and do give and grant to have and to hold to them and their Successors for free pure and perpetual Alms altogether free and quiet for ever from all secular exaction We have also granted unto them for Us and our Heirs and given leave that they the Warden and Canons may appropriate the said Churches and hold them so appropriated to their own uses to them and their Successors for ever notwithstanding the Statute set forth concerning Lands and Tenements not to be put to Mortmaine We will also that unto the said Warden Canons Knights and other Ministers of the said Chappel there to serve so much be paid every Year out of our Exchequer as together with the Profits arising from the said Churches shall seem sufficient and honest for their Diet and the support of the Burthens incumbent on them according to the Decency of their Condition the mean while until there shall be provided by Us in goods immoveable Lands Benefices or Rents to an agreeable sufficience and to our Honour to the Sum of a Thousand Pounds yearly All which We promise and undertake for Us and for our Heirs effectually to fulfill In witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patent Witness our self at Westminster the VI of August in the Year of our Reign of England XXII and of France IX From that Passage in these Letters And this We firmly decree inviolably ordain and by our Royal Authority as much as in us lies establish for ever it is to be observed that according to the Opinion of those times the Kingly Authority extended not to the instituting any where Men of Religion and other Officers to perform and attend the service of God For that lay in the Power and Disposition of the Pope And therefore King Edward setting forth what he had design'd in reference to the Endowment of this Chappel requested Pope Clement VI to grant unto the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester full Authority and Power of ordaining and instituting the College and other things thereunto appertaining II. Hereupon the said Pope by his c Ashmole p. 152. Extat ibid. in Append. N. 11. exiâ—sâ— Aaâ—â—graphe c. Bull bearing date at Avignon Pridiè Calendas Decembris in the Ninth Year of his Pontificate which answers to the Thirtieth day of November Ano. Dom. d Nen 1351. ut Asmncle vid. Rainaid ad huncan Labbe in Chronel Techn 1350 commending the Pious intent of the King in this matter granted unto the Archbishop and Bishop aforesaid and to either of them full Power and Authority to ordain institute and appoint in this Chappel as should seem good to them a certain Number of Canons Priests Clerks Knights and Officers continually to attend upon the Service of God of which Canons and Priests one was to have the Title of Custos or Warden and preside over the Rest And in another Bull bearing date at Avignon II Idus Februarii the same Year he exempted the said College of Windsor from the Jurisdiction of Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and the like as may be seen at large in the said e Eâ—tat Aâ—â—encle in Append. ce N. 111. Bull. III. And f Asâ—â—cle p. 128. 〈◊〉 Pat. de anno 23. Fd. 3. pars 1. m. 10. c. now at this time We find the King beginning seriously to apply himself to the compleating the College of the Chappel of St. George and to the enlarging and beautifying of the Castle And to this Work he appointed several eminent Surveyors among whom we find numbred John Peyntour Richard Rochell William Hurle William Ireland Robert Barnham John Brocas Oliver de Bourdeaux Thomas Foxley John Alkeshull Walter Palmer and William of Wickham who by this imployment became so acceptable to the King that in time after many other considerable Preferments he attained to the Dignity of Bishop of Winchester and was the second Prelate of the Garter All these during the whole time of this Magnificent Work were assign'd to press Hewers of Stone Carpenters and such other Artificers as were thought usefull and necessary to provide Stone Timber Lead Iron and other Materials and Carriages for them Three whereof to the end this great undertaking might be honestly and substantially performed were assigned joyntly and severally at least once a Moneth all together with all Care and Diligence to survey the Workmen and their Work and to encourage such as did their Duty competently well but to compell the Idle and Slothfull And after this manner the Building went on till the 43d Year of the said King at which time it was quite finished namely as much as this King undertook g Ashmole p. 129. that is to say the Chappel of St. George the Great-Hall of St. George the Kings Palace the Lodgings on the East and South-side of the Upper-Ward the Keep or Tower in the Middle-Ward the Houses for the Custos and Canons in the Lower-Ward together with the whole Circumference of the Walls and their several Towers and Gates as they stand to this day IV. But it was now that the most Noble Order of the Garter received its full Institution in such manner as We have h Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 6. p. 296. c. before related something largely in the 18 Year of this King Who on the 23 of April being a Thursday and the Festival of St. George i Registr M.S. Aâ—undel Archiv Câ—nt par 1. fâ—l 53. b. § 27. the Military Patron of England went himself with the 25 Knights Companions aforemention'd being all cloathed in Gowns of Russet and Mantles k Aâ—â—cle p. 209. 〈◊〉 Retul Compet Joh. Coke Cler. Magn. Garderch ab an 21. ed an 23. Ed. 3. n. 8. penes Reâ—â—â— Regis in Sâ—â—caric of Fine-Woollen Cloth of Blue-Colour pouder'd with Garters and each having a pair of long Cordans of Blue-silk fixed to his Collar together with the rest of the Habit of the Order in a Solemn Procession l Sr Th. de la Mare pud Stow p. 250. all bare-headed to the Chappel of St. George to hear Mass which was celebrated by William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Prelate of the Order This done they return'd in their former Ranks to a Magnificent Feast at which they sat in such Regular Manner as is continued to this day At this Solemnity m Stâ—n p. 246. b. Ashmole p. 165. vâ—d l. 2. c. 6. §. 