward about the Delivery of King David from his Long Imprisonment Which Treaty was not a little further'd by the Prayers of Queen Joan of Scotland King Edwards Sister So that at last on the g Rot. Sect. 31. Ed. 3. m 2. Dârso Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 658. 3d of October there met at Barwick Commissioners on both sides namely John Thoresby Archbishop of York Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham Gilbert Welton Bishop of Caerlile the Lords Henry Piercy Ralph Nevill Henry Scroop and Thomas Musgrave on King Edwards part and William Bishop of St. Andrews Thomas Bishop of Cathnes Patrick Bishop of Brechin Chancellour of Scotland Patrick Earl of March Robert de Irskin and William Levington Knights Deputies of Robert Stuart Guardian of Scotland on the other Part Between whom these Articles were agreed on viz. Imprimis h Knighton p. 2617. n. 40. Du Chesne p. 680. That King David should never after bear Arms against the King of England within this Realm nor either Counsel or Abett any of his Subjects so to do 2. Item That King David upon his Return into Scotland should use his utmost Endeavour to persuade his Lords and Others to agree that the Crown of Scotland might be held in Fee and by Homage of the King of England But that if the Scots could not be brought to yield to that yet however King David should swear solemnly to observe the Peace with the King of England punctually and duly 3. Item That King David should oblige and bind himself and his Heirs and the whole Realm of Scotland to pay unto the King of England and his Heirs within i Thô we find 24000 Marks of the said Summ upon Arrears 27 Years after Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 277. ex Rot. Sect. 7. Pic. 2. m. 8. ten Years after the Sum of one hundred thousand Marks Sterling 4. Item That King David in the mean time deliver unto King Edward Twenty good and sufficient Pledges and Hostages for the Performance of these Covenants as namely the Lord John Eldest Son and Heir to the Lord Robert Stuart and Nephew to King David and together with him the Earls of Southerland Douglas Murray and Mar and Fife the Baron of Vescy Sr. William Cathanes and Twelve others All who were to abide in England as Prisoners and Hostages for the King their Lord till the said Summ be fully paid and acquitted 5. Item That a Decennial Truce in England Scotland and the Isle of Man be inviolably kept between the two Realms on pain of Forfeiture of Body and of Chattels and that after ten Years the Scots might be free to choose Peace or War as they should like best Of these Articles there were made Indentures and Publick Instruments sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and so King David after almost 11 Years Imprisonment had his Liberty and rode homeward with his Queen Joan Sister to King Edward who attended him like a loving Wife all the time of his Confinement and came to Barwick on the Feast of St. Michael where they were met by several of the Scotch Nobility who brought along with them one Moiety of the Summ agreed on for their Kings Ransom and the Hostages who were to remain in England till the Remainder should be paid And then according to the Fifth Article above-written the Decennial Truce between the Scots and English was solemnly Proclaimed For all along till now whatever Truce was taken between the two Nations there was none entirely observed but either by the Robberies of the Borderers on Land or the Piracies of private Men by Sea was continually interrupted by the Scots Thô King Edward many times was content in a private manner to correct these Disorders without infringing the Publick Peace Particularly this very Year even while the two Kings were labouring what in them lay for an Everlasting Concord k Knighton p. 2617. n. 30. three Scotch Pirates with no less than 300 chosen Men of Arms went cruising about the Coasts of England to trepan Merchants and such as they could get they slew and rifled doing that way much Mischief But about Michaelmas there arose an high and strong Wind which drove them and many English Vessels also as well of War as others all together into Yarmouth Haven where it pleased God the Scots were taken every Man and brought to a just account for all their Piracies 'T is said of this King David l Speeds Maâs Nottinghamshire c. 34. §. 6. fol. 65. that during his Captivity here in England being much part of the Time confined in Nottingham Castle he left behind him in a Vault under the Castle curiously engraven with his own Hands on the Walls which were of Rock the whole Story of the Passion of our Saviour For which one says that Castle became as famous as formerly it had been for Mortimers Hole But He being now acquitted of his Imprisonment like a just Prince sets himself seriously to perform the Articles of Agreement between him and his Brother-in-Law of England and first according to a private Promise made unto King Edward he rased and demolished the Castles of Dalswinton Dumfres Mortoun and Durisdere Then m Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. he called a Parliament where he enacted sundry Laws for the Punishment and Disgrace of those who had fled from the Battle of Durham as in a Parliament n Holinshead ibid. p. 240. preceding that Battle he had very liberally rewarded all such as had either been Notable for their Actions or Sufferings in his Service among whom says Hector Boethius his Ancestor Hugh Boece in Consideration of his Fathers Death on his Account in the Action at Duplin was made Inheritor of the Barony of Balbrid the King giving unto him in Marriage the Heiress of the said Barony But now on the Contrary he was as Severe in punishing the Cowardise or Disloyalty as he thought it of those who had deserted him in the
also all the time of his Imprisonment here in England which was for the space of Eleven Years more She died at Hartford the Court being there at that time and was buried in the Gray-Fryers Church in London hard by the Body of Queen Isabell her Mother And lastly the Great Orchanes Son of Ottoman the Second Emperour of the Turks died g ãâã Chron. ãâ¦ã ad ann 1359. either in the end of this Year or in the beginning of the next in the 760th Year of the Hegira Current after he had reigned to the great Dammage of Christendom 32 Years His Son Morat or Amurath the first of that Name sirnamed also Gazes succeeded him in the Empire of whose Death we shall not speak in this History because he outlived our King Edward reigning just the same Number of Years as his Father had done before him And thus as the Death of King Edward II was attended with the Funerals of a King of Scotland a King of France and a Turkish Emperour So his Dowager Queen Isabell was immediately followed by Joan Queen of Scots and Orcanes Emperour of Turky not to mention that Politick Death of King John of France whose Majesty lay now buried in Imprisonment XV. About this h Knighton p. 262. âr 1. â Walsingâ hist p. 165. Godw. Cal. l. ãâã p. 269. Aââ p. ãâ¦ã p. 146. c. time there happen'd a great Quarrel between Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely and the Lady Blanch Plantagenet Sister to Henry Duke of Lancaster ãâã Relict of Thomas late Lord Wake of Lydel The Occasion was this the Bishops Men had burnt a Mannor of the said Lady Wakes and slain one of her Men whereupon she made her Complaint to the King of this Grievance The King sent his Justices viz. Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Shareshull and Others to make Inquisition in the Case And the Bishop being cited before them it appeared that he was altogether culpable because he had knowingly harboured the Murderer quod cum post perpetratam Felomam receptâsset scienter Whereupon Judgment being pronounced against him his Temporalities were seised into the Kings Hands and he obliged to give Sureties for his forth Coming He soon after made shift to get over the Sea to Avignon where he complain'd to the Pope how the King had seised his Temporalities against the Rights of the Church His Holiness hereupon by his Bull cited to appear at his Court the Kings Justices and their Adherents as Sr. Henry Green Sr. William Shareshull William Norton William Thorpe and Sr. Simon Drayton whom for refusing to appear he Excommunicated This Bull was sent to John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln to publish to the People with an Injunction that if any of the Excommunicate were dead he should cause them to be dug out of their Graves and cast them out of the Churchyard He did so to Sr. Simon Drayton who was then dead and buried and took him out of his Grave and drew his Body forth at a hole which he had dug in the Church-wall and cast it forth out of the Churchyard And hearing that the Lord John Engain who had been concerned in the said Affair was also l Dââd 1 Vol. p. 467. then newly dead he sent to the Abbot of Bury to do the same unto his Body but the Lord Thomas Engain his Son hindred the execution by Force When the King heard of these things he was very much moved and sent word to the Pope that nothing had been done but according to the Laws and Customs of his Realm and so at last thô not without some difficulty he obtain'd Absolution for them What some k Antiq ãâã C. du ãâ¦ã l. Bish ibid. observe that the Original of this matter proceeded from the Bishop of Ely's boldness in Reprehending the King for setting up an unworthy Person to be Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield is to be look'd on as an Errour for that See was not void till almost two Years after this whereas the l Godwin ibid. Knighton ibid. Walsing ibid. Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 4. end of this Action is truly referred unto this Year However because some of the Persons Excommunicate had been of the Kings Privy Council Proclamation was presently made throughout the Realm that hereafter no Man should presume on pain of Death to bring into the Realm or to procure or publish any Papal Letters Citations Excommunications or Censures And some of the Bishop of Ely's Servants were clapt up in the Tower and others in Newgate where they died for presuming contrary to this Prohibition to deliver Letters to John Stepney Bishop of Rochester then Lord Treasurer of England But as for those threatning Letters which the Pope is said to have written to King Edward hereupon I believe nothing of them because Odoricus Rainaldus is altogether silent as to any such thing Now was m ãâ¦ã ad hunc annum §. Walsingh hist â 165. âesââ ãâã Vl. ãâ¦ã 181. ãâ¦ã Bil. V. ãâ¦ã n. 376â â M.S. ãâ¦ã Bo V. Speed p. 5â3 also moved the famous Controversie between the Universities and the 4 Orders of Preaching Fryers which was on the behalf of Oxford managed at this time by that Learned Prelate Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate oâ Ireland and Chancellour of the said University the said Richard arguing against the said Fryers before the Pope for that they were a Nuisance both to the Clergy and the two Universities and trusting to their Privileges by which they were admitted to receive the Confessions of dying Men they used to entice away young Men as well out of Publick Schools as from their Parents Houses whom having once brought into their Sââeties they would never after permit them to return to their Friends Whereby Men withdrew or kept back their Sons from the Universities lest these Fryers should thus steal them away So that says he n ãâã Acts Mân p. 53â whereas in my own Time there were ãâã Oxford 30000 Students within a while after there were but 6000. And indeed how excessively these Fryerly Swarms encreased in all Nations may appear from one Instance o Sâââil Enne ad l. 6. where the General of the Franciscans Order promised to the Pope then about an Expedition against the Turk to bring him into the Field 30000 expert Warriers out of the Number of St. Francis his Order and yet that enough should remain at home to perform the requisite Devotions But at this time the Pope made such use of those Fryers that Armachanus prevailed not against them thô he maintained his Cause ãâã Nine Learned Propositions boldly and manifestly p Walsing Hist p. 16â n. 20. Speed p. 5â3 because the English Clergy stuck not to him as they had promised and the Fryers had great store of Mony whereby they were so far from losing Ground that they procured at this time a new Confirmation of their Privileges But those that desire more Particulars as
Famine since they could not succeed any other way So all the Streights and Avenues were well watched that nothing could be conveyed to the Besieged either by Land or by Water Hereupon by Lent their Provision being in a manner wholly wasted when they found no hope of Subsistance from within or of Succour from abroad they advised to treat with the Constable that upon yielding up the Fortress they might have their Lives and Goods saved and liberty to march whither they pleased All this was granted them saving that they were not permitted to bear away any Armour or Weapons thô the Earl of St. Paul was very loath they should have such easie Conditions for he knew that shortly they must of necessity have yielded up simply But he little thought that at that very instant the Lord Philip of Eureux the King of Navarre's Brother was upon his March to raise the Siege which he was resolved to attempt at least if the Castle had not been thus yielded up before whereat he was infinitely displeased When the d Frois c. 194. French Lords had trussed up Bag and Baggage and were upon the point of Departing from St. Valery which they had now Garrison'd for themselves they heard news of the approach of the Lord Philip of Navarre Now this Lord Philip was Governour of all his Brothers Lands especially in the Country of Eureux and had at his Command all the Men of War which were Enemies to the Crown of France The Lord John of Picquigny had privately informed him that the Garrison of St. Valery would infallibly be lost unless he attempted a Rescue Wherefore he resolved to go and raise the Siege And so he secretly gather'd together about Mante and Meulan 3000 Men among whom were the young Earl of Harcourt the Lord William Granville Sr. Robert Knolles of England the Lord John of Picquigny and several other Knights and Esquires Prince Philip was within three Leagues of St. Valery with this Army when he met with Sr. William de Bonmare and Sr. John Segar of whom he had the whole Account of the Siege and Yielding up of St. Valery whereat he was extreamly displeased The French Lords had news likewise of Prince Philips Approach and resolved to meet him and give him Battle But he hearing that the Enemy was at least 30000 Strong had no mind to expect them but with all speed turn'd off to the Right hand and passing the River of Somme entred the Fortress of Long in Ponthieu with all their Carriages and what else they had They were scarce well entred when the French Army who followed them came thither also about the time of Evening-Prayer and still their Number encreased the Foot coming by degrees after the Men of Arms who rode on before in hopes to overtake the Navarrois Wherefore the French Captains determin'd to rest for that Night before the Fortress till their Men might come up and then all together to attack the Place the next Morning The Navarrou who were within finding they had little or no Provision for a Siege left the Place about the hour of Midnight and went away at a Back Gate and marched as fast as they could toward Vermandois having reached above two Leagues of their way before the French knew of their Escape Then they presently went to Arms and began to follow the Navarrois by the Track of their Horses The Navarrois in the mean time passed on a great way before till they came to Thorigny a little Village standing on an Hill in the middle way betwixt St. Quentin and Perone in Vermandois So that from thence one might view the whole Country round about Here they resolved to rest a while and refresh themselves and their Horses and if they must needs fight there they had the best Advantage of Ground to deal with their Enemies They had not been long here devising about their present Condition when they might behold all the Country beneath them cover'd with the French who were in Number more than 30000 Men. Whereupon they came forth of their Quarters and ranged themselves in Three Battails on the Hill ready to receive them The first Battalia was committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Prince Philip himself had the Second and the Third was lead by the young Earl of Harcourt each of them consisting of 700 Choice Men besides 300 Archers Then they were all commanded to cut their Spears to a five Foot length and in the hanging of the Hill they caused their Valets to set all their Spurs in the Earth with the Rowels upward to make the Enemies Ascent the more difficult At which time Prince Philip made several Knights the Chief whereof were the Earl of Harcourt and the young Lord of Granville The Frenchmen being come up to the Navarrois made an Halt and alighted on Foot as indifferent for the present whether to give or take Battle Some were for going up the Hill immediately and so to have fought them But those who had more Judgment said Our Men are almost tired with Travel and many of them not yet come up and it will be late presently so that considering all things we had best tarry here this Night and having the Day before us to set upon them to morrow fresh and with all our Forces This Resolution prevailing there they encamped for that Night setting all their Carriages round them for their better Defence which when the Navarrois perceived and that they should not be fought with as then in the Evening they returned into the Town again Where they kindled huge Fires and made great Smoke thereby to persuade their Enemies that they design'd to lodge there that Night But being before-hand resolved what to do when it was dark night they all mounted their Horses and left the Town in great silence riding toward the River of Somme which with the help of a Guide they passed at a little Village near Bethencourt Then they rode toward the Wood of Bouhain which they coasted and went that night above seven Leagues thô of those that had bad Horses or had lost their Way not being able to recover the Track of this silent Army in a Dark Night some were taken Prisoners by those of the Garrison of Bouhain and others were knockt on the head by the Bores of the Country The Frenchmen knew not of their Escape till it was near Day-light at which time they hasted as fast as they might to St. Quentins in order to pass the Somme at the Bridge there so to make a nearer Cut to intercept the Navarrois whom they expected to meet coming back in their Return toward Normandy So they rode toward St. Quentin which was but two Leagues off and came thither by that time it was Day the Constable and the Earl of St. Paul riding foremost The Watchmen on the Gates of St. Quentin hearing a noise of Horses and Men approaching were in some doubt of themselves because they knew the Enemy to
Knighton ibid. Du Chesne p. 682. Guil. Paradin Annal. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 345. seven Weeks all which time he never offer'd to attack the Place For he knew well it would have been either wholly in vain or very expensive of his Subjects Blood. But by this time being wearied out with this tedious way especially because Forage was so difficult to be got that his Men began to lose their Horses and to want Victuals themselves he resolved now to rise from before the Place and marched forth in good Order the way that leadeth to Châlons in Champagne which passing by he proceeded toward Troyes and encamped about Mery sur Seyne all his Host covering the Face of the Country for above 8 Leagues together While the King lay here the Constable went with the Vantguard to attempt St. Florentin where Sr. Edward Renty was Captain but after a great Assault made in vain he gave it over About which time the King came up to him and departed thence to Tonnerre in Burgundy which City he took by Assault but the Castle he could not win For the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows were there in Garrison with a great Number of chosen Men. But because the King found here 3000 Vessels of Wine he was pleased to tarry there five whole Days to refresh his Army in which time thô he gave many Assaults to the Castle he was yet never the nearer Thence passing over the River Armancon he refused the way on the Right Hand and went a little declining to the Left to Noyers which he took without any Assault for their Lord and Captain was still a Prisoner in England ever since the Battle of Poictiers Thence n Frois Holinsh Ashmole p. 660. c. he marched to Mont-Real and so to Avallon on the River Cousson where he tarried from Ashwednesday to Midlent because of the great Opportunity he found thereabout of receiving Supplies of Provision for his Army from a valiant English Esquire named John Argentine who bore for his Arms Azure an Escutcheon of Pretence Argent This Man had won the Town of Flavigny not far thence wherein he found sufficient Provision of all Sorts to serve the whole Army for a Month and accordingly he constantly supplied the King therewith Besides which his Marshals and Van-currours overran the Country wasting and ravaging all about and they also brought in much prey daily During the Kings stay here namely on the 26 of February o Lit. Dom. ED. Pascha 5 April being the Thursday in Quadragesima there departed this Life at the Town of Rouvray on the Coussin near Avallon in Burgundy the Noble and Valiant Young Lord Roger Mortimer Earl of March and Constable of the English Army leaving behind him one onely Son named Edmund then about nine Years of Age Upon whose Death we find p Rot. Franc. 34. Ed. 3. m. 45. vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 695. p. 692. that the King made the Lord John Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick Constable of the Army as also of Dover-Castle and of the Cinque-Ports the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Avallon in Burgundiâ Primo Martiâ IV. Now the q Frois c. 210. f. 103. b. King and his Chief Lords had with them in this Expedition as we said before besides the usual Carriages Hand-Mills to grind their Corn Ovens to bake Bread Meat or Pasties Spits and Cauldrons to roast or boil and Forges to make Shoes for their Horses And over and above all this there were brought in Carts a sort of little Boats made artificially of Leather every one being able to hold Four Men to row on Ponds or in Rivers and to fish in them at their Pleasure Which Device proved both pleasant and very convenient to the Lords of England during the season of Lent. The King had also for his Diversion thirty Faulconers on Horseback with Hawks and sixty Couple of Hounds and as many Grey-hounds besides those Hawks and Hounds which his Sons and the Chief of the Nobility had wherewith they hunted and hawked by the River at their Pleasure And during all this Expedition from the time they left Calais till their coming to Chartres where the famous Treaty for Peace was set on foot the whole Army was divided into three Great Battalia's every Battalia subdivided into three Bodies each whereof lodged a-nights well-nigh a League from each other The Duke r Knighton p. 2623. n. 50. Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 85. p. 559. c. of Lancaster and the Earls of Northampton and Salisbury were in the first Great Battail the King Himself in the Second and the Black-Prince with his Three Brethren in the Last V. While King Edward lay thus at Avallon Å¿ Frois ibid. Paradin Annales de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 346. Mezer. Holinsh p. 965. Fabian p. 238. Speed Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 82. 84. p. 557. c. Philip the young Duke of Burgundy by Advice and at the Request of all the Country sent unto him in order to a Treaty Sr. Anselme de Saulieu Chancellour of Burgundy Sr. John de Vienne who had defended Calais so worthily against King Edward and Sr. Hugh de Vienne his Brother Sr. John Derie Sr. William de Thoraise and Sr. John de Mont-martin These Lords found King Edward in so good an Humour that they presently obtained this Composition That the King of England giving Security for Himself and all his Subjects not to ravage rob or commit any Hostilities within the Territories of Burgundy for the space of three Years then following in Lieu whereof the Duke should pay unto the King in ready Money the Summ of t De hac Summà variant Autheres Knighton Da Chesne Froi 200000 Motons Mat. Villani 100000 Motons Paradin 200000 Florens Walsingh M. S. vet Angan Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. 70000 Florens Paul. Aââyl 100000 numm ãâã âelyd ãâ¦ã non ãâ¦ã sed ãâ¦ã Speed. altiâae meâââ sentiunt 200000 Florens of Gold which amounts to 35000 l. Sterling Besides which the Burgundians were to administer to the King and his People whatever Provision of Victuals or other things they wanted for their Money Some suppose n Matt. Villani l. 9 c. 82. 84. p. 557. 558. that the Burgundians having little Love at this time for the House of France and verily believing that King Edward would attain the Crown of that Realm entred a Secret Alliance with him on Condition that then the Duke of Burgundy should be the First Peer of France However when this Agreement between the King and the Duke was sealed and engrossed and mutual Security given the King of England decamped from before Avallon intending directly for Paris and so he passed the River of Yonne at Coulogne beside Vezelay and the Army spread along by the River almost to Clamecy at the Entry of Nivernois Which x Mezeray ad hinâ ann