22. p. 414. King Edward after his usual Manner exhibited those Martiâ—l Sports of Tilting and Tourneament whereat King David of Scotland thô a Prisoner was not only permitted to be present but also to ennoble himself by the use and exercise of Arms the Harness of his Horse being made of Blue Velvet at King Edwards Charge with a Pale of Red Velvet and beneath a White-Rose embroidered thereon The King of England also himself held a part in these Solemn Justs having for his Devise a White-Swan Gorged Or with this daring and inviting
Your Selves herein that We may have cause to commend Your Care and Diligence Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twelfth day of February in the Year of Our Reign over England the 15 and over France the 2d. In Answer to this the Archbishop return'd the same Defence he had made in the Pulpit at Canterbury only mutatis mutandis with this Preface directed to the King viz. IX b Antiqu. Brit. p. 227. c. To his Dread Lord EDWARD by the Grace of God of France and England the most Illustrious King John by Divine Permission his humble Minister of the Church of Canterbury once Temporally but now more in the Lord wisheth Health both of Soul and Body and evermore to persevere in Good and Manfully to Resist envious and wicked Suggestions which easily corrupt Good Manners There are two Things whereby the World is principally governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Power Of which the Burthen incumbent upon Priests is so much more weighty and sublime by how much at the Divine Scrutiny they are to give an Account even concerning Kings themselves And therefore your Majesty ought to know that You depend on their Judgment not that they can be directed by your Will. For who doubts but that the Priests of Christ ought to be accounted both Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the Faithfull Is it not look'd on as a sign of a deplorable Madness for a Son to endeavour to bring under his Father or a Scholar his Master And that many Prelates have Excommunicated some of them Kings others Emperours the Canonical Authority of the Scriptures testifies And if you enquire for any thing particular of the Persons of Princes the blessed c c Innocent l. Papa Rom. flâ—ruit circa An. Chr. 404. Innocent smote the Emperour Arcadius with the edge of Excommunication because he consented that St. John Chrysostom should be violently expelled from his Seat. And the Holy Ambrose Archbishop of Milain for a fault which to other Priests seem'd not so very enormous bound the Emperour Theodosius the Great in the Bond of Excommunication who afterward having first given convenient Satisfaction obtain'd Absolution And in more convenient time and place many more Examples of the like nature may be produced Whatsoever Priests therefore offend by Error meerly humane which doth no way trespass upon the Faith of Religion it seems that they neither can nor ought to be punished by the Secular Power For it is the part of a good and religious Prince to restore broken and bruised Churches to build new ones to honour and with all respect imaginable to defend the Priests of God like unto Constantine that pious Prince of most Happy Memory who when the Complaints of Clergymen were brought unto him said You can be judged of None that is none of the Secular Judges who are reserved to the judgment of God alone according to the Assertion of the Apostle saying d d 1 Cor. c. 2. v. 15. The spiritual Man is judged of no man. Let your Majesty therefore consider what and how great the Punishment of that Son ought to be who uncovers the nakedness of his Father and wickedly defames his innocent Parent to whom as is premised he ought to yield all reverence and honour For the Pagan Princes after their manner yielded and do yield no small Honour to the Prelates of their Temples and Idols whom they termed Flamins How much more ought Christian Princes Worshippers of the True God and of the Christian Faith to reverence the Ministers and Prelates of Christ But alas in a preposterous and unnatural way the Honour which on Occasion of the Dignity wherein we thô unworthy preside ought unto us as unto your Father to be yielded is turned into Reproach the Respect into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt While You sent your Royal Letters Patents sealed with your Royal Seal or rather notorious Libels spitefully dictated and written by our Enviers and Enemies containing various crimes and many enormous Matters and false-invented Reproaches against us to our infamy as plainly by the reading thereof may appear to all the Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall Persons to be published to the great Affront of us I hope and not of God himself That so the Devotion of our Flock toward us might wax cold and their Obedience be turned into Contempt From which unexpected not to say detestable Deed it evidently appears to all that behold it how the Royal Power which proceedeth from the Lord according to the saying of the wise King Solomon e e Wisd of Solomon c. 6. v. 1. 3. Hear ô ye Kings and understand Learn ô ye Judges of the ends of the Earth For Power is given unto you from the Lord and Soveraignty from the most High doth now presume to judge even the Lord God himself in the Persons of his Ministers and Priests not only to the violation of the Divine Law but against the Ordinance of God of humane Law and natural Reason and doth condemn its Spiritual Father and the chief Peer of the Land being not called not convicted and by your Record to use the vulgar word unheard to the hazard of your Soul to the exceeding prejudice of all us Peers and of all the People of the Land. Nor let any one maliciously accuse us that being conscious of our own Guilt we seek to hide our selves lest we should be obliged to bear the brunt of your Objections For the most High knoweth that we heartily desire to see you above all mortal Men that all Flattery remov'd we may intimate unto your Highness the dangers both of You and of your Kingdom and the Affection and loving Hearts of your Subjects and advise You that your Actions I wish they were all Praise-worthy might be as a Light to others according to that of the * * Claudian Regis ad exemplum tâ—tus componitur â—rbis Wise Man The World is by a King's Example sway'd And also that upon beholding our Face You might call to mind those Services which lately we have performed in your Employs carefully and Faithfully according to the Conscience of our Soul so God help us in the last Trial when all Men shall f f 2 Corin. c. 5. v. 10. stand before his Tribunal to receive the things done in their Bodies according to that they have done whether it be good or evil And especially that before You the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Realm we might set forth our Reputation which by your Letters and Libels aforesaid is basely torn and bespatter'd purged true and pure as I call God to Witness it is to Publique Knowledge But upon notice that certain of your principal Counsellors near your Person have given forth menaces of Death against us who are in this Land not as Joseph was in Egypt but like Tyrants now adays domineer in the Throne after
receive the Discourses and Letters of Kings respectfully and graciously yet Our Excusatory Letters containing as in due place and time We intend fully to prove true and just Matter he intitles Detestable Scandalous Libells putting a false blot upon Our Name Because if any One that hath the Custody of a Common Weal is ready to prove those Crimes that are committed to writing if truth corroborate his Assertions he is vindicated from the Scandal of Libelling and is thereby accounted Praise-Worthy He also not observing the manner of his Predecessors who used to Honour and Love their Princes and cause y y 1 Tim. c. 2. v. 1. Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks to be made by themselves and others for them and to teach them in the Spirit of Meekness begins the Web of Faction and perverse Contention against Us and Our Servants in the Spirit of Pride z z Psalm 128. v. 3. making long his Iniquity and seeking which is the Comfort of Wretches more Companions in his punishment And which is worse by his Lying Words he wickedly endeavours to precipitate into a Disrespect and Contempt of Us his Suffragans and other Our Devout and Loyal Subjects And althô with God not the Heighth of a Mans Degree but the Passing of a Good Life gains approbation this Man Glorying in the Loftiness of his Condition requires unto himself as unto the Ambassador of Christ that Reverence which being due from Him unto Us He doth not pay Nay when both He and other Prelates of the Realm who receive the Temporals of their Churches from Us by their Oath of Allegiance do owe unto Us Faith Honour and Reverence He only is not asham'd to render unto Us instead of Faith Treachery in lieu of Honour Reproach and for Reverence Contempt Wherefore althô We are ready and always have been to respect as is meet Our Spiritual Fathers yet as for their Offences which We see to abound to the Hazard of Us and of Our Kingdom We ought not to pass them over slightly But the said Archbishop complains that certain Crimes were in Our said Excusatory Letters objected against him thô absent unheard and without Defence and that he was condemn'd of Capital Matters as if We as He foolishly pretends had to the utmost proceeded criminally against him which is not true When We only supply'd the place of an Excuse being compell'd of Necessity lest We should seem to neglect Our own Reputation But let this Cavilling Reprover see if this complaint may not justly be retorted upon his own Head who falsely and maliciously in positive Words describes Us his King and Our Counsellors thô absent unhear'd and without Defence as Oppressors and Transgressors of the Laws altogether When as He is justly blamed who incurrs the Fault which he himself Reproves and a a Rom. c. 2. v. 1. wherein he judgeth another he condemneth himself while he himself is found reproveable in the same thing Moreover althô he studied to serve not Our Interest but his own Covetousness yet he upbraids and boasts that he hath labour'd so Mightily in the Kings Affairs to use his own Words that thereby he feared how he had manifoldly incurred the heavy displeasure both of God and Man And this he might justly fear since he may be reckon'd among that sort of Men who according to the Prophetical taunt b b Jer. c. 9. v. 5. have taught their tongues to speak lies and weary themselves to commit Iniquity But as to certain other false and specious Words contained in the Letters of the said Archbishop thô We might confute them with Reasons more clear than the Light yet lest We should protract Discourse We thought fit for the present not to answer them because it is not decent to strive with a contentious Man nor agree with him in perverseness But We command You. firmly in the Faith and Love wherein You are bound unto Us enjoyning You that notwithstanding any Mandate of the said Archbishop to which in derogation of the Royal Honour against Your Oath of Allegiance made unto Us You ought not to obey You forthwith proceed to the Publication of those things which