Treasures of You and your People but also a great loss of Time for if all things are duely consider'd You may chance to make War all the Days of your Life and yet never come to the end of your Design Sir in short since the Fortune of Battles is variable and You may perhaps lose more in one Day than You have won in twenty Years I would advise your Majesty to accept the Offers which are now made unto You in a time wherein You may leave the War both to your Honour and Advantage These reasonable and prudent Words thus utter'd with a Loyal Mind by the Duke of Lancaster for the Good of the King and his People being seconded by the immediate influence of Heaven fully wrought upon the enraged Prince and enclin'd him to Peace But surely the Occasion which wholly brought him over was very remarkable if not miraculous for presently upon these Words while yet the King was inexorable and refus'd to give the French Commissioners any agreeable Answer there g Frois c. 211. f. 105. Du Ches p. 684. Mezeray p. 59. Walsing hist p. 167. n. 30 Knighton p. 2624. n. 10. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Ashmole p. 660. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13 p. 184. Odor Rainal omnes fell from Heaven such a wonderfull Storm and Tempest of Thunder Lightning Rain and Hail among the English Army that it seem'd as if the whole Fabrick of Nature was falling to pieces and withall it was so excessive Cold at the same time that it cannot be imagin'd so that together with all these Arrows of Gods Anger there perished no less than 6000 Horses and well-nigh a 1000 Men among whom were several Persons of Quality Particularly the Lord Robert Morley was slain outright and the Lord Guy Beauchamp Eldest Son to the Earl of Warwick being wounded to Death in this Storm died thereof on the 28 day of April at the City of Vendosme in Beauce h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 235. id Warwicksh p. 319. sed in anno obitûs LI malè scribitur utrchique pro LX quod not andum where also he was buried in a Chappel behind the High-Altar toward the East having a Fair Monument of Alabaster with his Pourtraicture thereon neatly carved and over his Harness a Surcoat of his Arms with this Inscription on the Verge of his Monument Icy Gist Monsiegneur Guy de Beauchamp Fitz de tresnoble puissant Homme Monsieur Thomas de Beauchamp Conte de Warwick Mareschal d' Angleterre qui trespassa le XXVIII jour d' Averil l'Ann MCCCLX The boldest Heart of all these Valiant Souldiers trembled at the apprehension of this Dreadfull Judgment But King Edward like a Good and Pious Prince look'd upon it as a loud Declaration of the Divine Pleasure Wherefore immediately alighting from his Horse he kneeled down on the ground and casting his Eyes toward the Church of our Lady of Chartres made a solemn Vow to Almighty God That he would now sincerely and absolutely incline his Mind to a final Peace with France if he might obtain good Conditions at which time also he made a Devout Confession of his sins and so took up his Lodging in a Village near Chartres called Bretigny where the French Commissioners being come the next day with more ample Instructions the King was content to accept of Peace The Treaty i Ashmole p. 660 was menaged between Edward Prince of Wales and Charles Regent of France their Proctors and Agents in the Name of both the Kings these two Princes and all the Subjects of either Realm Those who were deputed on the English Part were Sr. Reginald Cobham Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Frank van Hall Bannerets Sr. Miles Stapleton Sr. Richard la Vache Sr. Nele Loring Knights and others of the King of Englands Council Those other on the French side were the Elect of Beauvais Charles Lord Monmorency Monsieur John le Meingre Marshal of France Monsieur Ainart de la Tour Lord of Viviers Monsieur Ralph de Ravenal Monsieur Simon de Bucy Knights Monsieur Stephen de Paris and Peter de la Charite Counsellours with many Others deputed by the Dauphin At first namely on the Seventh of May a Truce was agreed on to continue till Michaelmas following and thence till Michaelmas ensuing which upon the Return of King Edward into England was by Writs bearing Date the 24 of the said Month commanded to be published throughout all the Sea-Ports in England and by a like Writ notice was given to the Duke of Lancaster to proclaim it thrô Gascoigne And the next Day viz. the 8 of May the Articles relating to a Final Peace were agreed to on Behalf of both the Kings This is that Famous Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres so much spoken of by Writers to which the Eldest Sons of England and France were Principal Parties commonly called the Treaty of RENVNTIATION of both Kings in regard that the King of France Renounced the Soveraignty of several Territories to King Edward and he on the other side Renounced his Title to France and some other Places As will more particularly appear from the Copy of the Treaty it self as it was compared with the Original kept at Paris by one that was Master of the Rolls there k Extant Gallice apud Da Ches l. 15. p. 684. Dr. Stillingfl M.S. ad hunt titalum copia Tractatus magnae Facis in Latino inter Reges Anghae Francix factâ apud Bretigny jurta Carnotum c. Eâtant câam Anglice in MS. Deticris Johan Spencer Coll. C.C. Cantab. Magistri Vid. Ret. de Tractatu Pacis Franciae ad an 34 Ed. 3. m. 10. X. EDWARD Eldest Son of the Noble King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester To all who shall see these present Letters Greeting WE give You to understand that of all the Debates and Discords whatsoever moved and commenced between our most Redoubted Lord and Father the King of England on the one Part and our Cousin the King and his Eldest Son Regent of the Realm of France on the other Part for the benefit of Peace it is ACCORDED on the Eight of May in the Year of of Grace One Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty at Bretigny near Chartres in Manner and Form following viz. 1. Imprimis That the King of England besides what he holdeth in Guienne and Gascoigne shall have for himself and his Heirs for ever all those things which follow to hold them in like Manner as the King of France or his Son or any of his Ancestors Kings of France did hold them that is to say what was held in Soveraignty to be held in Soveraignty and what in Demaine in Demain for the Times and in the Manner hereunder specified The City Castle and Earldom of Poictiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou likewise the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of
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
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 fineââ 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 dicâtur chiâsse 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
what Condition soever they be Privileges Immunities Franchises Liberties and Indulgences perpetual and temporal whatsoever to give and to grant And if of old given and granted together with the Customs and Usages provided they be not contrary to the Peace and Accord last made between Us and our most Dear Brother the King of France by our Authority to confirm when and as often as you shall be required so to do and any other things whatsoever to do and exercise which the True Prince of the said Provinces might or should do for the Welfare and Government of the Inhabitants thereof and for the Quiet of his Subjects All and singular which Premises We will have given alienated granted bestowed authorized restored revoked pardoned remitted conceded confirmed done acted and performed by You and your Deputies and from this time as heretofore they shall have a like perpetual Validity as if by Us they were done acted and performed as aforesaid And moreover and above and as there shall be need for their greater Validity from this time as heretofore We commend allow and approve and by the Tenor of these Presents confirm them Datum sub Magni Sigilli Nostri Testimonio in Palatio nostro Westmonasterii die 19 Mensis Julii Anno Domini Millesimo Tercentesimo Sexagesimo Secundo Regni Nostri Tricesimo Sexto Now to take away all Doubts and Contentions which may arise hereafter about this Matter and to the end that the Affair may be more clear over and above and again We reserve to our Selves and to our Majesty Royal expresly and by Tenor of these Presents the Direct Supremacy and all the Sovereignty and Resort of the whole Principality of Aquitain and Gascogne and of all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places and of all Prelates Earls Vicounts Barons Nobles and other Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Provinces which We have given to our said Eldest Son and conveyed unto his Person by the Tenor of our Letters hereabove incorporated And We will and declare that the Immediate Supremacy the whole Sovereignty and Resort abovemention'd be and remain for ever to Vs and to our said Majesty to use the said Resorts in time and place as We shall think fit which We will not nor intend to leave nor convey to our said Son by the Title of a Principality nor by any other thing whatsoever comprised in our said Letters And for an evident Token and clear Demonstration that our said Son shall hold and ought to hold under Vs of our said Majesty and by Liege Homage the which he hath made unto Vs at present all the said Things and every of them He shall be obliged to pay unto Vs every Year at our Palace of Westminster on the Feast of Easter one Ounce of Gold whereof he hath already given Vs Possession and Seisin as in token and Recognition of our Supream Dominion The which thing by the Name of Revenue and annual Tribute We impose on and really and de facto ordain of certain Knowledge and of our Authority and full Power and will that he pay it at the Place and Time above said reserving unto our Selves express and especial Power to diminish or enlarge the said Imposition and annual Tribute or appoint it to be paid unto Vs in other things at other times and elsewhere as it shall seem good unto Vs to do for the time to come in gracious Consideration and Regard had to the Estate of our said Son and to the Charges which are convenient of necessity to maintain and support him in the Government of the foresaid Countries Donne per Tesmoignance de nostre Grant Seal a nostre Palays de Westmonster le XIX jour de Juyl lan de Grace Mill. Triscentes Sexante and Deux de nostre Regne Trente Sisme III. When the Prince of Wales had made his Homage to the King his Father for this Principality of Aquitaine and had received these Letters Charters the King order'd him to prepare his Family according to the Dignity that he now held and then to pass the Seas in the Name of God and enter upon his Government For he saw well that his Son was of great Conduct Prudence and Courage and in the full Vigour of his Youth capable for any Government whatsoever He intended also hereby to render him the better instructed and as it were Tutor'd with Experience against the time that by his Decease he should succeed to the Crown of England and he well understood that by the Acquisition of so great a Principality he would be able and Rich enough to keep as Royal a Court as any King should do for at this time not to mention the Earldom of Kent and the other vast Lands and Possessions which he had with his Princess He was Prince of Aquitaine and Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester The Young Prince readily obey'd his Fathers Pleasure and busied himself the remainder of this Year about preparing for the Departure of himself and his Lady the Princess with all their Family After Christmas the King and Queen and all the rest of their Children Sons and Daughters went to Barkhamsteed near London a Mannor of the said Princes to visit and take their last leave of him And there they were altogether for several days during which space there were many serious Debates between the King and the Prince and also many Notable and Royal Diversions and Entertainments Froisard the French Historian i Frois l. ult fol. penalt c. 299 was then present in the Prince's Court and he says that at that time he heard an Ancient Knight named Sr. Bartholomew Bruels in discourse among the Ladies say how he had seen a certain Book written by way of Prophesie called le Brusc in English the Broom alluding no doubt to the Sirname of the Kings of England Plantagenet which Henry the Second obtain'd from the Flower of the Broom named in Latine Planta Genistae This Book said He expresly declares that neither the Prince of Wales Eldest Son to King Edward nor the Lord Lionel Earl of Vlster nor the Lord Thomas of Woodstock should ever come to the Crown nor none of King Edwards Sons should ever come to the Crown But that the Realm of England should within a while devolve to the House of Lancaster Whatever this Book was or by whatever Art written in this it failed not For the Black-Prince dying before his Father and Prince Lionel also Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster usurped the Crown from Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir to the said Black-Prince and King of England at that time in whose House the Dignity Royal Remain'd to the Third Generation when the Yorkists wrested the Scepter into their own Hands and held it till the Uniting of both Houses But to return All things being now ready the Prince of Wales k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 233. Walsing hist p.
not to be left in silence Now on the 13 of November which was the Birth-Day of this Great Monarch at which time he had exactly finished 49 Years of his Age and was come to the Entrance of the Fiftieth King Edward as he was a Man of more exalted Thoughts than any other in his Days resolved to keep a Jubilee of his Age in the most remarkable and solemn Manner imaginable at least to the greatest Satisfaction of those under his Government Of Jubilees in general and of their Original we u Vid. L. 2. c. 10 §. 1. p. 449. have already spoken wherefore we shall repeat nothing of that in this Place but immediately dispatch our present Narration Only we shall observe this that King Edward had this extraordinary Privilege to see two Jubilees besides that of Pope Clement the Sixth this First being upon the Account of his having arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age and the other of which we shall speak in its Place because he had then Reigned as many Years But now we are entertain'd with this under our Hands On the 13 of November which was the First Day of our King Edwards Life and the Last of this Parliament when the Petitions of the Commons were answer'd and they with loyal and well-affected Minds had unanimously x Walsingh hist p. 172. n. 30. granted unto the King for three Years 26 s. 8 d. of every Sack of Wooll besides a Subsidy of Woolls Fells and Skins y M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridg. p. 92 c. then by the Kings Command rose up the Lord Chancellour Sr. Henry Green aforesaid and declared that the King being arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age intended to shew several Acts of Grace and Mercy unto his People and first that he design'd to advance unto Honour such of his Sons as were of full Age namely that his Son Lionel then being in Ireland should have the Title of Duke of Clarence to Him and to the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully to be begotten in Right of his Wife z Vid. Mills Catal Hon. p. 334. Elisabeth Daughter of William Earl of Vlster Son of John de Burgo by Elisabeth de Clare Sole Daughter and Heiress of Gilbert Rufus Earl of Clare the Name of Clare being changed into Clarence And hereupon a Id. Mills Catal Hon. p. 336. an Addition of the Arms belonging unto the House of Clarence was elegantly inserted into the Label of this Dukes Coat viz. Argent with the Fourth Part of a Scutcheon Gules The Lord Chancellor further declared that his Son John should be Duke of Lancaster in Right of his Wife for her Eldest Sister Daughter to the late Duke was now dead in England as we intimated before and lastly that his Son Edmund should be Earl of Cambridge in Fee. After which in b M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 94. full Parliament the King Girt his Son John of Gaunt with a Sword and set on his Head a Cap of Furr and a Circlet of Gold with Pearls thereon and created him Duke of Lancaster c Mills Catal. Honor. p. 326. with all the Liberties and Regalities of an Earl Palatine in the County of Chester as also Earl of Leicester Lincoln and Darby with the Office of High-Steward of England in the Right of his Wife Blanch whereof he gave him his Charter This done he d M.S. Rot Par. p. 90. Sâ Rob. Cotton p. 94. Girt his Son Edmund with a Sword and Created him Earl of Cambridge whereof he gave him a Charter So that the incomparably Diligent Antiquary and Herald Sr. William Dugdale himself appears here to have slipt a little when he says e Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 54. that Prince Edmund thô he was then in Ireland at this time was created Earl of Cambridge The Mistake I suppose happen'd from the Words foregoing which take Notice that Prince Lionel was then in Ireland At the same f Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 385. Speed p. 584. Walsing Hist p. 172. Favine le Paris Theatre of Hen. l. 5. c. 1. p. 60. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 232. time the King granted his General and Special Pardon to all without Fine or paying of Fees for the Seal set all Debtors and Prisoners at Liberty and recalled those that were Banished and for the better ease of his People in their Law-Sutes and also perhaps lest England should any longer bear those Marks of Slavery he ordained that hereafter all Pleas should be used in English and that all Law-Cases Pleadings Sentences Decrees Judgments and Contracts should be written and enrolled in the English or Latine Tongue the French being wholly laid aside But whether by length of Time the Custom had been too strongly radicated to be so suddenly broke off or whether by the Wit and Subtlety of the Lawyers this Law was not long after in part eluded For thô to this Day our Pleadings are in English yet our Law-Cases remain in French or rather as Polydore in the Norman Language which Custom was first introduced by William the Conquerour Only it is here to be observed that althô the Printed Statuto touching Pleading in the English Tongue Chap. 15. doth agree with the Record yer where the Print says that all such Pleas should be enrolled in Latine the Record doth nothing warrant the same Besides this King Edward now confirmed Magna Charta which in his whole Reign he is said to have done no less than 12 several times Nor shall I omit that althô of our Kings since his Days few have lived so long none have reigned so long wherefore they had no Opportunity to imitate King Edward in these things yet g Polyd. Virgil. idid Speed c. from Occasion of this Jubilee of his they have since used that Famous Custom on Maundy-Thursday being the Day before Good-Friday to bestow their Alms more largely than usually and in Imitation of our Saviours Humility to Wash Feed and Clothe as many poor People as they themselves are Years Old. V. The Parliament being ended the King rode forth with all the Chief Dukes Earls Barons and Lords of the Realm together with the French Hostages in his Company to several great Forests h Knighten p. 2627. n. 20. as Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and Clunne Forest in Shropshire and many other Woods Parks and Forests where he hunted all sorts of Noble Game in Season and all the while he expended extraordinary an 100 Pounds one Day and an 100 Marks the other and so on while the Sport continued which was both long and very divertising About this time the i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Noble Lord Walter Fauconberg a Valiant and Hardy Baron of this Realm departed this Life leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then seventeen Years of Age. And thô with all my Diligence I cannot find the manner or
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâquault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ Play ãâã the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
Opportunity of King Johns Sickness he sent his Letters to the Lord John Greilly Captal of Buche his Cousin who was at that time with the Earl of Foix desiring him to come unto him in Normandy for that he design'd to make him Generalissimo of all his Forces Whereupon the Captal presently set forward toward Normandy and gather'd up as he went along several Knights and Esquires English Gascogners and others who were willing to partake with so Renowned a Captain in his Adventures But they were not over many This mean while on the VI q Labbei Chron. Techn ad hanc annam of the Ides alià s on the 8 Day of April King John of France departed this Life at the Savoy in London whereat King Edward and the Queen and their Children were exceeding sorry because of the great Love and Friendship that was between them ever since the Peace of Bretigny One says r Knighton p. 2627. n. 60. that upon his Death-bed having one time sent for King Edward he began very earnestly to beg his Pardon confessing unto him That from his first Coming into England he had Confederates in London and other Places who secretly collected the Finest Gold of the Kingdom and made it into Plates and put it up in Barrels hooped with Iron to send into France and how they had bought up to the Number of 1000 Bows and Arrows and a great Quantity of other Arms to the same Purpose All which he now confessed to the King and in whose Hands the said Things now were and also that he had illegally and unjustly withheld from him the Crown of France untill the Peace made at Bretigny For all which he now most heartily beg'd his Pardon And King Edward forgave him with much Tenderness but caused all the Gold and Arms asoresaid to be seised on and severely punished those English Men whom he found offending in the Premises among whom were Å¿ Walsingh Hyp. p. 128. n. 40. many Lombard Merchants who being discovered by some of their Fellows were clapt up in the Tower till they had compounded as the King pleased VI. Immediately upon King Johns Death t Frois ãâã 219. f. 115 a. the Duke of Orleans his Brother and the Duke of Berry his Son who were still in England among the Hostages and wonderfully dejected at his Departure wrote Word thereof to the Duke of Normandy whereat he was extreamly troubled But knowing that there was now no Remedy and that Himself was the next Heir to the Crown of France and that the King of Navarre was preparing to give him a Baffle at his first setting forth he thought it high time to rouse and put on the Spirit of a King and endeavour to establish his Affairs on all hands At that time there flourished a gallant Captain in Bretagne a Valiant and Hardy Knight named Sr. Bertram de Clequin of whose Name and Original it wâll not be amiss for us to enquire a little thô only for the great Renown he afterwards arrived to and the many Noble Deeds of Arms which he performed as we shall see in the Process of this History About the Year of our Lord 800 u Frois l. ult c. 90. f. 103. Charlemain being then King of France there reigned in Bougie in Barbary a King called Aquin in whose time the said Charlemain was taken up in his Spanish Wars which lasted him in all for about Nine Years For the Kingdom of Spain is a large and great Country whose Beginning was reckon'd heretofore at St. Jean Pied de Port and so it went along including the Realms of Biscay Navarre Aragon and Portugal of Conimbria and Lisbon of Sevile Toledo Corduba Castille and Leon up as far as the Streights of Gibralter where is the shortest Passage into Barbary In this Country was that Great French Monarch when the foresaid Aquin an African King whose Dominions lay directly over Spain undertook to divert him from pursuing his Victories among the Saracens and went into Bretagne and landed at the Port of Vannes with a Mighty Army his Wife and Children being also in his Company On the Sea side hard by Vannes he built a great and strong Tower called by him Glay which in the Phoenician Tongue signifies a Castle and there he made his chief Residence but daily he sent forth his Captains and conquer'd about in Bretagne at his pleasure Charlemain heard in Spain how King Aquin proceeded without Opposition however he would not return back to make Head against him but said Let him alone in Bretagne for a while we shall easily rid the Country of him when once we have throughly established the Christian Faith in these Parts Accordingly when he had finished his Affairs there he returned into Bretagne and there one Day gave Battle to King Aquin and overthrew him with a mighty Slaughter so that he fled to his Castle of Glay where he found a good Ship ready for him at the Foot of the Tower into which he enter'd with his Wife and Children and a few of his Servants and escaped away But in such a Hurry that he forgot a young Son of his scarce a Year old who then lay asleep in the Tower. This Child was found and brought to Charlemain who received him gladly and caused him to be baptized Rowland and Oliver two Heroick Princes of those Days being his Godfathers who named him Oliver and the King gave unto him all the Lands that his Father Aquin had conquer'd in those Parts The same in process of Time became a most Valiant Knight and was called Sr. Oliver de Glay Aquin because he was found in the Tower of Glay and was Son to King Aquin. This Original whether true or false was afterwards assigned to Sr. Bertram de Clequin when he came to the height of his Honour but at this time he was not greatly taken Notice of except among the Knights of Bretagne that were of his Retinue with all whom he was highly esteemed and well beloved still making War in the Behalf of the Lord Charles of Blois by whom he was recommended to the Duke of Normandy and he had a little before employed him in those Parts VII Now when the x Frois c. 219. f. 115. Duke of Normandy heard of his Fathers Death and of the Preparations of the King of Navarre against France he said to his Marshal the Lord Bouciquault I would have you forthwith ride with your Troops into Normandy where you shall find a Valiant Knight a True and Loyal Frenchman called Sr. Bertram of Clequin and look that you and he together make up a sufficient Power of Good Souldiers to resist the King of Navarre and to guard the Passages of the River Seyne And therewithall he gave him some secret Orders how to proceed Sr. Bouciquault promised to do his Devoir and soon after went with a competent Number of Knights and Esquires and took his way toward Normandy by St. Germain having declared to his Men tho