in Our foresaid Excusatory Letters are contained according to their Order And because We are and ought to be extreamly jealous concerning the maintenance of Our Rights and Prerogatives Royal which the Worthily remembred Supremacy of Our Progenitors Kings of England hath Gloriously defended and because the said Archbishop to stir up the Clergy and People against Us and to hinder the Carrying on of Our War which by his Counsel principally We undertook hath caused and commanded by others to be done and Published certain Denunciations and Publications of Sentences of Excommunication and Monitions Injurious and prejudicial to Our Crown and Dignity Royal since thereby he endeavours in sundry Articles to take away from Us the Jurisdiction notoriously to Us belonging and whereof We being a King Anointed are known to be capable and which both We and Our Progenitors the Popes Prelates and Clergy of Our Kingdom both knowing and allowing have peaceably enjoy'd time out of Mind to the Hurt of Our Majesty Royal and the manifest derogation of Our Rights and Kingly Prerogatives We therefore strictly and upon your Peril forbid You that neither by your selves nor by others you make nor as much as in you lies by others suffer to be made any such undue Publications Denuntiations or Monitions Prejudicial and Derogatory to Our Rights and Prerogatives Royal or any thing else whereby Our Liege Subjects may be stirred up against Us or the Carrying on of Our War may be any way hindred to the Subversion of Us and of Our Liege People which God forbid at the Command of the Archbishop or any other whatsoever And if any thing in this kind hath by You been attempted that forthwith You Repeal it Witness Our Self at the Tower of London the 31 of March in the Year of Our Reign of England the 15 and of France 2. This truly Royal Command of the Kings being obey'd by all the Bishops of the Province of Canterbury the King resolved to maintain the Rights of his Crown and Summons a Parliament to which also the Archbishop is called c Antiqu. Brit. p. 235. n. 55. the Kings Royal Protection being Granted him that he might safely come thither XI On the d Pascha 8 April Lit. Dom. G. Ninth of April being Easter e M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 40. c. Exact Abridgement by Sr Rob. Cotton p. 31. Monday King Edward held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster the Causes whereof were declared to be how the King might be speedily supply'd with the Grants yielded unto him last Year upon his passing in Person against his Enemy Philip of Valois who had taken away part of the Dutchy of Guienne much part of which Grant was kept from the King by Evil Officers Also secondly how more plenty of Money might be raised and
at this present in the Hands of Italians and other Strangers what they be and of what Value and how every of the said Benefices are named and how much every of them is worth by the Year not as by way of Tax or Extent but according to the true and full Value of the same As also to know the Names of all and singular such Strangers as are now Incumbents or occupy the same and of every of them Likewise the Names of all those whether English or Strangers of what State or Condition soever they be who have the Occupation or Disposal of any such Benefices with the Fruits and Profits of the same on the Behalf or by Authority of any of the foresaid Strangers by way of Farm Title or Procuration or by any other way or means whatsoever and how long they have occupied or disposed of the same and withall if any of the said Strangers be now resident upon any of the said Benefices We command you as heretofore We have done to send Us a true Certificate of all and singular the Premises into our High Court of Chancery under your Seal distinctly and openly before the b b Whitsunday fell this Year on the 21 of May. Lit. Dom. A. Pascha 2 April Feast of the Ascension of our Lord next coming without further delay returning also this our Writ at the same time Witness our Self at Westminster the 16 Day of April in the 48 Year of our Reign of England and of France 35. By Vertue of this Writ Certificate was accordingly sent up to the King into his Chancery out of every Dioecese in England of all such Spiritual Livings as were then in the Occupation either of Priors Aliens or of other Strangers whereof the Number is said to have been so great that it would take up several sheets of Paper to set them all down Wherefore it seem'd high time for the King to seek a Remedy in that Case either by Treaty with the Pope or otherwise considering what a vast proportion of the Revenues of his Realm was by this means convey'd away being either employ'd to the Relief of his Enemies or however of such who were neither his Subjects nor Friends An Instance whereof may be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments at the last Year of the Reign of King Edward III. II. Shortly after the Return of the said Certificates the King sent Mr. John Wickliffe who was afterwards an Eminent Reformer in England and at that time Divinity Professor in the Famous University of Oxford together with certain others his Ambassadors beyond the Seas with full Commission to treat with the Pope's Legates concerning the foresaid Matters and other Affairs then depending between his Holiness and the King. The Tenor of their Commission runs thus viz. Rex * Fox Acts Men. p. 554. al. Edit p. 390. Vniversis ad quorum notitiam praesentes literae pervenerint c. The King unto All to whose knowledge these Present Letters shall come Greeting Know Ye that We reposing assured Confidence in the Integrity and Abilities of the Reverend Father John Bishop of Bangor and other our loving and Loyal Subjects as Master John Wickliffe Reader of the Divinity Lecture