not Wherefore now the King sent the Duke of Burgundy with a 1000 Spears more to reinforce the Siege so that now they made up in all 3000 Men of Arms besides Others These held frequent Skirmishes with the Besieged wherein both Parties suffer'd considerably but especially those of the Garrison who were not in all a Thousand Men. And the Duke of Burgundy to encourage his Men the more at one Sally of the Navarrois made many Knights Bannerets who at that time raised their Banners as Robert of Alenson Son to Charles Earl of Alenson who being King Philips Brother was slain at the Battle of Cressy about 18 Years before the same Honour had Sr. Lewis of Auxerre Son to the Earl of Auxerre who died at the same time and younger Brother to the present Earl. Thus the Siege continued to the great Terror of that Garrison who were so mightily streightned therewith that they would willingly have yielded up the Fortress upon Composition but that the Duke refused them so much Grace I 'll have them yield up absolutely to my Pleasure says he I have already taken away from them the use of the River so that they must expect no more Provision that way Let them stand out longer at their utmost peril XIX Now Prince Lewis of Navarre knew of all these Difficulties his Friends were in and having ravaged a while at his Pleasure in the Marches of Auvergne he ardently desired to raise the Siege before la Charité He had already 2000 Fighting Men but not thinking them sufficient to cope with the Duke he sent into Bretagne to Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and other Valiant Knights and Esquires of England then in those Parts to come and serve him in this Action These Knights would all very willingly have come to his Aid but they were already engaged in the Siege before Auray a Town of Lesser Bretagne about 3 Leagues from Vannes Westward towards Blavet For now the two Pretenders to the Dutchy of Bretagne having rejected all terms and Methods of Reconciliation flew out into open Hostility the Lord Charles of Blois making his Musters at Nantes and the Lord John of Monford laying Siege at the same time to Auray So that when the Lord Lewis of Navarre saw that he could not obtain the Service of those English Knights who now assisted the Earl of Monford in the said Siege he returned by Command of the King his Brother to Cherburgh leaving la Charité to her Fortune But however this Garrison had the good Luck to escape by the same Occasion which had hindred their Relief For immediately after Prince Lewis was retired into Normandy because Sr. Charles of Blois might be more powerfully aided the King of France sent to the Duke of Burgundy commanding him to receive the Garrison of la Charité their Lives saved on condition they would swear not to bear Arms on the King of Navarre's Behalf for three Years to come Thus the Garrison had their Lives saved but were fain to leave all their Goods behind and so being secur'd by the Dukes Safe Conduct went away on foot thrô the Realm of France And then the old Inhabitants whom they had before frighted away to the City of Nivers came back again to their former Habitations and the Duke returned with Honour to Paris CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King assists Charles of Blois and King Edward at the same time sends Help to John of Monford both who prepare to decide their Right to the Dukedom of Bretagne by Battail II. Charles of Blois marches forth of Nantes against John of Monford III. Who prepares to receive him IV. The Frenchmen order their Men. V. And the Lord John Chandos orders his English giving a Reserve to be menaged by Sr. Hugh Calverley VI. The Lord of Beaumanoire obtains a Truce between the Parties for one Day in order to bring them to some Agreement VII The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty and both Sides prepare for Fight VIII The famous Battle of Auray fought between Charles of Blois and John of Monford wherein the latter wins the Day and the Dukedom by the Death of the former IX The Number of the slain and Prisoners on both Sides X. Earl Monford weeps over the Body of Charles of Blois with the Character and Praise of the said Charles XI Earl Monford gives Truce to the Country to come in and bury their Dead he returns to the Siege before Auray the Kings of France and of England diversly affected with the News XII A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis Earl of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge King Edwards Fifth Son being pretty forward is suddainly dash'd by the French Kings subtlety XIII The Christians obtain a Cadmean Victory against the Turks and Infidels I. KING a Frois c. 224. f. 120. b. c. Charles of France at the Request of his Cousin the Lord Charles of Blois had yielded to lend him towards the Conquest of his Inheritance a Thousand Spears and besides that he wrote to Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was then in Normandy enjoyning him by all means on sight of his Letters to go as strong as he could into Bretagne to the Aid of his Cousin Charles of Blois against his Antagonist Sr. John of Monford Sr. Bertram having received the Letters was glad at his heart to be thus commanded to what he so earnestly desired himself for he always took the Lord Charles to be his only Lawfull Lord and true Duke of Bretagne Wherefore as speedily as he could he went out of Normandy into Bretagne with his own Retinue only and such Troops as he could raise of himself the Marshal Bouciquault prosecuting the War in Normandy in his stead He found the Lord Charles of Blois and his good Lady at the City of Nantes in Bretagne to whom he was extream Welcome for this his seasonable and eminent Succour Then they held a Council of War what Course they had best take for there was the greater part of all the Lords and Knights of Bretagne come thither to the Lord Charles his Assistance whom they all reputed and held for the True Duke of Bretagne And they were all of Opinion that 't was best to go and raise the Siege of Auray and fight Earl Monford if he would abide it Thither also were come many Great Barons of France as the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Joigny the Lord of Franville the Lord of Prye the Beague of Villers and many other Lords Knights and Esquires But of these Preparations there were brought Tidings to the Earl of Monford who together with the Lord b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. Walsing hâst p. 174. William Latimer of England lay now at the Siege before Auray and how the Lord Charles had purchased many Powerfull Assistants out of the Realm of France besides the great Forces he had gather'd up in Bretagne Wherefore immediately
to Calais where they took the Sea all together and Landed at Dover where at that time the King was with certain of his Council ready to receive them and to Treat further with the Earl of Flanders about the Consummation of the foresaid Affair This was the occasion of the Kings being there at that time when the foremention'd Pursuivant came and brought him the News of the Victory near Auray Whereat the King was wonderfully pleased and all the Court the Earl of Flanders being no less glad than any of them because of the Advancement of his Cousin German the Earl of Monford which must needs happen thereby Thus King Edward tarried with the Earl of Flanders at Dover for the space of Three Days which were spent in Royal Feastings and Princely Recreations And then Matters concerning which they met being adjusted He took his solemn leave of the King and sailed back for Flanders being attended to Bruges by the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother But yet this Intended Match was soon after d Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. broke off by the French Kings envious Policy he craftily hindring the Pope from granting a Dispensation and then he never left Courting the Earl of Flanders till he had given his Daughter in Marriage to that Kings Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Notwithstanding which it appears e Rot. Franc. 39. Ed. 3. m 9. Vid. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. that the Year following Sr. Nicolas Tamworth Knight and John Wyn Esquire were sent by King Edward to all the Nobles and other his Friends beyond the Seas to sollicit their Help for expelling those Strangers who had invaded the Lands of Burgundy Nivers and Reth of Right belonging to the Countess of Flanders and her Son which were to return unto Edmund Earl of Cambridge and to the Dutchess of Burgundy Daughter to the same Earl of Flanders in regard of that Matrimonial Contract made betwixt them as the Record doth manifest XIII This Year on the Feast of All-Saints f Walsingh hist p. 174 n. 20. there was fought a great Battle on the Plains of Turkey between the Christians and Pagans where the Christians after a long and doubtfull Fight obtain'd a Bloody and Cadmean Victory For on their side there fell the Great Master of the Hospital of Rhodes and one or two Kings and of the meaner sort to the Number of 5210 But of the Infidels there were slain more than 40000 of their Men of Arms besides an incredible Number of the Common Souldiers The Chief Captains of the Heathens were the Soldan of Babylon and the King of Turkey Kinstut or Keystut the King of Lithuania Janibech King of Tartary King Baldoc and King Belmarine three whereof were slain in the Field and the King of Lithuania's Son g Dugd. 1 Vol. Bar. p. 233. id in Warwickshire p. 317. a. was taken Prisoner by Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who afterwards brought him into England and made him a Christian calling him Thomas after his own Name as being at that time his Godfather But whereas Walsingham says that among other Christian Princes I King of Hungary was slain at this Fight there is a double mistake for it should be written L in stead of I that King's Name being Lewis and it is most certain that he lived many Years after h Vid. Odor Rainal Cântin Baron Tom. XVI Tom. XVII as will appear to any that shall enquire CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. John of Monford having taken Auray goes before Jugon which yields thence to Dinant which at last yields also then he invests Quimpercorentin II. The Prisoners taken in the Battle of Auray secur'd for fear of new stirs while Earl Monford takes in all Bretagne III. The French King perswaded to admit John of Monford for true Duke of Bretagne AN. DOM. 1365. An. Regni Angliae XXXIX sends unto him to try him He has King Edwards leave to hold the Dukedom of France and so Bretagne is settled in Peace and John Monford sirnamed the Valiant own'd Duke thereof IV. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre by Vertue whereof the Captal of Busche is acquitted his Prison the French King endeavours to win him but in vain V. The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII King Edwards Buildings and the Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity College VIII The Pope Demands the Annual Fee which King John of England engag'd to pay to the Apostolick Chamber and orders King Edward upon his refusal to be cited to answer the Contempt at the Court of Rome Which Matter the King refers to his Parliament IX The Lady Isabella Daughter to King Edward given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy X. The King punishes the Lord Chief Justice and others his Justices for Male-Administration of the Laws XI The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but is forced to leave it again XII Dr. Thoroton twice corrected XIII The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuania's Son his Prisoner whom he makes a Christian and stands his Godfather naming him Thomas after his own Name I. BEing now enter'd upon the Thirty Ninth Year of King Edwards Reign it will be necessary for the understanding of what follows to set down an account of Matters which happen'd in the close of the foregoing Year namely after the Battle of Auray And we shall find that the Earl of Monford upon that notable and entire Victory return'd a Frois c. 228. fol. 128. unto the Siege of that Fortress which he follow'd with greater application than ever before and made a Vow not to Rise thence till he had the Besieged at his Devotion And surely those within were much diminished in Courage thô not in Provision for they had lost in the late Battle their Captain Esquire Henry of Tintineac together with Fourty Men of Arms the very Flower of all their Garrison Wherefore since now they could not expect any further Succour they at last resolved to yield while they might hope to obtain tolerable Conditions and so they began to enter a Parly with the Earl to that purpose The Earl was not willing to lose much more time here and besides he knew not how other Places stood affected to him and he had a mind to try the Country while the Terrour of his Arms was fresh on which Considerations he received them to Mercy and gave them leave to depart with their Goods for they would not yet own his Authority or submit to his Government Having now placed in Auray a good Garrison of his own he rode on with his Army which encreased daily Men of Arms and Archers continually flocking to him Nay the very Bretons who before rejected his Yoke being now won by the Reputation of his Sword came in to him apace especially the Bretons Bretonant or those of Lower Bretagne First he marched
he would take Advice in the matter and return them his answer on such a day Till which time the Three Deputies went and lay at Rennes Then streight the Earl sent William Lord Latimer into England to certifie the King of the French Kings Proposals and to crave his opinion and direction in the Matter King Edward being rightly informed of the whole Affair said How he would advise the Earl of Monford to accept of a Peace on Condition he might ever after remain Duke of Bretagne and also thought good that he should shew himself inclinable to yield some Honourable Allowance to the Lady who called her self Dutchess Widow of the Lord Charles of Blois and that he should assign her some handsom Pension or yearly Revenue to be payable out of some certain place where it should best please her And he granted also that he might do to the King of France for that Dutchy as other Dukes his Predecessors have done heretofore This answer the Lord Latimer brought back again to the Earl who having read the King his Father-in-Law's Letters and understood his pleasure as to the Premises by advice of his whole Council sent presently for the French Commissioners to come before him at which time he gave them a very agreeable Answer But it was said to them expresly that the Earl of Monford would by no means lay down his Claim to the Dutchy of Bretagne but that he would remain Duke thereof and so be called while he lived Notwithstanding whereas the French King would have him peaceably to open his Cities Towns and Castles and to yield Faith and Homage unto Him and to do all other Rights and Services which the Dukes of Bretagne have done in times past all this the Earl is well content to do nay he shall gladly acknowledge the French King for his Natural Lord and render unto him his Homage and Service in presence of the Peers of France And further he makes Offer to give Friendly Aid Help and Comfort to his Cousin Relict of the Lord Charles deceased and moreover to use his Interest to deliver his Cousins her Sons out of Prison in England This Answer extreamly satisfied the French Lords and they took a certain day whereon these Matters were to be fully Ratified and Concluded at Guerande and with that the City of Quimpercorentin and all Bretagne was to be entirely his Accordingly the French Deputies sent away to the Duke of Anjou who was then at Angiers having from the King of France full Commission and Authority to conclude this Treaty or to lay it aside at his pleasure When the Duke of Anjou saw the Conditions he had a long Deliberation for thô he found the Earls Proposals extreamly reasonable considering the juncture of Affairs yet he remembred he had promis'd other things to the Dutchess his Mother-in-Law which notwithstanding he now saw to be exceeding difficult for him to perform But at last he was wholly overrul'd to accept and Ratifie the Treaty and the two Knights that were sent to him returned back to Rennes with his Answer engrossed and sealed Then the Messengers of the French King and the Deputies of Earl Monford went and met d Mezeray c. at Guerande where soon after the Peace was fully made and compleated on both Hands and Quimpercorentin was forthwith yielded up and all other Places that had hither to held out against the Earl of Monford and He remain'd thenceforth True Duke of Bretagne on this Condition that if he should leave no Children of his Body lawfully begotten then the Dukedom should return to the Children of the Lord Charles of Blois and also that the Lady Jane late Wife to the said Lord Charles deceased should be Countess of Pentebria or Pontheure which Lands were of the Yearly Value of 20000 Franks And also that Duke John should come into France whenever it should please the King to send for him and render unto him his Homage for the Dutchy of Bretagne For the surer Confirmation of all which there were sundry Charters and Instruments interchangeably Engrossed and Sealed on both Parts Thus did John Earl of Monford at length obtain the Dukedom he had so long contended for and henceforth remain'd Duke thereof without any contradiction till other Wars broke out again as We shall shew in due place When this Concord and Agreement was made between King Charles of France and the Duke of Bretagne the said King who was very Politick and desired greatly to win to his side as many brave Souldiers as he could restored unto the Gallant Young Lord Oliver Glisson what his Grandfather King Philip had taken from him when he so cruelly and unjustly put his Father to Death as we have e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 8. p. 299 shew'd in the XVIII Year of King Edward's Reign After which time this brave Lord Clisson did by his Vertuous behaviour so win upon King Charles by degrees that at last nothing of moment could be done in France without him and he might e'n do whatever he pleased Which liberty however he used to no Mans hurt but only he utterly forgot his old Friends the English and ever after prov'd a true Frenchman And thus at last was the Fertile Country of Bretagne allowed a most pleasing Respit after those long and Cruel Wars which had almost emptied her Veins of the best Blood in France All the Natives were extream glad at this happy Change and received their New Lord with an universal Respect and unfeigned Joy he taking Faith and Homage of all the Cities Towns and Castles and of all the Prelates Barons Knights and Gentlemen of the whole Country Shortly after his Dear Lady Mary of England Fourth Daughter of King Edward was honourably convey'd over the Seas into Bretagne and there again the Marriage Rites were solemnly renewed with Feastings and Publick Rejoycing in the City of Nantes and in process of Time f Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 179. he had Issue by this Lady John Duke of Bretagne called the Sage Father of Peter and Francis both Dukes of Bretagne who died without issue Richard Earl of Estampes and Arthur Duke of Bretagne also the Third of that Name And thus We shall leave this Valiant Duke in the full Enjoyment of his Good Fortune till the Wars between France and England being renewed shall give us an Occasion to bring him upon the Stage again IV. Nor was there only a full Peace established thus in Bretagne but about the same time also Queen Jane Aunt to the King of Navarre and Queen Blanch his Sister endeavoured so earnestly that there was at last a Peace struck up between the French King and the King of Navarre chiefly by the prudent and dextrous Menagement of that renowned Lord the Captal of Busche who shew'd himself so diligent in Composing of Differences between these two Princes that in Consideration thereof King Charles wholly discharged him of all Obligations which lay upon him as to
Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Skipworth another of his Justices to be arrested and imprison'd on the account of many notorious Enormities which he understood they had committed against Law and Justice Nor could they redeem themselves from Prison without refunding to the King many large Sums of Money which by Injustice they had got from others But for ever after they were secluded both their Places and his Favour XI We have frequently heretofore mention'd the great Diligence which Peter King of Cyprus us'd in travelling to most Courts in Europe in Order to raise a Power sufficient to stem the furious Tide of Pagan Insolence which threatned a Bloody Inundation to all Christendom Now therefore being pretty well furnish'd with Valiant Souldiers of several Nations after that by the Pope's means he had made a Peace with Genoa which had some resentments against him u Philippus è Mazeriis c. 15. c. in Vità Becti Petri Thomx âpud Bâllând Tân 2. XXIX Januar. he went from Venice to Rhodes where he was Magnificently received by the Master of the Hospital and whither he had sent before many Ships laden with Armed Men and about 500 good Horses for the War. He had some Months before wrote to his own Brother the Prince of Antioch his Lieutenant in the Kingdom of Cyprus that having left a sufficient strength at home he would by such a time send an Army of his Realm of Cyprus to meet him at Rhodes which was done For the King had been but a little while in that Island when an Army of Cyprus came thither namely sixty sail one with another laden with Men of Arms Arrows Crossbows and other Weapons in good quantity to which the Master of the Hospital added an hundred chosen Knights of his Order and commanded his Gallies to be fitted up And all the while St. Peter Thomas Patriarch of Constantinople the Pope's Legate who had an extraordinary Zeal for the Work encouraged the King and his Souldiers and blessed them and pray'd and preach'd and signed them with the Cross and heard Confessions and absolved and reconciled Sinners one while labouring in the Kings Council another while among the Mariners and poor People now among the Lords and Knights and the Master of Rhodes and now again with the Common Souldiers in great humility Now he visited the sick and presently he fell to pacifying of Rumors sometimes he conversed with the English sometimes with the Cypriotes Venetians French Spaniards and Germans but always he exhorted to Unity and Charity to Faith and Courage and to the War of God And every Christian Soul in this small Army was by this Holy Legate a few days before they left Rhodes admitted to the Sacrament of Gods Body and strengthned with Divine Power by feeding on their Redeemer whose Cross they were going to advance At the time of their Departure from Rhodes the King in secret Council proposed to invade the Soldan of Babylon who usurped the Holy City of Jerusalem and his Inheritance not in the Tail but in the Head and to Steer his Course towards Alexandria and so taking leave of the Grand Master he went on board his Galley with a Fleet consisting of more than an 100 Vessels of all sorts above 10000 good Souldiers and about 1400 Nobles and Men of Arms with their Horses besides Mariners Being come to the Haven of Alexandria after about an hours resistance made by the Saracens they gain'd Land and soon after put all their Enemies to flight and made them retire into the City in great Confusion and shut their Gates But their Hearts were so lost that upon the Christians approach to the Walls and setting fire to their Gates they fled away towards Grand Cairo or New-Babylon Wherefore the City of Alexandria was taken by the Christians on the Fourth of October 1365 about Nine of the Clock in the Morning and all the Pagans found therein put to the Sword. But many of these Christians being now satiated with spoil began forthwith to cool in their Devotion and so were for leaving the City now it was rifled nor could the King of Cyprus nor the Zealous Legate with all their Endeavours prevail with them to the Contrary wherefore upon News of the Soldan's Arrival with the Prince of Assyria and a Mighty Army who were coming to relieve the City on the Fourth or Fifth day after he had won it he was forced to leave it to his great Grief The occasion of which dishonourable Departure is by the Legate in his x Eâtant apud Odor Rainal ad hânc an § 20 Letters attributed to the English and to their Leader and by y Petrarch l. 8. Senil Fp. 8. l. 13. âp 2. Petrarch to the Transalpine Auxiliaries in General who he says being always better at Enterprising than at Compleating forsook the King in the midst of a most Glorious Work and because they follow'd him not for Devotion but for Gain when they had laden themselves with spoils went away and being rendred Masters of their Greedy desire made him fail of his Godly Design The Prosecution of this Matter may be seen at large in the foremention'd Philip è Mazeriis who was himself present in this Expedition and also in z Odor Rainal ad ãâã §. 18. ad §. 22. Vid. Pan ãâã 1. V 3. Odoricus Rainaldus We shall only add that the Englishmen and Gascogners who had been at the taking of Alexandria upon a Walsing ââst p. 174. n 30. Speed p. 584. §. 129. their return into England and Aquitaine brought many rich pieces of Cloth of Gold Velvets and Precious Stones as witnesses of their Success in those parts XII It is said by some b Therton's Nottinghamshire p. 116. that John Lord Roos after this Expedition died at Paphos in the Island of Cyprus leaving no Issue behind him by his Wife the Lady Mary de Orrebe So that his Brother William succeeded in his Honours Thô to say the Truth this Lord John was not Born till this Year For Sr. William Dugdale shews c Dugd. 1 Vol. Baren p. 551. that his Death happen'd about 28 Years after this viz. in the Seventeenth of Richard the Second at which time he was but d For 18 years old Ano. 7. Rich. 2. id Dugd. ibid. p. 550. ex Esc 7. R. 2. n. 68. 28 Years of Age. Notwithstanding I grant that about this time as e Thoroton Nottingh p. 455. Thoroton says there died the Lord Thomas Furnival Sirnamed the Hasty leaving no Issue behind him whereupon he was succeeded by his Brother William Lord Furnival Who about 17 Years after died also leaving behind only One Daughter Joan. Her Sr. Thomas Nevile Brother to Ralph Earl of Westmorland and Treasurer of England taking to Wife became in her Right Lord Furnival But here again I am fain to correct Thorton's many mistakes by comparing him f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 727. with a more accurate and
Navarre and James King of Majorica and that they gave Rich Gifts unto the Babe But this is only a far-fetch'd Allusion to the History commemorated by the Day and so I shall leave it However the Name of Richard was given to the Princely Infant and He was called after the manner of that Age Richard of Bourdeaux his Sirname being taken from the Place of his Birth and after the Death of his Father and Grandfather he became King of England the Second of that Name On the very Day of this Princes Birth as Froisard the Historian sat at Dinner in Bourdeaux g Frois l. ult c. ult f. 391. he says how Sr. Richard Pontchardon a Valiant Knight of England and one who was very well skill'd in Astrological Science came to him within two Hours after the Child was born and said Froisard write down and put in Memory that this Morning my Lady the Princess is brought to Bed of a Fair Son this Twelfth-Day which is the Dââ of the Three Kings and thô he is but Second Son to a Kings Son yet he shall be King. Which Saying of his fell out exactly for the Lord Edward his Elder Brother dying at the Age of Seven Years and his Father the Black-Prince following before the King his Father this Richard succeeded his Grandfather King Edward to the Crown and wore it about two and twenty Years II. On the Sunday h Froisâc 233. fol. 133. Vid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. 233. c. following being the Tenth of January after the Hour of Prime Prince Edward left the City of Bourdeaux with a Royal Equipage thô the greater part of his Army was passed onward before and lay about the City of Dax in Gascogne to which place the Prince also came in the close of that Sunday Here he tarried three days because he had sure Intelligence how his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was hasting after him having passed the Sea five days before The said Duke took land with all his Troops at a Port in Bretagne from whence he rode to Nantes where his Brother-in-law the Duke of Bretagne received him with great demonstrations of Joy Love and Respect as also did his Sister the Dutchess From Nantes having passed the Loire he marched thrô Poictou and Sainctogne till he came to Blaye where he also passed the Garonne and so went to Bourdeaux He gave order for his Men to march forward after his Brother the Prince but he himself rode straight to the Abby of St. Andrew where the Princess at that time lay in and having given her a short and kind Visit he took leave of his Sister the Princess and so rode on with his Servants and presently overtook his Men and rode along with them till he came to Dax where he found the Prince his Brother The two Royal Brethren were extreamly satisfied at this their happy Meeting for they loved together entirely and then the Meeting of Friends is most agreeable when they are both ready to partake of Honourable Dangers in like manner their Captains and Officers caressed and made much of one another as also their Men as many as could meet together Soon after the Duke of Lancaster's Coming there came also Gaston Phaebus the Earl of Foix to pay his Respects and to offer his Service to the Prince his Lord and to his Brother the Duke and the Prince who was no Novice in returning Salutations shew'd him much Honour and gave him many Thanks for his Readiness to serve him However because of his known Valour and Conduct as also because he was generally belov'd over all the Country the Prince gave him in charge to stay at Home and upon occasion help to defend the Land in his Absence desiring him to reside in Aquitain till his Return together with his High Seneschal the Lord James Audley This Charge the Earl very readily undertook and so after Thanks for the honour of that Trust took his Leave and rode to Bourdeaux where the Princess and the Lord Audley were But the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster his Brother tarried still in the City of Dax diverting themselves a while and all their Men spread abroad in the Country about the Entry of the Passages that lead into Navarre for as yet it was not known whether they could be permitted to pass that way or no Althô the King of Navarre had solemnly engaged to have the Avenues ready open for them For there ran a Report thrô the Army how since that he was reconciled to the Bastard Henry whereat the Prince and his Council wondred greatly and King Don Pedro was extreamly displeased And thô there was no such Matter yet this Rumor gain'd so much Credit that Sr. Hugh Calverley with his Troops went up to the Marches of Navarre and took the Town of la Puente de Reyna or Queens-Bridge and the City of Miranda in that Kings Dominions which terrified all the Country and the News thereof flew presently to the King of Navarre When he perceived hereby that the Companions would enter his Land by Force he was infinitely displeased and complain'd thereof by his Letters to the Prince but the Prince seem'd to take no notice of the Matter because as he thought the King of Navarre kept not punctually the Promise made to Him and King Don Pedro. Whereupon instead of answering to his Complaints he wrote to him that he must first clear himself of what was laid to his Charge for it was generally discoursed that he had revolted to King Henry and it but too plainly appear'd that he had not left his Country open as he had promised At this Charge of Treason the King of Navarre was more vexed than before whereupon he sent a Lord named Sr. Martin Carre unto the Prince who being come to Dax behaved himself so discreetly in excusing the King his Master that the Prince forgat all his Displeasure on Condition that he the said Knight should return to the King of Navarre and oblige him to come to St. Jean Piè de Port whither the Prince should send some of his Council to confer with Him or else to send Messengers with sufficient Powers to the Prince at Dax So Sr. Martin Carre took leave of the Prince and returned to the King of Navarre to whom he recounted all that had passed between the Prince and him and so perswaded him for the further Vindication of Himself to go to St. Jean Piè de Port which having brought to pass he himself rode forward to Dax to inform the Prince thereof When the Prince knew that the King of Navarre was at St. Jean Piè de Port he sent his Brother the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord John Chandos with a small Company of Knights who all rode together with Sr. Martin Carre to discourse the King at the said Town The King of Navarre made them very welcome and there after some Consultation it was agreed that he should
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
deliver them to whom they ought to be deliver'd And of this there should be made Obligations and Bonds as sure and perfect as can be devised as well by the Bishop of Rome and the College of Cardinals as by others There was also another Article in the same Treaty which ran thus Item In token and perfect Assurance that We desire and intend to have and to nourish perpetual Peace and Love between Us and our Brother of France We shall renounce and by these Presents do renounce all Graces and other Process of Deed against our said Brother his Heirs and Successors of the Realm of France and Subjects thereof and do promise swear and have sworn on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for Us and for our Heirs and Successors not to do nor suffer to be done either by Word or Deed any thing against this Renuntiation or against any thing contained in the foresaid Articles And if We do or suffer to be done the Contrary any manner of way which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and forsworn and incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We positively Renounce all Dispensations and Absolutions of the Pope and if any be obtained We will that they stand for nought be of no force nor avail Us in any manner of case And the more firmly to uphold the said Articles We herein submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Correction of the Church of Rome and Will and Consent that the Bishop of Rome confirm all the said Treaty and ordain Monitions and General Commands against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Universities Colleges or any other Bodies Politick or single Persons whatsoever they be in giving Sentence General of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to run upon Us or any of them as soon as We or They shall do or attempt any thing against the said Treaty in occupying or withholding any Towns Castles or Fortresses or any other thing doing Ratifying or giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or apertly against any of the said Articles And further We have caused our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales to swear unto the same and also our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Ulster John Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley together with our Right Dear Cousin Philip of Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and of Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Captal of Busche the Lord of Monferrant Walter Manny James Audley Roger Beauchamp John Chandos Ralph Ferrers Edward Spencer Thomas Felton William Felton Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John Mowbray Bartholomew Burwash Henry Piercy and divers others and also as soon as We can conveniently We shall cause to swear all our other Children and the Major part of the great Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles of our Realm of England In Witness whereof We have put our Seal to these Presents Given at our Town of Calais the 24 day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX Among many other Writings that had been made as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais when King John was there this said Chapter being one was chiefly now insisted on and was well read and examin'd by King Charles in presence of his Council and after they had spent their Thoughts thereon then the Prelates and Barons of France said unto him Sir it is most evident that the King of England and his Son the Prince have not duly kept the said Peace but have taken Towns and Castles and do still hold them to the infinite Dammage of this your Realm and they Ransom and Pillage your People because the Money for the King your Fathers Redemption is yet in part unpaid Wherefore Sir You and your Subjects have good Right and just Cause to break the Peace and to make War against England and to endeavour to take out of their hands all that they hold on this side the Water Also certain of his Council advised him secretly upon mature Deliberation Sir boldly undertake this War for there is good Reason You should so do For as soon as ever You have once open'd the War you shall see and find that all the Dutchy of Aquitain will turn to your side as well Prelates Barons Earls Knights and Esquires as the Burgesses of the Good Towns. You may see Sir how the Prince would have proceeded in raising of his Foüage but he cannot bring his purpose about and yet thereby he hath lost the Hearts of all Men for those of Poictou Rochellois Sainctogne Quercy Limosin and Rouvergue are of such a Nature that they can by no means love the Englishmen nor the Englishmen them they are so proud and presumptuous nor never did And besides all this the Princes Officers commit such Extortion among the People of Sainctogne Poictou and Rochellois for they take all at Random and raise so much in the Prince's Name that no Man is sure of any thing that is his own And further the Gentry and Chief Men of the Country are disgusted because they can attain to no Office of Dignity or Profit For the Englishmen and the Prince's Servants run away with all By such Words as these was the French King encouraged to begin the War and especially he was instigated and moved thereto by his Brother the Duke of Anjou who lay at Tholouse wishing nothing more than to see the War open For he could never endure the Englishmen because of such Displeasures as they had done Him and His formerly And frequently the Gascogne Lords would say to the King Most Dear Sir We are obliged to have our Resort in your Court wherefore we all humbly require that you would please to do us Right and Law and as you are the most Just Prince in the World let us have Justice against the great Extortions Grievances and Oppressions that the Prince of Wales and his Men have and would put upon us For Sir if you refuse to do thus much for us we must then seek some other Remedy elsewhere and shall be obliged to yield and submit our selves to the Jurisdiction of such a Lord as shall see We have Reason done us Whereby you will lose your Sovereignty over us for ever The French King who was extream loath to let them part as also he was doubtfull of embracing their Interest knowing that by them his Realm would receive much Strength and Advantage answer'd these Complainants very courteously Surely Gentlemen says he for want of Love and good Counsel you shall not need to make your Resort to any other Court but only to Ours But yet in a matter of this Consequence we ought to move with much Caution and Deliberation And thus the King drove them off for the space of well-nigh a Year but kept them still with him at Paris and paid for all their Expences and gave them many Rich Gifts and Jewels
stirr for any News that he heard for so the King his Brother had strictly charged him by no means to make any War against the Prince till he should receive express Order so to do And all the while this Politick King was getting together good Captains and Souldiers in the most secret manner that it was possible and particularly he wan to his side certain of the Companions whom he sent into the Marches of Berry and Auvergne permitting them to live there upon the Country something loosely that they might not be suspected for Friends but withall he commanded them to make no War upon the Prince till they had his express Word for it For he took all the Care in the world not to create the least Suspition that he intended a War till all his Designs against the Earldom of Ponthieu should be ripe Nor without cause For if the King of England could but have guessed that the French King would have broke the Peace he could have very easily prevented the Losses which he received afterwards in Ponthieu and especially he would have made such good Provision for the City of Abbeville and all the other Garrisons in that Country that he should still have kept the Soveraignty thereof maugre all the Power of France And yet at that time the Seneschal of that County for King Edward was a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Louvain who was in great Favour with the King his Master as he well deserved For he was so True Loyal and Couragious that he would rather have been drawn in pieces by wild Horses than consent to any thing that might reflect upon his Faith and Honour Yet not only he but King Edward and all others were deceived at this time by the overreaching Devices of the French King who the more to amuse King Edward had a little before sent over the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman to adjust Matters fully with him and his Council and these Men the better to conceal the Malice they intended complained of Wrongs done as they said unto them for they declar'd unto the King and his Council how on their Part the Peace was but slightly kept at the best not only by reason of the War which the Companions who were generally Subjects of England had kept in France for about six whole Years but also upon divers other Accounts whereat the King their Master had no small cause to be disgusted These Embassadors King Edward detain'd in England for about two Months during which time thô he expected to settle a right Understanding between the two Realms they only made many frivolous Complaints to delay time which almost tired the Kings Patience but they were not much concerned at that because they knew they did but follow the Commission they had from their Master However they u Walsing hist p. 177. 178. made unto the King a Present of certain Vessels of Choice Wines and other Gifts from the French King as a Token of his Brotherly Love and Good will. The mean while King Charles having understood for certain that the Inhabitants of Abbeville were willing to own his Interest and that the Wars were already open in Gascogne and all his Friends stood ready to strike as soon as ever they had the Word for it resolved now to put things to the issue Yet however either being secure of the Advantage he had by taking this Start of King Edward or desirous as far as he might to avoid all Reproach lest Posterity might cry shame of him if he should invade any of the King of England's Lands or the Prince's without Defiance he resolv'd by Advice of his Council to send and defie the King of England and all his Adherents and so he did by his Letters Sealed which to his great reproach he gave to a mean Valet to carry And yet before this even while King Edward was giving his Audience of Leave to the French Ambassadors he heard a Rumour that the French King had sent Men of War into Ponthieu and that he had notoriously broken the Peace by certain overt Acts of Hostility whereupon in great Indignation he bad the Ambassadors get them Home with their Deceitfull Presents to their Deceitfull Master and commanded them to tell him how he detested from his Heart and Soul the dishonourable and unprincely Falseness which he had shewn For which he doubted not by the Grace of God but to make him repent before long Away went the Ambassadors with all speed and at Dover they met with the Valet who was come with the Defiance from France the Substance whereof he secretly told them as he was enjoyned to do that they might make hast Home But for all that they x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 10. were met with upon the Sea by some Men of War belonging to Calais who knowing the War was already begun on that side by the Frenchmen set upon them and took away their Wines and other Presents which King Edward had refused to accept and brought them to Calais the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman escaping away to Boulogne IX A little before this the y Frois c. 246. fol. 149. Prince of Wales had sent Sr. Guischard Dangle to Rome whither Pope Vrban z Vid. Oder Rainald ad hunc aun 1367. §. 2. c. was then gone for some while to confer with his Holiness about certain Matters relating to Aquitain and having found the Pope very complying in all his Concerns about this time he returned homeward when being upon the way he heard for certain how the Gascogners and Frenchmen made War upon the Prince and had already invaded the Principality He was extreamly surprised at the News and began to doubt how he should get home without being entrapped by his Enemies however first he went to the Valiant and Noble Earl of Savoy whom he found in the City of Pignerol in Piedmont making War against the Marquess of Saluzzo The Earl entertain'd Him and all his Company very honourably and gave the Chief of them many rich Gifts especially to Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he respected more particularly for the sake of his Abilities in War of which he had heard ample Commendations Having here taken his leave as he drew near to France he heard more and more of the Difference between the Prince of Wales and the French King So that he saw it impossible for him to return openly into Guienne he was so generally known Wherefore he gave the Charge of his Company to his Son-in-Law Sr. John of Issoire and he himself being disguised like a poor Priest in evil Habit and on an old Hackney took another way and so at last with much adoe came safe to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him with much joy But 't is now time to return to this French Valet who after the departure of the Earl of Salebruche and Dr. William Dorman out of England rode strait for London Where
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