Master John Guttern Dean of Segovia and Master Simon Multon Dr. of the Law Sr. William Burton Knight Master John Belknap and Master John Honington have directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the Parts beyond the Seas giving unto our said Ambassadors and Commissioners or to any Six or Five of them among whom I will that the said Bishop shall be One full Power and Authority with special Command to treat and consult mildly and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of our Lord the Pope touching certain Affairs about which We before have sent the said Bishop William Vghtred Monk of Durham and Master John Shepey to the Apostolick See and to make full Relation of all things done and transacted in the said Assembly That all those things which may tend to the Honour of Holy Church and the Advancement of our Crown and this our Realm may by the Assistance of God and the Wisdom of the Apostolick See be brought to good effect and accomplished Witness our self at London the 26 day of July in the 48 Year of our Reign These Commissioners were met at Bruges about the beginning of August by the Pope's Nuntio's Bernard aliàs Benedict Bishop of Pampelone and Ladulph or Rodulph Bishop of Senigaglia and Giles Sancho Provost of the Church of Valenza Who were likewise commission'd from the Pope to treat c Odor Rainald ad hunc annum §. 21. quem vide sis Concerning the Liberties of the Church of England and of the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the said Realm of England But this Treaty held off and on for about two Years after when at last it was concluded d Walsingh hist p. 184. n. 10. Churchill's Divi Britannici p. 36. that for the future the Pope should desist from making use of Reservations of Benefices and that the King should no more confer Benefices by his Writ Quare Impedit But as to the Elections aforesaid concerning which Ambassadors had been sent to the Court of Rome the Year before there was nothing mention'd in this Treaty The Reason whereof was ascribed to the Politick Dealing of some who knew they could more easily attain to the Episcopal Dignities which they aim'd at by the Court of Rome then by due and regular Elections that is rather by Money Favour and Interest than by any true Worth or Merit of their own III. But now 't is time to see what Deeds of War were performed this Year or rather what Advantage France gain'd and what Losses England suffer'd for things were grown to that pass at this time Soon e Frois c. 311. fol. 192. after Easter the Duke of Anjou being at Perigueux raised a great Army consisting of 15000 Footmen besides a considerable Number of Genoüese and Crossbows and the most part of all the Barons and Knights of Bretagne Poictou Anjou and Touraine with whom also the Constable of France was joyned and several Lords of Gascogne as the Lord John of Armagnac the Lords of Albret and of Perigort the Earls of Cominges and of Narbonne the Vicounts of Carmaine and of Villemur and of Talart the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicount of Mende the Lord de la Barde Sr Robert of Charde and the greater part of the Lords of Auvergne and Limosin With this Great Army the Duke of Anjou marched towards High Gascogne and came before Mont de Marsan which having took he proceeded to St. Sever whereof an Abbot was Lord who thô the Town was strong yet doubting to lose it by force fell to treat with the Duke of Anjou telling him that his Town and Fortress was but a small Matter in respect of other Towns and Castles in High Gascogne whither he suppos'd his Highness
the Earl of Warwick Thomas Son to the Earl of Oxford and John Son to the Lord Moubray On the 2d of November or rather on All-Saints Day which is the First as we shall prove by and by the King began his March from Calais towards St. Omers whither he heard the King of France was come from Amiens wasting all the Country as he went. As he was between Guisnes and Ardres there came to him h Frois c. 155. the Marshal D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and Others from King John that i R. Avesbâ—ry Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 20. under pretence of Discoursing Him they might take a full view of all his Forces And accordingly they returned with such a Report of his Strength that the French King was now determin'd not to hazard a Battle with him But rather to pass on before k Knighton p. 2610. n 60. breaking the Bridges behind him and gathering up or destroying all sorts of Provision that so the English might be forced for want thereof to return back for that time Whereupon l R. Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. a. n. 30. Walsingh hist p. 263. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 229. as he design'd it came to pass for King Edward was so streightned thereby that he was obliged to return to Calais his Army having drank nothing but Water for three Days and all other Provisions being extream scarce The French Writers and Froisard m Frois c. 155. ibid. Mâ—zeray ad hunc an c. also himself for I am resolved to dissemble nothing say that King John by these Messengers offer'd King Edward to fight him either Body to Body or Power against Power whensoever himself should appoint but that King Edward declin'd the Offer and so went home again for England Surely I desire by no means to rob the French Nation of any real Flower of Honour but neither do I think it the part of a just Historian to receive any thing without an exact Scrutiny or to let Improbabilities and Indecorums to pass without the least Remark thô never so well attested It is evident both by the Challenge which King Edward sent formerly to this Kings Father as from sundry Authors of both Nations we n Vid. Lib. 1. c. 17. §. 