or other Instruments whereby Men may know the Encrease or Decrease of the Sea. In time of War the same may be to less harm and after taken away That the Acquittance of the Co-Executors refusing Administration may be void The Law shall be used as heretofore It is agreed that no Man be punished contrary to the Statute Such Commissions as were to enquire of Scotch Labourers within the Realm were repealed The Print touching the Pardon of Forest Matters Chap. 4. agreeth with the Record The Print touching the Staple to be removed from Calais because of the Wars and to be held in England Chap. 1. differs much in Form from the Record quod nota The next Day being the Twelfth of June the King gave his Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their great Pains and for the Aid they had given him And in some sort of Recompence promised to all such as should pass over Sea with him against the French that they should enjoy and possess all such Towns Castles Possessions Persons Names Arms and Honours as they should obtain win conquer or take of the French to them and their Heirs in Fee saving unto the King all Regalities and the Lands of the Church and that every Person should have Charters of his own Prowess and Conquest And further the King commanded that all the Bishops should not only muster their own Servants and Tenants but also all Parsons Vicars and other Religious Persons of the Clergy all who were to be in a readiness upon Occasion to resist the Common Enemy And then the Parliament brake up XI One thing here We must not omit namely a Matter concerning the Bounty of the Generous Black-Prince extended to the truly Loyal and Valiant Gentleman the Lord John Greilly that Famous Captal of Busche To whom he granted about this time the whole County of Bigorre in tail reserving yearly at Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercel Gentle to be paid at his Castle of Bourdeaux besides the known Services due out of that County whereof he gave him his Charter h Extant Gallico idiemate apud Selden's Titles of Honour Part. 2. c. 3. §. 13. p. 518. EDWARD Eldest Son of the King of England Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Ordiales to all who shall see or hear these Letters We give to know That for the good and agreeable Services which our Right Dear and Loyal Cousin John de Greilly Captal of Busche hath rendred unto Us heretofore and which He and his may render unto Us and Ours in time to come We have given and granted and by these Presents do give and grant to Him and his Heirs Male Lawfully begotten the County of Bigorre with the Cities Towns Castles Lands Seignories Homages Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Meer and Mixt Empire Rights Cens and Rents Revenues and other Profits Emoluments and Appurtenances of the said County He rendring unto Us and our Heirs every Year for ever at our Castle of Bourdeaux at the Feast of Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercellet Gentle and doing unto Us and our Heirs Liege Homage and Oath of Fealty Resorts and other Duties which ought to be done to Us for the said County In Witness of which We have caused to be put to these our Letters Patents our Great Seal Given at our City of Angoulesme the 27 day of June in the Year of Grace MCCCLXIX This Grant of the Prince's to that Noble Lord was in i Rot. Vasc 44. Ed. 3. m. 8. n. 4. April following confirmed by the King his Father under the Great Seal of England only reserving to the King and his Heirs Kings of England the Liege Homage of the said John and of his Heirs for the said County and also the Sovereignty and Resort of the said Earldom and all other Duties to Him as Superior Lord due therefrom And so Command was sent from the King to all States and Officers in that County to be obedient and answerable to the said John Greilly as to the Earl of the said Earldom of Bigorre in all things pertaining to the said Earldom CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry begin to War upon the Principality several English and French Captains alter their Copies II. The Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke are sent over by King Edward to the Prince's Assistance and Sr. Hugh Calverley returns out of Spain with 6000 Companions The Latter is sent by the Prince to make War upon the Discontented Gascogners and the two Former against the Lands of the Earl of Perigort where they lay Siege to Bourdeilles III. Sr. Simon Burley taken Prisoner by the French and his Men all routed slain or taken IV. The Lord John Chandos takes the strong Town of Terrieres Realville besieged by the French. V. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry make use of the Clergy to debauch the hearts of the English Subjects in France from their Duty King Charles makes solemn Processions and is very devout in order to raise up the Courages of his People The Bishop of London sets forth King Edward's Right to the People from his Pulpit Both the Kings seek foreign Alliances VI. The Two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes to the World with certain Copies of both their Cases as they were then menaged by the best Lawyers of Italy France and England VII The Reasons whereby the French pretend to cut off from King Edward and his Posterity not only all Right to the Crown of France but also from his Right to Aquitaine which yet had belonged to England in Right of the Lady Eleanor Daughter and Heiress to William last Duke of Aquitaine and Wife to King Henry the Second of England VIII The Pedigree of the Kings of France from King Philip Son of St. Lewis to King Charles the Fair Brother of Queen Isabell Mother of King Edward the Third IX Reasons alledged by the King of England for his Right and Title to the Crown of France I. THE mean while a Frois c. 248. 249. as soon as ever the Dukes of Anjou and Berry knew for certain that the Defiance was made and the War between the two Crowns open they thought not to sleep any longer but made their Special Summons the One in Auvergne and the other about Tholouse with design to raise Forces and go and make War upon the Principality The Duke of Berry for his part had ready at his Command all the Barons of Auvergne of the Bishopricks of Lyon and of Mascon together with the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Villiers the Lord of Tournon Sr. Godfrey of Boulogne Sr. John of Armagnac Sr. John de Villemur the Lord of Montagu the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin the Lord of Rochefort and divers others with all whom he drew toward Berry and the Marches of Touraine where being mightily reinforced he began to make terrible War upon
leave of the Prince and with 3000 Chosen Men among whom were divers Knights and Esquires of Poictou Sainctogne Limosin Quercy and Rouvergue rode forth in very good Array and presently enter'd the Lands of Perigort with Fire and Sword. Having taken some few Places they began to lay Siege to a strong Fortress called Bourdeilles wherein were two Brethren Esquires Arnold and Bernard of Batefoile and several other Valiant Men lately sent thither by the Earl of Perigort besides those whom he appointed to Defend his other Garrisons and Fortresses in those parts all which were singular-well provided with Artillery Victuals and other necessaries to maintain those Places a good while as generally the Souldiers resolved to do So that during this Siege before Bourdeilles there were many Assaults made and many Gallant Feats of Arms performed on both sides For the two Esquires within were right Hardy and approved Captains and such as hated the English Name mortally And came frequently to the Barriers and skirmished Valiantly sometimes winning and sometimes losing as the Adventures of War do usually vary III. On the other side in the Marches of Anjou and Touraine there were no less than a 1000 French Spears as Bretons Burgundians Picards Normans and Anjouvins who did no little harm upon the Prince's Land being led by Sr. John Bull Sr. William of Bourde Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton against whom the Prince had laid Men of War in the Frontiers of Poictou and Sainctogne under the Command of Sr. Simon Burly Sr. Dangouses and several other Knights of England and Gascogne who yet were hardly one Fourth part of the Frenchmens Number for the French were at least a 1000 Spears and the English not above two or three Hundred at most For the Prince had sent the Lord Chandos with 500 Spears into Montauban and a far greater Number with Sr. Hugh Calverley into the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and of the Lord of Albret but the Greatest Number of all lay now with his Brother the Earl of Cambridge before Bourdeilles in the Earldom of Perigort So that there were but few Forces in Poictou And yet even they acquitted themselves manfully upon all occasions and did their Devoir in keeping the Frontier Garrisons and never resus'd to meet and skirmish with the Frenchmen thô they were nothing equal unto them in Number One day however among others it happen'd that the Frenchmen were certainly informed how some English Troops were abroad at which News they were glad and laid a great Ambush of 500 Men to receive them as they should come back from an Enterprise which they had accomplished between Mirebeau and Lusignan And so as they were returning by a broken way the Frenchmen rose up out of their Ambush and came upon them with great Fury being headed by Sr. John Bull Sr. William of Bourde Sr. Lewis of St. Julien and Carlonet the Breton Then there began a fierce and hot Rencountre for the English fought with much Courage and Skill as long as they were able to endure and their Captains Sr. Simon Burly and Sr. Dangouse approved themselves like Noble Knights that day But being little more than an handfull of Men in comparison with the French and they surprised too they were at last utterly discomfited and forced to flight Sr. Dangouse saved himself as well as he could and escaped into the Castle of Lusignan but Sr. Simon Burly was so narrowly pursued that he was taken Prisoner and almost all his Men either taken or slain But a very few escaped clear off With this Victory the French return'd joyfull to their Garrison having sent the glad News of their Success to the King who received it well But the Prince of Wales was much displeased at the Loss especially because Sr. Simon Burly was taken for he loved him entirely and had been educated with him from a Child and also Sr. Simon was Master of many Noble and Worthy Qualities and had all along bore himself with much Honour in the Service of England and besides they were all extraordinary Men both for Courage and Loyalty that were either slain or taken at that time Wherefore the Prince took this Loss as a very considerable Blow given unto him and no wonder since sometimes One Man is worth an Hundred and some One Man by his Wit and Conduct will do more good for his Prince and Country than a Thousand others But the Prince saw that such Events were the natural Products of War and that it was the usual Fashion of the World to bring forth fresh Losses and Crosses wherefore he chose Patience for his Remedy However this was gain'd by that Mischance that ever after the Englishmen and their Friends rode with more care abroad and in greater Numbers IV. This while the Lord John Chandos and Sr. Guischard of Angoulesme alias Dangle were at and about Montauban with their Troops a matter of seven Leagues from Tholouse where they undertook many great Enterprises but brought but few of them to any good Effect having as yet done little more than that they kept the Frontiers Wherefore now they resolv'd to go and lay Siege to Terrieres in Tholousaine and having made all things ready they went from Montauban and invested it quite round Here they found it was not seasable to carry the Place by Assault or any other way than by Mining So they set their Pioneers at Work who did their business so well that the Town was enter'd taken and plunder'd and all within put to the Sword. During that same Expedition they had intended to have taken another good Town named La Vaur on the River l'Agout about six Leagues from Tholouse on the very Confines of Albigeois With this design they laid a strong Ambush in a Wood hard by and sent away Fourty of their Company secretly armed but in the Habit of Countrymen to go and seise on the Gates But they were betray'd by a Boy of the Country who was on foot not far from them when they came from the Ambush in the Wood and so ran before them and discover'd their Enterprise and thus that project being dash'd they return'd to Montauban About that very time the Duke of Anjou being at Tholouse sent forth the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Earl of Lisle the Vicount of Carmaine the Lord de la Barde Sr. Bertram de Taride the Lord of Pincornet Sr. Perdiccas of Albret the Bourg of L'Esparre the Bourg of Bartuel Edmund Ortingo Ralph Braye Perot of Savoy and Nandon of Pons and others with their Troops to the Number of 10000 Men. These Men presently made an Impression into the Land of Quercy where they began to do much Mischief in burning and ravaging the Country and so came before Realville and there laid a strong Siege to the Town But the Seneschal of Quercy had so well furnished the Place with all things necessary that it was not likely to be won easily especially since the
Garrison resolv'd to die every Man rather than to yield up the Place thô the Townsmen would gladly have received the French if they durst Wherefore the Captains of France sent to Tholouse for Four great Engines which they made ready and reared up against the Walls casting therewith both Night and Day massie Stones and huge pieces of Timber against the Fortress besides which they set their Pioneers a Mining But the Englishmen with great Courage comforted each other and slighted all their Art and Fury thô at last for want of Succour We shall find them to be taken only by reason of the Mines But for the present We shall leave them V. While these French Captains d Frois c. 252. f. 152. were thus busie in Quercy the Duke of Berry was in Anvergne with a great Power of Men of War the chief Leaders whereof were the Lord John of Armagnac his Uncle the Lord John de Villemur the Lord Roger Beaufort the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Villiers the Lord of Semur the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin and many more who ravaged about the Marches of Rovergue Quercy and Limosin where they did much Harm and at first found no great Opposition And besides this application of Force there were not wanting other Arts not then so frequent in the World but since those Days very common which made use of the help of the Church to blow up a Fire of Combustion in the State. For the subtle Dukes of Anjou and Berry prevailed with the Archbishop of Tholouse who was a Politick and Learned Prelate to go to the City of Cahors of which place his Brother was then Bishop and here together these two Brothers so elegantly preached and set forth the Right of King Charles against King Edward's Pretensions that the whole City turned French and sware unto the French King Faith and Homage from that time And with these Arts the Archbishop rode about thrô the Country and every where took care to set forth the Equity of his Masters Quarrel with such advantage of popular Arguments and the Reputation which he added thereto from Religion and Scripture Proofs that together with the Terror of the Duke of Berry's Arms and those of the Duke of Anjou who hover'd thereabout he obliged no less than sixty Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses to submit to the Obedience of the French King who had indeed the cheif place in their Hearts before And as this Archbishop went abroad abetting and maintaining the King his Masters Cause in and about the Marches and Limitations of Languedoc So also in Picardy divers other Prelates and Clergymen brought the Right of the Two Kings into their Pulpits where they discussed the Matter so plausibly that King Edward was ever concluded in the wrong And the Common People who in those Days readily swallowed more Course Morsels than these were fully satisfied with all that was said thô in my Opinion it is not only below the Dignity of Princes to make use of such abject Devices but also no way corresponding to the same of Learning and Religion to appeal so fawningly to the Vulgar whom as they please they may easily cheat with false Colours But in France Dr. William Dorman was especially remarkable for these Tongue Victories for he rode about from Town to Town and from City to City and spake with such power and force of Rhetorical Insinuations and handled his Points so cleverly that all who heard him believed in a manner every Word he said and the Controversie between the two Kings was so artificially represented by him that the French King had apparently the Advantage on his side Besides all this King Charles himself was so moved with Devotion e Frois ibid. Mezeray c. that he not only caused Fastings and Processions to be used throughout his Realm by the Clergy but Himself also and his Queen would often attend them going barefoot and in all Churches there were put up continual Prayers to God devoutly requiring and imploring of his Majesty to assist and maintain the Right of the Realm of France which had suffer'd so great Tribulation for so many Years Nor was King Edward less Pious or less honourably Politick For he also used the same Method thrô his Kingdom the rather that his Subjects might be the more ready to venture their Lives and Fortunes in a Cause which they first understood to be Just and Right There was at that time one Dr. Simon Tibuld alià s Sudbury Bishop of London a Man very well seen in the Canon Law and the Scriptures and of great Eloquence who made many Sermons in the most publick places of the City declaring and proving unto the People that the French King had renew'd the War not only against his Oath but also against all Right and Reason with manifest Injustice Fraud and Perjury all which together with King Edward's Title to France he demonstrated with great force of Argument and Rhetorick to the ample satisfaction of all his Auditors And I must confess that it might not seem unnecessary for both the Kings to provide that their Subjects should be generally informed of the particulars of their Quarrel that so they might more teadily and with a good Conscience assist their several Masters in this War at which both the Nations were sufficiently alarum'd already And King Edward himself who was as well furnish'd with Wisdom as Valour nothing doubted but that this War would prove as great and as momentous as ever any he had been engaged in because of the Advantage which the French King had gain'd by surprising him thus as chiefly because of the new Method of this his politick Enemy and also of the Mutability of his French Friends Wherefore he thought it fit for his behoof to stirr up all his Assistants and Allies that might any ways lie opportunely to divert the impending Mischief And so he sent into Brabant and Hainalt to learn whether they would own his Quarrel or no and especially he desired Duke Albert of Bavaria who at that time govern'd the Country of Hainalt instead of his Elder Brother Duke William who had been for some time before Distracted and continued so to the day of his Death to open his Country upon Occasion and to let him go and come into France or tarry there if need should be with an Army Duke Albert at the Request of the King of England his Uncle especially because Queen Philippa his Dear Aunt urged him also thereto readily granted to have his Country open for the use of King Edward being not ââtle perswaded to this Matter by Edward Duke of Gueldres who was Son to King Edward's Sister Eleanor and had lately married Duke Alberts Daughter and with him concurred the Duke of Juliers who was Cosen German to the said Albert of Bavaria These two Lords were strictly bound to King Edward the one being as we said before his Nephew and the other the Cosen German to King Edward's Children and to
and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
taken therein having a like Fate with St. Augustin whom he had translated for he also died as he had desired before he saw the Ruines of Hippo his dearest City CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. AN. DOM. 1371. An. Regni Angliae XLV Franciae XXXII The Surprisal Redemption and Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt II. The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols III. The Death of Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Black-Prince The said Princeâ having appointed his Brother of Lancaster his Lieutenant in Aquitain returns with his Family for England IV. The Castle of Monpaon being betrayed to the French is recover'd by the Duke of Lancaster V. The Lord of Pons revolts from England and Poictou divided VI. The Castle of Moncoutour won by the English VII Sr. Bertram of Clequin prevails in other Parts VIII A Parliament at Westminster IX Pope Gregory endeavours a Peace between the Two Crowns X. The English obtain a Naval Victory over the Flemings XI The Flemings submit to a Peace XII James King of Majorica dies XIII The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge marry the two Daughters of Don Pedro King of Spain whereby Don Henry being alarum'd enters a Confederation with the French King. XIV The Pope endeavours to make Peace between England and France the Copy of his Letters to the Captal of Busche XV. The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge return with their Ladies into England I. THIS Winter the Valiant and Generous Captain a Frois c. 286. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt was in great danger of being utterly lost thrô his own too free Confidence in an old Acquaintance For he rode one Evening to pay a Visit to the Lord of Pierre Buffierre whom he look'd upon as his special Friend and Lover and also of the English Interest For as we b Vid l. 4. c. 7. § 2 p. 789. shew'd before the French King himself could not persuade him to renounce the Homage which he had made to the Prince of Wales In the Christmas Holydays Sr. Eustace rode to his Castle designing to make merry with him but his Entertainment was much otherwise than he expected For his unkind Host admitted Sr. Tibauld du Pont a Knight of Breton and an Enemy to England into his Castle whom he suffer'd to seize upon Sr. Eustace while he suspected no harm and to lead him away Prisoner And now he had certainly been put to a shamefull Death because he had been a Captain of the Companions and so great an Enemy to the Realm of France But then the Duke of Bourbon was pleas'd to remember the good Turns he had done him in releasing his Mother who was taken at Bellepeche and so to requite him interceeded effectually for his Life at this time and compounded for a Ransom of 12000 Franks 4000 whereof Sr. Eustace paid down leaving his Son Francis Dambreticourt in Hostage for the Remainder with the Duke of Bourbon who thereupon repledged him engaging his own Word for the Residue to Sr. Tibauld Sr. Eustace being thus acquitted went and lay at Carentan beyond the Marches of St. Clement in Base Normandy a Town which the King of Navarre had given him And there he shortly after died having been in his Days a most Valiant Knight and a sworn Servant to the Ladies II. About the same time there fell another Adventure which I presume worth the Relating because therein will appear the ill Consequences that attend Treason with the great Power of natural Sympathy and Commiseration and the agreeable Prospect of an unexpected Turn of Fortune We shew'd before how the Lord Lewis of Maleval and his Nephew the young Lord Raimund of Marvejols had without any Constraint or Provocation revolted from the Service of the King of England and began to make War against the Prince of Wales Now the Lord Raimund of Marvejols hearing at this time that all his own Country had followed his Example and were turned French took his leave of the Court at Paris intending to go home But by the way he was suddenly met by two or three Troops of Sr. Hugh Calverley's Men who were led by Sr. Geoffry Argentine Captain of a Castle in Poictou He fell so unluckily within their Power that he could not possibly avoid them so he was forthwith taken Prisoner and carried into Poictou unto the said English Knights Castle When it was known in England that the Lord Raimund of Marvejols was taken and in sure Custody King Edward wrote his Letters to Sr. Geoffry Argentine who had him in his Keeping commanding him with all speed to send over unto him his Enemy that false Traytor Sr. Raimund of Marvejols saying how he would take such Vengeance on him that all others should take Example by him and further he promised the Knight for his acceptable Service in taking him 6000 Franks Sr. Geoffry Argentine resolv'd by all means to obey the King his Masters Commands and said he would surely fulfill his Pleasure as soon as he could meet with an opportunity of Transporting him with Security and began presently to seek out for a Vessel and Company to have him convey'd into England Of all this Sr. Raimund had knowledge wherefore he was much more nearly concern'd than ever For before he hoped to get off by Ransom but now he saw there was no other Remedy but inevitable Death and that in all likelihood to be as full of Torment as Ignomy for he knew how Traytors were usually punish'd as well in England as elsewhere He was then in the Flower of his Age a Proper Young Handsom Valiant Gentleman of a fair Estate and Fortune in the World and perhaps not so fit to die as those who have not met with the Temptations which attend so high a Condition No wonder then if he was very much affected with these Apprehensions of Death He began to make the most dolefull Lamentations imaginable and always when his Keeper came near he heard him bewail his untimely End and complain of his Misfortunes so pathetically that it was impossible for Flesh and Blood not to sympathise therewith The Keeper who was an Englishman had the Curiosity to ask him the occasion of so great Sorrow and while he declared it in the softest Terms that could be devised wept along with him for pitty and afterwards gave him all the Consolation that might be telling him how King Edward was a very Mercifull Prince and thô terrible to those that resisted him yet always Gratious to those whom he had in his Power and much more he said with great Tenderness out of a Pious Consideration of his Prisoners dejected and forlorn Condition Sr. Raimund who knew his Life lay at stake saw little or no Comfort in all these Words but only observing how wonderfully concerned his Keeper was for him he began to repeat his Moans thereby to raise his Compassion and at last said unto him Ah! my dearest Friend Next unto God it is in