2. p. 188. have shewn and from the nature of that Princes Circumstances as well as his ordinary Custom that it was better for him in his own Opinion to make a quick Dispatch of the War to which Opinion it must be allow'd his Courage was no way wanting so he could not have been brought over so often in Person without his own Will and that it was ever his Aim to obtain a Battle and that when offer'd he never refused to accept it and if he had had been laugh'd at by all the World since his only way was to win the Crown he claim'd by Fighting Nor was King John a better Man at Arms or better furnished for the War than his Father Philip or King Edward who was now in the Prime of his Manhood being but 43 Years old either of less Courage or Art or Strength either of Person or People than when he sent his Chartel of Defiance to King Philip of Valois That he should need to decline the same at this time And thô for this Assertion of theirs they bring no Record nor Authority but the Word of one ancient Author who might herein be misinformed yet we shall add to these our Reasons a more Authentick Testimony from our Records of Parliament which to establish my Opinion most expresly o M.S. Rot. Par. p. 86. n. 9. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm of the Recor. p. 90. n. 9. ad an 29. Ed. 3. n. 9. witness That on All-Souls Day the King marched toward his Enemy and profer'd him Battle which his Enemy by all means refused Wherefore having wasted and spoiled the Country seeing his own Army languish he returned to Calais where he made Honourable Peace and so came back into England to his Parliament Which he had summon'd to sit at Westminster on the p i.e. 12 Novemb Morrow after St. Martin the Bishop Now Froisard who happen'd by some Misinformation to give the first Authority to this Story q Frois c. 155. ibid. doth yet witness with Others that King Edward rode with a great Host as far as Hesdin where he brake up the Park and burnt the Houses within and about it thô he entred not either the Town or Castle And then as our Writers agree for want of Provisions he returned back to Calais on St. Martins Day being the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Eleventh after his Setting forth according to those who say He set forth on the 2d of November but the r These to be taken inclusively For St. Martin the Bishops day is on the 12 of November and St. Martin the Pope's on 13 but this not meant here Twelfth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls or All-Saints Day That same Day being * Lit. Dom. D. a Thursday and the 12 of November the Å¿ R Avesbury Holinsh Eng. Chron. p 951. n. 40. a. Constable of France and other French Gentlemen came indeed to the end of the Causey of Calais with Credential Letters offering unto the King of England in presence of the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny to give him Battle on the Tuesday next following in answer to which Challenge the said Lords of England having full Power and Authority so to do offer'd unto the Constable in the King their Masters Name that he the said King of England to avoid shedding of Christian Blood would fight with the French King their Master Body to Body so to decide his Right or if that Offer should not take place then the two Kings to select Three or Four Knights apiece such as should be the nearest in Blood unto them and together with these to try the Matter But when both these Offers were rejected the English Lords offer'd to give Battle to the whole French Army either the next Day being Friday or on Saturday the Day after whether they would but the Constable and his Fellows continuing still in their first Demand refused both those Days Then at the last the English Lords said how they accepted of Tuesday the Day by them assign'd on this Condition That if they did not bring the King of England to a Battle on that Day then they would engage to yield themselves Prisoners to the French so that they would likewise undertake to yield themselves if their King kept not the promised Day To this equal but unexpected Proposal when the Constable of France having nothing ready to reply had made some Demurr at last upon
at Westminster the Sixth of February in the Thirty Fifth Year of our Reign The like Letters of Restitution were granted to all the rest of the Houses of Aliens thrô England All which Priories Aliens were many Years after g Weevers Fun. Monum p. 339. utterly suppressed and dissolved by another Martial King Henry the Fifth and their Lands given by him and his Son Henry VI to Colleges of Learned Men in Cambridge and Oxford and to other Monasteries CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. An Embassy from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus whom King Edward entertains with Justs and Tourneaments II. King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Aquitain with the Copy of his Charter III. The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophecy concerning the next Successor to the Crown after King Edward The Prince's Reception in Aquitain he creates Officers and settles his Court at Bourdeaux IV. A Parliament at Westminster the Jubilee of King Edwards Age He creates his Sons Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge and bestows many large Favours upon his People V. The King holds a solemn Hunting with great Royalty The Lord Faulconberg dies Sr. John Copland murthered I. AN. DOM. 1362. An. Regni Angliae XXXVI IN the beginning of this Year there came into England an Honourable Embassie of Gallant Knights of Armenia and of Cyprus sent from the two Kings of those Countries who were now engaged hotly in a War with the Saracens to request the King of England for his Aid either in Men or Money or in both towards the carrying on of those Holy Wars or at least-wise to prepare the Kings Mind against the time that the King of Cyprus should come hither for that purpose which he did not long after The King received them graciously and they were in a fair way to succeed with him according to their desire and he for his Part as well to entertain these Gentlemen Strangers as to divert the Princes and Lords of France now in Hostage with him began a Walsing Hist p. 172. Stews Survey of London p. 421. on the First of May to solemnize a Royal Justs and Tourneament in Smithfield which was held with great Honour for Five Days together the King himself the Queen and their Children being present with the most Part of the Nobility of England and those Noble Guests of France Spain Cyprus and Armenia II. A while after King Edward advised with his Council about the better Establishing of his Affairs and it was resolved b Frois c. 216. that since the Prince of Wales was now upward of Thirty and a Married Man the King his Father should give unto him the whole Dutchy of Aquitain to hold by Homage of the Crown of England Especially because the Lords and Knights of those Parts althó the Lord Chandos was not only blameless but dear among them did perpetually importune the King to send his Son the Prince unto them It is easily remembred that in the late Treaty of Peace among other things it was agreed and sworn to both by the French King and his Eldest Son afterwards called Charles V that all the Dutchy of Aquitain should from that time forward for ever remain to King Edward of England and his Heirs and Successors in such manner as that they should not owe or pay any Homage or Resort unto the King or Crown of France therefore but to be held by Them with all Freedom and Liberty perpetual as Sovereign Lords Allies and Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any kind of Superiority or making any Obedience Homage or Subjection and without yielding in time to come any Service or Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for either the Whole or any Part of those Lands whether Cities Earldoms Castles Countries Lands Isles Places or Persons named in the Articles of the said Treaty Now therefore King Edward having a full and peaceable Possession of the said Dutchy of Aquitaine according to the Tenor of the said Agreement c M. S. â—et Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Historici omnes resigns and gives unto his Son the Black-Prince by his Royal Charter all the Land of Guienne and Gascogne by the Name of a Principality for his Life in which Charter he created him Prince of Aquitain and Gascogne and also granted unto him those other Castles Towns and Counties of Poictou Saintogne Angoulesmois Agenois Limosin Quercy Rovergue and all other Places on the Borders of Gascogne which by Vertue of the Peace were to fall to King Edward reserving to himself Power of Erecting Guienne into a Kingdom and retaining also to himself the Resort and Sovereignty both over the Principality and the Rest that went with it And this Charter was Dated the 19 of July 1362 being the 36 of Edward the Third But besides this Charter of Donation and Creation there was another bearing Date the same Day of Explanation whereby the King more particularly declared the Sense of his Reservation of the Resort and Sovereignty and besides of an Ounce of Gold Yearly payable unto him by the Prince at his Palace of Westminster on Easter-Day The Charter of Creation is incorporated in that of Explanation the Margin of the d Ret. Vascen 36 Ed. 3. m. 18. n. 17. Roll being Pro Edvardo Principe Aquitaniae Walliae i. e. For Edward Prince of Aquitain and of Wales The Charter of Explanation is French and that of Creation Latine in the Originals which the Reader may find in e Seldens Titl Honor. Part. 2. ch 3. p. 487. c. Mr. Selden I shall here take leave to render the whole in English The King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas this present Day We have given to our Right Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales the Name Renown and Title of the Principality of Aquitain transferring unto his Person for his Life only all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places which We have and ought to have by Vertue of the Peace last made between Vs and our Right Dear Brother the King of France in the Country of Aquitain and also those which We have and hold or ought to have and hold in all Gascogne together with the Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patrenages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral Abbies Priories Monasteries Hospitals both Secular and Regular and of other Benifices of the Church appertaining unto Vs by Cause or on Occasion of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all manner of Rights and all other Appurtenances and Appendages as entirely and perfectly as We hold them or as any of our Progenitors have held them in any time past to hold under Vs