strong Castle called Monpaon belonging to the Prince of Wales Now the Captain of this Fortress named Sri William of Monpaon thô he kept the Castle for England was rather in his Heart a Friend to France wherefore believing himself secure now because the Prince had left the Country he presently received these Frenchmen into his Castle and openly turn'd Traytor When the French Captains had thus easily obtain'd a Place of that strength and importance they fell about repairing and amending the Fortifications and being even overjoy'd said they would now Defend that Garrison against all the World. When the News of these things came to Bourdeaux the Duke of Lancaster said to the Lords about him Gentlemen surely We do not our Duty aright For the Bretons and Frenchmen are abroad and have taken the Fortress of Monpaon which borders upon Vs Wherefore it behoves Vs to go forth and shew our selves or the Enemy will laugh Vs to scorn Thus the Duke and all the Lords about him were concerned and thought it would redound much to their shame if they should suffer that Place to remain in the Enemies Hand Wherefore on the Wednesday following the Duke of Lancaster leaving the Earl of Cambridge to govern in his absence marched out of Bourdeaux with 700 Spears and 500 Archers on Horseback beside Footmen the Chief Lords and Captains whereof were the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord Thomas Percy the Lord Thomas Ros of Hamlake the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Baldwin Frevile the Lord William Beauchamp the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby Sr. Richard Pontchardon and Sr. Dangouses besides the Gascogne Lords such as the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Monferrant the Lord of Landuras the Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Bernard of Albret the Lord of Garonne Sr. Emery de Tharse with these Lords of Sainctogne and Poictou the Lord of Pous the Lord of Partenay the Lord Lewis Harcourt the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord James of Suggieres Sr. Moubron de Liniers Sr. William of Montendre Sr. Hugh de Vinoye the Lord of Crupenac and several others who all rode forth with the Duke of Lancaster to lay Siege to Monpaon When Sr. William of Monpaon heard how the Duke was coming against him with a great Power and ready to besiege him his Heart misgave him mightily for he knew if he should be taken he must die an ignominious Death So he fairly discover'd his Mind to the Bretons saying Sirs I 'll e'n leave this Castle to your Care and I 'll remove to Perigeux and help to Defend that For the Duke of Lancaster will not take me to Mercy if I should chance to fall into his Power Thus with their consent he marched off and the rest put themselves into the best posture of Defence that might be When the Duke of Lancaster e Frois c. 288. fol. 175. sed Gallicè fol. 239. b. was come with his Army before Monpaon he began to invest the Place and Tents and Pavilions were set up and Provision for Lodging and other necessaries was made as if he intended to tarry there seven Years Nor yet did he suffer his Men to lie idle for immediately they prepared to Assault the Castle and forced the Clowns thereabout to fell an huge Quantity of Wood and Timber to cast into the Ditch For 15 Days together they did nothing but busie themselves in filling up the Ditches by flinging in Wood Stones and Timber and always upon that straw and earth so that at last they had made up a considerable space of the Ditch that it was firm as any other Ground whereby they might approach the Walls at their pleasure to Assault the Besieged or Skirmish at the Barriers which they never failed to do Five or Six times a Day In this Siege there happen'd many notable Exploits for the French and Bretons were all good Knights and Esquires Men of Reputation and Courage and Defended themselves extraordinary well Insomuch that thô the Englishmen and Gascogners by filling the Ditch came so near them yet they were nothing the more concern'd with fear and also they behav'd themselves with that Industry and Valour that for all that they had little or no Disadvantage Wherefore they are worthy to inherit an Honourable Report Now there was not far from thence another Garrison of Bretons in a Castle called Sr. Macari whose Captains were John de Malestroit and Silvester Budes and every day they had News brought them how bravely their Friends of Monpaon acquitted themselves thô they were so hardly put to it These Men said often to one another Our Friends and Countrymen yonder in Monpaon are every day upon hot Service and deserve greatly to be honoured for their noble Courage whereof we hear so advantagious a Character And yet behold We sit still here neither undertaking any thing to advance our own Names nor to assist our Friends who are thus streightly beleaguer'd Surely we do not as becomes Knights and Gentlemen to do Thus they shew'd a good Will to go and help their Neghbours but then they consider'd the Danger of leaving their own Fortress void So that in this Case they were at a stand what course to take At last Silvester said to his Fellow John either you shall go and I 'll stay behind or I 'll go and leave you here Chose you whether Then John said Silvester you shall stay here and I 'll go Thus there was a long strife between them who should go for both of them claim'd that as a Privilege But at last they agreed swearing and promising before all the Garrison to stand to the Decision of Fortune by drawing of Cuts so that he of the two who should draw the Longest must go to Monpaon and the other was to stay behind They drew and Silvester had the longest Cutt whereat all the Company laught because indeed however in point of Honour they had contended for it 't was look'd upon as an Enterprise far more full of Hazard than Advantage However Silvester took not the Matter as a Jest but seriously set about it and exactly accoutred himself and mounted his Horse and rode forth with 12 Chosen Men of Arms in his Company and in the Dark of the Evening came and entred into the Fortress of Monpaon for he had the Night before given them intelligence of an Assistance coming where he was heartily welcome to the Knights of the Garrison all who thanked him kindly and highly extolled his Courage The very next Morning Silvester had occasion to shew his Valour for they were alarum'd with a fierce Assault and after that with another so that all the Defendants had their Hands full But the English had now made themselves strong Mantelets or moveable Penthouses in manner of a Testudo under which they shrouded certain Pioneers who while the Archers shot thick to clear the Battlements with great Pickaxes undermined the Walls till at last there fell
and Defensive thereby to support himself the better against the Power of England The first Opportunity accordingly he dispatch'd away his Ambassadors to the Court of France who were graciously received at Paris by the French King and there between him and these Deputies who had Procurations from King Henry ready sealed whereby they were fully Authorised to treat and to proceed effectually in all Causes in the Name of their Master in any Parliament or Council whatsoever there were accorded ordained and confirmed certain mutual Alliances and Confederations Engrossed and solemnly sworn to on both Parties them firmly to hold and maintain nor by any means to infringe or do any thing contrary thereto But that the two Kings should for ever abide firmly in mutual Unity of Peace Love and Alliance and then and there the French King sware upon the Word of a King to aid and assist the King of Castille and his Heirs in all his Business and never to make any manner of Peace or Agreement with the King of England unless he should be comprised in the same And to this League Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Constable gave much furtherance for he as Dearly loved King Henry as King Charles loved and believed him So the Spanish Ambassadors return'd back to their Master whom they found at his City of Leon in Spain and he received extraordinary satisfaction from this his Alliance with France and entertain'd less doubt of the English than before However like a Wise Prince he neglected no means of Establishing his own Affairs but began to strengthen himself by Sea and Land as One that knew foreign Amities of small force as well as of slow approach where due Care is not taken at home Nor indeed was all this his Caution wholly needless or vain For soon after John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in Right of this his Lady Eldest Daughter to Don Pedro the last Lawfull King of Spain took upon him the style of King of Castille and Leon and l Archbishop Abbet's Description of the World p. 7. Vid. Mr Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 238. p. 253. empaled the Arms of Castille and Leon with his Ducal Coat Nor only so but some Years after began a fierce War against the Bastard Usurper of his Crown which at last could no other ways be ended but by a Match between the Sole Daughter and Heiress of John of Gaunt by this Spanish Princess and Henry Grandson and Heir of the said Henry the Bastard in whose Line and Posterity thus legitimated that Kingdom hath ever since remained XIV Before this Solemn League was thus Established between France and Spain the Pope being alarum'd with the Wonderfull Success of the Turks against Christendom used all his Endeavours to close the Breach between England and France and especially to heal the exulcerated Mind of our King Edward To which end he wrote to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge that they would joyn to move the King their Father to dispose himself towards a Peace with France he also wrote to the King himself the Form of his Letters m Extant apud Oder Rainald ad hunâ ann §. 3. ex Tem. 1. Fp. secr p 112. being very near the same with those which Pope Innocent VI wrote n Vid. Hujus Hist Lib. 3 c. 1. § 14. p. 517. formerly to the Black-Prince upon his Victory at Poictiers wherefore we purposely omit them in this Place But I shall here set down another Letter which this Pope sent a little before he wrote to the King to that Renowned Warrier John Greilly Captal of Busche whom he knew to be very Gracious with King Edward and of a truly Heroick Mind thô most able for War yet exorable and apt to embrace an Honest Peace o Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 8. GREGORY the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Beloved Son in Christ John Captal de Busche Greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Eastern Parts being exposed to heavy Dangers and in a manner obnoxious to utter Ruine do cry unto the Vicar of Christ unto Christian Princes and other Nobles The Holy Land also being violently possessed by the most impure Saracens of a long while basely detained and polluted by their filthy Touch doth cry unto them doth open her Wounds unto them with ardent Desire expecting an healing Assistance from them Certainly when late we understood those things p p In hâc leco voculam quae deleo concerning the miserable Condition of the said Parts and heard also those things which our Beloved Sons the Ambassadours of the whole City of Genoa sent unto Us particularly for this purpose did declare unto Us concerning this miserable State of the said Parts We were inwardly wounded with the Compunction of bitter Sorrow For it was their Assertion that the Turks and other Enemies of the Cross of Christ being gather'd together in a great Multitude do with heavy tempests of Wars afflict waste and consume the said Eastern Parts earnestly affecting to abolish the Christian Name and Worship in those Parts nay even utterly to exterminate from thence the poor Remainders of Christianity And that unless there be made in the next March Expedition a powerfull Resistance to the fury and malice of the said Insidels there will hardly be found in those Parts to invoke the Name of Christ And 't is probably feared nay 't is by many held for certain that the foresaid Turks and other Miscreants are preparing to invade Sicily and by Consequence other Countries of the Christians Wherefore the foresaid Genoans from an inward compassion of their Hearts condoling with the sad Tribulations of the foresaid Parts and together with the Aid of other Faithfull Christians willing to comfort them with the Remedy of a speedy Assistance neither sparing their own Goods nor Persons are now Rigging forth a mighty Fleet of Gallies to pass the Seas this next March-Expedition But they do not think themselves any ways able to resist in the Premises unless they are assisted by other Christians Oh! How unpleasant is the Memory of these things to Us O how bitter the Recollection considering these and other so great Dangers of the Faithfull For while we revolve these sad things in our Mind while with sollicitous thoughts We meditate thereon our Zeal is kindled like a Fire Tears being conceived spring forth as witnesses of our Grief nor can we forbear sighing chiefly for this that as to the Readiness of hasting with so great Succours the Measure of Possibility can no ways equal as We would the vastness of our Wishes many Confusions in the Parts on this side the Sea hindring and especially the heavy Discord which long since the Grand Disturber of Peace and Enemy to Charity hath stirred up between our most Dear Sons Edward and Charles the Illustrious Kings of England and France For the allaying whereof We have destin'd to send unto the said Kings two of our
Expedition then Richard of Bourdeaux the Prince's only Son living should succeed according to Right unto the Crown of England For the Black-Prince u Churchill's Divi Britannier p. 245. whose Wisdom fell no way short of his Courage knowing how apt they are who stand nearest unto a Throne to step first into it was so carefull to prevent any Disorder of that kind which might be feared from the Ambition of his Brethren the Eldest of whom had already the Title of a King that he obliged his Father at this time to declare his Son Richard the next Heir to the Crown after the Decease of the King and of his son Edward Prince of Wales And now the Prince himself x Frois c. 305. c. shew'd in Full Parliament that if he should happen to die before the King his Father then his Son Richard as being next Heir was to succeed to the Crown of England after the Decease of the King his Grandfather And here besides the Equity of Law and Nature and the Unalterable Rule of Succession never but by Treason Usurpation and Violence transgressed in the Kingdom of England the Prelates Lords Knights and all the Commons of the Realm had such a Veneration for the Prince of Wales because of his many Heroick Vertues that with one Consent they all agreed to so Reasonable a Motion and took it upon themselves and their Posterity that they would always be true to the Right Line especially to the Lord Richard and this they desired to be enacted not without apparent Demonstrations of extraordinary joy And first the King himself then all his Sons and after that all the Lords of England Spiritual and Temporal sware to uphold and maintain the Right of the Young Prince Richard in case of the Prince his Fathers Decease And to this Ordinance the Prince of Wales caused them all to put their Hands and Seals before they went away The Commons only express'd their Concurrence by Holding up their Hands and Consenting all together Nor is this to be look'd upon as a Case not before clear enough or that it was possible for the Prince to doubt the Right of his Son but that it became the Wisdom and Tenderness of a Father by all lawfull Arts imaginable to corroborate the Title of a Presumptive Orphan against the open or secret Attacks of Ambition or Treason Accordingly to set an early Mark of Sovereignty upon the Young Prince Richard the King his Grandfather by Commission y Pat. An. 46. Ed. 3 pars 2. m. 25. Vid. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 191. bearing Date at Sandwich the 30 Day of August in the 46 Year of his Reign constituted him his Custos Regni or Lieutenant during his Absence beyond the Sea. And having given Directions that Publick Prayers should be made in all Churches for his Good Success in this Voyage that same Day being a z Claus 46. Ed. 3. m. 12. Derso Lit. Dom. DC vid. Ashmole p. 667. Monday about Nine of the Clock he went on Board at Sandwich in a Ship called the Grace de Dieu with as Great a Fleet as ever any King before had carried forth of England There was with the King at this time the Prince of Wales who had as then recover'd to a tolerable degree of Strength also the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge his Brethren the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Arundel Suffolk and Stafford with the Lord Edward Spencer then newly return'd out of Lombardy whither he went with Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence four Years before There was also in this Expedition the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the Lord John De la Ware Sr. William Nevile younger Brother to the Lord John Nevile Sr. Ralph Frescheville Baron of Cryche Ancestor to the Freschevilles now Barons of Stavely and several other Lords Knights and Esquires of England to the Number of 3000 Men of Arms and 10000 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen This Great Navy set Sail for Rochelle coasting Normandy and Bretagne but the Wind was adverse and would by no means serve them XX. The mean while the French King who had perfect knowledge of all these vast Preparations against him had made no small Assembly of Men of War from all Parts to resist so Considerable an Enemy And as it was said He himself now at last intended to have a Pull before Thoüars with the King of England all things seeming to be laid upon this last Stake On the other hand the Loyal Gascogners and others who held in those Parts for King Edward prepared now to joyn him with their utmost Forces And first the Lord Archimbald Greilly Uncle to the Captal of Busche at the instance of the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Bourdeaux came to the General Rendezvous at Niort with 300 Spears among whom were the Lords of Duras of Courton of Mucidan of Rosan of Languran of Landuras and Sr. Petiton Coutras and Sr. William Ferenton an English Gentleman All these went from Bourdeaux to Niort the place of Rendezvous where they found Sr. Thomas Percy Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. John Creswell and many more to the Number of 1200 Spears and lastly Sr. Richard Ponchardon came and joyn'd them with 1200 Spears more So that all France was now alarm'd and swarm'd with Souldiers of one part or the other XXI All this while King Edward and his Sons with their great Army were on the Sea not being able by reason of Contrary Winds to take Land at Rochell or thereabouts as was design'd And that strange Fortune which before was always ready to wart that Prince over but very Difficult to convey him back was now quite otherwise disposed and became an eminent Hinderer of his Glorious Designs So that for this Success France was beholden to the most inconstant of Elements or rather to the Benign Providence of Him who governs both the Winds and the Seas King Edward having thus for a Months space struggled to no purpose against Wind and Fortune when he saw now the Feast of St. Michael come and that it was impossible for him to keep the Time appointed for the Rescue of Thoüars was obliged to break up this Expedition as he did with great Displeasure of Mind and gave leave to his Men to return home as they pleased But at his Return he had Wind at Will and immediately after the Wind was favourable for those Parts so that 200 Sail of English Merchants who traded for Wine arrived at Bourdeaux whither they were bound the very day after St. Michael King Edward for his part besides that he was thus strangely hindred from keeping his Day before Thoüars is said to have lost more than 900000 Marks or as one says Pounds in this Expedition XXII Now about a Week before Michaelmas the Barons of England and Gascogne that were beyond the Sea marched from Niort toward Thoüars in order to joyn the King of England but they were extreamly surprised when they saw the Day
his Study to Physick as being an Art most Worthy of a Gentleman and a Candid Nature whereby he should be enabled to do good to the afflicted Bodies of his Fellow-Creatures But above all his Inclination prompted him to Travel especially into Asia and Africa two vast Portions of the World which together with Europe made up the whole Terrestrial Habitation for in those days the New-found World of America was not known Being therefore well provided with Necessaries and having taken Care for Bills that would pass among Merchants of most Nations he set forward resolving with Vlysses to discover the Government and Manners of many Nations Thus having with much labour carefully survey'd the Greater and the Lesser Scythia Armenia Tartaria both the Countries of Libya Arabia Syria Persia Media Mesopotamia Illyria India Graecia Egypt and other Kingdoms and not only informed his Mind with many Curious and notable Observations but also with the Knowledge of several Languages lest all this inestimable Treasure should perish together with his Life he wrote exactly in the Latine French and English Tongues his Itinerary of Thirty Three Years a Book of the Wonders of the World and a Description of the several Countries he had seen And at his Return into England as he seriously noted the Abuses of the times the Pious Gentleman would say In these our days We may say more truly than ever That Vertue is neglected the Church is trampled on the Clergy is led away with Errour the Devil reigneth Simony beareth sway Greatness is abus'd by Flattery Diligence Learning and Vertue are despised Vice and Impudence are exalted c. At last he departed this Life at Liege a City in the Bishoprick of Liege in Germany and lies buried in St. William's Convent without the Gate of the said City with this m Crtelius in Itiner Pitsaus p. 511. 512. Latine Inscription Here lies the Noble Gentleman Sr. John Mandevil otherwise sirnamed Knight of the Beard Lord of Kempten born in England a Professor of Physick very Devout in Prayer a most Bountifull Bestower of his Goods to the Poor who after he had travelled almost over the whole known World ended his Life at Liege in the Year of our Lord 1372 the 17 of November Besides which Inscription there was engraven on the Stone the Image of an Armed Man with a Forked Beard a Lion at his Feet and at his Head an Hand blessing with these Words in French Vos Ki passeis for mi Pour l'Amour Deix Proiez por mi. All you that pass by Pray for me of Charity The shield of his Arms thô void of late days is said to have been cover'd with a Plate whereon his Arms were depicted being Azure with a Bordure indented Or a Lion Rampant Argent with a Crescent Gules on his Breast Formerly there were to be seen the Knives Spurs and the Horse-Furniture which he us'd in his Travels thrô the World. It seems he was a Person of much more Credit with the Germans and French who have many Years perus'd his Writings in their own Languages than here in England among his Countrymen 'T is said of him n Engl. Atlâ 3 Vol. p. 302. that after he had seen most of the Cities in the World he prefer'd Liege to whatever he had before met with and resolv'd as he did to spend the Residue of his Life in that Place But surely thô vulgarly the Books that go under his Name are reckon'd full of Incredible Stories either We must look on them as greatly falsified and differing from the Original or if once convinced of their Authority ought to be carefull in censuring rashly For this Man had the Reputation of being as Eminent for Piety and Integrity as for Knowledge CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1373. An. Regni Anbliae XLVII Franciae XXXIV The CONTENTS I. The Constable of France lays Siege to Sivray An Army of English comes to raise it but are beaten II. Hereupon the Constable takes Sivray and after that Niort and Lusignan But Chastellacher obtains a Respite at the Request of the Lady thereof after that taking in Mortimer and Didonne he returns to Paris and is highly caressed by the King. III. Becherel in Bretagne and St. Saviour le Vicount in Normandy besieged by the French. IV. King Edward sets forth a Fleet which burns a part of the Spanish Fleet. V. King Charles confiscates the Dutchy of Bretagne because the Duke adher'd to England and sends the Constable to take Seisin thereof VI. The Duke of Bretagne thró distrust of his People retires for England leaving Sr. Robert Knolles behind as his Lieutenant VII The Constables Conquests in Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles puts himself into Brest VIII The Constable comes before Brest and the Lord Clisson lays Siege to la Roche sur You in Poictou a Detachment at the same time being sent to take in Derual which was the Inheritance of Sr. Robert Knolles IX La Roche sur You yielded Derual compounds and gives Hostages Nantes recieves the Constable on certain Conditions X. Sr. Robert Knolles compounds for Brest that it shall be rescued in 40 Days or yielded XI The Earl of Salisbury being reinforced resolves to succour Brest by the Day appointed and to give the Constable battle but the Constable deceives him XII Sr. Robert Knolles goes to Derual XIII The Duke of Lancasters Expedition and March thrô France XIV Sr. Robert Knolles refusing to hold the Agreement made by his Men about yielding up Derual the Duke of Anjou strikes off the Heads of the English Hostages in revenge whereof Sr. Robert Knolles strikes off the Heads of 4 French Prisoners in sight of the Duke XV. Pope Gregory XI having obtain'd a Treaty to be held at Bruges writes unto the Commissioners of both Kings to prepare them and sends two Legates to compose Matters between the Duke of Lancaster and the French King. XVI The Difficulties of the English Army the Duke arrives at Bourdeaux XVII A Parliament at Westminster XVIII A Prodigious Malady call'd St. John's Dance XIX The Death of sundry Great Personages I. NO a Frois c. 306. f. 186. b. sed Gallice f. 255. sooner was the unactive season of Winter past but Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France began to take the Field marching from the City of Poictiers with 14000 fighting Men whose Chief Captains besides the Constable were Sr. Alan de Beaumont Sr. John de Beaumanoir Sr. Arnold of Limosin Sr. Geoffry of Ricon Sr. John du Lanconet Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel and others With this Army the Constable went and laid Siege to b Sireth Frois Tizeth Du Chesne c. Sivray enclosing his Camp with Pales and a Ditch to avoid being troubled by Excursions in the Night During this Siege Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot who were Captains of the Place and had defended themselves with great Valour against the Attacks of the Frenchmen sent secret Word of their Condition to Sr. John Vbrues and to