have been conspicuous for Miracles even after his Death so that Pope Boniface IX gave order for an Inquisition to be made thereafter designing thereupon to Canonize him as 't is generally believ'd he deserved IX But yet among these frequent Funerals there was a Glorious Torch of Hymen lighted up at Court this Year For the most Heroick Prince of Wales who was all along unconquerable in War laid aside now his Lions skin and began to be soften'd with the warm Fires of Love. The Object of his Affections was that Incomparable Paragon of Beauty the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Countess of Kent at this time a Widow And yet neither in Age much unequal to this Great Prince nor in Vertue or Nobility thô a subject unworthy of him She was now in the 33d Year of her Age and the Prince in the One and Thirtieth of his He being Great Grandchild to King Edward the First and she Grandchild to the said King by a second Venture He the Glory of his Sex for Military performances and other Princely Vertues and She the Flower of hers for a Discreet and Honourable Mind sweetned with all the Delicacies of a most surprizing Beauty However 't is u Joh. Harding c. 185. f. 186. said the Prince only intended at first to endeavour to encline her to the Love of a certain Knight a servant of his whom he design'd to advance thereby but that after sundry Denials with which he would not be put off she told him plainly how when she was under Ward she had been disposed of by others but that now being at Years of Discretion and Mistress of her own Actions she would not cast her self beneath her Rank but remembred that she was of the Blood Royal of England and therefore resolved never to Marry again but to a Prince for Quality and Vertue like Himself The Black-Prince was a Passionate Admirer of every Gallant Spirit how then could he do otherwise but take satisfaction from so obliging a Declaration when he well knew that all she said was true and beheld her still Mistress of such Graces and agreeable Qualities as might worthily recommend her to the Love of the Greatest Prince on Earth He presently therefore returns her Compliment with an Affectionate Kiss and from that instant resolved to become her servant Soon after which having easily obtain'd the Consent of the King his Father and an especial Dispensation from the Pope not only because he was so near of Kin unto her but had x Ashmole p. 676. also stood Godfather for her Eldest Son Thomas he was solemnly Married unto her to the great satisfaction of the King and the whole Court. X. Much about this time also his Brother Prince Lionel one of the Loveliest shape in the World being about Twenty three Years of Age is y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. said to have taken to Wife the Lady Elizabeth sole Daughter and Heiress of William de Burgo alias Burgh alià s Burke once Earl of Vlster in Ireland in whose Right and Title he became Earl of Vlster But here we must excuse or at least explain Sr. William Dugdale Whose Words run thus z Id. ibid. that in the 35 of this King to wit this very Year being made Lieutenant of Ireland he took to Wife Elizabeth c. Which Words naturally seem to imply that he was not Married till this Year unto the foresaid Lady And yet this account is evidently too late by almost seven Years for it appears that his Daughter Philippa which he had by this Lady a Sandford's General Hist p. 221. was born no less than six Years before Ano. 1355 or the 29th of Edward the Third and that seven Years hence namely Ano. 1368 b Id. ibid. p. 222. Dugd. Use Bar. 2 Vol. p. 168. she was 13 Years of Age and that 3 Years after viz. c Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 228. a. Ano. 1571 She brought forth her First-born Daughter Elizabeth unto her Husband Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Otherwise She must have been a Mother at Nine Years of Age which is impossible But to proceed Prince Lionel her Father d Dâ—gd 2 Vol. p. 167. Holinsh Chron. Irel. p. 72. was this Year made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to which Charge he repaired immediately And upon his Coming thither published an Inhibition to all Irish-born not to dare once to approach his Court nor to take up Arms or to follow the Wars thô in his Service upon any account After which he vanquished Obrian the Rebel and yet once on a sudden thô all things were quieted he lost an Hundred of his Men no Man could tell how while they lay in their Quarters Which secret Mischief was judg'd to have been occasioned by that unpleasant Decree aforesaid Whereupon Prince Lionel taking better Advice began to receive the Natives of Ireland into the same degree of Favour as other Lieutenants had formerly held them in shewing a Princely Candour and tender Concern for their Welfare by which means he wan the Hearts of that stubborn People and ever after prosper'd in his Affairs relating to that Country He advanced to the Honour of Knighthood several of their most forward Gentlemen among whom were these Preston which Family was since better known by the Name of Gormanston Holywood Talbot Cusac Delahide alià s Hide Patrick Robert and John de Fraxinis all Persons of great Fame in the Wars And during his Stay in those Parts he removed the Exchequer to Catherlagh and bestow'd on Defence of that Town 500 l. Sterling XI Now that the Wars between England and France were ended King Edward was pleased to restore unto the Priors Aliens their Houses Lands and Tenements which e Vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 10. §. 5. p. 113. 23 Years before he had confiscated to his own Use letting them out to Farm as by his Letters Patents may appear f Weevers Faner Monuments p. 339. the Tenor whereof followeth viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Whereas the Priory of Montacute in the County of Somerset by reason of the Wars between Us and France with all the Lands Tenements Fees Advousons together with the Goods and Chaâ—els belonging to the same hath been of late taken into our Hands and by Us farmed and rented forth as appeareth by divers Patents Now therefore since Peace is betwixt Us and the Noble Prince our most Dear Brother King of France We for the Honour of God and Holy Church restore unto the said Prior the Priory with all the Lands Tenements Fees Advousons and whatsoever else belonging to the same the same to hold in as free manner as they held it before And withall We forgive and Release all Arrearages of Rents which might be due unto Us by reason of any former Grants In Witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patents Dated