Sr. Dangouses Captains of Niort Who sending also to those of the Garrison of Lusignan and of Dangousay to come and joyn them they went all together from Niort to the number of 607 Spears all good Men of War besides Footmen and others Being come near to Sivray for it was distant but four Leagues from Niort they made an Halt to be the more fresh and ready But it had been better for them to have made a sudden Attempt upon the Constable in his Entrenchment For upon this their Demurr he had perfect knowledge of their Coming and that they were ranged in the Field ready for an Onset He was not much disturbed at the Report but forthwith commanded his Men to be armed and to repair to their Colours which being done he said Gentlemen how say you Are you really disposed to fight For I verily believe it will behove us to fight They all answer'd with one Voice Sir we thank God a Battle shall be welcome to us Then Sr. Bertram order'd an Ambush of 200 Chosen Men to receive those of the Garrison if they should offer to make a Sally as he verily believed they would and at the same time he caused the most part of the Pales that were about his Camp to be cast down lest they should create any Hindrance to him when he should resolve to come forth And so he stood still ready ranged in three Battalia's two of them being as Wings to the Third which himself lead and one Wing was governed by Sr. Alan of Beaumont and the other by Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel Command being given that none should pass before the Constable's Banner without a special Licence but that all should keep their Places still within the Entrenchment The mean while Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot when they saw from the Walls and Battelements of their Fortress how their Friends the English were ready ranged in the Field said to one another Let us now arm our selves and make a brisk Sally We shall soon pass thrô these Bretons and when our Friends find that we are engaged they will come on to our Rescue and utterly spoil the Enemy Before they can tell who hurts them With that they sallied out on Horseback to the number of Fourty Spears well armed thinking to skirmish with the Host But they were suddenly entrapped by the Ambush which was laid for them and there arose a smart Skirmish But the English were overmatch'd and so enclosed on all sides that being neither able to retreat nor to go forward they were all either taken or slain not a Man of them escaped The two Captains were taken alive All this while the English stood ready ranged in the Field and the Constable in his Enclosure from whence he stirred not For he feared that the English had some great Ambush for him in the Wood behind In the English Army there were 200 Poictevins and Bretons Robbers and Pillagers that fought for Spoil and lived by Rapine These Men being sent beforehand to skirmish with the French and to provoke them forth of their Hold as soon as they came to the Constable's Battail turned to him saying How their Hearts were good French and they would be on the Constable's side if it pleased him The Constable said he was content to receive them and so set them in a Wing on one side having first learned of them all the Behaviour Number and Quality of the English and that they had no manner of Ambush or Reserve behind them With this Discovery Sr. Bertram was extreamly satisfied and so drawing all his Men together the Pales were all cast down and he caused his Banner to advance forward and went forth on Foot with the two Battalions for Wings and crying out Our Lady of Clequin When the Englishmen saw their Enemies to issue forth of their Enclosure they advanced themselves forward with much Courage to receive them At the first joyning they encountred the Constable's Battail and fought there so furiously that they passed clean thrô reversing and spoiling many a Man as they made their way along But then the Bretons who had wisely order'd themselves in a Wing on each side being all Fresh and Lusty returned all together upon the English who were now wearied and dash'd in among them with such Fury that they were all mightily shaken The mean while the Constable's broken Battail was repairing it self and began to rally and recover its former Order However still the English fought most valiantly like Persons of Courage and Honour with good Axes and Swords of Bourdeaux wherewith they gave many fatal strokes that Day There were on both sides many Valiant Knights and Esquires who freely adventur'd their Lives to purchase Honour So that this Battle was fought as well and as many gallant Actions were then done in Taking and Rescuing again as had been seen of many a Day before in plain Field without any material Advantage on either hand saving that the French and Bretons did more than twice exceed the English in Number besides that Accession of 200 Fugitives before the Battle However the matter was disputed on both sides with great Obstinacy every Man setting himself forth to do his utmost So that many a Valiant Knight was sore hurt and not a few slain and trod to Death But in the end the Victory abode with the French and the English and Poictevins were utterly discomfited most of them being either taken or slain but a very few escaped they tarried so long contending in Battle There were slain two Gallant Esquires of England Richard Meinil and William Vrsewell and James Willoughby was grievously wounded Sr. Dangouses escaped away but there were taken Sr. John Vbrues Sr. Emery of Rochechoüart David Holeroft Richard Oliver John Cresswell and many more both of England and Poictou This Battle was thus fought near Sivray on the twenty second Day of March in the Year of our Lord God c 1372 / 3. Vid. Frois c. 306. Du Chesne p. 710. MCCCLXXIII II. The Victory being thus obtained the Constable returned to his former Camp where having taken Care of his Wounded and Prisoners of both which sort he had Plenty he sent Sr. Alan de Beaumont to denounce against those that remain'd in Sivray that if they held out till they were taken by Force they should all die without Mercy Upon this terrible Threat which was the usual way with the Constable especially because of their late Loss and that their Succours were overthrown the Garrison submitted and had the favour to go off without suffering any Harm either in their Goods or Persons the Constable allowing them a Convoy to Bourdeaux Thus this Fortress and all the Land pertaining thereunto returned to the Obedience of the French King. After this the Constable went with his Bretons and Frenchmen and came before Niort in a great Heat This was a strong Town in Poictou standing on the Sevre which had held for the English while they had a good
was marching Wherefore he desir'd that for the present he might be let alone on Condition that neither He nor His should make any War unless some Violence was offer'd on the French part But that if the Heritors and Lords of Gascogne should be reduced by him then he also would yield up unto him and in all things do as they should do To this the Duke agreed receiving of the Abbot Hostages for his true performance which Pledges he sent to Perigueux and so drew toward the Town of Lourde in Bigorre to which he laid his Siege and then summon'd the Garrison to yield The Townsmen would willingly have agreed to the motion but the Knight that govern'd the Place said stoutly That since the Earl of Foix had deliver'd it to his Care he was resolv'd by no means to resign it up into the hands of any other Person living With which answer the Constable and the Duke of Anjou were so nettled that they commanded a general Assault to be made So that at last the Place was carried by force and the Captain and most of his Men slain with all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children and the Town rased and given up to the Plunder Nevertheless they left a Garrison in the Castle at their Departure Thence they Marched into the Lands belonging to Chastel Bon ravaging all about as far as Chastelneuf which they took and thence Marching toward Bearn they enter'd the Land of the Lord of Lescar whence they rode till they came before a good strong Town and Castle named Sailles which held of the County of Foix thô all the Lands and Arrierefiefs lay in Gascogne The Black-Prince before his Expedition into Spain had intended to call the Earl of Foix to an Account because he paid not his Duties unto him for this Place And now also the Duke of Anjou who had by this time reduced in a manner all Aquitain and look'd upon himself as Master thereof resolv'd by any means to have this Place also So he laid his Siege unto Sailles which was not at all easie to be won and beside there was within a Valiant and Expert Captain named Sr. William de Pons When the Earl of Foix heard how the Frenchmen conquer'd in his Lands and Arrierefiess which in reason he ought to hold either of the French King or of the King of England he sent for the Vicount of Chastel Bon for the Lords of Mont Marsan of Chastelneuve and Lescar with the Abbot of St. Sever who being all come to him he purchas'd a safe-Conduct and so went before Sailles to the Duke of Anjou with the foresaid Lords in his Company There at last he agreed with the Duke That both He and they with all their Lands should remain in perfect Peace till the midst of August or the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary At which time there should appear before the Town of Moissac on the Tarne in the Province of Quercy an Army of the French Kings or of the King of England's part And if the English Army could keep the Field then they would hold their Lands of the King of England and if the French Army could keep the Field that day either by Battle or Non-appearance of the Enemy then they would hold their Lands of the King of France for ever Which Covenant faithfully to perform both the Earl of Foix and the other Lords gave sufficient security and so the Duke of Anjou brake up his Siege and went back to Perigueux with his whole Army For he would not let a Man be disbanded IV. But however Pope Gregory XI did now so double his Diligence in plying the Christian Work of Peacemaking by his Legates that at last a Treaty began between the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Anjou assurances being given to the latter at Perigueux for the Former held himself as Chief being Regent as he said for the King of England his Father So at last a firm Truce was agreed on to be held faithfully and without Fraud between Them and all their Friends Vassals and Assistants untill the last day of August the Two Dukes engaging to be present in the Marches of Picardy about the beginning of September in Order to prolong the said Truce the Duke of Lancaster at Calais and the Duke of Anjou at St. Omers Which Truce being thus taken the said Duke of Lancaster with the Duke of Bretagne the Earls of Warwick Suffolk and Stafford the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Chanon Robsart the Lord Willoughby and other Lords and Knights both of England and Gascogne went on board at Bourdeaux on the Eighth of July and set sail for England Upon f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 115. Walsing hist p. 183. n. 40. which Return of the Duke of Lancaster the People of those Parts almost totally revolted nothing being left in Aquitaine but Bourdeaux and Bayonne In Bretagne also the Captains of Becherel as Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who had now kept that Fortress a full Year against the French that besieged them when they heard how the Duke of Bretagne was gone back into England and that now they had no hopes of any timely Succour especially since their Victuals was almost spent upon Mature Advice resolved to treat with their Enemies and to come to some agreeable Composition The Lords of Bretagne and Normandy that lay there at Siege as the Lord of Hambie Stoneville Blanville and Granville were by this time very weary and would willingly enter into any kind of Treaty but they thought best to know the French Kings Mind first and when they found that he agreed to allow their Treaty they determin'd the Matter thus That if the Duke of Bretagne or some other from the King of England did not come personally between that time and the Feast of All-Saints then next coming strong enough to raise the Siege then they within were to yield up the Place their Lives and Goods saved Which was done accordingly None appearing at the time appointed in their behalf and Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard with their Men and Goods took the Sea and return'd for England V. When g Frois c. 312. the Middle of August drew near which was the time limited for the Decision of High Gascogne to be made before Moissac the Duke of Anjou drew thitherward with an huge Army and kept the Field before the Place six days together All which time no body appeared for King Edward For the English all thought that because of the Truce lately taken between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster which was to hold to the last of August the Design about Moissac was to be given over But the Duke of Anjou and his Council were it seems of another Mind and resolved to take all Advantages they could without troubling their Heads with unprofitable Scruples of Honour Faith and Justice So when the Duke of Anjou saw once the Feast
Mortimer Earl of March the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Kent the Lord Edward Spencer and the other English Captains returned also for England But the Lord Spencer presently upon his return fell grievously Ill wherefore he began to dispose himself for another World and among other things i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. ex libro Sudbury dicto fol. 89. made his Testament which bears Date at Lanblethian a Castle of his in the Marches of Wales upon the Sixth of November Anno 1375. Wherein he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abbey of Tewksbury in Glocestershire near his Ancestors on the South part and gave to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash his Great Bed of Camaka-Blew with Griffons as also another Bed of Camaka striped with White and Black and all the Furniture belonging thereto Moreover to the Abbot and Covent of that House of Tewksbury he gave an whole Suit of his best Vestments as also two Gilt Chalices and an Hanap or Bason Gilt likewise an Ewer wherein to put the Body of Christ on Corpus Christi Day which Ewer was given him by the King of France I shall mention no more Particulars but that he died shortly after viz. on Martinmass-Day in the same Month at his Castle at Kaerdiff leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then but Two years of Age and four Daughters Cecily who died young Elizabeth first married to Sr. John Arundel and afterwards to the Lord de la Zouch Anne who became Wife to Sr. Hugh Hastings and after his Death to the Lord Morley and Margaret the Wife of Sr. Robert Ferrers This Lord Edward Speucer was a Mighty Baron of the Realm and so Valiant that his Death was look'd on as a National Loss and a great Empairment of the Strength of England He died too soon being but in the 39 Year of his Age and was descended from those Delespencers Earls of Glocester who were such Favourites to King Edward the Second the Greatness of whose Condition may be estimated from this Inventory which was found to have belonged to Hugh Delespenser the Younger k Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. 2. n. 58. vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 372. Sr. W. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 396. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton his térve corrigendus ex Dug as Ten Good Castles in Wales and Twenty Three Mannors besides the Countries of Lantrissan Glamorgan and Wenceland with the County of Galesy and it appear'd that Hugh the Elder had at the time of his Fall no less than Fifty Nine Lordships in sundry Counties Twenty Eight Thousand Sheep One Thousand Oxen and Steers One Thousand two Hundred Kine with their Calves and Fourty Mares with their Colts of two Years one Hundred and Sixty Draught Horses two Thousand Hogs three Thousand Bullocks Fourty Tuns of Wine six Hundred Bacons Fourscore Carcasses of Martinmas Beef six Hundred Muttons in his Larder Ten Tuns of Cider Armour Plate Jewels and ready Money better than ten Thousand Pounds Thirty six Sacks of Wooll and a Library of Books VI. About this time there were sent into Scotland by Commission from King Edward the Lord l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 236. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Guy de Brian and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham to treat with William Earl of Douglas and Others appointed by Robert Stuart King of Scotland touching the Restitution of those Lands which by Vertue of the Truce formerly made did belong to England and m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. for Settling all things amiss which had fell out contrary to the Truce and Agreement made between the Kings of England and Scotland VII Now when the Truce of which we spake was thus made at Bruges being to continue for one whole Year unto the First of April 1376. between the Kings of England and France and their Allies the Duke of Lancaster on the one Part and the Duke of Burgundy on the other sware to uphold the same and that at the Feast of All-Saints next coming they would return again to Bruges in order to treat further about Prolonging the Truce or Compleating a Peace Each Party being permitted to hold and enjoy every thing which at that time they had in Possession untill the said First of April From this latter Clause the English concluded that St. Saviour le Vicount would be secure but the Frenchmen who always got the Advantage of them by Treaties resolved that the First Covenant should take place of the Latter At Whitsuntide therefore which was the Time appointed that the Garrison of St. Saviour was to yield unless rescued by their Friends the French King sent thither no less than 6000 Spears Knights and Esquires besides Others but none appear'd on the Behalf of the Garrison either to raise the Siege or hold the Field against them When therefore the appointed time was come and expired the English much against their Wills yielded up to the French the Captain Thomas Katrington Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs with the Three Brethren Mauliverers and the rest of the Garrison being convey'd to Carentan whence they all took shipping for England VIII And thô during King Edward's Reign this Esquire Katrington was never question'd in the least for this Matter yet a few Years after in the Days of King Richard the Second a Noble Knight named Sr. John Annesley n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. who had married the late Lord John Chandos his Niece o Sr. Rich. Baker p. 150. ad ann 1381. accused him of flat Treason in thus Delivering up that Fortress and thereupon challenged him to a Combat which the Esquire accepted and the King granted resolving to be himself a Spectator as He was with all the Court the Lists being made in the Palace Yard of Westminster This Esquire Katrington was a mighty Man of Valour of a large stature and far overtop'd the Knight being also of greater Expectation in such Matters But however whether Justice or Chance or Valour only decided the Business the Knight prevail'd and Katrington the day after the Combat died of his Wounds as some say thô considering the Laws attending the Duello in such Cases I rather here encline p Fabian p. 324. to Fabian who affirms that he was drawn to Tiburn and there hanged for the Treason whereof by being vanquished he was proved Guilty IX But to return besides this Encroachment on the Truce made by the French in taking St. Saviour le Vicount after that Manner q Rot. Par. 50 Ed. 3. n. 127. certain Ships of England which had lately carried over into Aquitain the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne whom they had landed at Bourdeaux being now return'd thence to le Baye in Bretagne were Boarded by certain Spanish Gallies and taken on the Tenth of August thô the late Truce extended unto the Spaniards also as being Allies of France Of which we
and Suffolk besides many other Lords and Ladies In the First Division of these Mummers there rode Fourty Eight habited like Esquires Two and Two together all clothed in Scarlet Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendal with comely Visards on their Faces After whom went Fourty Eight Knights in like Order and in the same Livery of Stuff and Colour Then came One richly Arrayed like an Emperour and some distance after him Another Gorgeously attired in Pontificalibus representing the Pope with Twenty Four Cardinals attending him In the Reer of all came up Eight Persons with Black Visards and strange as if they had been Ambassadors from some Foreign Princes These Mummers being enter'd the Court of Kennington alighted all from their Horses and went orderly into the Great Hall Whereupon the Young Prince his Mother and the Great Lords who were acquainted with the Matter came out of the Chamber into the Hall and received the Salutations of the Mummers They by a pair of Dice flung upon the Table signified their Desire to play with the Young Prince and upon his Accepting their Motion they so obligingly contrived the Dice that the Prince always won whether He cast at Them or They at Him. Having thus lost some considerable Sums of Gold then they set to the Prince Three Jewels one after another viz. a Bowl of Gold a Cup of Gold and a Ring of Gold all which the Prince wan at three Casts Then they set to the Lady Princess to the Duke the Earls and other Lords to every One a large Ring of Gold which as the Dice were order'd those Illustrious Personages also wan After Play succeeded a Splendid Entertainment accompanied with most exquisit Musick the Prince and the Lords dancing on the One part and the Mummers on the Other And then all being concluded with a Banquet of Wine and Spices the Mummers departed in Order as they came III. Now it is to be observed that althô King Edward was something recover'd from his Sickness yet not being very Current and especially because of his great Age he had lately associated unto Himself his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Regency Who thô perhaps he might be Ambitious enough yet being of too Rough and Martial a Temper to please the People was not thereby in any great likelyhood of Injuring the Right of the Young Prince of Wales who besides the Advantage of his Title was also for his Great Fathers Sake most strongly rooted in the Affections of all True Englishmen However the Duke of Lancaster being thus advanced shew'd himself Terrible to all his Enemies especially to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester whom he hated mortally for what Cause I shall not here enquire and caused him e Fex p. 392. to be deprived of all his Temporalities with a Prohibition not to come within 20 Miles of the Court. And not being well assured of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March at that time Marshal of England with a Design to remove him out of the way he commanded him in the King's Name toward the End of the preceding Year to haste over unto Calais according to his Office and there to take a diligent View of the Castle and Town of Calais as also of all the Castles and Forts in the Marches thereof and to cause such Repairs to be made as should seem needfull and likewise to see them well Manned and Victualled But the Earl of March who saw how hereby he was set as a Mark for Envy declin'd the Matter and chose rather to yield up his Rod with the Office of Marshal thereto belonging than obey in so hazardous an Employ The Duke gladly accepts his Rod and gives it with the Office to his sure Friend the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the First of that Name and Family who was then f Dagd 1 Vol. p. 276. b. assign'd to the same Employ thô he had not full Commission till this present Year IV But now a Parliament is summon'd to meet at Westminster D. Lit. Dom. as on the Quindene of St. Hilary being the Tuesday g Vid. Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. M.S. praedict p. 143. Sr. Rob. Câtton p. 144. next after the Conversion of St. Paul that is the 27 of January the Writs of Summons bearing Date at Westminster on the 1 of December preceding And here for instance-sake I shall set down the Names of those Peers to whom the Kings Writs were directed with a Copy of the Writ it self as taken from the Latine only premising that the King herein calls his Nephew Prince Richard by the Name of Son as well to set the higher Character upon him as because he was now in Law to be look'd on as his Son being come into the Place of his Deceased Father EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to his most Dear SON Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting Whereas concerning divers and Weighty Matters relating especially to Us and the State of our Realm We intend to hold our Parliament at Westminster on the Quindene of St. Hilary next ensuing and there with You and others our Peers and Barons of the Realm to consult about the Premises We command You upon the Faith and Allegiance which You owe unto Us firmly enjoyning that at the said time and Place all other Business laid aside You be personally present there to consult and advise about the Premises with Us and other our Peers and Barons and that this You omit by no means Teste meipso apud Westmonast primo Decembris Ano. Regni nostri Angliae 50 Franciae verò 37. Per ipsum Regem The like Letters were directed besides the Clergy to these Peers following viz. John King of Castille and Leon Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Cambridge Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas of Woodstock Constable of England Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos William Vfford Earl of Suffolk William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Henry Lord Percy Marshal of England William Lord Latimer William Lord Bardolph Guy Lord Bryan Roger Lord Beauchamp John Lord Clinton Gilbert Lord Talbot William Lord Botreaux John Lord De la Warre Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Nevill Thomas Lord Rous of Hamlake Richard Lord Stafford Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin John Lord Grey of Codnovre Henry Lord Grey of Shereland Nicolas Lord Burnel William Lord de la Zouch of Harringworth Roger Lord Clifford And the Lord Almaric of St. Amand. The Quindene of St. Hilary as We said before was the First Day of the Parliament At which time the Noble and Puissant Lord Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester together with the Bishops Lords Justices Commons and others summon'd to the Parliament assembled at the Palace of Westminster in the Painted-Chamber where
Lenox Menteith and Stratherne came laden with Spoil and Prey to St. Johnston where he found the King of England his Brother lately return'd thither from his victorious March beyond the Scottish Mountains This Town had been lately destroy'd by the Scots who despair'd to maintain it for their own behoof But now King Edward order'd it to be rebuilt fortifi'd and encompassed with a strong Wall Ditch and Rampire VI. The King of u Knighton p. 2567. France all this while did what he could by Policy to hinder King Edwards Proceedings and withdraw him home again before he might perfect any Conquest in Scotland To that end again he sends his Ambassadors to him and procures Others to be sent from the Pope x Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1335. §. 36 with Letters bearing date apud Pontemsorgiae Avenionensis Dioecesis 2 Kal. Aug. Anno Pontif. 1. to endeavour a Peace between King David and him and to request his Company once more in the Holy War But King Edward observing his pragmaticall Curiosity in Affairs no way relating to him and also his unsincere way of Address sent him short Word That he was able of himself blessed be God without any help from him to wage war with the Infidels when he should see fit unless He and his Adherents by their Malice and underhand Dealings should stand in his way And that he neither could nor would undertake any Foreign Expedition while his Enemies the Scots continued so rebellious against him who were also by him abetted and encouraged in their Rebellion Thô both as a Christian Prince and a Kinsman he ought rather to compose War and Strife among two Christian Nations and even to assist him with all his Might in his just Wars than to nourish up his Capital Enemies unjustly against him VII Thus King Edward put him off at that time and proceeded with such success in his Affairs in Scotland that about the Feast of the y Augusti 15. Assumption of our Lady most of the Scotch Nobility being wholly tired out and fearing yet much more z Walsingh hist p. 116. Adam Murimouth came in and submitted themselves to King Edward of England at St. Johnston where both the Kings then were among whom thô the Lord Strabolgi came not in person for fear of the Kings sudden Displeasure yet by his Advocates and Letters he so humbly sued for Peace and Pardon and so well acquitted himself of all Treason that he with the rest was accepted on these Conditions a Ces sont les Choses le Pointz accordez c. Murimouth c. Stow p. 232. Knighton p. 2566. n. 30. c. These are the Points and Articles agreed on betwixt the Council of the Kings of England and Scotland on the one Party and the Lord Alexander Moubray the Lord Geoffry Moubray the Lord Geoffry Roos Dr. William Bullock Clerk and the Lord Eustace de Lorrain having full power from David Strabolgi Earl of Athol and Robert Stuart of Scotland on the other Party to treat on accord and confirm all Points enterparled and to be enterparled betwixt the said Kings and the said Earl and Robert Stuart as appeareth by the Letters Patents of either Party 1. Imprimis it is accorded That the Earl of Athol and all the Great Men and Others of the Commonalty of Scotland which were willing to come in to the King of Englands Peace shall have Life and Limb Lands and Tenements Fees and Offices which they ought by right or by inheritance to have in Scotland those except which by common Assent should be excepted In such manner that all Offences and Misdemeanours which they had committed in the Realm of England from the beginning of the World to the Date of these Presents shall be pardon'd without Imprisonment or any other Molestation 2. Item That the Earl of Athol and the Lord Alexander Moubray shall still hold those Lands Tenements and Fees in England which they held at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England 3. Item That the Franchises of the Kirk of Scotland shall be maintained after the ancient Usage And that the Laws of Scotland in Burroughs Towns and Sheriff-wicks within the Lands of the King of Scotland be used after the Old Way as they were used in the time of King Alexander And that the Offices of Scotland be administred by Men of the same Nation yet so as that the King of Scotland of his Prerogative Royal may at any time according to his pleasure advance to places of Office Men of any Nation whatsoever 4. Item That all those who being in the same case with the Earl of Athol have Lands and Tenements within the Lands of the King of England shall still hold those Lands and Tenements Possessions Fees and Offices as they had them at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England those except who by common Assent shall be excepted and if they be impleaded for their Lands and Tenements aforesaid they may have their Defence and Recoveries in any Court according to Law. 5. Item As touching the Demand which the Earl of Athol claimeth that the King of England would release him his Lands in England which he hath in gage for 800 Marks the King neither ought nor will do that but as for his Mannor of b Stow Byphingdone quod corrigo autoritate Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. ubi legitor Bulinden in Com. Buck. Bulindon which the said Earl laid to pledge for c Stow 250 l. sed Knighten CC li. ubi li pro l. à Stow acceptim per errorem cum stat li. pro libris two hundred Pounds it is accorded That if the said Earl of Athol come within one Year and make true payment of the said Money that the King shall cause the said Mannor to be restored unto him 6. Item That as touching the Castle and Lands of Chilham the said Earl shall be in the same point that he was before at his departure from Newcastle upon Tine when he paid Homage to the King of England and shall have his Recovery by Law and the King promiseth in good Faith to take Order that he shall have the Law of his Kingdom without favour on either Party 7. Item That as touching the Lands which the said Earl claimeth in Norfolk whereof he hath Charters the King promiseth that having seen first his Charters by Advice of his Council he will do him reason And if in any case any man surmise Treason upon the said Earl he may defend himself with his Body according to the Laws and Usage of Scotland and upon the Marches And that all those in his case have the like Grant. 8. Item that as to the Pardon which William Ramsey Knight demandeth for the Trespass by him done to William Lord Montagu in beating down his Castle of Haghterdorne the same William shall be ready to make satisfaction in
such manner as shall be by the Kings of England and Scotland devised 9. Item That the Lord Eustace de Lorrain shall have his Lands and Tenements which he ought to have within the Realm of Scotland and if any man hath trespassed against him he shall have his Recovery by Law. Dat. at St. Johnston in Scotland the 18 of August Anno Dom. 1335. Now whereas it was before remembred that these Commissioners were empowred not only from the Earl of Athol but also from the Lord Robert Stuart himself it is not so much to be admired that so great a Man as Prince Robert who was now sole Governour of Scotland for King David his Kinsman should yield so far as to admit of an Agreement so much to his Masters Detriment with the King of England I say it is not so greatly to be admired if we but consider the extream Necessity that drove him to it in that juncture he himself being very sick at Dumbriton and his late Partner in the Government the Lord John Randall Earl of Murâây being at the same time prisoner at London and likely to continue in that Condition because he had both before and now also refus'd to accept of King Edwards Peace Thô indeed no great sincerity was on the Scots Party but the wonderfull Streights they were in required a little Dissimulation and outward Compliance till a better Opportunity Nay 't is said by a very e Knighton p. 2568. n. 10. ancient and authentick Historian that the greatest part of the Scotch Nobility among whom the foresaid Lords no doubt are included being wearied out by these continual Harassings and Desolations came in voluntarily and submitted themselves entirely to the King of England on these Conditions That they should obey the Bailiol as their King during his Life the mean while King David with his Queen to live privately but honourably at London and upon the Death of King Bailiol who as yet had no Children to succeed That they would oblige King David to come to the Parliament which was to be at London the next Michaelmas and to stand to the King of Englands Awardment and Arbitration In the mean while they yielded their Homage to him as to their Superior Lord. VIII But the King of France having knowledge hereof out of Envy to King Edward's Glory or because he found it more conducible to his own Affairs to have the Interests of Scotland and England still divided dealt so assiduously with the Scots by promising himself to stand by them that all this came to Nothing nor did King David appear at all in that Parliament as they had engaged he should do The mean time King Edward thô he had great hopes that the Scots would at last stand to this their own Agreement however thought it not becoming the Wisdom of a King to repose himself too much on the Faith of others especially considering the Mutability of that People and their strong Inclinations to France Wherefore he resolves so to strengthen himself that if they should be False they should not be over Dangerous and so having already f Holinshead Scotl. p 236. Ashmole p. 646. fortified St. Johnston he now goes to Striveling where on the plat of ground on which the late Castle had stood he built a strong Fortress called the Pile thence he proceeded to Bothwill where he added much strength and a Garrison to that Castle appointing Thomas Lord Barkley to victual it from Edinburgh who was so good a Convoy to what he brought thither that he discomfited one night the Lord William Douglas who lay in Ambush for him with little or no loss to himself but with such an entire Victory that Douglas himself with only three more could hardly escape and that by the Benefit of the Night too Edinburgh also about this time is rebuilt and committed to the g Buchan p. 297 Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 143. Custody of Sr. John Striveling afterwards a Baron of this Realm And having thus provided for the Peace of Scotland the King returns in Health and Honour into England leaving a good part of his Forces behind him with King Bailiol and other his Captains for the better Security of his Affairs that way A little before which the Famous Warrier the Lord h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 327. Richard Talbot was Redeemed from his Imprisonment for 2000 Marks by the Favour of Prince Robert Stuart who highly Respected Worth thô in an Enemy IX But the Lord i Walsing Hyped p. 113. Holinshead Scot. p. 236. Buchan l. 9. p. 295 Hector Boeth l. 15. p. 319. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol having now fully obtain'd a Pardon from King Edward as we shew'd before that he might again purchase his good Opinion resolves to be in Action for him with the foremost Having therefore provided himself with competent Forces Horse Foot and other Necessaries he presently lays Siege to the Castle of Kildrummy on the River Done that held still for the Bruceans The mean while certain of the Brucean Lords as Patrick Earl of Dunbar the Lord Andrew Murray William Douglas and others prepar'd to go against him as well to punish his Revolt and Perjury as to Relieve the Besieged Of this the Earl having timely notice seemingly Raises the Siege but indeed Marches directly forth in good Order of Battle to meet the Enemy Both Armies joyned in the fields of Kilblaine where began a very fierce Encounter for generally in Civil Dissentions when mens Minds are mutually exasperated the Animosity wherewith they contend is greater than that of different Nations As the fallings out of old Friends are usually more fierce than those of Strangers But at length the Earl of Athol who was Superior in number and no way Inferior in Skill or Courage to his Enemies had carried away a Compleat Victory had not Sr. John Crab the Captain of Kildrummy Castle instructed either by secret Notice or his own Conjecture issued out of his Castle with 300 fresh Men who coming suddenly on the Backs of the Atholians in the very Instant of their Victory and falling on with great Fury Noise and Clamour so terrified them and added such Courage to the almost Conquer'd Bruceans that the Victory now presently enclin'd the other way Upon this Earl David disdaining to fly or to be taken alive to suffer a Publique Execution or perhaps not dispairing by a Vigorous Opposition to wrest back the Victory again with a Select Troop of his Best Friends makes a Desperate Impression upon the Enemy Where Fighting a while Valiantly he was notwithstanding finally slain by the Hands of Sr Alexander Gurdon There fell with him of the Nobles k Buchan p. 295 Sr. Robert Brady and Sr. Walter Cumin whose Brother Sr. Thomas being taken alive was the next day condemned to lose his Head Some few escaped into the Castle of Camoron with the Captain thereof Robert Menneth who yet were compelled to yield the next day for want
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâis c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. âd 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Rââ Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
departed with all his Men to Calais where Sr. Hugh Calverly seized upon him and sent him into England to answer for the Fact. He was for the present committed to the Tower but during King Edward's Reign was proceeded against no further The Duke of Bretagne q Frois c. 314. s 196. id Gallicè fol. 267. b. who had been more than a Year with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders seeing now the War open again took leave of the Earl and went to Graveling whither there went to meet him the Earl of Salisbury and Sr. Guischard Dangle with a Select Body of Men of Arms and Archers and so conducted him safely to Calais The next Day some of their Retinue r Stow p. 276. to the number of about Fifty suddenly of their own Heads took Ship thinking so to pass securely to Dover But they were presently snapt by some French Gallies and every one of them except two Men and two Women slain in the sight of the Calisians who were not able to give them any help at that time Sr. Hugh Calverley who was then Captain of Calais took this in very ill part especially because the Injury was done to such as being concerned in the Treaty had the French King's Security to come and go without Danger but since it was impossible to remedy the Matter he resolved to revenge it and presently taking with him some Choice Troops he made an Inroad into the French Pale where he slew many Men retook the Castle of Outwick and returned safe with a great Booty of Artillery and Cattle And indeed many Å¿ Vid. Walsing hist p. 199. c. notable Actions were afterwards done by this Valiant English Knight of which notwithstanding We are forbid to speak because they will not fall within the Compass of our History XV. When t Frâis ibid. the Duke of Bretagne the Earl of Salisbury and Sr. Guischard Dangle with their Company had tarried now about a Month at Calais having at last got a sufficient Convoy they set Sail for England about the Middle of June and arrived safe at London And from thence the Lords and Knights took Boat and went to Sheen in Surry by the Thame's side where at that time King Edward lay very sick and soon after departed this Life on the XI of the Calends of July that is on the 21 of June being the Day of St. Alban the Protomartyr of England and a Sunday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXVII which was the One and Fiftieth of his Reign of England but of France the Thirty Eighth and of his Age the Sixty Fifth In Memory whereof his Anniversary Obit was ordain'd to be held for ever on the u Ashmole's Gârter p. 151. 21 of June in the Famous Chappel of St. George at Windsor And thus by the Death of this Great Conqueror and his Son the Black-Prince we may see that no Worldly Grandeur can secure us from the Reach of Fate But Monarchs althô they bear the Stamp Divine And o'r the World their Awfull Scepters sway Thô Subjects their Commands obey To Death's High Hand must all their Crowns resign The Godlike Heroe that from every Field Reaps a Full Harvest of Immortal Fame To Conquering Fate his sinewy Arms must yield At whose First Frown the Fiercest Warrier's tame Beauty it self her Heavenly Lustre vails And all her dazling Glories die Those Swelling Charms puff'd up with Flattery 's Gales Shrink into Dirt and wound th' offended Eye When Death attacks the once-relentless Fair Cruel to her as she to them whom once she bad Despair But Vertue Heavenly Vertue that can save Th' Owner from wholly passing Lethe's Lake Vertue can even the Dead Immortal make And like some Heaven-born Plant sprouts fresher from the Grave Wherefore now it will become us to clear the Reputation of this Mighty Prince from those foul Reflections which Malice or Ignorance may have cast upon his Declining Age for till then the Fiercest Envy durst not attack him and lastly to sum up his Character and as in a Looking-Glass exhibit Him fully and faithfully to the World. XVI Most of our Historians taking it from one another x Walsing hist p. 189. Stow p. 276. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 145. Daniel p. 260. c. talk very dolefully of his forlorn Condition at the point of his Death and tell us that first his Concubine as they call her Alice Perrers took the very Rings off his Fingers and so left him after whom other Servants went away in like manner with what they could carry That at last only a poor Priest remaining in the Room out of Christian Piety and Loyal Respect to his dying Master went boldly up to him and admonished him to lift up his Heart to God in the Heavens and humbly with contrition to ask Mercy of Him whose Divine Majesty he must needs have grievously offended whereupon the King say they being awaken'd somewhat from his former Lethargy began by Signs for his Voice had by this time almost wholly fail'd him as by taking a Crucifix in his hands and kissing it with many Tears flowing from his Eyes to signifie a Declaration of his Faith and Repentance and so with much adoe making shift to pronounce the Adorable Name JESVS with that Sweet and Salutiferous Word He finished his Speech and Life together Well might the Death of this Monarch be in such a Penitent Manner whose Life had afforded so many Instances of Piety and Devotion But as for Dame Alice Perrers her Rifling him of his Rings from his Fingers it is no way credible not only from what We y I l. 1. c. 11. §. 1â p. 872. said of her before and that upon her Convention in Parliament in the Year following there was no such thing laid to her Charge by her most inveterate Enemies but also because if she did it before Witnesses it must have come out and then could not but have been faral to her and if not it could not have been known And whereas it is said that this Woman flatter'd the King that He should still live untill his Speech fail'd him whereby he neglected to prepare for his Soul as he ought to have done this savours of a Monkish Lie too grosly and of that Spirit so visible in many of their Writings which either from any Judgment falling upon a Man presently attributes unto him some Failure against the Liberties of the Church or some Saint or else when they find the Person to have in any thing thwarted their Interest is apt to invent some Tale or other which may insinuate his Dereliction of God. And this use only doth z Vid. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 6. §. 3. p. 392. Odoricus Rainaldus make of this Story which none ever had before Walsingham and none since but from his single Authority Whereas not only the Silence of all other Authors before his time as to any such thing may evince the Falshood of this matter